The ACTUAL NEWS: Wednesday, January 15th 2025 Recap
Today in History; President Biden Delivers Farewell Address to the Nation, Biden Administration Brokers Ceasefire Deal Between Israel and Hamas, and More National and Global News
TODAY IN HISTORY
1842: St. Mary MacKillop, the first Australian to be beatified by the Roman Catholic Church and the first Australian to be recognized as a saint, was born in Melbourne.
1870: The donkey was first used as a symbol of the U.S. Democratic Party in a political cartoon by Thomas Nast.
1919: Rosa Luxemburg, a Polish-born German revolutionary and cofounder of the German Communist Party, was arrested and murdered in Berlin for inciting the Spartacus Revolt, a communist uprising.
1919: A storage tank collapsed in Boston, releasing more than two million gallons (eight million liters) of molasses into the city's North End. The Great Molasses Flood caused extensive damage and claimed 21 lives.
2001: Wikipedia, a free internet-based encyclopedia that operates under an open-source management model, debuted. It was founded by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger.
2009: US Airways Flight 1549, piloted by Captain Chesley ("Sully") Sullenberger III, successfully landed in the Hudson River after striking a flock of Canada geese shortly after takeoff, which caused severe damage to both engines. Miraculously, there were no fatalities.
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NATIONAL
Vice President Kamala Harris dropped by to give remarks at the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast, hosted by Rev. Al Sharpton, Martin Luther King III, and his wife Arndrea King at the Mayflower hotel in DC. Today is MLK’s birthday, though the federal holiday in his name is observed on Monday, Jan. 20.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is considering an executive order that would suspend the enforcement of the TikTok sale-or-ban law for 60 to 90 days, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday, citing two people familiar with the matter.
Apple's Tim Cook and Google CEO Sundar Pichai are among the Big Tech leaders planning to attend U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on Monday. Tech CEOs Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg will also be in attendance, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing a source familiar with planning for the event.
Japan's Nippon Steel remains interested in working with the incoming administration of Donald Trump to try to seal a takeover of U.S. Steel, its vice chairman Takahiro Mori said an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal.
U.S. imports from China finished the year strong after some companies stockpiled shipments of apparel, toys, furniture and electronics ahead of President-elect Donald Trump's plan to impose new tariffs that could revive a trade war between the world's economic superpowers.
USCIS has updated the work visa H1B and H2 forms: “The H-2 final rule significantly strengthens worker protections by, among other things, imposing new consequences on companies that charge prohibited fees or violate our labor laws, and provides greater flexibility for H-2A and H-2B workers.”
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump plans to abolish the requirement for some producers of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to seek export permit renewals, according to two sources with knowledge of the plan.
The CEO of one of the world’s largest defense contractors, L3Harris Technologies, told President-elect Donald Trump’s government efficiency panel in a letter on Wednesday that the Pentagon’s vast contracting system is too slow and bureaucratic to effectively address the threats posed by China and Iran, and that it needs reform.
The Democratic attorneys general of 14 U.S. states moved on Wednesday to take over the defense in court of a rule by the outgoing Biden administration providing health insurance to immigrants brought to the country illegally as children.
President Joe Biden's administration on Wednesday sued Southwest Airlines, accusing the carrier of illegally operating multiple chronically delayed flights and disrupting passengers’ travel. The U.S. Transportation Department said in its civil suit in U.S. District Court in Northern California that the Texas-based air carrier had operated unrealistic schedules and should be required to pay maximum civil penalties. The Justice Department joined in the suit.
GLOBAL
Trump's Greenland bid stirs debate in China about what to do with Taiwan. For years, the U.S. government has urged China to show "restraint" in pushing its claim on Taiwan and to drop military threats to bring the democratically governed island under its control.
Iran never plotted to kill Republican U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in an NBC News interview on Tuesday, denying past claims from Trump and the U.S. government.
Yoon Suk Yeol became the first incumbent South Korean president to be arrested when he finally backed down on Wednesday in a weeks-long standoff with authorities investigating him over alleged insurrection. A tough political survivor who became increasingly isolated halfway through his five-year term, Yoon, 64, has been dogged by personal scandals, an unyielding opposition and rifts within his own party.
Britain will give U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's new government the chance to review a deal with Mauritius over the future of a U.S.-British military base in the Indian Ocean, a spokesman for Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Wednesday.
Giorgi Gakharia, a former prime minister of Georgia who now leads one of the country's main opposition groups, was hospitalized after being severely beaten late on Tuesday, a spokeswoman for his party told Reuters.
Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Wednesday she had spoken on the phone with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and told him that it is up to Greenland itself to decide on any independence.
Canada will consider every kind of countermeasure if U.S. President-elect Donald Trump goes ahead with a threat to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian imports, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday.
VIDEO OF THE DAY
President Biden Delivers a Farewell Address to the Nation
PHOTO OF THE DAY
...taken during the Presidential Farewell Address to the Nation from the Oval Office
VIDEO QUICK NEWS
VP Kamala Harris delivers a speech at National Action Network on MLK's Birthday (Today)
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre's Farewell to the Press Team
Reporter asks President Biden whether the ceasefire in Gaza is his accomplishment
U.S. Brokered Ceasefire Deal Between Israel and Hamas Brings Relief and Hope for Humanitarian Aid
U.S. President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire and hostage agreement aimed at ending the fighting in Gaza and facilitating a surge in humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians.
Key insights from the National Security Council (NSC) briefing on the Gaza ceasefire:
The Biden administration spent over a year negotiating with Hamas, with the most intense phase of talks occurring in the past 96 hours. Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who expressed his appreciation for their longstanding partnership, dating back 44 years.
When President Biden met with President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office after the election, he ensured that Trump’s team was kept up to date on the negotiations as Trump's team will have to play a key role in implementing the various stages of the ceasefire. In recent hours, Trump's team has worked cooperatively with the NSC, and the Biden administration expressed gratitude for this collaboration.
The stages of the agreement, crafted by President Biden last year and approved by the United Nations, will now be put into action.
Hostage exchanges for Palestinian prisoners are scheduled to begin Sunday, January 19. In the first stage, the elderly, women, and those who are sick or wounded will be released. This exchange will also include the release of two American hostages. This will be followed by the release of soldiers in the second stage. Civilians will also gain the right to freely move in and out of Gaza.
Currently, Hamas is largely operating underground, a shadow of the organization it was when it launched its attack on Israel on October 7. Israeli forces, practically, now have the ability to operate anywhere in the region.
Despite media reports and the Trump press team suggesting that President-elect Trump was instrumental in pushing this deal forward, such claims are not accurate given the timeline and details of the agreement.
GOP Pushes to Limit FTC's Antitrust Authority with New Bill
U.S. Representative Ben Cline, a Republican from Virginia, has reintroduced the One Agency Act, a bill aimed at transferring the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) antitrust powers to the U.S. Department of Justice. This move challenges over a century of shared antitrust jurisdiction between the two agencies and is part of broader conservative efforts to limit government regulation, leveraging President-elect Donald Trump's support for reducing federal oversight.
U.S. Treasury Targets Russian Sanctions Evasion Networks and Reaffirms Secondary Sanctions Risk
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has taken action against a sanctions evasion network involving Russia and China, aimed at facilitating cross-border payments for sensitive goods. Additionally, a Kyrgyz Republic-based financial institution that coordinated with Russian officials and a U.S.-designated bank has been sanctioned. Treasury is also re-designating nearly 100 entities linked to Russia’s military-industrial complex under Executive Order 13662, warning foreign individuals and institutions of potential secondary sanctions if they engage in significant transactions with these entities.
Biden Administration Protects Pensions for 91,500 UNITE HERE Workers
President Joe Biden announced that an additional 91,500 workers and retirees affiliated with UNITE HERE will have their pension benefits safeguarded from potential future cuts, thanks to the provisions of his American Rescue Plan. These workers, many of whom serve in vital sectors such as hospitality and transportation, are often overlooked but play a crucial role in the economy. The newly approved benefits ensure that these individuals can look forward to a secure retirement.
In his statement, President Biden highlighted that the decision is part of the administration's broader commitment to support workers and bolster the economy from the middle out and the bottom up. He credited the inclusion of the Butch Lewis Act in the American Rescue Plan, which helped make this progress possible. Alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, Biden emphasized their ongoing efforts to protect retirement benefits and deliver financial security to American workers.
With today's announcement, the Biden administration has extended pension protection to over 1.3 million workers and retirees. In total, these actions will help secure the retirement benefits of approximately 2 million Americans, ensuring they receive the full benefits they have earned over the coming decades.
Biden Cancer Moonshot Marks Historic Progress with New Initiatives and Government Actions to Combat Cancer
Nearly three years after the Biden Cancer Moonshot was reignited, significant strides have been made in the fight to end cancer as we know it. On the occasion of this milestone, President Joe Biden’s administration convened key leaders and advocates in a meeting to celebrate the ongoing efforts and achievements under the Cancer Moonshot initiative. The event highlighted the work done by the Cancer Moonshot community, with an emphasis on the progress outlined in the "Biden Cancer Moonshot: Ending Cancer As We Know It" report. This report recognizes the initiative's impact on preventing, detecting, treating, and supporting those affected by cancer.
Central to the administration's approach is the creation of a "Cancer Cabinet" that facilitates collaboration across various sectors to deliver more effective solutions. Key accomplishments include:
Preventative Measures: Protecting 100 million Americans from harmful chemicals like PFAS and taking steps to reduce smoking rates, the leading cause of cancer deaths.
Expanded Cancer Screenings: Addressing missed screenings due to COVID-19, with a focus on equitable access to care.
New Research Agency: Establishing ARPA-H to drive innovation and breakthroughs in cancer treatment.
Reimbursable Navigation Services: Enhancing support services for cancer patients to improve care access and affordability.
In addition to these accomplishments, several new actions were announced to continue advancing the goals of the Biden Cancer Moonshot:
FDA Proposed Rule: A groundbreaking proposal to set a maximum nicotine level in cigarettes to reduce addiction and prevent smoking-related cancers.
NCI Investment: The National Cancer Institute will double its funding for research into early-onset cancers, focusing on cancers affecting younger populations.
Decentralized Clinical Trials: A new guide to improve the efficiency and access to clinical trials for cancer patients.
Cancer-Causing Environmental Exposures: The CDC will support community groups in addressing cancer risks from environmental factors.
VA Expands Cancer Testing: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will expand access to genetic testing and at-home colorectal cancer screening.
In the private sector, numerous organizations also announced new initiatives, including:
Academy Health: Launching a challenge to enhance cancer patient navigation through data and technology.
American College of Sports Medicine: Mapping exercise oncology program availability to address racial and socioeconomic disparities in cancer care.
Anticancer Lifestyle Program: Expanding access to tools for reducing environmental exposures to cancer-causing agents.
Massive Bio: Introducing an AI-powered platform to better match cancer patients with clinical trials, focusing on underserved communities.
Other notable contributions include efforts from the Prostate Cancer Foundation, VisionGate, and ZERO Prostate Cancer, all of which aim to improve early detection, access to care, and survival rates among high-risk populations, particularly veterans and underserved groups.
Together, these efforts reflect a comprehensive, national commitment to reducing cancer deaths, improving quality of life for those diagnosed with cancer, and ensuring equitable access to groundbreaking treatments and resources. The Biden Cancer Moonshot remains a critical force in advancing the fight against cancer and improving outcomes for millions of Americans.
Trump’s Transportation Nominee Advocates for EV Road Use Fees and Supports Tesla Probe
At his Senate confirmation hearing, Sean Duffy, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to head the U.S. Transportation Department, made two significant statements regarding the future of transportation policy. First, he argued that electric vehicles (EVs) "should pay to use the roads." Currently, road maintenance is largely funded through taxes on gasoline and diesel, which EVs do not contribute to. Duffy acknowledged the challenge of implementing such fees but stressed the need for EVs to help fund road usage.
In addition to his stance on EVs, Duffy also addressed the ongoing investigation into Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an inquiry in October into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD software following four reported collisions, including a fatal crash in 2023. Duffy, a former lawmaker, stated that he would allow the investigation to continue without interference. Despite Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s close ties to Trump, who has previously criticized NHTSA’s regulatory actions, Duffy emphasized that NHTSA should be allowed to conduct its probe independently.
Strengthening Cooperation to Protect Undersea Cables: U.S. and Nordic-Baltic Allies Meet
In response to recent undersea cable incidents in the Baltic Sea, Anne Neuberger, Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology, led a discussion with her Nordic-Baltic counterparts from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden. The meeting focused on enhancing cooperation to protect critical undersea cables, essential for global communications and energy infrastructure.
Participants highlighted the importance of securing undersea cables, which are vital to international commerce, digital economic prosperity, and public services. They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration through NATO and implementing the New York Joint Statement on the Security and Resilience of Undersea Cables. The principles outlined in the statement emphasize the need for reliable, interoperable, and resilient undersea cable networks.
The discussion also centered on practical measures to bolster protection efforts, including improving real-time situational awareness, enhancing public-private partnerships for repair and maintenance, and establishing systems to track cable faults and repair timelines. Additionally, the group considered ways to streamline equipment import/export processes to expedite repairs.
The U.S. and Nordic-Baltic allies agreed to continue their work in these areas through NATO and other relevant forums, aiming to build a more secure and resilient undersea cable infrastructure for the future.
Putin's Negotiation Demands on Ukraine: A Push for Neutrality and Territorial Control
Vladimir Putin plans to demand that Ukraine drastically reduces its military ties with NATO and abandons its ambitions to join the alliance during upcoming negotiations with Donald Trump, according to Bloomberg sources.
Putin, believing he holds the upper hand on the battlefield, seeks to transform Ukraine into a neutral state with limited military capacity. He insists that NATO nations can supply Ukraine with weapons, but these should not be used against Russia or to reclaim lost territories. Additionally, Russia aims to retain control over at least 20% of Ukrainian territory, with potential for territorial exchanges as Russia tries to regain its own territory in the Kursk region post Ukraine’s incursion.
Putin's position has hardened over time, shifting from a willingness to allow Ukraine to join NATO in the future to demanding its neutrality. Current talks between Russia and Ukraine in Qatar are focused on securing nuclear power plant safety as the fight continues. Putin also references the "Istanbul agreements" from March 2022, that largely meant capitulation of Ukrainian territories, as the foundation for peace negotiations.
In a recent opinion piece published in The New York Times, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Russia has suffered over 700,000 casualties since the war began. They argued that Putin now faces a difficult dilemma: continue with high casualties for minimal gains, risk a mobilization that could destabilize Russia domestically, or negotiate seriously with Ukraine to end the war. They further emphasized that cutting aid or pushing for a premature ceasefire would only enable Putin to "rest, refit, and eventually re-attack," describing such an outcome as "peace through surrender, which would be no peace at all."
In addition, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed the Biden administration’s stance on the negotiations earlier this week in Helsinki: “Ukraine is not in a strong enough position for peace talks with Russia. At this moment, clearly Ukraine is not there, because they cannot at this moment negotiate from a position of strength,” Rutte told EU lawmakers. “We have to do more to ensure that, by changing the trajectory of the conflict, they can reach that position of strength.”
Currently, five months after Ukraine launched its ground incursion into Russia, the two forces are locked in some of the most brutal clashes of the war, fighting fiercely for land and strategic advantage. The intensity mirrors the devastating sieges of eastern Ukraine, particularly in towns like Bakhmut and Avdiivka, which have become symbols of mass casualties and destruction for both sides.
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That’s it from me for now. Thank you so much for reading.
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