HIGHLIGHTS

►US

A major bridge in the US city of Baltimore collapsed early yesterday after being struck by a container ship, sending multiple vehicles and people plunging into the frigid harbor below.

►Russia

Russia was discussing with the Central African Republic the location of a future Russian military base in the African country, Russian state-run news agency TASS cited Russian ambassador to the Central African Republic as saying yesterday.

►Syria

At least nine fighters including a leader were killed yesterday in air strikes in war-torn eastern Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

►Japan

A major Japanese drugmaker said yesterday it was investigating one death from kidney dysfunction potentially linked to health supplements recalled last week by the firm.

►China

China's President Xi Jinping will meet with American business leaders in Beijing today, according to three sources with knowledge of the matter, in a follow up to his November dinner with US investors in San Francisco.

►Australia

Australia and the Pacific Islands nation of Tuvalu will go ahead with a security and climate migration pact, after Tuvalu's new government agreed not to change the deal, Australia's Pacific Minister Pat Conroy told parliament yesterday.

►Pakistan

Militants killed one soldier in an attempt to storm a major Pakistan naval air base in the country's turbulent southwest, the military said yesterday.

►India

DELHI State-run natural gas company GAIL (India) Ltd plans to commission its first green hydrogen project in central India in April, three company sources said.