Mark Zuckerberg has attempted to ease tensions with neighbors near his Palo Alto estate by gifting noise-canceling headphones, boxes of doughnuts, and bottles of sparkling wine after years of disruption caused by ongoing construction work.

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has approved a record $785 billion (122.3 trillion yen) budget for the next fiscal year, aiming to balance pro-growth fiscal policies with concerns over the country’s ballooning debt.

Northern Canada has recorded its lowest temperature in more than two decades, with the mercury plunging to an extreme –55.4°C on December 22, marking the region’s coldest reading since 1999.

Starting early 2026, tenants in the UAE will have the option to pay rent on a monthly basis rather than issuing large, upfront checks. This change comes through a collaboration between Property Finder and Keyper, aiming to simplify rental payments across the country.

Packaged food manufacturers and fast-food chains are likely to face increasing pressure to reformulate and redesign their products next year following the approval of Novo Nordisk’s appetite-suppressing Wegovy GLP-1 pill, which is expected to become available in the United States from January. Analysts believe the pill version could significantly accelerate adoption of GLP-1 weight-loss

DAR ES SALAAM: A tragic helicopter crash on Mount Kilimanjaro claimed the lives of five people on Wednesday, the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) confirmed on Thursday. Local media reported that the aircraft was engaged in a medical rescue mission when the accident occurred.

According to a report published by an American magazine, Pakistan has emerged as a clear “winner” under former US President Donald Trump’s revised foreign policy approach in 2025, while India has been described as a relative “loser” in the shifting regional and global landscape. The publication assessed Washington’s evolving strategic priorities and concluded that Pakistan has successfully

Despite ongoing warnings about digital security, “123456” has once again been identified as the most commonly used password of the year. Cybersecurity experts caution that such weak passwords leave accounts highly vulnerable to hacking, data breaches, and identity theft.

Australia plans to field an all-pace bowling attack for the fourth Ashes Test, captain Steve Smith confirmed, while selectors dropped Josh Inglis in favor of Usman Khawaja. The hosts enter the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with an unassailable 3-0 lead over England but face key absences, with pace spearhead Pat Cummins and veteran spinner Nathan Lyon unavailable.

The United States has intercepted an oil tanker in international waters off the coast of Venezuela, according to confirmation by US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The move comes days after President Donald Trump announced a blockade targeting all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, signaling a tougher enforcement stance against what Washington describes as illicit oil