Nvidia board meets on ousting CEO Jensen Huang over affair with alleged Chinese spy

Trump says the war is 'effectively over' yet vows 'total victory', while Rubio says economic pressure makes renewed attacks unnecessary. US media report Vance is considering direct talks with Iran's security chief Mohsen Rezaei, possibly in Doha. Iran denies talks, and Rezaei warns that bases from West Asia to Europe would be targets if the US attacks again. Israel's security cabinet has ordered the army to prepare for a possible attack on Iran.

The Abu Dhabi talks ended with a large prisoner exchange agreed but no breakthrough on territory; Russia reportedly refused to discuss a ceasefire, energy or Black Sea security. Putin briefed CSTO leaders on the outcome. Witkoff and Kushner meet Putin in Moscow on Thursday, then Zelensky in Dublin, and Berlin says a Merz-Putin conversation is possible.

Russia keeps up heavy strikes on Ukraine's energy grid and cities, including a ballistic missile attack on Kyiv after the Abu Dhabi talks ended. The Chornomorsk market strike killed four, and at least eight people died across Ukraine in a day. Ukraine hit Ust-Luga port, mounted a long drone attack on Omsk and says it has cut Russian refining capacity by about 30%. Leaked data shows Russia recorded over 11,000 foreign military deaths.

An early Thursday strike on the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis hit an intensive care and surgical building, killing at least six and injuring more than 20, mostly patients and staff. Israeli Army Radio called it an 'assassination operation'. Gaza's health ministry says 1,614 people have been killed since the Oct 11 ceasefire. Hamas has called for protests worldwide from Friday to Sunday.

Trump is expected to meet Xi at APEC in Shenzhen next week, with the trade truce nearing expiry in January. Rubio and Wang Yi have spoken, and Bessent travels to China. Taiwan is sending Acer founder Stan Shih, and President Lai says it attends on an 'equal basis'. South Korea's Lee will attend. G7 foreign ministers said China's actions east of Taiwan threaten regional stability.