Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is considering resigning, according to CTV News; with him said to be preparing to address Parliament.

Canada’s Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland resigned after clashing with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over spending and U.S. tariffs, calling his fiscal policies a harmful political gimmick. Freeland’s exit, following a demotion offer, leaves Trudeau’s struggling Government in crisis as Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre demands an Election, citing chaos and weak leadership amid looming 25% U.S. import tariffs.

According to Reuters, Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder has said that they now “assess that North Korean troops have been killed and injured” in combat against Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region. No further details were provided on the exact number of casualties sustained by North Korean elements deployed on the front lines. This comes after the recent release from Ukrainian intelligence that 30 North Korean forces were killed recently in the Kursk area of operations. While Ukrainian intelligence has made such claims, albeit unconfirmed and with little evidence, in the past, this is the first time that the Pentagon has confirmed that North Korean forces have sustained casualties.

The U.S. has imposed sanctions on North Korean Banks, Generals, Other Officials, and Russian Oil Shipping Companies to disrupt North Korea's Financial and Military Support for Russia's War in Ukraine. North Korea has reportedly sent over 10,000 Troops and Military Equipment to aid Russia, escalating their Military Collaboration under a Mutual Defense Pact. The U.S. condemned these actions as Destabilizing and pledged to counter such Illicit Networks.

President-elect Donald Trump announced Richard Grenell, his former Intelligence Chief, as Presidential Envoy for Special Missions. Grenell has previously served as U.S. Ambassador to Germany, Special Envoy for Serbia-Kosovo Peace Talks, and Acting Director of National Intelligence. Although he was considered for other high-profile roles, Trump chose him for this position to address key international issues. Grenell has also previously interacted with Venezuelan Leader Nicolás Maduro. Senator Bill Hagerty expressed strong support for Grenell.

CNN reports that Russian Officials are attempting to determine if Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) would be willing to Negotiate a Settlement, which would allow Russia to maintain some of its Bases in Syria, including Khmeimim Air Base near Latakia and the Naval Base in Tartus. Despite this however, preparations are being made for the Russian Navy to permanently leave Syria; with U.S. Officials stating that Russia has begun to move Naval Assets from Syria to Libya, as pressure has been placed on the Commander of the Libyan National Army, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar to secure Russia’s claim to a possible Naval Base in Benghazi.

Following reports over the last few days of Significant Progress in Ceasefire and Hostage Negotiations between Israel and Hamas; Polymarket’s Betting Market currently believes there is a 48% Chance that a Ceasefire occurs by the end of December. The Situation in Syria is expected to have pushed Hamas further towards agreeing to a Ceasefire, despite certain Unfavorable Terms.

President-Elect Donald Trump, alongside SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, announced that SoftBank would invest $100 billion in the U.S. over the next four years, aimed at boosting the economy. The investment is expected to create 100,000 jobs in Artificial Intelligence and related Infrastructure, with deployment before the end of Trump's term. Trump described the investment as a sign of strong confidence in America's future and jokingly encouraged Son to double the pledge to $200 billion. This announcement follows a similar pledge in 2016, when Son committed $50 billion and 50,000 jobs, though it is unclear whether the promised jobs were actually created.

Reports of several Explosions heard near the Southern Iraqi City of Basrah, near the Border with Iran.

According to an official from the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, ”the ceasefire period with the Turkish factions has ended today” (Jennifer Griffin, Fox News). Prior to the ceasefire, the SDF was under heavy attack from the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) and their ability to hold key ground was becoming increasingly untenable.
The ceasefire, which began back on the 12th, largely relied on Turkey’s role the matter and SDF a recent SDF release (attached image) claims that two main points of contention were the reason for the breakdown of negotiations: the relocation of civilians and aligned fighters from the Manbij area to places in northern and eastern Syria and the relocation of Suleiman Shah’s (one of the original sultans of the Ottoman Empire) tomb back to its original location.

Given Turkey’s past rhetoric surrounding land claims in Syria, it’s unclear whether the Turkish-backed SNA actually entered into negotiations with a long-term ceasefire in mind. It should also be mentioned that as the tempo of SNA operations continues to increase, it’s highly likely that the U.S.-Turkish deconfliction process will become increasingly strained.

White House National Security Council CSC John Kirby has now said that the New Jersey drone sightings are “a combination of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed wing aircraft, helicopters and even stars.”

According to a release from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), U.S. CENTCOM forces conducted a precision airstrike on a key Command and Control (C2) hub of the Iranian-backed Houthis in Sana’a, Yemen. According to the release, the facility targeted was used to coordinate attacks and other operations against commercial and naval shipping in the Southern Red Sea, Bab el Mandeb Strait, and Gulf of Aden. Operations targeting Houthi military infrastructure and assets are subordinate to the ongoing U.S./UK-led Operation Poseidon Archer.

The Israeli Air Force conducted drone strikes on multiple rocket launchers in Southern Lebanon this morning, according to the Israel Defense Forces. The launchers were targeted at Israel and violated the Ceasefire Agreement between Israel and Lebanon.

Former Leader of Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and now Leader of the Syrian Transitional Government, Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, who currently leads the new Administration in parts of Syria, has declared that Syrian Territory will not be used for attacks against Israel. This follows Israel's decision to expand Settlements in the Golan Heights and ongoing Strikes on Syrian Targets. al-Jolani also reaffirmed his commitment to the 1974 Syria-Israel Agreement, highlighting ongoing Diplomatic Efforts amid Regional Tensions.

Mouaz Moustafa, the Head of the Syrian Emergency Task Force, has told Reuters that a Mass Grave containing at least 100,000 Bodies has been discovered near the City of Al-Qutayfah, to the Northeast of Damascus; with most of the Victims believed to have been Tortured to Death.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Department of Defense (DoD) have released a joint statement on the drone sightings in New Jersey.

Excerpt:
“We assess that the sightings to date include a combination of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and stars mistakenly reported as drones.”

The statement then went on to urge Congress to pass counter UAS (C-UAS) legislation that would “extend and expand existing counter-drone authorities to identify and mitigate any threat that may emerge.”

After a cyclone hit the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte, where hundreds are still feared to be dead, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, has said that he would visit the archipelago in the “coming days.” The cyclone is the worst to hit Mayotte in just under a century (DW). 

A Man who was interviewed recently by CNN, which claimed to have discovered him inside of a Locked Jail Cell in the Syrian Capital of Damascus, has now been identified as Salama Mohammad Salama, a Lieutenant in the Syrian Air Force’s Intelligence Directorate. Salama was known for running Military Checkpoints around the City, which would engage in the Extortion and Harassment of Locals; with some also claiming that he was involved in the Torture of Political Prisoners. It’s not exactly known how Salama ended up in the Jail, but some Sources are claiming that he was jailed in November for his involvement in “Profit-Sharing from Extorted Funds with a Higher-Ranking Officer” though this has not been Verified.