At least 25 people have died after a passenger boat capsized on the Yobe River in Nigeria. Of the 52 passengers, 13 have been rescued and 14 are missing.
On January 4, 2026, during the Angelus prayer, Pope Leo XIV called for solidarity with peoples suffering from wars. The Pontiff expressed concern about the situation in Venezuela, emphasizing the priority of the people's well-being and calling for a return to the rule of law.
Latvia will hand over 21 confiscated cars to Ukraine, seized from drunk drivers or as part of criminal proceedings. Among them is a 22-year-old luxury SUV, a 2003 Lincoln Navigator.
A vessel carrying over 200 migrants capsized off the coast of Gambia, with at least 102 people rescued and dozens still unaccounted for. Gambian President Adama Barrow confirmed seven deaths and promised an investigation.
Doctors from the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine successfully operated on a wounded soldier in the open sea, despite the threat of enemy fire and the lack of proper equipment. The soldier, suffering from blood loss and hypothermia, was brought to a platform where, after warming up, a 45-minute operation was performed.
Yurii Yastremskyi, a soldier of the 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade, sustained a shrapnel wound to the head and underwent complex rehabilitation. The MHP-Hromadi Charitable Foundation and the Makitra volunteer space provided him with adaptive clothing.
Donald Trump hosted a charity auction at his Mar-a-Lago club, where a portrait of Jesus Christ was sold for $2. 75 million. The proceeds will be donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the local sheriff's office.
Rain and snowfall caused widespread flooding in several regions of Afghanistan, killing 17 people and injuring 11. The disaster affected 1,800 families, damaging homes and infrastructure.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy honored 53 Ukrainian men and women from various regions of the country with state awards. Among the awardees are people who rescued the wounded, restored power plants, performed surgeries, and engaged in volunteering.
As a result of an enemy KAB strike on the territory of the ecopark in Kharkiv, a 40-year-old volunteer was injured. Birds also died and were injured.
Former special prosecutor Jack Smith said that Republicans, allies of Trump, were ready to testify against him in investigations into attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Smith emphasized that his arguments were based on the testimony of Republicans who put loyalty to the country above party.
Donald and Melania Trump hosted a New Year's Eve party at Mar-a-Lago, where the president held a charity auction. A painting of Jesus was sold for $2.75 million.
Veteran Ruslana Danilkina and Pavlo Simakin became the winners of "Dancing with the Stars" after their performance on December 28. The couple scored a maximum of 40 points from the jury for their rumba.
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 2025, Russians used over 60,000 guided aerial bombs, about 2,400 missiles, and over 100,000 drones. Air raid alerts sounded at least 19,033 times across Ukraine.
Since PURL was launched in August, 24 countries have joined it, and the total amount of contributions is $4. 3 billion. This allows for the purchase of American weapons, including missiles for Patriots, and strengthening Ukraine's defense.
Over 18 million Ukrainians have applied for the "Winter Support" program, significantly exceeding last year's figures. Most applications were submitted online, and the funds can be spent on Ukrainian-made goods, utility services, and medicines.
In Ukraine, volunteer registration has been simplified, and it is now possible to obtain extracts from the Register electronically. These changes are stipulated by the order of the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine dated 25.09.2025 No. 494.
The United Nations has approved a 7% budget cut to $3. 45 billion for 2026, which is $270 million less than the current budget. This decision is due to a financial crisis caused by US debt and involves cutting 2,900 positions.
The Danish postal service PostNord has stopped delivering letters due to a sharp decline in their use. The number of letters sent by mail in the country has decreased by more than 90 percent since 2000.
Japan has transferred approximately 47. 7 million euros for the reconstruction of Ukraine. The funds will be directed to support humanitarian demining, maintenance of energy infrastructure, and restoration of water supply systems.
Actor Idris Elba has been awarded a knighthood for his services to youth. He founded the Elba Hope Foundation, which provides grants to organizations in the UK, USA, and Africa.
In 2025, Ukraine attracted over $52. 4 billion in external aid, of which more than 70% came from frozen Russian assets. These funds allowed for the full provision of social and humanitarian expenditures, while domestic resources were directed to security and defense.
A mandatory evacuation has been announced from 43 settlements in the Synelnykove district of Dnipropetrovsk region, which will last 30 days from December 29, 2025. The reason is the worsening security situation.
The ECO MARKET supermarket chain has completed a charity fundraiser in support of the "Dronopad" project of the "Come Back Alive" Foundation, raising 1 million hryvnias. These funds are aimed at strengthening the counteraction to Russian drones, in particular reconnaissance and attack UAVs of the "Shahed" type.
The MHP-Community Charitable Foundation is scaling up its "Sport without limits" initiative for veterans, focusing on sitting volleyball. The project supports three teams, providing equipment and participation in competitions.
Ukraine received ambulances from Kazakhstan as part of humanitarian aid. The cost of the ambulances exceeded 9 million hryvnias, and they are equipped with modern equipment for emergency medical care.
The Bring Kids Back UA and Save Ukraine initiative announced the successful evacuation of a group of children from the temporarily occupied territories. Among those rescued are teenagers with congenital disabilities, former territorial defense fighters, and those who were forcibly attempted to be mobilized into the Russian army.
Abramovich's representatives stated that the funds from the sale of Chelsea cannot be transferred to a charitable foundation to support Ukraine until the government of Jersey stops its investigation against him. This refers to 1.4 billion pounds sterling frozen in the account of Fordstam Ltd.
Marta Levchenko, the founder of "City of Goodness," thanked Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko for introducing the position of a deputy specializing in the protection of children's rights. As a token of gratitude, Kravchenko received a personalized "golden brick" from the organization.
