Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Briefing: here are the top news stories for January 18th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
1. Israel approves a ceasefire agreement for Gaza.
The Israeli government approved a Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal after a lengthy Cabinet meeting. According to the prime minister's office, prisoner releases will start Sunday. The deal was first cleared by the Security Cabinet before ministerial discussions.
2. Severe cold forces Trump inauguration indoors.
President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration will take place inside the U.S. Capitol on Monday rather than outdoors because of severe cold, the first time in 40 years that U.S. presidential inaugural ceremonies will be moved indoors.
"There is an Arctic blast sweeping the Country. I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way," Trump said on his Truth Social platform on Friday. "Therefore, I have ordered the Inauguration Address, in addition to prayers and other speeches, to be delivered in the United States Capitol Rotunda," Trump added.
The last time an inauguration was moved indoors because of the bitter cold was in 1985 for former Republican President Ronald Reagan's second swearing-in when the afternoon wind chill fell into the range of minus 10 to minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 23 to minus 29 degrees Celsius).
3. TikTok says it will go dark Sunday in US without assurance from Biden.
TikTok warned late Friday it will go dark in the United States on Sunday unless President Joe Biden's administration provides assurances to companies like Apple and Google that they will not face enforcement actions when a ban takes effect.
The statement came hours after the Supreme Court upheld a law banning TikTok in the United States on national security grounds if its Chinese parent company ByteDance does not sell it, putting the popular short-video app on track to go dark in just two days.
4. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey has arrived in Baku.
During his visit, Hakan Fidan is set to engage in several high-level discussions focused on enhancing Azerbaijan-Türkiye cooperation across political, military, economic, trade, transportation, and energy sectors.
5. Putin and Pezeshkian deepen defence ties with 20-year pact.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian deepened military ties between their countries on Friday by signing a 20-year strategic partnership that is likely to worry the West.
Under the agreement, Russia and Iran will boost cooperation in a range of areas including their security services, military drills, warship port visits and joint officer training.
6. Statements made by U.S. Congress on January 20 tragedy anniversary.
U.S. Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus co-chairs honour the 35th anniversary of January 20, reflecting on its impact as a pivotal moment in Azerbaijan's fight for independence.
The co-chairs of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus, Steve Cohen, a Democrat from Tennessee, and Robert Aderholt, a Republican from Alabama, issued statements marking the 35th anniversary of January 20, the Day of National Mourning in Azerbaijan.
7. Kazakhstan breaks its record for new car sales in 2024.
Kazakhstan achieved a new record for new car sales in 2024, surpassing 205,000 units, nearly 7,000 more than the previous year. This milestone came despite a mid-year slowdown, followed by a strong recovery in the last few months.
8. Tajikistan launches its first digital art gallery showcasing the work of local activists.
The Khujand branch of the NGO Office of Civil Liberties has opened Tajikistan's first digital art gallery, highlighting the work of local activists. The gallery features art addressing key social issues like domestic violence, discrimination, and environmental threats, showcasing various forms, including digital art, photography, stories, and videos.
A viral claim circulating online that Denmark requires sperm donors to have an IQ of at least 85 is misleading....
President Donald Trump has appointed a new architect to oversee the highly anticipated White House ballroom project, a White House spokesman confirmed...
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators, including prominent Republican China hawk Tom Cotton, introduced the SAFE CHIPS Act on Thursday, aiming to preven...
Czech President Petr Pavel has announced that he will appoint billionaire Andrej Babis, the winner of the recent elections, as the country’s new pri...
Nestled in the Dolomites, Cortina d’Ampezzo is racing toward the finish line ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Officials said on Thursday that...
A viral claim circulating online that Denmark requires sperm donors to have an IQ of at least 85 is misleading.
Nestled in the Dolomites, Cortina d’Ampezzo is racing toward the finish line ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Officials said on Thursday that the Olympic Village is almost ready to receive athletes competing from February 6th to the 22nd.
Ukraine has urged for genuine peace with Russia rather than concessions, warning that poorly negotiated settlements in the past have led to disaster.
The United Kingdom and Norway have unveiled a new joint naval initiative designed to protect undersea infrastructure and counter increased Russian submarine activity in the North Atlantic.
For nearly three decades following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the international system was defined by a singular, overwhelming reality: American unipolarity.
Chinese scientists have unveiled a new gene-editing therapy that they say could lead to a functional cure for HIV, making it one of the most promising developments in decades of global research.
Faced with mounting public outrage following one of the deadliest environmental disasters in the nation’s recent history, the Indonesian government has pledged to investigate and potentially shut down mining operations found to have contributed to the catastrophic flooding on Sumatra.
Britain’s King Charles III welcomed German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Wednesday, marking the beginning of his three-day state visit to the United Kingdom. The visit, the first by a German President to the UK in 27 years, comes as the two countries continue to strengthen ties post-Brexit.
U.S. President Donald Trump has launched a blistering verbal attack on the Somali community, characterising migrants as "garbage" just as federal authorities prepare a contentious enforcement operation in the Midwestern state of Minnesota.
While political leaders hail a historic agreement, residents of Goma remain skeptical as clashes continue on the ground.
President Donald Trump has appointed a new architect to oversee the highly anticipated White House ballroom project, a White House spokesman confirmed on Thursday.
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators, including prominent Republican China hawk Tom Cotton, introduced the SAFE CHIPS Act on Thursday, aiming to prevent the Trump administration from easing restrictions on China’s access to advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chips for a period of 2.5 years.
Czech President Petr Pavel has announced that he will appoint billionaire Andrej Babis, the winner of the recent elections, as the country’s new prime minister on December 9.
Nestled in the Dolomites, Cortina d’Ampezzo is racing toward the finish line ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Officials said on Thursday that the Olympic Village is almost ready to receive athletes competing from February 6th to the 22nd.
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