Suggested WW3 flashpoints(these were not written by me but by makif130289 but still pretty useful, however I did change some of the events to match current tensions and make them compatible for DH):
Middle East:
2011-- Arab Spring
Late-2011-early 2012 --Islamists win post-Revolution elections
Early 2012--Point of divergence in Asia---the Anti-Mainland DPP wins Taiwan elections, causing tensions with China(In reality, Kuomintang party won the elections but I needed to do a point of divergence for WW3)
2012 -- Israel bombs Iran if sanctions don't work
Mid-2012 -- Egyptian surprise attack on Israel in retaliation, Israeli air strike on Iranian military bases, Iran launches Shabab missiles on Israel, US and Israel declares war on Iran with the Arab world rallying to Iran's defence
Late-2012 -- Chinese ultimatum to Taiwan, US intervenes and WW3 is on!
South Ossetia:
2008 -- Georgian authorities enter South Ossetia and kills few Russian soldiers, Russia attacks Georgia. After Georgian Army is beaten off, NATO countries demand withdrawal of Russian Army from Georgia. At this point, if Russian player has the choice to continue military operations, NATO will intervene in favor of Georgia.
DPRK:
2010 -- North Korea sink South Korean ship, North Korea ask support from China, Chinese player may choose to support North Korea. With US support, South Korea conduct air strikes on North Korean military ports. At this point, if Chinese player has the decision to conduct military strikes in South Korea as a retaliation. North Korean ground forces cross the 38th Parallel and escalates the tension.
Russian intervention in Belarus:
2007 -- Russian - Belarus energy dispute
mid-2007 -- If Russian player has necessary political stance a decision will be available for Russian intelligence try to topple Lukashenko with a coup. Lukashenko realizing the coup, send away all Russian advisers in Belarus and arrest some of them. Russian Army intervenes in Belarus. EU countries send ultimatum to Russia.
Deadline for WW3 events to launch should be December 21, 2012(see the significance?).
If tensions are high, 2012 event fires. The early flashpoints should not fire in a normal game as all nations choose historical route.