Russians Share Hopes for 2026 Amidst Economic Struggles As the New Year celebrations are in full swing, BBC's Moscow editor, Steve Rosenberg, engaged with locals on the streets of Moscow about their hopes for 2026 and their visions for the future. Their thoughts are weighed down not only by Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine but…
Tax on Contraceptives and Cheaper Childcare Services Starting January 1, Chinese citizens will face a 13% tax on the sale of contraceptives, while childcare services will be exempt from taxation. This measure is part of a broader effort by the Chinese economy, which is grappling with an aging population and stagnating economy, to encourage young…
New Year's Celebrations Around the World New Year's celebrations unfold across the globe as countries transition into 2026, one time zone at a time. Major cities welcoming the new year greeted midnight with fireworks lighting up the skies above harbors, while large crowds gathered at public viewing spots. As the night progresses, countries throughout the…
Protests in Iran Amid Collapse of Local Currency Protesters in Iran attempted to breach a local government building in Fars province on the fourth day of demonstrations triggered by the collapse of the currency. Authorities reported that three police officers were injured and four individuals were arrested in the city of Fasa. Clashes were also…
Donald Trump Takes Major Step in His Policy The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has announced that he is halting efforts to deploy federal troops in several Democrat-run cities, marking a significant policy shift. The announcement was made on Wednesday amidst legal obstacles regarding the deployment of the National Guard members in Chicago,…
Incident in the Gulf of Finland The police in Finland have detained a ship traveling from Russia, suspected of damaging an undersea telecommunications cable that connects Helsinki to Estonia. The cargo vessel, Fitburg, was en route from St. Petersburg to the port of Haifa in Israel, flying the flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.…
Results of the Elections Highly Anticipated On January 5, 2026, the results of the first combined elections for president, legislative, regional, and municipal offices in the Central African Republic will be announced. The UN peacekeeping mission (MINUSCA) has reported that the vote counting process has been successfully completed, with observers noting that over 99% of…
United States Continues Pressure on Venezuela's Oil Industry The United States Department of the Treasury has announced a new round of sanctions aimed at isolating the oil industry in Venezuela, as part of President Donald Trump's pressure campaign against the South American country. The sanctions, announced on Wednesday, target four companies and their associated tankers…
Bulgaria Embraces the Euro Bulgaria, the poorest country in the European Union, has become the 21st member of the eurozone, surpassing more prominent and wealthier candidates such as Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. This marks an optimistic and potentially profitable leap for young and entrepreneurial Bulgarians, representing the final step in a process that…
Massive Liquidity Injections Expected to Boost BTC Price Bitcoin's price could rise in 2026 due to a loosening of monetary policy that would inject "massive" liquidity into the markets, according to Bill Barhydt, CEO of the crypto exchange and wallet platform Abra. In an interview with Schwab Network, he stated that he anticipates substantial liquidity…