Explainer

Iran faces renewed unrest and rising anxiety after the US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, fueling fears in Tehran that similar action could target Iran’s leadership amid protests, regional tensions with Israel, and heightened rhetoric from US and allied politicians

Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok has triggered global backlash after generating non-consensual sexualised images of women and children, prompting demands for action and investigations by governments across Europe, India, Asia and Latin America over AI safety and digital abuse

The US capture of Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro has sparked global concern over the erosion of international law. Critics warn it could embolden unilateral military actions, affect Ukraine, Greenland, Taiwan, and the Middle East, and strain alliances with Europe, highlighting the fragility of the post-World War II global order

Trump’s plan to take control of Venezuela’s oil industry is unlikely to affect oil prices immediately. Years of mismanagement and sanctions have left production low, requiring massive investment and political stability before output can significantly rise

Finland combats fake news by teaching media literacy from preschool, now expanding to artificial intelligence education. Integrated into national curricula, these efforts aim to strengthen democratic resilience and counter disinformation, particularly amid rising AI use and heightened Russian propaganda concerns

A newly unsealed US indictment accuses Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of leading a cocaine-fueled narco-terror network. Captured in a US-backed operation, Maduro and his wife now face major drug and weapons charges in a New York federal court

“Leisure sickness” refers to people falling ill on weekends or holidays after busy work periods. Limited research suggests stress reduction, travel, lifestyle changes, and delayed symptom awareness may contribute. Staying active, rested, and mindful may help prevent it

From December 27, Australian search engines must blur pornographic and violent images for under-18 users, implement age verification measures, and downrank harmful content. The rules aim to protect children, applying to both logged-in accounts and AI-generated search results

Using 11 years of spectroscopic data from Kodaikanal Solar Observatory, Indian researchers mapped Sun’s magnetic activity across latitudes, revealing hemispheric asymmetries and sunspot correlations. The findings refine solar dynamo models, aid space-weather forecasting, and may support climate research

Rainfall on Iran’s Hormuz Island turned its famous Red Beach a dramatic deep crimson as iron-rich soil washed into the sea, creating a striking natural spectacle that draws tourists and photographers and highlights the island’s rare geology and seasonal weather patterns

Dust storms in northern China, largely originating from Mongolia, highlight regional desertification and climate challenges. China is exporting anti-desertification expertise, including tree-planting and land management techniques, to Mongolia, balancing cooperation with local nomadic traditions and rising environmental diplomacy

Africa was the hardest hit by President Donald Trump’s expanded US travel restrictions, with several countries facing full or partial bans, prompting muted official reactions, concern over unfair treatment, and warnings of strained US–Africa relations and wider diplomatic, economic and social impacts

The winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night in the Northern Hemisphere, marks the start of astronomical winter and signals gradually lengthening days ahead, while explaining how Earth’s tilt, solstices, equinoxes, and seasonal definitions shape daylight and climate cycles

Around 200 children across Europe were conceived from a single sperm donor unknowingly carrying a rare cancer-linked mutation. The tragedy exposes gaps in genetic screening and cross-border donor limits, highlighting the urgent need for international oversight and coordinated tracking

The Thailand–Cambodia border conflict, reignited on December 7, has killed over 20 civilians and displaced half a million. Domestic political pressures, nationalism, and economic distractions are driving renewed hostilities, with both countries leveraging the crisis for internal political gain

Scientists found evidence of deliberate fire-making 400,000 years ago at Barnham in eastern England, pushing back controlled fire use by 350,000 years. Heat-altered sediments, pyrite fragments and repeated burning indicate early Neanderthals intentionally created fire, revealing major evolutionary, cognitive and social implications 

A dazzling exhibition of royal and historic jewels opens at Paris’ Hôtel de la Marine, showcasing centuries-old treasures from global collections. The display unfolds shortly after the Louvre crown-jewel heist, highlighting security concerns and public fascination with gems and history.

Archaeologists in Jerusalem uncovered the longest intact Hasmonean wall foundations, revealing possible evidence of a 2,100-year-old ceasefire with King Antiochus VII. The 50-metre wall, partially dismantled, may also have served as King Herod’s palace foundation, linking archaeology with ancient historical accounts 

Scientists documented 16,600 theropod dinosaur footprints in Toro Toro, Bolivia, the largest collection worldwide. Tracks reveal behavior, herd dynamics, and swimming attempts, while human activity threatens preservation. Research continues to uncover insights into dinosaurs’ lives during the late Cretaceous

The US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas nears completion of its first phase, with a complex second phase planned, involving disarmament, Gaza reconstruction, international oversight, Palestinian governance reforms, and Israeli withdrawals, amid uncertainties over Hamas compliance and regional cooperation 

Women are increasingly using anabolic steroids, driven by rising participation in strength sports, social media influence, and encouragement from peers or coaches. This shift raises health concerns, with unique risks for women, prompting calls for targeted education, stigma-free healthcare, and better online harm-reduction strategies

New Zealand’s plan to add feral cats to its Predator Free 2050 target marks a major cultural shift, raising ethical and welfare concerns. While feral cats are classified as pests, their overlap with domestic cats complicates control methods and sparks wider debates about human–animal relationships

President Donald Trump intensified anti-immigrant rhetoric, calling Somali immigrants “garbage” during a Cabinet meeting. His statements, echoing past xenophobic language, target asylum seekers, refugees, and Rep. Ilhan Omar, drawing domestic and international condemnation while influencing U.S. immigration debates and Republican supporters

American zoologist Laurie Marker has maintained a cheetah sperm bank in Namibia for 35 years, preserving genetic diversity as wild populations drop to under 7,000. The bank serves as a last-resort conservation tool to prevent potential cheetah extinction