Hedge fund Citadel will pay investors approximately $5 billion in profits earned in 2025. After the payouts, the company's assets under management will amount to $67 billion.
The F-35 fighter jets' readiness for flight in 2024 was only 50% due to poor maintenance by Lockheed Martin and a lack of Pentagon oversight. Despite this, the Pentagon paid the company $1.7 billion without penalties, and the US Air Force reduced its F-35 order for 2026 due to rising costs.
A Mexican Navy Beech King Air 350i aircraft with eight people on board, including a child with burns, crashed off the coast of Galveston, USA. At least five people died, two were rescued, and one is missing.
France has approved a temporary law to prevent a government shutdown from January 1, as they failed to agree on a full budget. This measure allows the state to collect taxes and make critical expenditures, duplicating the fiscal parameters of 2025.
California was hit by severe winter storms, bringing abnormal precipitation and gusty winds, disrupting Christmas travel for millions. Authorities declared an evacuation, and forecasters warn of critical danger from landslides and infrastructure damage.
The US Department of Justice has released a new batch of documents in the Jeffrey Epstein case, including an email from 2020 alleging that Donald Trump used Epstein's private jet at least eight times.
Donald Trump has officially invited the presidents of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to the G20 summit in Miami. This decision is driven by the strategic interests of the United States in strengthening ties and diversifying supply chains of critical minerals.
In 2025, assets dependent on the end of the war showed rapid growth, but investors are acting cautiously due to risks to the Ukrainian economy. US activation in the peace process and a loan from the EU stimulated optimism, but large funds remain skeptical about the terms of the agreement.
The US Department of Justice has released another batch of documents related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein amid pressure to comply with a new transparency law. The latest tranche contains 30,000 pages of material, but the department warned of false claims against Donald Trump.
In the US, illegal migrants are offered $3,000 and a paid trip for voluntarily leaving the US by the end of the year. This is part of a campaign to accelerate deportations and reduce law enforcement costs.
Mercedes-Benz has reached a $149. 6 million settlement in the US over the use of illegal software that concealed the true level of pollution from diesel engines. Almost 40,000 cars in the US were equipped with devices that understated emissions during inspections.
The price of Russian Urals oil has fallen to $34 per barrel, while Brent remains at $61. This drop may indicate the impact of US sanctions and negatively affect the Kremlin's revenues.
Russia has sent weapons to Madagascar's military government, which came to power in an October coup. On December 20, a Russian Air Force plane delivered 40 servicemen and 43 crates of weapons to an international airport near Antananarivo.
Gold and silver prices soared to all-time highs, surpassing previous records. This surge is driven by escalating geopolitical tensions and expectations of interest rate cuts in the US.
Shipments of liquefied natural gas from Russia to China more than doubled compared to last year, reaching 1. 6 million metric tons in November. This allowed Russia to overtake Australia and become the largest supplier after Qatar, offering the cheapest LNG among 12 suppliers.
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.
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 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."
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.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced the launch of a program to create a new generation aircraft carrier (PANG), which is to replace the Charles de Gaulle in 2038. The project, worth 10 billion euros, will be implemented by Naval Group SA, involving hundreds of enterprises, despite financial uncertainty in the country.
The United States has detained the Panamanian-flagged tanker Bella 1 near Venezuela. This happened amid an intensified oil blockade of the Nicolás Maduro regime. The vessel was en route to Venezuela for loading.
The Delaware Supreme Court overturned a lower court's decision, allowing Elon Musk to reclaim his 2018 Tesla compensation package. This stock-based compensation plan is valued at nearly $140 billion.
The US Space Development Agency (SDA) has awarded L3Harris Technologies an $843 million contract for 18 satellites to enhance missile tracking. This is in addition to previous orders for 34 systems, which are a key element of Trump's 'Golden Dome' defense shield.
Hungarian state energy company MVM Group and Romanian E. ON Group have mutually agreed to terminate the agreement for the acquisition of a 68% stake in E.ON Energie Romania and a 98% stake in E.ON Asist. The Romanian government did not support the deal due to concerns about MVM's ties with Russia.
The Russian tanker Hyperion entered the port of Amuay in Venezuela, violating the naval blockade declared by Donald Trump. The vessel delivered raw materials for oil refining, and now the crew risks being detained by the American military when attempting to go to sea.
Gas prices in Europe have fallen to pre-war levels, but European factories continue to close or relocate. Experts believe that relief came too late, and businesses have lost faith in stability on the continent.
The global oil market is experiencing an oversupply of "black gold," pushing oil prices down. A record 1.3 billion barrels of crude oil are in transit or awaiting buyers in the world's oceans.
The UK Foreign Office suffered a cyberattack in October, in which British officials suspect the involvement of Chinese state entities. Although there is no official confirmation, the incident occurred amid strained relations between the countries.
Commander of NATO's Allied Maritime Command, Mike Utley, stated that the Alliance has an advantage over Russia but is not ready for prolonged hostilities. Member countries have recognized the problem and plan to invest in increasing resilience.
Leading AI developers, including Microsoft, Google, and Nvidia, have entered into an agreement with the US government to participate in "Mission Genesis. " The Trump administration's project integrates AI into scientific research, energy, and manufacturing to strengthen the country's technological leadership.
