Columbia confirms first case of influenza A(H3N2) variant, Zelensky unveils 20-point peace plan

Colombia's Health Ministry confirms first case of influenza A(H3N2) variant, linked to recent US travel, and recommends vaccination and preventive measures to avoid contagion. (Noticias de Colombia | El Colombiano )

Italy's antitrust authority orders Meta to suspend WhatsApp terms blocking rival AI chatbots, citing abuse of dominant position, as EU increases scrutiny of Big Tech firms. Meta plans to appeal the decision amidst ongoing regulatory efforts. (The News International )

Devdiscourse: Italy's antitrust authority orders Meta to suspend WhatsApp AI chatbot restrictions, citing potential market abuse, with Meta planning to appeal the decision amid EU's Big Tech regulation efforts.

Venezuela's UN ambassador warns of US "continental ambitions" in Latin America, echoed by China, amid increased US military presence and tensions over Venezuela's oil and drug smuggling allegations, sparking international clashes at the UN. (Al Jazeera - Erin Hale)

Anadolu Ajansı: China's UN envoy warns that US military actions near Venezuela pose a threat to regional peace and stability

News - South China Morning Post: China and Russia clash with US at UN over Venezuela oil seizures

Ukrainian President Zelensky unveils 20-point peace plan, backed by the US, to end Russian invasion, including security guarantees and potential land compromise, to be presented to Moscow. (ΤΑ ΝΕΑ )

NYT > World News: Zelensky offers demilitarized zone in Eastern Ukraine for peace talks

News - South China Morning Post: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reveals a US-backed 20-point peace plan for Russia, including a land compromise and demilitarized zones to end the invasion.

The Independent: US and Ukraine reach consensus on key issues, but territorial disputes and Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant management remain unresolved, with Russia's maximalist demands a major sticking point in negotiations.

Russia plans to build a nuclear power plant on the moon by 2036, supporting its lunar program and a joint research station with China, aiming to reestablish its space presence. (The Independent - Guy Faulconbridge)

Mehr News Agency: Russia's space corporation, Roscosmos, plans to build a lunar power plant by 2036, potentially nuclear, to support its lunar program and joint Russian-Chinese research station, marking a significant step in space exploration.

Πρώτο Θέμα: RSS: Russia plans to build a nuclear power plant on the Moon within the next decade to support its lunar space program and a joint Russian-Chinese research station.

Pentagon report warns of China's "historic military buildup", making the US "increasingly vulnerable" with sophisticated capabilities, posing a growing threat to national security. (National Post - Bloomberg News)

News - South China Morning Post: Pentagon reports China's military build-up makes US increasingly vulnerable

UK Ministry of Defence reports that Putin is relying on ethnic minorities from poor Russian regions to bolster his war effort in Ukraine, with over 400,000 casualties in the last two years, to maintain public support. (Huffington Post UK - Kate Nicholson)

Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger form the Alliance of Sahel States to enhance regional security and economic ties, launching a 5,000-person joint military battalion to combat extremist groups. (MyJoyOnline )

Al Jazeera: Burkina Faso's leader vows to crack down on armed groups in the Sahel region through joint operations with Mali and Niger under the Alliance of Sahel States.

Ukrainian forces withdraw from Siversk town in eastern Donetsk region due to Russian advantage in manpower and equipment, prioritizing soldier safety and combat capability. (Al Jazeera - Lyndal Rowlands)

China accuses two Taiwanese men of controlling a ship that damaged undersea cables in February, blaming them for a smuggling operation, amid ongoing tensions between China and Taiwan. (Al Jazeera )

US foreign policy experts warn of 30 global conflicts in 2026, including Israel-Palestine and China-Taiwan tensions, posing risks to international stability and US interests amid rising geopolitical instability. (Council on Foreign Relations )

ACLED: ACLED releases 2026 Conflict Watchlist, highlighting 10 countries at risk of armed conflict and humanitarian emergencies, utilizing the Conflict Index and Conflict Alert System to forecast global instability.

GZERO Media: Global conflicts surge in 2025, with nearly 60 ongoing wars and armed struggles, as experts warn of potential new conflicts in 2026, including a possible invasion of Taiwan by China.

ASIS: Crisis24's Global Risk Forecast 2026 warns of escalating geopolitical instability and technological advancements, posing complex risks to organizations worldwide, emphasizing the need for swift intelligence gathering and agile decision-making.

Thailand is shifting towards China due to economic investments, cultural ties, and strategic patience, while the West is losing influence in Southeast Asia. (Geopolitical Monitor - Michael Hollister)

The US is increasing its Caribbean military presence with C-17 flights and Osprey deployments to counter Venezuela-related security concerns and bolster regional security posture. (NYT > Top Stories - Christiaan Triebert and Helene Cooper)

Mehr News Agency: The US has deployed additional troops and aircraft to the Caribbean, including Osprey tiltrotor planes and a C-17 transport aircraft, amid tensions with Venezuela over drug smuggling allegations.

Ukrainian President reports progress in US talks, but territorial issues persist (Boston Herald - Associated Press Spanish)

Pro-Russian hackers claim responsibility for cyberattack on France's postal service, disrupting deliveries and payments, amid allegations of Russia's "hybrid war" campaign against Western societies. (Boston Herald - Associated Press Spanish)

The Local France: France's DGSI probes cyberattack on postal service after pro-Russian hackers claimed responsibility

The Independent: Pro-Russian hackers claim responsibility for a cyberattack on France's national postal service, halting package deliveries just before Christmas, with French intelligence taking over the investigation.

Israel launches new airstrikes on southern Lebanon, targeting areas including Tibnin and Wadi al-Nimriyah, amid ongoing violations of the ceasefire agreement. (آخرین اخبار | خبرگزاری تسنیم | Tasnim )

Israel has launched cognitive warfare against Iran, aiming to generate anxiety and influence public opinion, while Iran's national cohesion and military achievements neutralize these threats, according to Tehran's Khorasan newspaper analysis. (https://www.tehrantimes.com/rss )

US envoy to Greenland sparks conversation on island's future amid speculation over Trump's intentions, despite Denmark and Greenland's rejection of annexation plans, citing sovereignty and territorial integrity concerns. (News - South China Morning Post - Associated Press)

https://www.tehrantimes.com/rss: Trump renews desire to take over Greenland, sparking diplomatic tensions with Europe

La Voz: Denmark and Greenland reject Trump's envoy to "annex" the island, defending their sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Ukraine launches overnight drone attacks on Moscow, sparking an industrial fire in Tula, with Russia reporting 172 drones destroyed and limited airport operations. (The Hindu - Reuters)

The EU is reconsidering its AI regulation due to US pressure and growth concerns, potentially delaying parts of the legislation set to take effect in August 2024. (Korea JoongAng Daily - An Pyeong-eok)

Russia and China lead countries stockpiling gold, adding over 1,800 tonnes each since 2000, as central banks diversify away from the US dollar and hedge against geopolitical risk. (Visual Capitalist - Nick Routley)

Opinion piece suggests focusing on water and energy resources over the US dollar (South China Morning Post )

India's central bank to infuse $32 billion into the banking system via bond purchases and dollar-rupee swaps to boost liquidity and stabilize markets. (Reuters )

China's expanding tech restrictions are a calculated response to Western limits on strategic tech access, escalating global tech competition and supply chain vulnerabilities. (Discovery Alert )

US agricultural exports to China fell 54% in 2025, resulting in a $7.4 billion loss, with soybeans and grains hit hardest, prompting a $12 billion White House bailout for American farmers. (SF Weekly )

Oswego, NY, with three existing nuclear plants, seeks another to meet AI industry electricity demands (Vox - Nate Krieger)

Scottish whisky market faces supply glut due to 3% global sales decline and US tariffs, prompting distilleries to scale back production and expand storage capacity. (The Guardian - Lauren Almeida)

TikTok Shop gains momentum with 200,000 UK small businesses and major retailers, recording a 50% sales increase on last year's Black Friday and Cyber Monday period, becoming a significant e-commerce platform. (The Guardian - Sarah Marsh)

Hong Kong stocks rose 0.2% to 25,818.93, tracking Wall Street's rally, as investors gained confidence in earnings growth despite fading US rate cut expectations, with the Hang Seng Tech Index up 0.4%. (South China Morning Post )

The FTSE 100 closed flat at 9,890.40 on Christmas Eve, with BP's $6 billion Castrol sale and a stronger pound dominating the market narrative. (ts2.tech - Shan Ahmed Khan)

Asian markets mostly rose after the S&P 500 hit a record high, driven by a strong US economic growth report, with Tokyo's Nikkei unchanged and Hong Kong's Hang Seng gaining 0.2%. (The Independent - Chan Ho-Him)

Colombia's government justifies economic emergency to purchase drones, citing security concerns and a need for technological investment, despite knowing of the necessity since June 2024. (Noticias de Colombia | El Colombiano )

UK Labour government reverses inheritance tax plan for farmers, raising threshold to £2.5m, amid backlash and protests, in a move expected to cost £130m. (Huffington Post UK - Kate Nicholson)

Los Angeles issues evacuation orders due to flood concerns as a powerful storm approaches, threatening areas burned by wildfires last year, with up to 10 inches of rain expected. (Πρώτο Θέμα: RSS )

La Niña, a cold phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, brings abnormal cooling of Pacific waters, altering global wind and precipitation patterns, causing heavy rains and droughts, with significant consequences for navigation, water supply, and ecosystems. (News - Agustín Barletti)