January 25, 2024

ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR | Updates from day 111 of the conflict:

• The Hague-based International Court of Justice is widely expected to issue a preliminary ruling tomorrow on a request by South Africa to characterize Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza as genocide against the Palestinian people. [more]
• Qatar said yesterday that leaked comments made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling Qatari mediation efforts with Hamas “problematic” were “irresponsible and destructive.” [more]
• The Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry says Israeli shells struck an aid distribution site in Gaza City today, killing at least 20 people and wounding 150 others. Israeli officials say an investigation into the incident is underway. [more]
• The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees says at least 12 people were killed, and 75 others were injured, this week when two suspected artillery shells struck a U.N. training center and shelter in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. Israeli military officials say they have ruled out that the shells were fired by their forces and have suggested possible “Hamas fire” as having caused the deaths. [more]

UKRAINE | Today is day 700 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• Ukrainian officials have confirmed that a prisoner exchange with Russia was scheduled for yesterday when a Russian plane carrying 65 Ukrainian POWs crashed in Russia’s Belgorod region, killing all on board. Russia has accused Ukraine of downing the plane to undermine the exchange and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for an investigation into the incident. [more]
• Ukrainian attack drones struck a Russian oil refinery in the southern Russia city of Tuapse overnight, causing a fire and other damage in the latest attack by Ukrainian forces on Russian energy infrastructure. [more]

U.S. OPIOID CRISIS | Drugmaker Johnson & Johnson has reportedly reached an agreement with the state of Washington under which the company will pay $149.5 million to settle charges of knowingly contributing to the opioid addiction and overdose crisis. [more]

OHIO | The Ohio Senate voted yesterday to override Gov. Mike DeWine’s veto of a bill that bans gender-affirming care for minors and restricts transgender women’s and girls’ participation on sports teams. The state House had already voted to override DeWine’s veto, meaning that the law will go into effect later this year. [more]

U.S. POLITICS | About 67% of respondents to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll this week said they were “tired of seeing the same candidates in presidential elections and want someone new,” with 18% of those polled saying they would not vote if President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are the main candidates in November. [more]

MORE U.S. POLITICS | The United Auto Workers union endorsed President Joe Biden’s reelection bid yesterday at the conclusion of its three-day summit in Washington to discuss the organization’s political priorities. [more]

U.S. AND TAIWAN | U.S. Representatives Mario Díaz Balart and Ami Bera, co-chairs of the U.S. Congressional Taiwan Caucus, met with current and future leaders of Taiwan today in Taipei – the first visit to the disputed territory since the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party won a third-straight term in last month’s presidential election. [more]

ARGENTINA | Tens of thousands of workers, mostly union members, took part in Argentina’s first general strike in more than four years yesterday, protesting against President Javier Milei’s austerity measures and proposed economic and labor law changes. [more]

FRANCE | As part of ongoing demonstrations and efforts by French farming unions to gain government protection from low-priced imports, rising costs, and bureaucratic requirements, dozens of tractors disrupted traffic near the Paris-region city of Versailles today. [more]

TECH LAYOFFS | Online retailer eBay has announced plans to cut about 9% of its workforce – about 1,000 jobs – as part of cost-saving measures the company says will allow its operations to be “more nimble.” [more]

FOOTBALL | Jim Harbaugh has been hired as the new head coach of the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers, departing his position at the University of Michigan after leading the Wolverines to a national championship in January. [more]

BASKETBALL | Reports say longtime NBA coach Doc Rivers is in final negotiations to become the Milwaukee Bucks’ new head coach a day after Adrian Griffin was fired from the position. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 41 ce, Claudius I, who extended Roman rule in North Africa and made Britain a province of the Roman Empire, was affirmed as emperor, raised to the post one day after the murder of his nephew, [Gaius Caesar (Caligula)](Gaius Caesar). [more history]