Ukraine: CAS liquidates Shakhtar Donetsk and several Russian football clubs

15:36 UT. CAS disbanded Shaktar Donetsk and several Russian football clubs

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) dissolved the Shakhtar Donetsk club and eight Russian clubs, which challenged FIFA’s action following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Since June 2022, international bodies have exclusively allowed foreign players and coaches from these clubs to sign other contracts outside of the transfer period. FIFA has extended this decision until 30 June 2023.

Arbitration granted by the two different panels, indicating that “contested decisions are a consequence of legitimate goals.”. Shakhtar Donetsk specifically claimed 40 million euros in compensation following the departures of several players following this action.

13:50 UT. Paris and Berlin called on African nations to condemn Russia’s attack on Ukraine

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna and her German counterpart Annalena Baerbock called on African countries to condemn Russia’s aggression in Ukraine during a joint press conference at the African Union headquarters, in Addis Ababa.

“It is important to remember that there are aggressors and those who are attacked and it is important for everyone to tell the aggressor that he must stop his aggression”, said Catherine Colonna specifically.

In March, several African countries abstained in a vote by UN member states last March of a resolution demanding “that Russia immediately cease using force against Ukraine”.

11:26 GMT. Russia: a threat to the property of exiled critics of the conflict in Ukraine

A law against “the bastards” : a senior Russian official proposed on Friday to confiscate the property of fellow citizens who left Russia and criticized the Kremlin’s military campaign in Ukraine from abroad.

Since 24 February 2022, hundreds of thousands of people have fled Russia, because they no longer see their future in this country, they fear legal proceedings for expressing their opposition or because they fear being drafted into the army.

10:53 GMT. The Ukrainian army denies Soledar’s disappearance, “fierce battle” ongoing (spokesperson).

The Ukrainian army on Friday denied the loss of Soledar, saying that “fierce fighting” was still going on Friday in this small town in eastern Ukraine, after Russia declared it had taken control of it.

“Fierce fighting is still going on in Soledar”Eastern Command spokesman for the Ukrainian army, Sergey Cherevaty, told Ukrainian television. “Ukrainian armed forces take control of the situation in difficult conditions”he added.

10:11 GMT. Ukraine “de facto” a member of NATO, according to its Defense Minister

Ukraine has become “de facto” a NATO member, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksiï Reznikov told the BBC on Friday, whose troops were facing attacks from “high intensity” in the city of Soledar, in the east of the country.

In this interview, the Ukrainian minister indicated his confidence in the supply of Western tanks and fighter jets to Ukraine, despite reluctance on the part of some due to fears of escalation.

09:55 GMT. The Russian army says it has completed the conquest of Soledar

The Russian army claimed on Friday that it had completely captured the eastern Ukrainian city of Soledar, claiming its first major victory on the ground after several humiliating setbacks in recent months.

“The liberation of the city of Soledar, which was essential for the continuation of the offensive operation, was completed on the night of January 12” in the Donetsk region, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

08:22 GMT. Davos at the bedside of Ukraine, the planet and the faltering globalization

The world’s political and economic elite will meet next week in Davos with stated ambitions “working together in a fragmented world”between the war in Ukraine, climate change and globalization in an existential crisis.

This year’s meeting was hosted by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in the Swiss Alps ski resort “standing in the most complex geopolitical and geoeconomic context for decades”WEF President Borge Brende said during a briefing this week for journalists.

06:50 GMT. Ukraine claims to contain the Russian offensive “high intensity” in Soledar

Ukraine is currently containing the Russian offensive “high intensity” in Soledar, Deputy Defense Minister Ganna Maliar said Friday morning “hot night” in a small town in the east of the country.

“The enemy has thrown almost all of its main forces towards Donetsk (region) and is maintaining a high intensity attack”he said on Telegram Ganna Maliar. “This is a difficult phase of the war”he added, added it “fight continues”.

05:39 GMT. Ukraine’s drone war is pushing other armies to adapt

The unprecedented role of drones in Ukraine, which have become decisive players in the conflict, demonstrates, according to experts, the need to adapt modern forces to use them as well as to protect against them.

04:23 GMT. Zelensky’s promise “all it takes” while the UN Security Council will meet this Friday

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky promised to provide “all it takes” to the soldiers who resisted the Russian attacks on Soledar and Bakhmout, two cities in the east of the country that the Russians tried to conquer at all costs to change the course of the war.

“I want to emphasize that the units defending these cities will be provided with ammunition and all the necessary things quickly and without interruption”launched, Thursday, January 12, Wolodymyr Zelensky on Facebook after meeting with his staff.

The UN Security Council will meet this Friday, January 13 at 20:00 GMT to discuss the situation in Ukraine.

22:10 WIB. Dutch Prime Minister Rutte at the White House next Tuesday

US President Joe Biden will receive Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte at the White House on Tuesday, January 17, the services of the two leaders were announced on Thursday, January 12.

Allies within NATO, they want”reaffirm their efforts to strengthen transatlantic security and economic prosperity”according to a statement from the White House.

Mark Rutte and Joe Biden heard according to the same source to talk about it “strong support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s brutal aggression.”

The Netherlands will be one of the main states this year for “Democracy Summit”the diplomatic format initiated by Joe Biden.