Russian President Vladimir Putin has begun his annual year-end news conference, a closely followed event where he traditionally addresses domestic concerns and outlines Moscow’s position on major global issues, including the ongoing war in Ukraine. The televised session is once again combined with a nationwide call-in program, allowing citizens from across Russia to submit questions directly to the president. The format has been a fixture of Putin’s leadership and is often used to reinforce his authority while presenting the Kremlin’s narrative on economic conditions, governance, and for

European Union leaders have agreed to provide Ukraine with a 90 billion euro interest-free loan aimed at supporting the country’s military operations and stabilizing its economy over the next two years. The decision was confirmed Friday by European Council President Antonio Costa following late-night negotiations among member states. In a statement posted on social media, Costa said the funding package for 2026 and 2027 reflects the bloc’s long-term commitment to Ukraine as it continues to defend itself against Russia’s invasion. Details on how the loan will be financed have not yet been

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino says ‘ll resign from his role next month, bringing an end to a short and closely watched tenure as the bureau’s second-in-command. His departure had been widely anticipated following months of friction between FBI leadership and the U.S. Justice Department. Bongino, a former Secret Service agent and conservative media personality, has faced scrutiny over public positions he held before joining the FBI, particularly his commentary on the handling of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Since taking office, Bongino has been required to reco

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a full travel ban on citizens from seven additional countries, expanding restrictions that now affect people from a total of 39 nations, according to a letter released by the White House on Tuesday. Under the new decision, full travel restrictions will apply to Palestine, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria. The administration has also imposed partial travel limits on citizens from 15 other countries, though specific details of those restrictions were not immediately released. The White House said the measures are being introduced in the i

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says a possible peace agreement to end the long-running war with Russia could be finalized within the next few days following discussions with United States officials. He said Washington is leading renewed diplomatic efforts aimed at bringing the conflict to a negotiated close after years of fighting. Zelenskyy told reporters that U.S. envoys are expected to present a draft framework to Moscow ahead of potential high-level meetings in the United States next week. He said Ukraine remains engaged in talks while seeking security guarantees and international

A small private jet crashed during an attempted emergency landing in central Mexico on Tuesday, killing seven people and leaving three others unaccounted for, according to Mexican authorities. The aircraft had departed from the coastal city of Acapulco late Monday and was en route to Toluca International Airport when it reportedly developed a technical malfunction. Officials said the pilot attempted an emergency landing in a populated area as the situation worsened. During the landing attempt, the jet narrowly missed a football field before striking the roof of a factory in the San Mateo Atenc

Hong Kong’s High Court has convicted veteran media entrepreneur and pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai in one of the most closely watched national security cases since Beijing imposed the law on the city in 2020. A panel of three judges approved by the government ruled Monday that Lai conspired with others to collude with foreign forces and took part in publishing what authorities described as seditious material. Lai, 78, is the founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, once one of Hong Kong’s most widely read and outspokenly critical publications. He pleaded not guilty to all charge

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Jordan on Monday for a two-day official visit aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries. He was received at the airport by Jordanian Prime Minister Jafar Hassan. During the first day of his visit, Prime Minister Modi met members of the Indian-origin community in Jordan, highlighting the role of people-to-people connections in deepening bilateral relations. The visit is taking place at the invitation of Jordan’s King Abdullah. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Modi and King Abdullah are expected to hold bilateral talk

Doctors in Dhaka say former Bangladeshi prime minister Khaleda Zia has been moved to a ventilator after her oxygen levels dropped sharply earlier this week. The 80-year-old opposition leader has been in Evercare Hospital since November 23 for multiple ongoing health complications, according to her medical team. Members of the hospital’s medical board reported that Zia began experiencing increased difficulty breathing, prompting the shift to full respiratory support. Physicians say her condition has not shown significant improvement despite weeks of treatment. Zia, who heads the Bangladesh Na