1. Epic Games' app store preinstalled on Android phones: Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, will have its app store preinstalled on millions of Android phones as part of a deal with Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi. This move could challenge Google's dominance in the Android app market. (https://www.engadget.com/gaming/epic-games-app-store-will-be-preinstalled-on-millions-of-android-phones-175158241.html)
2. Trump's Energy Pick Argues for Fossil Fuels: President-elect Trump's pick for Energy Secretary, Chris Wright, argued that fossil fuels are virtuous and that the world should not move away from them due to climate change concerns. This view is in stark contrast to the scientific consensus that burning fossil fuels is a major contributor to climate change. (https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/12/climate/wright-trump-oil-gas-energy.html)
3. Australia Wants Digital Platforms to Pay for News: Australia has proposed a law that would require digital platforms, such as Google and Facebook, to pay for news content that they display on their sites. This proposal is a response to concerns that these companies are profiting from news content at the expense of traditional media outlets. (https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/australia-social-media-ban-1.7408426?cmp=rss)
4. Ukraine Crisis: There are several headlines related to the crisis in Ukraine, including no plans for Poland to send troops to Ukraine, US threats to Maduro, and Trump's comments on not abandoning Ukraine. These headlines indicate ongoing tension in the region between Russia and Ukraine, as well as international efforts to address the situation. (No plans to send troops to Ukraine – Warsaw: <https://www.rt.com/news/609259-poland-troops-ukraine-tusk/>; Trump’s comments on not abandoning Ukraine: <https://www.rt.com/news/609258-trump-abandon-ukraine-time/>)
5. Bitcoin Price Run: Bitcoin's price has been on a run, reaching over $100,000 despite recent inflation data and concerns about energy consumption. Whales are also reportedly driving the price increase. (Bitcoin bulls ignore PPI shock as whales fuel BTC price run to $102K: <https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-bulls-ignore-ppi-whales-btc-price-run-102k?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound>)