Eiffel Tower closed as staff strike on 100th anniversary of creator’s death (www.theguardian.com)
Union says operating company is ‘heading for disaster’ with budget based on unrealistic future visitor numbers...
Russia Oil Exports: Russia exports almost all its oil to China and India: Alexander Novak (m.timesofindia.com)
Covid-19: Delhi reports first case of Covid-19 sub-variant JN.1 (m.timesofindia.com)
Maersk preparing to resume shipping through Red Sea (www.bbc.com)
The right to protest is under threat in Britain, undermining a pillar of democracy (english.elpais.com)
Phone, internet services cut off again across Gaza Strip (www.aa.com.tr)
Russian drone and artillery attack kills 6 in Ukraine; knocks out power in major city (m.timesofindia.com)
UAE's Sharjah bans New Year's eve fireworks over Gaza war (m.timesofindia.com)
Russia uses POWs as a political weapon against Kyiv (www.politico.eu)
The last major prisoner exchange was in August, but Ukrainian families are getting calls from POWs held by Russia asking them to protest against the Ukrainian government....
Architect of modern EU Jacques Delors dies aged 98 (www.bbc.com)
Former European Commission President Jacques Delors - described as the architect of the modern EU - has died aged 98, his daughter says....
Russia warns Japan over providing Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine (www.reuters.com)
A move by Japan to provide Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine will have “grave consequences” for Russia-Japan ties, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday....
ASEAN-Japan must implement comprehensive strategic partnership: Jokowi (en.antaranews.com)
Myanmar Infantry Division Surrenders in Laukkai, Shan State: Reports (www.irrawaddy.com)
Troops from the 55th Light Infantry Division (LID) stationed in Laukkai, the capital of the Kokang Self-Administered Zone in northern Shan State, have surrendered to the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), according to military analysts close to sources on the ground....
China warns ‘military fans’ they could face prison for posting photos online (www.cnn.com)
In the age of open-source intelligence, one main way for Western experts to keep tabs on China’s military is by analyzing photos of new People’s Liberation Army equipment posted online by amateur enthusiasts....
China sanctions a US research firm and 2 individuals over reports on human rights abuses in Xinjiang (apnews.com)
China says it is banning a United States research company and two analysts who have reported extensively on claims of human rights abuses committed against Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups native to the country’s far northwestern region of Xinjiang....
Russian President Putin to receive Jaishankar today: Kremlin (m.timesofindia.com)
Iran undoes slowdown in enrichment of uranium to near weapons-grade -IAEA (www.reuters.com)
Iran already has enough uranium enriched to up to 60%, if enriched further, to make three nuclear bombs, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s theoretical definition, and more at lower enrichment levels. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons....
WSJ: Biden pressured Netanyahu to abandon plans for preemptive strike on Hezbollah (www.ynetnews.com)
Israel planned to launch a preemptive strike against Hezbollah on October 11 which was narrowly averted due to intervention from U.S. President Joe Biden, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday....
Blinken calls out other countries for not demanding Hamas surrender and ‘stop hiding behind civilians’ (www.cnn.com)
Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday called out other countries for not demanding Hamas surrender....
Israel hits Bethlehem in Christmas raids on occupied West Bank (www.aljazeera.com)
Israel 'stealing organs' from bodies in Gaza, alleges rights group (www.euronews.com)
Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor said on Sunday it had “concerns” about possible organ theft from Palestinian corpses, following reports by medical professionals in Gaza who examined some bodies after they were released by Israel....
‘Many more could die’: Urgent plea for Rohingya refugees trapped at sea (www.aljazeera.com)
Sweden moves one step closer to NATO membership after a Turkish parliamentary committee gives approval (apnews.com)
Pakistan media criticises government for crackdown on Baloch long march protesters (m.timesofindia.com)
Former Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif will seek a fourth term in office, his party says (m.timesofindia.com)
