Thursday, December 18, 2025

Media Wire

Ukraine ready to hold elections, renounce NATO aspirations: Bild

During negotiations in Berlin, the Kiev authorities allegedly agreed to hold elections within 100 days and to refrain from seeking NATO membership under certain conditions, Bild has reported.

Afghanistan’s neighbors refute foreign intervention, sanctions

Special representatives of Afghanistan’s neighboring countries and Russia have firmly opposed any foreign military presence, calling on countries responsible for the current situation in Afghanistan to contribute to reconstruction without using assistance as a political tool.

New MI6 head warns of growing Russian threat

Assassination plots, sabotage, cyber-attacks and the manipulation of information by Russia and other hostile states mean that “the frontline is everywhere”, the new head of MI6 warns.

Italy calls on Europe to strengthen defence as US signals pullback

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni urged Europe to strengthen its own defence capabilities in response to US President Donald Trump's shifting security strategy.

Ayatollah Khamenei’s adviser reaffirms Iran’s firm support for Lebanon’s Hezbollah

Senior Adviser to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution on International Affairs Ali Akbar Velayati has stressed Tehran’s continued, resolute support for Lebanon’s Hezbollah resistance movement.

Germany says decades of ‘Pax Americana’ over

The era of ‘Pax Americana’ is over for Europe, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has stated, adding that the global economy and political order are undergoing a “tectonic shift” in centers of power worldwide.

Father and son identified as suspects in Australia attack

A father and son have been identified as the primary suspects behind a deadly attack on members of the Jewish community at Australia’s Bondi Beach, police announced.

US, Ukraine achieve ‘a lot of progress’ at talks in Berlin: Washington

The delegations of the United States and Ukraine achieved "a lot of progress" during negotiations in the German capital of Berlin, American Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff has stated.

Ukraine ditches NATO ambition ahead of peace negotiations

Ukraine has relinquished its ambition of joining the NATO military alliance in exchange for Western security guarantees as a compromise to end the war with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated ahead of talks with U.S. envoys in Berlin.

Russia’s December oil and gas revenue set to drop to lowest level since 2020: Reuters

Russia’s oil and gas revenue in December is expected to be nearly half compared to the previous year, Reuters has reported.

At least 12 killed in shooting targeting Australia’s Jewish community

At least 12 people have been killed in a shooting on Australia’s Bondi Beach which targeted the Jewish community, police say. The attack, which took place as hundreds gathered to celebrate the first day of Hanukkah, has been declared a terrorist incident.

Iran says Tehran-Beirut diplomatic relations remain intact

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei has stated that diplomatic relations between Iran and Lebanon remain in place.

Iran urges US to respect Iranian people, their elected establishment

Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has called on the United States to respect the Iranian people and the ruling establishment they have chosen.

Russia ready to ‘test’ Europe in real conflict in next 4 years: Defense commissioner

EU Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius has warned that Russia could be ready to "test" Europe in a conflict within the next three to four years, stressing the need for the European Union to strengthen its defense capabilities.

BRICS offers new model for stronger member cooperation: Iran’s President

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has highlighted the potential of the BRICS group as a valuable platform for enhancing interactions and deepening economic and political ties among member states.

Moscow says EU’s tampering with Russian assets is ‘theft’ no matter how it’s framed

Any endeavours by the EU to tap into the frozen assets of the Russian Central Bank would be illegal under international law, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has stated.

Israel claims to have killed senior Hamas commander in Gaza

The Israeli military claimed it has killed senior Hamas commander Raed Saad in an attack in Gaza City.

Trump vows retaliation after three Americans killed in Daesh attack in Syria 

United States President Donald Trump has pledged to pursue “serious retaliation” against the terror group Daesh after an ambush in central Syria killed two American service members and one civilian interpreter.

US sets out condition for Ukraine security guarantees: Axios

The administration of US President Donald Trump is willing to offer Kiev NATO-style and Congress-approved security guarantees if it agrees on territorial concessions to Russia, Axios reported on Saturday, citing sources. Ukraine has denied any concessions and has called instead for a ceasefire – a proposal Moscow has dismissed as a ploy to win time and prolong the conflict.

Trump pressuring Zelensky to cede land to Russia: Bild

US President Donald Trump is pressuring his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky to cede territory to Russia in an effort to end the conflict between Kiev and Moscow, Bild has claimed, citing anonymous sources.

EU foreign policy chief warns lack of Russian concessions could fuel future wars beyond Ukraine

Even if Ukraine were to receive security guarantees, the absence of real concessions from Russia would risk triggering new wars elsewhere, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has warned.

Israel approves several new West Bank settlements in major annexation push

Israel’s security cabinet has signed off on plans to formalise 19 illegal settlements across the occupied West Bank—a move that Palestinian officials say deepens a decades-long project of land theft and demographic engineering.

US stormed cargo ship travelling from China to Iran: Wall Street Journal

United States raided a cargo ship travelling from China to Iran last month, according to the Wall Street Journal, in the latest reported instance of increasingly aggressive maritime tactics by the administration of American President Donald Trump.

Trump’s envoy to meet Zelensky, European leaders over US peace plan: WSJ

U.S. President Donald Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine and European leaders in Brussels over the weekend as discussions on Washington-proposed peace framework aimed at ending Russia's war continue, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has reported.

US withheld intelligence from Israel during Biden era: Reuters

US intelligence officials temporarily suspended sharing some key information with Israel during the Joe Biden administration over concerns about its conduct of the war in the Gaza Strip, six people familiar with the matter told Reuters news agency.

Latest news