Pope Leo urges ‘courage’ to end Ukraine war in first Christmas address

Pope Leo, in his inaugural Christmas address from St Peter's Square, urged Ukraine and Russia to find the "courage" for direct talks to end the ongoing conflict. He also called for an end to global turmoil, specifically highlighting the plight in Gaza and border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia.

Ukraine observes Christmas on December 25 for the first time amid ongoing conflict

KRA intercepts contraband cigarettes worth Sh72.2mn in Mombasa

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) intercepted a substantial consignment of contraband cigarettes in Mombasa, valued at an estimated Sh72.2 million. This operation highlights KRA's ongoing efforts against illicit trade and for public health protection.

EU pressure clouds Ukraine corruption probe

New allegations suggest that pressure from European Union representatives influenced Ukraine's anti-corruption investigators to halt searches linked to Andriy Yermak, a senior ally of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This raises concerns about the independence of Kyiv’s accountability institutions and potential political interference in high-profile corruption cases.

US and Ukraine call Miami talks productive despite no breakthrough

Talks in Miami between US and Ukrainian envoys have been deemed "productive and constructive", though no significant breakthrough has been reached to end the war with Russia. Separate discussions also took place in Miami between US and Russian representatives.

CEOs see Trump tariffs, high taxes hurting growth in 2026

Kenyan business leaders anticipate that external pressures, specifically from potential changes in US policy, alongside persistent domestic issues like high taxes, will impede economic growth in 2026. This outlook comes from a recent survey conducted by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), even as firms plan to leverage technology and efficiency to stabilize the economy.