CBS News
Ukraine says Russia’s “tactics of terror” apparent in huge missile attack on energy sector as winter arrives
Kyiv — Russia launched a massive attack Thursday on Ukraine’s energy sector, forcing emergency power outages as temperatures dropped to freezing across the country. Ukraine’s energy grid has been heavily targeted since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, with Kyiv accusing Moscow of “terror” tactics by trying to plunge Ukrainian cities into darkness and cut off heating to civilians throughout the winter.
The overnight strikes come after two weeks of dramatic escalation that has seen both sides launch new weapons to gain an upper hand ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration in January.
Ukraine’s Energy Minister German Galushchenko said power infrastructure was “under massive enemy attack” after a countrywide air alert was issued for incoming missiles.
The air force reported a string of Russian cruise missiles and attack drones heading for cities across the country, including the capital Kyiv, Kharkiv in the northeast and the Black Sea port city of Odesa.
Ukraine’s “energy sector is under massive enemy attack”
“Once again, the energy sector is under massive enemy attack. Attacks on energy facilities are taking place across Ukraine,” Galushchenko said.
National power grid operator Ukrenergo “urgently introduced emergency power cuts,” he added, as temperatures dropped to around 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
Energy provider DTEK said Ukrenergo was introducing emergency power outages in the regions of Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipro and Donetsk.
Officials warned residents in many cities to remain in shelters, with the air alert still in place.
“As soon as the security situation will allow it, the consequences (of the strikes) will be specified,” Galushchenko said.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff said the wave of attacks showed Russia was “continuing their tactics of terror.”
“They stockpiled missiles for attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, for warfare against civilians during… winter,” Andriy Yermak said in a post on Telegram, pledging that Ukraine would respond.
A senior United Nations official, Rosemary DiCarlo, this month warned Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure could make this winter the “harshest since the start of the war.”
Russia-Ukraine war escalates with new weapons
Russia earlier this week said it was preparing its own retaliation for Ukrainian strikes on its territory using U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles.
Ukraine has launched at least three attacks on Russian territory with the long-range missiles since the White House gave it permission to fire them deeper into Russia.
Moscow responded to the first strike by firing a never-before-seen ballistic missile at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. In an angry address to the nation, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the nuclear-capable, intermediate-range, multiple-warhead missile could be used against Western countries if they let their arms be used by Ukraine to hit Russia.
Russia’s defense ministry said Thursday it had downed 25 Ukrainian drones fired overnight, including 14 over the southern Krasnodar territory — just to the east of the annexed Crimean peninsula.
Krasnodar’s governor said a woman was wounded by falling debris in the town of Slavyansk-on-Kuban, around 60 miles east of the Kerch bridge — the giant infrastructure project linking Crimea to Russia that Kyiv has heavily targeted throughout the war.
Trump taps retired general to lead on Ukraine, Russia policy
The latest missile salvo came a day after Trump named staunch loyalist and retired general Keith Kellogg as his Ukraine envoy, charged with ending the Russian invasion.
Trump campaigned on a platform of securing a swift end to the Ukraine war, boasting that he would quickly mediate a ceasefire deal — comments that have triggered concern in Kyiv that the U.S. will push it to cede land occupied by Russian forces.
Kellog, an 80-year-old national security veteran, co-authored a paper this year calling for Washington to leverage military aid as a means of pushing for peace talks.
The outgoing Biden administration has urged Ukraine to drop the minimum age of conscription to 18 to plug severe manpower shortages across the 600-mile front line.
Russian troops have been advancing in the east for months, where they have a manpower and ammunition advantage over Ukraine’s stretched forces.
CBS News
Massive drug bust leads to discovery of new Pacific trafficking route with sophisticated “narco subs”
Authorities from dozens of countries seized 225 metric tons of cocaine in a six-week mega-operation where they unearthed a new Pacific trafficking route from South America to Australia, the Colombian Navy said Wednesday. Officials said they had also seized “increasingly sophisticated” drug-laden semisubmersibles — better known as “narco subs” — that can travel 10,000 miles without refueling.
The latest phase of global naval operation “Orion” resulted in the seizure of more than 1,400 tons of drugs, including 225 tons of cocaine and 128 tons of marijuana, Navy official Orlando Enrique Grisales told reporters.
More than 400 people were arrested in the operation targeting oceans, coasts, rivers and ports around the globe in October and November.
The massive bust involved the security agencies of the United States, Brazil, Spain, the Netherlands and several other nations, as well as multiple international organizations.
The seizure deprived drug cartels of more than $8.4 billion dollars, according to a Navy statement.
Grisales said officials also seized a semisubmersible wood-and-fiber glass vessel on its way to Australia with five tons of Colombian cocaine.
This was the third such vessel discovered in this area, revealing a “new route” of trafficking with sophisticated boats that can cover the distance of some 10,000 miles without needing to refuel.
A kilogram of cocaine is sold for up to $240,000 in Australia, said Grisales — about six times more than the price in the United States.
“It is a route that is becoming increasingly profitable because prices are much higher in Australia,” a security source told AFP.
“Initially, these boats were used mainly to take the drugs out of the country and move them off the coast of Colombia and then transfer them to ships,” added the source.
“It has been found that these semisubmersibles, sometimes even submersibles, are now increasingly sophisticated, with very fine engineering.”
Semisubmersibles, which cannot go fully underwater, are popular among international drug traffickers as they can sometimes elude detection by law enforcement. The vessels are sometimes seized in Colombian waters while heading to the United States, Central America and Europe. In June, the Colombian Navy said it seized two “narco subs” off the country’s Pacific coast that together contained almost 5 tons of cocaine.
In February, Colombian authorities on a search-and-rescue mission for two missing fishermen found a “narco sub” loaded with more than 4 tons of cocaine. A few weeks before that, the Colombian navy intercepted a semisubmersible loaded with more than 1,000 pounds of cocaine in the Pacific Ocean.
The latest “Orion” operation also uncovered previously-unknown alliances between cartels from Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru with groups from Europe and Oceania.
“It is not just a pyramid structure as the cartels once were. Today they are organized crime networks joined together,” said Grisales.
Colombia is the world’s biggest cocaine producer and exporter, mainly to the United States and Europe.
Last year, the South American country set a new record for cocaine production and cultivation of the coca leaf it is made from.
CBS News
What Thanksgiving food can cats and dogs eat? What to know about giving your pet turkey and more common dishes
While you may want to have your pets take part in the family’s Thanksgiving feast, letting dogs and cats eat human food can be challenging. So, are holiday favorites like turkey safe for your cat or dog to eat?
Experts explained what to know before sharing your meal with your feline and canine companions.
Can dogs and cats eat turkey?
It’s typically safe for pets to eat skinless and boneless turkey meat.
“It’s a great source of protein to support muscle health and lean body condition. Just make sure to avoid the extra
stuffings, seasonings, skin and bones,” Dr. Danielle Bernal, a global veterinarian with Wellness Pet Company, told CBS News.
Rich foods like turkey skin, drippings and gravy can cause a lot of problems for your pets, veterinarian Dr. Ruth MacPete told CBS News Los Angeles ahead of last year’s holiday.
“Our pets are not used to eating what we eat, and all of the rich fatty food can cause gastrointestinal problems, or worse yet, your pet can end up in the emergency room with a life-threatening pancreatitis. So you really want to avoid feeding them rich, fatty foods,” she said.
Can dogs and cats eat cranberry sauce?
Cranberries, which are rich in antioxidants and vitamins A, B1, B2 and C, are also safe.
“Just like they do for humans, cranberries can help urinary health and aid in preventing UTIs and bacterial growth in pets,” Bernal said.
Can dogs and cats have green beans?
Plain green beans are typically safe, too, along with peas and some other seasonal vegetables.
Butternut squash, for example, can support the immune system and hydration, Bernal said, “as long as they are not roasted with any oils.”
Can dogs and cats eat sweet potatoes?
Steamed sweet potatoes, which are rich in vitamins A, B6, C and calcium, can support your dog’s digestion with their fiber. They are also safe for cats in moderation.
“Just remember not to give your pet sweet potatoes loaded up with added ingredients that us humans crave at Thanksgiving, such as butter, brown sugar, marshmallows or maple syrup,” Bernal said.
Can dogs and cats have mashed potatoes?
Pets can eat mashed potatoes, but not ones with butter and cream like you’re likely to have prepared for your human guests.
“Any dish that is simple and unseasoned is a great option,” Bernal said.
More common Thanksgiving food cats and dogs can eat
There are a few more Thanksgiving foods our furry family members can take part in, including:
- Canned 100% pumpkin puree
“Pumpkin is known to promote healthy digestion, which aids in the overall energy and vitality of your pet,” Bernal said.
- Unsweetened applesauce
- Plain yogurt
- Raw fruits
- Raw veggies
“Raw carrots are a great, low-calorie snack that protects against cataracts and heart disease. Apples provide an excellent
source of pectin, which supports the digestive system,” she said.
Common Thanksgiving food that’s not safe to feed cats or dogs
What’s good for humans, in many cases, are not good options for our pets.
Bernal says to avoid feeding our four-legged friends grapes, raisins, onion and garlic. More foods that aren’t safe include:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Sweets (such as pies and cookies)
- Chocolates and candies
- Uncooked yeast dough
- Fatty foods
- Prepared foods (such as casseroles, creamed peas, etc.)
- Ham
- Stuffing
MacPete also advises telling your guests not to share what’s on their plate, either.
“I know it’s tempting, and it is the season of giving, but the problem is, sharing your food with your pets can cause a number of different health problems for your animals,” she said.
CBS News
Trump, Mexican president give differing reviews of “wonderful conversation” on border, illegal immigration
West Palm Beach, Fla. — President-elect Donald Trump declared a win on stopping illegal immigration through Mexico on Wednesday after talking with that country’s leader. But Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum suggested Mexico was already doing its part and had no interest in closing its borders.
The two spoke just days after Trump threatened to impose sweeping new tariffs on Canada and Mexico as part of his effort to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs — a threat that drew a prompt and terse response from Sheinbaum, who said any U.S. tariffs would be met with reciprocal measures from her government — stressing: “There is no subordination here.”
Trump said in his social media posts that Sheinbaum had “agreed to stop Migration through Mexico, and into the United States, effectively closing our Southern Border.”
Sheinbaum indicated on social media, however, that she’d “explained” to Trump that Mexico is already “taking care of” migrant caravans, calling it an “excellent conversation,” but indicating no major changes in her government’s policies.
“I explained to him the comprehensive strategy that Mexico has followed to address the migration phenomenon, respecting human rights. Thanks to this, migrants and caravans are assisted before they reach the border,” the Mexican leader wrote. “We reiterate that Mexico’s position is not to close borders but to build bridges between governments and between peoples.”
Trump’s social media posts about the borders — describing what he called “a wonderful conversation with Sheinbaum and suggesting Mexico had made concessions in the wake of his tariff threat — did move financial markets.
Even if the proposed tariffs fail to materialize, Trump may argue to his supporters that the mere possibility of them is an effective policy tool, and continue to rely on tariff threats.
But the only new policy clearly referenced by either leader in their social media posts Wednesday was a vow by Trump to launch a new national ad campaign warning against the dangers of fentanyl use.
Sheinbaum had said in her message that she and Trump, “also talked about reinforcing cooperation on security issues, within the framework of our sovereignty, and the campaign we are carrying out to prevent fentanyl consumption.”
In his third, rapid-fire post on his own Truth Social platform about their conversation, the president-elect said he would be “working on a large scale United States Advertising Campaign, explaining how bad Fentanyl is for people to use — Millions of lives being so needlessly destroyed. By the time the Campaign is over, everyone will know how really bad the horror of this Drug is.”
Illegal migration across the Mexico border is down in part because the Biden administration secured some stepped-up cooperation from Mexico — the sort Trump seems to be celebrating.
Arrivals at the U.S.-Mexico border have dropped 40% from an all-time high last December. U.S. officials mostly credit Mexican vigilance around rail yards and highway checkpoints.
Driven by mounting pressure from the U.S. to block migrants going north, in the past few years Mexican authorities have turned to sending them to southern Mexico, in a strategy seen by experts as an attempt to wear migrants out until they give up.
Neither side clarified any firm plans to impose new tariffs in their social media messages on Wednesdday. But their implementation could fuel higher prices for American consumers and slow economic growth, potentially blowing up the trade agreement among the U.S., Canada and Mexico that was finalized in 2020 during Trump’s previous time in the White House.
Trump on Monday said he would impose a 25% tax on all products entering the country from Canada and Mexico as one of his first executive orders upon taking office on Jan. 20. He also proposed an additional 10% tariff on China tied to its exporting of materials used in the production of fentanyl.
Through September, the United States has imported $378.9 billion in goods from Mexico, $322.2 billion from China and $309.3 billion from Canada.