| Palestinians returned to Jabalia in northern Gaza yesterday. Omar Al-Qattaa/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images |
The start of a truce in Gaza
Hours after three Israeli women were released from captivity in the Gaza Strip yesterday, about 90 Palestinian prisoners were freed by Israel as its long-awaited cease-fire agreement with Hamas took effect.
The exchange was the first of a series scheduled for the next six weeks. In total, 33 of the roughly 100 remaining hostages, living or dead, are to be returned; in return, Israel will release more than 1,000 imprisoned Palestinians. Here’s the latest.
Israeli officers said their forces had begun to withdraw from parts of Gaza. Hamas tried to signal that it was reasserting control in the territory, with masked gunmen taking to the streets.
The truce prompted celebrations in Gaza, relief for families and hope for an end to the devastating 15-month war. The start of the cease-fire’s initial phase was delayed by almost three hours, after Israel said it had not formally received the names of the first three hostages to be freed. During that delay, the Israeli military kept striking targets in Gaza.
What’s next: In part, Israel and Hamas reached the cease-fire deal by relegating their biggest disputes to a nebulous “second phase,” which neither side is sure will occur. During the first phase, 600 trucks will be allowed to bring aid to Gazans every day. Israel will still occupy parts of the territory and hold high-profile prisoners.
| Donald Trump broke with tradition by holding a rally on the night before his swearing-in. Doug Mills/The New York Times |
On eve of inaugural, Trump vowed to end ‘American decline’
Donald Trump held a boastful, campaign-style rally at an arena in downtown Washington on the eve of his second inauguration. Speaking to his supporters, Trump celebrated his election victory and vowed to advance his agenda in spite of what he called a “failed and corrupt political establishment.”
His speech, delivered down the street from the White House, was classic Trump. In remarks laced with exaggerations and outright falsehoods, he railed about illegal immigration, bragged about the swing states he won in November and denigrated President Biden.
“Tomorrow at noon, the curtain closes on four long years of American decline, and we begin a brand-new day of American strength and prosperity, dignity and pride,” Trump said. Follow our live coverage of the inauguration here.
Context: The rally was a break from tradition. Presidents have typically sought to reserve their comments for the official inauguration speech.
| Prince Harry’s lawyers say Rupert Murdoch’s tabloids routinely hacked his phone. Jeenah Moon for The New York Times |
Prince Harry’s suit against tabloids is going to trial
Prince Harry will get his long-awaited day in court against Rupert Murdoch’s British tabloids today as his lawsuit accusing News Group Newspapers of unlawfully gathering private information finally goes on trial in London.
Harry is not expected to take the stand for at least the first two weeks, which will be devoted to issues relating to the papers’ practices from the 1990s to the early 2010s. That’s when lawyers say their reporters routinely hacked the prince’s cellphone and those of other celebrities to dig up intimate details.
What’s at stake: The hearings could prove damaging to Murdoch and several of his former lieutenants. Lawyers for Harry will set out to show that News Group executives concealed and sought to destroy evidence of hacking and other improper practices.
| MORE TOP NEWS |
| U.S.: TikTok began to reappear yesterday in the U.S., hours after it was removed from major app stores. Ukraine: Russia hit Kyiv with ballistic missiles before dawn on Saturday, killing at least three people. Iran: Two prominent judges were fatally shot outside the Supreme Court in what the authorities called a terrorist attack. A third judge was wounded. Italy: Cecilia Sala, an Italian journalist recently freed from an Iranian prison, told The Times about her ordeal. Thailand: Detained Uyghur men who fled persecution in China have entered the second week of a hunger strike, hoping to prevent being sent back. Davos: The World Economic Forum will begin just in time for Trump’s inauguration. Ukraine is likely to be a dominant topic. South Korea: President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was formally arrested on insurrection charges yesterday, now lives in a 107-square-foot jail cell, where he sleeps on the floor. China: Edward Wong, a Times reporter, sat down with Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser, to discuss the administration’s approach to China. |
| SPORTS NEWS |
| Baseball: Go inside the final weeks of the chase to sign the star pitcher Roki Sasaki. Australian Open: Novak Djokovic said he would not do on-court interviews until he received an apology for “insulting and offensive comments” made by an Australian television presenter. Premier League: Erling Haaland’s nine-and-a-half-year deal is long but not unprecedented. Here’s how some other megadeals worked out. |
| MORNING READ |
In the last weeks before Trump’s return to the White House, migrants headed north through Mexico on foot in small caravans, hoping to somehow reach the U.S. border before Inauguration Day, after which Trump has promised to crack down on illegal immigrants.
The journey can be treacherous. The weather oscillates between extremes, and cartels in the region have been known to kidnap and kill travelers. A Times photographer came along on some of their treks. Read about them here.
| ARTS AND IDEAS |
The modern sex scene
The contenders for this year’s Oscar nominations are full of sex. “Anora” revolves around a sex worker, “Babygirl” focuses on a woman exploring her desires and “Nosferatu” centers on lust.
But their steamy scenes don’t always resemble the eroticism of cinema past. Rather, the directors are using the moments to explore complex power dynamics between characters. Here are five scenes that do this particularly well.
