15.12.2025 – WEEKLY BRIEFING

Gaza storms kill 14 Palestinians, including 3 children – 13.12.2025

Severe weather conditions over the past 72 hours have left at least 14 people dead in Gaza, including three children, as hundreds of thousands of Palestinians continue to live in tents and temporary shelters after two years of war. Flooding, cold temperatures and weakened infrastructure have caused tents and buildings to collapse, with Oxfam stating that tens of thousands of shelters were damaged or swept away and arguing that the humanitarian crisis is exacerbated by restrictions on aid. Hamas-run authorities said at least 250,000 people were affected, while Israel’s aid coordination body, COGAT, said hundreds of humanitarian trucks enter Gaza daily, that around 270,000 tents and tarpaulins have been delivered, and that preparations are underway for the winter. Despite an October truce, significant disagreements remain over the scope of aid and the next phases of the ceasefire agreement.

Belarus frees Nobel prize laureate Bialiatski, opposition figure Kolesnikova as US lifts sanctions – 13.12.2025

Belarus released 123 prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate and human rights activist Ales Bialiatski and opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova, following talks with the United States aimed at easing sanctions, while Washington lifted restrictions on Belarus’s key potash export sector. Long under Western sanctions and closely aligned with Russia, Minsk has freed hundreds of political detainees in recent months, a move the U.S. described as progress in bilateral relations. Those released included U.S., allied and Ukrainian nationals, with some transferred to Ukraine, Lithuania and Poland. Opposition and rights groups caution that the releases appear driven by economic pressure from sanctions and stress that Belarus’s domestic repression and its support for Russia’s war in Ukraine remain unchanged.

France calls to delay vote on EU-Mercosur trade deal – 14.12.2025

France has called on the European Union to postpone a planned vote on the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, arguing that the necessary conditions for approval have not yet been met. Paris says the current version of the deal lacks sufficient safeguards to protect European agriculture, including enforceable protection clauses, equal production standards for EU and Mercosur farmers, and effective import controls. While the European Commission is seeking to finalise the long-negotiated agreement with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, France has reiterated that it will not support a vote in the coming days. The EU is expected to hold votes on the deal and related safeguards this week, even as opposition from farmers and some member states continues, despite the agreement’s potential to create a market of over 700 million people and deepen already significant trade and investment ties between the EU and Mercosur.

Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai found guilty in landmark national security trial, faces possible life sentence – 14.12.2025

Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy figure Jimmy Lai has been found guilty on two national security charges and a sedition charge after a two-year trial under the 2020 national security law, a verdict that has drawn international attention amid concerns over shrinking freedoms in the city. Lai, the founder of the now-closed Apple Daily newspaper, was convicted of colluding with foreign forces and other offenses linked to his political advocacy and contacts with US officials, and now faces a possible life sentence, with sentencing to be announced later. Authorities say the law has restored stability after the 2019 protests, while supporters and critics argue it has undermined Hong Kong’s judicial independence and civil liberties. Lai, who has already spent years in prison and faces health concerns, remains a prominent symbol of the city’s pro-democracy movement as international reactions and calls for his release continue.

Authorities say they will release person of interest detained in Brown University shooting – 15.12.2025

A person of interest detained in connection with a shooting at Brown University that killed two students and injured nine was released after authorities determined there was no legal basis to hold the individual, leaving the investigation without a known suspect. The attack, which took place in a classroom in an engineering building during final exams, caused widespread panic on campus, led the university to cancel all remaining classes and exams, and prompted an increased police presence. Officials said the suspect remains at large, video surveillance is being reviewed to identify the shooter, and several of the wounded students remain in critical but stable condition.

China urges Gulf nations to seal free trade agreement – 15.12.2025

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged the Gulf Cooperation Council to conclude long-running negotiations on a China–GCC free trade agreement, saying global protectionism makes it timely to finalise a deal that would signal support for multilateralism, during a Middle East tour that included meetings in Saudi Arabia. Wang said talks that have lasted over 20 years are now sufficiently mature, while also emphasizing China’s interest in expanding cooperation with the GCC in trade, investment and other economic areas. In Riyadh, he also met senior Saudi officials, with both sides agreeing to enhance coordination on regional and international issues, support improved Saudi-Iran relations, and back a comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue, alongside deeper cooperation in energy, investment and green transformation, and new agreements on visa exemptions for certain passport holders.

Russia poses acute threat, new MI6 chief to warn – 15.12.2025

The new head of MI6, Blaise Metreweli, will describe Russia as “an acute threat” in her first public speech, highlighting hybrid activities such as cyber attacks and operations by proxies, while affirming the UK’s commitment to maintaining pressure on Russia over Ukraine. She will also emphasize the growing importance of technology in intelligence work, calling on agents to develop skills in coding and data as well as traditional tradecraft. On the same day, Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Richard Knighton will stress that national defense and resilience in the face of rising threats require a “whole of society” approach, highlighting the need for collaboration with industry and education to strengthen capabilities, and warning of Russia’s challenge to NATO and the broader security environment.

Australia’s Jewish community saw an attack coming but no one expected the Bondi Beach horror – 15.12.2025

Australia experienced its deadliest mass shooting in nearly 30 years when two gunmen, a father and son, targeted Jewish families at a Hanukkah festival on Sydney’s Bondi Beach, killing multiple people across generations and injuring others, including a Holocaust survivor and a 10-year-old girl. The attack, carried out in a public, heavily attended area, has prompted national shock and renewed scrutiny of rising antisemitism, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese calling it “an act of evil” and highlighting government measures to improve Jewish community security, social cohesion, and inclusivity. Authorities confirmed the father was killed at the scene while the son remains hospitalized and likely to face charges, and police raided a home linked to the suspects. In response, Australian leaders agreed to tighten gun laws, including restrictions on licenses and ownership, while warning against retaliation or further violence, as communities grapple with fears of escalating tensions and questions about how the attack was planned and executed.