Renewed fighting intensifies in northern Ethiopia, raising fears of wider conflict.

Ongoing conflicts in Ethiopia, Sudan, and Ukraine, coupled with major natural disasters and global economic uncertainties, contribute to a moderate risk environment.

📌 Key developments

• Fighting escalated in northern Ethiopia, with federal forces clashing with an alliance of rebel groups, including the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), leading to suspended flights and internet disruptions.
• UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Barham Salih, urged the UN Security Council to prioritize ending global conflicts to facilitate the return of over 117 million displaced people, highlighting ongoing crises in Sudan, Congo, and Ukraine.
• US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping extended their trade tariff truce until January 10, 2027, following a summit aimed at de-escalating economic tensions, though strategic competition persists.
• The US Supreme Court temporarily allowed the Trump administration to use an expanded federal immigration database (SAVE system) for voter citizenship verification, lifting a lower-court prohibition.
• Hurricane Nolo threatens Hawaii with catastrophic flooding, while Hurricane Polo causes heavy rains and potential landslides in Mexico. Separately, a powerful 'Nor'easter' is forecast to impact over 40 million people in the northeastern United States with heavy rain and strong winds.

💡 Why it matters

The renewed Ethiopian conflict risks regional destabilization and a severe humanitarian crisis. The UN's urgent call highlights the widespread impact of unresolved conflicts on global populations. The US-China trade truce provides temporary economic stability but does not resolve underlying geopolitical rivalries. Major storms underscore increasing climate-related disaster risks globally.

🎭 People in the news

• Barham Salih — UN High Commissioner for Refugees, who urged the UN Security Council to address global displacement crises.
• Donald Trump — US President, who extended a trade truce with China and saw a Supreme Court ruling favor his administration's voter citizenship checks.
• Xi Jinping — Chinese President, who agreed to extend the trade tariff truce with the United States.

👀 What to watch

• Monitoring the intensity and spread of fighting in Ethiopia and any international diplomatic responses.
• Tracking the paths and impacts of Hurricane Nolo in Hawaii, Hurricane Polo in Mexico, and the Nor'easter in the northeastern US.
• Further statements or actions regarding the US-China trade relationship and ongoing strategic competition.