Stepan Haftko
President Zelenskyy held a conversation with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides regarding the priorities of Cyprus's presidency of the EU Council, which begins on January 1, 2026. Ukraine expects continued support and emphasizes the importance of EU membership as a guarantee of security.
Mamdani became New York's first Muslim mayor, taking the oath of office on January 1. He used the Quran for the ceremony, a first in the city's history.
As of January 1, changes to the Calendar of Preventive Vaccinations came into force in Ukraine, aligning it with European standards. The document includes 11 mandatory free vaccinations, including a new vaccination against human papillomavirus infection for girls aged 12-13 and revised dates for MMR vaccination.
The International Space Station has published unique images of sunrises and sunsets taken from aboard the orbital laboratory in early 2026. The ISS crew observes 16 such phenomena daily due to the peculiarities of the station's trajectory.
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has captured images of a massive disk of gas and dust where planets are forming. Object IRAS 23077+6707, located 1,000 light-years away, is 40 times larger than the Solar System.
As of January 1, an updated procedure for military training of reserve officers, stipulated by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 1612, is in force in Ukraine. The program allows citizens to obtain an officer rank and prepare for contract or conscription service.
Brazil's Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes rejected the defense's request for former President Jair Bolsonaro to be placed under house arrest. The politician will remain in custody, as the court found no new facts to change previous decisions, and medical reports indicate an improvement in his condition.
Former football player Roberto Carlos denied rumors of deteriorating health after a planned medical procedure. The 52-year-old former Real Madrid defender announced the successful completion of the examination, denying information about a heart attack.
Bloomberg presented a review of the 11 most anticipated hotel properties scheduled to open in 2026. The list includes private island resorts and renovated historic palaces in major metropolises.
Donald Trump told reporters about his health and that he relies on his "good genetics" and often does not follow doctors' recommendations.
The National Resistance Center published New Year greetings from Ukrainians in the temporarily occupied territories. Residents of the captured cities conveyed words of support and holiday wishes, demonstrating their loyalty to Ukraine.
The Customs Service reports that a new procedure for paying customs duties when clearing goods under a single administrative document is coming into force.
Donald Trump announced the start of construction of an Arc de Triomphe in Washington, modeled after the Parisian one, within two months. The monument is planned to be unveiled by July 4, 2026, as part of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States.
On December 31, 120 combat engagements were recorded at the front, Russian troops launched 46 air strikes and used 4,659 drones. The most tense situation remains in the Pokrovsk direction, where the enemy tried to break through the defense 27 times.
The first to welcome 2026 were Oceania and Asia, where celebrations are accompanied by pyrotechnic shows and traditional rituals. New Zealand greeted the year with a five-minute fireworks display over Sky Tower, while Sydney honored the victims of the terrorist attack with a minute of silence and projections on the Harbour Bridge.
Trump reposted a NY Post article claiming that Russia is the only obstacle to ending the war. The material states that Putin systematically opposes Trump's policies, and his statements are a manipulation to disrupt peace initiatives.
In England, trains were canceled and delayed on New Year's Eve due to the theft of 200 meters of signal cables between Doncaster and Sheffield. This led to the cancellation of 13 services and the delay of 83 trains for more than 15 hours.
Estonia will chair the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) format from January 1, 2026, coordinating the efforts of eight countries. Key priorities include supporting Ukraine and increasing pressure on the aggressor.
The State Emergency Service summarized its work for 2025, having made almost half a million deployments. Rescuers extinguished 92,892 fires and saved 7,757 people.
Iran has appointed a new head of the Central Bank, Abdolnaser Hemmati, who replaced Mohammad Reza Farzin. This happened amid the sharpest economic crisis in three years and protests over the record depreciation of the rial.
On January 19, the French parliament will consider a bill on strict restrictions on the use of digital technologies by minors. The initiative proposes to ban access to social networks for children under 15 and to extend the ban on mobile phones to high schools.
Taiwan remains on high alert after the completion of large-scale Chinese military maneuvers "Mission Justice 2025". Despite the withdrawal of PRC ships, the island's coast guard continues enhanced monitoring of fleet movements.
On December 31, a large-scale blackout occurred in Domodedovo, leaving residents without electricity, water, and heating. The cause is said to be a power surge that led to a system failure.
A UN team visited Al-Fashir in Sudan after its capture, confirming a catastrophic humanitarian situation and signs of mass killings. Hundreds of people remain in the city without access to water, medicine, and food.
In Florida, 52 black bears were reported killed during the first hunting season since 2015, despite activist opposition. 172 individuals participated in the hunt, selected from 160,000 applicants, and activists bought some permits to prevent the killing of animals.
Donald Trump's TMTG corporation is launching a new digital token that will be distributed among the company's investors. Token holders will receive rewards, discounts, and bonuses related to products within the Trump Media ecosystem.
Ferrari has filed an application to register the name "HC25" with the World Intellectual Property Office, indicating the preparation of a new unique supercar from its special projects line. Experts suggest that the name may refer to the customer's initials, a limited series, or a dedication to the 25th anniversary of an event or model.
Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba summarized the results of 2025 in the transport industry, noting an increase in seats on international trains and the launch of the Eurotrack. The "transport visa-free regime" with the EU was extended, and digital systems such as eCherha and e-TTN were introduced.
Japan, South and North Korea officially entered the New Year. Traditional ceremonies were held in Seoul and Japan, and a large-scale fireworks display in Pyongyang.
Since September 2025, over 1200 IDPs and residents of frontline territories have applied for preferential mortgages. The state covers 70% of the down payment and monthly payments, as well as 40 thousand hryvnias for related expenses.