Stay informed with the latest news and analysis from Catamist
Hunter Biden's unprecedented federal gun trial commenced in Delaware, making him the first child of a sitting U.S. president to face criminal prosecution. He stands accused of three felony charges for allegedly unlawfully purchasing a firearm in 2018 while addicted to illegal drugs, a claim his defense team is prepared to challenge.
Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has made financial history, becoming the first individual to exceed a net worth of $600 billion, with Forbes reporting his fortune at an astonishing $677 billion as of December 15, 2025. This unprecedented wealth surge is primarily attributed to the soaring valuation of his private aerospace company, SpaceX, which is reportedly preparing for a $1.5 trillion IPO that could potentially make him the world's first trillionaire.
World leaders at the 80th United Nations General Assembly have adopted a historic political declaration to collectively address noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health challenges for the first time. This landmark agreement, adopted on December 16, 2025, sets ambitious global targets for 2030, including reducing tobacco users by 150 million and expanding mental health care access to an additional 150 million people, aiming to transform lives and livelihoods worldwide.
A horrific terrorist attack at a Hanukkah celebration on Sydney's Bondi Beach resulted in the deaths of at least 15 people and left over 40 injured, marking Australia's deadliest terror incident in decades. Authorities have declared the shooting an ISIS-inspired act of antisemitic terrorism, carried out by a father and son who specifically targeted the Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah.
Devastating floods and landslides, triggered by relentless monsoon rains and Tropical Cyclone Senyar, have claimed over 1,000 lives and left hundreds missing across Indonesia's Sumatra island by December 15. This catastrophic event has sparked a major humanitarian crisis, displacing over 624,000 people and destroying vast infrastructure, prompting the Indonesian government to pledge a significant three-month recovery effort.
Australian scientists have achieved a significant breakthrough, identifying 32 causal genes linked to an increased likelihood of developing Long COVID, with 13 of these genes being newly associated with the condition. This pivotal discovery, led by researchers at the University of South Australia, is expected to accelerate the development of targeted treatments and personalized diagnostics for the debilitating global health challenge.
Singapore and China significantly strengthened their bilateral ties by signing a record 27 new agreements at their 21st Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation meeting in Chongqing. These comprehensive agreements, focusing on critical areas such as financial connectivity, green and digital development, and a new pilot scheme for digital renminbi payments, underscore a deepening commitment to their "All-Round High-Quality Future-Oriented Partnership".
A groundbreaking new theory proposes that the universe's fundamental forces and the very origin of mass may arise directly from the dynamic geometry of hidden extra dimensions, challenging established physics. This innovative perspective suggests that mass originates from "torsion" within evolving seven-dimensional G2-manifolds, offering a novel explanation for particle properties and cosmic expansion beyond the Standard Model.
Meta's updated privacy policy, effective today, December 16, 2025, allows the company to utilize user interactions with its AI systems for targeted advertising and content personalization across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. This significant change has drawn strong criticism from digital-rights advocates and consumer groups, who express concerns about the commercial exploitation of private AI conversations and are urging regulatory intervention.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is engaged in high-stakes peace talks in Berlin with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, aiming to forge a political agreement to end Europe's deadliest conflict. While discussions have reportedly yielded "real progress" and U.S. offers of "NATO-like" security guarantees, significant disagreements persist, particularly concerning Ukraine's territorial integrity.
A new international study offers a glimmer of hope, revealing that thousands of glaciers in Canada's Arctic could be preserved if global warming is significantly curtailed. However, the research also paints a grim picture, projecting that nearly 80 percent of the planet's glaciers, including most in Western Canada and the U.S., could vanish by century's end if current warming trends persist.
Legendary director Rob Reiner, 78, and his wife, acclaimed photographer Michele Singer Reiner, 68, were discovered dead in their Brentwood home on Sunday, December 14, in what authorities are investigating as an apparent homicide. The entertainment industry is now reeling from the shocking development that their son, Nick Reiner, has been arrested in connection with their deaths.