10 Things Global News - 10th December 2025
Interesting and important news from around the world
Russia And China Stage Joint Patrol Near Japan
Gaza Malnutrition Persists Despite Ceasefire
Lithuania Declares Emergency Over Belarus Balloons
Trump Escalates Criticism Of Europe And Ukraine
Australia Flags Challenges As AUKUS Review Advances
Fighting Surges In DRC Days After Washington Peace Deal
Honduras Faces Turmoil Amid Disputed Vote Count
Fighting Reignites On Thai-Cambodian Border
EU Nears Decision On Using Russian Assets
US Jets Fly Near Venezuela Amid Rising Tensions
On this day ….
On this day in 1948, the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, setting out a common set of principles intended to protect individual freedoms and dignity after the devastation of the Second World War.
It became a cornerstone of the post-war international order and shaped many later treaties, constitutions and institutions.
Seventy-six years on, the consensus that enabled the UDHR is under strain, with competing models of governance and contested interpretations of rights.
Can a document written in the aftermath of global conflict still unify states with sharply divergent political values?
Japan scrambled fighter jets late on Tuesday to monitor a joint Russian-Chinese air patrol operating around its territory. Tokyo said two Russian Tu-95 bombers flew from the Sea of Japan toward the East China Sea to meet two Chinese H-6 bombers before conducting a long-distance flight through the Pacific. Four Chinese J-16 fighters then joined the formation as it travelled between Okinawa and Miyako, an area that lies within international waters.
Japanese officials described simultaneous Russian activity elsewhere in the Sea of Japan, involving an A-50 early-warning aircraft and two Su-30 fighters.
Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the combined operation was clearly intended as a show of force and posed a serious concern for national security. South Korea reported that Russian and Chinese aircraft entered its own air defence zone, adding to the regional pressure. The patrol lasted eight hours, reflecting expanding military cooperation between Moscow and Beijing.
Sources: Reuters, CNN
Malnutrition remains widespread among children in Gaza despite the October ceasefire, with UNICEF reporting that 9,300 children were treated for severe acute malnutrition that month. The figure is lower than the August peak but still far above levels seen during the earlier February-March ceasefire. As a result, aid agencies say that current deliveries remain well below requirements, leaving families weakened by two years of war, displacement and economic collapse.
Meanwhile, newborns weighing less than one kilogram have been observed in hospitals, underscoring the strain on mothers and infants. UNICEF warned that more than 8,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women were also hospitalised for acute malnutrition in October. This could lead to low birthweight babies for months to come, even as aid flows have risen since the height of the conflict.
However, UN-coordinated deliveries average only 140 trucks a day in December, far below the 600-truck target. Access remains subject to Israeli approval, with only four of eight planned convoys facilitated on Sunday.
Sources: The Guardian, Reuters
Lithuania has declared a state of emergency after hundreds of balloons sent from Belarus violated its airspace and repeatedly forced airport closures. Vilnius said the balloons, used to smuggle cigarettes, formed part of a wider hybrid attack by Belarus and Russia, echoing earlier pressure involving migrants and incidents targeting regional security. As a result, the government said the measure would allow stronger military involvement and better co-ordination between agencies.
Meanwhile, officials said Vilnius airport had been closed for more than 60 hours since October, disrupting over 350 flights and about 51,000 passengers. The situation has prompted calls for greater EU support and sanctions on Belarusian officials.
However, Belarus has denied responsibility, accusing Lithuania of politicising the issue. President Alexander Lukashenko said the balloons could not harm civil aviation and urged negotiations, while Lithuanian prosecutors have launched an investigation into their origins.
Sources: FT, South China Morning Post
President Trump has sharply criticised European leaders, calling their countries “weak” and “decaying” in an interview in which he also questioned Europe’s approach to migration and the war in Ukraine. He argued that European nations had failed to control migration or deliver decisive results on ending the conflict. As a result, he said longstanding alliances could not be assumed, noting that whether weak leaders could remain friends of the United States “depends”.
Meanwhile, Mr Trump accused President Volodymyr Zelensky of not reading the latest American peace proposals and suggested Ukraine would need to compromise. He argued that Russia had the upper hand due to its size and strength, saying “at some point, size will win”.
His comments followed meetings between Mr Zelensky and European leaders, who reiterated support for Ukraine and opposition to ceding territory. However, in his latest remarks, Mr Trump said the war had continued for four years and criticised European efforts as unproductive.
Sources: The Independent, New York Times
Australia has acknowledged significant challenges in delivering the AUKUS nuclear submarine programme, with Defence Minister Richard Marles saying the country must be “very self-critical” as it builds the workforce and infrastructure required. He said a recent Pentagon review had identified areas to strengthen the plan, which will be discussed when defence ministers from Australia, Britain and the United States meet in Washington. As a result, Marles said Australia was focused on addressing the “enormous uplift” needed to host four U.S. Virginia-class submarines by the end of 2027.
Meanwhile, U.S. and Australian officials reaffirmed during AUSMIN consultations that the SSN-AUKUS programme remains on schedule. Officials said the United Kingdom is expected to field the first submarines in the late 2030s, followed by Australia in the early 2040s.
They also confirmed plans for a trilateral AUKUS defence ministers’ summit in early 2026. However, Marles cautioned that Australia still faces challenges around skilling its workforce and developing supply chains to meet long-term requirements.
Sources: Reuters, Army Recognition
Around 200,000 people have fled fresh fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where Rwanda-backed M23 rebels are advancing towards the strategic town of Uvira. The UN said at least 74 people had been killed and 83 admitted to hospital with wounds in recent days.
Local officials reported clashes between M23, Congolese troops and local Wazalendo groups, despite a peace pact signed in Washington last week. As a result, the renewed violence has raised immediate questions about the agreement’s impact.
Meanwhile, M23 fighters have captured the town of Luvungi, prompting further battles along the northern route towards Rwanda. Rwanda denies supporting the rebels, although both Washington and the UN say evidence of its backing is clear. However, President Felix Tshisekedi accused Rwanda of violating the commitments made in Washington, as the US urged Kigali to prevent further escalation. The conflict had already displaced more than 1.2 million people before this latest surge.
Sources: The Guardian, The Daily Nation
Honduras has entered a volatile phase after President Xiomara Castro denounced an “electoral coup” during the chaotic tally of the 30 November presidential vote. She accused political actors of manipulating the transmission system and altering the popular will, while hundreds of supporters gathered in Tegucigalpa to demand clarity. Election officials urged calm as protesters set tyres alight near facilities storing ballots, adding strain to an already tense environment.
However, the uncertainty deepened as tally sheets showing inconsistencies became central to the dispute, prompting a special review by the electoral authority. Asfura leads by roughly 40,000 votes with 99.4 per cent counted, but 14.5 per cent of sheets require verification.
Meanwhile, both leading candidates have claimed victory, fuelling further discord. The United States warned it would respond “swiftly and decisively” to any irregularities, as allegations of interference and technical failures continued to overshadow the process.
Sources: South China Morning Post, Reuters
Renewed hostilities between Thailand and Cambodia have intensified after the collapse of a US-brokered ceasefire, prompting both governments to accuse each other of escalation. Fatal clashes have risen along the disputed frontier, with more than 500,000 people displaced since the conflict reignited. Fighting has involved artillery fire and, according to Thai officials, the use of F-16 jets. Both sides have vowed to defend their territory as they trade blame for the violence.
However, political pressure has deepened as President Donald Trump said he would make a call to halt the deterioration, citing his role in earlier agreements. Cambodia’s defence ministry reported nine civilians killed and 20 seriously injured, while Thailand reported four soldiers killed and dozens more wounded.
Officials in both countries say the situation is not conducive to negotiations, even as regional actors call for restraint and renewed dialogue.
Sources: The Guardian, South China Morning Post
European Union leaders are moving toward a final decision on how to fund Ukraine’s economic and military needs for 2026 and 2027, as Kyiv faces urgent financing pressures.
The debate centres on whether to use around 210 billion euros in frozen Russian assets held across Europe, most of them at Euroclear in Belgium. Some governments worry the move could trigger retaliation or legal challenges, but leaders agree the bloc cannot leave its summit without a solution.
However, a consensus is emerging that a qualified-majority decision could unlock a reparations-linked loan, allowing the EU to channel these assets to Ukraine while keeping the legal claim of the Russian Central Bank intact. Belgium continues to seek guarantees that other members will share any financial risks.
Leaders are also weighing alternatives, including EU borrowing, though that would require unanimity and risk another veto.
Sources: ABC News, Reuters
The United States flew two F/A-18 fighter jets over the Gulf of Venezuela on Tuesday in one of the closest operations to the country’s airspace since the start of Washington’s pressure campaign. Public tracking sites showed the aircraft flying for more than 30 minutes over the narrow gulf, and a US defence official described the mission as a routine training flight conducted entirely in international airspace.
However, the operation comes as the US expands its military presence across the region and intensifies strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats, actions that have already killed at least 87 people. As a result, scrutiny of the campaign is increasing in Congress, where lawmakers are pressing for the release of unedited strike footage.
Venezuela continues to insist the flights form part of an effort to unseat President Nicolás Maduro, deepening tensions as Washington signals that land operations may soon follow.