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Explosions thunder in Kiev, Chernihiv…… Zelensky urges supplies for Ukraine’s air defense

Explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital Kiev and Chernihiv, amid a Russian ballistic missile attack. Currently, air raid alarms remain in effect in all Ukrainian regions. Earlier in the night, Kiev was targeted by hypersonic and ballistic missiles. The city’s Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said four people were hospitalized as a result of the strikes.

Kiev out of power after Russian strikes

The Ukrainian Energy Ministry announced on Saturday that Russia’s latest strikes on the country’s energy infrastructure left Kiev without power. Also affected was the Chernihiv region. “As soon as the security situation allows, rescuers and energy workers will begin to eliminate the consequences of the attack in order to restore power supply in the regions,” the ministry said on Telegram.

Zelensky urges supplies for Ukraine’s air defense

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reaffirmed on Saturday the importance of his country receiving “sufficient” and “timely” supplies of air defense technologies to repel Russia’s continued strikes. “If Russia turns even the Christmas and New Year period into a time of destroyed homes and burned apartments, of ruined power plants, then this sick activity can only be responded to with truly strong steps,” Zelensky wrote on X. “The United States has this capability. Europe has this capability. Many of our partners have this capability. The key is to use it.” Zelensky’s comments came ahead of his upcoming meeting with US President Donald Trump, which will take place at Mar-a-Lago on Sunday.

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US Strikes ISIS in Nigeria, Warns ‘More to Come’

The US launched a military strike in Nigeria against Islamic State targets in a security and intelligence collaboration with the African nation’s government, which has been struggling to contain increasing levels of terrorist attacks in parts of the country. President Donald Trump said he directed American forces to carry out “a powerful and deadly strike” against ISIS. Nigeria’s foreign affairs ministry confirmed the “precision hits on terrorist targets” and said it remains engaged with international partners including the US to address the “persistent threat of terrorism and violent extremism.” Oil was steady, and market reaction was muted in thin holiday trading after the attack. Nigeria is a member of OPEC. Trump in November threatened possible US military action against Islamist militants in Nigeria if the country’s government didn’t halt the groups’ “killing of Christians.” At the time, Nigerian dollar bonds fell across the maturity curve, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. “Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!” Trump said in a social media post. “I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was.”

US Africa Command said in a statement that the attack came “at the request of Nigerian authorities” and killed “multiple ISIS terrorists.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday threatened there would be “more to come” if the group does not stop going after “innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere).” Trump has already designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over so-called fears about the safety of Christians in the country. Republican Senator Ted Cruz, a Trump ally, has also pushed  Congress to designate Nigeria a violator of religious freedom. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has rejected Trump’s characterization of the country as religiously intolerant. “Terrorist violence in any form whether directed at Christians, Muslims, or other communities remains an affront to Nigeria’s values and to international peace and security,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in the statement posted on X on Friday. Tinubu has been under pressure from a rising Islamist presence in northeastern Nigeria, and the region has seen attacks on dozens of fortified army bases. Suspected Boko Haram insurgents detonated an explosive device late Wednesday at a mosque in Maiduguri, killing at least five people, according to police. Nigeria’s roughly 230 million people are split between Christians and Muslims, and attacks have targeted both communities. Last week, the US launched large-scale airstrikes on more than 70 targets across Syria in response to a deadly attack on American forces there that the president blamed on the Islamic State group. The US has also built up its military presence in the Caribbean, with Trump ordering a “complete blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela and carrying out strikes against alleged drug-trafficking boats as he mounts a pressure campaign against the nation’s socialist leader Nicolas Maduro. Critics say the boat attacks are unlawful.

NN: Now its Nigerian oil that will soon come out of the market
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China loaded more than 100 ICBMs in silo fields, Pentagon report

 China is likely to have loaded more than 100 intercontinental ballistic missiles across its latest three silo fields and has no desire for arms control talks, according to a draft Pentagon report which highlighted Beijing’s growing military ambitions. China is expanding and modernizing its weapons stockpile faster than any other nuclear-armed power, according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a Chicago-based non-profit. Beijing has described reports of a military buildup as efforts to “smear and defame China and deliberately mislead the international community.”

The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here. Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump said that he may be working on a plan to denuclearize with China and Russia. But the draft Pentagon report, which was seen by Reuters, said Beijing did not appear to be interested. “We continue to see no appetite from Beijing for pursuing such measures or more comprehensive arms control discussions,” the report said. In particular, the report said that China had likely put in more than 100 solid-fuelled DF-31 ICBMs in silo fields close to China’s border with Mongolia – the latest in a series of silo sites. The Pentagon had previously reported the existence of the fields but not the number of missiles loaded. The Pentagon declined to comment. China’s embassy in Washington D.C. said China has “maintained a defensive nuclear strategy, kept its nuclear forces at the minimum level required for national security, and abided by its commitment to a moratorium on nuclear testing.” The draft Pentagon report did not identify any potential target of the reported newly placed missiles. U.S. officials noted that the report could change before it was sent to lawmakers. The report said China’s nuclear warhead stockpile was still in the low 600s in 2024, which reflected “a slower rate of production when compared to previous years.” But the report added that China’s nuclear expansion was ongoing and it was on track to have over 1,000 warheads by 2030. China has said it adheres to a “nuclear strategy of self-defense and pursues a no-first-use policy.” Trump has said he wants the United States to resume nuclear weapons testing, but it is unclear what form that will take.

NN: Sooner or later they will getting around to using these new toys
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Silver climbs 4.6% to top $75 for the first time……….. Gold hits new all-time high of $4,525

The price of silver continued to climb on Friday, soaring above an all-time high of $75 per ounce for the first time after seeing a 4.6% one-day move. Seemingly, safe-haven demand continues to rise as investors seek protection against growing global uncertainty, buoyed by escalating geopolitical risks and a weakening US dollar. Fed easing bets as inflation cools down and lingering worries about possible disruptions to global supply following the United States’ increased pressure on Venezuela’s oil shipments have further strengthened the rally.

Silver jumped 4.63% at 11:24 am CET, selling for $75.2 per ounce. At the same time, gold was 0.96% higher, going for $4,522.58 per ounce. A minute later, platinum advanced by 2.88% to sell at $2,321.98 per ounce, while palladium added 3.19%, going for $1,839.58 per ounce.

NN: Everybody is long…. YOU know what that means… Time to sell.
Gold hits new all-time high of $4,525

Gold climbed to an all-time high of $4,500 per ounce, extending a rally into the Christmas holidays as demand for precious metals strengthened. The surge reflected investor focus on safe-haven assets during year-end trading, supported by geopolitical uncertainty and broader global tensions. The rise also followed the United States Federal Reserve’s decision two weeks ago to cut its benchmark interest rate. At 7:03 pm ET, gold traded at $4,508.13 an ounce, up 0.24%, while silver rose 0.46% to $71.86. Platinum increased 1.40% to $2,302.66 at 7:04 pm ET and, a minute later, palladium added 0.85% to reach $1,866.39.

NN: I want to short the insanity in silver and i sure as shit want to trade on the short the insanity on gold
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Israel strikes Hezbollah sites struck in Lebanon

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated on Friday that it carried out strikes on multiple Hezbollah sites in Lebanon, including a training and qualification compound used by the group’s Radwan Force. In a statement posted on Telegram, the IDF said the compound was used for “drills and training for the terrorists and for advancing attacks against IDF soldiers and Israeli civilians.” It added that additional strikes hit “weapon storage facilities and terrorist infrastructure sites,” which were utilized by “Hezbollah to advance terror attacks against the State of Israel.” The strikes follow an Israeli attack a day earlier in southern Lebanon that the IDF said killed a senior Hezbollah operative.

NN: Peace my ass!
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Israeli informs President Trump about plans to attack Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could inform United States President Donald Trump about plans to launch fresh strikes on Iran, as Israel is concerned that Tehran is boosting its ballistic missile production, NBC reported on Saturday, citing a person familiar with the plans and four former US officials also briefed on the plans. Israel is also alarmed by information suggesting that Iran is rebuilding its uranium enrichment facilities, which the US bombed in June, according to the report. Netanyahu is expected to meet with Trump in the US at the end of the month and present him with options for Washington to join any future actions against Tehran, arguing that Iran’s latest actions pose a threat not only to Israel but to the entire Middle East region, the sources said

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Homeland Security confirmed seizing another oil tanker

  • The US launched large-scale airstrikes on more than 70 targets across Syria, fulfilling President Donald Trump’s vow to strike back after the killing of two US soldiers.
  • The Pentagon said US forces commenced OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE in Syria to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in direct response to the attack on US forces.
  • The strikes were carried out by fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery, with support from the Jordanian Armed Forces, and targeted ISIS infrastructure and weapon sites.

The US launched large-scale airstrikes on more than 70 targets across Syria, the Pentagon said Friday, fulfilling President Donald Trump’s vow to strike back after the killing of two US soldiers. “This is not the beginning of a war — it is a declaration of vengeance,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a post on X. “Today, we hunted and we killed our enemies. Lots of them. And we will continue.”

The US Central Command said that fighter jets, attack helicopters and artillery targeted ISIS infrastructure and weapon sites. “All terrorists who are evil enough to attack Americans are hereby warned — YOU WILL BE HIT HARDER THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN HIT BEFORE IF YOU, IN ANY WAY, ATTACK OR THREATEN THE U.S.A.,” Trump wrote in a social media post, adding that the Syrian government is “fully in support” of the US operation. Trump had earlier promised to do “big damage” to the militants behind the deadly attack on American forces in Syria that he blamed on the Islamic State group. US Central Command released unusually detailed imagery of the weapons systems used in the attacks that indicated coordinated strikes by the US Air Force and Army. The images depicted Boeing Co.. F-15E Strike Eagle jets dropping GBU-31 GPS-guided munitions, Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopters that can fire Hellfire laser-guided weapons and Lockheed Martin Corp. Army M142 High Mobility Artillery Rockey Systems, like those used in Ukraine, that fire an array of GPS-guided rockets. The Jordanian Armed Forces also supported the operation with fighter aircraft. Last Saturday, two US Army soldiers, along with a US interpreter, were killed in the attack in the Syrian city of Palmyra during counterterrorism operations. The gunman was killed, according to US Central Command. Syria’s state-run Sana news agency reported Sunday that security forces arrested five suspects in relation to the attack. Trump also has taken pains to emphasize the attack was the work of the Islamic State — not Syria’s new government. Palmyra is outside the control of Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has promised to join a US-led coalition to defeat the Islamic State. With the strikes on Friday, Trump has now launched major military actions at least three times – against Houthi rebels in Yemen, on Iran’s nuclear program and targeting alleged narcotics-traffickers in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean. Separately, his administration has also kept up a counterterrorism campaign against al-Shabab militants in Somalia.

NN: Does this sound like peace to you?
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US confirms another seizure of tanker off Venezuela

The United States Department of Homeland Security confirmed earlier reports of seizing another oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. According to the department, the operation was carried out by the US Coast Guard and the Department of Defense. It identified the seized vessel as Motor Tanker Centuries, suspecting it of transporting sanctioned oil. “The iron fist of America’s joint military and federal law enforcement rules the waves,” the department concluded in a post on X. The seizure comes as tensions with Venezuela continue to grow.

NN: Maduro is toast. And oil supplies will be disrupted like never seen before

 

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Netanyahu may brief Trump on possible new Iran strikes

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could inform United States President Donald Trump about plans to launch fresh strikes on Iran, as Israel is concerned that Tehran is boosting its ballistic missile production, NBC reported on Saturday, citing a person familiar with the plans and four former US officials also briefed on the plans.

Israel is also alarmed by information suggesting that Iran is rebuilding its uranium enrichment facilities, which the US bombed in June, according to the report.

Netanyahu is expected to meet with Trump in the US at the end of the month and present him with options for Washington to join any future actions against Tehran, arguing that Iran’s latest actions pose a threat not only to Israel but to the entire Middle East region, the sources said

NN:  Its war and Israel damn well Knows it
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Rubio: US doesn’t consider Maduro legitimate

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that Washington does not consider Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro a legitimate leader, arguing that his government poses a “direct threat” to US “national interests and regional stability.” Speaking to reporters, Rubio described the Maduro administration as an “illegitimate regime”, claiming that it cooperates with Iran, Hezbollah and drug trafficking networks. He even said armed groups such as the ELN and dissident factions of the FARC operate openly inside Venezuelan territory, sometimes controlling entire areas. Rubio stressed that allegations of narco-trafficking are not based on intelligence assessments alone, noting that a federal grand jury in New York issued indictments against Maduro and members of his government. According to Rubio, Venezuela’s crisis has triggered one of the largest migration waves in modern history, destabilizing the wider region.