President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky offered the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, Kirill Budanov, to head the Office of the President.
“I met with Kirill Budanov and offered him to head the Office of the President of Ukraine. Right now, Ukraine needs to focus more on security issues, developing Ukraine’s defense and security forces, and the diplomatic track in negotiations, and the Office of the President will serve to fulfill these tasks of our state first and foremost,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram on Friday.
According to the president, Budanov has special experience in these areas and sufficient power to achieve results.
In addition, Zelensky instructed the new head of the Office of the President, in cooperation with NSDC Secretary Rustem Umerov and other necessary leaders and institutions, to update and submit for approval the strategic principles of Ukraine’s defense and development and further steps.
The GT Tested Reader Survey Awards are Global Traveler ‘s annual awards based on the results of an open reader survey (frequent, usually affluent travelers). For 2025, the survey was conducted from December 12, 2024 to August 31, 2025, more than 80 categories are declared ; the results are published in the December issue.
Below are the key “airline” categories (top 3):
1) Best Overall Airline in the World: 1) Emirates, 2) Singapore Airlines, 3) United Airlines.
2) Best Airline Alliance: 1) oneworld, 2) Star Alliance, 3) SkyTeam.
3) Best Aircraft Type: 1) Boeing 787, 2) Boeing 777, 3) Airbus A350.
4) Best Airline Website: 1) delta.com, 2) united.com, 3) aa.com.
5) Best Airline for Business Class: 1) Turkish Airlines, 2) Singapore Airlines, 3) United Airlines.
6) Best Air line for International First Class: 1) Etihad Airways, 2) Air France, 3) Cathay Pacific.
7) Best Air line for Domestic First Class: 1) Delta, 2) United, 3) American Airlines.
8) Best Airline Lounges: 1) Delta Sky Club, 2) American Airlines Admirals Club, 3) United Club.
9) Best Airline for Onboard Service: 1) Asiana, 2) Korean Air, 3) Cathay Pacific.
10) Best Airline for Flight Attendants: 1) Asiana, 2) Korean Air, 3) Cathay Pacific.
11) Best Flight Attendant Uniforms: 1) Condor, 2) Emirates, 3) Singapore Airlines.
12) Best Airline Cuisine: 1) Turkish Airlines, 2) Air France, 3) Korean Air.
13) Best First-Class Seat Design: 1) Cathay Pacific, 2) Korean Air, 3) Emirates.
14) Best Business-Class Seat Design: 1) Swiss, 2) United, 3) Korean Air.
15) Best Airline Cabin Cleanliness: 1) Air Canada, 2) United, 3) Cathay Pacific.
16) Best Airline App: 1) Delta, 2) United, 3) Alaska Airlines.
Regional/route categories (top 3):
1) Best Airline in North America: 1) Delta, 2) Air Canada, 3) United.
2) Best Airline to South America & Central America: 1) avianca, 2) LATAM, 3) Copa.
3) Best Airline in Mexico: 1) Aeromexico, 2) Volaris, 3) VivaAerobus.
4) Best Airline in the South Pacific: 1) Air Tahiti Nui, 2) Fiji Airways, 3) Qantas.
5) Best Airline in Europe: 1) TAP Air Portugal, 2) Lufthansa, 3) Air France.
6) Best Airline in Eastern Europe: 1) Air Serbia, 2) LOT, 3) Wizz Air.
7) Best Airline in Africa: 1) Royal Air Maroc, 2) Ethiopian, 3) Kenya Airways.
8) Best Airline in Australia and New Zealand: 1) Qantas, 2) Fiji, 3) Air Tahiti Nui.
9) Best Airline in the Middle East: 1) Etihad, 2) Emirates, 3) Gulf Air.
10) Best Airline in North Asia (excluding China): 1) Cathay Pacific, 2) China Airlines, 3) STARLUX.
11) Best Airline in Central/South Asia & India: 1) Air India, 2) Indigo, 3) SpiceJet.
12) Best Airline in China: 1) Air China, 2) Xiamen, 3) China Southern.
13) Best Airline to Japan: 1) ANA, 2) JAL, 3) United.
14) Best Trans-Atlantic Airline: 1) British Airways, 2) TAP, 3) Air France.
15) Best Trans-Pacific Airline: 1) Cathay Pacific, 2) Singapore Airlines, 3) Japan Airlines.
Starting January 1, 2026, to retire at age 60, both men and women must have 33 years of service, and the minimum old-age pension has increased by 234 hryvnia.
According to the law “On Compulsory State Pension Insurance,” the minimum old-age pension for men with 35 years of insurance experience and women with 30 years of insurance experience is set at the subsistence minimum for persons who have lost their ability to work.
The law “On the State Budget for 2026” stipulates that on January 1, the subsistence minimum for persons who have lost their ability to work is UAH 2,595, accordingly, the minimum old-age pension has increased from UAH 2,361 to UAH 2,595.
According to the Pension Fund of Ukraine (PFU), from January 1, 2026, both men and women will need to have 33 years of service to retire at 60; citizens will be entitled to retire at 63 if they have at least 23 years of service; at 65 – 15 years of service.
If a person has less than 15 years of service, at the age of 65, they will be entitled to receive state social assistance instead of pension payments.
Actual revenues to the general fund of the state budget from taxes and fees controlled by the State Tax Service of Ukraine (STS) amounted to UAH 1 trillion 246 billion in January-December 2025, which is 20.2% or UAH 209.3 billion more than last year, according to a publication on the institution’s website.
According to the STS, despite an increase in planned indicators during the year by more than UAH 100 billion, the annual revenue plan was fulfilled by 97.4%.
According to the acting head of the State Tax Service, Lesya Karnaukh, quoted in the report, the stable over-fulfillment of targets during the first half of the year created the necessary financial reserve, which made it possible to avoid significant shortfalls at the end of the year.
It is noted that in the structure of the main sources of budget revenues for the 12 months of 2025, the largest share was provided by personal income tax and fees, which amounted to UAH 362.9 billion. Value added tax (including budget refunds) brought UAH 306.5 billion to the budget, and corporate income tax brought UAH 284.7 billion. In addition, excise tax revenues amounted to UAH 163.9 billion, while rent payments provided UAH 48.4 billion.
Karnaukh separately highlighted the dynamics of VAT budget refunds, which totaled UAH 179.6 billion for the year. At the same time, the monthly refund rate during the year was not less than UAH 13 billion.
“Today, businesses have to reorient significant financial resources and invest in recovery and relocation. I am grateful to everyone who does not give up,” said the acting head of the State Tax Service.
She also added that the achievement of these indicators in the context of war, shelling, and energy challenges is the result of the responsibility of each taxpayer.
On January 1, 2026, Bulgaria will adopt the single European currency, the euro.
“This is a historic step for the country and a boon for individuals and businesses in the euro area. The transition will lead to greater economic stability, smoother transactions, and stronger European integration. For Bulgaria, adopting the euro will help to better support long-term economic growth and strengthen its resilience,” according to a statement on the European Central Bank’s website.
The publication notes that “the changes may raise questions and concerns.” “However, the ECB and national authorities are working closely together to ensure a smooth transition for everyone through careful planning and a focus on price stability,” the European Central Bank assures.
Bulgaria is parting with its national currency, the lev, 19 years after joining the European Union. The press in the veteran eurozone countries points out that this will be convenient for tourists and travelers. However, there are concerns in Bulgaria itself, as the ECB acknowledges.
Expectations of benefits are overshadowed by concerns about possible price increases, as seen in Croatia, which joined the eurozone three years ago. These fears are all the more serious given that Bulgaria is one of the poorest countries in the EU.
Nevertheless, the European Commission (EC) considered that this Balkan country, which is becoming the 21st member of the eurozone, has met the relevant criteria: economic stability, public debt below 60% of GDP, and low inflation.
On June 4, 2025, the EC announced its conclusion that Bulgaria was ready to switch to the euro on January 1, 2026.
“Thanks to the euro, Bulgaria’s economy will become stronger, with more trade with eurozone partners, foreign direct investment, access to finance, quality jobs, and real incomes. And Bulgaria will take its rightful place in decision-making within the eurozone,” said EC President Ursula von der Leyen on this occasion.
The EU Council, in turn, announced on July 8, 2025, the approval of the last three legal acts necessary for the introduction of the euro in Bulgaria on January 1, 2026.
“This marks the culmination of a thorough accession process for Bulgaria, which has involved rigorous analysis and intensive preparation,” said Danish Economy Minister Stephanie Lose, who was chairing the EU Council at the time.
“One of the three legal acts sets the exchange rate between the euro and the Bulgarian lev at 1.95583 levs per euro. This corresponds to the current central rate of the lev in the Exchange Rate Mechanism II,” the EU Council said in a statement.
After Bulgaria joins the eurozone, six countries will remain in the EU that do not use this currency: Hungary, Denmark, Poland, Romania, the Czech Republic, and Sweden.
The European Monetary Union, or eurozone, began operating on January 1, 1999, when the single European currency, the euro, was introduced into non-cash circulation. Since March 1, 2002, the euro has been the sole legal tender in the eurozone. Eurozone countries transfer all monetary policy powers to the ECB, including decisions on the amount of money supply and the key interest rate.
In Ukraine, from January 1, 2026, the minimum wage has increased to 8,647 hryvnia.
In particular, according to the law “On the State Budget for 2026,” which came into force on January 1, the minimum wage has increased from 8,000 to 8,647 hryvnia, and the hourly minimum wage has increased from 48 to 52 hryvnia.
Also, from January 1, the general subsistence minimum increased from UAH 2,920 to UAH 3,209.
For children under six years of age, the subsistence minimum is now UAH 2,817, for children from six to eighteen years of age – UAH 3,512, for able-bodied persons – UAH 3,328, for persons who have lost their ability to work – UAH 2,595, and for persons who have lost their ability to work, which is used to determine the amount of additional payment for living in areas of radioactive contamination according to court decisions, it is UAH 1,600.
It has also been established that the subsistence minimum for able-bodied persons, which is used to determine the base salary of judges, district prosecutors, and employees of other state bodies whose remuneration is regulated by special laws, as well as employees of tax and customs authorities, is set at the level established for the relevant state body as of December 31, 2025.
In addition, the document stipulates that in 2026, the level of the subsistence minimum for the purpose of granting assistance in accordance with the Law “On State Social Assistance to Low-Income Families” as a percentage of the subsistence minimum for the main social and demographic groups of the population shall be: for able-bodied persons – 60%; for persons who have lost their ability to work and persons with disabilities – 100%; for children – 145% of the corresponding subsistence minimum.
At the same time, the subsistence minimum level for determining the right to exemption from payment for a child’s meals in state and municipal preschool education institutions in accordance with the Law “On Preschool Education” will not increase in 2026.
