US President Donald Trump on Monday announced the creation of a new “Trump-class” of Navy battleships, which will join the US Navy’s “Golden Fleet.” He described them as the largest battleships ever built, with plans to construct 20 to 25 ships, each boasting 100 times the firepower of existing vessels. Trump said, “We are building a Golden Fleet for the United States Navy. Many of our ships are old and obsolete. As Commander in Chief, I’ve approved construction of the largest battleships in history. They will be faster, bigger, and more powerful than anything else in the world.”

The ships, weighing between 30,000 and 40,000 tonnes, will be armed with nuclear weapons, missiles, and guns, making them among the most lethal warships ever. Trump noted, “We haven’t built a battleship since 1994. These cutting-edge vessels combine missiles with guns, which remain cost-effective in certain situations. We will start with two ships and ultimately build between 20 and 25.” Trump added that the battleships will feature advanced AI, sophisticated lasers, and will serve as the Navy’s flagships. “We have excellent naval yards and are negotiating with companies to construct these ships. The US Navy will lead their design alongside me,” he said.

The announcement comes amid heightened US maritime activity near Venezuela, including the seizure of two tankers and the recent pursuit of the vessel Bella 1 in international waters after it refused to stop. Trump emphasized that these “Trump-class” vessels will redefine naval power, combining historical battleship design with modern technology to ensure the US maintains a decisive edge at sea.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from @WhiteHouse.

A senior Russian military officer, Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, was killed in a car bomb explosion in Moscow on Monday. Investigators confirmed that the blast was caused by an explosive device planted under his vehicle, according to RT. The explosion occurred earlier in the day in the southern part of the city, damaging multiple vehicles nearby.

Initial reports indicated that the driver was seriously injured, but authorities later confirmed Sarvarov, who headed operational training at the General Staff, as the victim. Investigators noted that the device had been deliberately placed beneath the car, suggesting a targeted attack. Russian authorities are considering a possible link to Ukrainian intelligence services.

The incident highlights a pattern of targeted attacks in Russia. Ukrainian authorities have previously been accused of carrying out bombings against officials and public figures. In December of last year, a bomb hidden in an electric scooter killed Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, commander of Russia’s Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Forces, along with his aide—an attack investigators attributed to Ukrainian operatives.

Details of Sarvarov’s military career have also surfaced. He was a career officer with combat experience from counterterrorism operations in southern Russia during the late 1990s and early 2000s. At 56 years old, Sarvarov had led the department responsible for training senior officers through staff exercises and operational events since 2016. Before that, he participated in Russia’s military operations in Syria.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

Starting Feb. 1, tourists who want to get close to Rome's Trevi Fountain will have to pay a two-euro (S$3) fee, according to the city mayor, as authorities aim to increase revenue from Italy’s famous attractions. Mayor Roberto Gualtieri told reporters the new charge is expected to generate around 6.5 million euros annually.

“Two euros isn’t much … and it will help reduce chaotic tourist crowds,” Gualtieri said, emphasizing that Roman residents will still have free access to the fountain. Tourists will only be charged if they wish to step onto the stone ledges surrounding the fountain’s basin, while the adjacent square with a view of the monument remains open to all.

The Trevi Fountain, a site where visitors traditionally toss coins to ensure their return to Rome, has long drawn massive crowds, including world leaders. Completed in 1762, this late Baroque masterpiece depicts Oceanus, the god of water, symbolizing the changing moods of seas and rivers. So far this year, it has welcomed nine million visitors, suggesting many may now choose to admire it from a distance rather than pay for close access. Some tourists expressed support for the fee if it helps maintain the site. “If the money is used for upkeep, that’s fine,” said British visitor Yvonne Salustri.

Gualtieri added that five other lesser-known sites in Rome, currently free, will start charging five euros for entry in February, continuing the city’s trend of monetizing cultural landmarks. In 2023, a five-euro fee was introduced for Rome’s Pantheon, often causing crowds outside while visitors waited to enter. Similarly, Venice has a seasonal tourist entry fee, and Verona recently began charging to access the balcony linked to Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.”
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

A frantic search for the suspect in last weekend’s mass shooting at Brown University concluded Thursday when authorities discovered him dead inside a storage facility in New Hampshire. Officials later revealed that he was also suspected of killing a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor. Claudio Neves Valente, 48, a former Brown student and Portuguese national, was found dead Thursday evening from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to Col. Oscar Perez, Providence police chief.

Investigators believe Neves Valente fatally shot two students and injured nine others in a Brown University lecture hall last Saturday. Two days later, he allegedly killed MIT professor Nuno F. G. Loureiro at his home in Brookline, Massachusetts, roughly 80 kilometers from Providence. Perez stated that, as far as investigators know, Neves Valente acted alone. Brown University President Christina Paxson said Neves Valente had been enrolled as a graduate physics student from fall 2000 to spring 2001 but had no current affiliation with the university.

U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Leah B. Foley said Neves Valente and Loureiro had attended the same academic program in Portugal from 1995 to 2000. Loureiro graduated from the physics program at Instituto Superior Técnico in 2000. That same year, Neves Valente was dismissed from a position at the Lisbon university, according to an archived termination notice.

Neves Valente initially studied at Brown on a student visa and later obtained legal permanent residency in September 2017. His whereabouts between leaving Brown in 2001 and obtaining the visa in 2017 remain unclear, with his last known residence being Miami. Following the revelation of his identity, President Donald Trump suspended the green card lottery program that had enabled him to stay in the U.S.

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said many questions remain regarding motive, including why Neves Valente targeted Brown University, the students, and that particular classroom. Police credited a tip from someone who had multiple encounters with Neves Valente as critical in locating him. The tip identified a Nissan sedan with Florida plates, which enabled Providence police to use over 70 street cameras operated by Flock Safety to track the vehicle. Neves Valente later placed a Maine license plate over the rental car’s plates to conceal his identity.

Video footage showed Neves Valente entering an apartment building near Loureiro’s home before later arriving at a Salem, New Hampshire storage facility, where he was found dead with a satchel and two firearms. Loureiro had joined MIT in 2016 and last year became head of the Plasma Science and Fusion Center, focusing on explaining phenomena such as solar flares. The FBI stated it found no link between the two shootings. Despite Brown University having around 1,200 cameras, the attack occurred in an older part of the engineering building with few cameras. Investigators believe the shooter entered and exited via a door facing a residential street, explaining why campus cameras did not capture him.

Experts note that in targeted mass attacks, suspects often commit suicide, are killed, or are arrested. Previous incidents, such as the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and the 2023 Lewiston, Maine shooting, illustrate that capturing suspects can take days. Similarly, other high-profile cases show varied timelines for suspect apprehension or self-inflicted deaths.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from The Guardian.

Every Monday and Friday throughout December, we are republishing some of our most loved audio long reads of 2025 for those who may have missed them, each introduced by our editorial team to explain the choice. From September, this piece explores how rising sea levels are forcing much of the population to face the possibility that their homeland could disappear. The question remains where they will go. By Atul Dev. Narrated by Mikhail Sen.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.

As funerals begin for the 15 people killed in the Bondi terror attack, one of the alleged gunmen, Naveed Akram, has regained consciousness in hospital and is being guarded by police. Meanwhile, further details have emerged about Naveed and his father. Police said that Naveed, 24, and his 50-year-old father, Sajid, travelled to the Philippines last month, though the purpose of the trip is still unknown. The prime minister also stated at a press conference that there is evidence suggesting the suspected attackers may have been influenced by Islamic State ideology.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.

Andrea Heng and Susan Ng discuss the impact of the US reviewing visa applicants’ social media histories, especially as tourist numbers are expected to rise for the football World Cup, with insights from Steven Okun, CEO of APAC Advisors.

Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

After three days of discussions between Ukrainian and US officials in Miami, Florida, no clear progress was achieved by Saturday. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will now shift his focus to Europe, heading to London on Monday for direct talks with the leaders of Britain, France, and Germany. Andrea Heng and Genevieve Woo speak with Dr. Cedomir Nestorovic, Professor of Geopolitics at ESSEC Business School Asia Pacific, for the latest insights.

Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.