Latest news for 12 December 2025

UKRAINE

Special zone.

President Zelensky has said the US is pushing for Ukraine to withdraw from parts of the Donbas region it still controls, to establish a special economic zone as part of a peace deal with Russia. Details on who would administer the region and provide security guarantees aren’t yet clear. (CNN)

Comment: The Ukrainian leader also insists any territorial changes would need a referendum, though we just highlighted the problems around holding any vote.

UNITED STATES

To the Senate!

The US House has finally passed its huge new $901B defence bill, with the president pledging to sign once it clears the Senate next week. Highlights include i) $400M in military assistance to Ukraine per year, ii) limits on troop reductions in Europe and South Korea, iii) directions to boost Indo-Pac defence ties, and iv) initiatives aimed at countering China (eg, a new ambassador to the Indian Ocean region). (AEI)

Comment: Blocking out the usual noise, the signal from Congress seems pretty clear: whatever remains of DC’s bipartisan centre of gravity is coalescing around a push-back on some of the White House’s alliance scepticism (the Europeans were rattled if not surprised by the searing language in last week’s US National Security Strategy).

TURKMENISTAN

But, I’m a published author!

Turkmen leader Serdar Berdymukhamedov has published his fourth book, this time to mark the 30th anniversary of the country legislating its own permanent neutrality. (Eurasianet)

Comment: Maybe all that neutrality frees up diplomat calendars a little? The Turkmen foreign ministry launched the president’s book with a student choir singing a catchy lil’ ditty titled “Neutrality is Our Eternal Happiness’.

PORTUGAL

Solidarity forever?

Portugal’s first general strike in over a decade has halted transport as workers protest major proposed labour reforms. The government says Portugal, tracking as the eurozone’s fastest growing economy, needs looser contracting and outsourcing rules to reach its potential. Unions say it’s an assault on worker rights. (BBC)

THAILAND

Must we do this now?

As Thailand’s border conflict with Cambodia rages into its fifth day, the Thai king has endorsed PM Charnvirakul’s bid to call early elections. The PM was heading off a no-confidence vote by an opposition party irked by his reneging on a promised referendum that could’ve curbed the establishment’s grip on power. (Reuters)

BRAZIL

Left in the dark.

High winds and fallen trees have triggered a blackout in São Paulo, leaving some 1.4 million folks without electricity while grounding hundreds of flights in and out of Brazil’s largest city. Private-owned utility Enel is copping criticism. (AP)

EGYPT

Take it off our hands, pls.

Egypt has opened bidding for private management of Hurghada International Airport, 450km (280mi) from Cairo. It’s part of a broader IMF and IFC-backed privatisation across 11 airports to help balance Egypt’s books. (AfricaNews)

Comment: With current IMF financing terms due to expire some time in the next year, the IMF has been pushing Egypt to go harder — Intriguers may recall Egypt already sold a chunk of prime Mediterranean beachfront to the UAE for $35B last year.