The European Space Agency (ESA) confirmed a cybersecurity breach on December 30, 2025, involving a limited number of external servers located outside its corporate network, following claims by a hacker using the alias “888” who offered 200 GB of allegedly stolen data for sale on the BreachForums dark web marketplace.

The hacker claimed to have accessed ESA systems starting December 18, maintaining access for about a week and exfiltrating data including source code, API and access tokens, configuration files, credentials, and internal documentation.

The breach was first reported on December 26, 2025, when the hacker “888” posted on BreachForums, claiming to have stolen over 200 GB of data from ESA’s infrastructure, including private Bitbucket repositories, CI/CD pipeline configurations, Terraform and SQL files, and hardcoded credentials.

The threat actor provided screenshots as proof, allegedly showing access to internal systems such as Jira, Bitbucket, and configuration files, though the authenticity of these images has not been independently verified.

ESA confirmed the incident on December 29, 2025, and reiterated on December 30 that the impact was limited to a small set of external servers not connected to its core corporate systems.

Despite the hacker’s claims, ESA has not confirmed the full scope of the data theft but acknowledged unauthorized access and stated that all relevant stakeholders have been notified.

The agency has emphasized that the compromised systems were used for unclassified scientific collaboration, but the exposure of source code and access tokens could pose downstream security risks if credentials are reused in operational environments.

ESA has initiated a forensic investigation and stated that the affected servers supported unclassified collaborative engineering activities within the scientific community, emphasizing that no highly sensitive or classified information was compromised.

In a statement posted on X on December 30, 2025, the agency announced it had launched a forensic investigation and implemented containment measures to secure potentially affected devices.ESA.

“ESA is aware of a recent cybersecurity issue involving servers located outside the ESA corporate network,” the X post reads. “We have initiated a forensic security analysis—currently in progress—and implemented measures to secure any potentially affected devices.”

The agency stressed that the compromised servers were “outside the ESA corporate network”, suggesting that they contained data that cannot be labeled as highly sensitive.

“Our analysis so far indicates that only a very small number of external servers may have been impacted,” the tweet further explains. “These servers support unclassified collaborative engineering activities within the scientific community. All relevant stakeholders have been informed, and we will provide further updates as soon as additional information becomes available.”

This incident is not the first for ESA; in late 2024, its online merchandise store was compromised via malicious JavaScript injected during checkout, leading to the theft of customer payment and personal data.

British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua sustained minor injuries in a fatal car crash in Nigeria on Monday, just days after defeating Jake Paul in a highly publicized Netflix boxing bout.

The crash happened around 11 a.m. local time on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, with the Federal Road Safety Corps indicating the Lexus was suspected of traveling beyond the legal speed limit and lost control during an overtaking maneuver.

The accident occurred on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway in Makun, Ogun State, when the Lexus SUV he was traveling in collided with a stationary truck, resulting in the deaths of two of his close associates, Sina Ghami and Kevin Latif Ayodele, who were both team members and friends. Joshua, who was seated in the rear of the vehicle, was taken to a hospital for medical checks and treatment and is reported to be in stable condition.

Eyewitnesses reported that the vehicle involved was a two-vehicle convoy, with a Lexus SUV and a Pajero SUV, and that the crash caused severe damage to the vehicle.

Joshua’s promoter, Matchroom Boxing, confirmed the deaths of Ghami and Ayodele, describing them as "close friends and team members" and expressing profound sadness over the incident.

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu personally spoke with Joshua to offer condolences and wished him a full recovery, also praying for the deceased.

The boxer, who has Nigerian roots and was visiting family in Sagamu, Ogun State, had recently won a decisive victory over Paul in Miami on December 19, 2025, in a bout watched by approximately 33 million viewers.

The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, with authorities examining the circumstances surrounding the incident.

President Donald Trump welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida on Monday, where he announced a U.S. airstrike on a land-based facility in Venezuela linked to drug trafficking, declared full support for potential Israeli strikes on Iran, and warned Hamas that failure to disarm would result in "hell to pay."

The meeting, which presented a united front between the two leaders despite past tensions, also included discussions on the Gaza ceasefire, the West Bank, and regional stability, with Trump asserting that the U.S. would back Israeli military action against Iran if it continued its nuclear and missile programs.

Trump revealed that the U.S. had "knocked out" a "big facility" in Venezuela where drugs were allegedly loaded onto boats, describing a "major explosion in the dock area" and confirming that the site was no longer operational.

Pentagon officials confirmed a U.S. military strike in the eastern Pacific that killed two individuals accused of narcotics trafficking, bringing the total death toll in the U.S. campaign to at least 107 since early September. This marks the first known land attack in Venezuela under the Trump administration’s intensified campaign against drug trafficking.

The U.S. has deployed over 15,000 troops and a dozen warships in the Caribbean, and recently imposed a partial blockade on Venezuelan oil tankers to pressure President Nicolás Maduro.

Trump affirmed that the United States would back Israeli military action against Iran if it continued developing ballistic missiles or a nuclear weapon, stating he had heard Iran was behaving badly and looking to restart its nuclear program. The announcement came as Netanyahu briefed Trump on possible new strikes in Iran, with Israeli officials indicating the U.S. could be involved.

Trump emphasized that Hamas must disarm within a "very short period of time" or face severe consequences, declaring there would be "hell to pay" if they failed to comply. He claimed the ceasefire was largely due to his efforts. The second phase of the 20-point peace plan hinges on Hamas disarming and Israel withdrawing its forces, though implementation remains challenging.

During a joint press conference, Trump praised Netanyahu as Israel’s savior and said he would support any Israeli action against Iran. Netanyahu, in turn, awarded Trump the Israel Prize, the country’s highest civilian honor, a first for a non-Israeli.

The visit marked Netanyahu’s fifth meeting with Trump in 2025, signaling a strategic alignment despite prior disagreements over Gaza and Syria.

Trump is facing online backlash from his MAGA supporters following Netanyahu's fifth visit, and concerns over his hardline stance on Iran and the strike on a facility in Venezuela.

And despite the strong public display of unity, some Trump aides and allies have reportedly grown frustrated with Netanyahu’s perceived delays in advancing the Gaza ceasefire.

Critics argue that Trump’s alignment with Netanyahu and his threats of further military action against Iran contradict his "America First" rhetoric and risk escalating regional conflicts. They warn that further Middle East military engagements could destabilize U.S. interests and divert focus from domestic priorities.

Some MAGA supporters question the transparency and justification of the action in Venezuela which was reportedly carried out by the CIA, especially given the administration’s stated shift toward focusing on the Western Hemisphere.

While Trump maintains strong support among pro-Israel factions, growing dissent is emerging from within the MAGA movement, particularly over perceived overreach in foreign policy and the potential for new wars. Critics, including figures like Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and commentator Tucker Carlson, have expressed concern about the risks of prolonged Middle East involvement.