Poland's electric grid was targeted in late December with wiper malware, likely deployed by the Russian state-sponsored hacking group Sandworm, in an unsuccessful attempt to disrupt communications between renewable installations and power distribution operators, according to multiple news sources. The attack, attributed by security firm ESET to Sandworm with medium confidence, shares similarities with previous destructive attacks, including a 2015 Ukrainian blackout, Ars Technica reported.

The attempted disruption highlights ongoing concerns about cybersecurity and international relations, as reported by the New York Times. The incident occurred amidst a backdrop of global events including rising gold prices, looming war, and advancements in artificial intelligence.

In other news, Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez accused the United States of using Venezuela as a weapons laboratory during the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on January 3, Al Jazeera reported. Padrino Lopez alleged the U.S. used advanced military technology during the operation.

Meanwhile, in the realm of scientific discovery, Thomas Edison may have unknowingly created graphene as a byproduct of his original experiments on incandescent bulbs over a century earlier, according to a new paper published in the journal ACS Nano, Ars Technica noted. Graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice, possesses unusual properties with potential applications in batteries, super capacitors, and other technologies. The physicists who first synthesized graphene in the lab won the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics.

The tech industry continues to evolve, with personal exoskeletons making a strong showing at CES 2026, Wired reported. Companies like WiRobotics, Sumbu, Ascentiz, Dephy, Skip MoGo, Dnsys, and Hypershell showcased wearable devices designed to enhance human movement, strength, and posture.

In the Caribbean, nations like Jamaica and Antigua and Barbuda have legalized cannabis for medical and recreational use, capitalizing on favorable growing conditions and cultural acceptance, BBC Technology reported. The rise in registered farms and dispensaries caters to both locals and tourists with medical authorization, with a focus on developing unique cannabis strains.

Additionally, numerous musicians, including Paul McCartney, are experimenting with phone-free concerts by requiring attendees to lock their devices in pouches, allowing for a more intimate and focused performance experience, BBC Business reported.