The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has been renamed the "Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts." This decision by the Board of Trustees has drawn criticism due to the name being enshrined in law since 1964 and outrage from the Kennedy family.
Denmark's military intelligence service accuses Russia of cyberattacks on a Danish water company in 2024 and DDoS attacks on websites. As a result of the attack on the water company, homes were temporarily left without water due to burst pipes.
Negotiations between the US and Russia on a peaceful settlement of the war in Ukraine are planned in Miami, where the Russian side will be represented by Putin's special envoy Kirill Dmitriev. The meeting will take place after consultations in Berlin, where security guarantees for Kyiv and possible territorial concessions were discussed.
Hubble helped NASA scientists understand where the planet, observed for years near the star Fomalhaut, disappeared to.
In the US, a package of regulatory measures has been introduced aimed at stopping the provision of gender-affirming medical care to minors.
A session of the Albanian Parliament turned into a large-scale clash: the opposition lit flares, threw bottles, and blocked the rostrum. The reason was a protest against election falsification and a demand for the resignation of the Deputy Prime Minister, who is under investigation.
The UN Human Rights Office accused the Sudanese group RSF of massacring over 1,000 civilians in the Zamzam camp in North Darfur. Militants used sexual violence and blocked food supplies, leading to starvation.
European officials say every act of sabotage – from vandalism of monuments to cyberattacks and warehouse fires – consumes valuable security resources.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that starting in 2029, YouTube will hold exclusive global broadcasting rights for the Academy Awards ceremony. This is the first time that one of the "Big Four" awards has abandoned classic television broadcasting in favor of a digital platform.
The XXV Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo will take place from February 4 to 22, 2026, with 116 gold medals to be awarded across 16 sports. For the first time since 2014, NHL players will return to the ice, and ski mountaineering will make its debut.
FIFA has reduced the price of some World Cup tickets to $60 following a global backlash from fans. These tickets will be available for every game of the tournament in North America and will be distributed through national federations.
The M23 military group has announced the withdrawal of its forces from the strategic city of Uvira in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The capture of the city caused a humanitarian catastrophe and jeopardized a US-brokered peace agreement.
The US Pentagon reported an attack on three boats in the Pacific Ocean, whose crew is suspected of drug smuggling. As a result, 8 people died, and President Donald Trump justified these attacks as a necessary escalation to stop the flow of drugs into the US.
A mass shooting at Bondi Beach during Hanukkah celebrations, which resulted in the deaths of more than 10 people, has been declared an ISIS-inspired terrorist attack. The suspects are a father and son who, according to police, were adherents of ISIS ideology.
In central Mexico, a plane crashed during an attempted emergency landing, with seven people found dead. The accident occurred in the industrial area of San Mateo Atenco, 5 km from Toluca Airport.
Several countries held talks in Iran, agreeing to deepen coordination and calling for the lifting of sanctions against Kabul. Afghanistan, led by the Taliban movement, refused to participate despite an invitation.
A Moscow court recognized the feminist punk band Pussy Riot as an "extremist organization" on December 15, banning its activities in Russia. This decision threatens criminal prosecution for anyone associated with the collective.
In the Chilean presidential elections, ultra-conservative candidate José Antonio Kast is likely to win. His popularity has grown due to promises of mass deportations and strict security measures.
Walt Disney Co. 's sequel "Zootopia 2" topped the box office for the third time, gross grossing $26.3 million in its third weekend. The film's total worldwide gross reached $1.14 billion, making it the second film of 2025 to surpass the $1 billion mark at the global box office.
Thailand said a rocket attack from Cambodia caused the first confirmed civilian death in border fighting. A 63-year-old villager died on Sunday in a shelling in Kantaralak district of Sisaket province.
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Berlin for talks on ending the war in Ukraine. Witkoff will meet with Zelenskyy and European leaders as Washington pushes for a coordinated plan to end the war.
A shooting near Brown University on December 13 resulted in 2 deaths and 8 injuries. The FBI is investigating the incident that occurred near the engineering faculty.
Football fans have accused FIFA of "monumental betrayal" after 2026 World Cup ticket prices emerged, reaching over $8,000. The lowest price for the final is $4,185, and the highest is $8,680, which differs from FIFA's statements about $60 tickets.
DeCarlos Brown Jr. , accused of murdering Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, will appear in court to determine his mental competency. He faces life imprisonment or the death penalty for the crime.
In Tennessee, 64-year-old Harold Wayne Nichols was executed for the rape and murder of 20-year-old student Karen Pulley in 1988. He was sentenced to death in 1990 and expressed remorse before his execution.
French tennis player Quentin Folliot has been disqualified for 20 years and fined $70,000 for participating in match-fixing. He committed 27 violations of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program and must return over $44,000.
A San Francisco resident gave birth in a Waymo self-driving taxi while en route to a medical center. Mother and baby arrived at the hospital safely and are doing well.
The first sale of oil leases in the Gulf of Mexico brought in $279 million from 30 companies. This is part of Republican efforts to increase fossil fuel production in the US.
22 people, including a pregnant woman, died in a massive fire that broke out on Tuesday in an office building in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta. The fire engulfed the seven-story building, causing panic and thick black smoke.
The Hamas leader threatens not to proceed to the next phase of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, demanding increased pressure on Israel. Key demands include opening the border crossing, ending deadly strikes, and ensuring the flow of humanitarian aid.
