Listen to this issue.

0:00

/6:07

1×

U.S., ISRAEL, IRAN WAR | Day 47.

• U.S. President Donald Trump said yesterday that a second round of U.S.-Iran peace talks could be held in Islamabad, Pakistan, "over the next two days." [more]
• U.S. State Department officials described yesterday's direct talks between Israel and Lebanon in Washington, DC, as "productive," and said all parties agreed to continue direct negotiations "at a mutually agreed time and venue." [more]
• A spokesman for the U.S. military's Central Command said yesterday that 399 U.S. troops have been wounded so far in the war with Iran. Reports note that 13 U.S. service members have been killed in the conflict. [more]
• Amidst the ongoing blockade of Iran-linked ships in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, the U.S. Treasury Department announced yesterday that “the short-term [sanctions waiver] authorization permitting the sale of Iranian oil already stranded at sea is set to expire in a few days and will not be renewed.” [more]
• Reports cite Iranian military officials as threatening shipping in the Red Sea if the U.S. continues its blockade of Iran-linked shipping in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. [more]

JANUARY 6 | The Justice Department asked a federal appeals court yesterday to throw out the seditious conspiracy convictions of members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers militant groups related to their actions surrounding the January 6, 2021, attacks on the U.S. Capitol. [more]

U.S. SURVEILLANCE | Ahead of its expiration next week and amidst concerns about warrantless surveillance of Americans, a provision of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that permits U.S. intelligence agencies to collect and analyze overseas communications without a warrant even if the communications of Americans who interact with foreigners targeted for surveillance is intercepted, is under consideration for renewal in Congress. President Donald Trump, who had previously opposed renewal of the Act's Section 702, has announced his support for its continuation, saying it has proven its importance for U.S. military planning and action. [more]

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY | Senate Majority Leader John Thune said yesterday that Republicans in Congress will attempt to end the nearly two-month partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security with full funding through a legislative maneuver called budget reconciliation. The move comes amidst continued Democratic opposition to funding the department's Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol agencies over demands for reforms in immigration enforcement policies and practices. [more]

U.S. FEDERAL RESERVE | President Donald Trump said today that he will fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell if Powell does not step down from his position when his term as the central bank's head expires next month. The statement comes amidst an ongoing probe into renovations of the Federal Reserve headquarters in Washington, DC, and concerns about possible delays in the confirmation of former Fed governor Kevin Warsh to replace Powell. [more]

U.S. DRUG WAR | In its fourth such action in three days, the U.S. military's Southern Command carried out a strike on an alleged drug-trafficking boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean yesterday, killing four people and bringing to 175 the number of people killed in such strikes since last September. [more]

U.S. JUDICIARY | A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled yesterday that Chief U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg must end his contempt investigation of the Trump administration for what he says was its failure to comply with an order related to flights carrying Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador last year. [more]

COLORADO | Gov. Jared Polis said yesterday that President Donald Trump had again denied a request from Colorado for FEMA public assistance to help in recovery and rebuilding efforts from wildfires and flooding in the state. Reports note that President Trump has approved disaster relief requests from states that voted for him in the 2024 election at double the rate of those from states that voted for his opponent. [more]

TURKEY | In the country's second school shooting in two days, at least four people were killed, and 20 others were wounded, today when a teenage student armed with several firearms opened fire at a middle school in southeastern Turkey's Kahramanmaras province. Authorities say the attacker shot and killed himself during the incident. [more]

SUDAN | Today marks the beginning of the fourth year of Sudan's civil war between government forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. According to United Nations reports, at least 59,000 people have been killed, and 9 million people have been displaced, over the course of the war, while as many as 19 million residents of the Northeast African country face acute hunger. [more]

INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION | In a joint statement released yesterday, the U.N. high commissioner for refugees and the International Organization for Migration said at least 250 people remain missing after a boat carrying mostly Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals capsized earlier this month in the Andaman Sea on the way to Malaysia. [more]

HAITI | Authorities in northwestern Haiti say at least 12 people died in recent days amidst heavy regional rains that also damaged more than 900 homes and flooded farmland. [more]

CAMEROON | The Unity Alliance of separatist groups in Cameroon has announced a three-day pause in fighting amidst a visit to the Central African country by Pope Leo XIV. [more]

CHINA AND RUSSIA | Meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov today in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping extolled the "precious" relationship between Russia and China and called for the two countries to "promote the development of the international order in a more just and reasonable direction." [more]

ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY | The Walt Disney Co. began a series of layoffs yesterday that is expected to cut about 1,000 employees from the company's television businesses, movie studio, and product and technology groups. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1947, Jackie Robinson, baseball’s first Black major league player of the modern era, made his official debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers on opening day at Ebbets Field. The Dodgers defeated the Boston Braves, 5-3. [more history]