Israel unleashes Iron Beam laser weapon

Fox News senior national correspondent William La Jeunesse reports on Israel’s latest innovation in weaponry that is drawing interest from countries worldwide.

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Israel isn’t the world’s most popular country, except when it comes to military hardware. A country the size of New Jersey is now the world’s 8th largest arms exporter with a record-breaking $15 billion in sales in 2024.

Behind Britain, but ahead of Turkey and South Korea in foreign arms sales, governments are flocking to Israel to buy battle-tested weapons, especially rockets from its vaunted Iron Dome missile defense system.

Europe accounts for most of the sales – Germany and Finland being the largest, but India, Thailand, and Greece are buyers as well. Even Muslim majority countries — Morocco, the UAE and Bahrain buy missiles, drones and cybersecurity systems from the Jewish state. 

The record sales come as Israel unveils its latest weapon. The Iron Beam is a laser capable of knocking out incoming missiles, mortar rounds and drones up to six miles away for as little as $2 per interception. By contrast, interceptor missiles typically cost anywhere from $100,000 to $1 million apiece.

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Rafael Lite Beam, Iron Beam -M (250) and Iron Beam (450) High Energy Laser Weapon Systems (HELWS) are displayed during the Security Equipment International (DSEI) at London Excel on September 10, 2025 in London, England. (John Keeble/Getty Images)

“With the laser, the only cost is electricity,” says Yuval Steinitz, chairman of Rafael Defense Industries, manufacturer of the Iron Beam. “It is like between $1 and $2— less than the price of a hot dog in New York.”

Unlike conventional missile interceptors, fast as they are, take time. A laser travels at the speed of light.

“We have already used it against UAVs launched by Hezbollah in the north and missiles from Iran. It works,” says University of Tel Aviv professor Issac Ben-David. “The most important advantage is, once you see the target, it is intercepted at the speed of light. It takes a fraction of a second and the laser is already destroying it.”

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The Iron Beam is a laser capable of destroying incoming missiles, mortar rounds and drones up to six miles away. (Israel Ministry of Defense)

After decades of failed tests by multiple nations, Israel is the first country to successfully use the weapon in war.  One of those who oversaw development was Prof. Issac Ben-David, former head of research and development at Israel’s Ministry of Defense.

Israel will deploy the first Iron Beam systems in the north, where Hezbollah rockets fired in southern Lebanon take under a minute to cross the Israeli border. Applications will expand to include ships and specific air bases.

“This is just the beginning of a new era,” says Steinitz. “In time, maybe five years, it will enable us to shoot down every hostile object in the air around Israel. It’s really a game changer.”

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Israel’s Iron Beam laser system targets and disables incoming missiles, mortar fire and drones at ranges up to six miles. (Israel Ministry of Defense)

Rafael developed the technology with U.S.-based Lockheed Martin and $1.2 billion from the Pentagon. Steinitz says the technology is already being shared with the U.S. Army’s own directed energy program.

“We cannot do without the United States,” he said. “But sometimes in a partnership, even the dwarf can contribute to the giant.”

William La Jeunesse joined FOX News Channel (FNC) in March 1998 and currently serves as a Senior National Correspondent.

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With an estimated net worth of between five and seven billion dollars and a penchant for coating every surface in the White House with what he claims to be 18-karat gold leaf paint, President Donald Trump isn’t exactly an expert on cost-cutting.

But after the uber-wealthy ex-real estate developer claimed that record-high toy prices caused by his tariffs are just fine because young girls “don’t need 37 dolls” and can make do with “two or three” instead, his top spokesperson was left scrambling when asked to defend the eyebrow-raising remarks.

Asked to defend Trump’s claim that Americans can “give up certain products” and limit toy purchases because tariffs have caused prices to go upon the 80 percent of toys on the U.S. market that are imported from China, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt first told reporters at a Friday press briefing that the president’s comments were meant as an exhortation to buy more expensive American-made ones instead.

Leavitt first claimed Trump’s intent when commenting on how many dolls a hypothetical young girl needs was to encourage parents to buy American-made dolls.

“Maybe you’ll pay $1 or two more, but you will get better quality, and you’ll be supporting your fellow Americans by buying American and that’s what the President was saying,” she said.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing at the White House, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Washington (AP)

But when The Independent pressed her on whether it is appropriate for one of the wealthiest men in the country to be lecturing cash-strapped parents of young girls on how many dolls their daughters need to own, Leavitt irately pivoted to recasting Trump’s wealth as a positive while declining to address the substance of the question.

“Do you think the people in that room in Pennsylvania who the President was speaking to don’t know the President’s a billionaire? I think that’s a very well established fact,” she said.

Leavitt continued her monologue by claiming that Trump’s status as a billionaire was part and parcel of why voters chose to return him to the White House in last year’s election over then-vice president Kamala Harris.

“Actually, I think it’s one of the many reasons they reelected him back to this office, because he’s a businessman who understands the economy and knows how to fix it, and he’s doing it right now, just like he did in his first term,” she said.

Despite Trump’s claims to have lowered costs of living for Americans since returning to the White House in January, voters are not happy with his performance on affordability issues thus far.

According to a recent Gallup poll, only 36 percent of voters approve of his performance as president, giving him the lowest rating of his second term. A Politico poll released this week showed 46 percent of respondents saying the cost of living in America is worse than they can remember at any point, including 37 percent of voters who pulled levers for Trump last year.

Nearly half of respondents also said they blame Trump — not Biden or Harris — for the economy’s current condition.

But at the same time, Trump continues to tout his own record, such as it is.

In an interview with Politico this week, he told correspondent Dasha Burns that he gives himself an “A-plus-plus-plus-plus” when she asked him to grade his own record on the economy thus far.

And at the same time, Trump has dismissed Democrats’ focus on “affordability” heading into next year’s midterms as a “hoax” while claiming that “prices are way down” and accusing Democrats of having “caused” the high prices that persist nearly a year into his second term in office.

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NEED TO KNOW

• A Maryland family is facing $650 worth of HOA fees for the “annoyance and nuisance” allegedly caused by their holiday light display
• A letter delivered to Pahan Salgado and his family on Monday explains they’re getting charged $50 per day from Nov. 26 to Dec. 8
• “We’re not being a nuisance. Some lights on the bushes and a manger scene does not cause a nuisance to the whole community,” Salgado tells local outlet WJLA

A Germantown, Md., family gets in the holiday spirit every year by creating a larger-than-life display in their front yard.

“It’s just a wonderful time of year for everyone,” Pahan Salgado tells local outlet WJLA. “It’s reflecting back on our faith and our values — our Christian values, we believe in Christ. That’s why we decorate our house and do our lights.”

The display features hundreds of lights, festive wreaths, a nativity scene, large nutcrackers and even a nod to their late family members.

“With our grandma, after she passed away, we placed two angels in front of our house,” Salgado tells the outlet.

He says it’s an annual source of holiday cheer, claiming, “The joy it brings to so many people is beyond words.”

Some of the neighbors agree. Hinda Al-Awar who lives across the street told the outlet the “decorations are beautiful.” 

“I enjoy it,” she says. “When my kids come up, they love it.”

However, the homeowners association (HOA) has taken an issue with the display. On Dec. 8, lawyers representing the Middlebrook Manor South Homeowners Association sent a letter to the family letting them know they owe $650 due to the “annoyance and nuisance” they’ve caused.

“You were repeatedly informed that your decorative lawn ornaments and decorative light installations were in violation of the association’s governing documents and were an annoyance and nuisance to the neighborhood and other residents,” the letter says.

As a result, the family is being fined $25 per day per violation for 13 days between Nov. 26 and Dec. 8. 

“We’re not attracting anybody. Nobody is coming into the neighborhood disrupting. We’re not being a nuisance. Some lights on the bushes and a manger scene does not cause a nuisance to the whole community,” Salgado says. “We’re not waking anybody up. We’re not disturbing anybody. The lights are strictly within our boundaries of our land. It’s not going outside. It’s not touching anybody’s yard.”

He claims the family is being singled out as other homes in the community have their own light displays.

“Other houses have decorated their homes for Christmas. Even down there, there’s a house that has a manger scene and some lights outside. Our front neighbors have a house outside, but it’s just us getting harassed.”

Neighbor Al-Awar, who has her own display across the street, agrees that it seems unfair.

“I don’t understand why the HOA keeps bothering them,” she says. “It brings us joy. I don’t know what it is. Why are they targeting these wonderful people?”

On Monday, a WJLA reporter knocked on the doors of listed board members hoping for a response. Within minutes, they received a message from the board’s attorney saying they do not comment on individual violations and asked the outlet not to reach out directly to board members. 

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PEOPLE has also reached out to the attorney, but did not immediately receive a response. 

“This is our core values and our religion. We don’t want to step back from what we believe in,” Salgado says. “The joy it brings so many people is beyond what words can describe.”

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By NOOR QURASHI, NEWS REPORTER

Published: 12:37 EST, 11 December 2025 | Updated: 14:03 EST, 11 December 2025

A truckload of ‘migrants’ sparked a huge pile-up on the motorway – as police detained 14 people found in the back of an HGV.

Two lanes were forced to close on the M40 Northbound in Oxfordshire this morning amid reports of passengers crammed into a lorry.

Motorists were stunned as they could be heard counting the number of migrants being led from the vehicle.

Footage of the spectacle shows a number of flashing police cars line the road as they attend to a cluster of people on the hard shoulder.

Onlookers watch on as more and more migrants gradually emerge from the lorry.

One says: ‘Six… seven … oh my god, there’s a lot.’

Other images show a group of hooded men sat together with their arms crossed, dressed in dark clothing.

Another passerby shouts ‘holy moly!’ as he films the line-up of migrants while passing by.

Thames Valley Police confirmed 13 people were found in the back of the HGV

Footage of the spectacle shows a number of flashing police cars line the road as they attend to a cluster of people on the hard shoulder

Earlier in the day National Highways warned motorists of building queues and advised allowing extra time for journeys. A pile-up on the stretch of motorway is pictured

Lanes were shut between Junction 9 at Bicester and Junction 10 at Baynards Green.

Thames Valley Police confirmed 13 people were found in the back of the HGV and detained while the driver was also arrested on suspicion of immigration offences.

The forced said they are working with the Home Office amid an ongoing investigation.

Earlier in the day National Highways warned motorists of building queues and advised allowing extra time for journeys.

A police spokesman said: ‘We received a report today (11/12) at 9.53am of a number of people in the back of a lorry travelling on the M40 between junctions 9 and 10.

‘The vehicle was stopped, and 13 people were detained. The driver was arrested on suspicion of immigration offences.

‘The investigation is ongoing, and we are working with closely with our partners in the Home Office.’

This is a breaking news story. More to come

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Lorry full of ‘migrants’ sparks huge delays on motorway – as police detain 14 people found in back of HGV

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Rachael Cole, 44, has been banned from ‘wearing a wig or hair piece, or any face covering that conceals her appearance when entering a shop’



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Rights group Amnesty says ban, which will affect around 12,000 girls, will ‘add to racist climate towards Muslims’.

Published On 11 Dec 202511 Dec 2025

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Austria’s lower house of parliament has passed a ban on Muslim headscarves in schools after a previous ban was overturned on the grounds that it was discriminatory.

Lawmakers passed the new legislation on Thursday by a large majority, meaning that girls younger than 14 will not be permitted to wear headscarves that “cover the head in accordance with Islamic traditions” in all schools, with non-compliance fines ranging from 150 to 800 euros ($175-930).

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In 2019, the country introduced a ban on headscarves for under-10s in primary schools, but the Constitutional Court struck it down the following year, ruling that it was illegal because it discriminated against Muslims, going against the state’s duty to be religiously neutral.

The Austrian government says it has “done [its] best” to see that this law will hold up in the courts.

The new law, which was proposed by the governing coalition of three centrist parties at a time of rising anti-immigration and Islamophobic sentiment, was also backed by the far-right Freedom Party, which wanted it to go even further so it would apply to all students and staff. The Greens were the only party to oppose it.

Integration Minister Claudia Plakolm, of the conservative People’s Party, which leads the governing coalition, called headscarves for minors “a symbol of oppression”.

Yannick Shetty, the parliamentary leader of the liberal Neos, the most junior party in the governing coalition, told the lower house that the headscarf “sexualises” girls, saying it served “to shield girls from the male gaze”.

Rights groups have criticised the plan. Amnesty International said it would “add to the current racist climate towards Muslims”.

IGGOe, the body officially recognised as representing the country’s Muslim communities, said the ban “jeopardises social cohesion”, saying that “instead of empowering children, they are stigmatised and marginalised”.

Angelika Atzinger, managing director of the Amazone women’s rights association, said a headscarf ban would send girls “the message that decisions are being made about their bodies and that this is legitimate”.

Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr of the Neos said young girls were coming under increasing pressure from their families, and also from unrelated young boys, who tell them what to wear for “religious reasons”.

The Greens’ deputy parliamentary leader, Sigrid Maurer, agreed that this was a problem, and suggested interdisciplinary teams, including representatives of the Muslim community, be set up to intervene in schools when “cultural tensions” flare.

Under the ban, which comes into effect in February, an initial period would be launched during which the new rules would be explained to educators, parents and children with no penalties for breaking them.

After this phase, parents will face fines for repeated non-compliance.

The government said that about 12,000 girls would be affected by the new law.

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Protesters briefly interrupted the homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, during a Capitol Hill hearing on Thursday, evoking a quote from the film The Exorcist.

As Noem delivered her opening remarks before the House committee on homeland security, two protesters disrupted the session, with one yelling: “Stop ICE raids! The power of Christ compels you! End deportations, the power of Christ compels you!”

“The power of Christ compels you!” is famously a line used in the 1973 horror film The Exorcist by a priest performing an exorcism.

While Noem smiled silently in response to the demonstration, Capitol police quickly escorted the protester out as he held sign that read “Stop ICE raids” and “Codepink,” likely referencing the anti-war group.

Moments later, another protester stood up, displaying a poster that said “No ICE, no troops!” The individual went on to shout: “Get ICE off our streets! Stop terrorizing our communities!”

Thursday’s incident comes as Noem faces growing calls for resignation from House Democrats over her handling of Donald Trump’s nationwide immigration crackdowns.

Addressing Noem directly, Mississippi representative Bennie Thompson, the committee’s top Democrat, said at the hearing: “Rather than sitting here and wasting your time and ours more with more corruption, lies and lawlessness, I call on you to resign. Do a real service to the country and just resign, that is if President Trump doesn’t fire you first.”

Noem remained defensive, saying that the Trump administration works “each and every day to make America safe again” and that she was very “privileged and honored to have my family with me” at the hearing.

The hearing also comes amid rising tensions between federal agents and the public over immigration tactics in major American cities. These tactics have involved the use of military-grade hardware against civilians, including flash-bang grenades and armored personnel carriers, as well as using smartwatches to track pregnant immigrants, even during labor.

Earlier this week, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed a new contract to purchase six Boeing 737s for deportations, marking the latest move in a series of steps taken by the government to fulfill Trump’s pledge of executing the “largest deportation operation in American history.”

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Scientists have captured rare footage of killer whales and Pacific white-sided dolphins hunting together near the coast of British Columbia, Canada.

Despite their common name ‘killer whale’, orca are actually the largest species of dolphin.

The findings, published in the journal Nature Scientific Reports, is the first recorded evidence of the two working together, according to researchers.

They studied the mammals using drones and camera tags to understand feeding behaviour.

“Not only were the killer whales orienting [themselves] towards the dolphins at the surface, but when the dolphins started to dive, our tagged killer whales would start to dive,” lead researcher Dr Sarah Fortune from Dalhousie University in Canada said.

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Skip next section Zelenskyy said US has updated peace plan, see Ukrainian withdraw from Donetsk

12/11/2025December 11, 2025

Zelenskyy said US has updated peace plan, see Ukrainian withdraw from Donetsk

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy discussed security guarantees for Ukraine in a video call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and White House special envoy Steve Witkoff.

Zelenskyy said the US had been presented with an updated version of a peace plan. Details of all its amendments were not disclosed.

But the Ukrainian leader did say the 20-point plan included security guarantees as well as an agreement for the rebuilding of Ukraine.

Zelenskyy said the main point of contention in the talks was the status of the eastern Donetsk region and future control over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.

Zelenskyy said the US wants Ukraine, but not Russia, to withdraw troops from parts of the Donetsk region, in order to install a demilitarized buffer between the two armies.

“They see Ukrainian forces leaving the territory of Donetsk region, and the supposed compromise is that Russian forces do not enter this territory … which they already call a ‘free economic zone,'” Zelenskyy told reporters.

The Ukrainian president said any potential compromise on Ukrainian territory should be decided by a popular vote.

“I believe that the people of Ukraine will answer this question. Whether through elections or a referendum, there must be a position from the people of Ukraine,” he said.

https://p.dw.com/p/55Bgw

Skip next section Russia demands to know dead UK soldier’s activities

12/11/2025December 11, 2025

Russia demands to know dead UK soldier’s activities

Moscow has demanded that the UK disclose the activities of a British soldier killed in Ukraine.

Britain’s Ministry of Defense confirmed on Tuesday that Lance Corporal George Hooley had died in Ukraine while observing Ukrainian forces test a new defensive capability. Hooely is said to have been away from the frontline when the incident occurred. 

“London must honestly admit what their very own Hooley was doing there. It seems that perhaps someone there in Britain began to carefully prepare public opinion in their country for military losses in Ukraine that would be impossible to simply hide and continue to conceal,” said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

She accused British forces of helping Ukraine “carry out terrorist attacks and extremist tasks,” but did not provide any evidence to back up the claim. Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

UK Defense Secretary John Healey said he was “devastated” by the soldier’s death.

“He was injured in a tragic accident whilst observing Ukrainian forces test a new defensive capability away from the front lines,” said the UK’s Ministry of Defense statement on the matter.

The UK has said it has a “small number” of military personnel in Ukraine, mostly providing security for British diplomats but also supporting Ukraine’s army.

UK’s Starmer hosts European leaders for Ukraine war talks

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Skip next section WATCH: EU ministers in Lviv discuss Ukraine’s EU bid12/11/2025December 11, 2025

WATCH: EU ministers in Lviv discuss Ukraine’s EU bid

Marie Joslyn

EU ministers meet in Lviv to back Ukraine’s membership bid and explore ways to bypass Hungary’s veto, which has stalled progress on Ukraine’s path to join the European Union.

EU ministers in Lviv discuss Ukraine’s EU bid

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Skip next section NATO chief Rutte: ‘We are Russia’s next target’

12/11/2025December 11, 2025

NATO chief Rutte: ‘We are Russia’s next target’

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has urged alliance members to increase their defense efforts to prevent a war “on the scale our…grandparents and great-grandparents endured.”

Speaking in Berlin, Rutte said it did not appear that enough NATO members were taking the threat seriously enough.

“We are Russia’s next target. I fear that too many are quietly complacent. Too many don’t feel the urgency. And too many believe that time is on our side. It is not. The time for action is now,” Rutte said.

“Conflict is at our door. Russia has brought war back to Europe. And we must be prepared,” he added.

Rutte said he believed Moscow could be ready to launch a war in Europe in the next five years.

https://p.dw.com/p/55AEK

Skip next section Poland detains Russian archaeologist wanted by Ukraine

12/11/2025December 11, 2025

Poland detains Russian archaeologist wanted by Ukraine

Poland has detained a Russian archaeologist wanted by Ukraine for allegedly plundering cultural treasures in Crimea.

Authorities say the man, identified as Alexander B., was arrested in Warsaw last week and will remain in custody for 40 days while Poland awaits an extradition request from Ukraine.

“[The Ukrainians] have suspicions about this person regarding… theft of cultural property,” Polish Special Services Minister Tomasz Siemoniak told private broadcaster TOK FM.

“The court has ordered his arrest so that this case can be resolved calmly,” Siemoniak added.

Ukraine accuses the man of carrying out unauthorized excavations in Crimea, causing damage worth millions of dollars. Russia has been illegally occupying the Ukrainian peninsula since 2014.

Moscow dismissed the allegations as politically motivated.

“We hope that Poland understands the absurdity of accusing a respected Russian archaeologist of ‘destroying cultural heritage’ on Russian territory and recognizes that such politicized actions cannot succeed and will not go unpunished,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry said.

https://p.dw.com/p/559b5

Skip next section Merz: Ukraine’s peace proposals sent to Trump

12/11/2025December 11, 2025

Merz: Ukraine’s peace proposals sent to Trump

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Ukraine sent its latest proposals to end the war with Russia to US President Donald Trump on Wednesday.

“It mainly concerns the question of what territorial concessions Ukraine is prepared to make,” Merz said. 

He cautioned, however, that ultimately “the Ukrainian president and the Ukrainian people have to answer the question.”

Details of the Ukrainian counterproposal are not yet known. 

The initial plan put forward by the Trump administration was sharply criticized by many as a Russian “wish list.” 

It includes a suggestion that Kyiv give up regions in eastern Ukraine that Russia has not seized.

But the plan has been altered after a recent diplomatic flurry between the US, Ukraine, Russia, and Europe. 

Merz said that further talks with the US were planned this weekend and an international meeting on Ukraine “could take place at the beginning of next week.”

“Whether the American government participates or not very much depends on the joint drafts of papers which are currently being worked on,” he said.

UK,Germany back Ukraine amid tensions over US peace plan

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Skip next section Merz: Ukraine should decide on territorial concessions

12/11/2025December 11, 2025

Merz: Ukraine should decide on territorial concessions

Merz was speaking at a joint-press conference with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Berlin. Image: Michael Kappeler/dpa/picture alliance

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Ukraine’s European allies told US President Donald Trump that only Kyiv can decide about changes to its territory.

A US-backed proposal to end the war would require Kyiv to give up large swathes of territory in eastern Ukraine, much of which is occupied by Russian forces.

The German leader and his British and French counterparts, Keir Starmer, and Emmanuel Macron held a joint phone call with Trump on Wednesday to discuss potential revisions to Washington’s plan.

Trump said Wednesday that they discussed the plan in “pretty strong terms,” adding that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “has to be realistic” about the plan which originally suggested Ukrainian cede some territory to Russia.

On Thursday Merz vowed to increase pressure on Moscow to end the war it started. 

“If we now proceed with this process as we envisage, there will be talks with the American government over the weekend,” said Merz at a press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

https://p.dw.com/p/558Lq

Skip next section WATCH: Ukrainian POW returns to front line after Russia torture12/11/2025December 11, 2025

WATCH: Ukrainian POW returns to front line after Russia torture

When Mariupol fell in 2022, thousands of Ukrainian soldiers were captured. Among them was Rasti, a fighter with the Azov Brigade, who endured 30 months of torture and isolation in Russian captivity. Despite severe physical and psychological scars, he returned to the frontline, now leading an elite reconnaissance unit formed by former POWs. Wath their story here: 

Ukrainian POW returns to front line after Russia torture

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Skip next section Russia calls for a comprehensive Ukraine peace agreement

12/11/2025December 11, 2025

Russia calls for a comprehensive Ukraine peace agreement

Lavrov said Russia would not accept Ukraine getting NATO membership and that Moscow wanted protection for Russian speakers in UkraineImage: Mikhail Tereshchenko/TASS/IMAGO

Russia wants a set of agreements to end the war in Ukraine, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Thursday, as he repeated Moscow’s stance that the “root causes” of the conflict be resolved before any peace deal can be agreed.

“We insist on a set of agreements for lasting, sustainable peace with security guarantees for all countries involved,” Lavrov said.

President Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin this month to discuss a US-backed plan to end the war.

“Our talks with the US president and his team are focused precisely on finding a long-term solution to eliminate the root causes of this crisis,” Lavrov said.

He added that Moscow had handed over Russia’s proposals on collective security guarantees to Washington and believed Trump was sincere in his efforts to broker a deal.

Lavrov’s comments came as Trump said he had spoken by phone with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday.

They discussed proposals to end the war in Ukraine in “pretty strong terms,” he said, adding that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “has to be realistic” about his country’s position on a peace plan.

https://p.dw.com/p/557pE

Skip next section Russia says it came under fire in massive Ukraine air attack

12/11/2025December 11, 2025

Russia says it came under fire in massive Ukraine air attack

Russian forces say they shot down 287 Ukrainian drones overnight, one of the highest single-night totals since the war began.

The defence ministry said at least 40 of those drones were shot down over the Moscow region, which includes the capital.

All four Moscow airports were briefly closed, and flights were diverted to St. Petersburg.

The extent of the damage was not immediately clear.

In Ukraine, officials Poltava region say Russian strikes hit energy facilities, sparking fires.

https://p.dw.com/p/5579h

Skip next section Trump says discussed Ukraine in ‘pretty strong words’ with European leaders12/11/2025December 11, 2025

Trump says discussed Ukraine in ‘pretty strong words’ with European leaders

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday night at the White House that “we discussed Ukraine in pretty strong words” when asked about an earlier phone call with the leaders of the UK, France and Germany.

“They would like us to go to a meeting over the weekend in Europe, and we’ll make a determination, depending on what they come back with,” Trump said, without specifying whom he was referring to.

Asked whether the gathering was expected to include the Ukrainian president, Trump answered: “With Zelenskyy and us.”

The UK, France, and Germany, along with Ukraine and other partners, have been working frantically over the last few weeks to have a revised proposal that balances out a US proposal for peace in Ukraine.

The so-called E3 leaders have been aiming to secure security guarantees for Ukraine once there’s a peace accord.

What to know about tensions between Washington and Europe

• The intensified peace talks comes amid strained ties between the US and Europe over a new US National Security Strategy
• The document lays bare the White House’s belief that Europe is facing ‘civilizational erasure’ due to its immigration policies
• It also signals Washington’s backing of Europe’s nationalist, far-right parties
• In an interview with Politico this week, Trump called European leaders ‘weak’ 
• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called the US strategy document “unacceptable”

US stance, policy on Europe ‘not helpful,’ MEP tells DW

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Skip next section ‘Coalition of the Willing’ to discuss Ukraine postwar security in virtual call

12/11/2025December 11, 2025

‘Coalition of the Willing’ to discuss Ukraine postwar security in virtual call

The “Coalition of the Willing” group of nations is set to discuss “future security and prevent a recurrence of Russian aggression,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.

“This week may bring news for all of us – and for bringing the bloodshed to an end,” Zelenskyy said in on X. He will also attend the virtual meeting.

The “Coalition of the Willing” is a broad term for about 30 nations supporting Ukraine. The group is led by the UK and France.

Zelenskyy has been on a mission to balance out a US peace plan that is widely seen as favoring Russian demands to end the war.

Zelenskyy joined the British, French and German leaders for an in-person meeting earlier this week in London to find an agreement on guaranteeing Ukraine’s postwar security.

https://p.dw.com/p/556zj

Skip next section Welcome to our coverage12/11/2025December 11, 2025

Welcome to our coverage

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to join an urgent virtual call with the self-titled “Coalition of the Willing” group of nations on Thursday.

The call comes after US President Donald Trump said he and European leaders discussed proposals to end the war in Ukraine in “pretty strong words” Wednesday.

Ukraine and European allies have pushed back on a US proposal to end the war in Ukraine, that was widely seen as having favored Moscow’s demands. 

Zelenskyy then held a flurry of meetings with European leaders and Ukrainian allies in a bid to rework the proposal.

Zelenskyy earlier said he expected to send the reworked proposal to US negotiators by Wednesday, but it’s not clear whether that had happened.

Keep reading as we track developments throughout the day.

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A skydiver broke free and ultimately survived after his reserve parachute accidentally deployed and got stuck on the tail of an airplane as it was soaring through the sky. 

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau explained that the “reserve handle snagged on the aircraft’s flap, resulting in deployment of the reserve parachute.”

Video footage of the harrowing incident — which occurred in September — shows the parachute deploying, with the man flying into the aircraft’s tail and then dangling from the plane because the chute had gotten stuck.

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A skydiver’s reserve parachute accidentally deployed in Australia. (Australian Transport Safety Bureau via Storyful)

“The reserve parachute wrapped around the left horizontal stabiliser and elevator and deflated as” the skydiver’s “lower legs struck the stabiliser,” the ATSB noted, adding that the person “was then suspended beneath the tailplane.”

The individual was able to utilize a hook knife to cut parachute lines.

“The reserve parachute then tore, releasing” the person “from the aircraft with part of the reserve remaining on the aircraft’s tail,” the ATSB report notes.

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A skydiver’s reserve chute catches onto the aircraft, leaving him dangling in the air. (Australian Transport Safety Bureau via Storyful)

After breaking free of the aircraft, the skydiver was able to deploy the main parachute and land — though not without facing some complications.

The ATSB report states that “during the main parachute deployment, the remaining reserve parachute lines twisted around the main parachute lines. Additionally, during the opening sequence, the right brake toggle of the main parachute released.”

“The main parachute fully inflated with line twists, and after initially turning right, commenced a rapid left turn. After several rotations,” the skydiver “grabbed and pulled on the right brake line above the line twists to arrest the turn. The parachute stopped turning, and” the individual “was able to unwind the line twists and release the left brake toggle. Passing about 8,000 ft, the main parachute lines fully unwound from the reserve parachute lines and functioned normally for the remainder of the descent.”

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The skydiver managed to use a hook knife to sever the lines of the mistakenly deployed reserve chute. (Australian Transport Safety Bureau via Storyful)

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The pilot managed to land the damaged airplane, according to the ATSB, which noted that the skydiver “landed 9 seconds later with minor lacerations and bruising to their left lower leg and a deep gash to their right lower leg.”

Alex Nitzberg is a writer for Fox News Digital.

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