January 6, 2025

MIDDLE EAST | Updates from regional conflicts:

• Renewed Israel-Hamas peace talks opened over the weekend in Qatar with both sides raising issues over the return of hostages and the details of any potential Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. [more]
• Israeli emergency officials say at least three people were killed, and seven others were wounded, today when gunmen opened fire on a bus carrying Israelis in the West Bank Palestinian village of Al-Funduq. [more]
• Palestinian health officials say more than 100 people were killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza over the past three days. Israeli officials say dozens of Hamas militants were killed in the strikes. [more]

UKRAINE | Today is day 1047 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• The Russian Defense Ministry said today that its forces have captured the strategically important town of Kurakhove in eastern Ukraine following months of battles in the area. Ukrainian officials have yet to comment on the Russian claim. [more]
• Reports cites unnamed sources as saying the U.S. is moving forward with plans to impose new Ukraine-related sanctions on Russia’s oil industry, with two Russian oil companies, more than 100 tankers, and oil traders and insurance companies being targeted. [more]

U.S. POLITICS | Amidst increased security prompted by election-related violence four years ago when crowds attacked the U.S. Capitol to protest Donald Trump’s failed re-election bid, Congress is scheduled to convene at noon today to certify now-President-elect Trump’s 2024 victory. Trump is scheduled to be inaugurated on January 20. [more]

U.S. SOCIAL SECURITY | President Joe Biden signed a measure into law yesterday that rescinds two provision – the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset –   that limit Social Security benefits for people who receive retirement payments from other sources, including through public retirement programs from a state or local government. [more]

U.S. WEATHER | Many school systems and government offices are closed today across portions of the central and mid-Atlantic United States as the area deals with a strong winter storm that continues to drop snow and ice across the region. [more]

U.S. OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS | President Joe Biden issued two presidential memoranda today aimed at preventing future oil and natural gas drilling leases along the entire U.S. East coast, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California, and additional portions of the Northern Bering Sea in Alaska. The memoranda aim to protect more than 625 million acres of the U.S. ocean from offshore drilling, according to the White House. [fact sheet] [more]

TRUMP NEW YORK TRIAL | Judge Juan Merchan on Friday upheld the felony business records falsification and hush money conviction of now-President-elect Donald Trump, but indicated that Trump will face no legal penalties when he is sentenced on January 10. [more]

NEW YORK | A new congestion pricing toll went into effect in New York City yesterday. Drivers of most passenger cars will now be required to pay $9 to enter Manhattan south of Central Park on weekdays between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. and on weekends between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. [more]

CANADA | Various media outlets, including Reuters, cite unnamed sources as saying that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is likely to announce his resignation as the leader of Canada's ruling Liberal Party after nine years in office as early as today. [more]

SOUTH KOREA | Demonstrations continue today outside the official residence of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol following last week’s failed attempt to detain Yoon as part of investigations into his short-lived imposition of martial law last month. The country’s anti-corruption agency has asked police to take over efforts to detain Yoon. [more]

INDIA | Authorities in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh say at least eight policemen and a driver were killed in a bomb attack carried out by Maoist rebels today in the state’s Bijapur district. [more]

FRANCE | In a trial that opens today in Paris, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy faces charges of passive corruption, illegal campaign financing, concealment of embezzlement of public funds, and criminal association in connection with the alleged financing of his 2007 presidential campaign by late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. [more]

AUSTRIA | Following the failure of talks on establishing a coalition government between the conservative Austrian People’s Party and center-left Social Democrats, reports say People’s Party leader and Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen is holding talks with leaders of the far-right Freedom Party to discuss forming a government. [more]

ALCOHOL AND CANCER | In an advisory posted Friday, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy says evidence points to alcohol use as a leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States and that the more alcohol consumed, the greater the risk of cancer. [full advisory] [more]

FOOTBALL | In yesterday’s win over the Miami Dolphins, New York Jets’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers became the fifth player in NFL history to throw 500 regular-season touchdown passes. [more]

GOLF | In the opening tournament of the PGA season, Hideki Matsuyama shot a final-round 8-under-par 65 yesterday to win The Sentry in Kapalua, Hawaii. Matsuyama finished the tournament with a PGA record 35-under-par score. [more]

GOLDEN GLOBES | Among the winners at last night’s 82nd Golden Globes were: “The Brutalist″ for best motion picture drama; “Emilia Pérez” for best musical or comedy motion picture; “Shōgun“ for best television drama; and “Hacks” for best TV comedy or musical. [complete list of winners] [more]

WEEKEND MOVIES | "Mufasa: The Lion King" topped the North American box office over the weekend with an estimated $23.8 million in receipts, followed by "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" and "Nosferatu." [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1974, in an effort to conserve energy during an oil crisis, Daylight Saving Time began several months early in the United States and was slated to remain in place for more than a year. The move proved hugely unpopular and its duration was later amended. [more history]