ZELENSKY, PUTIN PROMISE VICTORY IN CONTRASTING NEW YEAR SPEECHES

The leaders of Ukraine and Russia both vowed to push for victory in New Year speeches, but while Volodymyr Zelensky spoke of gratitude and pain, Vladimir Putin urged duty to Russia, casting the war as a near-existential fight.

Zelensky, recalling some of the most dramatic moments and victories of the war, filled his emotional 17-minute video message with footage of Russia’s attacks on the country and words of pride for Ukrainians withstanding attacks, darkness and cold.

“We were told: you have no other option but to surrender. We say: we have no other option than to win,” said Zelenskiy, dressed in his trademark khaki outfit and standing in darkness with the Ukrainian flag fluttering behind.

“We fight as one team – the whole country, all our regions. I admire you all.”

A few minutes after Zelensky’s speech – released just before midnight Kyiv time on New Year’s Eve – numerous blasts were heard in the capital and around the country. The attacks followed a barrage of more than 20 cruise missiles fired across Ukraine on Saturday – and many bombardments earlier.

Putin, breaking with tradition by delivering the New Year message flanked by troops rather than the Kremlin’s walls, talked sternly and combatively about 2022 as the year that “clearly separated courage and heroism from betrayal and cowardice.”

While trying to rally support among Russians amid embarrassing battlefield setbacks and growing internal criticism of his military strategy, Putin thanked Russian troops, but he also demanded more from them.

“The main thing is the fate of Russia,” Putin, dressed in a dark suit and tie, said. “Defense of the fatherland is our sacred duty to our ancestors and descendants. Moral, historical righteousness is on our side.”

Reiterating that the West is supposedly intent on “destroying Russia” by using Kyiv, Putin vowed he will never allow that. He signaled once again, that the war, albeit hard, will continue.

“We have always known, and today we are again convinced that the sovereign, independent, secure future of Russia depends only on us, on our strength and will,” he said.

DUBAI ENDS FEE FOR LIQUOR LICENSES, 30% TAX ON ALCOHOL SALES TO BOOST TOURISM

The Dubai administration on 1 January, 2023,  ended its 30 per cent tax on alcohol sales in the sheikhdom and made its required liquor licenses free to obtain.

With this, administration ended a long-standing source of revenue for its ruling family to apparently further boost its tourism to the emirate.

The New Year's Day announcement, made by Dubai's two state-linked alcohol retailers, came apparently from a government decree from its ruling Al Maktoum family.

Though, it follows years of loosening regulations over liquor in the sheikhdom, which now sells alcohol during daylight hours in Ramadan and began providing home delivery during the lockdowns at the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

Alcohol sales have long served as a major barometer of the economy of Dubai. Dubai's many bars drew commuting soccer fans during the recent World Cup in nearby Qatar.

Alcohol distributor Maritime and Mercantile International, which is part of the wider Emirates Group, made the announcement in a statement.

“Since we began our operations in Dubai over 100 years ago, the emirate's approach has remained dynamic, sensitive and inclusive for all," said Tyrone Reid of MMI. “These recently updated regulations are instrumental to continue ensuring the safe and responsible purchase and consumption of alcoholic beverages in Dubai and the UAE."

An ad was also put up by MMI urged customers to buy from its stores, saying “you no longer need to drive out to the other emirates."

POWER OUTAGE FORCES PHILIPPINES TO SUSPEND FLIGHTS, SHUT AIRSPACE

Philippine authorities halted flights in and out of Manila on New Year’s Day due to a malfunction of air traffic control, which also prevented airlines bound to other destinations from using the country’s airspace. A total of 282 flights were either delayed, cancelled or diverted to other airports, affecting around 56,000 flyers at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the the airport operator said on Sunday. It was unclear how many overflights were affected. Transportation secretary Jaime Bautista apologised for the inconvenience as he blamed a power outage for the breakdown of the central air traffic control system that also affected operations at other airports in thecountry. As of 0800 GMT, “the system has been partially restored thereby allowing limited flight operations”, the Manila airport authority said. Video clips and photos showed long queues at the airport.

CROATIA ADOPTS EURO, ENTERS BORDERLESS EUROPE CLUB

Zagreb: Croatia on Sunday switched to the euro and entered Europe’s borderless zone — two steps Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic called a “historic moment”. The Balkan nation bid farewell to its kuna currency and became the 20th member of the eurozone. It is also now the 27th nation in the passport-free Schengen zone.

CANADA, AUSTRALIA SLAP TRAVEL CURBS

Australia and Canada have joined a growing list of countries requiring travellers from China to take a Covid-19 test prior to boarding their flight. Australian health authorities said from January 5, all air travellers from mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macao will need to show a negative Covid-19 test taken within two days of their departure. Canadian authorities announced similar measures that will also come into effect January 5 in a statement dated Saturday.

LULA SWORN IN AS BRAZIL PREZ FOR 3RD TIME

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been sworn in as the new president of Brazil - the third time he has held the country's highest office.

The veteran left-wing politician, known widely as Lula, also led the country between 2003 and 2010 - and defeated Jair Bolsonaro in October's poll.

In his first speech, Lula vowed to rebuild a country in "terrible ruins".

He decried the policies of his predecessor, who went to the US on Friday to avoid the handover ceremony.

A sea of Lula supporters gathered in front of Congress since early in the morning - decked out in the red colour of his Workers' Party. They travelled to see their leader sworn in - but also for a celebration.

More than 60 artists - including Samba legend Martinho da Vila - were booked to perform on two giant stages decorated in the national flag as part of a music festival dubbed "Lulapalooza".

"Love has won over hate," read one banner carried by a man dressed as Lula - complete with a presidential sash.

"Brazil needed this change, this transformation," said another backer of the incoming leader as she queued for Sunday's festivities.

DAYS AFTER BECOMING PM, PRACHANDA OPENS AIRPORT CHINA HELPED BUILD

Kathmandu : PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ on Sunday inaugurated a regional international airport built with the Chinese assistance in western Nepal’s tourist hub of Pokhara. The PM unveiled a plaque marking the official inauguration of the Pokhara Regional International Airport (PRIA). The international flights are expected to take off after the second week of February. The PRIA, a flagship project of Nepal-China Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation, was constructed with Chinese loan assistance. The government had signed a $216 million soft loan agreement with China in March 2016 for the construction of the new airport in the lake city. Speaking on the occasion, Prachanda said that aerial connectivity is the most effective means of connectivity for a landlocked country like Nepal.

Chinese embassy charge de affaires Wang Xin said that the airport is designed and built as per Chinese standards, which reflects the high quality of Chinese engineering, and symbolises the national honour of Nepal. “Pokhara International Airport has been highly valued by the leaders of China and Nepal. The new airport will become a vivid practice and a powerful witness of working together to achieve common development and prosperity,” the Chinese envoy said. He said that the arrival of Chinese tourists would greatly contribute to Nepal’s tourism sector as the country unveils ‘Tourism Decade 2023-2033’. “Under the guidance of the two heads of state, we will jointly build the trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network, and let the BRI cooperation bear fruitful results,” he said.

‘IRAN ARRESTS FOOTBALLERS AT MIXED-GENDER PARTY’

Tehran : Iranian authorities have arrested football players who attended a mixed party east of Tehran, local media reported Sunday, without identifying them or giving their exact number. “Several current and former players of one of Tehran’s prominent football clubs were arrested Saturday at a mixed party in the city of Damavand,” Tasnim news agency said. “Some of these players were in an abnormal state due to alcohol consumption,” it added.

Iranian law only permits non-Muslims to consume alcohol for religious purposes. Dancing with the opposite gender is forbidden.

The Islamic republic hasbeen rocked by unrest since the September 16 death in custody of Mahsa Amini, 22, following her arrest for an alleged breach of the strict dress code for women. A number of current and former footballers as well as other athletes and prominent figures have been detained or questioned by the authorities for voicing support for the protests.

KABUL MILITARY AIRPORT BLAST ‘KILLS 10’, MANY HURT

Kabul : A bomb exploded near a checkpoint at Kabul’s military airport Sunday morning killing and wounding “several” people, a Taliban official said, the first deadly blast of 2023 in Afghanistan.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but the regional affiliate of the Islamic State group — known as the Islamic State in Khorasan Province — has increased its attacks since the Taliban takeover in 2021. Targets have included Taliban patrols and members of Afghanistan’s Shia minority.

The military airport is around 200 metres from the civilian airport and close to the interior ministry, itself the site of a suicide bombing last October that killed at least four people. Interior ministry spokesman Abdul Nafi Takor said the blast left several people dead and wounded. He gave no exact figures or further information about the bombing, saying details of an investigation will be shared later. However, Khaama Press, citing the Taliban interior ministry spokesperson, reported that at least 10 people have been killed and eight others seriously injured.

Although Taliban security forces prevented photography and filming directly at the blast site, the checkpoint appeared damaged but intact. It is on Airport Road, which leads to high-security neighbourhoods housing government ministries, foreign embassies and the presidential palace.