Aid

A wildfire driven by fierce Santa Ana winds continues to burn in Malibu, just north of Pepperdine University, as 700 firefighters work to bring the flames under control.

The Biden-Harris administration is reportedly considering removing the terrorist designation for Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a Syrian rebel group with ties to Al Qaeda. The move, first reported by Politico, aims to legitimize HTS to provide billions in U.S. humanitarian aid for post-civil war reconstruction in Syria. However, critics warn the decision could backfire, echoing past controversies over similar policy shifts.

Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., expressed skepticism about U.S. military strikes in Syria during an interview on CNN’s The Source. Responding to the Biden administration's 75 strikes against ISIS targets, Omar argued that U.S. military involvement is counterproductive to Syria’s progress in rebuilding and establishing democratic institutions.

Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., has been chosen by the House GOP Steering Committee to chair the Foreign Affairs Committee in the next Congress. Mast, a vocal supporter of President-elect Donald Trump, was selected over contenders including Reps. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., Joe Wilson, R-S.C., and Ann Wagner, R-Mo., according to Axios.

Tragedy struck in Unicoi County, Tennessee, where multiple lives were lost, but many others were saved due to the heroic efforts of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA).

The Pentagon has introduced a new counter-drone strategy in response to a surge in drone incursions threatening U.S. bases and national security.

The Taliban has banned women in Afghanistan from attending nursing and midwifery classes, further eroding women's rights and jeopardizing the country’s fragile healthcare system.

The Biden administration has announced yet another significant aid package for Ukraine, totaling $988 million, as part of its ongoing support against Russian aggression.

Russia has reported further territorial gains in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine, with its forces capturing two villages in eastern Ukraine.

Canada has banned 324 additional assault-style firearms, continuing its push for stricter gun control. This decision builds on a 2020 ban of 1,500 firearm models, which was expanded to over 2,000 last month as more weapons were identified. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc announced the new restrictions, which take effect immediately, stating, “Firearms designed for the battlefield plainly do not belong in our communities.”