The authorities of South Korea have asked the Russian Embassy to remove a massive banner displayed on the facade of its building in Seoul. The banner, written in Russian and reading “Victory will be ours,” appeared just ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. According to Reuters, South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs formally conveyed its dissatisfaction to Russian diplomats. It remains unclear whether the embassy has issued any response to the request.

Taylor Swift secured the best-selling album of 2025, while K-pop artists claimed many of the year’s biggest songs, according to newly released industry data. Swift’s 12th studio record, The Life of a Showgirl, ranked as the most popular album worldwide, topping the annual global chart issued by the IFPI. At the same time, Blackpink member Rosé delivered the year’s biggest international single. Her collaboration with Bruno Mars, APT, surpassed two billion streams globally. This marks the first

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday rolled back limits on mercury and other hazardous emissions from coal-fired power plants, marking the Trump administration’s latest move to support the fossil fuel sector by scaling back air and water regulations. Pollution from coal- and oil-burning plants can interfere with brain development in children and is linked to heart attacks and other serious health issues in adults. These facilities are also among the leading

Across the UK, there is a long-standing habit of christening walking routes after some of history’s most colourful troublemakers. Poets with questionable habits, ambitious plotters and controversial monarchs all seem to earn a place on signposts. In that spirit, a 30-mile weekend hike honouring the Mortimer family — and especially their most infamous member, Sir Roger — feels entirely fitting. Sir Roger Mortimer was not a man of modest reputation. He allegedly conducted an affair with Queen

US special envoy Steve Witkoff stated that discussions between Ukraine and Russia had led to “meaningful progress” toward ending the war, as both delegations prepared to continue a second day of negotiations in Geneva on Wednesday. Despite this, expectations for a major breakthrough remain limited. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky argued that it was “not fair” for US President Donald Trump to repeatedly press Kyiv to make concessions, warning that “peace cannot be achieved by handing

NEW YORK (AP) — While death and taxes may be unavoidable parts of life, leaving your loved ones with a large financial burden doesn’t have to be. Affluent individuals have long used strategies to preserve wealth and pass it on to the next generation with minimal interference from taxes. However, the same tools and techniques can also benefit those with more modest savings who want to optimize what they leave behind. “It’s a carefully planned game, often played over many years,” explains Mark

Amid the weathered brick buildings of an industrial district in eastern Leipzig, Germany, an enormous white globe seems to float above a historic boiler house. Its appearance stirs the imagination — is it a cosmic satellite, a futuristic structure, or an oversized celestial orb? This impressive 12-meter structure, known as the Niemeyer Sphere, is the final project envisioned by acclaimed Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. It’s a remarkable addition to his portfolio, embodying his passion for

Three decades have passed since the Sea Empress oil tanker ran aground, causing catastrophic damage to some of south Wales’ most iconic beaches. The spill devastated a wildlife-rich stretch of the Pembrokeshire coast, killing thousands of seabirds. Efforts to refloat the damaged vessel and guide it to safety took nearly a week as the crisis unfolded. The event, widely seen as a turning point in how environmental issues were perceived by the public, still sparks strong emotions and questions

Chic lakeside cabins in Somerset Tucked around a serene lake in south Somerset are six vintage-inspired luxury huts forming The Shepherds Hut Retreat. Each comes equipped with a sleek kitchen and bathroom, a private hot tub area, and delightful extras like telescopes, gin stations, pizza ovens, fire pits, and hammocks. A sauna hidden among the trees adds to the charm. The most opulent of them, named 1898, draws design influence from the Pig hotels. A scenic mile-long walk leads to the Lord

LONDON, Feb 13 – Ukraine anticipates that its new $8.2 billion agreement with the International Monetary Fund will receive official approval within the coming weeks, according to the country’s top debt official. This development marks a significant milestone as Ukraine enters the fifth year of its conflict with Russia. This new IMF arrangement, set to follow the current $15.6 billion programme, aims to support Ukraine’s financial stability and government expenditures, amid expectations of a

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has emphasized that national elections will not take place until there is a ceasefire with Russia and adequate security assurances are in place. Speaking to journalists on Wednesday in an audio message, Zelenskyy stated, "We will hold elections once our safety is guaranteed." He added that the path to elections is straightforward — establishing a ceasefire would lead to the vote. He also mentioned that should Russia cooperate, hostilities

Record Snow Shortage and Unseasonal Heat Impact Western U.S. A historic shortage of snow, coupled with exceptionally warm winter temperatures, is sweeping across much of the western United States. This unusual weather is straining future water resources, increasing wildfire risks, and negatively affecting winter tourism and recreational industries. Experts report that both the extent and depth of snow are at historic lows. At least 67 weather stations in the region have recorded their warmest

Elon Musk Shifts Focus to Building a Lunar City Elon Musk's long-standing vision of colonizing Mars appears to have taken a new direction, with his attention now turning toward a more immediate and practical objective—establishing human presence on the moon. In a post on X this past Sunday, Musk announced that SpaceX is now directing its efforts toward developing what he described as “a self-growing city on the Moon.” He added that constructing such a lunar settlement could take under ten

Here is the latest update for Monday, February 9: Fighting • Authorities reported that a person was killed following a series of heavy airstrikes by Russian forces on the Ukrainian port city of Odesa. • Overnight missile strikes also targeted facilities operated by Ukraine's primary oil and gas company, Naftogaz, in the eastern Poltava region. This marked the 19th such assault on the company's infrastructure by Russian forces, though the extent of the impact was not detailed. •

Ронда — ідеальне зимове місце для тих, хто шукає романтичну атмосферу. Це старовинне місто на півдні Іспанії розташувалося обабіч стрімкої ущелини, а його вулиці ведуть через парки до оглядових майданчиків з захоплюючими краєвидами. Щодня до Ронди прибувають туристичні автобуси, які привозять гостей для того, щоб ті могли не лише зробити фото каньйону, але й насолодитися неквапливою прогулянкою. «Найкращий спосіб пізнати це місто — пройтися вздовж ущелини, тримаючи кохану людину за руку,

The village chief of Woro in western Nigeria has shared the horrifying events of a recent attack in which armed militants stormed his community, killing many including two of his sons, and abducting his wife and three daughters. Umar Bio Salihu, 53, who leads the predominantly Muslim community in Kwara State, described the moment the attackers arrived, saying they “just came in and began shooting” around 5pm on Tuesday. “They burned all the roadside shops… Some people were burned alive inside

Subscribe to CNN Travel’s weekly newsletter, Unlocking the World, to receive top updates on travel hotspots, the aviation industry, culinary highlights, and lodging trends. This week’s travel highlights include the surprising reason behind different fork techniques in Europe and the U.S., a Mediterranean island where cats outnumber humans, and a dramatic rescue on the tallest Alpine peak. Destination Highlights The island of Palmarola, not far from Rome, offers a remarkable escape. Though it’s

End of Nuclear Arms Control Treaty Raises Global Concerns The final remaining nuclear treaty between the United States and Russia is scheduled to lapse on Thursday, eliminating longstanding restrictions on the world’s two largest nuclear stockpiles for the first time in over fifty years. The expiration of the New START agreement could spark fears of a renewed, uncontrolled nuclear arms race between global powers. Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed willingness to maintain the

М’ясний фарш — надзвичайно зручний продукт для приготування їжі: він не потребує нарізання і завжди виходить смачним. Багато хто помилково вважає, що з фаршу можна зробити лише тефтелі або котлети. Насправді ж існує чимало простих та ситних страв на його основі. Пропонуємо вашій увазі чотири різноманітні ідеї на кожен день. • Купецька гречка з фаршем • Картопля тушкована з м’ясом • Запіканка картопляна з фаршем • Перець, запечений із начинкою Купецька гречка з м’ясним фаршем Ця страва — чудове