Finland seizes cargo ship after undersea cable damage in Gulf of Finland
Finnish authorities have detained a cargo ship following damage to two telecommunications cables linking Helsinki and Tallinn in the Gulf of Finland, the latest in a string of suspected sabotage incidents targeting critical Baltic Sea infrastructure. The Finnish Border Guard intercepted the vessel Fitburg after telecom provider Elisa detected......
Russian commanders accused of killing their own soldiers
A New York Times investigation published on December 31 uncovers a pattern of severe abuse within the Russian military, where commanders systematically mistreat, extort, and even orchestrate the deaths of their troops to sustain frontline numbers in Ukraine. Drawing from over 6,000 confidential complaints accidentally exposed by Russia's......
EU dismisses Russia's drone attack claims on Putin residence as peace sabotage
The European Union has firmly dismissed Moscow's allegations that Ukraine orchestrated a large-scale drone assault on President Vladimir Putin's residence, labeling the claims as a calculated effort to undermine ongoing peace initiatives. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described the Russian assertions as baseless distractions......
Zelenskyy urges Trump to fly directly into Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has proposed that U.S. President Donald Trump visit Ukraine by flying straight into the country, bypassing the traditional route through Poland. He argued that such a direct arrival by air would signal a firm prospect for a ceasefire amid the ongoing conflict. This suggestion marks a departure from the......
Major advancements in augmented reality glasses ahead of CES 2026
Three companies have announced significant breakthroughs in augmented reality (AR) components on December 30, 2025, addressing longstanding barriers to widespread adoption ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026 in Las Vegas, where these technologies will be showcased from January 6 to 9. Himax Technologies, Inc. and AUO Corporation......
China reduces dollar's weight in yuan's basket amid soaring trade surplus
China has announced routine annual adjustments to its CFETS currency basket for the yuan, further decreasing the weights of major currencies including the US dollar and the euro, as the renminbi concludes its strongest year against the greenback since 2020. The China Foreign Exchange Trade System (CFETS), overseen by the People's Bank......
Precious metals experience significant declines after record-setting year
The prices of silver, platinum, and palladium plummeted on December 30, marking a tumultuous conclusion to a year characterized by extraordinary highs for these precious metals. Investors capitalized on their gains amid a volatile environment, significantly reducing their positions after seeing remarkable increases earlier in the week. Silver......
Moderate earthquake rattles northern California near Susanville
A 5.3 magnitude earthquake struck approximately 9 miles northwest of Susanville in Lassen County, California, at around 9:49 p.m. PST on December 30, 2025. The U.S. Geological Survey pinpointed the epicenter in a seismically active zone known for its tectonic unrest, where the quake originated at a shallow depth of about 10 kilometers, amplifying......
Metals hit historic highs as gold and copper soar in 2025
Gold and copper concluded 2025 with record-breaking performances, marking significant annual gains driven by a combination of monetary policy shifts, soaring industrial demand, and geopolitical uncertainties. Gold surged over 64% this year, trading around $4,330 per ounce, reflecting its steepest annual growth since 1979, when prices soared......
Gulf states urge Trump to enforce Gaza ceasefire as fragile truce faces setbacks
Arab Gulf nations are ramping up diplomatic pressure on President Donald Trump to hold Israel accountable for repeated violations of the Gaza ceasefire, which has entered a critical phase ahead of his administration's transition in January 2026. The six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates,......
Avatar: Fire and Ash surpasses 800 million dollars worldwide in under two weeks
James Cameron's "Avatar: Fire and Ash" has crossed the 800 million dollar mark at the global box office as of Monday, December 30, just under two weeks after its release. The film earned 43.1 million dollars on Monday alone, bringing its total worldwide gross to 805.1 million dollars, including 227.9 million dollars from domestic......
China sets steep tariffs on beef imports beyond new quota limits
China announced plans to impose an additional 55 percent tariff on beef imports that exceed newly defined country quotas, targeting major suppliers such as Brazil and the United States and closing a year long safeguard investigation into the sector. The Chinese commerce ministry said the measure will take effect on January 1, 2026 and remain......
Zelensky criticizes India and the United Arab Emirates over response to disputed drone claim
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky publicly rebuked India and the United Arab Emirates after both countries condemned an alleged Ukrainian drone strike on the residence of Russian president Vladimir Putin while remaining silent on continued Russian attacks against Ukrainian cities. Speaking during an online press briefing with Ukrainian......
Iran halts work in most provinces as protests spread over economic collapse
Protests across Iran intensified as university students joined shopkeepers and bazaar merchants in demonstrations driven by a sharp economic downturn. The unrest followed a record fall of the Iranian rial to about 1.42 million per dollar and inflation climbing above 42 percent, deepening public anger over living costs and financial instability. Now......
Taiwan opposition halts record defense budget as Chinese rockets land closer to the island
Taiwan’s opposition parties have again blocked a sweeping defense spending plan, intensifying political deadlock at a moment of rising military pressure from China. Lawmakers from the Kuomintang and the Taiwan People’s Party used their combined legislative majority to prevent a special defense budget from advancing to committee......