Most Ukrainians are optimistic about 2026, but positive sentiments are declining, and skepticism is growing. A "Rating" survey showed that 39% expect improvements, 27% – no changes, and every fourth – deterioration.
Consumers will face up to a 20% increase in electronics prices this year. The price increase is due to a shortage of memory chips caused by increased demand for artificial intelligence.
In 2026, hairstyle trends will be defined by elegance and restraint, including the breakup bob, bixie, micro-bob, and side-swept bangs. Smooth hairstyles are also making a comeback.
Five key fashion trends for 2026, including opulence, historical references, massive jewelry, transparency and lightness, and updated sunglasses.
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has cost Russian taxpayers approximately $550 billion, which is equivalent to 24 annual Russian higher education budgets. A significant portion of these expenditures is hidden, and the financing of the war is shifted to the population through new taxes and rising prices.
Champagne, which originated in the French region of Champagne, became a symbol of positive emotions thanks to the improvement of winemaking technologies by the monk Dom Pierre Pérignon. The drink, which gained royal status at the court of Louis XIV, later became available to the bourgeoisie and artists, and was subsequently popularized by Hollywood.
The Danish postal service PostNord has stopped delivering letters due to a sharp decline in their use. The number of letters sent by mail in the country has decreased by more than 90 percent since 2000.
Meta Platforms has agreed to acquire Singaporean AI startup Manus, which conducts in-depth research and performs tasks for paying users. The deal is valued at over $2 billion, with Manus maintaining independent operations while integrating its agents into Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
On December 30, gold rose by 1. 1% to $4378.29 per ounce, recovering after a sharp drop. Silver and platinum also rose after significant fluctuations, while palladium slightly decreased.
The series "Stranger Things" has accumulated 1. 2 billion views in its nine years of existence, surpassing all other Netflix series in total viewing time. The project also created 8,000 jobs and brought $1.4 billion to the American economy.
Colleen Hoover is known for her romantic stories that explore themes of love, loss, and change; her books regularly become New York Times bestsellers. The online bookstore MEGOGO BOOKS offers a complete collection of the author's works in Ukrainian and English.
2025 was a record-breaking profitable year for billionaires: their combined wealth grew by $3. 6 trillion to $18.7 trillion, thanks to the boom in AI and tech sector investments. Elon Musk increased his fortune by $333.2 billion, reaching $754 billion, becoming the first person with a fortune exceeding $700 billion.
The Kardashian family held their annual Christmas party in an intimate format, foregoing a lavish celebration. Khloé Kardashian explained that this was due to her mother Kris Jenner's recent 70th birthday.
This year, a record number of ninth-grade graduates from Russian schools chose vocational education, which is the highest figure in the last 50 years. This is a forced reaction of the education system to the acute shortage of skilled workers for industry.
The Russian ruble has strengthened by 45% since the beginning of the year, trading at around 78 rubles per dollar, which is the strongest growth since 1994. This poses a threat to the country's war economy, despite falling oil prices and new sanctions.
China, transitioning to electric vehicles, exports surplus gasoline cars, filling markets in Eastern Europe, Africa, and Latin America. 76% of China's car exports are gasoline models, which allowed it to become the world's largest car exporter.
The total cost of the 2025 Christmas table increased by 11% to UAH 913. 57, despite cheaper vegetables. Kutia and uzvar became significantly more expensive due to rising prices for their ingredients.
In 2025, the trend towards nationalization sharply intensified in Russia, with the authorities actively seizing private companies and subsequently reselling them to Kremlin-loyal investors. The total value of assets transferred to state ownership exceeded 3 trillion rubles, which is 4.5 times more than in 2024.
In November, more than 60% of new passenger car sales in Ukraine fell on five regions. Kyiv remains the leader, and regional buyer preferences vary significantly by model.
Eve Air Mobility successfully conducted the first flight of its full-scale electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) prototype in Brazil. This is an important step towards certification and entry into service in 2027.
ByteDance Ltd. plans to generate approximately $50 billion in profit in 2025, having already exceeded its internal target. The company achieved a net profit of around $40 billion in the first three quarters of the current year.
The Ukrainian labor market at the end of the year is sending new signals: how vacancies are transforming, what is changing in employer behavior, and what to expect in 2026.
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to ease federal marijuana rules, directing the Attorney General to reclassify it. This decision could change the cannabis industry and open the door for research funding.
The story of Volodymyr Bortkov, who called on his girlfriend Viktoria to return after cheating on her with Vira Vinchuk, is spreading on Threads. This private story quickly turned into viral content and a trend on the network.
Professional astrologer Ksenia Bazylenko presented a general astrological forecast for 2026, which will be a time of changes and trials, as well as great potential. She noted that the world enters 2026 in a state of deep fatigue, but this is also a unique chance for renewal and development.
Over 25% of new cars sold globally in 2025 are electric, according to an Ember analysis. This growth is driven by emerging markets, which are now leading the transition to electromobility.
The Ukrainian meat and sausage market is transforming: consumption volumes are decreasing, but monetary volume is growing due to inflation. Consumers prefer quality, convenience, trust, and local brands, which leads to the emergence of new products, such as the meat and sausage line under the "Nasha Ryaba" brand.
Tesla shares reached an all-time high of $489. 88 on December 16, up 3.1% for the day. The company's market value rose to $1.63 trillion, and Elon Musk's fortune reached $684 billion.
Silver prices have reached a new all-time high, surpassing the $65 per ounce mark, making it the best annual performance in history. The surge is driven by supply shortages, growing demand from high-tech industries, and the inclusion of silver on the US list of critical minerals.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that starting in 2029, YouTube will hold exclusive global broadcasting rights for the Academy Awards ceremony. This is the first time that one of the "Big Four" awards has abandoned classic television broadcasting in favor of a digital platform.
