Animals
In Odesa region, an 11-year-old boy was swinging a dog on a leash and threw it off a slope, treating it as a game. The police filed a report against his mother for failing to fulfill her parental duties; the animal was not harmed.
Authorities have announced the mandatory evacuation of children from five settlements in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The decision concerns 40 children from 26 families, who will be accommodated in Cherkasy Oblast.
Rescuers of the State Emergency Service evacuated the last resident of the village of Novokryvorizhzhia, Kryvorizka community, Donetsk region. The woman, born in 1956, was taken out along with her pets.
In Kyiv Oblast, the police are investigating the circumstances of animal cruelty. A deceased dog with injuries was found in the village of Muzychi.
Police officers of the "White Angel" special unit evacuated a man with a dog from a frontline village. He lost his home due to the war and got lost, having vision problems. The crew found them and took them to a safe place.
Archaeologists and students from Texas Tech University have discovered the remains of an 18th-century Spanish mission in Jackson County, Texas. This discovery fills a gap in the historical records of early Texas.
New research from the University of Maryland shows that young dinosaurs quickly became independent, unlike mammalian offspring. This changes our understanding of the ecological diversity of the Mesozoic, where young dinosaurs functioned as separate ecological units.
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced that the Government has instructed to ensure the uninterrupted operation of invincibility points. Almost 1300 points are operating in Kyiv, 6908 have been deployed across the country, and another 2703 are in reserve.
In the Lviv region, a car driver ran over a dog twice, which was captured on video. The police are establishing the circumstances, the vehicle, and the identity of the driver.
56-year-old Arlene Lillis from Minnesota died after a shark attack off the island of St. Croix. This is the second such incident in ten years in the region.
In Lviv, a pair of swans from Levandivske Lake were temporarily moved to the Home for Rescued Animals due to approaching frosts of up to -20°C. The birds will remain there until the weather warms up; the rescue operation was successful.
French farmers have blocked roads to Paris and landmarks, protesting against the EU-Mercosur trade agreement. They demand an end to government policies destroying cattle herds.
The Kyiv City State Administration urges Kyiv residents and guests of the capital to take care of their safety in advance due to the cold weather and possible enemy shelling of the energy system. Communal services are already working in an enhanced mode, 69 mobile boiler houses have been prepared.
In 2025, Ukrzaliznytsia recorded 20,861 reports of lost items, which is 21. 6% more than last year. Among the unusual finds were a saber, a potted flower, and an avalanche warning signal.
In Hungary, the burials of three elite warriors, approximately 1,100 years old, have been discovered, with DNA analysis confirming their paternal kinship. The men were buried in the 920s or 930s, likely after participating in military campaigns in Italy.
New research confirms the Younger Dryas impact hypothesis, where a fragmented comet exploded over North America. This led to the extinction of mammoths and the decline of the ancient Clovis culture.
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.
New burial trenches have been recorded in temporarily occupied Mariupol, linked to the exhumation of bodies and rising mortality among the civilian population. Local authorities and the Center for the Study of Occupation report a shocking scale of new burials in the third year of occupation.
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.
Veterinarians claim that cats remember their owners for months or years, associating them with safety, smells, and daily routines. Research confirms that 80% of owners have noticed their pets' ability to recall past events through familiar triggers.
Kyiv region police are investigating animal cruelty. An 18-year-old girl threw a kitten against a wall, filming it on video, and now the animals are receiving help at a veterinary clinic.
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.
The Center for Countering Disinformation has uncovered a new Russian tactic on TikTok: mass registration of accounts before holidays with emotional AI content. After gaining an audience, the profiles change their theme, promoting manipulative narratives.
On January 1, explosions occurred in Kerch, with more than 10 blasts recorded. Russian air defense systems are also reported to be operating.
Kyiv law enforcement officers receive thousands of calls every day, some of which are unusual. The Kyiv police shared a selection of curious calls received on the 102 line.
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.
The first full moon of 2026, known as the "Wolf Moon," will be the fourth consecutive supermoon. It will peak on January 3 at 12:02 PM Kyiv time and will appear larger and brighter due to its proximity to Earth.
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.
After Russian attacks in the Pivdennyi port near Odesa, sunflower oil polluted the coast and the Adzhalyk estuary. According to Greenpeace Ukraine, the pollution could remain on the seabed for over 6 years, harming wildlife.
Ukrzaliznytsia has prepared 100 "Invincibility Carriages" as mobile heating points in response to power outages. These carriages are equipped with heating, charging devices, microwaves, refrigerators, and Starlink, and can be moved at the request of local authorities.