Bipartisan Progress, Blocked Deals, and Austria’s Political Shift

Good Morning,

President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan deal which will expand Social Security benefits for over 2.5 million people, Nippon Steel's $14.9 billion bid for U.S. Steel was blocked by President Joe Biden due to national security concerns, and Austria's conservative People’s Party has agreed to negotiations with the “far-right” Freedom Party (FPO).

Top Stories

• Ukraine presses attacks in Russia’s Kursk region (AP)

• Exclusive: Rival CEO spread doubt about Nippon Steel deal prospects, documents allege (RT)

• Palestinian Authority suppresses criticism of Jenin operation in West Bank (AJ)

• Biden signs bill to increase Social Security benefits for millions of public workers (CNBC)

• Soldier who died by suicide in Las Vegas told ex-girlfriend of pain and exhaustion after Afghanistan (AP)

• Driver in Ramming Attack Made Trips to New Orleans and Abroad (NYT)

• A Weakened Iran Prepares to Face Trump 2.0 (WSJ)

• New Austrian conservative leader ready for coalition talks with far right (AJ)

• Trump hails Italy’s PM as a ‘fantastic woman’ as she visits him in Florida (CNN)

• Musk turns on Farage, says he should quit as UK Reform party leader (RT)

• Israel helps former soldier leave Brazil over investigation into alleged war crimes in Gaza (AP)

• Venezuelan Regime Hunts for Foreign Hostages to Pressure Its Rivals (WSJ)

• Hamas and Israel wrangle over talks as Israeli strikes in Gaza intensify (RT)

• Zelenskiy says Kyiv security guarantees will only work if US provides them (RT)

United States and Canada

• Exclusive: New US ethics czar starts vetting incoming Trump officials (RT)

• Biden Awards Medal of Freedom to Hillary Clinton, George Soros and Others (WSJ)

• California Police Department Agrees to Reforms After Federal Inquiry (NYT)

• Trump’s sentencing is set for Jan. 10. Here’s what could happen next (AP)

• As Democrats Reel, Two Front-Runners Emerge in a Leadership Battle (NYT)

• Justice Department enters proposed consent decree over conditions at Georgia’s troubled Fulton County Jail (CNN)

• Republicans re-elect Mike Johnson as US House speaker in nail-biting vote (AJ)

• GOP congressional leaders set the stage to move on Trump’s agenda | CNN Politics (CNN)

• Trump appoints lawyer Stanley Woodward to White House role (RT)

Africa

• M23 Captures Masisi in DR Congo (AN)

• Mali rebels say army, Russian fighters killed nine civilians in car attack (RT)

• Burkina Faso: Two jailed for life over 2017 restaurant attack (AN)

• Frexit: Why Ivory Coast is joining African campaign to expel French troops (AJ)

• Post-election crisis in Mozambique forces nearly 3,000 to flee abroad (AN)

• Mauritius' former central bank governor released on bail, local media report (RT)

• Ghana passes provisional budget ahead of transition (AN)

Middle East

• Hamas wants Gaza ceasefire deal as soon as possible, senior official says (RT)

• Syria’s foreign minister visits Qatar as new authorities seek regional and global diplomatic ties (AP)

• Syria to resume international flights from Damascus airport next week (AJ)

• Israeli military enlists first group of ultra-Orthodox recruits into brigade (CNN)

• Israel Conducts Raids in Syria Amid Accusations of Cease-Fire Violations (NYT)

• US plans $8 billion arms sale to Israel (RT)

• Updates: Hamas approves list of Israeli captives to release amid Doha talks (AJ)

Indo-Pacific

• Fire at market in northern China kills at least eight people and injures 15 (AJ)

• The US soldiers returning to Vietnam in search of mass graves (AJ)

• Treasury Dept. Hits Chinese Tech Company With Sanctions After Breach (NYT)

• South Korea's presidential security chief defies Yoon arrest bid as deadline looms (RT)

• Syria’s New Islamic Government Creates Controversy With Education Overhaul (WSJ)

• Myanmar’s military regime to free nearly 6,000 prisoners in amnesty (AJ)

• South Korean presidential guards prevent arrest of impeached Yoon after tense stand-off (RT)

Europe

• Farmers' convoys head for Paris to restart protest movement (RT)

• Italy in talks over $1.5 billion SpaceX security services deal, Bloomberg News reports (RT)

• A Gas Cutoff Sends Shivers Through a Russian-Backed Breakaway Region (NYT)

• Russia alleges journalist killed by drone attack in occupied Ukraine, calls on UN to condemn Kyiv (CNN)

• Thousands protest in Montenegro to demand ouster of top security officials over mass shooting (AP)

• Musk turns on Farage, says he should quit as UK Reform party leader (RT)

• Poland takes over EU presidency with focus on security (RT)

Latin America

• Ecuador's ex-VP Glas evacuated from prison after attempted killing, lawyer says (RT)

• Venezuelan opposition leader urges supporters to demonstrate to force Maduro to leave office (AP)

• Golpe a la Segunda Marquetalia en Nariño: Ejército capturó a alias Papo, presunto cabecilla y encargado de extorsiones en la región (SM)

• Another 75 Guatemalan soldiers arrive in Haiti to battle gangs (RT)

• Why is Honduras threatening to expel US troops? (AJ)

• Mexico opens possibility of receiving non-Mexican deportees from Trump (AP)

• Jorge Rodríguez, ratificado presidente de la AN, amenaza con detener a Edmundo González (LN)