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Daily Briefing: A truce is near

Jane Onyanga-Omara   Paste BN

Israeli lawmakers are set to meet to approve a deal for a ceasefire with Hamas and for the release of hostages. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Donald Trump’s pick to head the Department of Homeland Security, is likely to face tough questions from senators at her confirmation hearing. TikTok's fate in the U.S. could be known this morning.

👋🏾 I'm Jane, Daily Briefing author. These names are "heading for extinction" in 2025, according to BabyCenter.

Israel set to approve Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal, Netanyahu's office says

The Israeli cabinet will meet to give final approval to a deal with Palestinian militant group Hamas for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and release of hostages, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Friday.

In Gaza, Israeli warplanes kept up intense strikes, and Palestinian authorities said at least 101 people, including 58 women and children, had been killed since the deal was announced.

  • Israel delayed meetings expected on Thursday when the cabinet was expected to vote on the deal, blaming Hamas for the hold-up. But in the early hours of Friday, Netanyahu's office said approval was imminent.
  • Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was informed by the negotiating team that agreements have been reached on a deal to release the hostages, his office said in a statement. The security cabinet would meet on Friday before a full meeting of the cabinet later to approve the deal, it said.
  • It was not immediately clear whether the full cabinet would meet on Friday or Saturday or whether there would be any delay to the start of the ceasefire on Sunday.

Kristi Noem faces senators in confirmation hearing

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem may not have to answer for her dead hunting dog Cricket at her confirmation hearing Wednesday. But President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to head the Department of Homeland Security will likely face tough questions about how she intends to run the agency. If confirmed by the Senate, Noem would be at the center of Trump's effort to make good on campaign promises to shut down the border, prevent illegal immigrants from crossing from Mexico and Canada, and stop the flood of fentanyl into the U.S. Noem is scheduled to appear at 9 a.m. Friday before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Read more

More news to know now

What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

Supreme Court may decide Friday if TikTok will be banned

The Supreme Court could announce the fate of TikTok Friday morning, two days before the popular video app could be effectively banned in the U.S. without the court's intervention. The court said on its website Thursday it may release an opinion electronically at 10 a.m. Friday. The justices are up against a Sunday deadline Congress set last year when passing a law requiring TikTok to cut ties with China. Unless TikTok divests from ByteDance, its China-based parent company, app stores and internet hosting services can be fined for supporting TikTok. The high court could put the law on hold, could decline to intervene for now or could definitively rule on whether the law is constitutional. Read more

Where are flu rates surging?

Cold and flu season is in full swing as four major respiratory viruses are circulating the country. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 15 states have "very high" levels of the flu. Wastewater levels of influenza are high nationwide for the week ending Jan 4, the CDC's wastewater monitoring systems reported. Respiratory viruses can spread quickly in winter months, as more people spend time inside. Colder temperatures can weaken your immune system, and colder, drier air can help respiratory viruses thrive, experts say. Read more

Today's talkers

Unrivaled women's basketball league to make its debut

Unrivaled, the brand-new 3-on-3 women's basketball league created by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, will make its debut on Friday. The six-team league will feature some of the biggest stars including Angel Reese, Sabrina Ionescu, and Alyssa Thomas. With substantial salaries in place, plus a lucrative mid-season tournament and a national broadcast deal, the league seems poised to further the momentum women's sports have gained towards claiming a bigger share of nationwide attention. This season will take place at a purpose-built facility in south Florida, with the league's first champion set to be crowned in mid-March. Read more

Photo of the day: 'Mr. Baseball' Bob Uecker dies at 90

Bob Uecker, the baseball icon, television and movie funnyman and Hall of Fame Milwaukee Brewers radio announcer known affectionately as "Mr. Baseball," died Thursday at the age of 90 following a "private battle with small cell lung cancer," his family said. His wife and children "have blessed the Brewers’ plans to hold a summer event at American Family Field to properly celebrate his life with the stadium full of fans," the team said in a statement. See more photos of Uecker's storied life and career.

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Reuters contributed reporting.

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