- Major Cyberattacks Target Millions of Users: The “Shai-Hulud” supply chain attack resulted in an $8.5 million drain from Trust Wallet’s Chrome extension, while a separate Chinese threat actor campaign codenamed “DarkSpectre” has impacted 8.8 million browser users worldwide.
- Israel Bans Major Aid Groups from Gaza: International organizations including Doctors Without Borders and Oxfam are facing bans from Gaza under new Israeli registration rules, a move that the UK, EU, and other nations warn will have a “catastrophic” impact on the humanitarian crisis.
- Massive “Ocean’s Eleven” Style Heist in Germany: Thieves stole valuables worth between $36 million and $105 million from a bank in Gelsenkirchen, Germany; the suspects remain at large following the Christmas-period robbery.
- U.S. Escalates Military and Economic Pressure on Venezuela: President Trump confirmed the U.S. hit a “big facility” linked to drug boats, while Venezuela has detained an increasing number of American citizens amid a growing U.S. military and economic campaign.
- Finland Seizes Ship Over Undersea Cable Sabotage: Finnish police arrested 14 crew members of a ship sailing from Russia to Israel following the discovery of new telecommunications cable damage in Finland’s exclusive economic zone.
- Saudi Arabia and UAE Alliance Fractures in Yemen: Tensions between the former allies peaked after a Saudi-led airstrike targeted an Emirati arms shipment in Yemen, leading the UAE to announce a troop withdrawal.
- Secret Documents Reveal Abuses in Russian Military: An analysis of over 6,000 leaked official complaints has exposed a “violent military apparatus” in Russia, detailing accounts of abuse and coercion used to maintain the assault in Ukraine.
- West African Nations Impose Travel Ban on U.S. Citizens: In a “tit-for-tat” move, Mali and Burkina Faso have prohibited Americans from entering their countries following full-entry restrictions placed on their citizens by the Trump administration.
- Ukraine Develops “Killer A.I. Drones”: Pushed by sophisticated Russian defenses, Ukraine is producing an arsenal of semiautonomous killing machines to use in the ongoing war.
- Global Icons Lost in 2025: The year saw the passing of several major figures, including Pope Francis, Ozzy Osbourne, actress Diane Keaton, and French cinema icon Brigitte Bardot.