December 8, 2025

MIDDLE EAST | Update from regional conflicts:

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday that he expects Israel and Hamas to move "very shortly" into the second phase of their ongoing cease-fire, which includes the disarming of Hamas, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, the deployment of an international security force to the Palestinian enclave, and the formation of a temporary Palestinian government to run day-to-day affairs under the supervision of an international board led by U.S. President Donald Trump. [more]

UKRAINE | Today is day 1,381 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with the leaders of the U.K., France, and Germany today in London to discuss security, air defenses, and long-term funding for Ukraine’s war effort, as well as ongoing talks surrounding a U.S.-proposed plan to end the Russia-Ukraine war. [more]
• The International Atomic Energy Agency says the protective shield built around Ukraine's Chernobyl nuclear disaster site can no longer fully confine radioactive waste following a February drone strike that hit the site and sparked a fire. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi says that while limited temporary repairs to the structure have been made, "timely and comprehensive restoration remains essential to prevent further degradation and ensure long-term nuclear safety." [more]

U.S. PRESIDENTIAL POWER | In a case analysts say has wide implications for determining when presidents can fire board members of independent federal agencies, the U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments today on President Donald Trump's decision to fire Federal Trade Commission member Rebecca Slaughter without cause. [more]

INDIANA | The Indiana state Senate is scheduled to hold an initial vote today on plans to re-draw the state's congressional districting map to favor GOP candidates ahead of next year's mid-term elections. The Republican-led state House passed the redistricting measure on Friday. [more]

NEW YORK CITY | Amidst heightened activity by federal immigration agents, Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani posted a video on social media yesterday in which he vowed to protect New York City's immigrants' rights, saying "We can all stand up to ICE if you know your rights." Mamdani further stated that "New York will always welcome immigrants, and I will fight each and every day to protect, support, and celebrate our immigrant brothers and sisters." [more]

U.S. MILITARY | Defending the U.S. policy of striking alleged drug cartel boats in the Caribbean Sea and easter Pacific Ocean, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking at the Reagan National Defense Forum, said Saturday that President Donald Trump has the power to take military action "as he sees fit to defend our nation’s interests." [more]

U.S. FARMING | Reports cite White House officials as saying President Donald Trump will unveil a $12 billion aid package later today for U.S. farmers affected by his trade policies. [more]

U.S. CITIZENSHIP | The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Friday to decide if President Donald Trump's attempt to end birthright citizenship with an executive order is constitutional under the citizenship clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. A ruling on the matter is expected by next summer. [more]

GLOBAL HUMANITARIAN AID | Following this year's lowest level of annual international funding in a decade, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says it is seeking $33 billion in funding for 2026 to help some 135 million people deal with fallout from wars, climate disasters, earthquakes, epidemics, and food shortages around the world. Agency head Tom Fletcher notes that OCHA took in only $15 billion for aid this year, but that nations spent $2.7 trillion on defense. [more]

POLIO | Numerous countries and aid organizations meeting during the Abu Dhabi Finance Week in the United Arab Emirates today pledged $1.9 billion to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative through 2029. [more]

CHINA | Following an unexpected contraction in October, Chinese exports returned to growth in November, with customs data released today showing a 5.9% increase over the year-ago period. Reports note that November's performance pushed China's trade surplus for 2025 past the $1 trillion level for the first time. [more]

THAILAND AND CAMBODIA | Amidst ongoing tensions following an October cease-fire and following an exchange of gunfire yesterday, Thailand launched airstrikes at Cambodian targets along the countries' disputed border today. [more]

BENIN | Following an attempted coup yesterday, the Economic Community of West African States regional bloc says its member nations have deployed a standby security force to Benin to help preserve democracy. The coup attempt was led by Benin army officer Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri and was initially foiled by Benin's military with support from Nigerian air and ground forces. [more]

MEXICO | At least five people were killed, and another 12 were wounded, Saturday when a vehicle exploded outside a police station in the town of Coahuayana in the western Mexico State of Michoacán. Reports note that the government recently launched a major anti-violence security operation in the state, where a number of criminal groups and cartels are known to operate. [more]

AUSTRALIA | At least one person was killed, and 40 homes were destroyed, over the weekend in multiple wildfires burning in the Australian states of New South Wales and Tasmania, according to local government officials. [more]

INDIA | Officials in India's Goa state say 25 people, including multiple tourists, were killed early yesterday in a fire at a popular nightclub in the village of Arpora. Local media cites police as saying the fire was caused by a gas cylinder explosion. [more]

MEDIA INDUSTRY | Following last week's $72 billion Netflix bid to purchase Warner Bros Discovery, rival Paramount Skydance announced a hostile bid for Warner Bros worth $108.4 billion today. [more]

COLLEGE FOOTBALL | Following Saturday's conference championship games, the 12-team College Football Playoff bracket was released yesterday, with Indiana as the top-seed, followed by Ohio State, Georgia, Texas Tech, Oregon, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Alabama, Miami, Tulane, and James Madison. [more]

BASEBALL | Five-time All-Star second baseman Jeff Kent was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame yesterday by the organization's contemporary era committee, which noted that his 351 home runs as a second baseman are the most by a player at that position. [more]

ENTERTAINMENT AWARDS | U.S. President Donald Trump hosted the Kennedy Center Honors yesterday and presented awards for influence on American culture and the arts to actors Sylvester Stallone and Michael Crawford, singer Gloria Gaynor, the rock band Kiss, and country music star George Strait. [more]

WEEKEND MOVIES | "Five Nights at Freddy’s 2" topped the North American box office over the weekend with an estimated $63 million in receipts, followed by "Zootopia 2" and "Wicked: For Good." [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1991, Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus signed the Belovezha Accords – an agreement stating that the Soviet Union had effectively ceased to exist and establishing the Commonwealth of Independent States in its place as a successor entity. [more history]