Monday Mini-Report — Dec. 29, 2025: Ceasefire, China Drills, $2B U.S. Aid and More

Monday Mini-Report — Dec. 29, 2025

Here are today’s quick headlines and key developments from around the world and the U.S.

Thailand-Cambodia Ceasefire And China-Brokered Talks

The fragile ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia appears to be holding. Senior diplomats from both countries began two days of talks in China after signing a new agreement intended to halt weeks of fighting along their contested border. The clashes have killed more than 100 people and displaced over half a million residents on both sides of the frontier.

U.S. Announces $2 Billion For U.N. Humanitarian Aid

At the United Nations, the United States pledged $2 billion for U.N. humanitarian programs even as the administration continues to cut broader foreign assistance. U.S. officials say the contribution—smaller than past totals—aims to preserve America’s status as the world’s largest humanitarian donor amid warnings that U.N. agencies must "adapt, shrink or die" under new budget realities.

China Holds Major Military Exercises Around Taiwan

China launched large-scale military drills in the waters and airspace surrounding Taiwan, calling them a "stern warning" against outside interference. The exercises follow the U.S. administration’s mid-December approval of one of the largest arms-sale packages to Taiwan, raising tensions with the United States and Japan.

Trump And Netanyahu At Mar-a-Lago

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met at Mar-a-Lago and described their talks as productive. Mr. Trump said reconstruction in Gaza would begin "soon" and declined to rule out future Israeli or American strikes on Iran.

US Under Secretary of State for Foreign Assistance, Humanitarian Affairs and Religious Freedom Jeremy Lewin (L) and United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher attend the signing ceremony of a $2 billion pledge of United States for United Nations humanitarian aid in 2026, at the US Mission in Geneva, on December 29, 2025. According to UN data, the United States remains the top humanitarian aid donor in the world, but that amount fell significantly in 2025 to $2.7 billion, down from around $11 billion in 2023 and 2024 and from over $14 billion in 2022. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP via Getty Images)(Fabrice Coffrini / AFP via Getty Images)

Hamas Disarmament Remarks

Mr. Trump said he and Mr. Netanyahu discussed disarming Hamas, adding the group would have a "very short period of time to disarm" and warning there would be "hell to pay" if it did not comply—comments he characterized as part of efforts to secure long-term peace in the region.

Legal Ruling In California

A federal judge in California dismissed an indictment against a Los Angeles TikTok creator who was shot by an ICE agent during an arrest attempt earlier this year, ruling that the federal government violated the man’s constitutional rights.

Improper Redactions In Jeffrey Epstein Documents

Portions of files released from the Justice Department’s investigation of Jeffrey Epstein were not properly redacted: some censored material could reportedly be revealed by copying and pasting the blacked-out text into another document, raising concerns about document-handling practices.

ICE Purchases New Surveillance Tools

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is acquiring millions of dollars' worth of new surveillance equipment at the same time the administration has rolled back some civilian-data protections. Civil liberties advocates warn the combination could expand domestic surveillance well beyond immigration enforcement.

See you tomorrow for another rapid roundup.

Originally published on MS NOW.