Donald Trump plans to appoint billionaire Steven Feinberg as his second in command at the Pentagon. Albright Colby, known for his tough stance on China, has been chosen as deputy for policy.
Pope Francis has called for a ceasefire on all war fronts during Christmas. The pontiff condemned the bombing of schools, hospitals and churches in Ukraine and Gaza.
Olga Kharlan was recognized by the Ukrainian Fencing Association as the greatest athlete of all time. The fencer has 6 Olympic medals, 6 World Championship gold medals and 8 European Championship gold medals.
Israeli Prime Minister announced the continuation of the fight against Yemeni Houthis after a missile attack on Tel Aviv. Netanyahu called on citizens to be resilient and compared the Houthis to terrorist organizations.
Syria's General Command has appointed two new ministers from the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham opposition group. Asaad Hassan al-Shibani became the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Markhaf Abu Qasra became the Minister of Defense.
Donald Trump has promised to launch the largest deportation operation in US history after his inauguration in 2025. The plan includes closing the borders and mass deportation of illegal migrants.
Michael Carpenter said that Ukraine's membership in NATO could become a reality after the cessation of hostilities. He also supported the idea of creating a European military mission to guarantee Ukraine's security.
Cyclone Chido killed 94 people and injured 768 in Mozambique. The disaster with wind speeds of 260 km/h affected more than 622 thousand people and caused significant damage to infrastructure.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico visited Putin in Moscow over Ukraine's refusal to continue transiting Russian gas. Fico discussed with Putin the situation in Ukraine and the possibility of gas supplies after 2025.
China has imposed sanctions on two Canadian organizations and 20 individuals who defend the rights of Uyghurs and Tibetans. Restrictions include asset freezes and travel bans.
Negotiations between Israel and Hamas on a ceasefire are 90% complete. The main obstacle remains the issue of Israel's military presence in the Philadelphia Corridor.
Trump has promised to recognize only two genders at the state level and to ban “transgender madness. ” He also plans to launch the largest deportation operation of illegal immigrants in US history.
British musician Sting performed with Ukrainian soldier Taras Stolyar, who played “Shape of My Heart” on the bandura. The performance took place in Los Angeles at Sean Penn's house, after which Stolyar accompanied Sting at his solo concert.
There were 207 combat engagements in the frontline, with the largest number of attacks in the Liman and Vremivsk sectors - 36 attacks each. The occupants lost 390 troops in the Pokrovsk sector.
Robert Fico met with Putin in Moscow. The main topic of the talks was the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine to Europe after December 2024.
Salome Zurabishvili said “We are not afraid” in response to the threats of imprisonment from Prime Minister Kobakhidze. The President supported the protesters in Tbilisi and insisted that new parliamentary elections be called.
Russia issues fake documents with Russian names and a place of birth in Tuva to the North Korean military. The true origin was exposed through signatures in Korean in the documents of three liquidated soldiers.
A passenger plane crashed in the Brazilian city of Gramado, killing 9 people on board. The plane hit a chimney, crashed into a house and fell on a furniture store, and 15 more people were affected by smoke.
Russian propaganda spreads information about the preparation of a “powerful strike” on Kyiv using North Korean ballistic missiles. The CPJ calls for not to succumb to provocations and to follow safety rules.
About 200 combat engagements took place over the past day, with 47 attacks in the Vremivsk sector. The enemy was also actively attacking in the Kursk sector, where it made 41 attempts to advance.
IBF champion Daniel Dubois challenged Oleksandr Usyk to a rematch after the Ukrainian's victory over Fury. Usyk agreed and asked Turki Al Al-Sheikh to organize the fight.
The missile cruiser USS Gettysburg mistakenly shot down an F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet from its own strike group. Both pilots ejected and were rescued, one suffered minor injuries.
Over the past day, the Ukrainian Armed Forces killed 1,820 Russian soldiers and destroyed 15 tanks. Total Russian losses since the beginning of the war have reached 774,100 troops and thousands of pieces of equipment.
In Ukraine, rains and sleet are expected in most regions on December 22. In the south and Crimea, the temperature will rise to +10°, while in the Carpathians it will be down to -14°.
The United States has allocated $571 million in military aid to Taiwan, delegating the management of the funds to Anthony Blinken. China criticized this decision, calling it a violation of the “one-China principle” and promised to take action.
Jihadist militants carried out a series of attacks on six villages in the central region of Mali, killing more than 20 civilians. The attackers looted and burned the villages in the Bandiagara region, riding in on motorcycles.
Donald Trump has appointed TV producer Mark Burnett as the US Special Envoy to the United Kingdom. Burnett, a winner of 13 Emmy Awards, will be responsible for developing trade, investment and cultural exchange.
Poland's Defense Minister has declared his readiness to shoot down Russian missiles only if they threaten Polish territory. The country has strengthened its air defense system and has the support of NATO allies to protect its airspace.
The Cabinet of Ministers has included magnetic resonance imaging scanners in the list of medical devices to be procured at public expense. The list of medicines for the treatment of multiple sclerosis has also been updated.
In 2024, the area of potentially mined territories in Ukraine decreased by 17 thousand square kilometers to 139 thousand square kilometers. More than 2,500 square kilometers have been cleared of mines and 165 communities in seven regions have been surveyed.
