1. South Korea says it detects signs of North Korea preparing more troops, drones for Russia.

2. Trump's presidential transition team are laying the groundwork for the US to withdraw from the WHO on the first day of his second term.

3. Biden administration launches a last-minute trade investigation into older Chinese-made "legacy" semiconductors that could heap more US tariffs on chips from China.

4. Honda and Nissan are in talks to merge by 2026, they said on Monday, a historic pivot for Japan's auto industry.

5. Apple is closing in on a historic $4 trillion stock market valuation.

6. Sri Lanka's consumer price inflation dropped to minus 1.7% year-on-year in November after easing to minus 0.7% in October.