English actors Tom Hiddleston and Zawe Ashton have welcomed their second child. Hiddleston confirmed the news to GQ in a feature published Monday. He described birth as the “most beautiful, profound, earth-shattering, life-altering” experience. A birth date was not revealed. Hiddleston and Ashton first met while starring in the 2019 revival of the Broadway play, “Betrayal.” They confirmed their engagement in 2022 and welcomed their first child later that year. Both Hiddleston and Ashton were born in London. Hiddleston is best known for his portrayal of Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Ashton is also a member of the MCU, having portrayed Dar-Benn in the 2023 film “The Marvels.”

President Donald Trump made a lot of tariff threats and trade promises this year. And while many led to a barrage of new import taxes that overturned decades of economic policy and plunged the U.S. into trade wars abroad, others never materialized — or have yet to as 2025 comes to a close. Some of Trump’s unrealized threats reflect a broader approach from the president — who has track record of suggesting sky-high levies to pressure other countries into new trade deals, one-up retaliatory measures or even punish political critics. At the same time, other unfulfilled promises underline continued uncertainty for consumers and businesses alike.

Plug-in hybrids can serve as a bridge to electric vehicles, offering 30–50 miles of electric-only range before a gas engine takes over. Plug-in hybrids recharge from wall outlets or public chargers, making them ideal for short commutes while retaining gas-engine versatility for longer trips. Unlike a full EV, you won’t experience range anxiety or need to plan charging stops unless you want to. Plug-ins come with compromises though, including higher prices, increased weight, and occasionally less cargo space. Plug-in hybrids also tend to be less fuel-efficient than regular, lighter hybrids once the battery runs out.

China’s People’s Liberation Army says it has “successfully completed” two days of military exercises in the waters off Taiwan. That concludes a set of high-powered maneuvers aimed at asserting its sovereignty over the island. The actions ratcheted up tension in East Asia in 2025’s waning days. In a New Year’s Eve announcement, the PLA said that the operation it called “Justice Mission 2025” had “fully tested the integrated joint operations capabilities of its troops.” The brief announcement offered no details about what constituted success, nor did it specify when the exercises concluded.

Auckland has become the first major city to ring in 2026 with fireworks from Sky Tower. The display marked the start of the new year despite rain dampening celebrations. Australia’s east coast welcomes 2026 two hours later, but Sydney’s festivities are overshadowed by a recent mass shooting. A minute of silence will honor the victims, with a menorah projected on the Sydney Harbor Bridge. In Indonesia and Hong Kong, New Year’s events are scaled back due to recent tragedies. Floods and landslide have killed more than 1,000 and Indonesia and a fire killed 161 in Hong Kong. Meanwhile, Japan and South Korea will hold traditional bell ceremonies.

Russian drones have attacked apartment buildings and the power grid in Odesa, Ukraine, injuring six people, including children. Officials said Wednesday that four apartment buildings were damaged. The power company DTEK reported significant damage to two energy facilities. Russia has escalated attacks on Ukraine's urban areas and energy infrastructure this year. The United Nations reported over 2,300 Ukrainian civilian deaths from January to November, a 26% increase from 2024. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to end the conflict continue. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to meet European leaders next week.

A deep-sea search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 has begun in the Indian Ocean, reviving efforts to solve one of aviation’s greatest mysteries. Malaysia’s Transport Ministry announced Wednesday that a search vessel, the Armada 86 05, arrived at a designated search area with two autonomous underwater vehicles. The search is under a “no-find, no-fee” agreement with Texas-based marine robotics firm Ocean Infinity. The company previously searched the seabed in 2018 but found no trace of the plane. The Malaysia Airlines flight disappeared in 2014 with 239 people on board, and no main wreckage has ever been recovered.

The NFL is seeing a decline in punts, with the 2025 season on track to set a record for the fewest punts per game. This trend is driven by new kickoff rules, K-balls, and increased fourth-down aggressiveness. Teams are attempting more long field goals, with 104 tries from at least 55 yards, the most in history. The Packers have become the first team to lose three games in a season without punting. Meanwhile, Green Bay benefits from the expanded playoffs, securing the seventh seed in the NFC for the third time. The Colts and Texans have experienced remarkable turnarounds, highlighting shifting dynamics in the league.

LeBron James scored 17 points on his 41st birthday, but Cade Cunningham had 27 points and 11 assists while leading the Detroit Pistons to a 128-106 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. James hit three 3-pointers and added four assists and four rebounds in the 1,577th regular-season game of his unprecedented 23rd season, but he spent the final minutes of his birthday game sitting with his arms folded on the bench. The top scorer in league history is the 12th player to appear in an NBA game at 41 or older. Marcus Sasser scored 19 points and Isaiah Stewart had 15 for the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons.

By most measures, 2025 was a rough year for those who care about freedom of the press. It's likely to be the deadliest year on record for journalists and media workers across the world. The number of assaults on reporters spiked in the United States. As is by now familiar, the ranks of people working as journalists continues to thin. The president of the United States continues to berate many who ask him questions, sometimes in harshly personal terms. Outside of name-calling, the second term of President Donald Trump has seen a coordinated campaign against journalists on several different levels.

The Trump administration has announced that it is freezing child care funds to Minnesota after a series of fraud schemes in recent years. Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Jim O’Neill said on the social platform X on Tuesday that the move is in response to “blatant fraud that appears to be rampant in Minnesota and across the country.” Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz says the state has spent years cracking down on fraudsters but that Trump is “politicizing the issue to defund programs that help Minnesotans.” The announcement comes after years of investigation. It included a $300 million scheme for which 57 defendants in Minnesota have been convicted.

Zohran Mamdani will become mayor of New York City as the clock ticks over into 2026 — but the celebrations are set to last through New Year’s Day. The Democrat’s team is planning two separate swearing-in ceremonies Thursday. First, there will be a small ceremony at midnight at the historic, decommissioned old City Hall subway station. Then in the afternoon there's a bigger public event on the steps of City Hall, as well as a block party to commemorate the start of Mamdani's term. His office expects thousands of people to attend the block party and says there will be performances, music and interfaith elements at the public inauguration.

Actor Isiah Whitlock Jr. has died at age 71. His manager confirmed he passed away Tuesday in New York after a short illness. Whitlock played the corrupt state Sen. Clay Davis on “The Wire." He also appeared in several Spike Lee films, including “25th Hour” and “BlacKkKlansman.” Whitlock played Secretary of Defense George Maddox on “Veep.” Originally from South Bend, Indiana, he studied theater after a football injury and began his acting career in San Francisco. He began appearing in small television guest roles on shows including “Cagney and Lacy” in the late 1980s. He went on to appear in five of Lee’s films.

Nearly a year after a New Year's Day truck attack on Bourbon Street left 14 dead, New Orleans officials are still seeking permanent security solutions. Ahead of the anniversary of the rampage, officials are ramping up security measures. Some 350 National Guard members arrived Tuesday. The attack happened when a man plowed a truck into revelers before police shot and killed him. The rampage revealed security vulnerabilities surrounding a famous street that is densely populated by bars and pedestrians. A police captain has urged the city to install permanent security gates to prevent future attacks.