Tokyo has dropped to third place in the ranking of the world's most populous metropolises, ceding to Jakarta, which topped the list. According to a UN report, the number of metropolises has quadrupled since 1975, mainly in Asia.
At least 36 people, including a firefighter, have died, and 279 are still considered missing after a massive fire in a residential complex in Hong Kong. Another 29 people have been hospitalized, seven of whom are in critical condition.
The Cabinet of Ministers appointed cultural observer Bohdana Laiuk as Deputy Minister of Culture. She will be responsible for book publishing, reading, the visibility of Ukrainian literature abroad, and language policy.
A petition has been registered in Kyiv to rename the Akademmistechko metro station to Vasyl Stus. The author of the initiative, Serhiy Shevchenko, justifies this with historical, symbolic, and practical reasons, including the fact that the poet lived and worked in this area.
Three days after the presidential elections in Guinea-Bissau, head of state Umaro Sissoco Embaló was arrested. The military suspended the electoral process and closed the borders, imposing a curfew.
Yorgos Lanthimos' black comedy "Bugonia," Olivier Laxe's post-apocalyptic road movie "Sirens," and Masha Schilinski's German drama "The Sound of Falling" topped the list with five nominations each for the 2026 European Film Awards. The awards ceremony will take place on January 17 in Berlin.
Melia is currently serving an 8-month sentence for failing to appear before a controversial parliamentary commission, which, at the initiative of the ruling Georgian Dream party, was investigating alleged crimes of the previous government. His prison term was due to expire in January.
At least 17 people have died on the island of Sumatra (Indonesia) as a result of heavy rains that caused flash floods and landslides. Six people are considered missing, and rescuers have faced difficulties due to bad weather and limited access to affected areas.
The Taiwanese government has announced a special defense budget of $40 billion and measures to counter Chinese attacks. President Lai Ching-te stated that there would be no compromises on national security issues.
Russian Ambassador Oleg Ozerov was summoned to the Moldovan Foreign Ministry, where he was handed a note of protest over the illegal flight of six drones. The Russian ambassador stated that the incident "needs to be investigated," as "many operations take place under a false flag."
Erika Kirk is trying to dispel rumors of a romance with US Vice President JD Vance. She explained that her habit of hugging people is a "love language," and during a hug with Vance, he told her he was proud of her.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a conversation with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Issues of strengthening sanctions against Russia, financial assistance to Ukraine, and the use of frozen Russian assets were discussed.
A roe deer, which underwent limb amputation after a car accident in Kyiv Oblast, did not survive the massive Russian shelling on the night of November 25. Its heart stopped from the horror of the explosions, despite all the efforts of the Wild Animal Rescue Center.
The Prosecutor General's Office is systematically dismantling the fraudulent call center industry, having eliminated hundreds of such operations in recent months. Prosecutors urge Ukrainians to be vigilant and remind them of digital safety rules, as calls and messages from fraudsters continue to arrive.
In the village of Ositna, Cherkasy region, four children aged 10 months to 7 years died as a result of a fire, and two more children were hospitalized with burns. The mother was notified of suspicion of malicious failure to fulfill parental duties, which led to the death of the children.
Ukraine's Defense Forces struck military targets and Russian military-industrial complex facilities, including the "VNIIIR-Progress" plant in Cheboksary. A command post, a Tor-M1 air defense system, ammunition depots, and an enemy personnel concentration area were also hit.
US President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum to Kyiv regarding the adoption of a peace plan, threatening to stop arms and intelligence supplies. POLITICO claims that Europe will not be able to fully replace American support, and Ukraine will face serious difficulties without US assistance.
In Hong Kong, a fire engulfed several apartment buildings in a residential complex, killing four people. Two injured are in critical condition, one in stable condition.
Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak stated that Ukraine will not abandon its constitutional obligation to move towards NATO. This comes against the backdrop of a US peace plan that envisioned Ukraine abandoning its membership in the Alliance.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated that a decision regarding frozen Russian assets, which are a means of pressure on Russia and a source of funding for Ukraine, will be made in the coming days. This will happen in coordination with European countries and the European Commission.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the Ukrainian army cannot be limited, amid various peace proposals to cap the size of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. EU countries hope to reach a final decision on financing Ukraine's defense, including frozen Russian assets.
US President Donald Trump pardoned two turkeys from North Carolina, "Gobble" and "Waddle," although "Waddle" went missing during the ceremony. Trump also criticized his opponents, including Joe Biden and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker.
In the third quarter of 2025, Russia's coal industry deepened into systemic imbalances, leading to a persistent crisis, according to the Foreign Intelligence Service. 74% of companies are operating at a loss, and 23% have completely stopped production, with the industry's total loss reaching $3.32 billion.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio participated in a virtual meeting of the "coalition of the willing," which was also joined by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. This meeting took place against the backdrop of negotiations on a peace plan between Ukraine and Russia, initiated by Donald Trump.
On November 26, power outage schedules will be in effect in all regions of Ukraine. Restrictions will be applied from 00:00 to 23:59 for 0.5-2.5 queues of consumers and industry.
President Zelenskyy wants to meet with President Trump as soon as possible to finalize work on a US-Ukrainian agreement to end the war. The Ukrainian leader wants to discuss territorial concessions with Trump personally.
Prosecutor General of Ukraine Ruslan Kravchenko discussed with international partners the strategy for investigating international crimes and the reform of the prosecutor's office. The discussion also covered Ukraine's European integration path and the deportation of Ukrainian children.
In Zakarpattia, law enforcement officers detained an armored car that was transporting a man of conscription age to the border with Hungary. The services were estimated at 16,500 US dollars.
Ukraine, Slovakia, and Slovenia have been elected to the OPCW Executive Council for 2026–2028. Russia suffered its third consecutive defeat, failing to join the governing body.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are holding a conference call with members of the coalition of the willing, discussing the progress of developing a peace plan for Ukraine. The coalition unites over 30 countries that have pledged to facilitate a peace agreement.
