Dec 15, 2025 #ABCNewsIndepth #ABCNewsAustralia
Australia is in shock following the terror attack at Bondi Beach that left 15 people dead. In an extended program of 7.30, we look at how the attack unfolded, hear from community leaders and people who were there. Plus, Sarah Ferguson interviews the Prime Minister and NSW Premier.
Archiv: hört hört.. / hear hear...
We mourn the loss of three Great American Patriots in Syria, two soldiers, and one Civilian Interpreter.
Likewise, we pray for the three injured soldiers who, it has just been confirmed, are doing well. This was an ISIS attack against the U.S., and Syria, in a very dangerous part of Syria, that is not fully controlled by them. The President of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is extremely angry and disturbed by this attack. There will be very serious retaliation. Thank you for your attention to this matter!
DONALD J. TRUMP
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
USA wants clarity on deal by Christmas – Zelenskyy
„There were no specific ultimatum dates. The fact that everyone wants to finish as soon as possible is a fact. The United States wants to finish faster – we hear that from them. I think they really wanted, or maybe want to have a full understanding of where we are with this agreement by Christmas,“ Zelenskyy said during a meeting with journalists on Thursday.
Admiral ousted by Hegseth talks privately to lawmakers
(December 9, 2025)
Adm. Alvin Holsey, who was pushed out of his post as the top U.S. military commander overseeing operations in Latin America, spoke privately with several lawmakers on Tuesday, according to three people familiar with the meeting — an indication that Congress is quietly pursuing a bipartisan inquiry into the Sept. 2 boat strike in the Caribbean Sea.
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Also on Tuesday, House and Senate leaders known as the „Gang of Eight“ are hearing separately from President Donald Trump‘s national security team: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Trump and Hegseth insist they didn’t know of follow-up strike that killed survivors on suspected drug boat
But Hegseth on Tuesday also denied any direct role in targeting the survivors, saying he’d empowered Adm. Frank M. “Mitch” Bradley to make all of the operational decisions — and had left the room well before it became clear that some of the people on the boat had survived.
“I watched that first strike live,” Hegseth said. “I didn’t stick around for the hour and two hours, whatever, where all the sensitive site exploitation digitally occurs, so I moved on to my next meeting.”
The defense secretary did not learn about the second strike, he added, until hours later.
What to Know About the Admiral Named by Hegseth as Boat Strike Comes Under Scrutiny
During the Sept. 2 strikes, Bradley was leading the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), which oversees elite military teams, handles complex and sensitive military missions, and at times works with the CIA. In October, he assumed command of the JSOC’s parent group, the United States Special Operations Command, which oversees the military’s special operations in more than 80 countries.
US official says shooting suspect was vetted by intel agencies and “clean on all checks”
At the time, the CIA would have done its own vetting of him through a variety of databases, including the National Counterterrorism Center database, to see if he had any known ties to terrorist groups. The CIA did its own vetting before he started working with them and kept the identities of those they worked with secret, the official said.
NCTC would have vetted him again during Operation Allies Welcome in 2021 for any ties to terrorism before he was allowed into the US. He was clean then as well and did not show any ties to terror organizations, per the senior US official.
Ban on Palestine Action is repugnant and should be lifted, high court told
In written submissions, he highlighted a September 2024 report from the National Police Coordination Centre that came after alleged terrorism incidents. The report concluded that Palestine Action was “a risk to UK businesses and legitimate enterprises nationwide” and engaged as a whole in “non-violent direct action”.
Another report from the centre in December last year said incidents in which violence had been used were “not the norm for PA (Palestine Action) action, and any harm or injuries historically are assessed to be the result of unintentional or misjudged action through trying to evade capture”.
Over the past week, my team has made tremendous progress with respect to ending the War between Russia and Ukraine (A War that would have NEVER started if I were President!). Last month 25,000 soldiers died.
The original 28-Point Peace Plan, which was drafted by the United States, has been fine-tuned, with additional input from both sides, and there are only a few remaining points of disagreement. In the hopes of finalizing this Peace Plan, I have directed my Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to meet with President Putin in Moscow and, at the same time, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll will be meeting with the Ukrainians. I will be briefed on all progress made, along with Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. I look forward to hopefully meeting with President Zelenskyy and President Putin soon, but ONLY when the deal to end this War is FINAL or, in its final stages. Thank you for your attention to this very important matter, and let’s all hope that PEACE can be accomplished AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!
Merz: We seek quick ceasefire, just and durable peace for Ukraine
„We continue to support Ukraine: We seek a ceasefire as soon as possible, a just and durable peace for Ukraine and security for Europe. Any plan affecting European interests and sovereignty requires Europe’s consent. Europe stands firm and united,“ Merz wrote on the social network X.
As reported, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a telephone conversation with German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz and shared fresh details of the work on steps to end the war. The President also noted that the Ukrainian side continues to communicate with the American side.
Jeffrey Epstein, who was charged by the Trump Justice Department in 2019 (Not the Democrats!), was a lifelong Democrat,
donated Thousands of Dollars to Democrat Politicians, and was deeply associated with many well-known Democrat figures, such as Bill Clinton (who traveled on his plane 26 times), Larry Summers (who just resigned from many Boards, including Harvard), Sleazebag Political Activist Reid Hoffman, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (who asked Epstein to donate to his Campaign AFTER Epstein was charged), Democrat Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett, and many more. Perhaps the truth about these Democrats, and their associations with Jeffrey Epstein, will soon be revealed, because I HAVE JUST SIGNED THE BILL TO RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES! As everyone knows, I asked Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, to pass this Bill in the House and Senate, respectively. Because of this request, the votes were almost unanimous in favor of passage. At my direction, the Department of Justice has already turned over close to fifty thousand pages of documents to Congress. Do not forget — The Biden Administration did not turn over a SINGLE file or page related to Democrat Epstein, nor did they ever even speak about him. Democrats have used the “Epstein” issue, which affects them far more than the Republican Party, in order to try and distract from our AMAZING Victories, including THE GREAT BIG BEAUTIFUL TAX CUT BILL, Strong Borders, No Men in Women’s Sports or Transgender for Everyone, ending DEI, stopping Biden’s Record Setting Inflation, lowering Prices, Biggest Tax and Regulation Cuts in History, ending EIGHT Wars, rebuilding our Military, knocking out Iran’s Nuclear capability, getting Trillions of Dollars INVESTED in the U.S.A., creating the “HOTTEST” Country anywhere in the World, and even delivering a HUGE DEFEAT to the Democrats on the recent Shutdown Disaster. For years our Great Nation has had to endure RUSSIA, RUSSIA, RUSSIA, UKRAINE, UKRAINE, UKRAINE, IMPEACHMENT HOAX #1, IMPEACHMENT HOAX #2, and many other Democrat created Witch Hunts and Scams, all of which have been so terrible and divisive for our Country, and have been done to confuse, deflect, and distract from the GREAT JOB that Republicans, and the Trump Administration, are doing. This latest Hoax will backfire on the Democrats just as all of the rest have! Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!
Early riser! The Sun is already starting its next solar cycle
(July 19, 2024)
The current solar cycle, named Cycle 25 because it is the 25th since 1755 when extensive recording of solar sunspot activity began, started in 2019.
It is not expected to end for another six years but the first signs that the next solar cycle is beginning have been spotted by researchers from the University of Birmingham and presented at the Royal Astronomical Society‘s National Astronomy Meeting in Hull.
The next solar cycle – Solar Cycle 26 – is already beginning
(July 23, 2024)
Solar max affects activity on the sun’s surface. Sunspots, flares and coronal mass ejections are all more rampant at solar maximum. This leads to a surge in electromagnetic energy hurtling toward Earth, making auroras visible more often and at lower altitudes.
The current solar cycle – Cycle 25 – started in 2019. It has the name Cycle 25 because it’s the 25th since 1755, when extensive recording of solar sunspot activity began.
It is not expected to end for another six years, but researchers have spotted the first signs that the next solar cycle is beginning. Researchers from the University of Birmingham presented their findings at the Royal Astronomical Society’s National Astronomy Meeting in Hull on July 18, 2024.
Lebanon president says no option but to negotiate with Israel to end war
(November 4, 2025)
It comes amid mounting US pressure on Beirut to begin talks with Tel Aviv and disarm the Iran-backed militant group.
Aoun has repeatedly called for dialogue, but conflicting reports in recent weeks have questioned whether Lebanon wants to limit these talks to a ceasefire mechanism or move onto high-level discussions.
U.S. Seeks Two-Year U.N. Mandate for Gaza Stabilization Force
It is not clear whether the draft would have enough support at the Security Council to be approved. Nine of the 15 members would need to vote in favor of it, and all five permanent members, including Russia and China, would have to abstain from a veto.
The draft is largely in line with Mr. Trump’s plan, which was first presented in September. It says the force would operate under the guidance of an international body known as the “Board of Peace,” and that its mandate would expire on Dec. 31, 2027. The draft suggests that date could be extended.
Scoop: U.S. seeks UN approval for Gaza security force with broad two-year mandate
The U.S. sent several UN Security Council members a draft resolution on Monday for the establishment of an international force in Gaza for a duration of at least two years, according to a copy obtained by Axios.
Antonio Delgado Introduces Proposal to Transform The New York State Democratic Party
(October 7, 2025)
“As someone who’s served in Congress and worked in government, I’ve seen firsthand how much it matters to have a state party that is strong, transparent, and connected to the people it represents,” said former United States Representative, Max Rose. “For too long, New York Democrats have lacked that. This plan is about rebuilding trust and giving our party the tools it needs to win in every community — urban, suburban, and rural alike.”
“I can’t remember the last time the State Party invited this level of engagement. Too often, county leaders have been treated like an afterthought,” said Liz Moran, Chair of the Madison County Democratic Committee. “The frank discussion among State Committee members and county chairs showcased the value of having grassroots voices truly at the center.”
“What struck me most about the call was how collaborative it felt. Lieutenant Governor Delgado isn’t dictating — he’s inviting,” said Bekkie Bryan, Chair of the Cortland County Democratic Committee. “That openness, paired with his bold vision, is exactly what we need to rebuild trust in the State Party.”
Military devise ‚war‘ plans after call-out – Troops stand down
MILITARY COMMANDERS have devised three specific courses of action to be taken in the event of any land strikes involving US forces and neighbouring Venezuela.
This follows a mandatory call-out of thousands of active soldiers, sailors and other personnel on October 31 to report for duty by 6 pm and a subsequent lockdown of all military installations.
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The combination of a motion to extend the state of emergency for three months being debated in Parliament, media reports of an imminent strike to Venezuela, sparked a wave of anxiety in some parts of the country with some schools ending earlier and private businesses shutting their doors.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar later called for calm, vowing to keep the public informed of any major developments.
Patriotic Front: Citizens want informed leaders
On October 31, Persad-Bissessar said she was unaware of reports that TT Defence Force (TTDF) personnel had been ordered to immediately return to base. She added she would find out and repeated her statement for people to remain calm in the face of reports which claimed US military strikes against targets in Venezuela were imminent.
Panday said, „The concern is that the head of the NSC should at least be aware of why the Defence Force was placed on high alert.“
She added if Persad-Bissessar genuinely did not know, „that raises serious questions about communication and coordination at the highest level of government, especially in a time of regional tension.“
Remarks at a UN Security Council Briefing on Sudan and South Sudan
(October 30, 2025)
The United States condemns in the strongest terms the horrific violence occurring in El Fasher. The situation is both tragic and appalling.
We have said this before, and we will say it again – the Rapid Support Forces and allied militias have committed genocide.
The RSF has and continues to systematically kill men and boys – even infants – and deliberately target women and children for rape and other forms of brutal sexual violence. These crimes are ethnically motivated.
RSF militias are targeting civilians as they flee, killing innocent people escaping conflict, and preventing those who remain from accessing life-saving supplies.
The United States condemns these abhorrent atrocities in no uncertain terms. Those responsible should be held accountable, including through sanctions, as noted by the Sudan Sanctions Panel of Experts in its most recent report.
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Colleagues, ending wars is a priority for President Trump, and the United States remains committed to working with our partners and other stakeholders to resolve the crisis.
Together, we are focused on securing an immediate humanitarian truce, halting external support, and advancing a transition to civilian governance.
JD Vance rejects claims of Israeli influence on Trump: ‚They are not controlling this president‘
Vance also directly rejected the idea of external control over the president, affirming, “So when people say that Israel is somehow manipulating or controlling the president of the United States, they are not controlling this president of the United States, which is one of the reasons why we have been able to have some of the success we have had in the Middle East.”
Vance reinforced his assertion of the president’s autonomy by referring to the negotiations surrounding the Gaza agreement.
Israel does not control President Trump, JD Vance affirms at TPUSA event
Vance was referring to a question as to Israel‘s alleged influence over US President Donald Trump‘s foreign policy.
„I’m a Christian man, and I’m just confused why there’s this notion that we might owe Israel something or that they are our greatest ally or that we have to support this multi-hundred-billion dollar foreign aid package to Israel to cover this – to quote Charlie Kirk – ethnic cleansing in Gaza,“ the student asked.
Venezuela ha informado con claridad al Gobierno de Trinidad y Tobago sobre la operación de falsa bandera dirigida por la CIA: atacar un buque militar estadounidense estacionado en dicha isla y luego culpar a Venezuela, para justificar una agresión contra nuestro país.
Es el mismo guion imperial del barco Maine y del Golfo de Tonkin: fabricar un conflicto para imponer intereses ajenos a nuestra región.
Venezuela actúa con firmeza y responsabilidad: en nuestro territorio se está desmantelando una célula criminal financiada por la CIA vinculada a esta operación encubierta. Esperamos que Trinidad y Tobago haga lo propio y no permita que su territorio sea usado para maniobras que amenazan la paz del Caribe.
Respetamos al pueblo de Trinidad y Tobago y confiamos en su conciencia para impedir que su país sea arrastrado a una operación sucia de guerra.
Venezuela no caerá en provocaciones, pero nadie se confunda: defenderemos nuestra soberanía sin titubeos. La Primera Ministra Kamla Persad-Bissessar debe asumir su responsabilidad ante el Caribe y ante la historia: o se pone del lado de la paz o se hunde en la agenda de la CIA.
Venezuela claims to foil false-flag CIA plot targeting US warship in Trinidad
The allegation came a day after Venezuela said it had arrested what it called mercenaries linked to the CIA.
“On our territory a criminal cell financed by the CIA and linked to this covert operation is being dismantled,” Gil said.
US President Donald Trump said recently he has approved covert action in Venezuela and is considering launching operations on Venezuelan territory.
Venezuela accuses US of plotting false-flag operation in Caribbean
(18 hours ago)
Venezuela says it has thwarted what it calls a CIA-linked plot to attack a US warship anchored in Trinidad.
It claims the US would have blamed Venezuela for the attack on the USS Gravely, a guided-missile destroyer, to justify aggression against it.
The allegation comes a day after Venezuela said it had arrested mercenaries it alleged were connected to the US intelligence agency.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said in a statement he had advised Trinidad and Tobago of the alleged false-flag operation.
US is sending an aircraft carrier to Latin America in major escalation of military buildup
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford and its strike group to deploy to U.S. Southern Command to “bolster U.S. capacity to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit actors and activities that compromise the safety and prosperity of the United States,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a social media post.
Who is Richard LA? ICE agents shoot TikToker while serving warrant
An attorney handling things for the family, said his client was neither a dangerous nor an uncivil person. “What we know about Richard is that he‘s a very pacifist man, very calm. We find it very odd what‘s being said about him,” his family lawyer further told NBC Los Angeles. Los Angeles City Councilmember Curren Price’s office said the man who was shot has lived in the city for decades and is a well-known member of the community. Price’s deputy chief of staff Jose Ugarte awarded the man a certificate of recognition two months ago for his citizen reporting in the community, his office said.“
TikToker shot by federal agents, deputy US marshal hit by ricochet bullet during South LA operation
The shooting happened in the 400 block of East 20th Street near Trinity Street around 8:52 a.m. Federal officials said it began as a targeted enforcement traffic stop on an undocumented immigrant who had previously avoided capture.
A view from AIR7 over the scene showed a dark-colored sedan boxed in by several other vehicles.
Witnesses told Eyewitness News the man involved is a well-known TikToker who regularly follows ICE. He goes by Richard LA online.
Trump says Gaza ceasefire remains in effect as Israel kills 45
20 October 2025 06:20 BST
US President Donald Trump on Monday that the ceasefire in Gaza remains in effect, after a series of Israeli strikes killed at least 97 people in the Palestinian territory, news agency AFP reported.
„Yes, it is,“ Trump told reporters aboard the presidential plane when asked if the cease-fire he helped broker was still in effect.
He also suggested that Hamas leaders were not involved in the alleged truce violations and instead blamed „some rebels within the movement.“
Egypt expected to lead global stabilisation force in Gaza, say diplomats
A European and US-backed UN security council motion to give a planned international stabilisation force robust powers to control security inside Gaza is being prepared, with the strong expectation that Egypt will lead it, diplomats have said.
The US is pressing for the force to have a UN mandate without being a fully fledged UN peacekeeping force and will operate with the kind of powers given to international troops operating in Haiti to combat armed gangs.
Turkey, Indonesia and Azerbaijan are also being billed alongside Egypt as the main troop contributors.
Official: 30 countries to attend Egypt summit; Gaza stabilization, reconstruction on agenda
The security element will focus on creating a stabilization force and establishing a US-Qatari-Egyptian-Turkish task force to locate bodies of hostages.
The second topic will center on the creation of a “Palestinian committee to end the state of permanent war and aim for a complete withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from the Gaza Strip,” says the French diplomat.
US to Deploy 200 Troops for Gaza Task Force With No Operations on Ground in Gaza
The officials said the U.S. troops’ exact location had yet to be decided. But they would develop a joint control center and integrate other security forces that will work in Gaza to coordinate with Israeli forces to avoid clashes.
“No U.S. troops are intended to go into Gaza,” said one of the officials.
Italy ready to send peacekeepers to Gaza, hails Trump’s ceasefire plan
Tajani wrote in a post on the X platform: “Peace is near, and Italy, which has always supported the American plan, is ready to play its part in strengthening the ceasefire, providing new humanitarian aid, and participating in the reconstruction of Gaza. We are also prepared to send forces if an international peacekeeping force is established to reunite Palestine.”