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.
The younger son of Hollywood filmmaker and political activist Rob Reiner was formally charged on Tuesday (16 December) with first-degree murder in the...
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that one of the two men suspected of carrying out Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in more than 30 year...
U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered a "blockade" of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela on Tuesday (16 December), in Washing...
Austria’s public broadcaster ORF, which is hosting the Eurovision Song Contest next year, has said it will not block Palestinian flags in the audien...
The Trump administration has expanded its travel restrictions, now affecting a total of 39 countries....
The younger son of Hollywood filmmaker and political activist Rob Reiner was formally charged on Tuesday (16 December) with first-degree murder in the stabbing deaths of his parents, who were found slain in their Los Angeles home over the weekend.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that one of the two men suspected of carrying out Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in more than 30 years would be formally charged on Wednesday (17 December).
U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered a "blockade" of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela on Tuesday (16 December), in Washington's latest move to increase pressure on Nicolas Maduro's government, targeting its main source of income.
Austria’s public broadcaster ORF, which is hosting the Eurovision Song Contest next year, has said it will not block Palestinian flags in the audience or suppress crowd reactions during Israel’s performance.
At least 37 people have been killed in flash floods triggered by torrential rain in Morocco's Atlantic coastal province of Safi, Moroccan authorities said on Monday (15 December).
Fighting along the Thailand–Cambodia border has entered a fifth consecutive day, despite U.S. President Donald Trump claiming he had brokered a ceasefire between the two sides.
Authorities discovered the lifeless bodies of renowned filmmaker Rob Reiner, aged 78, and his wife, Michele Reiner, 68, in their upscale Brentwood home in Los Angeles on Sunday. The police investigation has labeled the incident an apparent homicide.
Schools across Cambodia and Thailand were forced to close on Monday (15 December) as border clashes between the two countries escalated, with the death toll reaching at least 40 and hundreds of thousands of people displaced, according to officials and local media.
Cambodia must be the first to declare a ceasefire in the ongoing border conflict, Thailand said on Tuesday (16 December), as fighting continued despite earlier claims that hostilities would stop and at least 52 people have been killed on both sides.
The younger son of Hollywood filmmaker and political activist Rob Reiner was formally charged on Tuesday (16 December) with first-degree murder in the stabbing deaths of his parents, who were found slain in their Los Angeles home over the weekend.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that one of the two men suspected of carrying out Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in more than 30 years would be formally charged on Wednesday (17 December).
U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered a "blockade" of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela on Tuesday (16 December), in Washington's latest move to increase pressure on Nicolas Maduro's government, targeting its main source of income.
Austria’s public broadcaster ORF, which is hosting the Eurovision Song Contest next year, has said it will not block Palestinian flags in the audience or suppress crowd reactions during Israel’s performance.
The Trump administration has expanded its travel restrictions, now affecting a total of 39 countries.
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