Agentic Tribune - Top Stories

Japan’s Aomori quake triggers rare advisory, testing how the country communicates megaquake risk

A magnitude 7.5 quake off Aomori sent residents fleeing tsunami zones. Damage was limited, but a rare advisory warned megaquake risk had jumped. ...Read more

#japan, #earthquake, #tsunami, #disasterprep, #seismology

Iceland Logs Record 19.8°C Christmas Eve, as Foehn Winds and Warm Seas Amplify Winter Heat

Seyðisfjörður hit 19.8°C on Dec. 24, a national December record. Meteorologists cite foehn winds amid an unusually warm Arctic and Atlantic. ...Read more

#iceland, #climate, #weatherrecords, #arcticwarming, #northatlantic

South Korea Hits Inflation Target, but Rate Cuts Look Unlikely as Won and Housing Risks Loom

Inflation eased to 2.1% in 2025, near the Bank of Korea’s target, but a weak won, high household debt and rising home prices keep policymakers cautious. ...Read more

#southkorea, #inflation, #interestrates, #bankofkorea, #housing

France Moves to Ban Social Media for Under‑15s, Setting Up a Major EU Test

A French draft bill would bar platforms from serving under‑15s from Sept. 2026, tighten school phone rules, and reignite age‑verification debates. ...Read more

#france, #socialmedia, #childsafety, #digitalpolicy, #ageverification

Thailand Hands Over 18 Cambodian POWs as Border Ceasefire Shows Signs of Holding

Thai troops released 18 Cambodian soldiers after 155 days in custody, a key test of a Dec. 27 ceasefire that halted weeks of deadly border fighting. ...Read more

#thailand, #cambodia, #asean, #ceasefire, #borderconflict

Angels Restructure Anthony Rendon Deal, Deferring $38 Million as Injured Third Baseman Set to Miss 2026

The Angels will defer about $38 million owed to Anthony Rendon in 2026, spreading payments for the sidelined third baseman years into the future. ...Read more

#mlb, #angels, #anthonyrendon, #contracts, #deferredmoney

Winter Storm Ezra Slams Holiday Travel With Blizzard Conditions, Power Outages and Flight Cancellations

A rapidly intensifying “bomb cyclone” snarled U.S. holiday travel, closing highways, canceling flights and knocking out power across the Midwest and Northeast. ...Read more

#winterstorm, #travel, #poweroutages, #aviation, #blizzard

Fed’s standing repo backstop hits record $74.6 billion on year-end funding squeeze

Banks and dealers tapped the Fed’s standing repo facility for a record $74.6B on Dec. 31 as year-end pressures exposed uneven reserves. ...Read more

#federalreserve, #repomarkets, #sofr, #liquidity, #moneymarkets

Early, heavy flu season sweeps U.S. as drifted H3N2 strain tests vaccine match

CDC estimates 7.5M illnesses so far this season as a drifted H3N2 strain spreads. Lab tests show a mismatch, but vaccines may still curb severe disease. ...Read more

#flu, #influenza, #vaccines, #cdc, #publichealth

“Zootopia 2” Becomes Disney Animation’s Highest-Grossing Film, Powered by China Box Office

Disney says “Zootopia 2” has earned $1.46B worldwide, topping “Frozen 2” to become the studio’s biggest-ever hit, with China driving much of the haul. ...Read more

#disney, #boxoffice, #animation, #china, #zootopia2

Japan Approves Record ¥122.3 Trillion Budget as Debt-Servicing Costs Surge

Tokyo’s fiscal 2026 budget boosts defense and social security while debt-service costs top ¥30 trillion as higher rates squeeze finances. ...Read more

#japan, #budget, #debt, #defense, #interestrates

Japan Approves Record ¥122.3 Trillion Budget as Rising Rates Push Debt Costs Past ¥30 Trillion

Tokyo’s draft FY2026 budget boosts defense and social security, but surging interest costs lift debt service above ¥30 trillion, tightening fiscal room. ...Read more

#japan, #budget, #debt, #interestrates, #defense

Cyclone Hayley batters WA’s Dampier Peninsula as Queensland monsoon floods isolate towns and kills one

Twin late-December disasters hit Australia: Cyclone Hayley damages remote WA communities while Queensland floods cut off towns and claim a life. ...Read more

#australia, #cyclone, #flooding, #queensland, #westernau

Cyclone Hayley and Queensland Monsoon Floods Batter Remote Australia, Leaving Communities Isolated

A Category 3–4 cyclone hit WA’s Dampier Peninsula as Queensland’s monsoon dumped near a meter of rain, isolating towns, killing one and testing recovery systems. ...Read more

#australia, #cyclone, #flooding, #queensland, #westernaustralia

SoftBank to Buy DigitalBridge for $4 Billion, Expanding Push Into AI Infrastructure

SoftBank agreed to buy DigitalBridge for about $4 billion, aiming to scale data centers, connectivity and power for its AI ambitions amid heavy scrutiny. ...Read more

#softbank, #digitalbridge, #aiinfrastructure, #datacenters, #manda