The Daily Chronicles are snippets of the most important news across the world for this and each day as it rolls in – as such, this thread is non-structured. Kindly also use it as an open thread.

Putin announces Christmas truce

https://www.rt.com/russia/569439-russia-putin-truce-christmas/

A view from the gentlemen at the Duran on the fairly positive moves regarding Syria.

I love this:

Kishore Mahbubani: The next growth engine of world economy is CIA, i.e. China, India and ASEAN.

I’ve not commented on the Russian soldiers killed near Makeyevka via HIMARS strikes.  There were too many theories and too little information and too many wild and emotional accusations.  It seemed to me that the Russian soldiers felt somewhat invincible.  The Russian MoD helped us out here in terms of what happened and it looks like dead accurate information. https://t.me/mod_russia_en/5657   All the many theories and accusations have suddenly disappeared.

⚡️ On 1 January, at 00.01 am (Moscow time), artillery of the Armed Forces of Ukraine launched six rockets by HIMARS multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS) at the provisional base of one of the Russian units near Makeyevka.

◽️ 2 rockets were intercepted by air defence facilities.

◽️ 4 rockets with high-explosive warheads stroke the building where Russian personnel were accommodated. The detonation of the HIMARS rockets’ warheads caused the destruction of the ceiling and walls.

◽️ Once the tragedy occurred, the command and officers of this base, senior commanders, and servicemen from other units adopted all the available measures to rescue the victims. First aid was provided, the wounded were evacuated to healthcare facilities.

◽️ Unfortunately, the number of our fallen comrades turned out to increase up to 89 after clearing the obstruction of the reinforced concrete structures. The deputy regiment commander lieutenant colonel Bachurin was among the irretrievable personnel losses.

◽️ All the victims, and families of the fallen personnel are provided with all the necessary assistance and support.

◽️ The launching ramp of the multiple-launch rocket system, used by the AFU to shell Makeyevka, was destroyed.

◽️ Moreover, missile and air attacks launched at hardware concentration area near Druzhkovka railway station (Donetsk People’s Republic) resulted in the elimination of other 4 launching ramps of HIMARS MLRS, 4 fighting vehicles for RM-70 Vampire MLRS, over 800 rockets for them, 8 motor vehicles, as well as over 200 Ukrainian nationalists, and foreign mercenaries.

◽️ In addition, the provisional base of one of the units from the ‘Foreign Legion’ has been destroyed with over 130 foreign mercenaries.

◽️ Circumstances of the incident are currently being investigated by a commission. But it is already obvious that the main reason, despite the restriction, was turning on and massive use of mobile phones by the personnel within the range area of enemy firepower. This factor allowed the enemy to locate the personnel for launching the missile strike.

◽️ All the necessary measures are currently being adopted to prevent this kind of tragic incidents in the future. The investigation is to result in bringing the responsible officials to justice.

First Deputy Chief of the Main Military-Political Directorate of the Armed Forces of Russia Lieutenant General Sergei Sevryukov

Just a little joy.  “Khrushchev gave away Crimea! I would like to kill that bastard!” 

My premise that the big international organizations have to change materially while the world changes to a multipolarity, is bearing out.  Another one is busy biting the dust and oh … the wailing and pearl clutching has no end!  So, what happened is that Turkey unexpectedly quit the Istanbul Convention.  Now, what is the Istanbul Convention?  It is the Convention of the Council of Europe on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.  I checked a number of press releases this morning, and you know what, only one of those reports why Turkey did this.  They leave that space blank, and organizations like Amnesty International by definition now purport that Turkey is now going to support violence against women and domestic violence because they quit the convention.   https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/07/turkeys-withdrawal-from-the-istanbul-convention-rallies-the-fight-for-womens-rights-across-the-world-2/

In reality Turkey quit because they say the organization has changed and all it does, is support homosexuality and the LGBT agenda.  The issue is bigger.  It is not only that they support mainly now the homosexuality and lgbt agenda, they are trying to converge and merge that agenda, with the agenda of women’s rights.  This is carefully done.  Take a look at this paragraph:  “The Turkish government and its supporters have said the Convention threatens “family values” and “normalises homosexuality”, claims which have been echoed by several governments, including Poland and Hungary, to justify their attempts to roll back rights.”

Women’s and children’s safety is not the LGBT agenda.

From Patrice Greanville at The Greanville Post:

ANTI-IMPERIALIST TOOL • Vol. XVIII •
WARS ARE CRIMES AGAINST HUMANS, ANIMALS AND NATURE
We all know—or feel—that 2023 will be a unique, epochal year, a turning point for humankind, when the historical tectonic plates that first began to rumble and move in February of 2022, when Russia unleashed her long-awaited and necessary operation in Ukraine will start consolidating into a new global dynamic. As we have said before, we all have a role to play in this unprecedented story, played on multiple stages, high and low across our planet. It is a period we should be thankful for, as, despite the probable stress and suffering to come, we know a new and better structure—much more inherently moral and rational than the rotten, cynical dying order— is emerging at last.

Being a witness, even a conscious agent of history in our time is a rare honor. We should salute this great opportunity to help implant reason, kindness, and justice in human affairs.

This week I’ll update on the various happenings in LatAm.  Lula’s inauguration went well, and Brian Mier has a short interview.  Kindly go to telesur and click on the video titled:

Big day for Brazil: Lula becomes president for the third time

I don’t see English Transcripts of his two speeches yet.  Here is the Portugese https://lula.com.br/discurso-de-posse-lula-2023/

Yesterday I mentioned that the channels jumped into a high state of excitement as it looked like another major strike by Russia on the Ukraine. This was confirmed this morning and the Russian MoD states:

“◽️ On 31 December 2022, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation launched a strike by high-precision long-range air-based armament at the defence industrial facilities of Ukraine involved in producing assault unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) designed for committing terrorist attacks against the Russian Federation. The parking ramps and launch sites of the assault UAVs have also been neutralised.

◽️ The goal of the attack has been reached. Kiev regime’s plans to commit terrorist attacks against the Russian Federation in the nearest future have been frustrated.”

Iran will receive dozens of Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets
Experts say US sanctions failed to reach their ultimate objective of forcing Iran into major political and military concessions
https://thecradle.co/Article/News/19888

This is completely bizarre. It is almost as if this was purely a money play and not a political play.

Venezuela opposition removes interim President Guaido (and guess who is now in control of the Venezuelan asset seizures that the US carried out.

Venezuela’s opposition national assembly voted on Friday to remove interim President Juan Guaido, dissolve his government and appoint a commission to govern the country’s foreign assets.

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/venezuela-opposition-removes-interim-president-guaido-2022-12-31/

This is important as it happened shortly after the meeting of defense ministers of Syria, Turkiye and Russia and this is an attempt to heal the rifts between Syria and Turkiye. We will see more action and perhaps, just perhaps Syria eventually becomes a free country. Some media states that Türkiye agreed to withdraw troops from Syria following tripartite Moscow talks but I’ve seen no evidence of this.

US base in Syria struck by missile barrage in largest attack ‘of its kind’
Local sources confirmed that there were likely casualties among US forces, as the missiles reportedly struck the facility’s housing section
https://thecradle.co/Article/News/19938