👋 Sawubona!*
Welcome to Tuesday, where a U.S. Court drops Donald Trump’s Capitol riots case, Israel is set to approve a U.S.-sponsored ceasefire deal with Hezbollah, and the world’s oldest man dies in the UK. And for economic daily Les Echos, Serge Eric Menye looks at the major opportunities — and risks — that AI could bring to sub-Saharan Africa.
[*Zulu - South Africa]
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🗞️ FRONT PAGE
Israeli daily Haaretz reports on final negotiations to potentially approve a ceasefire agreement to end the fighting with Hezbollah. The proposed agreement would include the withdrawal of IDF forces within 60 days, and would see the Lebanese army deployed along the country’s borders, while a joint monitoring mechanism with the U.S. and Israel will ensure the ceasefire is upheld.
🌎 7 THINGS TO KNOW RIGHT NOW
• Israel is expected to approve a U.S.-sponsored ceasefire deal with Hezbollah. The deal would include Israeli troop withdrawal and the deployment of the regular Lebanese army in southern Lebanon. The conflict has killed thousands, displaced over a million in Lebanon, and caused significant destruction. Israel's security cabinet is expected to convene later Tuesday to approve a text at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
• U.S. Court closes Donald Trump’s criminal case for Capitol Hill assault. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan put an end to the criminal case that would have held Trump responsible for various attempts to hold onto power after losing the 2020 election, including inciting the assault on the U.S. Capitol of Jan. 6, 2021. Today, the President-elect announced his plans to impose tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China on his first day back in office, a move that is set to increase trade tensions and consumer goods prices for Americans. Could Trump's administration isolationism be an opportunity for other powers to emerge?
• NATO and Ukraine convene in Brussels amid doubts about continued U.S. support. Tensions have been rising after a Russian hypersonic missile strike on Dnipro on the 22nd of November. Most NATO leaders seem to be dedicated to maintaining their support for Kyiv, but Donald Trump’s re-election raises concerns about U.S. aid continuity. Meanwhile, Russian forces are advancing at their fastest pace since 2022, having captured 235 sq km over the past week. Putin now controls 18% of Ukraine, and as he claims retaliation for Western-supplied weapons he threatens that he might start targeting the countries that support Kyiv’s government.
• Violent clashes in Islamabad as supporters of former Pakistani Prime Minister call for his release. At least six people were killed as demonstrators backing jailed former leader Imran Khan faced off with security forces, leading to guerilla scenes in the city center. Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, is leading marches and demonstrations despite threats of live fire. Authorities have already arrested over 4,000 protesters.
• Search continues after Red Sea tourist boat wreck. The Sea Story sank in turbulent waters near the Egyptian town of Marsa Alam, and 16 of the 44 passengers onboard are still missing, including British, Finnish, and Egyptian nationals. Twenty-eight passengers were rescued.
• The UN evacuated its staff from the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince amid escalation of gang violence. Armed clashes involving gangs, police, and civilians continue, having left more than 220 dead in recent attacks. Aid organizations, including Doctors Without Borders, have already had to suspend operations due to safety concerns.
• World’s oldest known man has died. John Tinniswood was 112 years old and was also the world’s oldest surviving male World War II veteran. “I can’t think of any special secrets I have. I was quite active as a youngster, I did a lot of walking. Whether that had something to do with it, I don’t know”, he said last year. His family reports he departed this life peacefully, “surrounded by music and love.”
#️⃣ BY THE NUMBERS
33 years
The Blue Man Group will wrap up its legendary New York City run in February 2025 after more than 33 years. Since bursting onto the scene in 1991, they’ve performed over 17,000 shows, becoming a beloved staple of the city's off-Broadway world. Famous for their wild and colorful performances, the Blue Man Group mixes music, comedy, and multimedia theatrics into a one-of-a-kind spectacle that’s part rock concert, part art show, and all chaos. While their final New York performance is set for Feb. 2, 2025, the group will keep the show going in Las Vegas, Boston and Berlin.
📹 ON THIS DAY VIDEO — 4 HISTORY-MAKING EVENTS, IN 57 SECONDS
➡️ Watch the video: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
📰 IN OTHER NEWS
⚖️ “There is no moment in the past century of Arab history worse than the current one.” The Arab nations and people are facing a general state of failure that includes actions of regimes, societies and political parties.
— DARAJ
💻 As AI is set to redefine the global job market, African countries are increasingly seeing danger for their economies.
— LES ECHOS
🏭 Negotiators at the COP29 climate conference in Baku have struck a landmark agreement on rules governing the global trade of carbon credits. But the rules contain several serious flaws that years of debate have failed to fix.
— THE CONVERSATION
📣 VERBATIM
“No one will win a trade war or a tariff war.”
— The Chinese Embassy in Washington issued a statement after U.S. President elect Donald Trump threatened a 10% tariff on all Chinese imports when he takes office on Jan. 20, 2025. Spokesperson Liu Pengyu emphasized that China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation is "mutually beneficial in nature.” Pengyu highlighted China’s efforts to combat drug trafficking, particularly in relation to fentanyl, as part of ongoing collaboration between the two nations, warning that escalating tensions through tariffs could have damaging consequences for both economies and global trade stability.
✍️ Newsletter by Gabriele Magro & Ella Nigro
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