Stepan Haftko
Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka met with Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Zvarych. They discussed the mood in Czech society and the recent public discussion regarding the New Year's address by Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Tomio Okamura.
CAR President Faustin-Archange Touadéra won the elections on December 28, 2025, securing 74. 6% of the votes. His victory was made possible by the 2023 constitutional referendum, which abolished term limits for presidents.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported the detection of 15 North Atlantic right whale calves. For the full recovery of the species, at least 50 calves must be born annually.
The leaders of China and South Korea have agreed to intensify trade cooperation and protect regional stability. The visit of South Korean leader Lee Jae-myung took place against the backdrop of North Korea's ballistic missile tests.
The IDF has resumed strikes on Lebanese territory, where, according to the Israeli military, Hamas and Hezbollah militants are located.
Nine Nigerian soldiers were killed and five wounded in an attack by militants in Borno State. A military convoy was ambushed near Bindundul village, where one of the armored vehicles hit a mine.
Tankers with Venezuelan oil and fuel have left the country's territorial waters, ignoring the US naval blockade. This happened after President Donald Trump imposed a blockade on all sanctioned tankers in December 2025.
The Swiss government has frozen the assets of Nicolas Maduro and 37 of his associates for four years to prevent the withdrawal of illegally obtained funds. The sanctions do not apply to current members of the Venezuelan government, and Switzerland is ready to return illegal funds to the people.
The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on the US military operation in Venezuela, during which Nicolas Maduro was arrested. Venezuela condemned the US actions as an illegal armed attack, while the US called it a law enforcement operation.
The European Commission and the British regulator Ofcom are demanding explanations from X over the dissemination of intimate images created by Grok AI. European Commission spokesman Thomas Regnier stated that such content grossly violates European law.
In a confidential OPLAN document, the German Ministry of Defense views Russia's intensified covert attacks on critical infrastructure as a prelude to a large-scale armed confrontation. German intelligence predicts that Russia aims to develop strategic capabilities for a full-scale war against NATO by 2029.
The number of signatures on petitions to deport Nicki Minaj is rapidly growing. The reasons are her political views and support for Donald Trump, as well as her marriage to a convicted sex offender.
Latvian police are investigating damage to the Palanga-Liepāja optical cable, considering versions of weather conditions and deliberate interference. The vessel Silver Copenhagen, previously suspected, was found not to be involved in the incident.
President Zelenskyy signed Decree No. 20/2026, which introduced Kyrylo Budanov to the National Security and Defense Council as the Head of the President's Office. At the same time, O. Ivashchenko was removed from the Council.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegset mocked the effectiveness of Russian air defense systems in Venezuela after a US operation in Caracas. He noted that Russian systems failed to activate when US special forces operated in the center of the capital.
Northern France has been gripped by a snow cyclone, causing transport collapse and record traffic jams in Île-de-France. An orange alert has been declared in 26 departments, and road traffic remains critical.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned of a humanitarian energy catastrophe in Ukraine due to Russian strikes on civilian infrastructure. He emphasized that Russia's actions bear the hallmarks of war crimes, and lasting peace is only possible with effective security guarantees for Ukraine.
World oil prices fell on January 5, despite geopolitical tensions following the detention of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The market remains stable due to an oversupply of global crude oil reserves.
US President Donald Trump has warned Venezuela's new leader, Delcy Rodriguez, of severe consequences if she does not change the country's political course. The statement comes amid preparations for the trial of ousted Nicolas Maduro in New York.
The price of Bitcoin reached $93,323 on January 5, updating a three-week high. This happened after the capture of Venezuelan President Maduro, which caused the crypto market to grow.
Russia claims that Ukraine has been attacking Moscow daily with drones since the beginning of 2026, considering it an escalation. By January 4, 437 drones were allegedly shot down over Russia, including 57 over the Moscow region, causing flight delays at Moscow airports.
Samsung plans to double the number of mobile devices featuring Google's Gemini platform to 800 million units by 2026. The company aims to integrate AI into all its products, including mobile devices, televisions, and home appliances.
Over the past day, Ukrainian defenders eliminated 990 occupiers, bringing the total losses of the Russian army to 1,212,520 military personnel. The enemy suffered the greatest losses in drones and artillery.
At the first auction of 2026 in Tokyo, a 243 kg tuna was sold for $3. 2 million to Kiyomura Corp. The owner of the Sushi Zanmai sushi bar chain set a new record, surpassing his 2019 figure.
Donald Trump threatened Colombia with a military operation, accusing President Gustavo Petro of facilitating drug trafficking. This happened after the detention of Nicolás Maduro, which indicates increased US pressure on Latin American leaders.
As a result of the night attack by Russian troops on Kyiv on January 5, one person died and three were injured in a medical facility in the Obolonskyi district. A shell hit a four-story building where an inpatient department with patients was operating.
Hyundai Motor Co. Executive Chairman Chung Euisun predicted an extremely difficult period for the global automotive industry due to trade tensions, geopolitical conflicts, and increased competition. The company plans to invest 125 trillion won in new technologies over the next five years.
Russia continues to export LNG from the sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project in winter, using only one vessel. This highlights Moscow's critical dependence on its icebreaking fleet to circumvent Western restrictions.
Donald Trump stated that he does not believe the reports of a Ukrainian attack on Vladimir Putin's residence. He noted that the available information does not confirm the fact of a targeted strike.
As a result of the night shelling of the Kyiv region, a civilian born in 1951 died in the Fastiv district. The city of Slavutych was left without electricity, critical infrastructure facilities were switched to backup power.