Security

The United States and China have signed an updated agreement to renew its Science and Technology Agreement (STA) for five years.

Two members of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party sent letters to the CEO's of TikTok, Apple, and Google, reminding them of their need to comply with the recent court ruling that upheld the ban against TikTok.

Unidentified drones have been spotted over the U.S. airbase in Germany in recent weeks, according to a report from Spiegel.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called for Europe to enter a "wartime mindset" during a speech to security experts in Brussels.

Former California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) expressed concern on Thursday that the state has exceeded the original intent of the sanctuary law he signed during his tenure. In an interview with Sacramento’s ABC10, Brown remarked that cities like San Francisco have taken sanctuary policies to an extreme, creating a near-complete separation between state and federal immigration enforcement.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will maintain their position atop Mount Hermon’s Syrian peak through the winter months, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Friday. This move comes after the fall of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad’s regime on Sunday and aims to prevent extremist groups from seizing control of the strategically vital area.

Several Druze Arab villages in southwestern Syria are calling to be annexed by Israel rather than remain under rebel-controlled Syria, citing concerns over security and radical Islamist threats. The Druze, a religious minority with roots in the Levant, have historically maintained loyalty to their residing nations while prioritizing local stability.

Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) has called for immediate federal action to address a surge in unexplained drone activity in the Philadelphia suburbs. In a letter sent to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Fitzpatrick urged transparency and swift measures to ensure the safety and security of residents.

Hamas has agreed to meet two major Israeli demands in ongoing ceasefire talks, including allowing the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to remain in Gaza during a pause in fighting, according to The Wall Street Journal. The terrorist group also provided a list of hostages, including American citizens, marking a significant development toward a potential ceasefire agreement.

A group of 17 congressional Republicans is urging President Joe Biden to block a proposal at the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) that they believe would bolster China’s influence and diminish America’s leadership in global agriculture.