Israel's Expansion, Disruption in the Baltic Sea, and Syrian Bloodshed

Good Morning,

Israel plans to increase the amount of settlers in the Golan Heights following Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s fall; an undersea cable linking Finland and Estonia suffered an outage, sparking an official investigation; and 14 Syrian police officers were killed in an ambush conducted by loyalists to ousted President Bashar al-Assad.

Top Stories

• Israel’s plan to double the number of settlers in the Golan Heights is met with conflicting emotions (AP)

• South Korea opposition says it will vote to impeach acting President Han (RT)

• Azerbaijan Airlines flight carrying 67 people crashes in Kazakhstan (MSNBC)

• Nvidia sees ‘remarkable’ influx of retail investor dollars as traders flock to AI darling (CNBC)

• Undersea power cable linking Finland and Estonia hit by outage, prompting investigation (AP)

• A Reflective Biden Harbors Some Regrets as His Term Winds Down (NYT)

• Trump’s Tariff Plan to Hit Affordable Cars the Hardest (WSJ)

• Syria says 14 policemen killed in ambush by forces loyal to al-Assad (AJ)

• Trump names ambassador to Panama after saying country is 'ripping off' US ships (CNN)

• Russia says it foils Ukrainian plots to kill senior officers with disguised bombs (RT)

• Pope brings Holy Year and a message of hope to Rome’s main prison (AP)

• The Bank Behind the Fintech Revolution Stumbles After Customer Funds Go Missing (WSJ)

• Japan's Nippon Steel extends closing date for U.S. Steel acquisition (RT)

• At least 10 killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza, medics say (RT)

United States and Canada

• Canada condemns China's steps against Canadian institutions over Uyghurs, Tibet (RT)

• Trial of man accused in Trump assassination attempt in Florida pushed back to September (AP)

• Pro-Palestinian Activists Removed From Michigan’s Student Government (NYT)

• Suspect in New York City subway fire killing charged with murder, arson (RT)

• Luigi Mangione Pleads Not Guilty to State Murder Charges (WSJ)

• Prosecutors withdraw appeal of dismissed case against Alec Baldwin in fatal movie set shooting (CNN)

• US government agency targeting foreign disinformation shuts down (AJ)

• 20 Big Cats Die From Bird Flu at a Washington Sanctuary (NYT)

• Fate of Trump’s Cabinet picks unclear as Republicans prepare to take power in Senate (AP)

Africa

• Mozambique Election Ruling Sets Off Deadly Protests (NYT)

• Libya's eastern-based government agrees to proposal to end fuel subsidies (RT)

• Massive prison escape in Mozambique amid post-election violence (AN)

• Nigeria resumes mining in Zamfara state on improved security (RT)

• Nigeria: Niger Delta oil spill clean up 'total failure', leaked files say (AN)

• Nigeria’s celebratory ‘detty December’ turns sombre amid economic woes (AJ)

• Global hunger crisis deepens as major nations skimp on aid (RT)

Middle East

• Israeli strike kills 5 Palestinian journalists in Gaza, officials say (AP)

• Hamas and Israel blame each other for ceasefire delay (RT)

• Erdogan says YPG ‘will be buried’ in Syria if it doesn’t lay down arms (AJ)

• Christians protest in Syrian capital after burning of Christmas tree (CNN)

• Syria’s New Leaders Try to Unite Rebel Factions Under a Single Government (NYT)

• Israel’s Enemy in Yemen Proves Hard for U.S. to Deter (WSJ)

• Turkey to allow pro-Kurdish party to visit jailed PKK leader, newspaper says (RT)

Indo-Pacific

• Taliban say Pakistani airstrikes killed 46 people in eastern Afghanistan, mostly women and children (AP)

• Some Japan Airlines Flights Canceled, Delayed After Cyberattack (WSJ)

• Prosecutors in Taiwan Indict Former Presidential Candidate (NYT)

• China to build world's largest hydropower dam in Tibet (RT)

• Human Error Cited for Collision of Two Planes at Tokyo Airport (NYT)

• China and Japan agree to talks on security issues as they seek to mend ties (AP)

• China urges Philippines to return to 'peaceful development' (RT)

Europe

• Russia targets Ukrainian energy infrastructure on Christmas Day (AP)

• Russia's security must be guaranteed by any Ukraine peace deal, Lavrov says (RT)

• Swisscom’s Vodafone Italia Deal Approved by Italy’s Competition Regulator, Government (WSJ)

• Five men sentenced for their involvement in Amsterdam soccer riots (CNN)

• Striking students in Serbia tell chief prosecutor to ‘fight for law and justice’ (AP)

• Russian region declares emergency situation as Black Sea oil spill fallout widens (RT)

• Kosovo appeals body overturns ban on ethnic Serb party, allowing it to run in parliamentary election (AP)

Latin America

• Suriname's fugitive ex-President Desi Bouterse dead at 79 (RT)

• Ecuadorian police probe if bodies found are of missing children allegedly taken by soldiers (AP)

• Mexico's president may be toughening fight with drug cartels (RT)

• Atentan contra líder social Yusifredo Alvarado Arguello en Sabana de Torres, Santander. Esto se sabe (SM)

• A Haiti gang attack on the reopening of a main hospital kills 2 reporters and a police officer (AP)

• El gobierno de Maduro había habilitado los papeles para que el gendarme viajara a Venezuela (CA)

• “Los mantienen con lo mínimo”: asilados en embajada argentina sufren escasez y asedio oficial (LN)