Russia says scores of soldiers killed in Ukrainian strike - CNA

KYIV: Russia on Monday (Jan 2) said more than 60 soldiers were killed in a Ukrainian strike on Russian-controlled territory in a New Year assault, the biggest loss of life reported by Moscow so far.

Kyiv took responsibility for the strike which it said took place in the occupied city of Makiivka in eastern Ukraine on New Year's Eve.

In an extremely rare announcement following criticism by Russian military correspondents, the defence ministry in Moscow said 63 Russian servicemen were killed "as a result of a strike by four missiles" in Makiivka.

It was the biggest loss of life reported by the Russian defence ministry so far in a conflict that has dragged on since President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops to invade on Feb 24 last year.

The Russian ministry said US-supplied HIMARS rocket systems had been used and the target was a temporary deployment point.

Late on Monday, the general staff of Ukraine's armed forces said in a statement that its forces were behind the strikes on Makiivka.

"Up to 10 units of enemy military equipment of various types were destroyed and damaged," the general staff said.

Earlier in the day the strategic communications department of Ukraine's armed forces said nearly 400 Russian troops were killed in Makiivka.

The general staff, which usually communicates on such incidents, did not confirm the figure and said the human "losses" were still being established.

Russian war correspondents, who have gained influence in recent months, said hundreds could have been killed in the strike on a vocational school in Makiivka and accused Russia's top commanders of not learning from past mistakes.

Former Russian separatist leader Igor Strelkov said the troops, largely consisting of mobilised Russians, were stationed in an unprotected building that was "almost completely" destroyed because ammunition stored on the premises detonated in the strike.

He said "hundreds" have been killed and wounded.

"Ten months into the war it is dangerous and criminal to consider the enemy a fool who does not see anything," said Andrei Medvedev, deputy speaker of the Moscow city legislature.

The Samara governor, Dmitry Azarov, said that among the victims were residents of his region, adding that a hotline was set up for their relatives.

On social media, some accused the Russian authorities of downplaying the death toll.

"Dear God, who will believe in the figure of 63? The building has been completely destroyed," one Russian, Nina Vernykh, wrote on the country's largest social network, VKontakte.

An announcement on the social network urged Russians to collect clothes, medicines and equipment for those who survived the strike.

"Everything that the mobilised had on them remains under the rubble," said the announcement.

Another announcement said that residents in four of the region's cities - Samara, Tolyatti, Syzran and Novokuibyshevsk - will gather on Tuesday to mourn the troops.

EXPLOSION IN KYIV

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the country's forces shot down more than 80 drones since the start of 2023.

"In the near future, this number may increase," he said.

He also said it was paramount to increase "the cost of a new mobilisation and the war on the whole for the terrorist state".

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2023-01-02 21:00:00Z
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Japan says it scrambled jets to monitor Chinese aircraft carrier operations - CNA

TOKYO: Japan said on Monday (Jan 2) it scrambled jet fighters and dispatched aircraft and warships over the past two weeks to keep tabs on China's Liaoning aircraft carrier and five warships that conducted naval manoeuvres and flight operations in the Pacific.

Japan monitored the operations after the Chinese naval group, which included missile destroyers, sailed between the main Okinawa island and Miyakojima island into the Western Pacific from the East China Sea on Dec 16, Japan's Ministry of Defence said in a press release.

Before returning the same way on Sunday, the Chinese carrier conducted more than 300 take-offs and landings of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, added the ministry, which did not report any incursions into Japanese territorial waters or skies.

While China has conducted similar operations in the past, including one in May, the latest large-scale military drills close to Japanese islands come after Japan announced it would double defence spending over the next five years in a bid to deter China from using its military to push territorial claims in the region, including against neighbouring Taiwan.

Japan also reported that it had detected a flight by a Chinese WZ-7 drone on Sunday close to Miyakojima, the first time it has spotted the high-altitude drone in the area.

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2023-01-02 09:31:11Z
CBMidWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vYXNpYS9qYXBhbi1zYXlzLWl0LXNjcmFtYmxlZC1qZXRzLW1vbml0b3ItY2hpbmVzZS1haXJjcmFmdC1jYXJyaWVyLW9wZXJhdGlvbnMtMzE3ODY2NtIBAA

Russian drones attack critical infrastructure in and around Kyiv: Officials - CNA

NEW YEAR IN THE TRENCHES

On Twitter, the US ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget Brink, said, "Russia coldly and cowardly attacked Ukraine in the early hours of the New Year. But Putin still does not seem to understand that Ukrainians are made of iron."

Troops toasted the New Year on the front line in Ukraine's eastern province of Donetsk. One soldier, Pavlo Pryzhehodskiy, 27, played a song he had written on a guitar after 12 of his comrades were killed in a single night.

"It is sad that instead of meeting friends, celebrating and giving gifts to one another, people were forced to seek shelter, some were killed," he told Reuters.

"It is a huge tragedy that cannot ever be forgiven. That is why the New Year is sad."

In a nearby trench, soldier Oleh Zahrodskiy, 49, said he had volunteered after his son was called up as a reservist. Now, his son is in hospital, fighting for his life with a brain injury, while his father mans the front.

"It is very tough now," he said, holding back tears.

"HAPPY NEW YEAR"

Kyiv's police chief, Andrii Nebytov, posted a photo on the Telegram app, showing what was described as a piece of a drone used in an attack on the capital, with a handwritten sign on it in Russian reading "Happy New Year".

"This wreckage is not at the front, where fierce battles are taking place, this is here, on a sports grounds, where children play," Nebytov said.

Russia has flattened Ukrainian cities and killed thousands of civilians since Putin ordered his invasion in February, saying Ukraine was an artificial state whose pro-Western outlook threatened Russia's security.

Russia, which denies targeting civilians, has since claimed to have annexed about a fifth of Ukraine.

Ukraine has fought back with Western military support, driving Russian forces from more than half the territory they seized. In recent weeks, the front lines have been largely static, with thousands of soldiers dying in intense warfare.

Russia says its aerial strikes aim to reduce Ukraine's ability to fight; Kyiv says they have no military purpose and are intended to hurt civilians, a war crime.

"The main thing is the fate of Russia," Putin said in a New Year's Eve speech to a group dressed in military uniform, instead of the event's normal backdrop of the Kremlin walls.

"Defence of the fatherland is our sacred duty to our ancestors and descendants. Moral, historical righteousness is on our side."

A Ukrainian drone attack damaged a power facility in Russia's Bryansk region bordering Ukraine, its governor said on Monday, adding that there were no casualties.

Russia said last week that it shot down a Ukrainian drone close to one of long-range bomber bases deep inside its territory and that three air force personnel had been killed.

Reuters was not able to independently verify the report. 

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2023-01-02 05:37:42Z
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Philippines main airport scrambles to restore normalcy after power cut - CNA

There were 361 flights either delayed, cancelled or diverted to other regional airports on Sunday, affecting about 65,000 passengers, while numerous other flights were forced to re-route to avoid Philippine airspace.

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines said it was arranging recovery flights out of the United States, Singapore and Malaysia and diverting some flights to domestic airports. Budget carrier Cebu Pacific cancelled 54 domestic flights on Monday.

Chiong said the airport had introduced its own power system in 2018 but on Sunday, both the main and backup systems failed.

When they connected directly to the regular commercial electricity, they experienced over-voltage and power surge, he added, forcing equipment to fail including radar, communications, radio and internet.

The Ninoy Aquino International Airport has previously been ranked among the world's worst international gateways, with flight delays a regular occurrence, and a history of upgrades being delayed or abandoned due to disputes between the airport and contractors.

The Philippines hopes to take pressure off by building multi-billion dollar airports in Manila's surrounding provinces, including Cavite and also in Bulacan, which is due to start operations in 2027.

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2023-01-02 02:50:05Z
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Defiant Ukrainians cheer New Year as drones blasted from skies - CNA

Russia has flattened Ukrainian cities and killed thousands of civilians since Putin ordered his invasion in February, claiming Ukraine was an artificial state whose pro-Western outlook threatened Russia's security. Moscow has since claimed to have annexed around a fifth of Ukraine.

Ukraine has fought back with Western military support, driving Russian forces from more than half the territory they seized. In recent weeks, the front lines have been largely static, with thousands of soldiers dying in intense trench warfare.

Since October, Russia has launched mass missile and drone attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, casting cities into darkness and cold as winter sets in. Moscow says the strikes aim to reduce Ukraine's ability to fight; Kyiv says they have no military purpose and are intended to hurt civilians, a war crime.

"The main thing is the fate of Russia," Putin said in a New Year's Eve address in front of a group of people dressed in military uniform instead of the normal backdrop of the Kremlin walls. "Defence of the fatherland is our sacred duty to our ancestors and descendants. Moral, historical righteousness is on our side."

Zelenskyy delivered his own address on Saturday in near darkness, in front of a fluttering Ukrainian flag. He described the year past as a national awakening.

"We were told: you have no other option but to surrender. We say: we have no other option than to win," he said.

"This year has struck our hearts. We've cried out all the tears. We've shouted all the prayers," Zelenskyy said. "We fight and will continue to fight. For the sake of the key word: 'victory'."

The latest air strikes damaged infrastructure in Sumy, in the northeast, Khmelnytskyi in the west as well as Zaporizhzhia and Kherson in the southeast and south, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said.

In Orikhiv in Zaporizhzhia region, shelling killed one person and wounded three, regional governor Oleksandr Starukh said on Telegram.

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2023-01-01 16:12:00Z
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Manila airport power failure causes flight delays, diversions - The Straits Times

MANILA – Flight delays and cancellations greeted travellers flying in and out of the Philippine capital on New Year’s Day, after a power failure at the country’s air traffic management centre disrupted communication with all planes.

Local carriers Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific issued separate advisories on Sunday warning that several of their domestic and international flights will either be delayed or diverted due to “technical issues” with the navigational air traffic management system at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila.

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said at least 282 flights were either delayed, cancelled or diverted to other regional airports, affecting around 56,000 passengers.

Images on social media showed heavy traffic going to NAIA Terminal 3, and large crowds at waiting areas in the airport, with airline staff distributing food packs and drinks.

Philippines’ Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista said in a press conference on Sunday evening that NAIA’s uninterrupted power supply equipment failed to connect to utility firm Meralco’s power supply at 9:49 am. The backup system also failed, then a power surge occurred due to the blackout.

These problems caused all communication lines and Internet access to be lost at NAIA.

Airport management said the air navigation system was “partially restored” by 4 pm.

The system was fully operational by 7.45 pm, but the broken equipment still has to be replaced.

Mr Bautista said the airport will need a huge sum of money to upgrade the equipment, which they bought in 2018 for 13 billion pesos (S$312 million) through a loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

“President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has instructed us to immediately conduct a study. In our Cabinet meetings, we already presented this problem. After what happened today, we need to fast-track the backup system,” said Mr Bautista.

“If you compare us to Singapore, they are at least 10 years ahead of us,” added the DOTr chief, referring to the state-of-the-art Changi Airport.

As of press time, many of the affected passengers had yet to receive updates on their rescheduled flights. Airlines like Cebu Pacific gave passengers the option to either rebook flights for free or convert their tickets to their travel fund.

But the MIAA expects it would take around 72 more hours before airlines will be able to resume all their flights.

Some passengers hoping to be with their loved ones on the first day of 2023 aired their grievances on social media.

Ms Christle Casador’s flight from Davao province in southern Philippines to Manila was initially delayed by five hours on Sunday.

“Been travelling a lot, but this is my first time encountering this problem. We don’t know when the next scheduled flight will be, but at least we are safe. Anyway, happy new year,” Ms Casador said on Facebook.

Dr Myra Dee Lopez, 47, was supposed to return home to Manila after her holiday in Bali, Indonesia, on Sunday morning, but Cebu Pacific had to divert her flight to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, instead.

“What a way to start the year,” she tweeted, adding an “upset” emoji.

Dr Lopez told The Straits Times that the airline had yet to reschedule her flight as it is awaiting instructions from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

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2023-01-01 11:41:20Z
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Chinese state media seek to reassure public over COVID-19 - CNA

DATA UNDER SCRUTINY

China's abrupt U-turn on COVID-19 controls - as well as the accuracy of its case and mortality data - have come under increasing scrutiny both at home and overseas.

The surge in cases has raised fresh worries about the health of the economy and in his first public comments since the change in policy, President Xi Jinping called in a New Year's address for more effort and unity as China enters a "new phase".

China reported one new COVID-19 death in the mainland for Dec 31, the same as a day earlier, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said on Sunday (Jan 1).

The accumulated official death toll in China now stands at 5,249, far lower than in other large countries. The government has rejected claims that it has deliberately underreported the total number of fatalities.

At the Hankou funeral home on the outskirts of Wuhan, an intermittent stream of mourners and hearse drivers were arriving on Sunday.

Staff at the site's heavily guarded entrance declined to answer questions about their recent workloads. But funeral homes in other cities in China - including Chengdu and Beijing - said that they were busier than ever since China abruptly ditched its COVID-19 curbs last month.

China's CDC reported 5,138 official confirmed cases on Saturday, but with mass testing no longer in operation, experts say the actual number of infections is significantly higher.

State media in the city of Guangzhou in southeastern China said on Sunday that daily cases peaked at around 60,000 recently, and now stand at around 19,000.

Authorities have been trying to reassure the public that they have the situation under control and state news agency Xinhua published an editorial on Sunday saying that the current strategy was "a planned, science-based approach" reflecting the changing nature of the virus.

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2023-01-01 11:03:00Z
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