December 18, 2025

MIDDLE EAST | Update from regional conflicts:

• Ahead of a deadline for Lebanon to disarm the Hezbollah militant group, as specified in a cease-fire agreement, Israel carried out a series of airstrikes on southern and northeastern Lebanon today that Israeli officials say targeted Hezbollah training, weapons storage, and infrastructure sites. [more]

UKRAINE | Today is day 1,391 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• As diplomatic efforts seeking cease-fire and peace agreements for the war in Ukraine continue, Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at an annual meeting of top military officers, warned yesterday that his country will seek to extend its territorial gains in Ukraine if Russian demands are not met in peace talks. [more]
• Ahead of an E.U. summit today, Belgium insisted that European Union member states provide it ironclad security guarantees against Russian retaliation in exchange for its support of proposals to use frozen Russian assets, most of which are held in Belgium, to fund loans to Ukraine. [more]

U.S. ECONOMY | According to Labor Department data released today, overall consumer prices in the U.S. rose 2.7% in the 12 months ended in November, down from the 3% rate reported by the Department for the 12-month period ended in September. Year-over-year energy and food prices rose by 4.2% and 2.6%, respectively, in November. [full Bureau of Labor Statistics report] [more]

U.S. PRESIDENCY | In a televised speech last night highlighting what he said was his progress on improving the U.S. economy, President Donald Trump announced bonus payments of $1,776 to members of the U.S. military, which he referred to as a "warrior dividend." [more]

U.S. HEALTHCARE | Breaking with the House majority, four Republican lawmakers joined a Democratic-led effort yesterday to force a House vote on a three-year extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act healthcare insurance subsidies, which are scheduled to expire at the end of this month. In separate action, the House voted, 216-211, largely along party lines, yesterday to approve a health care package that, instead of a subsidy extension, focuses on proposals to expand insurance coverage options for small businesses and the self-employed. [more]

CALIFORNIA | State regulators have threatened to temporarily suspend Tesla's license to sell vehicles in California after a state administrative law judge ruled earlier this week that the company has, for years, engaged in deceptive marketing practices by using the terms “Autopilot” and “Full Self-Driving” to promote the autonomous technology available in many of its cars. [more]

U.S. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS | In testimony before the Senate Commerce committee yesterday, Federal Communications Commission chairman Brandon Carr, responding to questions about political pressure to influence broadcasters, said that the FCC, which has long been considered autonomous, "is not an independent agency." Reports note that it was pointed out during the hearing that the FCC website described it as an "independent U.S. government agency overseen by Congress" and that the reference to "independent" was removed from the website later in the day. [more]

U.S. IMMIGRATION | Saying lawmakers have a relevant interest in conditions at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities, a federal judge yesterday temporarily blocked a Trump administration policy requiring seven days' notice for members of Congress to visit and observe such facilities. [more]

U.S. DEFENSE SPENDING | The Senate voted, 77-20, yesterday to approve the $901 billion defense spending bill passed by the House last week. The fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act includes a 4% pay raise for military service members as well as several provisions aimed at boosting European security. President Donald Trump is expected to sign the measure into law. [more]

U.S. AND VENEZUELA | Amidst continuing tensions and the buildup of U.S. military assets in the region, U.S. President Donald Trump demanded yesterday that Venezuela return assets seized from U.S. oil companies in recent decades and said the U.S. blockade of sanctioned oil tankers traveling to or from Venezuela would continue. [more]

U.S., TAIWAN, AND CHINA | The US State Department announced the approval yesterday of more than $11 billion in weapon and other military equipment sales to Taiwan - the largest-ever US weapons package for the East Asian territory, which China claims as its own. Responding to the announcement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said the sale would violate diplomatic agreements between China and the US, harm China's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, and undermine regional stability. [more]

GERMANY | Federal prosecutors in Germany announced charges today against eight suspects, several of whom are teenagers, for their alleged membership in, or support of, the "Last Defense Wave" right-wing extremist group that authorities allege aims to destabilize the country’s democratic system by carrying out attacks on migrants and political opponents. [more]

ISRAEL AND EGYPT | In a move Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says "greatly strengthens Israel’s position as a regional energy power," Israel announced the approval of a deal yesterday to export $35 billion worth of natural gas to Egypt over the next 15 years. [more]

SOUTH KOREA | National Police Agency commissioner general Cho Ji-ho was removed from his position by South Korea’s Constitutional Court today for his role in deploying hundreds of police officers to support ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s brief imposition of martial law in December 2024. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1865, by proclamation of U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward, the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, outlawing slavery, officially entered into force, having been ratified by the required number of states on December 6. [more history]