Ceasefire Achieved: Israel-Hamas Deal, South Africa's Mine Tragedy, and Bondi's Confirmation Clash

Good Morning,

Israel and Hamas have agreed to a three-phase ceasefire deal, brokered by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt, at least 78 bodies and over 240 survivors have been retrieved from an abandoned gold mine in South Africa following a months-long police operation, and Pam Bondi, Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, faced sharp Democratic concerns over her loyalty to Trump during a contentious confirmation hearing.

Top Stories

• Mediators herald Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal. Israel says final details are in flux (AP)

• Israel, Hamas ceasefire accord followed by airstrikes on Gaza, residents say (RT)

• South Africa accused of ‘horrific’ crackdown as 78 bodies pulled from mine (AJ)

• Goldman Sachs CEO Solomon says IPO market is ‘going to pick up’ along with dealmaking (CNBC)

• Bondi says she won’t play politics as attorney general but doesn’t rule out probes of Trump foes (AP)

• Johnson Ousts Turner as Intelligence Chairman, Bowing to Trump (NYT)

• Biden Warns of Oligarchy and Tech Industrial Complex in Farewell Address (WSJ)

• Trudeau meets with Canada’s provincial leaders to plan for Trump tariffs (AJ)

• Wall Street soars on record bank profits and cooling inflation (CNN)

• Detained South Korea's Yoon will not attend questioning, lawyer says (RT)

• Marco Rubio warns China is America’s ‘biggest threat,’ affirms value of NATO alliance (AP)

• Why Getting Greenland’s Mineral Riches Won’t Be Easy (WSJ)

• California utility faces billions in claims for fire damage even if it did nothing wrong (RT)

• FDA floats plan to make cigarettes nonaddictive, but its fate rests with Trump (AP)

United States and Canada

• Windy, flame-fanning weather eases up as progress made on LA-area fires (AP)

• US bans use of Red No.3 dye in food, drugs over potential cancer links (RT)

• U.S. Finds Pervasive Safety Failures at South Carolina Jail (NYT)

• Trump adviser says president-elect is exploring options to ‘preserve’ TikTok (AP)

• L.A. Prosecutor Vows Severe Penalties for Looting and Price Gouging (NYT)

• Chinese citizens stand trial for fentanyl-related charges in landmark US case (CNN)

• US firms boost imports ahead of Trump tariffs (AJ)

• $1.8 billion isn’t missing after all in South Carolina but questions remain about accounting error (AP)

• Yellen says Trump's plan for new revenue agency won't save money for taxpayers (RT)

Africa

• Mozambique: Daniel Chapo sworn in as president (AN)

• Congo jails three Chinese citizens in illegal mining crackdown (RT)

• ‘We’re not pirates’, say hijackers who seized Chinese ship off Somali coast (AJ)

• Zimbabwe opposition backs move to extend president's mandate (AN)

• Comoros ruling party wins parliamentary elections, opposition rejects results (RT)

• Suspected Marburg virus outbreak in Tanzania sparks concern (AN)

• France to decide response to Algeria 'hostility' as tensions mount - minister (RT)

Middle East

• UN rights chief urges reconciliation process in first Syria visit (RT)

• Three Palestinians killed in West Bank's Jenin, Palestinian officials say (RT)

• Israeli strikes target Gaza’s Bureij refugee camp amid negotiations (AJ)

• Israel supplied Iran with centrifuge platforms containing explosives, top official acknowledges (AP)

• Deal Has Exposed Fissures in Netanyahu’s Right-Wing Government (NYT)

• Qatar hikes March al-Shaheen oil term price to over 2-year high (RT)

• Two American hostages are on list to be released under Gaza deal, source says (RT)

Indo-Pacific

• Japan and Philippines plan to convey to Trump the need for US engagement in Asia (AP)

• Rescuers evacuate 3,000 residents near Indonesia's Mt Ibu after eruption (RT)

• China Deploys More Security to Try to Reassure a Country on Edge (NYT)

• Bangladesh's top court acquits former PM Khaleda in graft case (RT)

• Russia says it will help Vietnam become a ‘partner country’ in the BRICS bloc of developing nations (AP)

• China vows to reunite scam victims with families, crack down on cross-border criminal gangs (RT)

• Australia warns of ‘strongest possible action’ if citizen killed in Ukraine (AJ)

Europe

• Former Georgian prime minister hospitalised after beating, blames government (RT)

• Russian missile attack forces Ukraine to shut down power grid (AP)

• British Man Freed From Prison Over Video Misidentification (NYT)

• Ukraine launches largest air attacks on Russia since start of war (AJ)

• Poland’s leader accuses Russia of planning acts of sabotage against ‘airlines around the world’ (AP)

• France's PM Bayrou weakened by Socialist threat to back no-confidence vote (RT)

• Micheal Martin to return as Irish prime minister under coalition deal (RT)

Latin America

• Argentina to reform anti-dumping system to boost competition (RT)

• Cuba starts freeing prisoners a day after the US said it would lift terror designation (AP)

• Brujería, celdas de lujo, armas y estupefacientes, lo que encontró el Inpec en redada nacional contra el crimen desde las cárceles (SM)

• Haiti names new security chief as gangs step up raids (AN)

• Guatemalan president says he’s optimistic of finding common ground with Trump (AP)

• Imputaron a un diputado de La Cámpora por armar fake news y cuentas fantasmas para atacar a rivales políticos (CA)

• Maduro anuncia la creación del Ministerio de Comercio Exterior (LN)