Leading X-ray space telescopes XMM-Newton and XRISM have spotted a never-seen-before blast from a supermassive black hole. In a matter of hours, the gravitational monster whipped up powerful winds, flinging material out into space at eye-watering speeds of
60,000 km per second.

Nigeria said its response to terrorism threats “goes beyond borders” after the U.S. launched airstrikes against Islamic State militants in the West African country on Thursday. “Nigeria’s focus remains the protection of innocent lives and the defeat of terrorism through coordinated action with partn…

The committee overseeing celebrations for America's 250th birthday next year announced Friday that the Times Square Ball in New York City will be featured in a pair of events on New Year's Eve and in July. America250 said the Times Square Ball, which attracts scores of tourists each year as it helps…

SPOILER ALERT: This story contains spoilers from Season 5, Volume 2 of “Stranger Things, now streaming on Netflix. In one week, we’ll have all the answers. But for now, we’ve got a lot of questions. During the Christmas Day release of Volume 2 of “Stranger Things 5,” many key plot points were fleshe…

Mudslides, big waves and atmospheric rivers slam state after LA’s wettest Christmas season in 54 yearsA strong storm system that has brought relentless winds, rain and snowfall to California was expected to ease on Friday, but there was still a risk of high surf along the coast, flash flooding near …

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are among the most powerful explosions in the universe, second only to the Big Bang. The majority of these bursts are observed to flash and fade within a few seconds to minutes. But on 2 July 2025, astronomers were alerted to a GRB source that was exhibiting repeating bursts …

The unanimity of DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS. Plus: Rosalia’s lush Lux, the irresistible KPop Demon Hunters, and the polarizing power of Getting Killed.

Findings about our human ancestors continue to surprise us, especially those from 2025.

Elon Musk’s net worth increased by nearly 50% to $645bn with founders of Google and Amazon also seeing huge wealth gainsA stock market boom in artificial intelligence companies has added more than half a trillion dollars to the wealth of America’s tech barons in the past year, data shows.The top 10 …

Artificial intelligence companies looking to raise funds are being made to pay lofty interest rates, as debt investors become cautious.

Cambodia accuses Thailand of "indiscriminate attacks", as negotiators meet for a third day to try to end weeks of renewed fighting.

No group has claimed responsibility for the explosion, which happened on a day when many worshipers attend mosque for Friday Prayer.

Talks expected to address the most sensitive parts of US peace plan

From cheeseboard pies to spiced-up veg and one last sweet flourish, this is how to eat, waste less and savour the lull between Christmas and New Year• Sign up here for our weekly food newsletter, FeastAt this time of year, I like to stay home, shut off from the world and do as little as possible for…

Ryan Wedding rose to fame as a Canadian Olympic athlete, but the authorities say he became one of the world’s biggest drug lords, who ordered an informant executed.

It’s become easier to imagine the moment when Trump’s mystique finally evaporates.

Team USA are looking for a three-peat as the tournament comes to Saint Paul and Minneapolis

Separatists in southern Yemen are accusing Saudi Arabia of targeting their forces with airstrikes

Legend once had it that the huge, three-toed footprints scattered across the central highlands of Bolivia came from supernaturally strong monsters—capable of sinking their claws even into solid stone.

After using Linux for nearly 30 years, I've created a list of the best Linux distributions I've used since the beginning. Here they are.

Season five's second volume has some familiar padding, but it mostly satisfies as the Netflix show races toward its end.

President Trump's first year back in office saw a whirlwind of executive actions, the passage of a major reconciliation bill and the rapid remaking of the federal government. Trump campaigned in 2024 on bringing down prices, implementing the largest deportation program in American history and rollin…

Knowing which option is best could have a big impact on seniors' finances in the new year.

Some Americans enjoyed massive gains in the stock market during 2025, while others cut corners as prices grew higher. CBS MoneyWatch correspondent Kelly O'Grady has more on the U.S. economy as 2026 approaches.

The frontman has walked back his claims that the band's 2023 album would be their final full-length effort.
Sully Erna Now Says Last Godsmack Album May Not Have Been Their Final LP
Spencer Kaufman

Only five Sears stores remain in the country, with the end likely near for what was once the mightiest American retailer.

California is facing another day of heavy rain and risks of flash floods, prompting Los Angeles County to extend evacuation orders as officials warn about the dangers for road travel in this busy holiday period.

Palm oil continued to climb for a fourth session, reaching its highest level in two weeks on the back of increased demand for Malaysian product.

There is no F.D.A.-approved testosterone product for women. Insurance won’t cover it. Many doctors won’t prescribe it. It’s become a cultural phenomenon.

Readers respond to the government’s plans to improve the lot of animalsThe government’s strategy for animal welfare offers substantial improvements in the lot of kept animals but, in keeping with precedent, free-living wildlife is sold short (Editorial, 23 December). The law protecting wildlife is o…

Pete Hegseth says ‘more to come’ as Nigerian FM confirms his country provided intelligence for first waveUS politics live: latest news updatesThe US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, has warned of new strikes against Islamic State targets in north-western Nigeria, hours after the US military took act…

Based on our "Diagnostic Dilemma" series, this quiz tests your medical know-how.

Pakistan has summoned Britain’s deputy high commissioner after a viral video showed a woman at a rally in the city of Bradford saying the Pakistani army chief would die in a possible attack

Japan’s stocks are expected to extend gains in 2026, with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s aggressive fiscal plans building on the momentum of the past year.

Emerging-market stocks and currencies headed for a weekly advance amid thinned holiday trading as investor sentiment remained bullish heading into the year-end.

President Trump said the targets of airstrikes in Nigeria were Islamic State terrorists responsible for killing Christians, but experts question his framing.

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Rick Gardner, CIO of RGA Investments, breaks down his outlook heading into the new year. Garnder says that its reasonable for investors to be 'optimistic' about markets in 2026, expecting uncertainty around policy to die down. Gardner said that as tech trade narrows, there is opportunity for investo…

Every Sunday, protesters from Florida and beyond go to the notorious immigration jail and advocate for its closureThey come on buses, in cars and RVs. Some ride on motorcycles. Every Sunday afternoon, convoys of protestors from all over Florida, and others from out of state, descend on the notorious…

A 100-ounce silver bar could fetch a hefty price today, but the exact amount depends on a few different factors.

Podcast host Joe Rogan on Thursday slammed President Trump's White House plaque describing former President Biden's time in office as "so crazy," saying it sets a bad precedent. "This is so crazy," Rogan told his guest, comedian Shane Gillis, on "The Joe Rogan Experience" released on Christmas Day. …

The rapper also dropped a "Sugar on My Tongue" remix to celebrate an incredible 2025

Banning chemtrails is “like banning unicorns or banning Bigfoot,” says one weather expert

Exclusive: Imran Ahmed says US companies are ‘corrupting the system’ of politics by seeking to avoid accountabilityA British anti-disinformation campaigner told by the Trump administration that he faces possible removal from the US has said he is being targeted by arrogant and “sociopathic” tech com…

Scientists in Japan have confirmed that ultra-thin films of ruthenium dioxide belong to a newly recognized and powerful class of magnetic materials called altermagnets. These materials combine the best of two magnetic worlds: they’re stable against interference yet still allow fast, electrical reado…

Spaniard, who at 30 has been coaching for half his life, discusses Arteta, tactics and how to win players’ trustCarlos Cuesta, towards the end of his first major interview, briefly lets himself wonder how far his journey will take him. “Maybe one day it brings the Maldives,” he says with a laugh, th…

An elusive wild cat long feared extinct in Thailand has been rediscovered three decades after the last recorded sighting, conservation authorities said. Camera traps in southern Thailand’s Princess Sirindhorn Wildlife Sanctuary captured 29 detections, including a female with her cub, offering rare h…

Pep Guardiola says his players will have remained "incredibly disciplined" during the Christmas break to meet the standards Manchester City have set.

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Despite doing twice as much work daily, I still have no free time at all. How? Plus, canal breaches and multiplying octopusesA canal in Shropshire has disappeared into a giant hole. I paraphrase, but not by much. Continue reading...

A Defense Department official said the U.S. worked with Nigeria to carry out the strikes and that they'd been approved by Abuja.

Syrian authorities did not identify a perpetrator in the blast, which occurred in an area of Homs where most residents belong to the Alawite religious minority.

The post-Christmas session on Wall Street saw stocks fluctuating near their all-time highs as recent signs of economic resilience reinforced positive expectations for corporate profits.

The crypto exchange’s tokenization, AI tools, and stablecoin revenue help it stand out in ‘transition year’ for crypto equities, said Clear Street's Owen Lau.

⚽ Updates from the afternoon Boxing Day football action⚽ Live scores | Tables | Follow us on Bluesky | Mail BarryChampionship: Despite failing to properly get his head to a free-kick aimed towards the far post, Jack Robinson somehow manages to take advantage of some slapstick defending to bundle the…

Nothing quite encapsulated life in 2025 like the surreal opening of this great movie.

Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), an international team of astronomers has observed an elliptical galaxy known as NGC 4486B. Results of the observational campaign, published Dec. 16 on the arXiv preprint server, deliver important insights into the properties of the double nucleus of this …

The meeting suggests that Washington and Kyiv are closing in on a joint position to end the war. Russia, however, will likely reject several aspects of the plan.

In his annual Christmas address, King Charles emphasized courage and unity, urging people to find strength in the "companionship and kindness of others."

In this week’s newsletter: as we head into 2026, we’ll be testing products to help you cut waste and lighten your load on the planet• Don’t get Down to Earth delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereChristmas Day is almost a relief when it arrives, isn’t it? The season of consumption – from overindulgin…

Capital outflows, BOJ’s gradual tightening pace are keeping the yen under pressure.

There are 50 new tech billionaires in 2025 because of AI, including the seven co-founders of Anthropic.

Here is the full list of the cybersecurity Startup Battlefield 200 selectees, along with a note on what made us select them for the competition.

The Archers: Live at 75, set at the Ambridge Flower & Produce show, will feature a rotating cast of actors from the hit radio dramaPeople have been tuning in to hear rural tales from the fictional village of Ambridge for 75 years, but now the colourful characters of BBC Radio 4’s The Archers will be…

Explosion occurred during Friday prayers at Imam Ali bin Abi Talib mosque in Homs

The fundamental concept behind the new frigate is sound, and the Navy’s goal of having the first one built in three years may be attainable.

Most things Privateer did have been done better, but it's still a classic.

Flat-headed cats are among the world's most threatened wild felines.

For anyone who overindulged during the holidays, the hype around weight-loss drugs like Ozempic can be tempting. Originally developed to treat diabetes, the medication suppresses appetite—and in the U.S., where oversized portions and fast food reign, its effects are even noticeable in New York resta…

Investing experts were wrong in so many ways this year.

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South Korea on Friday announced plans to end foreign adoptions over a five-year period, aiming for zero by 2029, as UN investigators raise “serious concern” over decades of abuses. Many adoptees were sent abroad with falsified records or suffered mistreatment, and critics say Seoul has failed to pro…

Suspect is in police custody; no information about potential motive.

The very best reporting and investigative journalism from our friends at other publications.

What might 2026 hold for the fields of public health, both domestically and abroad? Quite a lot.

I had gone out with friends to mark the end of university, and one by one they disappeared. With the music throbbing, I learned I could be comfortable in my own companyBetween the ages of 16 and 21, the big night out wasn’t just a hobby, it was a calling. Getting together with friends, getting drunk…

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Poll released by group as people gather for traditional Boxing Day hunts finds 76% of voters believe Labour prioritises urban issues over rural onesKeir Starmer’s government has been told it has “alienated rural people” as traditional Boxing Day hunts gathered across the UK ahead of plans to ban tra…

The YouTuber doesn't seem fazed by Apple's threats.

We can debate tax policy. We can debate spending priorities. But protecting the elderly should not be a debate at all.

The news business is in decline, with television news becoming increasingly irrelevant to younger generations, cable news audiences aging, and awards for "fairness" being given to those who share a single worldview.

Trump says strikes are related to 'Christian genocide' but attacks on Christian farmers happened in different area.

California is still reeling after heavy rain and wind battered parts of the state. Meanwhile, a winter storm is expected to hit the Northeast U.S.

After opening their tournament with a 2-0 win over Comoros, the Atlas Lions could become the first team to book a place in the AFCON round of 16 if they beat Mali this Friday. It's a first major test for the host nation – ambitious, yet keeping a cautious approach despite their status as favourites.

The proposal, which transforms UNI into a value-accruing asset, received more than 125 million votes in support with just 742 dissenting.

A 23-year-old CVS employee was killed on Thursday in Lindenhurst, the authorities said. Police are searching for a suspect in his 40s who fled on foot.

Several Republican lawmakers praised President Trump on Thursday for carrying out strikes on ISIS militants in Nigeria after he said they killed Christians in the African country's northwest region. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.) and Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) both called the strikes "decisive." "The Cong…

Government said the move was due to its ‘unrestricted respect for human rights’ in the face of US aggressionVenezuela has said it has carried out its largest release of political prisoners this year, claiming to have freed 99 people detained for taking part in protests after the 2024 election, widel…

Throughout history, entrepreneurs have always dealt with uncertainty. Today, in most countries — and especially in this one — it's an almost annual shifting of political winds.

More rain was forecast for the Los Angeles Area on Friday, adding to wet weather that prompted emergency declarations across the state.

Tesla’s stock was closing 2025 on a high note, as investors see progress on CEO Elon Musk’s promise to grow the robotaxi business.

You might be shocked at how many 'vampire devices' could be in your home, silently draining power.

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Christians in Syria spent Christmas surrounded by armed soldiers, with security deployed outside churches in Aleppo.

Police say the attacker, from the occupied West Bank, ran over at least one person before stabbing another victim several miles away.

In Pirates of the Caribbean, Jack and Will use an overturned dinghy to hold air underwater. Madness or brilliance?

A key GOP senator is expressing optimism that Republicans and Democrats will agree to a deal that would extend expiring health care subsidies, but the effort faces an uphill climb in winning the backing of leaders in both parties. Without a deal, health insurance premiums are projected to spike by d…

Our circadian cycle doesn’t just affect our sleeping and waking, but our motivations, mood, behaviour and alertness. Whether you are a lark or an owl, here’s how to recognise your own rhythm• Sign up here to get the whole series straight to your inboxIt’s easy to hate clocks. Their unstoppable forwa…