(2025-12-20). China, Ukraine hold political consultations between foreign ministries. ecns.cn China's Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Liu Bin (R) meets Serhiy Kyslytsya, first deputy minister of foreign affairs of Ukraine, in Beijing, December 18, 2025.China's Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Liu Bin held political consultations between the foreign ministries of China and Ukraine with Serhiy Kyslytsya, first deputy minister of foreign affairs of Ukraine, in Beijing on Thursday.
(2025-12-19). Democrats release several new images from Epstein estate. tribune.com.pk 
Congressional Democrats released dozens of new images from the estate of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Thursday, a day before the US Justice Department is required by law to release unclassified files from its investigation of the disgraced financier. | The latest batch of images includes close-ups of sentences from "Lolita," a book about a man's obsession with a 12-year-old girl, scribbled in black ink across a woman's body — chest, foot, neck and back; redacted identification cards of women from Russia, Morocco, Italy, Czech Republic, South Africa, Ukraine and Lithuania; and a late…
(2025-12-19). West sanctions fail to curb 'rise of the ruble', but it may not be good news for Putin | Here's why. hindustantimes.com Despite a grinding, sanction‚Äëhit war in Ukraine, the ruble has climbed back toward pre‚Äëinvasion levels around 76—79 per dollar. High interest rates, capital repatriation and import restrictions are propping it up, but economists warn this "strong" ruble could backfire by slashing export revenues and undermining Russia's long‚Äëterm, oil‚Äëdriven economy.
(2025-12-19). EU opts for joint borrowing to bankroll Ukraine, shelves risky Russian asset plan. moderndiplomacy.eu European Union leaders agreed to raise 90 billion euros through joint borrowing backed by the EU budget to support Ukraine's defence over the next two years, setting aside a controversial plan to use frozen Russian sovereign assets. The bloc holds around 210 billion euros in Russian assets, most of them in Belgium, but legal, financial …
(2025-12-19). Ukraine's low-tech shield: Fishing nets turned into Drone defense against UAVs. hindustantimes.com As Russian FPV and fiber-optic drones tighten their grip on Ukraine's skies, Kyiv is being forced into a starkly low-tech defensive improvisation. Viral visuals from southern and eastern Ukraine show roads and buildings draped in fishing nets and mesh tunnels—an emergency shield against deadly drone strikes. With advanced air-defence systems stretched thin and military aid delayed, Ukraine is repurposing discarded deep-sea fishing nets sent by European charities to protect civilians and military convoys. The tactic underscores both Ukraine's adaptability and the growing pressure of a war where billion-dolla…
(2025-12-19). Is ‚Ǩ90 Billion from Europe Sufficient to Help Ukraine Defeat Russia? thinktank.pk The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia has entered a critical phase as of late 2025, with questions surrounding Ukraine's ability to sustain its defense efforts. Key factors include access to reliable energy supplies from Europe, substantial financial aid packages, and the influx of fresh military reinforcements. Understanding the Role of European Fuel in Ukraine's …
(2025-12-19). EU approves $90bln loan for Ukraine; Russian assets spared. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 19 (MNA) — European Union leaders agreed on Friday to provide a massive interest-free loan to Ukraine to meet its military and economic needs for the next two years…
(2025-12-19). Why peace deal on Ukraine still distant after Berlin talks? independent.co.ug 
BERLIN, Germany | Xinhua | Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday concluded lengthy talks with U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner in Berlin, describing the talks as "productive." The talks, which also brought together several European leaders, underscored a shared view that diplomatic efforts should be sustained to bring …
(2025-12-19). EU agrees to loan Ukraine $105 billion after bid to use Russian assets fails. tehrantimes.com European Union leaders reached a deal early Friday on a $105 billion loan to keep Ukraine's economy and military from a budgetary blackhole through 2027. While it didn't come about in the way some of them wanted, the fact it came about at all has been hailed by top officials as a win for the bloc, CNN reported.
(2025-12-19). Britain sanctions Russia's energy firms. tribune.com.pk 
Britain imposed sanctions on Thursday on more Russian oil companies and Canadian-Pakistani billionaire Murtaza Lakhani as part of efforts to ramp up pressure on Moscow over the war in Ukraine. | The government targeted 24 individuals and entities, including what it described as Russia's largest remaining unsanctioned oil companies: Tatneft, Russneft, NNK-Oil and Rusneftegaz. | The latest measures aim to make it harder for Russia to trade its oil globally. In October, Britain and the US sanctioned Russia's two biggest oil companies, Lukoil and Rosneft. | Earlier on Thursday, the EU imposed sanctions on 41 more…
(2025-12-19). Why has Abramovich kept $3.3Bn from Ukraine victims for 3 years? UK goes after ex-Chelsea owner. hindustantimes.com The UK has intensified pressure on former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich over $3.3 billion in proceeds from the sale of the football club, funds that were pledged for Ukraine war victims but remain frozen three years later. Keir Starmer challenged Abramovich to pay up or face being dragged to court by the UK government. Watch why here…
(2025-12-19). Brazil may delay EU-Mercosur deal amid Brussels protests. tribune.com.pk 
Police fired teargas at farmers protesting the EU's planned trade deal with South American bloc Mercosur in Brussels Thursday, as Brazil opened the door to postponing its signature to win over reluctant Europeans. | About 1,000 honking tractors rolled into the Belgian capital, where the deal loomed large over an EU summit focused on funding Ukraine's war effort. | EU plans to have the pact sealed this week were thrown into disarray by Italy joining fellow heavyweight France in demanding a delay. | The last-mile upset drew a now-or-never ultimatum from Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva — but he…
(2025-12-19). Zelensky's peace talk & Drone war: Kyiv pushes talks as Rostov burns in strikes. hindustantimes.com Peace overtures are playing out in conference rooms while a shadow war of drones rages across borders, with Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles slamming into Russia's Rostov Region and triggering deadly fires and civilian casualties. In coordinated overnight strikes on Rostov-on-Don, Bataysk and Taganrog, Ukrainian drones ignited a cargo vessel in the port of Rostov-on-Don, killing two crew members and injuring three others, as well as setting private homes ablaze in Bataysk and damaging civilian infrastructure across the area. Watch for details…
(2025-12-19). Putin's Iskander missile gets deadly upgrade, European cities now within Russia's striking range. hindustantimes.com Russia is reportedly accelerating production of a modernised Iskander ballistic missile capable of striking targets up to 1,000 kilometres away, dramatically expanding the threat envelope across Europe. Leaked documents suggest Moscow plans to manufacture up to 1,000 extended-range "Iskander-1000" missiles, with potential deployments in Kaliningrad placing major European cities and NATO assets within reach. Faster, more manoeuvrable and harder to intercept, the upgraded Iskander underscores rising tensions between Russia and Europe as concerns grow over missile defence readiness and regional security.
(2025-12-19). Pakistan eyes January Panda Bond debut. tribune.com.pk 
Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb reviewed progress on Pakistan's inaugural Panda Bond issuance under a planned $1 billion programme aimed at diversifying funding sources and supporting debt sustainability. | He was briefed by officials of the Ministry of Finance's Debt Management Office on regulatory approvals, investor outreach and market readiness, as Pakistan prepares to enter China's onshore bond market with the first issuance targeted for January. | Pakistan Advances Toward USD 1 Billion Panda Bond Program with Inaugural Issuance Targeted for January | Federal Minister for Finan…
(2025-12-19). Russia's beast roars: First S-500 regiment deployed – NATO hypersonic, stealth jets & SATs tremble. hindustantimes.com Russia has declared its first regiment equipped with the advanced S-500 Prometheus missile system combat-ready, signaling a major boost to its upper-tier air and missile defense capabilities. Announced by Russian Defence Minister Andrei Leousov on December 7, the deployment strengthens Moscow's strategic defenses and showcases its commitment to modernizing its military amid rising global tensions. The S-500, capable of targeting aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic threats in near space, positions Russia at the forefront of next-generation missile defense technology.
(2025-12-19). Dar accuses India of violating IWT as Chenab levels fall. tribune.com.pk 
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar has accused India of violating the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), warning that New Delhi's alleged manipulation of water flows into Pakistan could trigger a humanitarian crisis, as water levels in the Chenab River continue to fall. | The warning comes amid fluctuating water patterns on the river system. On December 8, reports indicated that India had released a surge of water into the Chenab River, pushing the flow up to 58,300 cusecs. However, Pakistani officials said levels have since plunged sharply. | A day earlier, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir…
(2025-12-19). The Yellow Baldwin: William Gee Wong. counterpunch.org 
Reading William Gee Wong's Sons of Chinatown: A Memoir Rooted in China and America (Temple University Press, 2024), one realizes how valuable the former Oakland Tribune publishers Robert and Nancy Maynard were to the Oakland community. However, the stress that accompanied their being overachievers killed them—the Jackie Robinson curse. Maynard, who'd worked at The Washington