On the eve of Christmas, Iceland recorded its highest December temperature ever, reaching +19. 8°C in the town of Seyðisfjörður. This warming is attributed to tropical air masses and the peculiarities of the local landscape.
The HUR handed over an ancient icon of Archangel Michael to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. This relic, symbolizing the struggle of good against evil, was returned to the Ukrainian church with the participation of Kyrylo Budanov.
The winner of one of the largest lottery prizes in US history has been identified in the US. The winner can receive $1.87 billion in annual payments or $835 million in a lump sum.
The Serbian government has supported negotiations between NIS's Russian owners and Hungarian MOL regarding the sale of a controlling stake. The aim of the deal is to remove the country's largest energy company from under US sanctions.
The head of Ireland's defense and foreign policy departments has refuted a statement by the Military Intelligence Service (IMIS) that China is "hostile. " The minister emphasized the importance of economic cooperation and warned of the risks of isolating Beijing ahead of his upcoming trade mission.
In Sukhiivtsi village, Ternopil region, five people, including two children, were hospitalized due to carbon monoxide poisoning. The cause was a leaky combustion chamber of a solid fuel boiler.
Border guards prevented the occupiers from forcing the Lozova River and crossing the state border in the Kharkiv region.
NATO scrambled fighter jets to intercept Russian Tu-95MS strategic bombers that flew over the neutral waters of the Norwegian and Barents Seas. The flight lasted more than seven hours, and Russia called the mission routine.
Authorities in Liechtenstein and Switzerland are investigating the deaths of four members of the same family, whose bodies were found in two locations. A 41-year-old man was discovered on the banks of the Rhine, and his parents and sister were found in an apartment in Vaduz.
The US government has extended the energy emergency for northeastern states until January 15. This decision is due to an industrial accident and the approaching powerful winter storm.
The US Department of Justice has found about a million new documents in the case of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which were handed over by federal prosecutors in New York. The release of these materials may take several weeks due to the need to protect victims and the significant volume of information.
Starting January 1, 2026, China will ban the dissemination of explicit content in private online messages, including sexting. Violators face fines of up to $700 and imprisonment, and group administrators are responsible for removing such content.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna announced the full combat readiness of Estonian services to give armed resistance to any Russian provocations. Tallinn will no longer tolerate the appearance of soldiers without insignia on its territory.
On Wednesday evening, an explosion occurred in a mosque in Maiduguri, Nigeria, during prayer. This region is the epicenter of the activities of the terrorist groups Boko Haram and Islamic State – West Africa.
The Trump administration has developed a plan to reform the immigrant detention system, envisioning the conversion of industrial warehouses into deportation centers. The new system is designed to accommodate over 80,000 people simultaneously, with a network of seven "super-warehouses" and 16 smaller facilities.
Representatives of the embassies of Great Britain, Germany, and France presented a joint creative greeting for the winter holidays, performing Mykola Leontovych's legendary composition in the Kyiv subway. The recording took place at the Zoloti Vorota station with the participation of Ukrainian musicians.
German Federal President Steinmeier congratulated citizens on Christmas, choosing overcoming challenges as the central theme. He emphasized that supporting Ukraine will not be a short-term task and will require significant efforts from German society.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu announced preparations for a response after the explosion incident in Rafah, which injured an IDF officer. Hamas denies involvement, claiming the explosion was caused by old ammunition.
French President Emmanuel Macron held talks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities. Consultations on security assistance will begin in early 2026 in Paris.
The US cannot intercept the oil tanker Bella 1, linked to the Nicolas Maduro regime, due to limited resources of the Maritime Security Response Team. The vessel's crew refused to voluntarily allow US law enforcement officers on board.
The militaries of Thailand and Cambodia have begun three-day talks to end a 16-day armed standoff that has killed at least 86 people. The goal of the meeting is to restore the truce previously brokered by Malaysia and the United States.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine have regained control over most of Kupiansk, pushing the occupiers to the northeastern outskirts. Russian Z-channels report on the critical condition of their units, and the Center for Countering Disinformation confirmed the success of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The US State Department has signed memorandums of cooperation with four African countries, investing $1. 4 billion, while recipient countries have pledged to invest more than $900 million of their own resources. The new US approach requires financial discipline and a gradual phasing out of donor aid, with clear benchmarks and consequences for non-compliance.
Roscosmos plans to build a stationary power source on the Moon by 2036. The project is being implemented jointly with China to provide energy for the future scientific base and lunar rovers.
The global economy is decarbonizing faster than expected, with record investments of $2. 2 trillion in 2025. Investments in clean energy exceed spending on fossil fuels, and renewable energy covers all new electricity demand.
In Algeria, parliament supported a bill recognizing the 130-year French occupation as a war crime, demanding compensation and apologies. The document criminalizes the approval of colonialism and obliges France to deactivate nuclear test sites.
MP Yuliia Hryshyna clarified that Bill No. 10392 establishes European standards for education, not punitive sanctions. The document provides for rules for AI use and educational measures for students aged 14 and over.
The Ministry of Education and Science provided detailed information on "winter admission" and preparation for the main admission for applicants.
Analysts warn that tariffs imposed by Donald Trump will slow global GDP and overload European ports. This will also lead to a massive review of supply chains by companies.
The Russian FSB killed an alleged saboteur who collaborated with Ukraine and planned terrorist attacks on Russian territory.
