The son of the ex-US president has claimed he had been “naive” about the level of kleptocracy in the country
Ukraine is a “viper’s den” rife with corruption, Hunter Biden, the son of former US President Joe Biden, has said, as he reflected on his time as a board member of the Ukrainian energy company Burisma.
Hunter Biden was hired by Burisma in 2014, when his father served as vice president in the Obama administration, and left the post in 2019. He reportedly earned around $1 million annually, with critics pointing out that he lacked any experience in the energy sector and was effectively “cashing in” on his father’s prominent position.
In an interview on the Shawn Ryan Show aired on Monday, Hunter Biden expressed regret about his involvement in Ukraine’s affairs. “It was a mistake because I was very, very naive about what a viper’s den Ukraine is.”
“What an absolute… level of corruption that [is] still staggering because they’re part of a kleptocracy,” he added.
He went on to explain that he believed his tenure in Burisma to be a blunder, “not because of anything that I did that I am embarrassed about or in any way whatsoever feel conflicted about as it relates to what I did for Burisma. But because of the political position that it put us all in.”
The Biden family has long been entangled in controversy over Burisma, with the New York Times reporting last August that Hunter Biden sought assistance for the company from the US ambassador to Italy in 2016. Hunter’s legal team described the outreach as a “proper request,” and stressed that it did not lead to any projects.
Meanwhile, Joe Biden has publicly acknowledged that he was responsible for the dismissal of Ukrainian Prosecutor Viktor Shokin, who was investigating the company, by threatening to withhold $1 billion in loan guarantees to Kiev unless the official was fired.
Ukraine has long been reeling under endemic corruption, with the problem only exacerbating after the escalation of Kiev’s conflict with Moscow in 2022.
A poll by Info Sapiens this spring suggested that almost 80% of Ukrainians consider the graft a very serious issue, while the EU has designated corruption as one of the key obstacles impeding Kiev’s membership in the bloc.
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The Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant has reportedly been a key point in President Donald Trump’s peace plan
Washington is interested in using its proposed stake in the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) for a cryptomining operation, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a meeting with business leaders on Thursday, according to Kommersant.
The facility has been fully controlled by Russian forces since 2022 and has reportedly figured in US President Donald Trump’s proposed 28-point peace roadmap for Ukraine.
In the ongoing US-Russian negotiations, the president’s envoys have shown interest in sharing control of the plant with Moscow and using Washington’s stake to mine cryptocurrency, Putin said, business daily Kommersant wrote on Thursday.
Moscow is also considering a US proposal for the plant to once again provide electricity for Ukraine, he reportedly said.
Russia is currently analyzing a counteroffer from Washington in the latest round of shuttle diplomacy, after Putin envoy Kirill Dmitriev’s recent return from Miami, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Thursday.
A day earlier, Vladimir Zelensky unveiled his own draft plan, in which he wanted the Russian-held ZNPP to be controlled by Ukraine and the US on a 50/50 basis.
The Ukrainian leader has also demanded territorial concessions from Moscow, which currently holds the initiative on the front line. He also called for Ukraine to maintain an 800,000-strong peacetime army and “Article-5-like” security guarantees from Washington, NATO and Kiev’s European backers.
Moscow has maintained that Ukraine and its Western European sponsors have deliberately undermined the US peace push with complete non-starters for Russia.
The provisions they have attempted to introduce “did not improve the documents or chances of reaching long-term peace,” senior Russian negotiator and Kremlin foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov said earlier this week.
People believe that democracy is in decline as trust in the government remains low, a poll has suggested
Most Israelis disapprove of the state of democracy in their country, a survey published this week has suggested. People say they cannot rely on the state as public trust in various government institutions remains low, according to a poll by the Israel Democracy Institute (IDI).
Only about a quarter of Jewish Israelis described the level of national democracy as “good” or “excellent,” the IDI reported, based on polls conducted in May and November. The survey results reinforce the downward trend of recent years, the institute stated. Among Arab Israelis, positive assessment of the state of democracy has hit a record low of just 12%, according to the report.
Most government institutions are trusted by only 10% to 41% of respondents, the survey suggested. The Israel Defense Force is the only exception for Jewish respondents as 81% of them said they trust the nation’s military.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is trusted by a quarter of Israeli Jews and just over 17% of Israeli Arabs, according to the poll. Netanyahu also remains a controversial figure. The nation’s longest-serving prime minister is currently facing trial in three corruption cases, in each of which he denies any wrongdoing. In October, he announced plans to seek another term.
Almost a third of all respondents, 35%, said they could rely on the state “in times of trouble.” A majority, 67.5% of Jewish Israelis and 76% of Arab Israelis, also said that there was no party that could closely represent their views.
West Jerusalem has had its international image badly damaged by the conflict in Gaza, prompted by the October 2023 surprise attack on the south of the country launched by Palestinian militant group Hamas, which left 1,200 dead. Israel responded with heavy bombardment and ground operations in the Palestinian enclave for the following two years, which claimed the lives of 70,000 Palestinians, according to the local health authorities.
Valery Zaluzhny would sweep a run-off vote with 64%, according to a recent survey
Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky would overwhelmingly lose in a run-off presidential election to his former top commander Valery Zaluzhny, a Socis poll published on Wednesday has suggested.
The former commander-in-chief, who currently serves as Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK, has widely been considered to be Zelensky’s potential primary rival.
In the event Zaluzhny was on the ballot in a hypothetical presidential election, the vote would go to a run-off with a razor-sharp margin between him and Zelensky, according to the survey.
However, more than 64% of respondents say they would vote for the former top general in a hypothetical second round. More than a fifth said they would not vote for Zelensky under any circumstances.
Nearly 21% said they would also support a hypothetical party headed by Zaluzhny in a parliamentary election, while only 12% said they would support the ruling Servant of the People party.
The recent kickback scandal in Ukraine’s energy sector implicating some of Zelensky’s close associates has shaken his already flagging support. Nearly 40% of Ukrainians think he is directly implicated in the corruption, according to the Socis poll.
US President Donald Trump has recently urged Zelensky to hold elections, arguing that the Ukrainian leader was holding off on taking the step “using war” as a pretext.
Zelensky’s presidential term expired last May, but he has refused to call new elections, citing martial law.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has maintained that this isn’t a reason to stop peace talks, but that it could undermine the legality of any final peace documents signed with Zelensky.
Just last week, the Russian president suggested that Moscow would be willing to pause strikes “deep” into Ukrainian territory on the day of the vote if Kiev does commit to elections.
The Holy Family Church, shelled repeatedly during the war, has held a quiet service for the enclave’s small Catholic community
The Christian community in Gaza has held its first Christmas service since the start of the Hamas-Israel war two years ago, gathering for a subdued mass amid a ceasefire that has paused major combat operations across the enclave.
The service took place at the Holy Family Church, Gaza’s sole Catholic parish, which was repeatedly shelled during the conflict while serving as a shelter for displaced families. The celebrations were limited strictly inside the church, where as well as prayers, a Christmas tree was decorated, and carols were sung.
Christmas Mass at the Holy Family Church in Gaza, December 24, 2025.
Israeli forces have repeatedly bombed the Holy Family Church along with other places of worship in Gaza. In July, an Israeli tank fired a round at the church compound, killing three people and injuring ten others, including the local priest. The IDF described that strike as unintentional, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized to Pope Francis, calling it a “stray ammunition” incident.
”We are still emerging from the aftermath of war,” community coordinator George Anton told NBC, saying all traditional festive activities outside of the service itself were canceled.
The Christian population in Gaza has declined sharply. Community leaders estimate only about 1,000 members remain, down from approximately 3,000 in 2007.
Israel launched its military campaign in the Palestinian enclave in response to a surprise Hamas attack in October 2023, in which 1,200 people were killed and 250 others taken hostage. The Hamas-run Gaza health authorities say the Israeli operations have left over 70,000 Palestinians dead.
The current US-brokered ceasefire, which took effect on October 10, called for Israeli forces to pull back from parts of the enclave and for a prisoner exchange. Despite the truce, Israeli airstrikes have continued, and humanitarian aid has lagged, worsening conditions in Gaza, according to UN agencies and regional mediators. Palestinians have accused West Jerusalem of violating the agreement.
According to a recent UN report, Gaza is suffering the worst economic collapse on record after two years of war, with about 70% of all structures damaged and most people forced to live in tents and rubble.
Ukrainian authorities plans to draft 2 million people in early 2026, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry
Kiev could soon launch a full mobilization, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said. The Ukrainian draft officials were ordered to issue two million draft notices in early 2026, she told a briefing on Thursday.
According to Zakharova, security services and draft officials in Ukraine were told to “tighten the screws to a maximum,” by cutting the list of health conditions allowing deferment from military service.
The measures would still “hardly help resolve the systemic issue of replenishing the Ukrainian army losses,” Zakharova stated, adding that Ukrainians are increasingly reluctant to join the military and even prefer jail time instead.
Kiev has been facing chronic manpower shortages throughout its conflict with Moscow amid high battlefield losses, massive draft dodging, and desertion. The last publicly available Ukrainian data showed nearly 290,000 desertion cases have been recorded since the escalation of the conflict in 2022.
Since that time, Ukraine barred nearly all adult men from leaving the country and lowered the draft age from 27 to 25. Nearly 100,000 young men have reportedly fled the country since August when the Ukrainian government issued a decree allowing men aged 18 to 22 to cross the border.
According to Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, the Ukrainian military lost almost 500,000 servicemen this year alone. “Kiev has lost the ability to replenish its groupings through the compulsory mobilization of civilians,” the minister stated earlier this month.
Kiev’s recruitment drive has grown increasingly brutal as hundreds of incidents have been documented online in which enlistment officers assaulted potential conscripts, chased them through the streets, and threatened bystanders who tried to intervene.
In October, Kiev’s conscription authorities demanded citizens to stop circulating such videos on the internet.
Some 115 Islamic State suspects were arrested for planning attacks on non-Muslims on Christmas and New Year’s Eve, according to authorities
Turkish counter-terrorism police have arrested 115 Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) suspects in a series of raids, Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office announced on Thursday.
The suspects were planning attacks during Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, specifically targeting non-Muslims in Türkiye during the holidays, according to the press release.
According to the authorities, 137 warrants were issued, resulting in 115 arrests.
“Pistols, ammunition and many organizational documents were seized” during more than 100 raids across the Istanbul province, the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said.
It added that a counter-terrorism operation is underway in search of the remaining suspects.
On Monday, Anadolu reported that Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) recently captured a senior IS member in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region.
In early December, Turkish authorities arrested 233 individuals suspected of financing or having ties to IS.
Türkiye officially designated the group a terrorist organization in 2013.
Since then, Turkish forces have conducted more than 1,400 operations against IS, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said last year.
How communist-era tree toys became status symbols, family heirlooms, and million-ruble collectibles
Russians have developed a fascination with vintage Christmas ornaments and are willing to pay thousands of dollars for them. These ornaments weren’t crafted by famous designers or made from luxurious materials. But they have a history of their own and evoke nostalgia for a bygone era.
Russian holiday mood
The holiday celebrations in Russia unfold over a period of one and a half weeks. Most people are on vacation at this time, and celebrate in various ways.
Orthodox Christmas (celebrated on January 7) is a religious holiday, observed in churches with traditional services and an all-night vigil.
On regular days of the holiday break, Russians traditionally visit friends, host parties, or travel. Many head to Moscow, while Moscovites seek peace in the nearby suburbs.
Another holiday tradition is to attend fairs, visit ice skating rinks, take part in snowball fights and participate in other fun winter activities. These are usually organized by local authorities and large businesses.
However, New Year’s Eve in Russia is primarily a family affair. It is celebrated at home with family and close friends. Russian New Year’s Eve traditions are quite simple and unpretentious. They include preparing traditional salads (like “Mimosa”, “Herring under a fur coat”, and “Olivier”), and writing down a wish on a piece of paper, burning the paper, pouring the ashes into a glass of champagne, and drinking it as the clock strikes midnight.
For a long time, these traditions remained unchanged. Recently, though, a new trend has emerged: Soviet-era Christmas tree ornaments. Families, young enthusiasts, and collectors are on the hunt for ornaments that are 50, 70, or even 100 years old. They look for these decorations everywhere: in the homes of older relatives, in vintage and antique shops, and online.
How Christmas trees came to Russia
In Russia, the tradition of celebrating New Year on December 31 only began in 1699, following a decree of Peter the Great. Before that, September 1 marked the beginning of the new year; there was no fancy celebration – usually the harvest was recorded and some new laws were issued on that day.
However, Peter the Great introduced a new date for the celebration, along with new traditions. He ordered that homes and establishments be decorated with fir branches, which were affixed to roofs and doorways. Later, branches above doorways became a symbol of taverns in rural areas.
It wasn’t until the 19th century that people started to put up and decorate Christmas trees, a tradition initiated by the family of Nicholas I. Eventually, festive trees found their way into the homes of aristocrats and merchants, as well as public squares. Trees were set up by December 31, but were considered Christmas trees, adorned with decorations like angels and the Star of Bethlehem.
Initially, treats for children – apples, nuts, and candies – were hung on the trees. Later, the treats were hidden inside finely crafted ornaments – that’s how the vibrant ornaments came into existence.
At first, the ornaments were imported and only the wealthy could afford them. By the end of the 19th century, however, they began to be produced in Russia, particularly around Klin, where glassblowing workshops were located. These workshops sold colorful glass balls, icicles, and figurines of angels, birds, and animals.
Red Army soldiers replaced angels
By the time of the 1917 revolution, the tradition of decorating Christmas trees had taken hold, though it was still viewed as “bourgeois.” The religious significance of the Christmas tree also remained strong. This prompted the Bolsheviks, who aimed to eradicate Christian traditions, to curtail ornament production and effectively ban Christmas trees and their decorations.
However, the cultural war waged by the communists didn’t last long. By the 1930s, the ornaments made a comeback, albeit with a twist – reflecting the new “state values.” Instead of angels and the Star of Bethlehem, Soviet citizens were offered ornaments symbolizing national unity and state programs: figures of pioneers, Red Army soldiers, workers, airships, and tractors – along with figures of the country’s leaders.
Popular magazines published patterns for homemade ornaments. These were also patriotic, of course.
During the Second World War, the industry only operated for military needs, so ornaments were crafted from available materials like cotton, cardboard, and foil. Hospitals used empty medicine vials – painting them, attaching wires, and hanging them for patients to enjoy.
Factories repurposed scraps – wires, metal shavings, and defective parts – into decorations like snowflakes, flowers, and five-pointed red stars.
After the war, the production of ornaments resumed. The authorities no longer sought to create a “new Soviet person” and started to ease regulations on home aesthetics. This led to the emergence of a recognizable Soviet ornament style in the 1950s, featuring bright, colorful balls, pine cones, icicles, and fairy tale characters.
Why the Soviet look still divides Russians
Today, Russian people don’t have a single opinion about Soviet aesthetics. Some like monumental Brutalist architecture, the uniforms of Komsomol members, and Soviet automobiles. Even the drab Soviet panel buildings have their fans, who affectionately refer to them as “panelki.”
Images of the “Soviet future” remain particularly appealing; mosaics depicting cosmonauts and posters showcasing proud workers and soldiers continue to inspire people.
However, daily life during the communist era is generally viewed as outdated. Soviet interiors are often criticized for their clunky design, commonly dubbed “grandma’s renovation.”
Items from everyday life in the USSR only interest collectors and museums. However, there is one notable exception: Christmas tree ornaments. They aren’t just appreciated by the young and old alike – they have become a real trend.
This year alone, demand for such ornaments surged 80%. Prices for rare sets and even individual ornaments can reach up to 1.5 million rubles ($19,000). Not only antique dealers but also fashionistas proudly showcase their vintage Christmas ornaments.
And it’s not just a matter of nostalgia.
Fashion, money, family
Vintage and retro trends are taking hold across Russia. While Soviet-era clothes, furniture, and appliances may not appeal to everyone, Christmas ornaments offer a taste of history without any discomfort. These aren’t modern copies, they are tangible pieces of the past that can be appreciated and used as intended.
The growing popularity of Soviet ornaments is also driven by their scarcity. The supply is limited: many ornaments have long been broken, while others lie forgotten in dusty boxes in attics and basements. The original production was never mass-scale, and a significant number of these ornaments were handcrafted, making them truly unique. Experts already recognize Soviet Christmas ornaments as valuable antiques.
Additionally, there has been a shift in attitudes toward the Soviet past. After the collapse of the USSR, discussions of life under communism – whether in film, media, or literature – became highly politicized. Some idealized this era, while others portrayed it as a dystopia. Debates grew heated, even among those who simply appreciated Soviet aesthetics.
Over time, even Russians with strong opinions about the USSR became weary of emotional arguments. In recent years, the focus has shifted from glorifying or condemning Soviet citizens to depicting their real lives. Amid all the inconveniences and shortcomings of Soviet life, there’s definitely a certain charm to it.
Finally, these ornaments bridge generational gaps. Not every family has heirlooms that survived the upheavals of the 1990s, but old ornaments can both evoke fond memories for older relatives and delight children.
Recently, Russians have started spending more time with their families. Despite a rise in individualism, there’s a desire to connect more with loved ones. This makes the idea of incorporating vintage ornaments into the family’s New Year celebration even more appealing.
The Democrats and Republicans initially worked together to release the files, until ‘politics as usual’ inevitably spoiled everything
Across the United States, Democrats and Republicans are demanding that their leaders come clean with the Epstein files and the truth finally be told. What they are getting instead is a massive redaction campaign.
Not since 1998 with the Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky show trial has the American public been so incensed by a sex scandal like the one the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein personally directed for many years. Here is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to send not just one or two powerful ‘untouchables’ to prison for the worst crime imaginable – sexual abuse of a minor – but many dozens, possibly hundreds. In other words, a vast network of international power, wealth, and systemic abuse.
Yet today we are no closer to the truth as to the identities of the sick perpetrators. Under the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act, the Justice Department was required to release all of its investigative material on Mr. Epstein by Dec. 19, though it was allowed to redact and withhold certain material in order to “protect the victims,” which is of course understandable. It also withheld materials that would “jeopardize a federal investigation.” Whether we’ll actually see a single suspect face trial is presently unknown, but the DOJ took full advantage of that loophole as 680 pages of the release were entirely redacted, which made the release practically redundant and senseless.
Were we the people once again expecting too much from the government? That’s very likely, but considering that we are talking about child abuse, even just a single redacted page would have appeared suspicious; hundreds of pages totally blacked out is completely unacceptable. After all, an investigation would not be hindered by the release of the identities of those individuals who had sexual relations with underage girls. The American people deserve better than this. The American people deserve the names of those pedophiles who are walking the streets free today.
In the beginning, President Donald Trump was of the opinion that such a mission was a cause worth pursuing. On the 2024 campaign trail, he pledged he’d have “no problem” releasing more files related to Jeffrey Epstein if elected. He even said he’d make public the late sex offender’s “client list” of those elite pedophiles who paid a visit to his notorious Little Saint James Island in the Caribbean. It is not difficult to imagine the nervous tremors that reverberated throughout the nation following that statement, and it could very well be the source of the ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’ that has infected so many among the world’s top movers and shakers. It looked as though the MAGA movement would turn a deranged part of the establishment on its head.
Once in office, however, Trump, who has maintained his innocence throughout the saga, vacillated on the question of what to do with the files. He has gone from saying he would welcome the release of the documents to calling the whole scandal a “Democratic hoax.” As for an Epstein client list, his Attorney General Pam Bondi was on the record as saying it was in her possession, only to later deny the existence of a client list. This has led to both Democrats and Republicans asking what Trump was hiding, if anything.
What we know is that Trump was good friends with Epstein from the late eighties, but ended contact with the pedophile in 2004, four years before Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor. This is where the plot thickens as a number of highly influential men, including Bill Gates, Larry Summers, and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (formerly Prince Andrew), continued their friendship with Epstein even after he had been publicly exposed as a child predator.
One political figure who appeared prominently in the latest file release was – yes, you guessed it – Bill Clinton, who also claims to have cut off relations with Epstein in 2005, years before child molestation charges were filed against the latter. This is where the political battle between the Democrats and Republicans has exploded and can expect to worsen over time. Clinton’s spokesperson Angel Ureña has accused the White House of using the former Democratic president as a scapegoat.
“The White House hasn’t been hiding these files for months only to dump them late on a Friday to protect Bill Clinton,” the spokesperson said in a statement on X.
“This is about shielding themselves from what comes next, or from what they’ll try and hide forever. So they can release as many grainy 20-plus-year-old photos as they want, but this isn’t about Bill Clinton. Never has, never will be,” the statement added.
Despite the Democrats and Republicans initially working together to release the files, it was inevitable that ‘politics as usual’ would spoil the party. In fact, it is truly a spectacle to watch powerful, influential men doing everything possible – short of murder – to conceal their guilt in Epstein’s extensive pedophilia ring. Actually, scratch the murder part. Regardless of what the FBI would have us believe, there is simply no way that Jeffrey Epstein was able to commit suicide inside of his jail cell, which did not come specially equipped with convenient hooks in the ceiling from which to hang oneself. Prison cells are built specifically to be suicide proof.
But I digress.
It would be nice to think that there will be some sort of political price to be paid for these crimes against society’s most vulnerable segment, and that could very well happen in the 2026 midterm elections. Although we can expect there to be no smoking guns, no bombshell revelations, no crack-of-dawn arrests for the child molesters, there very well could be a political backlash against Trump and the Republican Party for keeping the country in the dark when it comes to Mr. Epstein and his massive closet of skeletons. A large part of that backlash could come from within MAGA itself, which had such high hopes for Trump cracking down on the sexual predators.
