German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned of a humanitarian energy catastrophe in Ukraine due to Russian strikes on civilian infrastructure. He emphasized that Russia's actions bear the hallmarks of war crimes, and lasting peace is only possible with effective security guarantees for Ukraine.
US special forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, depriving Vladimir Putin of an ally and strengthening US oil influence. Moscow views this as an attempt to control Venezuela's oil wealth and a possible sign of the Monroe Doctrine's revival.
Russia claims that Ukraine has been attacking Moscow daily with drones since the beginning of 2026, considering it an escalation. By January 4, 437 drones were allegedly shot down over Russia, including 57 over the Moscow region, causing flight delays at Moscow airports.
Samsung plans to double the number of mobile devices featuring Google's Gemini platform to 800 million units by 2026. The company aims to integrate AI into all its products, including mobile devices, televisions, and home appliances.
Tyson Fury officially announced the resumption of his professional career in 2026 after a year-long break caused by defeats to Oleksandr Usyk. This is not the first return for the 37-year-old boxer, who has 34 wins, two losses, and one draw.
Gold and silver prices surged on January 5 after the detention of Nicolas Maduro by US forces. Gold surpassed $4370 per ounce, and silver reached $73.32, linked to the escalating geopolitical situation.
Following the ouster of Nicolás Maduro in early 2026, international creditors have intensified their struggle to recover Venezuela's $150-170 billion foreign debt. The main players are China, Russia, bondholders, and energy giants, while restructuring is complicated by US sanctions and a lack of cooperation with the IMF.
High-ranking Venezuelan officials declare unity and support for Nicolás Maduro after his capture by a US special unit. Maduro is being held in a New York detention center on charges of drug trafficking.
Greek airspace was blocked for several hours due to an unprecedented aviation radio frequency failure. The incident caused lengthy delays for thousands of passengers in the middle of the holiday season.
At least 16 people have died in Iran during a week of unrest as protests against soaring inflation spread across the country, leading to violent clashes between demonstrators and security forces.
All flights in Greece have been canceled due to a radio frequency signal failure that paralyzed air traffic communications. The problem is related to failures of central radio frequency systems in the Athens and Macedonian zonal air traffic control services, with over 75 flights delayed.
OPEC+ agreed to maintain stable oil production, despite an 18% price drop in 2025 and tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Eight countries raised their production targets by 2.9 million barrels per day from April to December 2025.
Grok, integrated into X, generates sexualized images of real people, including minors. xAI denies the accusations, and Elon Musk responds with a laughing-crying emoji.
American Democrats accuse the Trump administration of misleading them about its true intentions in Venezuela, stating that they were promised no military intervention. Senators are demanding a plan from the White House for governing the country after a night assault on Caracas and the capture of Nicolás Maduro.
British and French air forces conducted a joint operation, attacking an ISIS weapons depot north of Palmyra. British Typhoon FGR4 fighters used high-precision Paveway IV bombs, successfully hitting the target.
The US special operation in Caracas and the detention of Nicolás Maduro caused a resonant reaction from world leaders. The international community was divided in its assessment of the legality of Washington's actions, from full support to harsh condemnation.
Yemen's Transitional Council agreed to talks with Saudi Arabia after losing the eastern port of Mukalla. This happened amid military successes of the Yemeni government and the weakening of separatist positions.
Delcy Rodriguez arrived in Russia after the US President announced the capture of Nicolas Maduro. Rodriguez's brother, the head of the National Assembly, is in Caracas.
The Venezuelan government accused the United States of military aggression after a series of explosions in Caracas and other regions. President Nicolás Maduro declared a state of emergency and mobilized defense forces.
China has abolished the tax exemption on contraceptives and birth control methods, introducing a 13% VAT. This is a step in response to the declining birth rate and the third consecutive year of population decline.
The cause was bacterial contamination of drinking water due to a pipeline leak.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry said that Russian athletes will not be able to represent their country at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina. They will only participate as individual athletes without a national flag or anthem.
China received 22 shipments of liquefied natural gas from Russia's Portovaya and Arctic LNG-2 projects in 2023. All deliveries arrived at the Beihai LNG terminal in Guangxi.
Precious metals resumed their rally at the beginning of the new year, continuing the unprecedented growth of 2025, supported by geopolitical tensions and expectations of interest rate cuts. Gold rose 1.4% to $4372.35 per ounce, silver rose 3.6% to $73.79 per ounce.
In December, new Tesla car registrations fell by two-thirds in France and Sweden. At the same time, sales in Norway increased by 89%, setting a new annual record.
The governor of Yemen's Saudi-backed Hadramaut province announced the start of an operation to reclaim positions in the south of the country.
The Argentine Football Association is under investigation for alleged money laundering and financial irregularities following statements by former footballer Carlos Tevez. The investigation is examining the connection between the AFA leadership and a mysterious villa in Pilar, where a helipad, stables, and a collection of 54 luxury cars were discovered.
On New Year's Eve in Peru, an attack on illegal gold miners resulted in at least three deaths and seven missing. This happened in the city of Patas, where 13 miners had already died last year due to criminal gangs.
In Somalia, the military, with international support, eliminated militants of the "Al-Shabaab" group.
Several people died in clashes between police and protesters in western Iran on January 1. The protests began due to the fall of the rial and inflation.
