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The Senate passed an annual defense bill authorizing a record $901 billion in military spending. President Donald Trump has pledged to sign the legislation, which would expand the purchase of military equipment, fund the Golden Dome missile defense shield, and provide Ukraine $400 million for 2026, among other initiatives. It also presses Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to provide Congress footage of recent boat strikes. Meanwhile, Germany approved a $60 billion military spending package as it seeks to rearm.

President Trump gave a primetime address to the nation last night. He spent much of the 20 minutes criticizing the Biden administration on the economy and immigration and lauding his own achievements, saying his government has brought 鈥渕ore positive change to Washington than any administration in American history.鈥� He also announced a 鈥渨arrior dividend鈥� of $1,776 for military service members, to be funded by tariffs.

A fundraiser for Ahmed al Ahmed, the heroic bystander who wrested a gun from one of the attackers at Sydney鈥檚 Bondi Beach last weekend, has brought in more than $1.6 million. As of this morning, some 43,000 people have contributed to thank him for his bravery, which likely saved many lives. The father of two daughters is recovering from multiple gunshots. 鈥淵ou and all the other heroes on the day far outnumber the hate filled perpetrators of this atrocity,鈥� one contributor wrote.

The federal government admitted fault in a January collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines plane that killed 67 people. The official response to a lawsuit filed by a victim鈥檚 family acknowledged that an air traffic controller and helicopter pilot played a role in the crash. The Army has since updated faulty altitude measuring systems. The Senate passed a bill yesterday meant to prevent similar incidents by requiring all aircraft in congested airspace to to use location-transmitting technology.

Finland鈥檚 prime minister has apologized to China, Japan, and South Korea for offensive posts by members of Parliament. The incident began when Miss Finland, now stripped of her crown, appeared in a friend鈥檚 social media post pulling back her eyes, the caption comparing her to a Chinese person. When that drew backlash, some lawmakers posted similar images on their own profiles. In a statement to embassies, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said the posts 鈥渄o not reflect Finland鈥檚 values.鈥�

A statue of Barbara Rose Johns replaced that of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee to represent Virginia in the U.S. Capitol. The civil rights activist was age 16 when she led a walkout in 1951 to protest conditions at her Virginia high school for Black students. The students鈥� case eventually went to the Supreme Court and helped end school segregation. During the ceremony, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin said Ms. Rose 鈥渃ourageously ... stood up to the lie [of] separate but equal.鈥�

鈥� Our staff around the world

The Trump administration鈥檚 more aggressive approach to Latin America is welcomed by many in the Cuban diaspora. They see one of their own 鈥� Secretary of State Marco Rubio 鈥� as an architect of the shift that, for them, has been a long time coming.

The Bondi Beach massacre has shattered the sense of security held by Australian Jews, generations of whom found a warm haven far from the horrors of Europe.聽Some now hope Australians see that antisemitism is not just a Jewish problem.

Following a recent Islamic State attack on its soldiers, the U.S. must weigh whether a return strike creates more problems for itself and a war-torn country than it solves.

The fragile peace in Gaza affords an opportunity for Palestinian families whose relatives have gone missing to search for them. Thousands of people disappeared without trace during the war; their parents and siblings are torn between wanting to learn their fate, and fearing they have died.

Riding elephants has been promoted as a quintessential tourist experience in India. A New Delhi-headquartered nonprofit encourages compassionate alternatives.

Over the past week, Romania has been rocked by protests against corruption. Like many of its neighbors, the Eastern European nation has seen similar uprisings for more than a decade. This time, however, many protesters have appealed to people鈥檚 better angels. They lean toward affirming principles of governance rather than merely opposing evil acts.

One chant favored during the protests, for example, is 鈥淛ustice, no corruption.鈥� Another is 鈥淚ntegrity, not complicity.鈥� One protest sign reads: 鈥淩espect for honest magistrates.鈥�

In the midst of the demonstrations 鈥� which focus on a media report that some judges helped officials avoid trials on corruption charges 鈥� hundreds of judges and prosecutors signed an open letter. It supports whistleblowers inside the judicial system who, despite threats of punishment, bravely expose wrongdoing.

鈥淭ruth and聽integrity聽must not be penalised but protected,鈥� the letter stated.

This shift toward an emphasis on higher qualities of thought was made clear in Romania earlier this year. A former anti-corruption activist, Nicu艧or Dan, became president in May after winning an election with the slogan 鈥淗onest Romania.鈥� Now, in response to the letter, he invited prosecutors and judges to an 鈥渙pen-ended discussion鈥� on judicial reform Dec. 22. (The date is remembered as the anniversary of the end of a dictatorship in 1989.)

Like many countries still mired in corruption despite reforms in laws and institutions, Romania struggles with defining corruption in many situations or effectively measuring it. In early December, the United Nations held its second global conference on corruption measurement. The effort is more than a technical exercise. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a foundation for building integrity systems that rely on evidence,鈥� said Marcos Neto, U.N. Assistant Secretary-General.

In fact, one of the newer ways of tallying corruption in countries is the Index of Public Integrity. It has been effective in focusing attention on three pillars that help embed trust in government: an independent judiciary, a free press, and digitally empowered citizens. For Romanians protesting on the streets, their selfless appeals to people鈥檚 integrity 鈥� and similar immeasurable traits 鈥� are not simply the inverse of corruption. They are an invitation to participate in a corruption-free life.