The Japanese government will provide 1 trillion yen ($6. 34 billion) in support over five years for the development of its own artificial intelligence. A new company will be founded by about 10 firms, including SoftBank Group Corp., to create the country's largest AI foundational model.
Witkoff held parallel meetings with Ukrainian and Russian delegations. Four key documents were discussed, including the updated "20-point plan" and a framework agreement on security guarantees.
As a result of two night attacks on Odesa on December 22, a critical infrastructure facility was damaged. Part of the district was left without electricity, and a 30-year-old man was hospitalized with moderate shrapnel wounds.
Chinese startups Zhipu AI and MiniMax, competitors of OpenAI, have undergone listing hearings on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The companies have disclosed their financial performance for the first time, preparing for an IPO in January 2026.
Police in London are investigating a case involving one of the executives of a Premier League football club, who is suspected of sexually exploiting minors and producing indecent materials. One of the alleged victims was 15 years old at the time of the crime, and the suspect remains in office.
On December 22, fog is expected in the western, central, and southern regions of Ukraine. Mostly no precipitation, only in the afternoon in the northeast of the country, light rain and wet snow in some places.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine updated data on Russian losses as of the morning of December 22. Over the past day, 1,120 occupiers were eliminated, and the total personnel losses reached 1,197,860 people.
In the Zhytomyr region, a freight train derailed, damaging the track and causing an emergency situation with passenger train No. 45/46 Kharkiv – Uzhhorod. The driver and assistant driver of the freight train, as well as one female passenger, were injured.
An inter-provincial bus traveling from Jakarta to Yogyakarta was involved in a fatal accident on the Krapyak toll road in Semarang city. As a result of the accident, 16 people died and 18 were injured.
Uber, in partnership with Chinese giant Baidu, will launch robotaxis in the UK, starting a pilot project with Apollo Go RT6 autonomous vehicles in the first half of 2026. The company plans to make the service available to Londoners by the end of next year and will offer it in more than 10 markets.
The head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Dmitriev, concluded two days of informal consultations in Miami, discussing the American peace plan for Ukraine. He met with Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
The US presidential administration has begun recalling career diplomats, terminating the mandates of mission chiefs in 29 countries by January 2026. This decision aims to replace personnel appointed during the Biden era with individuals who support Trump's ideology.
US President Trump has appointed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as the US special envoy to Greenland, underscoring intentions to strengthen US influence in the Arctic. This decision raises questions, as Landry only took office as governor of Louisiana in January 2024.
J. D. Vance stated that the White House administration prioritizes supporting American retirees over providing financial aid to Ukraine. Funds should be directed to domestic social programs, particularly through tax breaks for the elderly.
The Parliament of New South Wales convened an urgent session to adopt radical changes to gun legislation after the terror attack on Bondi Beach, where 15 people died. The new bill will limit the number of firearms to four or ten for farmers.
On December 22, the spot price of gold reached an all-time high of $4383. 73 per ounce. This increase is driven by the easing of US monetary policy and growing global geopolitical instability.
The head of one of Turkey's most titled football clubs, Sadettin Saran, was interrogated in a drug case. He is suspected of providing and facilitating drug use, and has been placed under "forced supervision."
Chinese energy storage manufacturers are experiencing an unprecedented surge thanks to reforms in the domestic electricity market and the global construction of data centers for AI. This year, battery exports from China have already exceeded $65 billion, and the volume of lithium-ion cell supplies could increase by 75%.
As a result of a night drone attack on the Taman port in the Krasnodar Krai, two berths and two vessels sustained significant damage. The area of ignition in some sections reached from 1000 to 1500 square meters, which led to the evacuation of crews and personnel.
Oil prices rose after the US tightened its naval blockade of Venezuela and Ukrainian drones attacked a Russian tanker. Brent rose to $61, WTI to $57.
Silver prices surged to a record $67. 55 per ounce, marking its largest annual gain since 1979. Gold neared its peak, hovering around $4363, driven by geopolitical chaos and expectations of Fed rate cuts.
ASEAN foreign ministers are meeting in Malaysia to stop the fighting between Thailand and Cambodia, which has claimed 40 lives and displaced more than 500,000 people. Malaysia and the Donald Trump administration are trying to restore the July truce using US satellite monitoring.
Samsung Biologics has acquired its first plant in the US, buying 100% of the shares of Human Genome Sciences Inc from GSK for $280 million. The deal will significantly strengthen its position in the pharmaceutical market and avoid lengthy construction.
Japan is preparing to restart the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata Prefecture, the first TEPCO plant since the Fukushima Daiichi accident in 2011. This move, aimed at energy security, is causing protests among local residents, despite promises of investment.
The US Department of Justice has returned a photograph of Donald Trump to the public database, previously removed from Jeffrey Epstein's archives. The photo was being reviewed for the presence of alleged victims of the sex offender.
The Rajdhani Express train in the Indian state of Assam crashed into a herd of 100 elephants crossing the tracks. As a result of the incident, seven elephants died, and the locomotive and five passenger cars derailed.
Japan and adjacent waters found themselves at the epicenter of powerful seismic activity, with tremors up to magnitude 5. 4 recorded. Scientists warn of the possibility of a strong "mega-earthquake" within a year.
Power has been almost completely restored in San Francisco after Saturday's collapse, which left over 130,000 residents in the dark. PG&E has restored electricity to approximately 110,000 customers, with another 21,000 still without power.
In Nigeria, the last 130 schoolchildren abducted on November 21 from St. Mary's Catholic boarding school have been released. In total, 230 students have been rescued and will be able to celebrate Christmas with their families.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's Socialist Party lost 10 seats in the regional elections in Extremadura, securing 18 seats. The conservative People's Party strengthened its lead with 29 seats, while the far-right Vox party doubled its support to 11 seats.
