Good morning, and welcome to BTW Daily News. It’s Saturday, December 22, 2025, Pacific Standard Time, 12:00 AM. First, a tragic reminder that conflicts reverberate around the globe. A car bomb detonated beneath the vehicle of a senior Russian general in Moscow, killing him and wounding several others. Russian officials say Ukrainian forces are a possible culprit, and Moscow is calling on international partners for an investigation. Moving on, in Australia the Bondi Coast tragedy has unfolded further. The police released new evidence, showing that the attackers, a father‑son duo, had rehearsed the assault for months, even using a “tennis‑ball bomb” in a beachfront cafe. The investigation is now focused on their training grounds in the outskirts of Sydney. Meanwhile, in the United States, President Trump has stirred diplomatic ripples. He named a new special envoy for Greenland, arguing that the territory should be “part of the United States,” which Denmark swiftly rebuked by summoning the U.S. Ambassador for a formal protest. The move has intensified discussions over Arctic sovereignty. In other news, U.S. and Ukrainian officials met in Miami and called the dialogue “productive” even though no ceasefire breakthrough was announced. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff praised the talks as “constructive” but emphasized that the war’s trajectory remains uncertain. Shifting to energy and markets, U.S. Coast Guard vessels intercepted a Venezuelan oil tanker off the coast of Puerto Cabello, prompting a sharp rise in oil prices. The action came after escalating political tensions in Caracas, and analysts say the scramble could push the benchmark crude above $90 a barrel. Sports fans get a bright spot: the New England Patriots secured a playoff berth in week sixteen after a 28‑24 win over the Baltimore Ravens. Head coach Bill Belichick praised the team’s resilience, while rookie quarterback Mac Jones delivered his first career start. The entertainment world is buzzing with blockbuster excitement. James Cameron’s third “Avatar” film, “Fire and Ash,” opened to a record‑setting $345 million worldwide in its first weekend. While critics debate the film’s pacing, audiences line up in cinemas to see the next chapter in Pandora’s saga. On a lighter yet compelling note, the Powerball jackpot has climbed to an eye‑watering $1.6 billion after the Saturday draw yielded no winners. A ticket sold in the Oxnard market holds the potential for life‑changing prizes, and tomorrow’s drawing could see an even larger share. Finally, a startling tribute: former National Park Service Ranger Betty Reid Soskin, who served in parks for seven decades, passed away at 104. Her lifelong commitment to conservation and civil rights earned her national acclaim, and her legacy continues to inspire a new generation of park rangers. That’s all for today’s briefing. Thank you for joining us on BTW Daily News, and have a wonderful holiday weekend.
