🇮🇹🇺🇦Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said that negotiations on resolving the Ukrainian crisis have progressed, but several issues remain unresolved.

▶️#BREAKING

🇺🇸⚡️Authorities are responding to a reported shooting at Riverside Plaza, Minneapolis Cedar-Riverside, 1530 S 6th St.

🔗https://x.com/crimewatchmpls/status/2005415363446517976?s=46

▶️#BREAKING

🇨🇳🇨🇳🇹🇼⚡️The Chinese military announces that it will conduct exercises around Taiwan on Tuesday — Reuters

▶️#NOW

🇲🇽🚂 13 killed and 98 injured after the Interoceanic Train derailment in Mexico

🇨🇳🇨🇳⚡️🇹🇼The PLA Eastern Theater Command has launched joint military drills around Taiwan, code-named “Justice Mission 2025.”

➡️According to Xinhua, multiple branches of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army began the exercises on Monday, as confirmed by theater command spokesperson Shi Yi.

🇨🇳🇨🇳The PLA Eastern Theater Command has announced large-scale joint military drills around Taiwan, scheduled from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on December 30. The exercises, code-named “Justice Mission 2025,” involve multiple branches of the Chinese military and include live-fire activities, according to Xinhua.

➡️The drills will take place across five designated maritime and airspace zones surrounding Taiwan. These areas are located north of Taiwan, northwest near the Taiwan Strait, west and southwest near Fujian-facing waters, south of the island, and east of Taiwan in the western Pacific, forming a broad operational ring around the island.

📌Specifically, the northern drill zone lies between waters northeast of Taiwan and the East China Sea. The northwestern area covers parts of the Taiwan Strait opposite northern Taiwan. Another zone is positioned off the western and southwestern approaches, near coastal routes facing southeastern China. A southern area extends into waters below Taiwan, while the eastern zone stretches into airspace and waters east of the island, facing the Pacific.

🇨🇳The PLA stated that these exercises will involve coordinated operations by naval, air, and other forces, with live ammunition being used. Chinese authorities warned that all civilian vessels and aircraft should avoid entering the designated waters and airspace during the drill period for safety reasons.

🔗https://english.news.cn/20251229/b8180fef31a44b7f9985126eec1f937a/c.html

🇸🇦❌🇾🇪Saudi-backed militias are increasing their deployments in eastern Yemen, particularly in Hadhramaut governorate, in response to growing advances by UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces.

➡️According to regional reports, reinforcements have been observed moving toward Mukalla, Seiyun, and surrounding districts in the Hadhramaut Valley, areas considered strategically vital due to their size, oil infrastructure, and proximity to Saudi Arabia. The build-up is aimed at preventing the STC from expanding its influence beyond southern coastal zones into eastern Yemen.

🇾🇪The STC, which already controls Aden, Lahij, Al-Dhale, and parts of Abyan, has reportedly been attempting to consolidate power along key routes linking the Arabian Sea coast to inland Hadhramaut. Saudi-aligned forces view this as a direct challenge to Riyadh’s influence and to the balance of power within the anti-Houthi camp.

🇸🇦❌🇾🇪 — Local sources to South24: Saudi Arabia warplanes resume flying over Seiyun in Wadi Hadramout

https://x.com/South24E/status/2005404701492482469

🇸🇦❌🇾🇪 — Journalistic sources: Saudi Arabia warplanes drop illumination flares over Khard and Ghayl bin Yamin in Wadi Hadramout

https://fxtwitter.com/South24E/status/2005412568161308909

🇺🇸🇵🇷🪖The United States continues to significantly reinforce its airpower posture in the Caribbean, with a large forward deployment now concentrated in Puerto Rico, reflecting expanded ISR, strike, and special operations capabilities.

➡️At least 10 MQ-9A Reaper drones have been deployed, enhancing long-endurance surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike capacity across the Caribbean basin and northern South America. Alongside them, 11 CV-22B Ospreys provide rapid long-range insertion, extraction, and resupply for special operations forces, while 10 MC-130J Commando II aircraft support covert infiltration, aerial refueling, psychological operations, and precision mobility. In addition, roughly 36 fighter aircraft are now forward positioned to ensure air superiority, rapid strike options, and deterrence.

📌Key deployment locations include:

• Rafael Hernández Airport (BQN), Aguadilla – Operating as a special operations and drone hub, hosting MQ-9A Reapers and SOF aviation assets.

• Roosevelt Roads (RVR), Ceiba – Focused on strike assets and Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concepts under IWOARG, enabling rapid dispersal and sustainment.

• Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU), San Juan – Serving as a command, control, ISR, and electronic warfare (C2/ISR/EW) coordination center.

• Mercedita Airport (PSE), Ponce – Supporting U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps logistics, port access, and sustainment operations.

➡️The scale and distribution of these deployments suggest a sustained U.S. effort to improve regional responsiveness, monitor strategic corridors, and project power across the Caribbean and nearby theaters, rather than a short-term or symbolic presence.

🇺🇸🇵🇷⚡️Rafael Hernández Airport, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico

➡️Personnel have begun installing visual covers along perimeter fences at Rafael Hernández Airport, restricting line-of-sight from outside areas. The measures are intended to limit observation of ongoing U.S. SOCOM aircraft movements and ground activity at the facility.

🇺🇸🇵🇷⚡️Combined satellite imagery from a Sentinel-2 overpass on 27 December, along with recent photos shared on social media, indicates a notable increase in U.S. Air Force activity at Rafael Hernández International Airport (BQN/TJBQ) in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.

➡️The imagery confirms the arrival of at least five additional MC-130J Commando II aircraft over the past few days, significantly expanding the existing presence.

🔗https://x.com/latammilmvmts/status/2005387807267942731?s=46

🇨🇳❌🇹🇼 — Chinese state media is openly framing the PLA’s “Justice Mission 2025” drills as a direct response to the record $11.1B U.S. arms sale to Taiwan.

🇹🇼❌🇨🇳⚡️Taiwan’s Presidential Office issued a firm statement urging China not to misjudge the current situation or act as a destabilizing force that undermines regional peace and stability. Taipei called on Beijing to remain rational, exercise self-restraint, and immediately halt what it described as irresponsible military provocations around the island.

🇹🇼‼️According to Taiwanese authorities, the government and armed forces have maintained a comprehensive, real-time assessment of developments in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding areas. Military and security units remain on heightened readiness, with air, naval, and surveillance assets actively monitoring Chinese movements to ensure national security and public safety.