News Wrap: U.S. unsure of true scope of China’s cyberattack on communication firms

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• Amna Nawaz:

  The day's other headlines start with more on the Chinese hack of American telecommunications firms earlier this year.

  Officials with the nation's cyber defense agency and the FBI tell the "News Hour" that after seven months of investigating, they still don't know the true scope of China's cyberattack. The officials also said the hack is ongoing and that there's no evidence the Chinese actors have been kicked out yet.

  They found that the hackers mostly stole phone metadata from a large, but unspecified group of Americans. Senate Intelligence Chairman Mark Warner recently called this the worst telecommunication hack in U.S. history.

  To the Middle East now, where the limits of a shaky cease-fire deal between Israel and Hezbollah are being tested with new violence and new threats. Since last week's truce went into place, both sides have claimed violations by the other. Hezbollah's Monday attacks into an Israeli border area were met by an Israeli response, airstrikes that killed at least 11 people in Lebanon.

  Israel's defense minister told troops that, if the cease-fire broke, Israel wouldn't limit its strikes to Hezbollah, saying — quote — "There will no longer be an exemption for the state of Lebanon." In a meeting with his Cabinet, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the cease-fire doesn't mean that Israel will sit idly by.

• Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister (through interpreter):

  We are currently in a cease-fire, not the end of the war. We have a clear goal to return the residents, to rehabilitate the north. We are enforcing this cease-fire with an iron fist, acting against any violation, minor or serious.

• Amna Nawaz:

  In nearby Syria, insurgents have pushed forward with their offensive. A war-monitoring organization confirmed the militants captured four new towns today as they pushed toward Hama, the fourth largest city in Syria.

  In the meantime, government forces have retaken a village that fell to the insurgents last week. We will have more on Syria later in the broadcast.

  The war in Ukraine was top of the agenda at a NATO meeting in Brussels today. But when asked whether the military alliance would heed Ukraine's calls for membership, Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the focus should be on sending more weapons to strengthen its negotiating position. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged NATO to brace for what could be another year of war.

  Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State: This is a vital moment, I think, for the alliance to make sure that we're level-set for the year ahead. The reason the alliance is stronger than ever is because we all know it's the best guarantee against war, the best means to prevent conflict, the best means to ensure our collective security.

• Amna Nawaz:

  Meanwhile, Ukraine's air force says Russian drones struck more critical infrastructure overnight, cutting power in some western regions. About half of Ukraine's power has been knocked out from Russian strikes since the war began.

  President Biden said he is all in on Africa during a trip to Angola that's meant to counter China's influence on the continent. Biden was welcomed alongside Angola's President Joao Lourenco and toured a slavery museum. He is the first sitting U.S. president ever to visit the country.

  Mr. Biden also promoted a $3 billion U.S. commitment toward an 800-mile railway project that connects several sub-Saharan nations. In remarks this afternoon, the president said the future runs through Africa.

  Joe Biden, President of the United States: It's been my goal, goal of the United States to build a strong partnership with peoples and nations across the continent of Africa, true partnerships aimed at achieving shared goals, bringing to bear the dynamism of America's private sector and the expertise of our government to support aspirations of African entrepreneurs, experts, leaders both inside and outside of government.

• Amna Nawaz:

  China has invested heavily in Africa's mining industry, and, today, it announced that it will ban exports of several critical minerals to the U.S. that are used in tech.

  After delaying for weeks, president-elect Donald Trump's transition team has signed a customary agreement with the Justice Department that will allow investigators to conduct background checks on his nominees and appointments. The Justice Department confirmed to the "News Hour" that the agreement was signed and the department is ready to process requests for security clearances.

  This step was important for a smooth transition and for those among Mr. Trump's staff and nominees who need to access briefing materials and national security information. All of this comes as another one of Mr. Trump's nominees has withdrawn tonight.

  Florida Sheriff Chad Chronister had been tapped to run the Drug Enforcement Administration. Chronister had recently come under fire for making what was seen among Trump's base as a controversial arrest of a Tampa Bay pastor who defied public health restrictions to hold services during the height of the COVID pandemic.

  And on Wall Street today, more mixed results. The Dow Jones industrial average lost more than 70 points, while the Nasdaq gained practically the same amount. The S&P 500-inched barely higher.