Israel and Hamas have reportedly reached a cease-fire agreement that could bring an end to the current fighting. According to NBC News, Hamas will release its remaining Israeli hostages, while Israel plans to return Palestinian prisoners. Before the cease-fire becomes official, the Israeli security cabinet—and then the full cabinet—must approve the deal, followed by a 24-hour window for any appeals in the country’s Supreme Court. The earliest the truce could go into effect is Friday, and hostages could begin to be released starting Saturday.
Meanwhile, Monday marks MLK Day and also the inauguration of President-Elect Donald Trump. The Village People and Carrie Underwood are scheduled to perform. Underwood released a statement explaining her choice to accept Trump’s invitation, saying she loves her country and feels humbled to sing in a moment calling for unity. This decision has sparked online debate, with some criticizing Underwood for “normalizing Trump,” while others—like Whoopi Goldberg—defend her right to perform where she chooses. The discussion has also reignited conversation about R&B singer Chrisette Michelle, who faced intense backlash after performing at Trump’s 2017 inauguration. According to Essence, Michelle lost her record deal, suffered a miscarriage, and ultimately regretted her choice, calling it a mistake.
Finally, TikTok is reportedly planning to shut down its app for all U.S. users on Sunday in anticipation of a potential federal ban, according to The Information. This move deviates from the law’s initial focus on preventing new downloads. Current users will be directed to a website with information about the ban and given an option to download their personal data. TikTok is challenging the ban in court, arguing that it violates free speech rights. Earlier this year, President Biden signed a law requiring ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to sell its U.S. assets by January 19, 2025—or face a nationwide ban.