2025 was a crazy year in politics. But 2026 could be wild

Rwandan-backed rebels have seized a key city in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) just a week after a peace deal was brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, raising concerns about the potential for escalating violence in the region. The M23 rebel group has been particularly active, undermining the fragile agreement aimed at fostering stability between DRC and Rwanda.

Two U.S. Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed in an ambush by the Islamic State in Palmyra, Syria, marking a significant escalation in U.S. military involvement in the region. The Pentagon confirmed the attack, which is the first U.S. casualties since the fall of Bashar al-Assad a year ago.

Record-breaking floodwaters in Washington state have begun to recede after days of severe flooding that led to widespread evacuations and emergency rescues. Governor Bob Ferguson emphasized the historic nature of the water levels, which are expected to remain high for an extended period. No fatalities have been reported despite the extensive damage and disruption caused by the flooding.

Former President Donald Trump stated that the U.S. will retaliate following the ambush that resulted in the deaths of three Americans in Syria, labeling the incident as an ISIS attack. This announcement was made during a press briefing at the White House before he attended the Army-Navy football game in Baltimore.

More than 150 anonymous YouTube channels have been identified as spreading fake, anti-Labour videos, accumulating over 1.2 billion views in 2025. These channels utilize inexpensive AI tools to generate misleading content aimed at discrediting Labour leader Keir Starmer and fostering political division in the UK.

The recent peace deal brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda has quickly unraveled, as fighting erupted shortly after the agreement was signed. Rebel groups, particularly the Rwandan-backed M23, have seized control of key areas, including the city of Uvira, leading to significant civilian casualties and displacement.

Three Americans, including two U.S. Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter, were killed in an ambush by an Islamic State gunman in Palmyra, Syria, marking a significant escalation in U.S. military involvement in the region. The attack was confirmed by U.S. Central Command and is noted as the first U.S. casualties since the fall of Bashar al-Assad a year ago.

Fighting continues along the border between Thailand and Cambodia, contradicting President Trump's earlier statement that the leaders had agreed to a cease-fire. The situation escalated with Thailand launching airstrikes, leading to accusations from both nations of violating a ceasefire agreement.