Daily News Brief

* Israel approves plan to withdraw troops from Gaza: report Israel is moving forward with plans to withdraw its troops from Gaza, following progress in prisoner exchange talks with Hamas, according to media reports. Haaretz newspaper reported that the military has approved several withdrawal strategies aimed at swiftly pulling soldiers out of the area. One of the options being considered includes using the Netzarim Corridor, which splits Gaza into two, as a potential exit route. * Houthis claim another attack on US aircraft carrier in Red Sea The Houthis in Yemen say they've launched another attack on the USS Harry Truman aircraft carrier in the Red Sea. Their military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, stated that missiles and drones were used to target the ship in the northern Red Sea. He explained that the attack aimed to push the carrier out of its operational area. * Sudan paramilitary leader says 'lost' key Al-Jazirah state capital The leader of Sudan's Rapid Support Forces, or the RSF, has admitted that his troops have lost control of Wad Madani, the capital of Al-Jazirah state, after an army offensive. In a message to the paramilitaries and the public, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo vowed to retake the city, a key hub in central Sudan. The RSF had held it since December 2023. Meanwhile, the army, which has been fighting the RSF since April, announced on Saturday that it had entered Wad Madani and was clearing out "remnants of the rebels". * Ethiopia, Somalia restore full diplomatic relations Ethiopia and Somalia have decided to fully restore their diplomatic ties, a move the two nations announced in a joint statement. The announcement came after a meeting between Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, where they discussed ways to strengthen their relationship and address shared priorities. Back in April 2024, Somalia expelled Ethiopia's ambassador and shut down its consulates in Hargeisa, following tensions over the Somaliland port deal. The dispute was eventually resolved with the Ankara Declaration, brokered by Türkiye. * Toxic smoke from LA wildfires poses health risk People in Los Angeles are being urged to stay indoors as dangerous wildfire smoke spreads across the area. Massive fires burning in and around the city have filled the air with toxic fumes, creating health risks for residents. Anish Mahajan from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health explained in a press conference that wildfire smoke contains a mix of fine particles, gases and water vapours. It's those small particles that can get into your nose and throat, causing sore throats and headaches, Mahajan said, advising caution for everyone—even those who are otherwise healthy.

* Israel kills 17 more Palestinians in overnight strikes in Gaza Overnight air strikes by Israel in Gaza have claimed at least 17 Palestinian lives, intensifying the conflict. Strikes in Bureij camp, Shujaiya neighbourhood, and Khan Younis left dozens wounded, according to medical sources. Paramedics recovered bodies amidst ongoing devastation in Nuseirat and Gaza City. Israel's new wave of lethal attacks adds to the staggering toll of over 46,000 Palestinians killed during the 463-day war. * Israel, US, UK launch first joint attack on Houthis Israel, the US and the UK conducted their first joint air strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. Coordinated strikes targeted military infrastructure in Sanaa and Hudaida, including a key power station. The joint offensive was in response to Houthi attacks on Israeli and US targets in solidarity with Palestinians. Israeli military confirmed its involvement, stating that the strikes aimed to disrupt Houthi military capabilities. * Stampede at Damascus mosque kills four, injures many A stampede at the historic Umayyad Mosque in Damascus left four dead and 16 wounded, including five children with severe injuries, according to Syrian state news agency SANA. Authorities are investigating the cause, with Governor Maher Marwan pledging accountability and swift action to prevent future incidents in public spaces. The civil defence described the scene as chaotic, emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced safety measures in high-traffic areas. * Trump readies shock-and-awe start with sweeping executive orders In a private Capitol Hill meeting, US president-elect Donald Trump promised a “shock-and-awe” start to his presidency, with over 100 executive orders targeting border security, deportations and energy policy. Set to roll out on January 20, the sweeping measures include completing the border wall and deporting over a million migrants deemed ineligible. Top adviser Stephen Miller emphasised immediate enforcement, signaling a dramatic pivot. Republican senators brace for an unprecedented surge of executive power, bypassing Congress to reshape key policies. * Musk says all human knowledge for AI training already 'exhausted' Elon Musk warns we’ve hit “peak data” for AI. Speaking in a livestream, Musk claimed humanity's knowledge has been nearly exhausted in AI training, pushing tech firms toward "synthetic" data for self-learning models. However he noted that the challenge lies in AI’s tendency for “hallucinations” – producing unreliable outputs. Experts like Andrew Duncan caution against overreliance on synthetic data, citing risks of "model collapse" and diminishing returns.

Real 'progress' made in Gaza truce talks — Biden "United States President Joe Biden said there has been ""real progress"" toward a Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis deepens as the death toll surpasses 46,000 due to Israel's ongoing genocidal war against Palestinians in Gaza since October 7, 2023, with the majority of casualties being women and children and 109,378 others reported wounded." US passes bill targeting ICC sanctions over Netanyahu warrants "The US House of Representatives passed a bill, with 243 votes to 140 in favour, sanctioning the International Criminal Court in response to arrest warrants issued against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant. The bill, dubbed the ""Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act,"" backed by both Republicans and some Democrats, aims to protect US citizens and allies from ICC investigations. The Senate is expected to swiftly pass the legislation, allowing President-elect Donald Trump to sign it into law. The ICC issued the warrants in November 2024 for war crimes committed during Israel's Gaza invasion." Protests in Mozambique turn deadly as opposition leader Mondlane returns "At least three people were killed by police in Mozambique as they gathered to welcome opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, who returned from exile following controversial election results. Mondlane, who claims to have won the election, rejects the official results. His return sparked protests, leading to clashes with police. Nearly 300 people have killed since post-election protests erupted in October. Mondlane called for accountability and justice, but his return could further escalate tensions." Lebanese parliament elects army chief Joseph Aoun as president "Lebanese lawmakers have elected Army Chief Joseph Aoun as the country's new president. Aoun secured 99 out of 128 votes in the second round of voting. The presidency has been vacant since October 2022, creating political instability. It comes amidst international pressure to fill the position, particularly due to an impending deadline for a ceasefire agreement in south Lebanon." Wildfires in California may become the costliest disaster in US history "Wildfires in Los Angeles are on track to become the most expensive disaster in US history, with economic losses expected to approach 50 billion dollars, nearly doubling earlier estimates. Insured losses could exceed 20 billion dollars, with figures rising if fires remain uncontrolled. The death toll has climbed to seven while President Joe Biden called the-fires the worst in California’s history and pledged additional federal support. Early reports indicate the event could rival past catastrophic fires like the 2018 Camp Fire, which saw insured losses of 12.5 billion dollars."

Israel kills nine Palestinians in Gaza air strikes "Israel’s air strikes on Gaza have killed at least nine Palestinians, with several others wounded. Civil defence teams recovered five bodies near Gaza Municipality Park, while four more victims were found following a strike in Deir al-Balah, according to medical sources. A house in western Deir al-Balah was leveled, leaving destruction and casualties as rescue teams search for the missing. Israel's genocidal war in Gaza, now in its four-hundred sixty-first-day, has resulted in over forty-five-thousand-nine-hundred-thirty-six-fatalities and one-hundred-nine-thousand-two-hundred-seventy-four-wounded among Palestinians." Fighting at Chad presidency leaves 19 killed, several injured "Gunfire echoed in Chad's capital N'Djamena as gunmen attacked the presidential complex. At least nineteen-people, including-eighteen attackers have been killed and nine others wounded. Tanks rolled through the streets as civilians fled in panic. The violence comes after the Chinese top diplomat Wang Yi visited the country amid regional instability, including terrorist attacks and Chad's strained ties with France. President Mahamat Idriss Deby is facing challenges as Chad seeks new global alliances amidst its oil wealth and humanitarian struggles." Russia-Ukraine war kills 650 children among 12,300 civilian fatalities "Over twelve-thousand-three-hundred-civilians, including six-hundred-fifty-children, have died in the Ukraine war since twenty twenty-two, says the United Nations. A surge in drone, missile and glide bomb attacks has driven a thirty-percent spike in casualties, with five-hundred-seventy-four civilians killed between September and November twenty-twenty-four. The UN has warned that these actions may constitute to war crimes." Number of 'ghost guns' recovered in US surged 1,600% since 2017 "The United States' Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives study reveals one-thousand-six-hundred-percent surge in so-called ghost gun recoveries at crime scenes from twenty-seventeen to twenty-twenty-three. These untraceable firearms, built without serial numbers and bypassing background checks, were linked to over twenty-seven-thousand-crimes, including one-thousand-seven-hundred-homicides. The study underlines the urgent need for stricter gun regulations, as sixty-percent of trafficked firearms end up in the hands of convicted felons. The Biden administration is awaiting a Supreme Court decision on regulations aimed at curbing ghost gun proliferation." Archaeologists uncover Queen Hatshepsut's temple in Egypt "Archaeologists in Egyptian city of Luxor have made significant discoveries, including intact portions of Queen Hatshepsut's valley temple and the tomb of Queen Teti Sheri, grandmother of the first pharaoh of the New Kingdom. The team, led by renowned archaeologist Zahi Hawass, unearthed over 1,500 decorated stone blocks from Hatshepsut's temple, which was intentionally destroyed centuries ago. The findings offer invaluable glimpses into the lives and legacies of these powerful women who shaped ancient Egyptian history."