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Chasiv Yar (Ukraine) (AFP) – Orthodox Christians in a battered eastern Ukrainian town hold a Christmas service in a basement shelter, vowing not to let war ruin the holiday.

Shanghai (AFP) – First passengers arrive in Shanghai as China lifts quarantine requirements for inbound travellers, ending almost three years of self-imposed isolation even as the country battles a surge in Covid cases. IMAGES

Culiacán (Mexico) (AFP) – Burnt out vehicles line the streets of Mexico’s northwestern city Culiacan after furious cartel members went on a rampage following the arrest of Ovidio Guzman, son of jailed drug trafficker Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. The 32-year-old, nicknamed “El Raton” (The Mouse), had allegedly helped to run his father’s operations since the former Sinaloa cartel boss was extradited to the United States in 2017.

Leysin (Switzerland) (AFP) – “It’s like the snow in spring, but in January!” laments one skier in the Swiss resort of Leysin, as Europe’s record-breaking winter temperatures melt the snow from ski slopes in the Alps and Pyrenees.

Moscow (AFP) – Russian President Vladimir Putin stands alone at a midnight service at a Kremlin church as he marks Orthodox Christmas darkened by Moscow’s assault on Ukraine. Putin attended the service at the Cathedral of the Annunciation, originally designed as a church for the Russian tsars.

Washington (AFP) – Republican favorite Kevin McCarthy is named speaker of the US House of Representatives as he quelled a fierce rebellion among his party’s ranks that had paralyzed the lower chamber of Congress for days.

Washington (AFP) – The United States announces $3 billion in military assistance for Ukraine, which White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says is the largest aid package for Kyiv to date.

Chasiv Yar (Ukraine) (AFP) – Many towns across eastern Ukraine’s hard-hit Donetsk region have seen dramatic falls in population, with those remaining being primarily the elderly and people with limited mobility. “All the young people left” explains Yulia Tuskova, an 88-year old, as she carries plastic sheeting home to cover her damaged windows, “only the old people remain”. The situation is growing worse as intense fighting in the region continues and winter conditions grow harsher.

Vatican City (AFP) – Pope Francis wishes a Happy Orthodox Christmas to the Ukrainian people during his Angelus prayer, and wishes for peace in the region. Speaking to crowds gathered in Saint Peter’s Square in the Vatican after a mass celebrating Epiphany, Francis says “may the birth of the Saviour infuse comfort, infuse hope and inspire concrete steps that can finally lead to the end of the fighting.”

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Rio de Janeiro inaugurates the ‘Avenida Rei Pele’ (‘King Pele Avenue’) in front of the iconic Maracana stadium, in honour of the Brazilian football legend who died on December 29 at the age of 82 after fighting cancer. “I think it’s very important, in front of the Maracana, where he scored his thousandth goal,” says Gomes Quintans, mayor of the Tijuca neighbourhood, “he said goodbye to the Brazilian national team here in 1971 against Yugoslavia,” he adds.

Hawaii Kilauea (United States) (AFP) – Video released by Hawaii Volcanoes National Park shows a lava fountain during the first hour of the eruption of Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano. Fissures at the base of Halemaʻumaʻu crater generated lava flows on the surface of the crater floor. The activity remained confined to Halemaʻumaʻu crater in Kilauea’s summit caldera.

Mazatlán (Mexico) (AFP) – Smoke billows from a vehicle in flames amid a security operation in northwest Mexico, where security forces captured a son of jailed drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.