US Navy helicopters destroy Houthi boats in Red Sea after attempted hijack (www.bbc.com)
Prince Andrew ‘tormented’ as Jeffrey Epstein documents set to be made public (www.independent.co.uk)
Strike on Belgorod that killed more than a dozen 'will not go unpunished', Russia says (www.france24.com)
civilians in the city of Belgorod with missiles and rockets, killing at least 18 people and wounding dozens more....
North Korea's Kim orders military to accelerate war preparations (www.reuters.com)
Separatist Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik vows to tear his country apart despite US warnings (apnews.com)
The Bosnian Serbs’ separatist leader vowed to carry on weakening his war-scarred country to the point where it will tear apart, despite a pledge by the United States to prevent such an outcome....
Pakistan election body rejects ex-PM Imran Khan's nomination for 2024 elections (www.reuters.com)
KARACHI, Pakistan, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Pakistan’s election body has rejected former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s nomination to contest the 2024 national elections in two constituencies, officials and his party’s media team said on Saturday....
UN Condemns Nicaragua: UN condemns Nicaragua for 'forced disappearance' of priest (m.timesofindia.com)
Anger in Poland after state TV execs’ salaries under previous government made public (notesfrompoland.com)
Controversy has emerged in Poland after the salaries paid to key figures at state broadcaster TVP under the former Law and Justice (PiS) government, which left office earlier this month, were revealed by an MP from the new ruling coalition....
Magnitude 6.3 earthquake strikes Papua, Indonesia (www.reuters.com)
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Papua, Indonesia on Sunday, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre said....
Missile and drone attacks launched against Russia (www.bbc.com)
Putin's major aerial attack on Ukraine cost Russia $1.2 billion: Report (www.newsweek.com)
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military on Friday launched what’s been called the largest aerial attack of the Ukraine war, and one economic-focused Ukrainian outlet estimated the cost of the assault for Russia to be at least $1.273 billion....
Israeli Military Admits Fault in 2 Deadly Strikes in Central Gaza - The New York Times (www.nytimes.com)
South Africa seeks International Court of Justice genocide order against Israel | The Straits Times (www.straitstimes.com)
Poland says Russian missile entered airspace then went into Ukraine (www.bbc.com)
Poland’s armed forces chief believes a Russian missile entered Poland for almost three minutes and then turned back into Ukrainian airspace....
Chinese ex-Navy chief, with South China Sea background, named defence minister (www.reuters.com)
BEIJING, Dec 29 (Reuters) - China named former Navy chief Dong Jun as its new defence minister on Friday to replace the last minister who disappeared from public view four months ago....
China removes nine PLA generals from top legislature in sign of wider purge (www.scmp.com)
Five past or current top commanders of elite PLA Rocket Force among those stripped of NPC role, Standing Committee statement issued on Friday says...
Game of clones: Science is immortalizing Argentina’s top polo horses (wapo.st)
the extent to which this polo-obsessed nation has already fundamentally transformed the sport and the nature of horse breeding was evident on the field at the Argentine Open in Palermo in late November. As the players and the clones watched a video montage memorializing the late original champion mare, her name flashed across...
China names a new defense minister after the last one was ousted without reason (www.semafor.com)
China on Friday appointed a new defense minister to replace Li Shangfu, who was ousted from his post earlier this year after just seven months into the job, and hasn’t been seen in public since August....
Mexican president inaugurates centralized 'super pharmacy' to supply medicines to all of Mexico (apnews.com)
Mexico’s president inaugurated a huge “super pharmacy” Friday in a bid to end the woes of patients throughout the country who are often told they need a specific medicine — but the hospital in question doesn’t have it....
About 30,000 people dead or missing in Gaza: Official (aje.io)
G7 to explore ways to confiscate $300 billion in Russian assets (japantoday.com)
Israel proposes a partial withdrawal of troops from Gaza in exchange for release of hostages (english.elpais.com)
Brazil expresses concern over Venezuela-Guyana border dispute as naval exercises begin in area (apnews.com)
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Friday it was concerned about a border dispute between Venezuela and Guyana that intensified this week following Britain’s decision to send a warship to Guyana’s shores.
[Argentina] Milei’s mega-decree officially takes effect (buenosairesherald.com)
The executive order, which radically reshapes the country’s economy, will be enforced for a minimum of two months...
Workers protest in Indonesia after blast at Chinese-funded nickel plant (www.msn.com)
Hundreds of Indonesian workers have protested for better work safety standards following an explosion at a Chinese-funded nickel processing plant that killed 18 people and injured dozens more.