European Leaders Tie Ukraine Territorial Decisions to Strong Security Guarantees 
U.S. Suspends UK Technology Deal Amid Trade Disputes Under Trump Administration 
Special Prosecutor Alleges Yoon Suk Yeol Sought North Korea Provocation to Justify Martial Law 
Lukashenko Says Maduro Welcome in Belarus Amid Rising U.S.-Venezuela Tensions 
Supporters Gather Ahead of Verdict in Jimmy Lai’s Landmark Hong Kong National Security Trial 
Global Leaders Condemn Deadly Antisemitic Shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach During Hanukkah 
Trump Sues BBC for Defamation Over Edited Capitol Riot Speech Clip 
U.S. Offers NATO-Style Security Guarantees to Ukraine as Peace Talks Show Progress 
Sydney Bondi Beach Terror Attack Kills 16, Sparks Gun Law and Security Debate 
Hong Kong Democratic Party Disbands After Member Vote Amid Security Crackdown 
Thailand Vows Continued Military Action Amid Cambodia Border Clash Despite Trump Ceasefire Claim 
Trump Weighs Reclassifying Marijuana as Schedule III, Potentially Transforming U.S. Cannabis Industry 
U.S. and Mexico Reach New Agreement to Tackle Tijuana River Sewage Crisis 
Taiwan Political Standoff Deepens as President Lai Urges Parliament to Withdraw Disputed Laws 
Ukraine Claims First-Ever Underwater Drone Strike on Russian Missile Submarine 
Jimmy Lai Convicted Under Hong Kong National Security Law in Landmark Case 
Belarus Frees Opposition Leaders Maria Kalesnikava and Viktar Babaryka in U.S.-Brokered Deal 
US Vice President Kamala Harris is also the chair of the country’s National Space Council that is set to hold a meeting this week. This is also the first meeting of the National Space Council, with her as the chair.
The first meeting Harris will have with the National Space Council will be on December 1. Harris previously announced the date during her remarks at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. The meeting is expected to be streamed live by the White House and NASA. Other details have yet to be disclosed.
“And at that meeting, we will outline a comprehensive framework for our nation’s space priorities, from our civilian efforts...to our military and national security efforts to STEM education and the emerging space economy,” said Harris during her remarks.
The National Space Council was started in 1989 by George H.W. Bush but was disbanded four years later. Donald Trump revived the NSC in 2017, which is usually chaired by the Vice President. Harris’s predecessor Mike Pence chaired eight meetings with the NSC, the last meeting of which was in December of 2020, where he introduced the 18 astronauts that will take part in NASA’s Artemis space program.
It remains to be seen what Harris and the NSC will focus on during their meeting. However, the issue of climate change is likely going to be on the agenda -- an issue that Harris stressed during her remarks at the Goddard Space Flight Center back in November.
In other related news, many have turned their attention to the 2024 presidential races as speculation is rife as to whether US President Joe Biden is seeking a second term or not. If Biden does not seek re-election in 2024, a HillxHarris poll showed that Harris, along with former first lady Michelle Obama, is being favored to become the Democratic nominee for president.
The poll showed that 13 percent would vote for Harris, while 10 percent would vote for Obama. Despite many hoping that Obama would run, the former first lady has previously made it clear that she is not interested in running for office.
