A cease-fire agreement brokered by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, will bring an end to the 15-month conflict between Hamas and Israel. The deal involves the eventual release of hostages held by Hamas and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, aiming to halt fighting, provide humanitarian aid, and work towards peace and security. (UPI)
In his farewell address, President Joe Biden warned about the growing influence of the ultra-wealthy “oligarchy” and the threat posed by the “tech-industrial complex” on American democracy and rights. Biden emphasized the danger of power and wealth concentration among a small group and the potential consequences if left unchecked. (AP)
Residents and businesses affected by the Palisades Fire filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, claiming the agency’s lack of preparedness contributed to losses. The suit alleges failures in the water supply system and insufficient response to dangerous fire conditions. The agency declined to comment on the pending litigation. (ABC News)
TikTok is preparing to shut down access to its app for 170 million users in the U.S. if a ban goes into effect on January 19th. The platform says it plans to display a pop-up message directing users to a website to download their data, going beyond the government’s requirements. TikTok says it could potentially restore access if the ban is reversed. (NBC News)
Walgreens is experiencing rising retail theft, leading them to lock up merchandise. However, CEO Tim Wentworth acknowledges: “When you lock things up … you don’t sell as many of them. We’ve kind of proven that pretty conclusively.” The company is exploring new strategies to combat retail theft and plans to close stores to improve sales performance. (CBS News)
