Raids in Minnesota - When Restaurants Become Targets!
Federal agents have moved into Somali restaurants in Minnesota, visible and intimidating. Guests were sitting at tables, food was on the stove, then suddenly it was over. Officially, authorities speak of inspections, but on site it remains unclear what exactly is being searched for. Concrete allegations are rarely named, searches appear sweeping, arrests are often carried out without warrants. In a state with one of the largest Somali communities in the United States, this approach strikes a sensitive nerve. Democratic politicians react angrily and speak of targeted harassment rather than orderly administration. Restaurants here are more than businesses, they are meeting places, employers, parts of everyday life. Whoever moves in there sends a message that goes far beyond hygiene or permits. The state shows presence, but no explanation. For many, the impression arises that origin alone is once again the trigger. Our desks have already filled over the holidays with a large number of new detention cases and there is no end in sight. America 2025
Shopping Carts Instead of Violence – A Scene in a Minnesota Parking Lot
In the parking lot of a Target store in Minnesota, an unusual confrontation unfolded. Several people placed shopping carts behind the vehicle of an ICE agent. No touching, no blows, no damage. Just metal, wheels, and standstill. The vehicle could not pull out immediately. Nothing more happened. The scene shows how protest can deliberately avoid violence.
Behind the vehicle, a woman positioned herself deliberately, audible, visible, unmoving. The goal was clear: prevent departure, show presence. The action followed a familiar pattern of civil resistance. The ICE agent appeared less than relaxed, and a bit of discussion followed; that is something he will have to get used to. In the coming weeks, he is likely to have plenty of opportunities to do so.
Odesa without power, without heat, without a way out
Residents of Odesa charge their phones inside a train station
For weeks, Odesa has been under almost constant shelling, and the war has eaten deep into daily life. Electricity, heating and water fail for days at a time, often simultaneously. Older people and people with disabilities are hit particularly hard. Those who cannot walk cannot reach shelters, those who are ill are left alone. Apartments cool down, water has to be carried up staircases in bottles. Russian drones and missiles deliberately strike ports and energy facilities. Nine people have already been killed. Life shrinks to survival. Christmas comes, but it brings no pause. War knows no calendar.
Despite everything, people in Odesa try to organize their daily lives. Phones are charged at train stations, food is cooked outdoors, milk is cooled on windowsills. Some supply neighbors with generators, others tap car batteries. But exhaustion is growing. After days without power, even the patient lose hope. There have been first protests. For many older people, the situation is especially bitter, especially at this time of year. The wish has become simple. No victory, no heroism. Just that it ends. And that at some point the lights come back on.
Small stairs, big impact - Amsterdam saves animals along the canals
Amsterdam is investing 100,000 euros in small wooden staircases along its canals to allow animals to escape. The city is responding to reports that 19 cats drowned in the canals within six months. Many canal walls are steep and smooth, making escape nearly impossible for animals. The new mini staircases create exactly this missing exit. They are low, unobtrusive and sturdy, but lifesaving in an emergency. Not only cats benefit, but also ducks and other small animals. With comparatively little effort, a real problem is being addressed. The project shows that urban planning does not always have to be large, expensive or technical. Sometimes a few steps are enough. Amsterdam thus sets a quiet sign of responsibility in everyday life. To prevent possible doubts, we have carefully checked the story. The plan is indeed modeled on a comparable project in the Dutch city of Amersfoort, where hundreds of such escape aids have been in use for years. Cooperation with the animal rescue organization Dierenambulance and local specialists is also documented. The city specifically identifies those canal sections where animals most frequently come to harm. Statement and image material match, this is not a fabricated story or symbolic representation. Especially in times of disinformation and artificially generated images, this clarity is important.
North Korea presents new nuclear missile submarine generation
North Korea has unveiled a new nuclear powered submarine weighing around 8,700 tons. The images show a massive hull with a noticeably enlarged sail. According to analysis of the visible covers, this sail apparently contains ten launch tubes for sea based ballistic missiles, five on each side. Markings indicate SLBM launch hatches, along with gas exhausts for cold launches. The submarine was presented in red primer, an unusual step that points to an early fitting or testing stage. Also striking are several openings at the bow, suggesting six horizontal launch tubes. This is complemented by a large lateral exhaust, likely for a conventional or hybrid propulsion system. The markings explicitly refer to a new generation of strategic SLBM carriers.
Technical indications and the Russian trail
Close up images show presumed reconnaissance and electronic masts on the sail, likely combined for optics, communications and electronic warfare. A classic snorkel mast, as is common on diesel powered submarines, is not visible. This fuels speculation about a compact reactor on board, which would allow extended operations without surfacing. The accompanying texts also refer to highly enriched nuclear material, which could enable operation without frequent fuel changes.
The arrangement of the launch tubes differs significantly from previous North Korean designs and points to a substantial further development. Several Western analysts note that Russia may have played a key role in construction and system integration. The combination of a new hull form, an unusual SLBM configuration and nuclear propulsion marks a clear step forward. North Korea is thus sending a strategic signal, both technically and politically.
Trump announces airstrikes against Islamic State in Nigeria
Donald Trump has announced airstrikes by the United States against fighters of the so called Islamic State in northwestern Nigeria. The announcement was made via his own network and remained conspicuously vague. He did not provide concrete details on targets, scope or consequences. Trump justified the operation by claiming that Islamist groups were brutally killing Christians. The Department of War confirmed the strikes and stated they were carried out in coordination with the Nigerian government. The Pentagon declined to provide details. The military operation followed Trump's instruction from the previous month to prepare military options to protect Christian communities. The conflict in Nigeria has been ongoing for years and has claimed thousands of lives. Christians and Muslims alike are affected. The operation marks a further expansion of American military action against non state actors in Africa. The US airstrikes in northwestern Nigeria followed threats by President Trump to intervene militarily if the Nigerian government did not stop the killing of Christians. Trump did not provide concrete evidence for attacks targeting only Christians, and the accusations are rejected by Nigeria. According to US statements, the strikes targeted the so called Islamic State and were carried out in coordination with the government in Abuja. Violence in Nigeria has for years affected both Christians and Muslims and has various causes, from Islamist groups to kidnappings to conflicts over land and resources.
The tone Trump uses in connection with the strikes is striking. He explicitly frames the operation as a protective measure for Christians and links it with religious rhetoric. At the same time, military officials have long warned that airstrikes alone are unlikely to have a lasting effect. Groups like Boko Haram or the Islamic State West Africa operate in decentralized ways and adapt quickly. As early as November, US Africa Command had developed target options, including strikes on known bases. Even then, officers doubted the long term impact. Nevertheless, Trump is relying on military force and combining it with a political message. He declared that radical Islamic terrorism would have no room under his leadership. He concluded the operation with a Christmas greeting. That too is part of the staging.
Trump keeps coal power plants running
Trump admits that coal needs a little public relations help. It is probably that pesky black lung disease ruining coal's image. November 19, 2025
Polluting, toxic coal for Christmas - presented by Trump
On December 24, 2025, the US government ordered two coal power plants in the state of Indiana to operate longer than planned. Instead of shutting down at the end of the year, they are to produce electricity until early 2026. The Department of Energy justified the move with winter supply security. Energy experts disagree and point to existing alternatives. The additional costs will be borne by households and businesses in the region. Utilities had calculated that shutting the plants would have been cheaper in the long run. Coal now supplies only a fraction of US electricity. Nevertheless, the state intervenes. The aim is to prevent further shutdowns during Trump's term. The measure fits the president's line. Coal is to remain visible, regardless of market forces and costs.
At the same time, the Environmental Protection Agency is loosening regulations for handling coal ash. Power companies are granted five additional years before they must prevent heavy metals from leaching into groundwater. Arsenic, lead and mercury are affected. Millions of people live in regions with contaminated water sources. Environmental lawyers warn of rising health risks that can no longer be controlled. The government points to increasing electricity demand, including from data centers. Critics see a clear preference for fossil fuels. While wind projects are being stopped, coal is given time. The direction is clear. Climate protection takes a back seat, industrial interests take priority, Trump's plundering of the world continues.
The long line for Christmas made of corn
In Southern California, families stand in line for hours shortly before Christmas to buy fresh masa, a dough made from cooked and ground corn for tamales. Even before sunrise, lines stretch around parking lots and blocks. For many, the trip to Amapola Market is a fixed part of the holidays. The masa is considered the basis for good tamales, properly seasoned and ready to use. Entire families then gather to prepare them together, generation after generation. It is about taste, but also about closeness. Some travel from Bakersfield or even Las Vegas. Christmas does not begin here with presents, but with dough, corn husks and time.
Cyberattack brings French postal service to a standstill
A pro Russian hacker collective has claimed responsibility for a serious cyberattack on the French postal service. The attack hit the central computer systems of La Poste and stopped parcel deliveries just days before Christmas. According to prosecutors, it was a targeted overload attack that deliberately disabled systems. Operations were still not fully stabilized days later. For many customers, the disruption came at the worst possible time. Investigators classify the attack as politically motivated. The group Noname057 claimed responsibility.
After the claim of responsibility, the French domestic intelligence service took over the investigation. The group Noname057 is not unknown to authorities. It is linked to several attacks in Europe, including attacks around a NATO summit and on government websites. Earlier this year, it was the target of a major European police operation. The attack on the postal service shows how vulnerable critical infrastructure remains. Digital disruptions have real impact. Especially when they hit everyday life. And that is exactly what such actions aim for.
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