Secular News

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday his country was “10 per cent” away from a deal to end the war with Russia, but cautioned that the most important issues were unresolved and warned against rewarding Moscow. US-led efforts to end Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II have gained pace in recent weeks, but both sides remain at odds over the key issue of territory in a post-war settlement. Russia, which occupies around 20 per cent of Ukraine, is pushing for full...

There are seven destination on the No List that holidaymakers should avoid in 2026, according to one travel publication

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani officially became the 111th mayor of the nation’s largest city early Thursday as he seeks to carry out the transformative progressive platform on which he campaigned

The Washington Monument welcomed the new year with a projection show celebrating America’s 250th anniversary in 2026. The large-scale projections marked the official start of the year-long commemoration of the nation’s founding, leading up to the semiquincentennial.

There’s a new kind of “property insurance” being sold in Florida starting today, Jan 1. And it’s for your pets. The Florida Legislature passed HB 655 unanimously last spring and it was signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis on April 22.  The bill amends the definition of property insurance to explicitly include insurance coverage […]

Dear Eric: I am getting older. I have lived in my home more than half my life. I raised my children, educated myself, had a career and launched my kids while living here as a long-divorced person. In the last few years, my body has changed. I now use a walker. My mind works just […]

President Xi Jinping has sent a new warning to Chinese cadres – “no one should harbour any illusions” that they can get away with corruption as there will be no let-up in the long-running anti-graft campaign. He told officials at a key political meeting in October there would be no place for the corrupt to hide, according to excerpts from his speech released on Wednesday. “[We must] maintain a high-pressure stance against corruption at all times, investigate and punish corruption cases according...

Tourism to Machu Picchu has increased by about 25% over the past decade and about 1.5 million people visit the site annually, which was built by the Incas in the 15th century

A CIA assessment concluded that Ukraine did not try to kill Russian President Vladimir Putin at his country residence as alleged by the Kremlin, a source with knowledge of the matter told NBC News

Emergency services at Hong Kong’s public hospitals have operated smoothly on the first day of the new year despite raising fees for non-urgent cases, but some patients from minority groups said they were unaware of the changes. Starting on Thursday, New Year’s Day of 2026, patients visiting accident and emergency rooms at Hong Kong public hospitals with less urgent conditions will have to pay higher fees of HK$400 (US$50) per visit. Meanwhile, the fees for those classified as critical and...

We have selected five Lifestyle stories from the past seven days that resonated with our readers. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Is the Year of the Snake’s 11th month lucky for you? Forecasts for all signs Feng shui master Andrew Kwan breaks down this lunar month’s prospects for all 12 Chinese zodiac signs in health, love, work and finances. 2. The 15 best K-dramas of 2025 ranked, from Melo Movie to Squid Game 3 The year 2025 was another big one...

Even as North Korea spent 2025 pushing a political strategy centred on ignoring South Korea, the country simultaneously copied South Korean products, designs and cultural content – from food packaging to football fan zones – revealing what analysts describe as a contradictory yet calculated pattern of imitation. While Pyongyang continues to warn against the inflow of South Korean culture, it has selectively adopted popular elements and repurposed them as its own through what observers call...