Trump Signals Two Final Candidates for Fed Chair, Calls for Presidential Input on Interest Rates 
Preservation Group Sues Trump Administration to Halt $300 Million White House Ballroom Project 
Hong Kong Democratic Party Disbands After Member Vote Amid Security Crackdown 
Thousands Protest in Brazil Against Efforts to Reduce Jair Bolsonaro’s Prison Sentence 
Thailand Vows Continued Military Action Amid Cambodia Border Clash Despite Trump Ceasefire Claim 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Global Leaders Condemn Deadly Antisemitic Shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach During Hanukkah 
International Stabilization Force for Gaza Nears Deployment as U.S.-Led Planning Advances 
Belarus Frees Opposition Leaders Maria Kalesnikava and Viktar Babaryka in U.S.-Brokered Deal 
Colombia’s Clan del Golfo Peace Talks Signal Mandatory Prison Sentences for Top Leaders 
Syria Arrests Five Suspects After Deadly Attack on U.S. and Syrian Troops in Palmyra 
Trump Claims Thailand-Cambodia Ceasefire After Intense Border Clashes 
U.S. Intelligence Briefly Curtailed Information Sharing With Israel Amid Gaza War Concerns 
U.S. Lifts Sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Amid Shift in Brazil Relations 
Judge Orders Return of Seized Evidence in Comey-Related Case, DOJ May Seek New Warrant 
Tunisia Protests Grow as Opposition Unites Against President Kais Saied’s Rule 
Bolivia Orders Pre-Trial Detention of Former President Luis Arce Over Embezzlement Probe 
US Vice President Kamala Harris will be going on another overseas engagement next week as she will be attending the Munich Security Conference in Germany. Harris is also set to rally allies as tensions in Eastern Europe remain high.
The White House announced Wednesday that Harris will be traveling to Germany for the Munich Security Conference. Harris will be outlining the US policy towards Ukraine and reiterating the country’s commitment to its NATO allies. Harris will also be meeting one-on-one with other world leaders in an effort to bring a united stance against a possible Russian invasion.
“Munich will demonstrate our ironclad commitment to our NATO allies, reaffirm our shared interest in upholding the principles that have underpinned European peace and security since World War II, and underscore our commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” said Harris’s deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh.
The vice president’s trip to Munich will reinforce US engagement with its allies in Europe in the midst of a threat posed by Russia with tens of thousands of troops at its border with Ukraine. Moscow has denied planning any invasion, but US officials say that an offensive by Russia may occur in a matter of days or weeks.
Russia has also started its military exercises at the Black Sea and at Belarus in a show of strength. Russian President Vladimir Putin also warned that there would be a military conflict should NATO accept Ukraine into the alliance and attempt to take back Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014.
In other related news, Harris has also faced some challenges of her own as several of her staffers have resigned. However, according to the vice president’s allies, the new hires along with the new year may be an opportunity for Harris to rebuild her image from 2021 during her first year as vice president. Harris supporters say it is not a reboot, but rather the next chapter in her term, which will likely go smoothly now compared to her first year.
The sudden departure of key staff members in Harris’s office appeared to start after the vice president traveled to Central America as part of the diplomatic efforts to address the causes of migration.
