December 22, 2025

MIDDLE EAST | Updates from regional conflicts:

• The U.S. military carried out airstrikes on more than 80 targets across central Syria on Friday, targeting sites tied to the Islamic State militant group in retaliation for a December 13 attack on coalition forces in which two U.S. service members and a civilian interpreter were killed. [more]
• Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said yesterday that the Israeli Cabinet has approved a proposal for 19 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, including two – Kadim and Ganim – that were previously evacuated under a 2005 disengagement plan. [more]

UKRAINE | Today is day 1,395 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said yesterday that weekend talks with Ukrainian and European representatives regarding a shared strategic approach between Ukraine, the U.S., and Europe to end the Ukraine-Russia war were "productive and constructive." [more]
• Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed today that Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov, head of the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces’ General Staff, was killed in Moscow early today when an explosive device detonated underneath his car. Federal investigators say they are "pursuing numerous lines of inquiry regarding the murder," one of which is "that the crime was orchestrated by Ukrainian intelligence services." [more]
• Reuters cites multiple unnamed sources as saying U.S. intelligence analyses indicated as recently as September that Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite ongoing cease-fire talks and Putin's statements to the contrary, "has not abandoned his aims of capturing all of Ukraine and reclaiming parts of Europe that belonged to the former Soviet empire." [more]

U.S. MEDIA AND POLITICS | Broadcaster CBS announced shortly before it was supposed to air last night that a segment prepared for the news show "60 Minutes" on El Salvador's CECOT prison, to which the U.S. has deported illegal migrants, had been pulled and would be released at a later date. Multiple media outlets cite segment correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi as claiming the segment was pulled by company executives for political reasons. [more]

COLORADO | After receiving letters Saturday from the Federal Emergency Management Agency that denied disaster declaration requests following wildfires and flooding in his state earlier this year, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis accused President Donald Trump of playing "political games" with disaster relief – a contention White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson denied, saying that every request for federal disaster assistance is reviewed with "great care and consideration, ensuring American tax dollars are used appropriately and efficiently." [more]

EPSTEIN INVESTIGATION | Friday's congressionally mandated deadline for the release of all files related to investigations into late financier and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein passed with only a partial release of heavily-redacted files, prompting allegations of attempts by political and business leaders to hide information. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the partial release, saying the Justice Department would eventually meet its release obligation, but that it was acting with caution to protect Epstein's victims. [more]

U.S. AND DENMARK | U.S. President Donald Trump announced the appointment yesterday of Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry to serve as the U.S. ‌special envoy to Greenland, Denmark's semi-autonomous territory that is seen as being key to strategic control of Arctic regions. Responding to the appointment, Landry said in a social media post that that it was an honor to serve "in this volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the U.S," while Danish Foreign Minister Lars Rasmussen insisted that "everyone — including the U.S. — must show respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark." [more]

U.S. AND VENEZUELA | In the second such action this month, the U.S. Coast Guard on Saturday seized a China-bound, Venezuela-linked oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea – a move Chinese officials characterized as a serious violation of international law. Trump administration officials have described the seizures as targeting ships operating in violation of sanctions on Venezuela and say a third tanker was being pursued by the U.S. Coast Guard yesterday. [more]

THAILAND AND CAMBODIA | Following the resumption of deadly border clashes two weeks ago, Thailand and Cambodia have announced plans to resume talks later this week to work toward a durable cease-fire. Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said today that an earlier cease-fire was rushed to ensure it could be witnessed by U.S. President Donald Trump and lacked sufficient details to ensure the deal to end the armed conflict would hold and that the new talks will depends on detailed bilateral negotiations rather than public declarations that internationalize the dispute. [more]

INDONESIA | National emergency-response officials say at least 16 people were killed, and 18 others were injured, early today when a passenger bus crashed on a toll road on the main Indonesian island of Java. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. [more]

INDIA AND NEW ZEALAND | Officials in both India and New Zealand announced today that their countries have reached a new free-trade agreement that aims to deepen economic ties and spur growth amidst global trade uncertainties. Formal signing of the agreement is expected to take place early next year. [more]

NIGERIA | Authorities say a final group of about 130 Nigerian schoolchildren kidnapped on November 21 were freed yesterday and are expected to be reunited with their families in Nigeria's central Niger state today. The children were among more than 300 pupils taken from St. Mary's Catholic School in Papiri last month in a region known for school kidnappings carried out by armed gangs seeking ransom payments. [more]

PAKISTAN | Imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife were convicted of retaining and selling state gifts by a Pakistani court on Saturday and sentenced to 17 years in prison. Attorneys for the Khans indicated they plan to appeal the conviction. [more]

WEEKEND MOVIES | "Avatar: Fire and Ash" topped the North American box office over the weekend with an estimated $88 million in receipts, followed by "David" and "The Housemaid." [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1989, the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin was reopened, signifying the reunification of East and West Germany. [more history]