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Russia-Ukraine war: Frontline update as of January 1

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Since the beginning of the day on January 1, 101 combat clashes have occurred at the front. The Russian troops are focusing their efforts in the Kurakhove, Pokrovsk, and Vremivka directions, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

According to the General Staff, border towns and villages continue to suffer from Russian artillery shelling. Today, affected settlements include Tymonovychi, Yanzhulivka, Karpovychi, Zaliznyi Most, Mykolaivka in the Chernihiv region, and Tymofiivka in the Sumy region.

Frontline situation

In the Kupiansk direction, the enemy has made three attempts to advance towards our positions in the areas of Koliskivka, Zahryzove, and Nova Kruhlyakivka since the start of the day.

The aggressor has also increased the number of attacks to six in the Lyman direction, attacking near Novoserhiivka, Tverdokhlibove, Kopanky, Makiivka, and Ivanivka.

In the Kramatorsk direction, our defenders repelled nine attacks by the enemy near Chasiv Yar, Stupochky, and Predtechyne. One combat clash is ongoing.

In the Toretsk direction, the enemy attempted to advance five times in the areas of Toretsk and in the direction of Shcherbynivka. Fighting is currently ongoing.

Enemy activity is also sustained in the Pokrovsk direction. Seventeen clashes of varying intensity have occurred today. Enemy attacks have been repelled in the areas of Vozdvyzhenka, Myrolyubivka, Lysivka, Novyi Trud, Solone, Kotlyne, Pishchane, Pokrovsk, Novooleksiivka, and Novovasylivka. Seven clashes are still ongoing.

Intense fighting took place in the Kurakhove direction. 11 combat clashes took place throughout the day near Ukrainka, Petropavlivka, and Kurakhove, with three enemy attacks still ongoing.

In the Vremivka direction, the aggressor launched 12 attacks on our positions near Dachne, Kostiantynopil, Yantarne, Novosilka, Rozlyv, and Novyi Komar. Five combat clashes are ongoing.

In the Orikhiv direction, one combat clash occurred near Novoandriivka since the start of the day, with no success for the enemy.

Today, in the Prydniprovskyi direction, Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled one attempt by the enemy to push our forces from their positions.

In the Kharkiv, Huliaipole, and Siversk directions, the enemy has not carried out any active operations since the start of the day.

In the Kursk region, Ukrainian defenders repelled 31 enemy attacks, with two combat clashes ongoing. Additionally, the enemy launched one missile strike and nine airstrikes, using seven missiles and eleven guided bombs, and carried out 198 artillery shellings on our positions and settlements.

No significant changes have occurred in the remaining directions.

Russian losses in Ukraine

As of the morning of January 1, the Russian losses in Ukraine amounted to 1,250 military personnel on December 31. Ukrainian forces destroyed 4 tanks, 13 armored fighting vehicles, 4 artillery systems, 1 helicopter, 50 operational-tactical UAVs, 49 vehicles, and 1 unit of special equipment belonging to the enemy.


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NPR News: 01-01-2025 11AM EST

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NPR News: 01-01-2025 11AM EST Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

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AP Headline News – Jan 01 2025 11:00 (EST)

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‘It Ends With Us’ director Justin Baldoni sues New York Times for libel over Blake Lively story

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AP correspondent Margie Szaroleta reports actor Blake Lively has sued “It Ends With Us” co-star and director Justin Baldoni, which comes just after he sued The New York Times for libel on Lively’s allegations against him.

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Bitcoin could double in value by 2025

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Throughout 2024, Bitcoin more than doubled in value. However, there is a likelihood that its price will continue to rise this year, according to Reuters.

Earlier this month, the world’s largest and most well-known cryptocurrency reached $100,000. Analysts believe that Bitcoin prices could rise even more significantly in 2025 than they did last year.

“We remain convinced $100,000 is not the final milestone. We expect Bitcoin to hit a cycle-high of $200,000 in late 2025,” analysts at brokerage Bernstein wrote.

A brokerage firm stated that they see Bitcoin as having the potential to become the leading asset of the new era, gradually replacing gold over the next decade.

They also believe that cryptocurrency will become an essential part of institutional asset allocation and a standard for corporate treasury management.

On December 5, Bitcoin reached a historic milestone of $100,000.

Notably, Anton Kharitonov, an analyst and expert at Traders Union, predicted this growth long before it began. He has also stated that in the second half of 2025, Bitcoin could reach $200,000.

Moreover, Kharitonov forecasts that by 2030, Bitcoin could hit $1 million.


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Audio Posts: Selected Articles

Bitcoin could double in value by 2025

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Throughout 2024, Bitcoin more than doubled in value. However, there is a likelihood that its price will continue to rise this year, according to Reuters.

Earlier this month, the world’s largest and most well-known cryptocurrency reached $100,000. Analysts believe that Bitcoin prices could rise even more significantly in 2025 than they did last year.

“We remain convinced $100,000 is not the final milestone. We expect Bitcoin to hit a cycle-high of $200,000 in late 2025,” analysts at brokerage Bernstein wrote.

A brokerage firm stated that they see Bitcoin as having the potential to become the leading asset of the new era, gradually replacing gold over the next decade.

They also believe that cryptocurrency will become an essential part of institutional asset allocation and a standard for corporate treasury management.

On December 5, Bitcoin reached a historic milestone of $100,000.

Notably, Anton Kharitonov, an analyst and expert at Traders Union, predicted this growth long before it began. He has also stated that in the second half of 2025, Bitcoin could reach $200,000.

Moreover, Kharitonov forecasts that by 2030, Bitcoin could hit $1 million.


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Belgium first in EU to ban sale of disposable vapes

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Belgium becomes the first European Union country to ban the sale of disposable vapes. The new regulations took effect on January 1, 2025, The Guardian reports.

Belgium decided to ban the sale of disposable vapes for public health and environmental reasons.

A ban on outdoor smoking also came into effect in Milan on the same day, as EU countries discuss stricter tobacco control measures.

Last year, Belgium’s Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke announced the ban, calling e-cigarettes “extremely harmful” to society and the environment.

“Disposable e-cigarettes is a new product simply designed to attract new consumers. E-cigarettes often contain nicotine. Nicotine makes you addicted to nicotine. Nicotine is bad for your health,” he stated.

The minister also highlighted the “hazardous chemical waste” present in cheap, widely available disposable vapes.

Belgium aims to reduce the number of new smokers to zero, or nearly zero, by 2040 and is implementing additional measures to “discourage and denormalise” smoking.

For context, New Zealand and Sweden have recently achieved unprecedented reductions in smoking rates by encouraging smokers to switch to lower-risk alternatives such as vaping and snus. These countries are now on the verge of becoming smoke-free.


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Belgium first in EU to ban sale of disposable vapes

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Belgium becomes the first European Union country to ban the sale of disposable vapes. The new regulations took effect on January 1, 2025, The Guardian reports.

Belgium decided to ban the sale of disposable vapes for public health and environmental reasons.

A ban on outdoor smoking also came into effect in Milan on the same day, as EU countries discuss stricter tobacco control measures.

Last year, Belgium’s Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke announced the ban, calling e-cigarettes “extremely harmful” to society and the environment.

“Disposable e-cigarettes is a new product simply designed to attract new consumers. E-cigarettes often contain nicotine. Nicotine makes you addicted to nicotine. Nicotine is bad for your health,” he stated.

The minister also highlighted the “hazardous chemical waste” present in cheap, widely available disposable vapes.

Belgium aims to reduce the number of new smokers to zero, or nearly zero, by 2040 and is implementing additional measures to “discourage and denormalise” smoking.

For context, New Zealand and Sweden have recently achieved unprecedented reductions in smoking rates by encouraging smokers to switch to lower-risk alternatives such as vaping and snus. These countries are now on the verge of becoming smoke-free.


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Israeli strikes kill 12 in Gaza as war grinds into the new year with no end in sight

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AP correspondent Naeun Kim reports on the latest casualties in the Gaza Strip, as the nearly 15-month war grinds on into the new year.

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Chaos engulfs Brussels on New Year’s Eve

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On New Year’s Eve in the Belgian capital, Brussels, 159 individuals were arrested for disturbing public order. They burned dozens of cars and attacked rescue services, according to Politico.

Between 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday and 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, police arrested 159 individuals and responded to over 1,700 incidents across the city. Most disturbances occurred in the western and southern districts of Brussels, particularly in the municipalities of Molenbeek and Anderlecht.

The Brussels fire department reported that at least 60 cars were burned. Firefighters trying to extinguish the flames were pelted with stones and Molotov cocktails.

Riots and fires were also reported in Antwerp, Belgium’s second-largest city, where 49 arrests were made.

“It was really crazy. We were there to help, and we were getting Molotov cocktails thrown at us,” said Walter Deriu, a spokesperson for the Brussels fire department.

The New Year’s Eve riots have become a regular occurrence in Belgium. In 2023, over 200 people were detained in Brussels, while in 2022, the number was 160.

Terrorist attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Eve

Today, on January 1, a pickup truck drove into a large crowd during New Year’s celebrations in New Orleans. According to preliminary data, 10 people were killed and 30 others were injured.

It’s also worth noting that a similar terrorist attack recently took place in Germany, where a car drove into people at a Christmas market.


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