Burkina Faso: Under Ibrahim Traoré, authorities have taken over all French-owned TotalEnergies gas stations and rebranded them as “Baraka Energies.”

South Africa: Businesses will begin paying Chinese suppliers in yuan, as Standard Bank becomes the first African bank integrated into China’s Cross-Border Interbank Payment System.

Lieutenant Colonel Yevhenii Ivanov, senior navigator of the 39th Tactical Aviation Brigade, was killed while carrying out a combat mission in an Su-27, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.

The incident occurred around noon on December 8, 2025, in eastern Ukraine.

Peace negotiations between the U.S. and Ukraine are stalled over one key issue:

Washington is pushing Kyiv to relinquish the entire Donbas region, even though Russia has failed to fully seize it after nearly three years of war.

Ukraine, which still controls about 30 percent of Donbas, insists any deal should freeze the war along current front lines.

Source: POLITICO

Tanzania: Police were reportedly seen patrolling the streets at night ahead of the massive planned protests on 9 December.

Hungary's Orban in Türkiye:

We believe the Ukraine–Russia war has no solution on the battlefield, and that peace is necessary.

We commend President Erdogan’s efforts as the only successful mediator so far.

Hungary's Orban in Türkiye:

Without Türkiye protecting Europe from the south, life in Hungary and across Europe would be unlivable.

We would be drowning in illegal migration—this has been prevented thanks to Türkiye.

On this day in 1991, leaders of Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine signed the Belovezh Accords, declaring the Soviet Union dissolved and creating the CIS.

On December 26, the USSR’s parliament officially confirmed its end.

Netanyahu:

I speak with Putin on a regular basis, and this relationship serves our vital interests.

Netanyahu:

What you describe as the supposed collapse of Israel’s international standing is completely detached from reality.

Netanyahu:

Many lies are being spread—claims that I opposed returning hostages, that IDF soldiers kill babies for sport.

This is antisemitic propaganda, and we are fighting it worldwide, including with over two billion shekels just transferred to the Foreign Ministry.

On this day in 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt called December 7 “a date which will live in infamy” as he addressed Congress after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.

Within hours, Congress approved his request to declare war on Japan, officially bringing the United States into World War II.

Zelensky:

Ukraine has no right under its Constitution, international law, or moral law to give up its territories.

Zelensky:

The U.S. peace plan has been reduced from 28 to 20 points.

The Americans want to find compromises, but when it comes to territories — there are none.

Zelensky:

Donald Trump has “his own vision” for how the war should end, which differs from the Ukrainian one.

Zelensky:

Trading Ukrainian territories for security guarantees is not being considered.

Zelensky:

Americans will continue supplying weapons to Ukraine.

They make money from it, and this aligns with their current policy.

Zelensky:

Security advisers from Ukraine and European countries will finalize the peace plan draft brought from Miami by Tuesday evening to hand it over to the U.S.

Russian Foreign Ministry:

The conflict between the United States and Venezuela threatens unpredictable consequences for the Western Hemisphere.

Russia hopes that Washington will not “slide” into such a scenario.

Japan is frustrated that the Trump administration has stayed mostly silent after China angrily responded to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s warning that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could justify Japan using its military.

Tokyo has asked the U.S. to show stronger public support, but aside from minor embassy comments, Washington has largely avoided backing her openly.

Japanese officials say the lack of visible U.S. support is deeply disappointing.

Source: FT