year

Lady Gaga’s night, and the VMAs’ widening map of pop Long Island’s UBS Arena felt, at moments, like the center of the music world on Tuesday night — a patchwork of sequins, fandoms and cross-genre collaborations that underscored how global pop now arrives in many languages and forms. Lady Gaga walked off with Artist of the Year and three other trophies, but the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards were less a coronation than a catalog of pop’s kaleidoscopic present: K‑pop and Latin giants rubbing shoulders with veteran icons, young…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently expressed a strong desire for Ukraine to bring the ongoing conflict with Russia to a close by next year, primarily through “diplomatic means.” This statement comes as both nations brace for a potential Donald Trump comeback in the political arena. February 2025 is significant as it signifies the third anniversary of Russia’s aggressive invasion of Ukraine. Over the past few months, Russian forces have been making substantial gains against Ukraine’s outnumbered and outgunned…

Germany's beleaguered Chancellor Olaf Scholz recently indicated he might request a confidence vote this year, potentially setting the stage for snap elections. “I'm completely open to a confidence vote before Christmas—if everyone’s on board, I’m good to go,” he remarked, following the disintegration of his coalition government earlier this week. Scholz had earlier discussed the possibility of a mid-January vote, which, according to German electoral laws, could lead to new elections by late March—six months sooner than…

Mogadishu (AX) — The bicameral legislature of Somalia has greenlit a substantial budget of $1.36 billion for the fiscal year 2025, reflecting a robust increase of 24.4% over the previous year. This decision came during a parliamentary session held on Monday in the capital, Mogadishu. In attendance were 143 Members of Parliament and 32 senators. The First Deputy Speaker of the People's Assembly, Saadiya Yasin Haji Samatar, confirmed that an overwhelming majority of 172 lawmakers backed the budget, with only two MPs voting…

Bal'ad (AX) — In a decisive gathering led by President Abdullahi Hussein Guudlawe in Bal'ad, Hirshabelle State's Council of Ministers gave the green light to a budget of $33,558,000 for the fiscal year 2025 on Thursday.During this pivotal session, the Minister of Finance and Economic Development unveiled the 2025 Budget Allocation Act. This plan ventures to bolster the number of civil servants in Hirshabelle's administration."We've secured $33,557,830 for the upcoming year's financial blueprint," proclaimed the Council in…

The government has announced an ambitious 25-year development strategy designed to enhance competitiveness, promote sustainable resource management, and uphold exemplary governance, establishing a foundation for economic autonomy. Dubbed "Senegal 2050," this initiative aspires to raise per capita income by an impressive 50% over the next five years. There’s also a goal to extend the average life expectancy by three years and to mitigate national debt and fiscal deficits. The overarching intention is to diminish reliance on…

Mogadishu (AX) – At a special gathering led by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, Somalia's Cabinet of Ministers gave the green light to a whopping $1.3 billion budget for 2025. This decision was made during an urgent session held on Tuesday. This budget showcases a 24.4% jump from the previous year's allocation, all thanks to a surge in home-grown revenue. The Ministry of Finance spilled the beans, revealing that the budget for 2025 had ballooned by $263 million compared to the $1.08 billion earmarked for 2024. “Ramping up…

"The definition requires broadening because businesses are indulging in activities that, while not criminal, significantly impact domestic resource mobilization." The world lacks a clear, universally agreed-upon explanation of illegal financial flows (IFFs), resulting in a myriad of interpretations. Illicit financial flows encompass unauthorized or unethical financial exchanges across borders, including money laundering, tax dodging, and the financing of terrorism. These flows seriously threaten, particularly impacting…

One year has passed since a cataclysmic earthquake ravaged the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco, and the people on the ground express a sense of frustration over the sluggish pace of rebuilding efforts. Many remain in temporary tents, while others have been compelled to relocate entirely. Lisa Bryant reports for VOA on the ongoing struggle for recovery. This seismic event, registering a staggering 6.8 on the Richter scale, was the most powerful earthquake to strike Morocco in over a century. It hit on September 8, 2023,…

The School Year as a Fresh Start for Newcomers “I feel no trepidation about anything,” declared the 15-year-old, speaking in Somali and interpreted for clarity. Khadra recently immigrated to Canada with her family in July, a decade after escaping an enduring civil conflict in Somalia. Her ambition is clear: she longs to excel academically, master the English language, and ultimately pursue higher education—steps she believes will lead her to realize her dream of becoming a physician. “I desire to gain knowledge and then…