Ukraine secures €90 billion EU interest-free loan amid roaming zone integration
The European Union has approved an interest-free loan of 90 billion euros for Ukraine, spanning 2026 and 2027, following intensive negotiations among 24 member states. The deal, announced by EU Council President António Costa, falls short of utilizing frozen Russian assets but marks a pivotal financial lifeline. This support arrives......
Mixed marriages in Morocco: Over 7,000 police probes in 2024 amid rising trends
Morocco's Public Prosecutor's Office revealed comprehensive 2024 statistics on mixed marriages between Moroccan citizens and foreigners, emphasizing the kingdom's stringent regulatory framework under the Family Code. These unions, blending diverse cultural backgrounds, have grown amid globalization, social media influence, and......
Duffer brothers unveil intentional ambiguity in Stranger Things finale
The Duffer brothers, creators of the hit series Stranger Things, have shared insights into the carefully crafted finale that wrapped up nine years of storytelling with a two-hour episode on New Year's Eve. In detailed interviews, Matt and Ross Duffer revealed that many emotional beats were plotted years in advance, deliberately steering......
US intelligence debunks Russian claims of Ukrainian drone strike on Putin
US national security officials have concluded that Ukraine did not target Russian President Vladimir Putin or his residences in a recent drone incident, directly challenging Moscow's assertions and raising questions about narratives that could undermine ongoing peace talks. This assessment, backed by the Central Intelligence Agency, uncovered......
Netanyahu celebrates 2026 with Trump at Mar-a-Lago New Year's Eve gala
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara joined US President Donald Trump at the president's opulent New Year's Eve celebration at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. The high-profile gathering marked the arrival of 2026 amid a backdrop of key diplomatic discussions. Netanyahu had traveled to the US earlier......
Trump signals impatience with Putin as Ukraine peace talks stall
Donald Trump has openly signaled frustration with Vladimir Putin, sharing an opinion piece that sharply blames the Kremlin for blocking progress toward a peace deal in Ukraine, even as his administration tries to revive stalled negotiations. On Wednesday, the US president reposted on his Truth Social account a New York Post editorial titled......
Russia intercepts Ukrainian drones near Moscow on New Year's Eve
Russian air defense units downed five Ukrainian drones heading toward Moscow just before the New Year, according to Mayor Sergei Sobyanin in Telegram updates that extended into early Thursday. Specialists inspected debris from the crash sites, but no casualties or damage were reported. The incident prompted temporary flight restrictions at......
Zohran Mamdani sworn in as New York's first Muslim mayor on Quran
In a historic ceremony at a landmark Manhattan subway station, Zohran Mamdani took the oath of office as New York City's first Muslim mayor, placing his hand on a copy of the Quran to affirm his commitment to the nation's largest metropolis. The 34-year-old democratic socialist, born in Uganda to Indian parents and raised between Cape......
Vondelkerk tower collapses amid New Year's inferno in Amsterdam
A catastrophic fire ripped through the upper sections of Amsterdam's Vondelkerk tower in the early hours of New Year's Day, leading to a dramatic collapse that lit up the night sky and cast a somber shadow over the city's celebrations. The blaze, which ignited shortly after midnight, quickly overwhelmed the 19th-century structure,......
Taiwan's president vows firm defense amid China's aggressive drills
Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te pledged on Thursday to bolster the island's defense capabilities in response to China's most intrusive military exercises to date encircling Taiwan, as tensions in the strait escalate sharply into 2026. Delivering his New Year's address from the Presidential Office in Taipei, Lai reaffirmed......
Taiwan's president urges opposition to pass $40 billion defense budget
Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te delivered a firm New Year's address, vowing to safeguard the island's sovereignty and bolster military capabilities in response to China's largest-ever drills encircling the self-governing democracy. Speaking from the Presidential Office in Taipei, he emphasized his unwavering stance: resolute......
China times military drills near Taiwan to US holidays, analysts say
China strategically launched its recent military exercises around Taiwan during the American holiday season, aiming to elicit a muted response from Washington and undermine global faith in US commitments to the island, according to US-based analysts. The two-day "Mission Justice 2025" drills, which wrapped up on Tuesday, featured......
Xi declares Taiwan reunification unstoppable
Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up 2025 with a stark declaration, asserting that reunification with Taiwan stands as an inevitable force. In his annual New Year's Eve address, he emphasized the deep blood ties binding people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, framing the island's return to the motherland as a defining trend of......
China slams international criticism of its Taiwan military drills
China launched a sharp diplomatic counterattack on Wednesday against global backlash over its two-day military exercises encircling Taiwan, branding statements from Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom, the European Union, New Zealand, and the Philippines as "extremely hypocritical." Beijing lodged formal protests with several governments,......
China ends live-fire drills around Taiwan after US $11 billion arms approval
China has wrapped up its most expansive military exercises encircling Taiwan in years, a two-day show of force that involved rockets, warships, and dozens of aircraft. The maneuvers, codenamed "Mission Justice 2025," kicked off on Monday with coordinated operations from the People's Liberation Army's army, navy, air force,......