World News
Two airplane-size asteroids closely pass Earth today; no threat to planet
Two asteroids pass Earth by close distance and that is why they are termed 'near misses'. Scientists decline any potential risk to the planet
 "Two airplane-size asteroids closely pass Earth today; no threat to planet")
Shale drilling techniques could lead to a geothermal surge, says IEA
Shale drilling techniques in question have also attracted opposition from environmental campaigners in the context of the oil and gas industry because of concerns over water pollution and earthquakes
 "Shale drilling techniques could lead to a geothermal surge, says IEA")
Russia targets Ukrainian infra with massive attack of missiles, drones
Russian military targeted the Ukrainian power grid, energy minister Herman Halushchenko wrote on his Facebook page
 "Russia targets Ukrainian infra with massive attack of missiles, drones")
What is Friday the 13th and why is it considered unlucky? Know its history
Friday the 13th holds a superstitious history and several people consider this day unlucky. Some people fear while some challenge this day by organising parties.
 "What is Friday the 13th and why is it considered unlucky? Know its history")
UK economy shrinks in Oct, suffers first back-to-back declines since 2020
Gross domestic product shrank 0.1 per cent month-on-month in October, as it did in September, the Office for National Statistics said
 "UK economy shrinks in Oct, suffers first back-to-back declines since 2020")
Curious case of Travis Timmerman: American citizen found in Syrian prison
How the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria led to the discovery of a missing US citizen 29-year-old Travis Timmerman
 "Curious case of Travis Timmerman: American citizen found in Syrian prison")
Worker shortages raise doubts over Britain's plan to build for growth
Britain has long lacked candidates to fill jobs, a problem made worse by the 2016 Brexit vote and Covid-19, with vacancies higher than their level before the pandemic
 "Worker shortages raise doubts over Britain's plan to build for growth")
Israeli forces to 'temporarily' remain in seized Syrian buffer zone
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cited border security concerns for the deployment following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime and subsequent HTS takeover
 "Israeli forces to 'temporarily' remain in seized Syrian buffer zone")
SEC 'reopens' investigation into Neuralink, says Elon Musk's lawyer
Musk has long sparred with SEC and last year four lawmakers asked to investigate whether Musk committed securities fraud by allegedly misleading investors about brain implant developed by Neuralink.
 "SEC 'reopens' investigation into Neuralink, says Elon Musk's lawyer")
Russian forces seen advancing towards strategic city in Ukraine's east
Russia controls a chunk of Ukraine about the size of the American state of Virginia and is advancing at the fastest pace since the early days of the 2022 invasion, according to open source maps
Syrians in Germany show no rush to leave as their labour is in demands
Syrian employers, trade unions and business associations are now speaking up to stress how much they are needed in a German economy facing deep labour shortages
 "Syrians in Germany show no rush to leave as their labour is in demands")
China jeopardised peace with military threat: Taiwan defence ministry
Earlier MND had reported that 12 Chinese military aircraft, 14 naval vessels and 9 official ships were detected operating near Taiwan until 6 am (local time)
 "China jeopardised peace with military threat: Taiwan defence ministry")
Won't do business with countries that don't accept back migrants: Trump
US President-elect Donald Trump outlines aggressive immigration policy, promises mass deportation using military force, trade sanctions on uncooperative nations
 "Won't do business with countries that don't accept back migrants: Trump")
China's yuan eases after remarks at key economic meeting fail to inspire
China's 10-year and 30-year sovereign bond yields fell over 4 basis points each to record lows of 1.7650 per cent and 1.9950 per cent, respectively
 "China's yuan eases after remarks at key economic meeting fail to inspire")
UK consumer confidence touches 4-month high in December: GfK survey
Monthly consumer confidence index from market research firm GfK rose to -17 in December from -18 in November, the highest reading since August
 "UK consumer confidence touches 4-month high in December: GfK survey")
China leads global EV sales as it hits third consecutive record high
China continued to lead sales growth, accounting for almost 70 per cent of total EV sales in the month, while registrations in Europe showed a marginal decline
 "China leads global EV sales as it hits third consecutive record high")
Moldova declares emergency for 60 days as risk of Russian gas cutoff looms
56 members in 101-seat chamber backed measure in the vote just after midnight following Prime Minister Dorin Recean's call for approval to ensure Moldova's separatist Transdniestria region secured gas
 "Moldova declares emergency for 60 days as risk of Russian gas cutoff looms")
Trump's trade adviser warns against China's attempt to manipulate currency
Peter Navarro, Trump's new senior counselor for trade and manufacturing, said White House would not interfere with the Treasury's review to see foreign trade partners are not manipulating currencies
 "Trump's trade adviser warns against China's attempt to manipulate currency")
Venture Global's Plaquemines plant to produce first LNG in few days
Having sales contracts in place for the LNG plant aided Venture Global's financing efforts for the new facility
 "Venture Global's Plaquemines plant to produce first LNG in few days")
Cantor Fitzgerald pays $6.75 mn to settle 'misleading' SPAC disclosures
According to the SEC, in 2020 and 2021 a team of Cantor Fitzgerald executives managed and controlled two SPACs that raised $750 million from investors through IPOs ahead of the SPACs' eventual mergers
 "Cantor Fitzgerald pays $6.75 mn to settle 'misleading' SPAC disclosures")
