12 December 2025
United Kingdom
The UK Ministry of Defence launched a new military intelligence service that aims to be “more efficient, faster, and better able to anticipate future threats.” The reform will bring all services under a single organization for the first time and accelerate how intelligence is gathered, analyzed, and shared.
Democratic Republic of Congo
A massive influx of refugees has flooded into Burundi because of M23’s recent advance into Uvira. 40,000 Congolese have entered Burundi, and refugee centers are unable to cope with the increased demand. Lack of supplies and toilets will increase the risk of disease, starvation, and crime.
NATO
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte issued a new warning that Russia could attack a NATO member within five years. Intelligence analysts have concluded that Russia could rebuild its military within five years and pose a significant threat to NATO if it is not defeated in Ukraine.
Pakistan
Former chief of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Faiz Hameed has been sentenced to 14 years in jail for political activities, violating anti-espionage laws, and abusing his authority. It stems from the protests on 9 May 2023, when the former Prime Minister and leader of the PTI party, Imran Khan, was arrested. Hameed has been accused of serving as a political advisor to the PTI.
Canada
Master Warrant Officer Matthew Robar, a member of the Canadian Forces Intelligence Command, faces multiple charges, including communicating special operational information, breach of trust in respect to safeguarded information and feigning disease. The RCMP and military police conducted a joint investigation as part of a foreign interference investigation.
Germany
Russia’s ambassador to Germany has been called as German authorities accuse Russia of a cyberattack on air traffic control in 2024 and attempted electoral interference. It is believed that the cyberattack was orchestrated by Russia’s GRU and carried out by the Fancy Bear Russian hacker group. Fancy Bear has been linked to the 2016 cyberattack on the US Democratic National Committee.
South Korea
U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson has cautioned against the accelerated handover of wartime operational control to South Korea. The goal is to hand it over by 2030, but certain conditions must be met. Under the current agreement, which was established after the Korean War, South Korea commands its forces in peacetime, but not in wartime, that authority goes to the US-led Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC).
Social media wires
Pakistani Prime Minister barges into Putin’s office after waiting for 40 minutes
Runway attack
Featured Photo: “Refugees” – EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid, Flickr, 2025
The Wires Brief is a daily breaking news report incorporating wire service news and social media updates. DefRep cannot verify the authenticity of social media reporters nor the accuracy of social media updates. Feature photos are altered with grayscale.