Morning Briefing: Dec. 15, 2025

ISTANBUL

Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start your Monday with, including Australian police identifying the Bondi Beach gunmen as father and son; the US and Ukraine holding five hours of talks in Berlin focused on peace and economic issues; and President Donald Trump vowing “big damage” for those responsible after an ISIS attack killed three Americans in Syria.

TOP STORIES

• Australian police identify Bondi Beach gunmen as father and son

Australian police said the two suspected gunmen in a shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach were a father and son, and that investigators are not searching for any additional suspects.

New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon told reporters that the attackers were a 50-year-old man and his 24-year-old son. The father was killed at the scene, while the son remains in critical but stable condition in hospital.

At least 15 people were killed in Sunday's attack, and about 40 others injured. The shooting took place while an event was being held to mark the start of Hanukkah celebration on the first day of the Jewish holiday.

• US, Ukraine discuss peace, economic agendas in 5-hour meeting in Berlin

US and Ukrainian delegations held talks in Berlin, discussing a 20-point peace plan and economic agendas.

The meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, US special envoy Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and delegations from both countries lasted over five hours, said a readout shared by Witkoff on the US social media company X.

Representatives held "in-depth" discussions regarding the peace plan, economic agendas "and more."

"A lot of progress was made, and they will meet again tomorrow morning," the statement added.

Zelenskyy arrived in Berlin on Sunday for intensive discussions on a potential ceasefire and peace framework with Russia.

• Trump vows 'big damage' for perpetrators after ISIS attack killed 3 Americans

US President Donald Trump vowed to inflict significant damage on those responsible for an ISIS (Daesh) attack in Syria that killed two American troops and one civilian.

"I can tell you, in Syria, there will be a lot of big damage done to the people that did it," Trump said. "They got the person ... but there'll be big damage done."

Two US troops and a civilian were killed and three service members were injured Saturday in an ambush by an ISIS gunman in Syria, US Central Command (CENTOM) said. Media reports indicated two Syrian security personnel were also injured.

“The gunman was engaged and killed,” the CENTOM said.

Syrian authorities launched a security operation against ISIS cells in the Homs province countryside following the attack.

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NEWS IN BRIEF

• Türkiye condemned the "terrorist attack" that killed 15 at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia.
• Zelenskyy said Ukraine could give up joining NATO in exchange for Western security guarantees as a compromise to end the war with Russia.
• Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said there is “no place for violence and hate" in the country, after the attack in Sydney.
• US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents pulled over the son of Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, the congresswoman said.
• At least nine Sudanese civilians were killed and 17 others wounded in a drone and artillery attack by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in South Kordofan state, a medical group said.
• Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Riyadh to discuss regional and international developments.
• More than 900 people were displaced from South Kordofan state in southern Sudan over the past three days because of worsening insecurity, the International Organization for Migration said.
• Illegal Israeli settlers damaged about 40 olive trees in the town of Mukhmas, northeast of East Jerusalem in the occupied West Bank.
• Poland recorded its warmest December in 74 years, with 2025 expected to continue the trend of above-average temperatures.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Syria joins Arab oil exporters’ meeting in Kuwait for 1st time since Assad’s fall

Syria took part on Sunday in meetings of the Council of Ministers of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) in Kuwait, marking its first participation since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime last year.

Energy Minister Mohammed al-Bashir joined his counterparts from OAPEC member states to discuss ways to strengthen Arab cooperation in oil, gas and energy, Syria’s state-run Al-Ikhbariya channel said, citing an Energy Ministry statement.

The ministers also reviewed periodic reports by the organization’s secretariat and discussed proposals to develop OAPEC’s work and respond to regional and international challenges facing the energy sector.