海角大神

Southeast Asian nations met in Malaysia today to restore a truce between Thailand and Cambodia. Two weeks of fighting has displaced more than half a million people and killed dozens 鈥� the worst violence in recent history in a longstanding border conflict. Leaders of the two countries met face-to-face for the first time since the flare-up. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who helped broker the October ceasefire, urged a 鈥渟pirit of dialogue, wisdom, and mutual respect.鈥�

Israel authorized more settlements in the occupied West Bank, legalizing eight existing outposts and the construction of 11 new sites. Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich has pushed expansion of Israeli population and infrastructure as part of an effort to block Palestinian statehood. The settlements are widely deemed illegal under international law. Israel cites historic ties and security concerns. The U.S.-brokered Gaza peace plan includes a 鈥減athway鈥� to Palestinian statehood.

The U.S. launched strikes on Syria on Friday, retaliating for an attack that killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter the previous weekend. Operation Hawkeye Strike aimed to 鈥渆liminate鈥� Islamic State fighters and weapons sites, hitting 70 targets across central Syria. 鈥淭his is not the beginning of a war,鈥� Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said. President Trump said the Syrian government was 鈥渇ully in support鈥� of the mission.

The Justice Department defended the removal of some files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The agency has released more than 100,000 pages since Friday, the deadline Congress had set. The deputy attorney general said some documents, including a photo showing President Trump, were taken down for the privacy of victims. Early whistleblower Maria Farmer said she felt 鈥渞edeemed鈥� after waiting three decades for transparency.

A new TikTok deal creates a U.S.-only spinoff of the social media platform. Chinese parent company ByteDance agreed to sell a majority stake to U.S. investors, including Oracle. The deal, brokered by President Trump, comes more than 18 months after Congress passed a law requiring TikTok to be sold or banned for national security. A series of executive orders postponed enforcement. TikTok has some 170 million users in the U.S.

A Swiss court allowed a landmark climate lawsuit against cement maker Holcim. Four residents of Indonesia鈥檚 low-lying Pari Island allege that the company鈥檚 emissions contributed to rising sea levels and flooding. They seek compensation and faster emissions reductions. Holcim plans to appeal the court鈥檚 decision to accept the case, citing its 2050 net-zero pledge. Activists say it鈥檚 Switzerland鈥檚 first such case against a major company.

The remaining schoolgirls abducted from a Nigerian Catholic school last month have been freed, ending one of the nation鈥檚 largest mass kidnappings. Gunmen took more than 250 students and teachers from the boarding school in Niger state. Ninety-nine students and one teacher were released earlier this month. 鈥淚 rejoice with them in this moment of triumph over the forces of darkness,鈥� one state governor said.

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With political dissatisfaction running rampant nationwide, England appears to be on the verge of a massive shift away from its traditional Labour-Conservative axis, in favor of more radical parties such as Reform UK and the Greens.

The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, with more than 55,000 members, earned federal recognition from Congress after decades of attempts. The status will open more government benefits for tribal members and fulfills a campaign promise by President Donald Trump.

With calm resolve, the United States and the European Union have each made decisions in recent days showing a firm watchfulness against big-power aggression. Neither will receive a Nobel Peace Prize for its actions 鈥� Alfred Nobel鈥檚 idea of a secure world did not include military deterrence. Yet together, the U.S. and EU have at least helped make war a bit more unthinkable.

On Dec. 17, the Trump administration approved the largest-ever U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. Congress is expected to approve the $11.1 billion weapons package, especially after the House Select Committee on China issued a report Thursday calling for 鈥渦nambiguous鈥� opposition to Beijing鈥檚 moves toward an invasion of the self-governing democratic island.

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump issued a National Security Strategy that says 鈥渄eterring a conflict over Taiwan, ideally by preserving military overmatch, is a priority.鈥� Last month, Taiwan鈥檚 government proposed a $40 billion special budget for military spending, part of an effort to boost its defenses.

鈥淗istory demonstrates that compromising with aggressors ultimately brings only endless aftermaths of war and subjugation,鈥� said President Lai Ching-te.

On Friday, meanwhile, EU leaders agreed to borrow 鈧�90 billion (about $106 billion) to provide critical aid to Ukraine against the Russian military. The money may allow the country to survive into 2027. Ukraine will not need to repay the loan until Russia compensates it with reparations.

鈥淭he only way to bring Russia to the negotiating table is to strengthen Ukraine,鈥� said European Council President Ant贸nio Costa.

While the aid amount was not as much as many EU states wanted, the final figure is a 鈥渄ecisive message for an end to the war,鈥� said Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor. Overall, Europe has spent more money than the U.S. to help Ukraine during the nearly four-year war.

This latest protection for Taiwan and Ukraine 鈥� both democracies threatened by autocratic neighbors 鈥� is not a fear-based strategy. It is a recognition that showing strength against evil can dissolve its power. As the German leader said, Russian President Vladimir Putin 鈥渨ill only make concessions once he realizes his war will not pay off.鈥�