USA - In recent decades, the US has been involved in a string of disastrous regime change wars. Instead of learning our lesson, it appears that we are on the verge of starting another regime change war. Without a doubt, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is a really bad guy, and his nation produces vast quantities of illegal drugs that end up on the streets of major US cities. But a regime change war in Venezuela would require an enormous commitment of military resources.

USA - The most fearsome ship on the seven seas is the USS Gerald R Ford, the American Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier. This lethal jewel in Uncle Sam’s crown displaces an astonishing 100,000 tonnes, boasts two nuclear reactors, has a combat range of over 1,000 miles and can withstand an explosion equivalent to a 3.9 magnitude earthquake. Partly, it was the presence of this behemoth in the eastern Mediterranean in 2023 that deterred Iran and Hezbollah from joining the Hamas-led assault on Israel after October 7, preventing the region from collapsing into a haphazard, all-out war. That was how the Biden administration used its biggest stick. But this is the era of Donald Trump and on Sunday, the USS Ford moved into view off the coast of Venezuela – the economy of which is more than 280 times smaller than that of the United States – joining some 10,000 troops and dozens of warships, submarines and fighter jets in the biggest American military mobilisation since the Iraq War.

USA - The boss of Google's parent firm, Alphabet, has warned that no company would be immune if the artificial intelligence (AI) bubble bursts. Sundar Pichai told the BBC that while the level of investment in AI had been an 'extraordinary moment', there was some 'irrationality' in the ongoing boom. Asked whether Google would be immune to the impact of the AI bubble bursting, Pichai said the business could weather the potential storm, but issued a warning. He said: 'I think no company is going to be immune, including us.' The warning came as stock markets lurched lower once again with the FTSE 100 falling 115 points or 1.2 per cent in early trading on Tuesday. The International Monetary Fund and Bank of England have both warned of the risk of an AI bubble in recent weeks.

USA - Bitcoin has seen its gains for the year wiped out as concerns [mount] that the artificial intelligence (AI) bubble is about to burst. The value of the world’s most popular cryptocurrency tumbled below $93,000, down from its all-time high of more than $126,000 just six weeks ago. Its fall was described as an ‘ominous signal’ for wider markets, after a chaotic period over the past week, when a Wall Street sell-off was followed by a sharp plunge in the FTSE 100 on Friday. Investors are anxious over warning signs that a surge in AI stocks that has propelled US markets to a series of highs could prove overdone. Chip maker Nvidia, which reports financial results tomorrow, has been the biggest beneficiary of the bull run, making it the world’s most valuable company. Yesterday, however, it emerged that tech billionaire Peter Thiel had sold his entire stake in Nvidia, worth an estimated $100 million (£76 million). It follows the decision by Japanese investing giant Softbank to dump its £4.4 billion holding in the chipmaker...

EUROPE - Donald Trump’s administration is growing increasingly frustrated over trade with the European Union, as talks are set to continue next week. Jamieson Greer, the US trade representative, has warned the bloc that trade remains a “flashpoint”, as other officals claim they are “slow” to cut tariffs. Mr Trump’s top negotiator said that the EU’s levies on American exports are still extremely high after the deal that the US President struck with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen earlier this year. “Trade has always been a flashpoint,” Mr Greer told the Financial Times. "They have many regulations and non-tariff barriers that block our exports and reduce our effective market access over there, while we historically have had very broad access for them... It’s quite unbalanced.”

UK - New technology requires data centres whose energy needs are likely to increase emissions. The Government is a big fan of AI data centres. So much so that a year ago, it designated them as critical national infrastructure. Preliminary analysis for the Government found that UK data centre capacity could rise from around 2 gigawatts (GW) today to as much as 6.3 GW by 2030, but even that may not be enough to meet demand.

GERMANY - Once upon a time, the economies of Germany and France were considered the financial rocks upon which the eurozone’s stability rested. They were the glue that prevented the European project from unravelling amid the profligacy of their cousins in the South. No more. The Chancellor may be quietly reassured that Britain is not the only European powerhouse struggling to retain its status as a safe haven.

GERMANY - The Islamisation of Germany is on full view in the city of Hanau, birthplace of the Brothers Grimm who gave the world their fairy tales of Rotkäppchen – Little Red Riding Hood – Rapunzel, Hänsel und Gretel and many more. Dominating the streets leading off from the square are endless kebab shops, fast-food takeaways, restaurants and grocery shops, most of them displaying signs that food is “halal” and thereby compliant with Islamic dietary laws. As a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, I couldn’t help but be struck by all of this – along with all the Arabic spoken and the As-Salaam-Alaikum greetings – especially the presence of the Afghan Starway restaurant and the Kabul Central supermarket.

JAPAN - A volcano has erupted in southern Japan, leading to the cancellation of dozens of flights. Sakurajima, an active volcano located near Kagoshima city, the south-western Kyushu prefecture, erupted early on Sunday. Two further eruptions took place later in the morning, sending a 4,400-metre-high plume of smoke and ash into the sky. There were no reports of pyroclastic flows, injuries or damage to buildings, but the volcano’s eruptions prompted the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) to issue an alert level of three on a scale of five, which restricts mountain access. Japan is one of the world’s most seismically active regions, with its volcanic archipelago emerging from the shifting tectonic plates of the Pacific ‘rim of fire’.

USA - The alarms are getting even louder each week. It has become exceedingly clear that the US economy has entered a crisis that is similar to what we experienced in 2008 and 2009, and a lot of people are really starting to freak out. For those that cannot see the stunning parallels between the Great Recession and what we are going through now, I don’t know what to say to them. There are a lot of people out there that simply choose to believe whatever they want to believe no matter what the evidence indicates. In this case, all of the evidence is pointing in a single direction. When foreclosure filings started to spike prior to the global financial crisis in 2008, that was a major red flag. Now it is happening again.

ISRAEL - "The last time Pompeo visited, Jerusalem didn't end that well," he told Secretary Pompeo during a 2019 presser, referencing Roman general Pompey's conquering of Judea in 63 BC. Benjamin Netanyahu's press office posts video of the PM telling a journalist he's reading a book titled, "The Jews Against Rome." "What made you pick it up?" "Well we lost that one, I think we have to win the next one," Netanyahu says. *The book is "Jews vs Rome: Two Centuries of Rebellion Against the World's Mightiest Empire (2025)" by Barry Strauss.

UK - Britain’s decision to have its Rolls-Royce SMR Ltd build the first small modular nuclear reactor on the Isle of Anglesey, North Wales, has infuriated the US, which had hoped for a large, American-led project there, reports Reuters. The small modular nuclear reactor promises a faster, cheaper way to boost energy security compared with decades-long large-scale plants. But the US had pushed for its own energy firm, Westinghouse, to lead a large-scale project there as part of a broader effort to deepen American involvement in the UK’s energy sector. US Ambassador Warren Stephens warned that Britain’s plan would not quickly lower energy costs or “get shovels in the ground,” echoing American frustration at being bypassed.

CARIBBEAN - The United States’ flagship aircraft carrier arrived on Sunday in the Caribbean as Donald Trump continues to mass military firepower close to Venezuela. Washington has claimed that the move is part of an anti-drug trafficking campaign, but speculation continues to mount that the US president is considering military intervention against Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela’s authoritarian president. Mr Trump said he might be open to holding talks with Mr Maduro, amid growing friction between the two nations. The US’s largest and most advanced carrier strike group, led by the USS Gerald R Ford, is now within striking distance of Venezuela. The nuclear-powered USS Gerald R Ford, which operates F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter planes, is the world’s largest aircraft carrier. It is joined by two guided-missile destroyers and other support vessels and aircraft.

GERMANY - The Magdeburg Christmas market in Germany has been cancelled over security concerns after last December’s car-ramming terror attack, which killed six people. Simone Borris, the city’s mayor, said the market will not receive a permit to operate this year due to safety issues. According to DPA, a German newspaper agency, Ms Borris decided to cancel this year’s market after receiving a letter from state officials which warned of a lack of security measures, such as barriers to stop cars entering the site. But Ms Borris suggested that it was not her city’s responsibility to put in place tougher security measures, arguing that this was the job of counter-terrorism police and the regional government of Saxony-Anhalt. The news will come as a blow in Germany, where its Christmas markets are an annual tradition. The Magdeburg market is the largest in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, with more than two million visitors who delight in sipping mulled wine and buying festive trinkets.

UK - Whitehall's 500-strong army of diversity enforcers may cost upwards of £28 million. In the heart of Whitehall, a quiet revolution is unfolding. Hundreds of civil servants are now dedicated to shaping the future of diversity and inclusion. At least 500 civil servants are employed across the Government to police and develop diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) policies, reports The Telegraph.