News from January 18, 2025 at 2 AM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed that Israel, the Palestinian movement Hamas, the United States, and Qatar have signed a deal on a ceasefire and the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu instructed to convene the security cabinet and subsequently hold a government meeting to approve the deal. On Thursday, media reported that the Israeli security cabinet would vote on the ceasefire deal on Friday, with the government expected to vote on Saturday. On January 15, with the mediation of Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, Israel and Hamas agreed to a 42-day ceasefire and declared their intention to finally end the hostilities that have claimed the lives of 46,000 Palestinians and about 1,500 Israelis over 15 months, spreading to Lebanon and Yemen and provoking missile exchanges between Israel and Iran. The first stage involves a partial exchange of prisoners, the withdrawal of Israeli troops to the Gaza borders, and humanitarian aid, while the second and third stages are yet to be agreed upon. Under the deal, the guarantors—Qatar, Egypt, and the United States—will establish a coordination center in Cairo.

The US Supreme Court upheld on January 17 a 2024 bipartisan law requiring the sale of TikTok by its Chinese parent company ByteDance on national security grounds, or face a ban in the United States. The law, passed overwhelmingly by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden, puts the fate of TikTok and its 170 million American users in limbo. President-elect Donald Trump, set to be inaugurated on January 20, vowed to review the situation and rescue TikTok. Meanwhile, Trump confirmed that his inauguration will move indoors due to extreme cold weather. Additionally, the US Secretary of State and the foreign ministers of Australia, India, and Japan are expected to meet in Washington on January 21 to discuss the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's visit to Russia is of significant importance, as both countries are set to sign a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The new treaty will boost cooperation in areas including nuclear energy, Putin added, noting that the current pace of trade and economic relations between Russia and Iran is acceptable. Pezeshkian stated that the agreement will greatly enhance bilateral relations and serve as a solid foundation for further progress. He revealed that he had discussed the importance of developing ties with Russia with Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Both leaders emphasized the strategic and comprehensive nature of Moscow-Tehran relations.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has grounded SpaceX's giant Starship rocket to investigate its explosion during the latest test flight. On Thursday, the rocket's upper stage disintegrated over the Caribbean after launching from Texas, causing airline flights to alter course to avoid falling debris. The FAA is working with SpaceX and other authorities to confirm reports of damage to public property on the Turks and Caicos Islands, with no reports of injuries. The aviation regulator has ordered SpaceX to conduct a 'mishap' investigation, with findings to be reviewed before deciding if Starship can return to flight. This test flight was Starship's seventh mission and the first involving an upgraded version of the rocket. SpaceX indicated that preliminary signs suggest the issue was linked to an oxygen/fuel leak above the ship engine firewall.

Canada's Minister of International Trade, Mary Ng, stated that if President-elect Donald Trump imposes tariffs on Canadian goods, Canada is prepared to retaliate with levies targeting the energy sector. Trump has threatened a 25% tariff on all Canadian exports. In 2022, Canada was the largest purchaser of American goods and the third-largest exporter to the U.S. Ng and her team are drafting a list of U.S. exports to Canada that could face additional tariffs. Previously, Canada imposed retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products in response to Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminum. Canada is now seeking to strengthen ties with other trade partners, including Japan and the European Union.

On January 16, former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney announced his candidacy to replace outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as leader of the ruling Liberal Party in Edmonton, Alberta. Positioning himself as an outsider, Carney emphasized his focus on reviving the struggling economy. Trudeau, who announced his resignation in January amid internal dissatisfaction and poor polling, will remain in office until a new leader is named on March 9. Carney's main rival is former finance minister Chrystia Freeland. The new prime minister's tenure may be short-lived, as the minority government could fall by the end of March, potentially leading to an election that polls suggest the Conservatives will win. Despite his outsider stance, Carney's ties to Trudeau and his extensive financial experience, including serving as Bank of England governor, have drawn criticism from the opposition.

On January 17, the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Brazil, as the rotating chair of the BRICS countries, has officially welcomed Nigeria as a BRICS partner country. Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa and one of its most significant economies, shares common interests with other BRICS members and is actively committed to enhancing cooperation with the 'Global South' and reforming global governance. Nigeria becomes the ninth BRICS partner country, following the addition of eight other nations, including Belarus, on January 1.

Cuban dissident and human rights activist Jose Daniel Ferrer told Reuters on Thursday that he had been released from jail and was at home, as part of a broader plan negotiated with the Vatican to gradually free upwards of 500 prisoners. The Cuban government began releasing a small number of prisoners on Wednesday following talks with the Catholic Church, prompting U.S. President Joe Biden to announce significant loosening of sanctions on the crisis-racked nation. Biden's announcement came just days before President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, with Trump's nominee for Secretary of State, Senator Marco Rubio, criticizing the decision to relax sanctions on Cuba. Many of the prisoners released this week were arrested in connection with unprecedented anti-government protests in July 2021, the largest since Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution. The U.S., Europe, and human rights groups had criticized Cuba's response to the protests as repressive. Ferrer, the highest-profile prisoner released so far, is the leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), once the country's largest opposition group. Arrested in October 2019 on charges of abduction and assault, he was sentenced to four years but mostly served under house arrest. Critics argued that the charges were fabricated to silence him. Ferrer was re-arrested on July 11, 2021, for attempting to join a protest in Santiago de Cuba, violating his house arrest terms. His activism dates back decades, including his arrest in 2003 during the Black Spring crackdown. Cuba has stated it will continue to gradually release prisoners in the coming days and weeks.

US President-elect Donald Trump has appointed actors Mel Gibson, Jon Voight, and Sylvester Stallone as special envoys to Hollywood. Trump stated that the three actors will serve as his special representatives to revitalize Hollywood and reclaim business lost to foreign countries over the past four years. He emphasized that they will be his 'eyes and ears' and will act on their suggestions. Meanwhile, wildfires are raging in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles, California, with Trump repeatedly criticizing the state authorities for mismanagement.