Vince Zampella, the co-creator of the globally acclaimed video game series ‘Call of Duty,’ has died in a car accident near Los Angeles. Electronic Arts (EA) confirmed his death on Monday, stating that the 55-year-old gaming pioneer was driving his Ferrari on a mountainous road north of the city when the crash occurred on Sunday.

According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the vehicle veered off the road for unknown reasons, struck a concrete barrier, and caught fire. Both Zampella and a passenger sustained critical injuries and later died. Eyewitnesses shared footage on social media showing the burning red Ferrari at the crash site. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the accident.

Zampella was widely regarded as a trailblazer in first-person shooter gaming, having co-founded studios responsible for several of the best-selling titles in history. His death marks a major loss for the global gaming community, with tributes pouring in from fans and industry peers worldwide.

A Mexican Navy aircraft on a medical mission crashed near Galveston, Texas, killing at least five people, officials confirmed Monday. The King Air model plane was carrying eight passengers, including one minor, when it went down during a humanitarian flight. Two individuals survived unharmed, while one person remains missing.

According to the Mexican Navy, the aircraft was part of a medical transport mission supported by the Mishu y Mau Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides treatment for severely burned children. Among the passengers were four naval officers and four civilians. The minor patient being transported for medical care was among those killed.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, while rescue teams continue searching for the missing person. The incident has drawn condolences from both U.S. and Mexican officials, highlighting the risks faced by humanitarian and medical transport missions operating across borders.

U.S. President Donald Trump has declared that Greenland is essential to American national security and should come under U.S. control, following his appointment of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as special envoy for Greenland affairs. The move has sparked renewed diplomatic tension with Denmark, which retains sovereignty over the Arctic island.

Copenhagen reacted sharply, summoning the U.S. ambassador for an explanation. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen called the appointment 'deeply concerning,' warning that Denmark would not accept any action undermining its territorial integrity. Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen emphasized that only Greenlanders can decide their future, expressing openness to cooperation with the U.S. based on mutual respect.

The controversy revives Trump’s earlier 2019 attempt to purchase Greenland, rejected by both Denmark and Greenland. Analysts see the latest step as part of Washington’s growing strategic focus on the Arctic amid rising competition with Russia and China. The European Union has voiced full solidarity with Denmark and Greenland, underscoring the geopolitical stakes of the unfolding dispute.

The U.S. administration under President Donald Trump is preparing to intensify its anti-immigration campaign in 2026, allocating $170 billion over the next three and a half years to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The funding, which runs through September 2029, will support expanded enforcement operations across workplaces and communities nationwide.

Officials said the plan includes hiring thousands of new agents, opening additional detention centers, and partnering with private firms to locate undocumented immigrants. The initiative marks one of the largest financial boosts to federal immigration enforcement in recent years. However, public support for Trump’s immigration policy has declined, with approval dropping from 50% in March to 41% by mid-December, according to recent polls.

Critics warn that the expanded operations could strain local economies and deepen divisions in immigrant-heavy cities such as Miami. The administration maintains that the measures are necessary to ensure border security and uphold immigration laws, setting the stage for renewed political debate in 2026.

Blue Origin, the space company founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, is set to make history by sending the first wheelchair-using woman into space. Mikela Benthaus, a spacecraft and mechatronics engineer, will join five other crew members aboard the New Shepard rocket for the upcoming NS-37 suborbital mission. The flight will cross the Kármán line, 62 miles above Earth, marking the internationally recognized boundary of space.

Benthaus, who became paralyzed after a 2018 motorcycle accident, has since been an advocate for inclusive space exploration. Joining her on the mission will be engineer Hans Koenigsmann, entrepreneur Neil Milc, investor Joey Hyde, Adonis Porolis, and space enthusiast Jason Stansell. The crew will experience several minutes of microgravity before returning to Earth during the 10–12 minute flight.

This will be Blue Origin’s 16th human spaceflight and its latest step toward expanding accessibility in commercial space travel. The company has previously flown 86 people past the Kármán line, with 80 of them being first-time space travelers.

Elon Musk’s net worth has surged to a record $749 billion, making him the first individual in history to surpass the $700 billion mark, according to Forbes’ Billionaire Index. The sharp increase followed a Delaware Supreme Court ruling that reinstated Musk’s previously annulled stock-based compensation package at Tesla, valued at $139 billion. The 2018 pay plan, once deemed excessive by a lower court, was restored after the Supreme Court found the earlier decision unjust.

The ruling comes as Tesla’s shareholders recently approved a separate trillion-dollar compensation plan for Musk, the largest in corporate history. Investors have expressed confidence in Musk’s vision to transform Tesla from an electric vehicle manufacturer into a leader in artificial intelligence and robotics. Reports suggesting that SpaceX may soon go public also contributed to the rapid rise in Musk’s wealth.

Musk’s fortune now exceeds that of Google co-founder Larry Page by roughly $500 billion, underscoring his dominance in both the technology and space industries.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Washington is preparing to establish a new governance structure for Gaza, followed by the deployment of an international security force to stabilize the region. The plan aims to reinforce the fragile ceasefire brokered in October under President Donald Trump’s administration, which has been undermined by continued Israeli strikes.

Rubio said the proposal includes forming an international governing board and a Palestinian technocratic authority to manage Gaza’s civil affairs. He confirmed progress in identifying potential Palestinian members but noted that key issues remain unresolved, including how to disarm Hamas. Several countries, including Pakistan, have expressed interest in participating, though concerns persist about potential involvement in active conflict.

The US diplomat emphasized that clear mandates and funding mechanisms must be defined before troop commitments are made. He also linked effective governance and security to unlocking international reconstruction funds, warning that donors will hesitate to invest without assurances of long-term stability.

A recent article in the U.S. magazine *1945*, authored by defense analyst Brent Eastwood, warns that the United States could become entangled in armed conflicts with five nations—China, Russia, Iran, Venezuela, and North Korea—by 2026. The analysis suggests that despite President Donald Trump’s diplomatic efforts during his second term to reduce global tensions, escalating geopolitical frictions may still push Washington toward multiple confrontations.

Eastwood highlights several flashpoints: potential Chinese aggression toward Taiwan, ongoing Russian operations in Ukraine, and rising tensions in the Caribbean linked to U.S. anti-narcotics missions near Venezuela. The report also notes that U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and North Korea’s continued hostility toward South Korea could trigger proxy or direct wars. Experts caution that even limited military incidents could spiral into broader conflicts.

While the Trump administration emphasizes peace deals and ceasefire diplomacy, analysts warn that the global security environment remains volatile. The coming year may test Washington’s ability to balance deterrence with restraint across multiple theaters of potential conflict.

U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the temporary suspension of the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery Program, commonly known as the Green Card Lottery. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the move on social media, confirming that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) had been instructed to halt the program following Trump’s directive.

The decision follows a shooting incident at Brown University and MIT, where the suspect, Claudio Neves Valente, reportedly entered the United States through the DV program from Portugal and obtained permanent residency in 2017. Noem stated that such individuals should never have been allowed entry. The program annually grants up to 50,000 green cards to citizens of countries with low U.S. immigration rates. Nearly 20 million people had applied for the 2025 lottery.

The suspension is expected to face legal and political challenges in Congress, where lawmakers are divided over immigration policy. Analysts suggest the move could reignite debates on merit-based immigration and national security screening standards.

Chinese short-video platform TikTok has finalized a deal with several U.S. investors, including Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX, to maintain its operations in the United States and avert a potential ban. CEO Shou Zi Chew announced the agreement to employees on Thursday, confirming that the joint venture will allow TikTok to comply with U.S. regulatory requirements.

Under the arrangement, one-third of the new venture’s ownership will remain with ByteDance’s existing investors, while ByteDance itself will hold around 20 percent— the maximum share allowed for a Chinese company under current U.S. law. Oracle’s executive chairman Larry Ellison, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, is among the key figures involved in the deal.

The move follows earlier U.S. government demands during Joe Biden’s presidency that ByteDance divest TikTok’s American operations or face a ban. With the investor deadline set for January, TikTok’s timely agreement ensures its continued access to one of its largest markets while easing political and security tensions between Washington and Beijing.

The United States has announced new sanctions against two additional judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing them of participating in investigations and judicial actions against Israel without its consent. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio made the announcement on Thursday, stating that the ICC continues to engage in politically motivated activities targeting Israel, which he described as a dangerous precedent.

The move follows the ICC’s issuance of arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Washington, a longstanding ally of Israel, has repeatedly criticized the ICC’s actions and warned of consequences. Critics, however, argue that the sanctions could undermine global accountability efforts and intimidate prosecutors, judges, and witnesses involved in international justice.

Observers note that the decision may further strain relations between the US and international legal institutions, raising concerns about selective justice and the politicization of war crimes investigations.

U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a 19-minute televised address from the White House marking one year of his second term. The speech focused heavily on immigration, with Trump blaming undocumented migrants for housing shortages, job losses, and rising public costs. He also criticized former President Joe Biden for inflation and claimed credit for ending several global conflicts, including the Gaza war and Iran’s nuclear threat. Trump announced a special Christmas bonus for 1.45 million military personnel, calling it the 'Warrior Dividend.'

Fact-checkers and analysts noted that Trump’s economic claims lacked clear data sources, while independent studies show immigrants contribute significantly to the U.S. economy—paying over $650 billion in taxes in 2023. Recent polls by Reuters/Ipsos and NPR/PBS indicate declining public confidence in Trump’s economic management, with only about one-third of Americans approving his performance. Despite this, Trump projected optimism, promising major economic growth in 2026.

The speech underscores Trump’s continued reliance on nationalist rhetoric as he faces economic skepticism and seeks to consolidate support ahead of midterm political challenges.

The United States has approved a record $11.1 billion arms sale to Taiwan, marking the largest defense package ever offered to the island. The deal, authorized under President Donald Trump’s administration, includes rocket systems, howitzers, Javelin anti-tank missiles, Altius combat drones, and various equipment parts. Washington described the sale as essential for strengthening Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities and maintaining regional stability.

The announcement comes as Beijing intensifies military and diplomatic pressure on Taipei, conducting frequent air and naval maneuvers near the island. Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense welcomed the decision, emphasizing that the new weapons will enhance its deterrence capacity. The Pentagon stated that the sale supports US national, economic, and security interests by modernizing Taiwan’s armed forces.

Analysts view the move as a signal of continued US commitment to Taiwan’s defense under the Taiwan Relations Act. However, the sale is expected to draw sharp criticism from China, which considers Taiwan a breakaway province and opposes foreign military support.

The United States Southern Command confirmed that four suspected drug traffickers were killed during a military operation targeting a narcotics-laden vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The strike, carried out by US forces, was directed at a ship allegedly linked to a designated terrorist organization. The operation resulted in no American military casualties, according to an official statement released via social media platform X.

The Southern Command emphasized that the mission was part of ongoing efforts to curb transnational drug trafficking networks operating across the Pacific. While details about the vessel’s origin and destination remain undisclosed, officials described the action as a necessary step to disrupt criminal groups financing terrorism through narcotics trade. The announcement follows a series of maritime interdictions conducted by US forces in the region.

Analysts note that the strike underscores Washington’s intensified focus on maritime security and counter-narcotics operations in the Pacific corridor. Further investigations are expected to determine the affiliations of the deceased traffickers and the broader network behind the shipment.

The Trump administration has announced plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), one of the world’s foremost climate research institutions based in Boulder, Colorado. Established in 1960 with federal funding, NCAR has been a cornerstone of atmospheric and climate science for decades. According to the Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vogt, only activities deemed 'essential' will be transferred to other agencies or locations.

Vogt described NCAR as a major source of 'climate alarmism,' while U.S. media reported that the closure process will begin immediately, including the shutdown of its Mesa Laboratory. Prominent climate scientist Kevin Trenberth warned that closing the lab would cause severe damage to global scientific research, noting NCAR’s crucial role in advancing modern climate science.

The move aligns with President Donald Trump’s broader rollback of clean energy and climate policies enacted under his predecessor Joe Biden. Trump, who has repeatedly questioned climate change, recently called it 'the greatest hoax in Earth’s history' during a United Nations address.