Russia And Ukraine Adapt Ground Robots For New Battlefield Missions

The Russia-Ukraine war has driven rapid innovation in ground-based military robots, which have shifted from primarily logistics roles to armed combat and tactical support. Ukraine’s fleet includes foreign-supplied platforms like THeMIS and domestically produced systems such as the Targan-300 and armed Droid TW 12.7 robots, while Russia fields modular systems like the Courier and Omich, used for both supply and combat tasks. Ground robots are … Continue reading Russia And Ukraine Adapt Ground Robots For New Battlefield Missions

SPHEREx produces first all-sky map, highlights entire universe in infrared light

NASA’s SPHEREx observatory has completed its first full-sky map, collecting near-infrared data at 102 wavelengths since its launch in March 2025. The map allows scientists to study the early universe’s inflation and the distribution of organic molecules across space, providing unique information for each of the 102 wavelengths. SPHEREx operates from a polar Sun-synchronous orbit, imaging the sky along strips daily and stitching the data … Continue reading SPHEREx produces first all-sky map, highlights entire universe in infrared light

Knife attack near Suriname’s capital Paramaribo kills at least 9

A knife attack near Paramaribo, Suriname, killed at least nine people, including five children, police reported. The victims included four of the attacker’s children, as well as neighbors who tried to intervene, with the deaths occurring across multiple homes in the Richelieu area. The 43-year-old suspect reportedly began the attack after a dispute with his estranged wife over picking up their children. Police intervened, and … Continue reading Knife attack near Suriname’s capital Paramaribo kills at least 9

Russia sends 3 Iranian satellites into orbit

Russia launched three Iranian communications satellites into orbit on Sunday, marking the second such joint launch since July, according to Iranian state media. The satellites—Paya, Kowsar, and Zafar-2—were placed in a 500-kilometer orbit from Russia’s Vostochny launchpad, with Paya being Iran’s heaviest satellite to date at 150 kilograms. The satellites, with up to 3-meter resolution imaging, will support water management, agriculture, and environmental monitoring, and … Continue reading Russia sends 3 Iranian satellites into orbit

African regional bodies reject Somaliland’s recognition as independent nation by Israel

African regional bodies and several countries have condemned Israel’s decision to recognize Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland as an independent state, calling it a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty. The African Union, IGAD, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation all rejected the move, warning it could destabilize the region and contravene international law. Somalia’s federal government strongly denounced Israel’s recognition, reiterating that Somaliland remains an integral … Continue reading African regional bodies reject Somaliland’s recognition as independent nation by Israel

Russian overnight attacks on Ukraine leave one dead and five injured

Ukraine and Russia agreed to a rare temporary ceasefire around the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to allow repairs and reduce the risk of a nuclear accident. Despite this, Russia launched 48 drones overnight across Ukraine, killing a man in Sloviansk and injuring five others in the Kherson region. Drone strikes also caused fires and infrastructure damage in Odesa and Sumy, though no additional casualties … Continue reading Russian overnight attacks on Ukraine leave one dead and five injured

FBI deploys more resources to ‘dismantle fraud schemes’ in Minnesota

The FBI has sent additional agents and resources to Minnesota to crack down on large-scale fraud involving federal programs, according to Director Kash Patel. He said the agency has already dismantled a $250 million scheme that stole food aid intended for children during the Covid pandemic, resulting in dozens of indictments and convictions. Patel warned the case may represent only a small part of a … Continue reading FBI deploys more resources to ‘dismantle fraud schemes’ in Minnesota

Gas leak outside Los Angeles shuts down major highway

A rupture in a 34-inch gas pipeline near Castaic in northern Los Angeles County prompted authorities to issue a shelter-in-place order for nearly 15,000 residents and temporarily close both directions of Interstate 5 on Saturday. No explosions or injuries were reported, and officials said there was no immediate danger, though some residents smelled natural gas. Hazmat crews responded, and SoCalGas later identified and stopped the … Continue reading Gas leak outside Los Angeles shuts down major highway

Midair helicopter crash in New Jersey leaves one person dead and another injured

Two helicopters collided midair near Hammonton Municipal Airport in southern New Jersey on Sunday, killing one pilot and injuring the other. The aircraft involved were an Enstrom F-28A and an Enstrom 280C, both of which crashed into a field and were severely damaged, with one engulfed in flames. Emergency responders airlifted the victims to a trauma center, with one reportedly in possible cardiac arrest. The … Continue reading Midair helicopter crash in New Jersey leaves one person dead and another injured

China launches live-fire drills encircling Taiwan

China has launched live-fire military drills around Taiwan, describing them as a warning to “Taiwan independence” forces and foreign interference. The People’s Liberation Army deployed naval, air, missile, and coast guard forces to encircle the island in an exercise called Justice Mission 2025. Taiwan condemned the drills as an escalation that threatens regional stability and said it had responded with its own combat-readiness measures. Analysts … Continue reading China launches live-fire drills encircling Taiwan

Blizzard conditions snarl holiday travel as tornadoes leave damage in the Midwest

More than 30 million people across the Midwest and Northeast are under winter weather alerts as a powerful storm system disrupts holiday travel. Blizzard conditions with strong winds and whiteout visibility have affected parts of the Midwest, causing road closures, power outages, and significant flight delays and cancellations nationwide. Severe thunderstorms and possible tornadoes have also damaged communities in Illinois as a sharp cold front … Continue reading Blizzard conditions snarl holiday travel as tornadoes leave damage in the Midwest

After thousands of years, archaeologists think we’ve finally found ‘Noah’s Ark’

Archaeologists have renewed interest in the possible location of Noah’s Ark after pottery fragments were discovered near a boat-shaped formation on Mount Ararat in eastern Turkey. The ceramics, found close to the Durupinar Formation, suggest human activity in the area between 5500 BC and 3000 BC, a period some associate with the Biblical flood. Researchers say the site’s size and shape broadly align with the … Continue reading After thousands of years, archaeologists think we’ve finally found ‘Noah’s Ark’

Bankruptcies soared to a 15-year high in 2025 as companies struggled with trade wars

Corporate bankruptcies hit a 15-year high in 2025, with at least 717 companies filing for Chapter 7 or 11 through November, a 14% increase from 2024, according to S&P data cited by The Washington Post. Companies blamed inflation, high interest rates, and President Donald Trump’s trade wars, which raised costs and disrupted supply chains, especially for import-dependent firms. The hardest-hit sectors were industrials such as … Continue reading Bankruptcies soared to a 15-year high in 2025 as companies struggled with trade wars

Europe declares war on free speech in the US

The Trump administration, through Secretary of State Marco Rubio, recently barred several European figures, including former EU digital commissioner Thierry Breton, from entering the U.S., citing their role in global censorship efforts. Breton was a key architect of the EU’s Digital Services Act, which imposes rules on speech deemed “disinformation” or “incitement,” and threatened American companies like X to comply with European standards. European politicians, … Continue reading Europe declares war on free speech in the US

Three in four say groceries so expensive they’ve cut down on other spending

Food and drink prices continued to rise in November, with restaurant menu items like coffee, burritos, and burgers increasing faster than the overall inflation rate, according to Toast. Cold brew prices rose 4.5% year over year, while regular coffee, burritos, and burgers each climbed about 3%. Despite high costs, interest in beef surged in 2025 as the high-protein trend boosted home cooking, though shoppers favored … Continue reading Three in four say groceries so expensive they’ve cut down on other spending

Trump meets with Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago as peace talks advance

President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are meeting in Florida to push forward a potential peace deal to end the war in Ukraine. Trump said he believes the framework for an agreement exists, while Zelenskyy emphasized that outcomes depend on continued pressure on Russia and support from Ukraine’s partners. The talks follow a major Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv that killed … Continue reading Trump meets with Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago as peace talks advance

Iran declares ‘total war’ on America, Israel and Europe

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has declared that Iran is in a state of “total war” with the United States, Israel, and Europe, accusing Western powers of trying to bring the country “to its knees.” He claimed Iran’s military is stronger now than before Israel’s June strikes, which sparked a 12-day conflict involving US attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. Pezeshkian compared the current situation to the … Continue reading Iran declares ‘total war’ on America, Israel and Europe

Gas prices fall to four-year lows as millions embark on holiday road trips

Holiday travelers in the U.S. are seeing lower gas prices this December, with the national average below $3 a gallon for most of the month — the lowest since 2021, according to AAA. Fuel costs are down about 7% from last month and nearly 43% from mid-2022 highs of around $5 per gallon. AAA expects a record 122 million Americans to travel at least 50 … Continue reading Gas prices fall to four-year lows as millions embark on holiday road trips

U.S. regulators approve Wegovy pill for weight loss

The FDA has approved the first daily oral version of the blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy, giving Novo Nordisk an edge over rival Eli Lilly, whose oral obesity drug orforglipron is still under review. Both pills are GLP-1 drugs that mimic a hormone controlling appetite, similar to popular injectables like Wegovy and Lilly’s Zepbound, which have transformed obesity treatment for millions of Americans. Clinical trials showed … Continue reading U.S. regulators approve Wegovy pill for weight loss

U.S. economy grows by 4.3% in third quarter, much more than expected

The U.S. economy grew at an annualized rate of 4.3% in the third quarter, exceeding expectations of 3.2%, according to a delayed Commerce Department report. Strong consumer spending, which rose 3.5%, along with increased exports and government spending, drove the growth, while private fixed investment dipped only slightly. Inflation remained elevated, with the Fed’s preferred personal consumption expenditures index up 2.8% and core PCE at … Continue reading U.S. economy grows by 4.3% in third quarter, much more than expected

Judge revokes conditional release for ‘Slender Man’ stabber after runaway attempt

Morgan Geyser, 23, who stabbed her sixth-grade classmate Payton Leutner in 2014 to appease the fictional character “Slender Man,” is returning to institutionalized care after running away from a Wisconsin group home last month. Geyser cut off her ankle monitor on Nov. 22 and was found roughly 24 hours later in Illinois with her friend Chad Mecca, who she had developed a close bond with … Continue reading Judge revokes conditional release for ‘Slender Man’ stabber after runaway attempt

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, daughter open luxury resort

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter Ju Ae inaugurated a new luxury resort in Samjiyon, a northern city near China. The resort features five hotels with amenities such as barbecue restaurants, hot tubs, and leisure spaces, which state media hailed as proof of citizens’ rising status. Kim personally inspected the facilities, including testing the firmness of the beds, while promoting the project … Continue reading North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, daughter open luxury resort

Nigerians welcome 130 schoolchildren and teachers released after mass abduction

Nigerians saw the release of 130 children and teachers on Monday, a month after they were abducted from a Catholic school in Papiri, Niger state. Some of the children appeared malnourished or in shock as authorities prepared to reunite them with their families before Christmas. Initially, reports said 303 students and 12 teachers were seized, with 50 escaping, but officials later clarified that 230 had … Continue reading Nigerians welcome 130 schoolchildren and teachers released after mass abduction

Yemen’s sides agree to release 2,900 detainees in war’s largest exchange

Yemen’s internationally recognized government and Iran-backed Houthi rebels have agreed to release 2,900 detainees in the largest prisoner swap of the 11-year civil war. The deal, brokered in Muscat with the UN Special Envoy and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), includes Yemenis as well as seven Saudi and 23 Sudanese nationals. Saudi Ambassador Mohamed AlJabir and Houthi officials praised the agreement for … Continue reading Yemen’s sides agree to release 2,900 detainees in war’s largest exchange

Japanese H3 rocket fails during launch of navigation satellite

Japan’s seventh H3 rocket mission failed when the second stage engine shut down prematurely, preventing the Michibiki 5 (QZS-5) navigation satellite from reaching its planned orbit. The launch took place from Tanegashima Space Center on Dec. 21, carrying the 4,800-kilogram satellite intended for Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), which complements GPS and serves the Asia-Oceania region. The H3 rocket, developed by JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy … Continue reading Japanese H3 rocket fails during launch of navigation satellite