Israel, Hamas give conflicting updates on hostage negotiations
Hamas still holds around 100 hostages that the terrorist group kidnapped from Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Reports abound about how both sides are working towards a deal to free them, but there hasn’t been a formal exchange of hostages in months.
On Jan. 5, Reuters reported Hamas and Israel were working on a ceasefire deal, and that Hamas presented a list to Israel of 34 hostages it was willing to release.
Michael Levy’s brother, Or, was on the list. Or was taken captive from the Nova Music Festival, where his wife was killed.
“My opinion, as a brother of someone who’s on this list, is that Israel should insist on bringing back all the hostages,” Levy said. “It can be in one stage, two stages, three stages, that’s fine. But they need to have an actual plan to bring all of them back. An actual plan with dates, with names, with whatever they need to do in order to make sure all of them are coming back, because if not, some hostages will stay there forever or might die in captivity. And I can’t let it happen.”
Reuters reported it was shown a copy of the list, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas never provided anything like that during negotiations.
Representatives from Israel and Hamas meet in Doha regularly to talk about ending the conflict. In addition to the Qataris, the negotiations are being mediated with help from the U.S. and Egypt. The Biden administration wants a win before leaving office, so it’s pushing hard for Hamas to accept a deal.
The White House said while Israel does have a right to its own defense, the Israeli Defense Forces needs to do more to help the civilian population still living in Gaza, and those displaced from their homes after more than a year of intense fighting.
From the start of the war, Netanyahu said it would only end once Hamas was completely eradicated as a military and governing force. Hamas said it will only agree to a ceasefire once the IDF completely withdraws from Gaza.
Former Secretary of State and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton received the award.
Actors Denzel Washington and Michael J. Fox, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease and advocates for research, also received the Medal of Freedom.
Basketball star turned businessman Earvin “Magic” Johnson was also a recipient.
Biden called them “truly extraordinary people who gave their sacred effort to shape the culture and cause of America.”
The awards were not without controversy.
Biden awarded a Medal of Freedom to Jewish billionaire George Soros. The 94-year-old Hungarian survived the Holocaust. Soros’ son accepted the medal on his behalf.
Many conservatives have often criticized Soros for being a mega-donor to liberal causes. X owner Elon Musk called the award to George Soros “a travesty.”
The president also gave out four medals, posthumously. They went to former Defense Secretary Ash Carter, former Michigan Gov. George Romney, American activist Fannie Lou Hamer and former U.S. Attorney General Robert Francis Kennedy.
Nippon and US Steel sue Biden for ‘sham’ review blocking $15 billion deal
U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel sued the Biden administration over the decision to block the $15 billion merger on the grounds of national security, calling the review process a “sham.” It is the star-crossed steel companies’ last-ditch attempt to revive the deal President Joe Biden squashed during the week of Dec. 30.
In a separate lawsuit, the companies accused rival bidder Cleveland-Cliffs of “illegal and coordinated actions” aimed at preventing the merger between Japan’s Nippon and U.S. Steel. U.S. Steel previously rejected the Ohio-based steel producer’s bid to acquire it in favor of Nippon’s offer, which was worth about twice as much.
In its petition against the government, the companies accused Biden of ignoring the rule of law to win favor with the union, United Steelworkers. The lawsuit alleges Biden and the panel in charge of reviewing the merger “corrupted and compromised” the process to serve Biden’s personal political agenda.
Biden’s move to block the merger on the grounds of national security is unprecedented action against a close U.S. ally. Previous foreign mergers blocked through this review process involve adversaries like China.
“We need major U.S. companies representing the major share of US steelmaking capacity to keep leading the fight on behalf of America’s national interests,” Biden said in a statement announcing his decision to block the merger. “As a committee of national security and trade experts across the executive branch determined, this acquisition would place one of America’s largest steel producers under foreign control and create risk for our national security and our critical supply chains.”
The panel Biden mentioned is the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). CFIUS failed to agree on whether to recommend the president approve or reject the deal, punting the decision to Biden. The companies are asking CFIUS to start a new review of the deal, calling the previous review process a sham.
“I told our steel workers I have their backs, and I meant it,” Biden wrote. “U.S. Steel has been an iconic American steel company for more than a century, and it is vital for it to remain an American steel company that is domestically owned and operated.”
The companies at the center of the merger said Biden’s statements flipped the process on its head, claiming his opposition has nothing to do with national security. The United Steelworkers union, which represents 850,000 workers, has long opposed the merger between Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel.
The union praised Biden’s decision to block the deal in a statement last week, saying their first and only concern has been the long-term viability of U.S. facilities.
“Nippon has proven itself to be a serial trade cheater that for decades worked to undermine our domestic industry by dumping its products into our market,” the union said. “Allowing it to purchase U.S. Steel would have offered it the opportunity to further destabilize our trade system from within.”
The union publicly preferred a deal with U.S.-based Cleveland-Cliffs, which is also wrapped up in litigation with Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel’s latest legal action.
The companies accuse Cleveland-Cliffs, its CEO Lourenco Goncalves and United Steelworkers President David McCall of “engaging in a coordinated series of anticompetitive and racketeering activities illegally designed to prevent any party other than Cliffs from acquiring U. S. Steel as part of an illegal campaign to monopolize critical domestic steel markets.”
The lawsuit accuses the parties of launching a public smear campaign against U.S. Steel and claiming responsibility for Biden’s opposition, calling the CFIUS review a “cover.”
Last week, U.S. Steel CEO David Burritt blasted Biden’s block as “shameful and corrupt.”
“He gave a political payback to a union boss out of touch with his members while harming our company’s future, our workers, and our national security,” Burritt said. “And Biden did it all while refusing to even meet with us to learn the facts.”
SAN reached out to the U.S. government and Cleveland-Cliffs for comment on the allegations levied in these lawsuits and have yet to hear back. This story will be updated if given a response.
N. Korea launched first ballistic missile of 2025 during Blinken’s visit: Seoul
Seoul said that North Korea test fired its first ballistic missile of the new year on Monday, Jan. 6, as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited South Korea. Blinken and his South Korean counterpart condemned the launch during a joint press conference on the same day.
He called the test fire “another violation of multiple U.N. security resolutions” and the South said that it threatens peace in the Indo-Pacific.
South Korea said that the missile traveled 685 miles before falling into the ocean between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. Intelligence officials said the missile was fired from Pyongyang, and the U.S. and South Korean military detected preparations before the test fire.
In response to the launch, Seoul said that it is strengthening its surveillance and security in the region for any potential additional launches. There was no reported damage from the test fire on Monday.
The missile launch came as Blinken visited Seoul for talks with South Korea over the threat of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal, and its increasingly close relationship with Moscow. Both Blinken and South Korean officials reportedly believe North Korea’s cooperation with Russia is expanding.
Blinken accused Moscow on Monday of planning to “share space and satellite technology” with North Korea. Moscow is already getting help in part of the deal, as Pyongyang has sent thousands of soldiers to fight alongside Russian troops in Ukraine.
As of the publishing of this report, North Korean media has yet to report on the test fire. They usually report on test fires within 24 hours of a launch.
Congress to certify Trump’s win; Biden issues warning to ‘not forget’ riots
Congress prepares to re-affirm President-elect Donald Trump as the next president of the United States on the fourth anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riots. And after a weekend of blizzard-like conditions in the Plains and Midwest, a major winter storm aims for the East Coast. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Jan. 6, 2025.
Congress to certify Trump’s win; Biden issues warning to ‘not forget’ Jan. 6 riots
Senators and members of the House of Representatives will gather to tally the electoral votes of all 50 states and Washington, D.C., confirming Trump will be the 47th president of the United States.
Speaking to Fox News on Sunday, Jan. 5, House Speaker Mike Johnson said a major winter storm heading toward the area would not prevent the congressional joint session from counting the electoral votes.
Monday’s joint session comes four years after the certification of votes affirming President Joe Biden’s 2020 victory. Biden’s certification turned into chaos when rioters stormed the Capitol, looking to prevent then-Vice President Mike Pence from presiding over the certification. Many rioters insisted the election was stolen from Trump.
This year, Vice President Kamala Harris will oversee the electoral count of the election she lost and declare Trump the winner. Harris already conceded the race to Trump after he won 312 electoral college votes, surpassing the 270 needed to win the presidency. Harris won 226 votes.
Following the 2021 Capitol attack, Congress passed the Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022. This act clarified that the vice president does not have the power to determine, accept, reject or adjudicate the vote results.
On Sunday, Biden spoke to new Democratic members of Congress about the events that unfolded in 2021 and the importance of the date.
“Tomorrow’s Jan. 6; we gather to certify the results of a free and fair presidential election and ensure a peaceful transfer of power,” Biden said. “It’s a day that [for] most of our history we took for granted, the sixth, but I hope we never take it for granted again.”
Biden wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post on Sunday. In it, he told Americans that while some may no longer want to mention what happened four years ago, it cannot be forgotten.
“We should be proud that our democracy withstood this assault. And we should be glad we will not see such a shameful attack again this year…” he wrote. “The election will be certified peacefully. I have invited the incoming president to the White House on the morning of Jan. 20, and I will be present for his inauguration that afternoon. But on this day, we cannot forget.”
Monday’s proceedings are the last official opportunity for any member of Congress to object to the electoral votes. Following the certification, Trump will be sworn into office on Jan. 20 for his second term. He vowed to pardon those convicted in connection with the Jan. 6 riots.
Biden signs Social Security Fairness Act into law
Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law Sunday. It’s expected to be one of the last major pieces of legislation of his term.
Today, I signed legislation expanding Social Security benefits for millions of teachers, firefighters, nurses, police officers, other public employees, and their spouses and survivors.
The law repeals a rule that limited certain public sector job retirees who collect pensions — such as firefighters, teachers, postal workers and police officers — from also claiming social security benefits.
The new law also eliminates limits on the benefits that surviving spouses can receive after they die.
The Senate passed the bill in December after the House approved it in November with overwhelming bipartisan support.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resign this week: Reports
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce his resignation as early as Monday, according to multiple news outlets. It comes as his party, the Liberal Party, is set to hold its national caucus meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 8.
Last month, Trudeau’s finance minister, Chrystia Freeland, publicly announced her resignation in a letter criticizing the prime minister. Since then, calls for his resignation have grown publicly and privately within his own party.
This is just the latest in a series of recent political struggles for the prime minister. In September, Trudeau faced a no-confidence vote in parliament, which later failed.
Trudeau and Trump have been locked in a public back-and-forth over tariffs with Trump threatening to put a 25% levy on Canadian imports.
Details emerge about New Orleans suspect’s actions in weeks before attack
More details emerged about the man authorities said killed 14 people and injured dozens more when he drove a rented truck into a crowd of revelers in New Orleans on New Year’s Day.
The FBI said Sunday the attacker, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, visited the city twice in the weeks leading up to the deadly act of terrorism and recorded video of the area using Meta Smart Glasses.
The glasses allow users to record video hands-free and can also livestream on Meta platforms. Investigators said Jabbar wore the glasses to capture video while he rode a bicycle through the city’s French Quarter. He reportedly wore the glasses during the attack on Bourbon Street but was not livestreaming.
Authorities also believe Jabbar set fire to a short-term rental house in New Orleans where investigators found bomb-making material. They said he planted two bombs in the French Quarter before the truck attack but neither detonated.
Jabbar was killed after opening fire on responding police officers.
Millions of Americans under blizzard alerts as winter storm moves east
A major winter storm will continue to move through the Mid-Atlantic region today, followed by dangerously cold temperatures spreading across the central and eastern U.S. pic.twitter.com/sogRlbC6Y9
Major cities like Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Philadelphia are preparing for snowy and icy conditions Monday and into Tuesday, Jan. 7. Meanwhile, parts of Virginia are expecting 5 to 12 inches of snow.
Impacts of this weather system could also be felt in the South, with severe thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes and damaging winds expected to hit Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and other southern states Monday night.
2025 Golden Globes crown best in movies, television
The 2025 Golden Globes rolled out the red carpet Sunday night for the best and brightest stars of film and television — but only a select few walked away with awards.
In the movie categories, the big winners were the films “Emilia Pérez” and “The Brutalist.” “Emilia Pérez” won four awards, including best musical or comedy. “The Brutalist” took home best drama and two other awards.
Over on the TV side of things, “Shōgun” topped the competition with four awards, including Best TV Drama. “Hacks” won Best TV Series – Musical or Comedy.
It was an especially memorable night for actress Demi Moore, who won her first acting award. She won the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for her role as an aging Hollywood star who undergoes a cloning procedure in “The Substance.”
Italy attempts to free journalist detained in Iran
Italy is working to secure the release of one of its journalists, Cecilia Sala, who has been detained in Iran since Dec. 19. Sala, a 29-year-old podcaster and journalist for Il Foglio newspaper, was arrested by Iranian authorities for “violating the laws of the Islamic Republic” while on a journalistic visa.
Earlier this week, Sala’s family learned of the harsh conditions she is enduring in solitary confinement, according to The Wall Street Journal. Sala phoned her family and told them authorities put her in Tehran’s Evin Prison. She also said she is sleeping on the cold floor of her cell with no mattress.
On Friday, Jan. 3, Iranian authorities demanded that Italy release Iranian businessman Mohammed Abedini. Italian authorities arrested him in Milan last month at the request of the United States.
The U.S. accuses Abedini of illegally supplying drone technology to Iranian-backed militants, used to kill three U.S. soldiers in an attack in Jordan nearly one year ago.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is facing growing pressure to secure Sala’s release. However, if Meloni agrees to release Abedini in a potential prisoner swap for Sala, the move could harm her future relationship with President-elect Donald Trump.
Trump has vowed to put “maximum pressure” on Iran, The Journal reports.
Republicans’ trust in elections jumps after President-elect Trump’s win: Poll
The 2024 election unfolded under mostly the same sets of laws as the 2020 election. However, a new poll has found that this time around, Republicans have a lot more trust in election accuracy.
In an AP poll, 64% of Republicans said they had “a great deal” or “quite a bit” of confidence in the accuracy of the 2024 electoral count, while 60% of Democrats felt the same way.
That’s a major shift from when the AP polled Americans after the 2020 election, when just one-third of Republicans believed President Joe Biden won the election legitimately, compared to 97% of Democrats who thought so.
It was in the aftermath of that election when a mob of people who denied the legitimacy of Biden’s win rioted at the U.S. Capitol during the 2021 electoral vote count on Jan. 6.
And this time around, there haven’t been any actions or organized efforts to challenge the legitimacy of the results.
In 2020, President-elect Trump’s campaign and his allies launched 62 lawsuits challenging vote counts in states across the country after losing the election. In 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris filed zero lawsuits challenging vote counts, conceding her loss the day after the election.
President Biden to visit New Orleans as city recovers from attack
President Joe Biden plans to visit New Orleans during the week of Jan. 6 as the city begins to recover from the bloody attack that shook its streets on New Year’s Day. Bourbon Street, the site of the attack, was reopened to tourists Thursday, Jan. 2, with the area cleared in an effort to restore a sense of normalcy during the city’s typically busy tourist season.
In the wake of the attack, Biden emphasized the resilience of New Orleans, sending a message to both the nation and terrorist groups.
“I know while this person committed a terrible assault on the city, the spirit of our New Orleans will never, never, never be defeated,” Biden said during a televised update on the incident. “It always will shine forth. We’ve seen that time and time again throughout its history, and I know we’ll see it again in the days and weeks ahead.”
The attack occurred early on New Year’s Day when Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove his truck into the French Quarter, killing 14 people and injuring dozens more. The White House has confirmed that Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will meet with local officials and those affected by the tragedy during their visit.
The visit, coming on Monday, Jan. 6, visit coincides with Twelfth Night, a symbolic day in New Orleans that marks the beginning of the Mardi Gras season.
Tourism remains a cornerstone of the local economy, with 18 million visitors in 2023 bringing in more than $9 billion. Officials expect these numbers to grow, especially with the Super Bowl in February and Jazz Fest later in the spring.
In light of the heightened security risks, additional safety measures are being implemented for large public gatherings. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, R, reassured the public. He said his administration is focused on public safety.
“We intend to be transparent in assessing any defects in the system so we can address them,” Landry said.
The FBI and Department of Homeland Security continue to investigate the attack, working to determine the motive behind the driver’s actions.
Biden blocks Nippon Steel’s bid to take over US Steel
“As I have said many times, steel production—and the steel workers who produce it—are the backbone of our nation,” Biden said in a statement. “A strong domestically owned and operated steel industry represents an essential national security priority and is critical for resilient supply chains. That is because steel powers our country: our infrastructure, our auto industry, and our defense industrial base. Without domestic steel production and domestic steel workers, our nation is less strong and less secure.”
According to reports, senior advisers warned Biden that the U.S. rejecting the Japanese corporation’s $14.9 billion offer could damage relations between the two countries.
Biden’s decision comes after the interagency Committee on Foreign Investment could not conclude the risks of Nippon’s offer, leaving the decision up to the White House.
“We need major U.S. companies representing the major share of US steelmaking capacity to keep leading the fight on behalf of America’s national interests,” Biden said. “As a committee of national security and trade experts across the executive branch determined, this acquisition would place one of America’s largest steel producers under foreign control and create risk for our national security and our critical supply chains.”
While U.S. Steel shareholders backed the takeover, the proposed deal faced opposition from union members and politicians, including President Biden and President-elect Donald Trump.
“So, that is why I am taking action to block this deal. It is my solemn responsibility as President to ensure that, now and long into the future, America has a strong domestically owned and operated steel industry that can continue to power our national sources of strength at home and abroad; and it is a fulfillment of that responsibility to block foreign ownership of this vital American company,” Biden said.
“U.S. Steel will remain a proud American company – one that’s American-owned, American-operated, by American union steelworkers – the best in the world.”
Trump, backed by a group of American steelworkers during his campaign, also vowed to block the deal when he takes office later this month.
Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel indicated they would take legal action if the federal government blocked the deal.
“Today’s action reflects my unflinching commitment to utilize all authorities available to me as President to defend U.S. national security, including by ensuring that American companies continue to play a central role in sectors that are critical for our national security,” Biden said.
“As I have made clear since day one: I will never hesitate to act to protect the security of this nation and its infrastructure as well as the resilience of its supply chains.”
South Korean investigators suspend efforts to detain impeached president after standoff
The FBI unveils more information about the man who drove a truck into a New Orleans crowd on New Year’s Day, killing more than a dozen. And multiple reports indicate President Joe Biden could make a big decision on the proposed takeover of U.S. Steel. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Jan. 3, 2025.
South Korean investigators suspend efforts to detain impeached president after standoff
After an hours-long standoff, South Korean investigators suspended efforts to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. The standoff between South Korea’s anti-corruption agency and the presidential security service lasted nearly six hours at Yoon’s presidential residence Friday, Jan. 3.
The agency called off its agents due to concerns for their safety after the presidential security service and Yoon’s supporters blocked them from entering Yoon’s residence.
Yoon, a former prosecutor, defied investigators’ attempts to question him for weeks in connection with the short-lived period of martial law he imposed at the beginning of December.
A Seoul court issued a warrant for Yoon’s detention Tuesday, Dec. 31, but enforcing it is complicated. Yoon’s lawyers, who filed a challenge to the warrant Thursday, Jan. 2, said it could not be implemented at his residence due to a law that protects locations potentially linked to military secrets from search without the consent of the person in charge.
The anti-corruption agency said it would discuss the next steps but did not immediately say whether it would make another attempt to detain Yoon. The warrant for his detention is valid for one week.
New Orleans attack investigation continues as city hosts Sugar Bowl
The FBI now believes the suspect in a deadly New Orleans truck attack on New Year’s Day likely acted alone. The agency said Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. Army veteran, killed 15 people and injured dozens more early Wednesday, Jan 1, after driving into a crowd on Bourbon Street in the city’s French Quarter.
The agency called the attack “a deliberate act of terror,” and said Jabbar was “100 percent inspired” by the radical Islamic terror group ISIS.
The FBI concluded this after conducting hundreds of interviews, reviewing phone calls, social media accounts and electronic devices connected to the suspect.
Investigators said there appears to be no “definitive link” between the New Orleans attack and the explosion outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas at this time.
Law enforcement investigating the Tesla Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas identified the man who carried out the attack as Matthew Alan Livelsberger on Thursday, Jan. 2.
Livelsberger was an active-duty U.S. Army Green Beret. He was reportedly on leave at the time of the attack.
Authorities identified Livelsberger’s burned body by matching his tattoos.
Back in New Orleans, life started to return to normal Thursday as the city hosted the Sugar Bowl at the Superdome. Plus, visitors were once again allowed back into the French Quarter.
Notre Dame went head-to-head with the Georgia Bulldogs and came out on top. With Notre Dame’s victory, the college football playoff semifinals are now set.
The Fighting Irish will face Penn State in the Orange Bowl next Thursday, Jan. 9. Texas will meet Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10.
The two winners will play in the National Championship game on Monday, Jan. 20. It will be the first championship game since the NCAA went to a 12-team playoff format.
2 dead, 19 hurt after small plane crashes into California building
Two people are dead and 19 more injured after a small plane crashed into a furniture manufacturing building in southern California on Thursday.
The people who died were believed to have been on the plane while those injured were among the 200 or so people inside the building. Paramedics transported 11 people to the hospital and treated eight others at the scene.
The crash occurred about half a mile from the Fullerton Municipal Airport. Investigators are working to learn what led up to the incident.
Biden to block Nippon Steel’s bid to take over US Steel: Reports
President Joe Biden decided to block Nippon Steel’s bid to purchase U.S. Steel due to national security risks, according to multiple reports. Biden is expected to announce his decision as early as Friday, reports said.
Senior advisers warned Biden that the U.S. rejecting the Japanese corporation’s $14.9 billion offer could damage relations between the two countries.
Biden’s decision comes after the interagency Committee on Foreign Investment could not conclude the risks of Nippon’s offer, leaving the decision up to the White House.
While U.S. Steel shareholders backed the takeover, the proposed deal faced opposition from union members and politicians.
President-elect Donald Trump, who a group of American steelworkers backed during his campaign, also vowed to block the deal when he takes office later this month.
Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel indicated they would take legal action if the federal government blocked the deal.
119th Congress begins Friday with GOP taking control of House and Senate
The 119th Congress starts Friday with Republicans in full control of the House and Senate for the first time since 2019. The new term, which lasts two years, begins when House members are sworn in.
Despite narrowly hanging on to the GOP majority 219-215, Rep. Mike Johnson’s speakership hangs in the balance. At least one Republican said he would not back Johnson and others expressed concerns about his leadership.
Johnson received a major boost this week when Trump publicly backed Johnson.
In the Senate, Republicans will officially take the reins after flipping the majority in the November election. The new Senate Majority Leader will be Sen. John Thune of South Dakota.
Golden Globes kick off award season this Sunday
Hollywood’s award season officially kicks off Sunday, Jan. 5, with the Golden Globes.
Nominees include Timothée Chalamet, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez and Angelina Jolie.
Movies looking to win big include “A Complete Unknown,” “Emilia Perez,” “Wicked” and “The Brutalist.”
“The Bear,” “Shogun,” “Nobody Wants This” and “Only Murders in the Building” are among the television series looking to take home trophies.
Comedian Nikki Glaser, who hosted the Tom Brady roast, will lead the award ceremony. This year, the Golden Globes will air live on CBS and stream on Paramount+.