1:49PM Pope's Peaceful Visions: The Pope's holiday address this year echoed hope for peace, particularly in strife-torn regions like Ukraine. A predominantly Christian Orthodox nation, Ukraine celebrated Christmas on December 25 for the first time this year instead of its traditional January 7 date. Additionally, the Pope prayed for peace in Armenia and Azerbaijan, two warring Caucasus states. The Pope's plea for tranquility was not a new call - last year, he had vainly hoped for an end to the senseless war in Ukraine. However, this holiday season, the conflict in Ukraine is joined by another active warzone - the Israel-Hamas dispute in the Gaza Strip.
1:15PM Athletes' Absence at the Olympics: The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) announced that Russian and Belarusian athletes would not participate in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The decision was based on the athletes' inability to compete due to their countries' absence from FEI events since March 2, 2022, a direct consequence of the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine.
12:48PM World Bank Aid to Ukraine: Ukraine will receive €1.22 billion from the World Bank to compensate non-military expenditures. The funds will be allocated for social welfare benefits, salaries for state service workers, and other essential expenditures.
12:16PM Donated Cars from Latvia: In a significant support to Ukraine, Latvia has dispatched vehicles previously seized from drunk drivers to Ukraine. A law passed in February last year allows Latvia to donate these confiscated vehicles, which have already reached Ukraine with an estimated total value of €990,000.
10:36AM UAV Attacks in Odessa: According to the Ukrainian military, Russian drone strikes on Odessa have caused infrastructure damage and initiated a fire. The Ukrainian military claims to have shot down 28 of the 31 drones and two missiles during the attack, with no reported casualties.
10:09AM Ukrainian Christmas Celebrations: Ukrainian Orthodox Christians marked their Christmas celebration on December 25 for the first time, moving away from the traditional January 7 date. Only the Orthodox Church linked to Moscow remains committed to the old date.
Enrichment Insights:
In the midst of military aggressions and cyber warfare, Ukraine and its people are in dire need of humanitarian aid. The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has led to significant human and economic losses, including over 1.1 million displaced persons and severe economic consequences for both countries. The European Council of Europe, the United Nations, and international organizations have taken steps to support Ukraine, including providing humanitarian aid, excluding Russia, and urging peace and dialogue. Meanwhile, neighboring countries and countries farther afield have also released statements of condemnation and support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
