DUBLIN, Ireland — In a landmark move for Ireland’s sustainable transport future, Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) has finalized a €160 million contract with Alstom for an additional 100 X’trapolis electric multiple unit (EMU) carriages. Announced on December 22, 2025, this third major order under the DART+ Programme signals the impending retirement of the original 1984 […]
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MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — In a transformative move to secure the energy backbone of the artificial intelligence revolution, Alphabet Inc., Google’s parent company, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire US-based clean energy developer Intersect Power for $4.75 billion in cash plus the assumption of debt. Announced on December 22, 2025, the acquisition signals […]
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Geopolitics & Diplomacy Somalia-Turkey Alliance Hardens Following Israeli Recognition of Somaliland A high-stakes diplomatic rift has opened in the Horn of Africa after Israel became the first UN member state to recognize Somaliland’s independence on December 26, 2025. In a swift response, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in […]
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A sixth child has died in Gaza this month as the enclave’s people continue to endure dire living conditions linked to freezing rains and the Israel-Hamas war, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced. The development comes as aid agencies urged Israeli authorities to reconsider revoking the licences of dozens of humanitarian partners that provide […]
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MUKALLA, Yemen — The decade-long conflict in Yemen has entered its most volatile phase to date, but the threat no longer stems solely from the Houthi insurgency in the north.1 On December 30, 2025, a long-simmering rivalry between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia exploded into overt military and diplomatic confrontation, effectively shattering […]
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NVIDIA has completed its US$5 billion investment in Intel, acquiring more than 214.7 million newly issued Intel shares through a private placement and securing roughly a 4% equity stake in the storied U.S. chipmaker. The deal, first announced in September and cleared by U.S. regulators in December, marks one of the most unusual strategic alignments […]
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Italian authorities have detained nine individuals as part of a sweeping investigation into a network accused of diverting humanitarian aid intended for Gaza and funneling it to entities linked to Hamas, according to prosecutors in Genoa. The operation, coordinated by Italy’s anti‑mafia and anti‑terrorism units, marks one of the country’s most significant counter‑terror financing actions […]
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Ireland’s Social Protection Minister has reaffirmed that introducing a cost‑of‑disability payment will be a central priority for 2026, as government departments advance work on a long‑awaited support aimed at addressing the significant extra expenses faced by disabled people. The payment is designed to offset the additional annual costs associated with living with a disability—expenses that […]
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Meta has agreed to acquire Manus, the fast‑rising Singapore‑based developer of autonomous AI agents, in a deal valued at more than $2 billion, according to multiple reports. The purchase marks one of Meta’s largest acquisitions since WhatsApp and underscores the company’s urgency to deliver AI products with real commercial traction. Manus, founded by Chinese entrepreneurs […]
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On 1 January Bulgaria adopted the euro as its official currency, becoming the 21st EU country to have joined the euro area. This marks a significant step in Bulgaria’s EU integration, giving the country greater economic stability and integration with the rest of Europe. Source link On 1 January Bulgaria adopted the euro as its […]
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