Qatari mediators have sent Israel and Hamas a draft proposal for an agreement to halt the fighting in Gaza and exchange hostages for Palestinian prisoners as a first step towards an end to the 15-month-old war. The withdrawal would be phased, with Israeli forces remaining in the border perimeter to defend Israeli border towns and villages. In the first stage, 33 hostages would be set free, including children, women, female soldiers, men above 50, wounded and sick.
https://www.news18.com/world/qatars-final-gaza-truce-deal-sent-to-israel-and-hamas-after-breakthrough-9187810.htmlQatari mediators have sent Israel and Hamas a draft proposal for an agreement to end the 15-month-old war in Gaza. The proposal includes a two-stage plan, with the first stage involving the release of 33 hostages, including children, women, and men over 50, as well as the wounded and sick. In exchange, Palestinian prisoners would be released from Israeli jails. The second stage would involve the release of remaining living hostages and the return of the bodies of those who have died. Israel's withdrawal from Gaza would also be phased, with security arrangements at the Philadelphi corridor and the Netzarim corridor in central Gaza. A significant increase in humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip is also proposed, where a severe humanitarian crisis has been reported. The proposal does not address the issue of governance in Gaza, which remains unresolved due to its complexity.
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/whats-in-qatars-gaza-ceasefire-proposal-all-you-need-to-know-7467712The Russian central bank intervened as the ruble tumbled past 110 to the U.S. dollar, while Ukraine's intelligence chief accused Russia of a "staggeringly reckless" sabotage campaign. In response to the attack, NATO and Ukraine are set to hold emergency talks after Russia launched a new hypersonic missile strike. Meanwhile, in Canada, authorities in Winnipeg arrested a man after multiple dead cats were found in December, and Toronto police are seeking help finding a stolen suitcase containing Anishinaabe regalia.
https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/russia-ukraine-war/German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas is nearing completion after months of negotiations. The agreement would be difficult for Israel to accept due to its designation of Hamas as a terrorist organization. Despite this, Scholz emphasized the importance of prioritizing the lives of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. He also highlighted the opportunity for the ceasefire to alleviate the suffering of people in the Gaza Strip, where over 46,000 Palestinians have been killed according to Hamas' Health Ministry, following an attack on October 7, 2023 that resulted in nearly 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages being taken by Hamas.
https://www.fakti.bg/en/world/941622-berlin-deal-with-hamas-is-a-very-painful-moment-for-israel-but-now-the-hostages-are-most-importantIsraeli and Hamas officials are close to finalizing a deal that would see the release of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of around 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. The deal, which is expected to be finalized this week, also includes provisions for Israel to maintain a buffer zone inside Gaza during the first phase of its implementation. However, some Israeli officials have expressed opposition to the deal, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who has called it a "catastrophe" for Israel's national security. Despite these objections, diplomatic efforts continue towards a truce, with the White House saying that a deal is "there for the taking". The conflict in Gaza has resulted in significant loss of life, with at least 18 people killed overnight in air strikes and shelling by Israeli forces.
https://channelnewsasia.com/world/gaza-israel-hamas-war-ceasefire-negotiations-final-talks-qatar-hostages-4857056Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, not Kristen Michal, are hosting a meeting in Helsinki to discuss ways to protect critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea from threats posed by Russia's "shadow fleet". The fleet, which includes ships used to transport oil while circumventing sanctions, is also seen as an environmental threat. NATO countries are considering imposing additional sanctions on specific ships and shipping companies that pose this risk.
https://www.fakti.bg/en/world/941579-olaf-scholz-nato-discusses-sanctions-against-russian-shadow-fleet-in-baltic-seaIraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani is set to sign an agreement with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer during his visit to Britain, marking a significant step in the strengthening of relations between the two countries. The agreement will focus on consolidating cooperation and is seen as a historic development, coming over 20 years after Britain's involvement in the US-led invasion of Iraq. As part of the trip, Sudani will also meet with King Charles III and discuss joint security arrangements ahead of the planned withdrawal of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS from Iraq by September. The coalition currently has around 2,500 troops stationed in Iraq as part of efforts to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State group.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1271993-uk-iraq-to-sign-strategic-partnership-in-london-iraqi-pmChinese officials are considering a potential option to sell TikTok's US operations to billionaire Elon Musk if the short-video app fails to fend off a ban in the US, according to Bloomberg News. The talks are preliminary and it is unclear how much ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, is aware of the discussions. Chinese officials prefer that TikTok remain under ByteDance's control but are open to alternative options, including a sale through a competitive process or an arrangement with the government. One scenario involves Musk's social media platform X taking control of TikTok US and running the business together. The talks come as the Supreme Court considers a law that would force a sale or ban of TikTok in the US by January 19 due to national security concerns about China.
https://channelnewsasia.com/business/tiktok-us-ban-china-bytedance-elon-musk-social-media-4856291US President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff has joined US, Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Doha to negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. A deal is "very close," according to Trump. Meanwhile, dozens of protesters, including relatives of hostages, have formed a human chain outside Israel's parliament demanding the agreement be finalized. In the West Bank, families of Palestinian prisoners are also awaiting news of a potential release. Some 100 people, including foreign nationals, remain captive in Gaza.
https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-01-14-2025-a1495c0f4f13102903ce31a862c49baa