On Tuesday, negotiators in Congress reached a preliminary agreement on a short-term funding bill aimed at preventing a partial government shutdown. The bill would also allocate approximately $100 billion in disaster relief and $10 billion in economic aid to farmers, according to Republican lawmakers.
Congressional staffers were in the process of drafting the legislation, which is expected to reach the House floor later this week. The goal is to pass it through the Senate before the current funding expires at midnight ET on Friday.
“Different folks within their areas of jurisdiction are rapidly writing [legislative] text,” Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., told reporters after a private meeting with House Republicans.

Ukraine was behind the assassination of the head of Russia’s radiological, chemical and biological defense forces in a bomb explosion in Moscow early Tuesday, a person familiar with the operation said.
Ukraine’s Security Service, or SBU, carried out the killing of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov and his assistant, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the operation. The SBU’s press office declined to comment.
The two servicemen died when an explosive device planted on a scooter detonated near the entrance to an apartment building, Russia’s Investigative Committee said in a statement. The committee said investigators had opened a criminal case for murder.

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s office denied reports on Tuesday that he was heading to Egypt for negotiations on a ceasefire-for-hostages deal with the Hamas terror organization in Gaza.
“Contrary to the wave of rumors, Prime Minister Netanyahu is not in Cairo,” according to Prime Minister’s Office Spokesperson Omer Dostri.
The PMO subsequently put out a statement saying that the prime minister on Tuesday led a situational assessment on the border with Syria alongside Defense Minister Israel Katz, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, IDF Northern Command head Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) head Ronen Bar.

The Israel Police and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) recently arrested a 23-year-old resident of Yerushalayim on suspicion of espionage on behalf of Iran, authorities announced on Tuesday.
The suspect, identified by police as Erdler Amoyal, also made advanced preparations to carry out terror attacks in the Jewish state in exchange for monetary rewards, according to charges filed on Tuesday.
Amoyal was initially contacted by the Iranian regime in October through social media, first via a profile named “Ariana,” after which he was put in touch with an additional agent, dubbed “John,” who became his handler.

Two Israel Defense Forces soldiers were killed during counter-terror operations in the southern Gaza Strip, the military announced Tuesday.
The slain soldiers were identified as Maj. (res.) Moshiko Maxim Rozenwald, 35, and Sgt. Maj. (res.) Alexander Anosov, 26, both from the city of Modi’in-Maccabim-Re’ut in central Israel.
According to a preliminary probe, the two were killed when a heavily damaged building collapsed in the Rafah area.
Last week, three IDF soldiers were killed in combat in northern Gaza. The same day, the military announced the deaths of four soldiers killed in Southern Lebanon, despite the ceasefire currently in effect there.

On Monday’s episode of The Reid Out, MSNBC host Al Sharpton criticized President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance for inviting Marine veteran Daniel Penny to their box at the Army-Navy football game. Sharpton described the move as disrespectful and argued that it reflected the administration’s dehumanizing view of Black people.
Sharpton remarked, “It is amazing to me that you would have someone that choked to death an unarmed man who had mental problems and act as though he’s some kind of hero. The clear message is that you are now giving legitimacy to vigilanteism, and it could make others feel that they can take the law into their own hand.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a warning to residents of New Jersey, advising against shooting at mysterious drones or aiming lasers at aircraft with crew members on board.
A joint statement posted on X by the FBI Newark Field Office and the New Jersey State Police (NJSP) revealed that there has been an increase in incidents of lasers being aimed at pilots, blinding them temporarily.
This warning comes amidst a surge in reports from residents in states like New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland who claim to have seen unidentified, mysterious drones flying in the sky. The drones have also been spotted over the Picatinny Arsenal military base and at President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster.

Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz made it clear on Tuesday morning that Israel will continue to have control over Gaza’s security and will maintain full operational freedom within the region.
“My stance on Gaza is clear. After we defeat Hamas’s military and governmental power in Gaza, with full freedom of operation, just like in Judea and Samaria. We will not allow any terrorists to organize in Gaza against Israeli towns and citizens. We will not allow the reality to return to what it was before October 7th,” Katz declared.

At his final Chanukah celebration at the White House, President Joe Biden promised to ensure the release of the remaining 100 hostages held in Gaza.
Biden made this pledge to a crowd of hundreds, vowing, “I’ve gotten over 100 hostages out. I will not stop until I get every single one of them home,” which was met with loud applause.
Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, who has spearheaded the administration’s fight against antisemitism, spoke before Biden. He reaffirmed his commitment to continuing this battle, saying, “Tonight, I am rededicating myself to fighting antisemitism and hatred of all kinds,” and vowed to carry on these efforts even after the administration’s term ends in just over a month.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confronted an unprecedented challenge on Monday when Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, a key and loyal member of his Cabinet for years, stepped down. Her unexpected resignation prompted speculation about the future of the nearly decade-long leadership of Trudeau, whose approval has significantly dropped amid concerns over inflation and immigration, all while his government struggles to navigate the incoming presidency of Donald Trump.