Catamist News

Jimmy Lai Convicted in Security Trial

Hong Kong's High Court delivered a landmark verdict today, finding pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai guilty of national security offenses, a decision that concludes a highly scrutinized trial and carries a potential sentence of up to life imprisonment. This conviction, stemming from charges of collusion with foreign forces and distributing seditious publications, highlights the stringent application of Beijing's National Security Law and has drawn widespread international condemnation as a severe blow to press freedom and judicial independence in the city.

4 min read

Kast Wins Chilean Presidency

Far-right candidate José Antonio Kast has been elected the next President of Chile, securing a decisive 58.16% of the vote against opponent Jeannette Jara on December 14, 2025. This victory marks a significant conservative shift, ushering in Chile's most right-wing government in 35 years, driven by widespread voter frustration over rising crime rates, immigration concerns, and a sluggish economy.

UN: Green Investment Trillions for GDP

A landmark report from the UN Environment Programme, GEO-7, reveals that investing in planetary health could generate at least US$20 trillion in additional global GDP by 2070, significantly reducing poverty and saving lives. This comprehensive assessment, compiled by 287 scientists, advocates for "whole-of-society" approaches and a shift beyond traditional GDP metrics to achieve substantial macroeconomic benefits and improved human well-being.

Harvard Gut Discovery Reshapes Metabolic Health

Harvard University scientists have uncovered specific molecules produced by gut bacteria that significantly influence how the body uses energy, a discovery with profound implications for understanding and treating metabolic conditions like obesity and diabetes. This groundbreaking research, published in Cell Metabolism, reveals that these gut-derived molecules travel to the liver, impacting metabolic pathways and insulin sensitivity, thereby opening new avenues for therapies that target gut chemistry to reset the body's processing of fat and glucose.

Russia Intensifies Ukraine Raids, EU Freezes Assets

Russia unleashed intensive overnight raids across Ukraine, targeting military-industrial enterprises and energy facilities, which resulted in widespread power outages for thousands, especially in the southern regions. This escalation prompted Turkish President Erdogan to advocate for a "limited ceasefire" and warn against Black Sea confrontation, while Russia also threatened retaliation against the EU's decision to freeze its central bank assets.

ACA Subsidies End: Millions Face Soaring Costs

Millions of Americans, including nearly 5 million Floridians, are bracing for a significant increase in health insurance costs as critical Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium subsidies are set to expire on December 31, 2025. This legislative inaction, following failed efforts in Congress to extend the aid, could lead to an estimated doubling of average annual premiums for enrollees, placing a severe financial burden on families nationwide.

Uranus and Neptune: Rockier Than Thought?

A groundbreaking new study from the University of Zurich challenges the long-held "Ice Giant" classification of Uranus and Neptune, suggesting these distant worlds may possess significantly more rock in their interiors than previously assumed. This research, published in *Astronomy & Astrophysics*, could revolutionize how astronomers classify planets and provide fresh insights into planetary formation and evolution.

Tech Giants Boost AI, Tesla Accelerates Robotaxis

Tech giants like Microsoft and Apple are significantly ramping up their investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure and development, with Microsoft committing billions globally and Apple boosting its R&D spending to over $34 billion for strategic AI initiatives. Concurrently, Tesla is aggressively pursuing fully unsupervised robotaxi services by year-end, despite market analysts expressing caution regarding electric vehicle demand and current valuations amidst a decelerating global EV sales growth.

Deadly Attack at Bondi Beach Hanukkah Event

A horrific mass shooting at Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach during a Hanukkah celebration resulted in 12 deaths and 29 injuries, plunging the festive event into chaos and drawing widespread condemnation. This tragic attack, which specifically targeted Australia's Jewish community amidst escalating antisemitism, has led to accusations against the Australian government for failing to adequately address the rising threat.

Belarus Pardons 123, Sanctions Lifted

In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, Belarus has released 123 prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski and opposition figure Maria Kalesnikava, on December 13, 2025, following direct negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump. This mass pardon is directly tied to the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Belarus's vital potash fertilizer industry, signaling a potential shift in the long-strained relations between Washington and Minsk.

Knuckles Reserve Roads Banned

Sri Lanka's Ministry of Environment has definitively prohibited the construction of new roads and the repair of old ones within the World Heritage-listed Knuckles Reserve Forest, prioritizing the fragile ecosystem over immediate access concerns for villages cut off by recent landslides. This critical decision, announced by Environment Minister Dammika Patabendi, aims to prevent irreversible environmental damage and protect the forest's World Heritage status, a stance supported by environmental groups and UNESCO amidst allegations of tourism expansion pretexts.

Earth's Core: A Superionic State Discovered

Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery, revealing that Earth's inner core exists in a superionic state where carbon atoms flow freely within a solid iron lattice, making it unexpectedly soft. This new understanding, which challenges previous models and explains perplexing seismic observations, fundamentally reshapes our view of the planet's dynamic interior and has significant implications for understanding geological processes and other rocky planets.

4 min read

Jimmy Lai Convicted in Security Trial

Kast Wins Chilean Presidency

UN: Green Investment Trillions for GDP

Harvard Gut Discovery Reshapes Metabolic Health

Russia Intensifies Ukraine Raids, EU Freezes Assets

ACA Subsidies End: Millions Face Soaring Costs

Uranus and Neptune: Rockier Than Thought?

Tech Giants Boost AI, Tesla Accelerates Robotaxis

Deadly Attack at Bondi Beach Hanukkah Event

Belarus Pardons 123, Sanctions Lifted

Knuckles Reserve Roads Banned

Earth's Core: A Superionic State Discovered

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Jimmy Lai Convicted in Security Trial

Kast Wins Chilean Presidency

UN: Green Investment Trillions for GDP

Harvard Gut Discovery Reshapes Metabolic Health

Russia Intensifies Ukraine Raids, EU Freezes Assets

ACA Subsidies End: Millions Face Soaring Costs

Uranus and Neptune: Rockier Than Thought?

Tech Giants Boost AI, Tesla Accelerates Robotaxis

Deadly Attack at Bondi Beach Hanukkah Event

Belarus Pardons 123, Sanctions Lifted

Knuckles Reserve Roads Banned

Earth's Core: A Superionic State Discovered

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Data & Privacy

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