During the war with Ukraine, the number of billionaires in Russia has reached an all-time high. But in the 25 years Vladimir Putin has been in power, Russia's rich and powerful - known as oligarchs - have lost almost all their political influence. All this is good news for the Russian president. We»»»

Ethiopian jazz musician Mulatu Astatke smiled as he held his arms aloft to acknowledge his audience for the last time. Last month in London, the 82-year-old pioneer, who has done much to bring his blend of musical styles to the world, played his final live concert after a six-decade performing care»»»

Myanmar is going to the polls in an election widely dismissed as a sham, with major political parties dissolved, many of their leaders jailed and as much as half the country unlikely to vote because of an ongoing civil war. The military government is holding a phased ballot nearly five years after »»»

Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent urged Senate Republicans to end the filibuster as a fiscal year 2026 budget battle is expected in January and could trigger another government shutdown. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 27 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump and Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent »»»

The UK is to impose visa restrictions against people arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo after its government failed to agree to measures allowing the return of illegal migrants and foreign national offenders. Ministers say the DRC has not made changes required under the toughening up of»»»

Playing “shop” at home is one of the practical ways parents can explain to very young children the change of currency that Bulgaria will undergo on January 1, 2026. A shop set up in euros helps children get used to the new coins and banknotes, and to practise basic calculations, financial expert an»»»

The proliferation of websites and social media profiles that claim to predict the weather and even natural disasters has raised concerns among the scientific community about the spread of misinformation to the public. The existence of such profiles on Facebook and TikTok would not be of concern if »»»

Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Seiha, left, and Thai Defense Minister Natthaphon Narkphanit exchange cease-fire agreement documents after three days of negotiations to end a weeks-long battle along the two countries border. Photo by Defense Ministry of Thailand/EPA Dec. 27 (UPI) -- Weeks into a vic»»»

Abidjan: Scuffles broke out Saturday as Ivory Coast held parliamentary elections, two months after 83-year-old Alassane Ouattara won a presidential ballot that extended his 14-year rule. More than eight million people are registered to vote for members of the national assembly, where lawmakers from»»»

The EU should listen to US President Donald Trump but never yield to his demands, Teresa Ribera, the European Commission’s vice-president, stated in an interview with the Financial Times published on Friday. Brussels should listen to but not blindly accept demands from Washington to ditch laws on ‘»»»

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to meet US President Donald Trump in Florida on Monday, an Israeli official told AFP, in what is seen as a crucial visit for the next steps of the fragile Gaza truce plan. It will be Netanyahu's fifth visit to see key ally Trump in the United States »»»

When Israel launched a lightening attack on Iran’s military and nuclear sites on June 13, it kickstarted a conflict dubbed the “12-day war” by US President Donald Trump. Although the whirlwind clash lasted less than two weeks, it caused unprecedented destruction in Israel and considerably weakened »»»

Sharjah Police have outlined clear guidelines to ensure a secure, family-friendly football experience under the motto “Comply to Enjoy.” Attending a live football match brings excitement, colour, and a strong sense of community. To keep that experience safe and enjoyable for everyone, Sharjah Polic»»»

TradeGlobal issuesPeak Oil: Why the world can't break its fossil fuel habitNik MartinClimate change shifted the oil production debate from scarcity to demand. But without delivering on ambitious green pledges, one expert predicts production may peak within two years, forcing a chaotic decline. http»»»

With Bulgaria set to join the eurozone in less than a week, many citizens are wondering what to do with their accumulated small change. Financier Levon Hampartzumyan addressed the issue on NOVA News, providing practical guidance for handling coins and small denominations during the transition. Hamp»»»

Switzerland cannot defend itself against a full-scale attack and must boost military spending given rising risks from Russia, the head of its armed forces said. The country is prepared for attacks by "non-state actors" on critical infrastructure and for cyber attacks, but its military still faces m»»»

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From Kathmandu to Lima, Generation Z took to the streets in 2025 to denounce inequality, corruption and political exclusion. Across the Global South, young people turned scattered local protests into a shared moment of mobilisation. FRANCE 24 looks back on a pivotal year for a generational movement»»»

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – Many Americans are genuinely surprised when they learn how rich and diverse the cultural life in Russia is, Denis von Meck, a great-great-great-grandnephew of the famous Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky, told Sputnik. “When I tell people that everything is good in Russia an»»»

The leader of the Trades Union Congress has called for "the closest possible economic and political relationship with the European Union". The UK's most senior trade unionist, Paul Nowak, told the BBC that he believed this would be "essential" to boost economic growth and warned that faith in mains»»»

President Donald Trump said he opposed US recognition of Somaliland in an interview with the New York Post published Friday, after Israeli Prime Minister and prominent Trump ally Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would become the first country to recognize it. "No," the president told the Post when as»»»

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump has positively assessed the chances of reaching an agreement with Volodymyr Zelensky during the latter's upcoming visit to Florida. Trump is expected to receive Zelensky at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida on Sunday, December 28. “Well, I think we»»»

Dubai: Travelling to Europe from the UAE doesn’t have to drain your savings. With thoughtful planning, flexible dates and the right destinations, a Dh3,000 Euro trip is achievable — especially for UAE travellers planning their 2026 holidays early (possibly next week). You can plan a 5–7-day trip to»»»

Question: A questioner asks: The teacher of my cousin slapped him on the face during class. The school terminated the teacher. My question is: What procedures should my cousin take against the teacher? Answer: Your cousin has the right to file a complaint against the teacher with the KHDA (Knowledg»»»

India's first gene-edited sheep recently turned a year old and researchers who developed it say it's doing well. Born on 16 December last year in Indian-administered Kashmir, the sheep has been named Tarmeem – the Arabic word for modification or editing. Tarmeem is housed in a private enclosure at »»»

Dubai: Walk into a Dubai café on any weekday morning and you’ll see full tables, steady footfall, and queues that rarely let up. Rising global prices haven’t weakened demand. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Coffee consumption across the UAE and GCC keeps accelerating, »»»

New York’s Times Square will sparkle in red, white and blue on New Year's Eve as a patriotic ball drop rings in 2026, marking the start of celebrations for the United States’ 250th anniversary. Organisers have planned hundreds of events nationwide, including fireworks, parades and volunteer initiat»»»

When Susanna Liew stepped in front of the TV cameras at Kuala Lumpur's High Court last month, she called the moment a "historic and emotional milestone". "Today... the High Court has delivered a judgment of what we have long believed: that Pastor Raymond Koh was a victim of a grave injustice," the »»»

Secretary of State Marco Rubio banned visas for five Brits accused of "censorship." On Friday, a judge ruled against a deportation order against one of them, Imran Ahmed. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 26 (UPI) -- A federal judge has blocked the deportation of a British man targ»»»

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday made Israel the first U.N. member state to formally recognize the independent Republic of Somaliland. File Photo by Ronen Zvulun/UPI | License Photo Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Israel on Friday became the first U.N. member state to formally recognize the Rep»»»

Head of Hezbollah Executive Council Sheikh Ali Daamoush affirmed that the resistance will not be drawn into confrontation with the Lebanese Army and will not permit internal discord, stressing that attempts to provoke division are doomed to fail. Speaking during Friday prayers at the Sayyeda Zainab»»»

With Donald Trump back in the Oval Office in early 2025, it took less than a year for his revamped “maximum pressure” campaign to set the pace for Iran. What began as an argument over reviving the nuclear deal quickly gave way to a far starker reality: war on Iranian soil, for only the second time »»»

December 25 was a "turning point" in peace talks, he said. Russia is ready to reach a settlement of the Ukraine conflict, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has said.However, he stressed that without addressing the root causes of the crisis, a final agreement is impossible. “The focus must be o»»»

The expanding Energoatom corruption scandal has hurt Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's popularity and if elections were held this weekend he would lose in the second round, according to a Socis poll. A majority of »»»

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy plans to meet US President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago on December 28 in what he is billing as a possible breakthrough meeting to end the war in Ukraine. The meeting comes as speculation swirls that Russian President Vladimir Putin may step down in favour of a»»»

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy plans to meet US President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago on December 28 in what he is billing as a possible breakthrough meeting to end the war in Ukraine. The meeting comes as speculation swirls that Russian President Vladimir Putin may step down in favour of a»»»

The expanding Energoatom corruption scandal has hurt Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's popularity and if elections were held this weekend he would lose in the second round, according to a Socis poll. A majority of »»»

Israel on Friday formally recognized Somaliland as an "independent and sovereign state" and signed an agreement to establish diplomatic ties, as the region's leader hailed its first-ever official recognition. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "announced today the official recognition of the»»»

After the crystal ball drops on New Year’s Eve in New York City, it will rise again, sparkling in red, white and blue to usher in 2026 and kick off months of celebrations for the nation’s upcoming 250th birthday. The patriotic touches at this year's Times Square gathering, including a second confet»»»

The Russian Foreign Ministry has advised the country’s citizens to refrain from traveling to Germany, warning that they could face persecution on national grounds there. During a briefing on Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova drew attention to repeated incidents in which Russian»»»

Across the United States, Democrats and Republicans are demanding that their leaders come clean with the Epstein files and the truth finally be told. What they are getting instead is a massive redaction campaign. Not since 1998 with the Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky show trial has the American p»»»

Skopje, 26 December 2025 (MIA) — There will be a serious crisis and a serious rise in poverty in 2026, much worse than in 2025, SDSM leader Venko Filipche told a press conference Friday. According to him, the state will need to borrow at least an additional 2 billion euros for expenses and not for »»»

Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky has said he will meet US President Donald Trump in Florida at the weekend, as talks continue on ending Russia's full-scale war. Zelensky said he expected the meeting to take place on Sunday and to focus on a US-brokered 20-point peace plan, as well as separate proposals»»»

Assen Vassilev, leader of Continue the Change (CC) party, said during a meeting with supporters here on Friday that Bulgaria cannot become a normal country while decisions are made through “phone calls” rather than by observing the law. Vassilev emphasized the need to appoint politically neutral le»»»

Moscow has made a "proposal" to France concerning the case of researcher Laurent Vinatier, who has been imprisoned in Russia since June 2024, the Kremlin said Thursday. Vinatier was sentenced by a Russian court to three years in prison for allegedly failing to register as a "foreign agent" but»»»

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu speaks at U.N. Headquarters on September 19, 2023, in New York City. Nigeria's foreign minister said Tinubu gave the go-ahead on U.S. strikes on ISIS targets in his country. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Nigerian President Bola Tinu»»»

Beijing imposed sanctions on Friday against 20 U.S. defense-related companies and 10 executives, a week after Washington announced large-scale arms sales to Taiwan. The sanctions entail freezing the companies' assets in China and banning individuals and organizations from dealing with them, accordi»»»

President Donald Trump said Thursday that the US had launched "precision hits on terrorist targets in Nigeria by air strikes". The claim came in a Christmas night social media post that offered few details, though US Africa Command later confirmed the strikes were conducted at the request of Nigeri»»»

In the mountain villages of Smochevo and Pastra, part of Rila municipality, residents are anticipating difficulties in converting their levs into euros due to the absence of local post offices. Currently, a postman from Rila visits these villages once a month, handling tasks such as paying social b»»»