AnewZ Morning Brief - January 19th, 2025

Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for January 19th, covering the latest developments you need to know.

1. Qatar announces Gaza ceasefire set to start Sunday at 06:30 GMT.

Qatar's Foreign Ministry has announced that a ceasefire agreement for the Gaza Strip will take effect on January 19.

Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari shared the news on X: "As coordinated by the parties to the agreement and the mediators, the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, January 19, local time in Gaza.”

He also urged residents to remain vigilant: “We advise the inhabitants to take precaution, exercise the utmost caution, and wait for directions from official sources.”

2. TikTok goes dark for US users, company pins hope on Trump.

TikTok stopped working in the United States late on Saturday and disappeared from Apple and Google app stores ahead of a law that takes effect Sunday requiring the shutdown of the app used by 170 million Americans.

President-elect Donald Trump said earlier in the day he would "most likely" give TikTok a 90-day reprieve from the ban after he takes office on Monday, a promise TikTok cited in a notice posted to users on the app.

3. Sweden sends soldiers to Russia border as part of NATO mission.

Sweden has deployed 600 soldiers to Latvia's border with Russia in its first NATO mission, according to SVT via RBC Ukraine. The troops were secretly transported by sea and will serve a six-month term guarding the border.

4. Iran’s judiciary says 2 senior judges were killed in "terror attack".

The Iranian judiciary described the fatal attack on two senior judges on Saturday morning as a “terrorist attack” and confirmed that an investigation is underway to identify and apprehend those involved.

State media reported that the two high-ranking judges, Hojjat al-Islam Razini and Hojjat al-Islam Muslimeen Moghisheh, were fatally shot by an armed assailant at the Supreme Court in central Tehran. A third individual was injured during the incident.

5. Hakan Fidan: Türkiye-Azerbaijan ties "shared destiny".

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Saturday highlighted the strong and enduring connection between Turkey and Azerbaijan, referring to their relationship as one of "shared destiny."

Speaking at a joint news conference following his meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov in Baku, Fidan stated, "Coming to Azerbaijan, coming to Baku, is always a privilege and a source of happiness for me. We really feel at home."

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