Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi accused CBS of killing the story for political reasons, while CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss said the piece did not yet meet the program’s editorial standards.
Alfonsi said the report had cleared legal and standards reviews and that the Trump administration declined to comment despite repeated outreach. Weiss countered that similar reporting had already aired elsewhere and said “60 Minutes” needed additional reporting, including on-the-record participation from senior officials.
BREAKING: CBS just pulled this episode of 60 Minutes claiming it is “postponed” Here is the trailer that was pulled for the now “postponed” segment.
Make sure everyone sees it.
It’s remarkable how much harm Pro-Trump Bari Weiss has managed to inflict on CBS News in such a… pic.twitter.com/gccW338rFF
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) December 22, 2025
The clash has renewed scrutiny of CBS News’ editorial independence amid Trump’s long-running attacks on the program and recent leadership changes at the network.
Pentagon Audit Flags Gaps in Oversight of US Arms Sent to Israel
A Pentagon watchdog found significant gaps in how US agencies tracked some of the $13.4 billion in military assistance sent to Israel since the war with Hamas began in October 2023.
The Defense Department’s Inspector General reported that US Central Command (CENTCOM) and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) failed to properly monitor certain sensitive weapons and technologies subject to enhanced end-use monitoring requirements.
The audit said only 44 percent of eligible items had up-to-date inspections as of November 2024, down from 69 percent before the war, raising concerns that sensitive systems could be lost, misused, or accessed by adversaries.
Officials cited combat conditions and staffing shortages for the lapses.
NEW REPORT: The DoD OIG determined that after Hamas attacked the State of Israel in October 2023, the DoD only partially complied with requirements for conducting enhanced end‑use monitoring of sensitive defense articles provided to Israel. More at the🔗: https://t.co/y7WM6wpAdT pic.twitter.com/Amm1Q5wu62
— DoD Office of Inspector General (@DoD_IG) December 18, 2025
The report issued recommendations to improve oversight, including conducting inspections or virtual assessments, with CENTCOM and the DSCA agreeing to take corrective steps in the coming years.
Mistrial Declared in Corruption Case Against Ex-New York Governor Aide
A federal judge declared a mistrial Monday in the corruption case against former New York state official Linda Sun and her husband, Chris Hu, after jurors said they were deadlocked on all 19 counts.
The jury in Brooklyn said it could not reach a unanimous verdict after extended deliberations, prompting U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan to end the trial. Prosecutors said they plan to retry the case as soon as possible.
Sun, a former aide to New York governors Kathy Hochul and Andrew Cuomo, was accused of acting as an unregistered agent for China and using her government role to advance Beijing’s interests in exchange for financial benefits.
Mistrial declared in case of top Hochul, Cuomo aide accused of acting as Chinese agent https://t.co/fgMWNKplsL pic.twitter.com/Zb28oqlFAc
— New York Post (@nypost) December 22, 2025
Prosecutors also alleged the couple profited from kickbacks tied to pandemic-era medical supply contracts and laundered the proceeds.
Sun’s lawyers denied the allegations, arguing she acted within her official duties and that the government failed to prove corruption or foreign influence.
Russia Blames Ukraine for String of High-Profile Attacks on Russian Figures
Russia has accused Ukraine of orchestrating multiple assassinations and bombings targeting prominent military, political, and media figures since the start of Moscow’s full-scale invasion nearly four years ago.
Ukraine has at times hinted at involvement or provided operational details, while in other cases denying responsibility or declining to comment.
The latest incident occurred Monday, when a Russian general was killed by a car bomb in Moscow, an attack Russian investigators are examining for possible Ukrainian involvement.
⚡️ A senior Russian general has been killed in a blast outside Moscow.
Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov died after an explosion went off as he got into his car; he headed the Russian military’s operational training directorate. pic.twitter.com/Mz6pIn5TKw
— UNITED24 Media (@United24media) December 22, 2025
Previous cases cited by Moscow include the killings of senior Russian generals, former military officers, pro-war bloggers, and political figures through car bombs, shootings, and explosive devices. In some incidents, Ukrainian security services later claimed responsibility or Ukrainian officials acknowledged the elimination of Russian personnel. In others, Kyiv denied involvement despite releasing details of the attacks.
Several perpetrators have been convicted in Russian courts, often with investigators alleging links to Ukrainian intelligence, while Ukraine has consistently framed such actions as part of the broader conflict with Russia.
Cyberattack Disrupts France’s Postal Service Days Before Christmas
A cyberattack knocked France’s national postal service, La Poste, offline Monday, disrupting package deliveries and online payments just days before Christmas.
The company said a distributed denial of service attack shut down its online systems for more than eight hours, preventing package tracking, internal transactions, and access to digital services, though letters continued to move and customer data remained secure.
The outage also affected La Banque Postale, blocking app-based payment approvals and forcing customers to rely on text message verification.
French prosecutors opened an investigation, but no group claimed responsibility.
A suspected cyberattack disrupted services provided by French postal service La Poste on Monday, delaying package deliveries and online payment systems during the holiday season https://t.co/RAgr2RzOGq
— Bloomberg (@business) December 22, 2025
The attack followed a series of recent cyber incidents targeting French government and infrastructure, as officials warn of growing hybrid threats against European countries, including suspected foreign-backed cyber operations.
Clashes Hit Aleppo as Syria–Kurdish Deal Nears Deadline
Fighting broke out Monday between Syrian security forces and Kurdish-led fighters in northern Syria as senior Turkish officials visited Damascus ahead of a deadline to implement a stalled integration deal.
Shelling in Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighborhoods killed at least two civilians and wounded dozens, according to Syrian state media and Kurdish authorities, before both sides announced a halt to fire late in the day.
Syria’s Aleppo DESCENDS into chaos as civilians flee shooting
CLASHES erupt between Kurdish-led SDF and Syrian army
Damascus says SDF attacked government forces pic.twitter.com/wT9OZ2hNLv
— RT (@RT_com) December 22, 2025
The clashes underscored tensions surrounding a March agreement to merge the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into Syria’s new national army.
Turkey, which opposes the SDF joining as a unified force, pressed Syrian leaders to move forward with integration while warning against delays. Syrian officials accused the SDF of stalling, while Kurdish leaders said talks continue amid fears that failure to finalize the deal could trigger broader confrontation.
Saudi Arabia Awards Top Honor to Pakistan’s Army Chief
Saudi Arabia awarded its highest national honor to Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, during his visit to Riyadh, highlighting deepening defense and security ties between the two countries.
Pakistan’s military said Munir received the King Abdulaziz Medal of the Excellent Class on Sunday, months after both nations signed a defense pact expanding cooperation, including counterterrorism.
The award comes as Pakistan and Saudi Arabia reaffirm a long-standing strategic relationship rooted in military collaboration and economic support.
Field Marshal Asim Munir met Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman — Saudi Arabia presented Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces with the King Abdulaziz Medal of Excellent Class for his efforts in advancing 🇵🇰🇸🇦 relations. pic.twitter.com/ZEaxjRFQfS
— Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaViews) December 21, 2025
Munir’s visit, his first since becoming Pakistan’s chief of defense forces, included talks on regional security and geopolitical challenges.
The honor also follows heightened regional tensions after a brief India-Pakistan conflict earlier this year and reflects Saudi recognition of Munir’s role in advancing bilateral defense coordination.
Turkey Captures Senior Islamic State Figure Near Afghanistan-Pakistan Border
Turkish intelligence agents have captured a senior member of the Islamic State (IS) group near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, disrupting planned suicide attacks in Turkey and other countries, according to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency.
The suspect, identified as Turkish citizen Mehmet Goren, was reportedly a senior figure in the Islamic State’s Afghanistan-based Khorasan branch and was transferred to Turkey after a covert operation.
Authorities said Goren allegedly received orders to carry out suicide bombings in Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Europe.
🚨 In an operation by Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT), Mehmet Goren, a senior ISIS (Daesh) figure codenamed Yahya, is captured in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region and brought to Türkiye, security sources say
▶️ MIT says Goren agrees to carry out suicide attacks… pic.twitter.com/mmuu4jIgkC
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) December 22, 2025
The operation’s timing and whether local authorities assisted remain unclear.
Turkish officials said the arrest also yielded intelligence on the group’s recruitment methods and future attack plans.
Xi Reshuffles China’s Top Military Commands Amid Widening Purge
Chinese President Xi Jinping has appointed new commanders to oversee China’s central and eastern military regions, replacing senior officers removed amid a sweeping anti-corruption purge.
State media said General Yang Zhibin now leads the Eastern Theater Command, which is responsible for operations related to Taiwan, while General Han Shengyan was named commander of the Central Theater Command, which defends Beijing and surrounding provinces.
Chinese President Xi Jinping installed new military leadership for its central and eastern regions amid an unprecedented purge of the top defense echelons https://t.co/qONNXfN9np
— Bloomberg (@business) December 22, 2025
The leadership changes follow the removal of multiple senior generals, including the former Eastern Theater commander ousted for disciplinary violations, and come as China continues to modernize its military.
The reshuffle reflects Xi’s effort to consolidate control over the armed forces and address corruption that US intelligence assesses has undermined readiness in key units, including those central to missile forces and potential Taiwan operations.
Thailand, Cambodia Set New Talks to Salvage Border Ceasefire
Thailand and Cambodia will resume bilateral talks this week to work toward a more durable ceasefire along their disputed border, Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said Monday.
Thailand’s Foreign Minister said earlier ceasefire efforts lacked sufficient detail and relied too heavily on public statements and international pressure rather than concrete negotiations between the two sides.
The renewed talks come after fighting reignited earlier this month, killing more than three dozen people and displacing over half a million. Thailand and Cambodia accuse each other of violating the October truce, including allegations of newly planted land mines and continued military activity.
💢 ASEAN urges Thailand, Cambodia to exercise restraint amid border tensions
➡️ Thai, Cambodian military officials to meet under General Border Committee framework of 2 nations on Dec. 24 https://t.co/ZKQHMlsiUD pic.twitter.com/aI6kTAJoq2
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) December 22, 2025
A joint border committee will meet Wednesday to negotiate detailed measures aimed at enforcing a ceasefire that reflects conditions on the ground and prevents further escalation.
Sources: News Agencies
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Evening Brief: Pentagon Audit Finds Israel Oversight Gaps, Xi Reshuffles China’s Top Military Commands, Thailand and Cambodia Set New Talks
Border clashes, China’s military purge, and France’s postal cyberattack lead tonight’s Monday evening brief, December 22, 2025.
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