UNSC to Debate US Oil Blockade on Venezuela
The UN Security Council will meet on Dec 23 to address Venezuela’s denouncement of a US oil blockade, amid escalating tensions and calls for upholding international law.
World
Your go-to source for global news, covering everything from economics to culture across G20 nations and beyond.
TikTok Strikes Deal to Launch U.S. Joint Venture
TikTok inks binding agreements with Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX to launch a U.S. joint venture, ensuring data security for over 170M American users.
Hidden RNA Messages Reveal Viral Hijacking of Host Cells
Researchers mapped hidden RNA interactions between lambda phage and E. coli, unveiling how virus-encoded PreS RNA tricks bacteria to boost viral replication, opening paths for antimicrobial strategies.
EU Agrees €90B Loan to Ukraine, Puts Frozen Russian Assets on Hold
EU leaders agreed on December 19, 2025 to borrow €90B from the EU budget to support Ukraine’s defense for two years, freezing plans to tap €210B in frozen Russian assets.
Explainer: Why the EU Hesitates to Use Frozen Russian Assets for Ukraine
EU leaders meet in Brussels to weigh using €210bn in frozen Russian assets for Ukraine, balancing legal limits, market stability and retaliation fears.
Hainan’s Island-Wide Customs Closure Ushers in New Era of Opening-Up
Hainan’s island-wide customs closure in the Free Trade Port is a high-level institutional innovation, streamlining trade, investment and mobility as the Chinese mainland deepens its opening-up.
Hainan’s Special Customs Operations Boost People-to-People Exchanges
On Dec. 18, 2025, Hainan Free Trade Port introduced special customs operations, granting visa-free entry for 85 countries and zero tariffs on 74% of products to enhance people-to-people exchanges.
Chinese mainland’s box office tops 50B yuan in 2025
In 2025, the Chinese mainland’s movie industry saw box office revenue soar past 50 billion yuan, marking one of its strongest performances in recent history.
Oil Prices Jump as Trump Orders Blockade on Venezuelan Tankers
Oil prices climbed after President Trump’s blockade of Venezuelan tankers, pushing WTI and Brent up over 1% and highlighting how geopolitics can swing global markets.
French Anesthetist Gets Life Sentence for Poisoning 30 Patients
French anesthetist Frédéric Pechier was sentenced to life for poisoning 30 patients—including a 4-year-old—between 2008 and 2017, resulting in 12 deaths.