Russia, Ukraine update battle reports

Russia claimed to strike Ukrainian military airfield, while Ukraine stated that it has repelled multiple Russian attacks, according to the latest briefings of the two sides on Friday.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in a briefing Friday that its forces had taken control of multiple settlements over the past week and launched dozens of strikes on Ukrainian military industrial energy facilities, infrastructure at military airports, drone production and storage facilities, among other targets.

Russian air defense forces intercepted Ukrainian missiles, aerial bombs, rockets, and hundreds of drones. Furthermore, the Russian forces continued to target Ukrainian personnel and equipment in the Kursk region of Russia.

On the same day, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that the Ukrainian forces engaged in 100 battles with Russian forces on the front line. The front line situation remains complex and tense, with Russian attempts to breach Ukrainian defenses being repelled by Ukrainian forces. John Kirby, coordinator for strategic communications at the U.S. National Security Council, said on Friday that the United States would announce a new round of military support for Ukraine in the coming days.

Also on Friday, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said that his government may stop electricity supplies to Ukraine following the anticipated end of Russian gas transit through Ukraine on Jan. 1, 2025.

If necessary, Slovakia will stop the supply of electricity, which Ukraine desperately needs during grid outages. Or Slovakia will agree on another course of action, Fico said in a video post on social media.

Fico's remarks come after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed opposition to the continued transit of Russian gas through Ukraine to Slovakia once the current contract expires at the beginning of next year.

Fico added that according to estimates, the termination of Russian gas transit through Ukraine and Slovakia could cost the European Union 120 billion euros over the next two years. Slovakia, he said, would lose up to 500 million euros annually in transit fees.

Fico also indicated Slovakia's readiness to host peace talks on Ukraine. If someone wants to organize peace talks in Slovakia, Slovakia will be ready and hospitable, Fico said. Fico met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Dec. 22 in Moscow, discussing issues including the transit of Russian gas.

Russia, Ukraine update battle reports

Celebrations were held for a giant panda cub who turned six months old on Saturday at a Zoo in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality.

The panda cub was born at Chongqing Zoo on June 28 to mother Haoqi. Zookeepers held a public event to mark the adorable cub's half-year milestone, which started as the cuddly cub tried out a slide that didn't seem very attractive to it. Then, the cub turned to play with a mushroom decoration in the venue which was made with crushed ice.

Zookeepers have also prepared carrots and apples for the cub to feast on.

"I think it's really adorable. I come from Shanghai. This is my first time seeing a panda, and I hope it stays healthy," said Hu Shan, a visitor.

Giant panda Haoqi gave birth to the female cub six months ago after she succeeded in mating with a male panda in the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Chengdu City, southwest China's Sichuan Province in late February.

The cub has been nursed by its mother Haoqi, with assistance from zookeepers. It is growing well, now weighing 12 kilograms.

The cub was Haoqi's second delivery. Born at the zoo in 2013, Haoqi gave birth to a pigeon pair of cubs in 2021 at the zoo. The zoo began to raise giant pandas in the 1960s and to breed giant panda cubs in the 1980s. So far, a total of 32 litters of giant pandas have been born at the zoo.

Chongqing Zoo holds celebrations for six-month-old giant panda cub