The U.S. House of Representatives passed the latest version of the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on Dec. 11, moving the bill one step closer to becoming law. The compromise NDAA bill, at more than 1,800 pages, provides up to $895.2 billion in discretionary defense spending for the fiscal year. The annual defense authorization […]
The House passed a bill on Dec. 10 to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to form a new working group within the department to track national security threats posed by the People’s Republic of China and its ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Dubbed the “Strategic Homeland Intelligence and Enforcement Legislation to Defend Against […]
The U.S. Department of Defense announced on Dec. 7 it will send another $988 million funding package to bolster Ukrainian forces in the ongoing war with Russia. The military support package comes through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), a Pentagon program for purchasing new military equipment. In a press statement, the Pentagon announced this […]
President-elect Donald Trump met with French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at The Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris on Saturday evening. Macron was seen giving a thumbs-up as Trump and Zelenskyy flanked him for a photo opportunity at the presidential palace. Macron had planned to meet with Zelenskyy, and the French president’s […]
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has survived an initial impeachment effort over his short-lived martial law declaration earlier this week. The South Korean National Assembly, led by Yoon’s political opposition, called the impeachment vote on Dec. 7. The impeachment motion required 200 lawmakers present to reach a quorum in the 300-seat legislature. Ultimately, 195 […]
President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Army veteran Daniel Driscoll to be the next secretary of the Army. “As a former Soldier, Investor, and Political Advisor, Dan brings a powerful combination of experiences to serve as a disruptor and change agent,” Trump said in a Dec. 4 Truth social post announcing the nomination. Driscoll joined the […]
President-elect Donald Trump threatened severe consequences if hostages held in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023, are not released by the time he takes office on Jan. 20 next year. “Everybody is talking about the hostages who are being held so violently, inhumanely, and against the will of the entire World, in the Middle […]
President-elect Donald Trump threatened to impose 100 percent tariffs on members of the BRICS economic bloc who move to adopt a new currency to compete with the U.S. dollar. “The idea that the BRICS countries are trying to move away from the dollar while we stand by and watch is OVER,” Trump wrote in a […]
WASHINGTON—President Joe Biden announced on Nov. 26 that the governments of Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a U.S.-brokered cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah. “Today, I have some good news to report from the Middle East,” Biden said. “Just spoke with the prime minister of Israel and Lebanon. I’m pleased to announce that the […]
President-elect Donald Trump met with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday, Nov. 22. The transatlantic alliance confirmed the meeting in a brief statement on its website on Nov. 23. Trump and Rutte “discussed the range of global security issues facing the Alliance,” the press statement reads. Rutte also met with Trump’s […]
The United States introduced sanctions on Nov. 21 against nearly 100 Russian financial institutions and 15 individuals in hopes of further constraining Moscow’s ability to wage war in Ukraine. The Treasury Department listed 54 Russian banks and 41 securities registrars for sanctions. The sanctions also target 11 Russian officials who work for the Central Bank […]
Brazil’s Department of Federal Police announced indictments on Nov. 21 against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, and 36 others, on allegations they attempted to keep him in power through a violent coup d’état. The charges follow a nearly two-year investigation into the Jan. 8, 2023, breach of the Brazilian federal government buildings, including its National […]
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FBI Director Chris Wray declined requests to testify at a Nov. 21 Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing. The Senate committee had called the hearing to discuss ongoing threats to national security and called on Mayorkas and Wray to address the committee in an […]
President-elect Donald Trump has named one of his personal attorneys, William Owen Scharf, to be his White House staff secretary. “Will is a highly skilled attorney who will be a crucial part of my White House team,” Trump said in a Nov. 16 statement posted on his Truth Social platform. The White House staff secretary is […]
President-elect Donald Trump has named energy industry executive Chris Wright as his choice to lead the Department of Energy, pending Senate confirmation. “I am thrilled to announce that Chris Wright will be joining my Administration as both United States Secretary of Energy, and Member of the newly formed Council of National Energy,” Trump said in […]
President Joe Biden met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Saturday for their final in-person meeting of Biden’s presidency. During their discussion, which lasted one hour and 40 minutes, Xi expressed China’s readiness to work with the incoming U.S. administration. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in […]
President-elect Donald Trump has named former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard as his pick for the director of national intelligence role in his incoming administration. “I am pleased to announce that former Congresswoman, Lieutenant Colonel Tulsi Gabbard, will serve as Director of National Intelligence (DNI). For over two decades, Tulsi has fought for our Country and the […]
President Joe Biden will meet with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru on Nov. 16. During a Nov. 13 press call, a senior administration official said the bilateral meeting will serve as an opportunity to review U.S.–China relations throughout the Biden administration and efforts […]
WASHINGTON—President Joe Biden hosted Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the White House on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing crises in Gaza and Lebanon. Before their meeting, Biden reaffirmed that his commitment to Israel is “ironclad.” Herzog expressed gratitude to Biden, calling him “a friend.” The Israeli president began his remarks by sharing the “sad news […]
The Qatari government has paused its involvement in mediating talks to reach a cease-fire in the ongoing Israel–Hamas war, after ending the last round of discussions without an agreement. In a Nov. 9 press statement, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Qatar had suspended its involvement in cease-fire discussions, but disputed claims that Qatar had […]
