Trump on land strikes:

It does not necessarily have to be in Venezuela.

Reporter: Can you tell us how this free economic zone would work in the Donbas?

Trump: I don't want to do that now. It is a very complex situation. It would work.

Reporter: There were new Epstein photos released today showing you, Bill Clinton and Steve Bannon. What's your reaction?

Trump: I haven't seen them but everybody knew this man. He has photos with everybody. That's no big deal.

Venezuelan President Maduro:

We will make the most advanced microchips here, even those like Nvidia’s. Nothing will stop us.

Marco Rubio sees Venezuela as the key to toppling Cuba’s government.

Long convinced that Havana props up Maduro through intelligence and security support, Rubio believes removing Maduro would cut off Cuba’s lifeline and destabilize the regime.

Source: NYT

Steve Witkoff will meet President Zelensky and European leaders in Berlin this weekend as the White House accelerates efforts to secure a Ukraine peace deal before year’s end.

Source: WSJ

Lionel Messi’s reception in India.

The Trump administration is offering Ukraine a strong, legally binding security guarantee as part of its peace push, modeled on NATO’s Article 5 and requiring approval by Congress.

The guarantee would be paired with separate agreements on peace and reconstruction, aiming to give Ukraine long-term protection without an open-ended U.S. commitment.

Source: Axios

Sudan: Footage shows UAE-backed RSF militants burning a farm-goods truck heading to Al-Dabbah, threatening to torch all traffic to the city and further disrupt trade and food supplies.

Mali: The government has removed French history from Mali’s school curriculum, refocusing lessons on Mali and African history to strengthen national identity.

Donald Trump says US pressure on Venezuela is about drugs. But a more convincing explanation is oil.

Not just any oil, but heavy crude. Although the US is the world’s largest oil producer, most of its output is light shale oil. Many American refineries—especially in Texas and Louisiana—are designed to process heavy, dense crude, and retrofitting them would cost billions.

As a result, the US still relies heavily on imports, mainly from Canada. Venezuela, meanwhile, sits on some of the largest heavy oil reserves on the planet. Even with production in decline, that resource gives the country outsized strategic importance.

Seen this way, US pressure on Venezuela may have less to do with narcotics—and far more to do with securing the kind of oil America’s refineries actually need.

Source: Sky News

U.S. officials say more than 25 countries will take part in planning talks in Doha on Dec. 16 to design a U.N.-authorized international stabilization force for Gaza.

The discussions will cover the force’s size, command structure, rules of engagement, and logistics, with deployment potentially beginning early next year as part of the next phase of the U.S.-backed Gaza peace plan.

Source: Reuters

Sudan: UAE-backed RSF carried out a drone strike on the Abu Al Ghar area in North Kordofan, east of El Obeid.

Turkish President Erdogan:

The Black Sea should not be seen as an arena for confrontation.

Such a situation would only cause harm to Russia and Ukraine and bring no benefit.

Everyone needs maritime navigation security in the Black Sea.

Turkish President Erdogan on Russia-Ukraine:

Peace is not far away; we can see it.

Mali: JNIM said it seized control of a Malian army post in the town of Niono in the Ségou region late at night.

Ukraine plans to disband the Ground Forces’ International Legion units by the end of 2025 and reassign foreign fighters into regular assault units.

Three combat battalions and one training center will be dissolved (non-public order).

The GUR (military intelligence) International Legion stays intact.

A number of foreigners may leave rather than transfer.

The United States is lifting sanctions on Belarusian potash, according to Belarusian state media, citing U.S. envoy John Coale.

The richest 10% of people earn more than the other 90% combined.

They own 75% of global wealth, while the poorest half owns just 2%.

On average, women earn 61% of what men earn.

Source: World Inequality Lab

Incoming Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said the Czech Republic will not provide guarantees for financing Ukraine, urging the European Commission to find other ways to support the country.

NEW: Cambodia has suspended all entry and exit at its border crossings with Thailand, effective immediately, amid ongoing deadly clashes between the two countries.

Source: AFP