Today’s edition of quick hits.
* A breakthrough: “Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire agreement, after more than 15 months of destructive fighting that Gazan health officials say has killed more than 46,000 people in Gaza. … Negotiations over the second and third phases of the deal will take place during the six weeks scheduled for the first, according to [Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani]. The agreement is scheduled to take effect on Sunday.”
* On a related note, President Joe Biden, hours before his farewell address, said he was “deeply satisfied this day has finally come, for the sake of the people of Israel and the families waiting in agony, and for the sake of the innocent people in Gaza, who suffered unimaginable devastation because of the war.”
* Mixed news on inflation: “The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday that the annual inflation rate — which is calculated based on prices compared to a year ago — climbed to 2.9% from 2.7% in November. On a monthly basis, the rate rose to 0.4%, up from 0.3% a month prior and above expectations. Even as the broader inflation index picked up, a measure that strips out volatile food and gas items climbed less than expected. That so-called ‘core’ reading is closely watched by investors.”
* The latest on the deadly California wildfires: “Southern California is braced for ‘extremely critical fire conditions’ caused by a new period of Santa Ana winds today through tomorrow across parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties as the battle to contain the raging blazes goes on.”
* A major development in Seoul: “South Korean authorities detained President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday over his botched declaration of martial law, weeks after a first attempt ended in a dramatic standoff at the residence where he had been holed up since he was impeached.”
* News from the FDA: “The Food and Drug Administration has officially banned Red No. 3, an additive used for giving food and drinks a bright, cherry-red color. The FDA announced on Wednesday that it has amended its color additive regulations, no longer allowing the use of artificial Red No. 3 in food and ingested drugs.”
* There’s already talk about Trump reversing this policy: “Cuba said it will release 553 political prisoners after the Biden administration announced Tuesday it is removing Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism and taking other ‘goodwill’ actions.” * A story worth keeping an eye on: “U.S. securities regulators sued Elon Musk in federal court in Washington on Tuesday in an enforcement action arising from his $44 billion purchase of Twitter, now called X.” * Remember when Nancy Mace had a reputation for being one of the more normal House Republicans? Those days are apparently over: “Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., and Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, got into a heated exchange at a House hearing Tuesday that culminated with Mace challenging Crockett by asking whether she wanted to ‘take it outside.’” See you tomorrow.
Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past."
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