Ceasefire Begins: Hostages Released, TikTok Restored, and Syria Rejects Kurdish Proposal

Good Morning,

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began on Sunday, marked by the release of three Israeli hostages and 90 Palestinian prisoners, alongside a humanitarian aid surge into Gaza, TikTok began restoring its services in the U.S. after President-elect Trump promised to facilitate a joint venture to protect national security, and Syria's new defense minister, Murhaf Abu Qasra, rejected the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces' proposal to remain as a separate military bloc within the country's Ministry of Defense.

Top Stories

• As ceasefire takes hold, Hamas returns 3 Israeli hostages and Israel frees 90 Palestinian prisoners (AP)

• TikTok is restoring service, thanks Trump (RT)

• Syrian minister rejects Kurdish-led SDF’s proposal for own military bloc (AJ)

• A weakening yuan is testing Beijing’s resolve as Trump’s return fuels tariff worries (CNBC)

• Trump pledges a series of Day 1 executive actions to end ‘four long years of American decline’ (AP)

• Adams Accuses Former Prosecutor of Bringing Case to Help His Own Career (NYT)

• Why Trump Sees a Chinese Threat at the Panama Canal, and Locals Don’t (WSJ)

• Israel’s national security minister threatens to resign over ceasefire (AJ)

• What Maduro’s threat to ‘liberate’ Puerto Rico says about US-Venezuelan ties under Trump 2.0 (CNN)

• Costco Teamsters vote to authorize US-wide strike, union says (RT)

• US rejects Venezuelan President Maduro’s reelection, but keeps financial lifeline for his government (AP)

• The Battle for Recovery Supplies Is On in a Disaster-Strewn America (WSJ)

• Negotiators zero in on potential deal to disarm Syria's last battleground (RT)

• EU sends election observers to monitor Kosovo’s parliamentary polls on Feb. 9 (AP)

United States and Canada

• Fire-ravaged Southern California braces for gusty winds and heightened wildfire risk (AP)

• Exclusive: German ambassador warns of Trump plan to redefine constitutional order, document shows (RT)

• Trump Will Strip Protections from Career Civil Servants, Miller Says (NYT)

• Death of Democratic lawmaker leaves Pennsylvania House deadlocked at 101-101 (AP)

• Accused 9/11 Mastermind Agrees to Use of Disputed Confession for Life Sentence (NYT)

• All poultry activities suspended in Georgia after bird flu confirmed in a commercial operation (CNN)

• Former CIA employee pleads guilty to leaking files on Israel’s Iran strikes (AJ)

• North Carolina school board member gets prison time after obstruction, extortion convictions (AP)

• China vice president meets with Elon Musk ahead of Trump inauguration (RT)

Africa

• US imposes sanctions on Sudan's de facto leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (AN)

• At least seven people killed by army at Ghana's AngloGold Ashanti mine (RT)

• Nigeria is admitted as a partner country of the BRICS bloc (AP)

• At least 70 die in explosion in Nigeria while collecting fuel from overturned tanker (AN)

• DR Congo justice ministry orders probe into state mining company embezzlement (RT)

• Mozambique's ex-finance minister sentenced in US in loan scandal (AN)

• Mauritius PM queries duration of lease deal for Chagos military base (RT)

Middle East

• Israeli far-right ministers oppose Gaza ceasefire deal with Hamas (RT)

• Gunman shoots dead 2 judges in Iran’s capital tied to 1988 mass executions (AP)

• Aid trucks arrive at Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing ahead of Gaza entry, two sources say (RT)

• Houthis to halt Israel, Red Sea attacks if Gaza truce comes into force (AJ)

• U.S. Spy Chief Took on Role of Negotiator in Gaza War (NYT)

• Lebanon's new president stresses urgency of Israeli withdrawal from south under truce deal (RT)

• Red Sea trade route will remain too risky even after Gaza ceasefire deal, industry executives say (RT)

Indo-Pacific

• South Korea’s impeached president is arrested over martial law declaration and his supporters riot (AP)

• China's ageing villages face yawning healthcare gap in fragile economy (RT)

• Taiwan's premier says opposition's budget cuts would cripple key government functions (RT)

• Police volunteer found guilty in India doctor rape and murder case (AJ)

• Scores of Afghans have left for the US after their visas were processed in the Philippines (AP)

• High approval rating for Indonesia's Prabowo after first 100 days, poll shows (RT)

• Taliban deputy tells leader there is no excuse for education bans on Afghan women and girls (AP)

Europe

• Russian strikes kill six in Ukraine including in Kyiv, officials say (RT)

• Poland wants the EU focused on security. Its border with Belarus highlights the challenges (AP)

• Trump’s Tariff Threats Push Europe to Gear Up for Trade Fight (WSJ)

• What has the UK promised Ukraine in Starmer’s 100-year deal? (AJ)

• Trump vowed to end the war in Ukraine quickly but Moscow and Kyiv are digging in before any talks (AP)

• Three Navalny lawyers sentenced to years in Russian penal colony for 'extremist activity' (RT)

• Tens of thousands join student-led protests in Belgrade (RT)

Latin America

• Migrants set fire to camp during midnight police raid in north Mexico (RT)

• Kenya deploys 217 more police officers to Haiti under UN-backed mission to tackle gang violence (AP)

• ELN dice en un comunicado que firmantes de la paz asesinados en el Catatumbo eran “jefes de milicias” de las disidencias de las Farc (SM)

• Zijin halts work at Colombia gold mine after homemade bomb attack (RT)

• Evo afirma que agentes de la CIA se encuentran en el Trópico de Cochabamba (ANF)

• El Gobierno retirará a la UIF como querellante de causas por corrupción K y abrió la polémica (CA)

• Maduro anuncia ejercicios militares en Venezuela para el 22 y 23 de enero (LN)