Donald Trump has selected Morgan Ortagus, a former State Department spokeswoman, to serve as deputy special envoy for peace. She will join Steve Witkoff's team to work on the Gaza peace process and the agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
St. Petersburg's Pulkovo airport has restricted arrivals and departures for the second time in 24 hours. Six planes were redirected to a waiting area near Lake Ladoga due to a possible threat of a drone attack.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has updated the data on the losses of the Russian occupiers as of January 4. The enemy's total losses amounted to 794,760 troops, 9679 tanks and over 3000 cruise missiles were destroyed.
On January 4, Ukraine is expected to experience a cold snap with snow and ice, with temperatures ranging from -3° to +2°. Traffic on the roads will be hampered by weather conditions, with winds of up to 18 m/s.
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly had her first conversation with her Ukrainian counterpart after taking over the G7 presidency. She confirmed that Ukraine remains a priority for the G7.
There is one Russian ship carrying Kalibr cruise missiles in the Black Sea, but without ammunition. There are 7 enemy ships in the Mediterranean, 2 of which have up to 22 Kalibr missiles on board.
After 5 people were killed on New Year's Eve, a petition to ban fireworks gained 270,000 signatures. Chancellor Scholz plans to limit the sale of fireworks, but a complete ban is controversial among politicians.
37-year-old Special Forces officer Matthew Leavensberger blew up a Tesla Cybertruck near a hotel in Las Vegas and was killed. In his suicide note, he called his act a “wake-up call” for the country.
The US State Department informs Congress of plans to sell Israel $8 billion worth of weapons. The deal includes ammunition for fighter jets, helicopters, and artillery shells.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the number of protective structures in Ukraine has increased from 20 to 62 thousand. The requirements for the design of shelters have changed, including an increase in the minimum height to 2.5 meters.
In the occupied territories of Ukraine, children are forced to watch Putin's three-minute address before the start of the festivities. The occupiers are developing a cult of the Russian dictator's personality among children.
The Biden administration is planning to introduce new rules that will limit China's access to powerful GPUs for AI. The restrictions are aimed at controlling global chip supplies and eliminating regulatory loopholes.
In Zakarpattia, law enforcement officers detained a border guard on receiving a bribe. In exchange for money in the amount of 2 to 5 thousand dollars, the man helped smugglers of persons liable for military service by providing them with information on the movement of border patrols and the location of video surveillance equipment in the area of his unit.
Russian invaders are planning to demolish 90 high-rise buildings in occupied Siverskodonetsk instead of the previously announced 30. The occupiers are also introducing tax breaks for residents of the “LPR” for passing the TRP standards.
Vivek Murthy is calling for cancer risk warnings to be placed on alcoholic beverage labels. Alcohol is the third leading cause of cancer in the United States, causing 20,000 deaths annually.
Residents of the capital of Montenegro protested the massacre, accusing the authorities of inaction. The protesters demanded the resignation of the heads of the police and the Interior Ministry because of the slow response to the tragedy.
The occupiers intend to double the number of “Unarmy” centers in the TOT by 2025. Russia also plans to expand the network of the First Movement and the Warrior military centers to recruit Ukrainian teenagers.
Judge Juan Merchant rejected a motion to overturn the verdict in the case of payments to the porn star, but hinted at avoiding imprisonment. Trump was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying documents.
In Bratislava, 4,000 people protested against Prime Minister Fico's pro-Russian policies. Protesters with EU flags accused Fico of “treason” and called on him to “go to Moscow.
George Meloni called Elon Musk a “brilliant man” and “a great personality of our time. ” The Italian prime minister criticized those who changed their attitude to the billionaire because of his position.
The US State Department has approved the sale of 20 light torpedoes and related equipment to Saudi Arabia. The contractor will be the American company RTX Corporation, with the deal worth $78.5 million.
The President of Ukraine congratulated Mike Johnson on his re-election as Speaker of the U. S. House of Representatives. Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of the House's future decisions for establishing lasting peace in Ukraine.
The 25th meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine's Defense will take place in January in Germany. Participants will focus on practical steps to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities.
Russian occupation forces shelled Korabelny district of Kherson around 20:00. As a result of the attack, a 56-year-old local resident sustained a mine-blast injury and a back injury.
Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov met with the Austrian Ambassador to Ukraine to discuss support for Ukrainian communities abroad. A working trip to Austria is planned to discuss the needs of Ukrainians and present new initiatives.
Rescuers have completed the rubble removal of a residential building in Kyiv's Pechersk district after the January 1 Russian attack. They removed 850 tons of debris and rescued 4 people, 2 dead and 4 injured.
A Finnish court has rejected a petition to release the Eagle S tanker from the “shadow fleet” that damaged energy and communication cables. The Cook Islands-flagged vessel is suspected of serious crimes.
There were 138 combat engagements in the frontline, most of them in the Pokrovske and Kursk sectors. The occupants carried out 5 missile and 45 air strikes, and used 847 kamikaze drones.
The fifth round of negotiations between Ukraine and the United Kingdom on a deepening partnership agreement was held. The draft document is at the final stage of approval.
In 2024, the number of asylum applications in Germany decreased by 30% compared to the previous year, to 230 thousand. This is one of the highest figures in the country's history after the Yugoslav wars and the 2015-2016 migration crisis.
