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Moscow blackouts: Hundreds of thousands plunged into darkness as drone strikes intensify

Drone strikes across Russian cities and intensified attacks on power infrastructure left hundreds of thousands without electricity in Moscow and other regions, marking a sharp escalation in cross border strikes that have disrupted civilians and grids

Number

5.2 million pages - Number of Epstein related documents the DOJ is reviewing

Quote

"All bets are off" — Benjamin Netanyahu

SPX 6,896 ↓ 0.14% Dow 48,367 ↓ 0.20% Nasdaq 23,419 ↓ 0.24% Gold 4,328 ↓ 1.33% BTC 88,807 ↑ 0.45%

24 Hours

HHS freezes federal child care payments to Minnesota - fraud probe cited

Federal authorities halted all child care payments to Minnesota amid explosive allegations of widespread fraud in subsidized daycare programs. The action triggered audits, political attacks, and a cascade of federal and state responses as investigators mobilize.

CIA behind strike on Venezuelan dock - sources

The US acknowledged a covert strike on Venezuelan soil that targeted a dock area tied to alleged drug shipments. Reports and sources indicate CIA involvement, prompting scrutiny of presidential disclosures and legal and diplomatic repercussions.

Russia Ukraine strikes cause massive blackouts - live updates

Drone strikes and intensified attacks have knocked out power across Russian cities and hit Ukrainian infrastructure, producing widescale blackouts and civilian harm. The strikes escalate the conflict as both sides report casualties and damage.

Israel to bar 37 aid groups from Gaza - suspension to begin

Israel moved to suspend dozens of humanitarian groups in Gaza, including major NGOs, under new operational rules, raising alarms from international ministers and aid agencies about catastrophic consequences for civilians.

China stages massive military drills around Taiwan - show of force

China conducted large scale military exercises around Taiwan with live fire and simulated blockades, signaling a sharp show of force and elevating tensions across the Taiwan Strait as regional allies warn against escalation.

China accuses Netherlands of making mistakes over chipmaker Nexperia

Beijing publicly rebuked the Netherlands over control moves at chipmaker Nexperia and demanded corrective action, highlighting growing tensions in global semiconductor governance and supply chain security.

China manufacturing activity expands ending longest slump on record

China’s manufacturing indicators bounced back after a record slump, easing fears about the economy and supporting Beijing’s 2025 growth targets as officials promise proactive macro policy next year.

US stocks on track for third straight year of double digit gains

Major US indexes are positioned to post rare consecutive double digit annual gains, reflecting tech strength and investor optimism even as analysts flag potential risks heading into 2026.

Sources say Nvidia has approached TSMC to ramp H200 production

Nvidia has approached TSMC to boost H200 chip production as global demand surges, while reports show Chinese firms placing large orders for AI chips, underlining supply constraints and geopolitical tech competition.

US DOJ to review 5.2 million pages of Epstein files

The Justice Department is conducting a massive review of Jeffrey Epstein related materials, expanding a document review into millions of pages that could reshape investigations and implicate powerful donors.

WSJ reports Trump banned Epstein from Mar a Lago after 2003 incident

New reporting digs into Donald Trump’s past ties to Jeffrey Epstein and Mar-a-Lago, revealing incidents and prompting questions about donor influence and potential pressure around Epstein-related documents.

HHS freezes Minnesota childcare payments amid alleged fraud scandals

Federal audits target Somali linked naturalization and benefits as officials probe alleged fraud in social services programs, raising questions about denaturalization and nationwide DHS audits of suspect cases.

Russia deploys Oreshnik hypersonic missiles in Belarus amid Europe tensions

Russia deployed and declared active its Oreshnik hypersonic missile system and signalled plans for further territorial moves, actions that complicate peace talks and heighten European security concerns.

Protests and strikes erupt after Iran rial plunges to record low

Economic collapse and currency freefall have sparked large protests and strikes across Iran, with unrest spreading to cities and students joining demonstrations as the rial plunges and living standards deteriorate.

Tatiana Schlossberg dies at 35 following cancer battle

Tatiana Schlossberg, JFK’s granddaughter and environmental journalist, died at 35 after a brief terminal illness. Her death prompted tributes and controversy after President Trump posted critical messages about the Kennedy family while they mourned.

Head on train crash near Machu Picchu kills 1 and injures dozens

A head-on collision between two tourist trains near Peru’s Machu Picchu killed one person and injured dozens including foreign tourists, prompting an emergency response and investigation into rail safety on a major tourist route.

Eurostar shuts Channel Tunnel services after power fault and stuck shuttle

Channel Tunnel power faults and stuck shuttle vehicles disrupted Eurostar services across the UK continent link, stranding passengers and prompting travel warnings during a peak holiday period.

10 year Treasury yield edges after December Fed minutes

Market moves reacted to Fed deliberations and economic data as Treasury yields and Fed minutes showed divisions among policymakers over timing of further rate cuts, keeping investors on edge at year end.

Chinese AI firms lead a wave of Hong Kong IPOs in December

Chinese AI and semiconductor firms led a flurry of Hong Kong IPOs as investors chased tech growth, while several major chip and memory companies filed large offerings to fund expansion amid record demand.

Sources say ByteDance plans to spend about 14 billion on Nvidia chips in 2026

ByteDance and other Chinese tech firms are set to spend massive sums on Nvidia AI chips in 2026, illustrating surging demand for accelerators and intensifying global competition for compute capacity.

War in Sudan drives humanitarian collapse and mass displacement

Sudan’s war continues to inflict a humanitarian catastrophe with fighting, displacement, and collapsing services as camps swell with civilians fleeing front lines and aid access remains constrained.

Trump administration strips legal status from over 1.5 million immigrants

The Trump administration’s immigration and tuition policies prompted legal fights as the DOJ sued states over in-state tuition for undocumented residents and large numbers lost temporary legal statuses under new enforcement directives.

New Year storm warning as up to 12 inches set to fall across five states

Severe winter storms and atmospheric rivers threatened wide U S regions with heavy snow, flooding and evacuation warnings as officials warned of travel disruptions over New Year celebrations.

Filing suggests DOJ leaders pushed to prosecute Kilmar Abrego Garcia

Judicial records and unsealed orders show high level Justice Department involvement in the push to prosecute Kilmar Abrego Garcia after a mistaken deportation, raising questions about political influence in prosecutions.

POTUS LATEST

"The polls are rigged even more than the writers. The real number is 64%, and why not, our Country is “hotter” than ever before. Isn’t it nice to have a STRONG BORDER, No Inflation, a powerful Military, and great Economy??? Happy New Year!"