On the night of December 24, a car exploded in Moscow, killing two police officers. The incident occurred on the same street where Russian army general Fanil Sarvarov was previously blown up.
The United States has deployed a significant number of special purpose aircraft, troops, and equipment to the Caribbean. This provides Washington with additional capabilities for potential military action in Venezuela.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni urged her office staff to get some good rest during the Christmas holidays, as next year will be tough. She noted that the past year was difficult, and the next one will be even worse.
Russia "strongly condemns" the US seizure of tankers off the coast of Venezuela and the imposed naval blockade. Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya called the US actions an act of aggression that could become a template for future forceful actions against Latin American states.
The countries of the "Alliance of Sahel States" are preparing for large-scale military operations, having created a joint battalion of 5,000 personnel. The junta leaders emphasize sovereignty and a break with former Western partners, choosing Russia as their main security ally.
Venezuelan company PDVSA is using tankers as temporary oil storage due to critical overfilling of onshore tanks. This is caused by increased US sanctions and the detention of tankers, which has led to an export blockade.
The US and Iran exchanged remarks at the UN Security Council regarding the resumption of nuclear talks. Washington is ready for direct negotiations, but Tehran rejects conditions related to uranium enrichment.
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.
A private Falcon 50 aircraft carrying Libyan Chief of Staff Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad lost radar contact after taking off from Ankara. Contact with the plane, which was heading to Tripoli, was lost at 8:52 PM after an emergency landing request.
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 head of Germany's Federal Intelligence Service, Martin Jaeger, held a telephone conversation with the head of Russia's foreign intelligence service, Sergey Naryshkin, last week. This is a rare instance of direct contact between German and Russian authorities; the content of the conversation is unknown.
The Israeli Ministry of Defense denied the government's intentions to restore civilian settlements in the Gaza Strip, stating that the military presence would be purely for security purposes. This position contradicts the "Trump Plan" for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the enclave.
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.
A patient died on December 14 after taking Pfizer's Hympavzi, which caused serious side effects, including a stroke. Pfizer is gathering information, not expecting an impact on patient safety.
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.
Former aide to Israeli Prime Minister Eli Feldstein stated that after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, Benjamin Netanyahu sought ways to avoid responsibility. According to Feldstein, Netanyahu instructed him to develop a strategy to neutralize media criticism regarding security failures.
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg has been released on bail after being arrested at a pro-Palestinian protest in London. She was detained for holding a sign in support of Palestine Action, which the British government considers a terrorist organization.
The Yemeni government and the Houthis have agreed to release 2,900 prisoners, the largest exchange in 11 years of civil war. The agreement, signed in Muscat with the support of the UN and the Red Cross, includes citizens of Saudi Arabia and Sudan.
The Grand Egyptian Museum has begun assembling a 42-meter cedar wood boat that belonged to King Khufu, who ruled over 4,500 years ago. The project will take about four years and consists of 1,650 wooden parts.
The Italian government has made adjustments to the performance of the national anthem, removing the traditional word "Sì!" from it at the end. The changes concern the final part of the anthem "Brothers of Italy", which ended with the phrase "We are ready to die, we are ready to die, Italy calls! Yes!".
The Moscow clinic AltraVita offers women under 37 free artificial insemination with the sperm of Pavel Durov, who personally pays for the procedures. The billionaire has over 100 biological children in 12 countries and promises them an equal share of his $17 billion inheritance.
Kenyan authorities are investigating a network that recruited Kenyans to participate in hostilities on the side of the Russian Federation under the guise of employment. At least 200 citizens were lured to Russia with promises of work and then sent to war in Ukraine.
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš underwent an outpatient facial procedure at Vinohrady Hospital. The 71-year-old politician has already returned to his duties; the procedure was planned.
In Germany, representatives of centrist parties accused the right-wing Alternative for Germany party of collecting data that is of interest to Russian special services.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a conversation with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. They discussed the decision on 90 billion euros in financial aid to Ukraine for 2026-2027, adopted on December 19.
Serhiy Tarakanov, director of the Chornobyl NPP, stated that another Russian shelling could destroy the internal radiation shelter. Even an indirect ballistic hit is capable of causing seismic vibrations that the old Sarcophagus might not withstand.
On December 19, the European Union approved €90 billion in funding for Ukraine, which the country will repay after receiving reparations from Russia. Journalists found out how this process took place.
