January 3, 2025

MIDDLE EAST | Updates from regional conflicts:

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday authorized a delegation of intelligence, military, and security officials to take part in a new round of U.S.-led Gaza cease-fire negotiations in Qatar. [more]
• Hospital and Palestinian health officials say at least 30 people were killed in overnight Israeli strikes on various locations in Gaza. [more]

U.S. TERRORISM INVESTIGATIONS | Federal officials say there does not appear to be any connection between the January 1 suspected terrorism incidents in New Orleans and Las Vegas, despite both suspected perpetrators being military veterans, both having served in Afghanistan, and each having rented the vehicles in the incidents through the same rental service. [more]

U.S. POLITICS | The 119th Congress opens today with the swearing in of House and Senate members, after which Republicans will have majorities in both the House and Senate for the first time since 2019. In the House, Speaker Mike Johnson faces a potentially tough re-election bid to hold his leadership position. [more]

U.S. CONSUMER PRIVACY | Apple agreed this week to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit accusing the tech giant of using its Siri virtual assistant on iPhone and other devices to record conversations without users’ permission or awareness. Apple does not admit fault as part of the settlement proposal, which must still be approved by a court. [more]

U.S. EMPLOYMENT | According to Labor Department data released this week, the number of Americans filing for initial unemployment benefits fell by 9,000 to 211,000 last week. Overall unemployment benefit recipients fell by 52,000 to 1.84 million for the week. [more]

U.S. INTERNET REGULATION | The Cincinnati-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled yesterday that the Federal Communications Commission does not have the authority to reclassify broadband internet as a telecommunications service, striking a blow to the Biden administration push to restore so-called net neutrality rules that would require internet service providers to treat all internet content and services equally. [more]

U.S. MILITARY AND OTHER HONORS | President Joe Biden is scheduled to award the Medal of Honor to seven former military service members – six posthumously and one to a living recipient – at the White House today. In a separate ceremony, Biden will award the Medal of Valor to eight law enforcement and first responder recipients. [more]

U.S. AND JAPAN | The Washington Post cites two unnamed Biden administration officials as saying that President Joe Biden has decided to officially block the proposed purchase of U.S. Steel by Japan’s Nippon Steel and that an announcement of the decision could come as early as today. [more]

SOUTH KOREA | Impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol remains in his official residence today following a nearly six-hour standoff with South Korean investigators who were attempting to detain him as part of investigations into his short-lived imposition of martial law last month. [more]

INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION | Panamanian officials say just over 300,000 migrants crossed the Darien Gap migration route into Panama from South America in 2024 – down 42% from the number seen in 2023. [more]

VENEZUELA | Venezuelan government officials have offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Edmundo González, who is widely thought to have defeated President Nicolás Maduro in last year’s elections and who fled to Spain after Maduro claimed to have won the vote and refused to relinquish power. [more]

PHILIPPINES | In a continuation of ongoing intra-government tensions, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed an order this week removing Vice President Sara Duterte from her role on the country's National Security Council, saying the move was needed to ensure that "council members uphold and protect national security and sovereignty." [more]

COLLEGE FOOTBALL | Notre Dame defeated Georgia, 23-10, yesterday to complete the college football playoffs’ semi-final bracket. Penn State will face Notre Dame next Thursday, and Texas will face Ohio State next Friday to determine the teams that will play for the national championship on January 20. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1521, Pope Leo X issued the papal bull Decet Romanum Pontificem, excommunicating Martin Luther, the German priest whose questioning of certain Roman Catholic practices initiated the Protestant Reformation. [more history]