Javier Milei’s government announces plan to crack down on Argentina protests (english.elpais.com)
Ukraine Says Russia Has 7 Drones for Every 1 It Has (www.businessinsider.com)
Shipping firms MSC and CMA CGM are latest to suspend passage through Red Sea (www.timesofisrael.com)
Hostages were holding white cloth on stick when Israeli forces shot them, army says (www.bbc.com)
'A Spectacle, A Farce, A Rigged Clown Show': Russia Watches As Putin Cruises Toward A Fifth Term (www.rferl.org)
With all political opposition eliminated and Russia firmly in the grip of what analysts call “mature authoritarianism,” the country prepares for a March presidential vote devoid of competition and, if the Kremlin has its way, ushers Vladimir Putin into another six-year term without surprises.
Beijing subway crash leaves 102 with broken bones (www.bbc.com)
World watches as landmark Jimmy Lai trial set to begin in Hong Kong (www.theguardian.com)
Territory’s global reputation on the line as media mogul and democracy activist finally tried over alleged national security crimes
Kuwait's ruling emir dies at age 86, three years after assuming power (www.abc.net.au)
The cause of death was not immediately disclosed, but last month he was admitted to hospital. His half-brother is the designated successor.
More young people in South Korea consider marriage, childbirths as nonessential (www.koreatimes.co.kr)
Ukraine's European borders are being blockaded by discontented truckers (www.lemonde.fr)
Ukraine war: Soldier tells BBC of front-line 'hell' (www.bbc.com)
Surrounded and low on ammo, the elite troops out to spoil Putin’s New Year (www.thetimes.co.uk)
More than 60 migrants feared drowned off Libya, IOM says (www.bbc.com)
More than 60 migrants are believed to have drowned in a shipwreck off the coast of Libya, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said....
US and Britain say their navies shot down 15 attack drones over the Red Sea (apnews.com)
A U.S. warship shot down 14 suspected attack drones over the Red Sea on Saturday, and a Royal Navy destroyer downed another drone that was targeting commercial ships, the British and American militaries said....
Israeli military says its troops shot and killed three hostages by mistake (www.theguardian.com)
TheGuardian.com
Game-changing gun arouses interest in Belgium and beyond (www.brusselstimes.com)
Indonesia needs carbon capture to reach net zero by 2060 (www.thejakartapost.com)
Iran lifts visas for 33 countries including Vietnam (e.vnexpress.net)
Award ceremony suspended after writer compares Gaza to Nazi-era Jewish ghettos (www.theguardian.com)
A German foundation has said it will no longer be awarding a prize for political thinking to a leading Russian-American journalist after criticizing as “unacceptable” a recent essay by the writer in which they made a comparison between Gaza and a Jewish ghetto in Nazi-occupied Europe.
Killing of USAID contractor in Gaza fuels internal protest (www.washingtonpost.com)
Before he was killed alongside his wife and two children in Gaza last month, Hani Jnena, 33, sent a final message to his colleagues in the West Bank....
ByteDance is secretly using OpenAI’s tech to build a competitor (www.theverge.com)
US Navy Faces Houthi Anti-Ship Missile Threat 'Superior' to Most States (www.newsweek.com)
Israeli strike on school kills Al Jazeera cameraman in southern Gaza, network says (apnews.com)
New gene therapies for sickle cell out of reach in countries they're needed most (apnews.com)
Putin wants a US president who is ‘more constructive,’ Kremlin says (www.politico.eu)
Vladimir Putin would prefer an American leader who understands the ‘importance of dialogue,’ Kremlin spokesman says....
