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.
Illinois’ pension crisis continues to deepen, with the state's unfunded pension liability reaching $143.7 billion, according to the latest report from the Illinois Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA). This figure is $1.5 billion higher than last year and marks the second-highest total since 2020, when the liability hit $144.2 billion.
The Department of Education under President Joe Biden has directed more than $1 billion toward diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives since 2021, according to a report by watchdog group Parents Defending Education (PDE).
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) is poised to challenge Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo over her reported rush to allocate the remaining CHIPS and Science Act funds before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. In a letter expected to be delivered Wednesday, Ernst calls Raimondo’s expedited spending plan “extremely concerning” and urges her to stop any “binge buying” of taxpayer dollars.
The United States announced on Tuesday that it has allocated $20 billion in funding for Ukraine, utilizing proceeds earned from frozen Russian assets. The funds are part of a larger $50 billion support package coordinated by the Group of Seven (G7) nations. This financial boost comes just 40 days before President Joe Biden is set to leave office, raising questions about the future of U.S. support for Ukraine under President-elect Donald Trump.
A report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) reveals that China may be operating multiple espionage facilities in Cuba to spy on the United States. The report, based on satellite imagery and open-source analysis, identifies four key locations—Bejucal, El Salao, Wajay, and Calabazar—as sites supporting China’s signals intelligence (SIGINT) efforts.
President-elect Donald Trump announced that prominent D.C. attorney Mark Paoletta will return to the White House as General Counsel of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under Director Russ Vought. Paoletta, known for his strategic legal prowess, will be instrumental in reversing the course of federal regulations, reducing spending, and implementing reforms recommended by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Hawaii's Mount Kilauea, the state’s most active volcano, is showing signs of increased unrest, with the number of earthquakes at its summit doubling over the past week, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) indicated that she plans to support Pete Hegseth following "encouraging conversations." The move follows speculation that she and other senators expressed doubts about Hegseth's Senate confirmation.
