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Happy New Year! We hope you had a great holiday weekend and are refreshed as we kick off the first work day of 2024. If you flew over the last few weeks, there is a good chance you found the instructions and rules laid out by TSA officials to be confusing. There is apparently a method to the purposeful madness; an aviation security expert says the guidelines are constantly altered so bad actors cannot pick up on patterns or tendencies. Have a great day!
In Today’s Brief
Winter weather: Storm headed for Northeast
Japan: Rocked by massive earthquake
Wander Franco: MLB star arrested amid probe
Baby formula: Massive recall announced
... and more
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Top Tips
1) The latest on the war in Gaza
Israel said it will reduce troop levels in Gaza as its war with Hamas approaches the three-month mark.
The drawdown: Israel will recall five military brigades, including a significant number of reservists, from the enclave this week. Officials said the moves will pace forces for a long-term conflict and reduce economic damage for the country. The Israelis insisted it was not a sign it will let up on its military operations. But the U.S. has been advocating for the war, which started with Hamas' surprise attacks on Oct. 7, to shift into a lower-intensity phase. Israel’s move has been interpreted as a sign it is following through with that pivot.
Hostage talks: Hamas has reportedly sent a proposal for another ceasefire and hostage/prisoner exchange to Israel through Egypt and Qatar, which have served as mediators. The militant group and the Israelis are said to be far apart on terms. The pitch is noteworthy; Hamas had previously said it would not agree to any deal absent a complete ceasefire. Israel has said it is open to another pause, but Hamas must release the bulk of its remaining captives.
Red Sea: The U.S. sunk three Houthi ships in the Red Sea after the Iranian-backed rebels attacked a shipping vessel on Sunday. Ten Houthis were killed when their attack was repelled. The U.S. and other nations have been grappling with the Yemeni militants since the start of the Gaza war; their drone and missile attacks have slowed commerce in the critical waterways and a multinational security task force has not slowed them. An Iranian warship has reportedly entered the Red Sea as the U.S. continues to refrain from attacking Houthi installations in Yemen. The USS Gerald Ford is expected to be recalled from the region, but it will be replaced by other warships.
2) Critical world elections will define 2024
The U.S. will hold one of several international elections of significance this year.
First up: Taiwan will hold its presidential and parliamentary elections on Jan. 13 as Chinese President Xi Jinping ratchets up rhetoric about reunification between the island democracy and the mainland government being inevitable. Incumbent President Tsai Ing-wen is term-limited, but Vice President Lai Ching-te is favored to deliver another victory for the pro-democracy ruling party. But polls have tightened and China has been accused of election interference to buttress pro-Beijing candidates.
Incumbents to watch: President Joe Biden will run for reelection with former President Donald Trump as his presumed opponent with the Iowa Caucuses less than two weeks away. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will look to further solidify his control through several weeks of elections this spring as critics allege he is turning India away from democracy and toward a nationalist state that approaches theocracy. Neighboring Pakistan will also hold elections. Russian President Vladimir Putin is not expected to face any resistance when he seeks reelection in March.
Europe and elsewhere: The United Kingdom will have a general election this year and it could be as soon as May; the ruling Conservative Party is facing the prospect of a landslide loss that could propel the Labour Party into leadership for the first time in over a decade. The European Parliament will hold its first elections since Brexit; far-right populist movements could experience unprecedented success at the ballot box. Mexico will also have a presidential election this year as illegal border crossings into the U.S. surge; the results could also impact trade in the region.
3) Michigan vs. Washington for national title
Michigan will face Washington in next week's college football national championship game after a pair of thrilling triumphs.
Wolverines rally: Michigan remained undefeated with a 27-20 overtime victory over Alabama in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The top-seeded Wolverines trailed, 20-13, late in the fourth quarter of the College Football Playoff semifinal contest before a game-tying drive with under two minutes to go. Michigan then overcame a slew of special teams errors by scoring the go-ahead touchdown in the extra period before holding the fourth-seeded Crimson Tide at bay to clinch the win. Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy was named the game's MVP with three touchdown passes.
Huskies hold on: Washington held on for a 37-31 win over Texas in the Sugar Bowl to win the other semifinal in New Orleans. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. threw for 430 yards and two touchdowns to lead the second-seeded Huskies, who also remain unbeaten. Third-seeded Texas was seeking its first trip to the national title game since 2009. The Longhorns cut a 13-point deficit to six with just over a minute left, then got the ball back with under a minute to go and drove to the Washington 13 before falling short.
Next up: The CFP National Championship Game is at NRG Stadium in Houston next Monday night. It will be the first time the SEC does not have a team in the national title game since 2015. Michigan is bidding for its first national title since 1997. Washington last won a national title in 1991.
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Quick Tips
U.S. News
A major winter storm could hit the Northeast this weekend and cause significant travel disruptions on Saturday and Sunday; it has been almost two years since there was significant snowfall for most cities in the region (More)
Former President Bill Clinton will be among the names unsealed in court documents related to late sex-offender Jeffrey Epstein. Clinton will not be accused of wrongdoing in the documents, according to ABC News (More)
A federal judge said Mississippi officials can move forward with a new state-run court in the capital city of Jackson. The NAACP sued to block the court, arguing it was undemocratic because local voters and elected officials had no say in selecting prosecutors and judges (More)
World News
A 7.6 magnitude earthquake hit central Japan yesterday, destroying buildings and killing at least six. Almost 100K were evacuated due to the risk of tsunami waves, but officials said the threat has mostly passed (More)
Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed his forces will intensify attacks on Ukraine after both countries engaged in fierce fighting yesterday. Putin claimed he wants the war to end, but only on Russia's terms (More)
Israel's Supreme Court struck down a government plan to limit the authority of the country's judiciary. The proposal previously sparked mass public protests; the court's decision could reignite domestic tension amid the war with Hamas (More)
Entertainment & Sports
Tampa Bay Rays star Wander Franco was arrested in the Dominican Republic as he faces allegations of a relationship with a minor. MLB placed Franco on administrative leave in August (More)
Paula Abdul accused American Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe of sexual assault in a lawsuit. The dancer and singer alleges Lythgoe assaulted her during an early Idol season and when they worked together on So You Think You Can Dance; Lythgoe has denied the allegations (More)
Tom Wilkinson died on Saturday at 75. The British actor was a two-time Academy Award nominee for In The Bedroom and Michael Clayton; he also starred in The Full Monty (More)
Business & Markets
Major indexes closed down last Friday on the final day of trading in 2023. But the Dow Jones ended with a 13.7% gain for the year and reached a new all-time high, the S&P 500 posted a 24.2% gain and just missed a record high and the Nasdaq finished with a 43.4% gain.
Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition recalled over 657K infant formula cans due to possible bacteria contamination. The recall only impacts a hypoallergenic version of the Nutramigen brand (More)
The PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund have extended a window to strike a merger deal. The original deadline was Dec. 31; both sides reportedly want talks wrapped up before The Masters tournament is held in April (More)
Tips & Tricks
Feel Good: Meet Bjartmar Leosson, or "Bike Cop." The Icelandic man has become famous in the capital city of Reykjavík for helping reunite people with their stolen bicycles. He has also received credit for deterring bike thefts and assisting thieves to reform.
Sneak Peek: Check out a trailer for Miller's Girl, an upcoming drama starring Martin Freeman and Jenna Ortega. The film, which will hit theaters on Jan. 26, tells the story of a teacher and a star student who slip into a dark and complicated relationship.
Take Note: GSK discontinued its Flovent asthma inhaler effective yesterday. The pharmaceutical company will replace it with an identical generic version, but not as many health insurance providers will initially cover the new drug. That has doctors concerned about delays and shortages.
Royal Exit: Denmark's Queen Margrethe II will abdicate on Jan. 14 after 52 years on the throne. Europe's longest-serving active monarch made the surprise announcement during a New Year's Eve address; her son, Crown Prince Frederik, will becomer king.
Bad News: A newspaper in Oregon has halted printing and laid off its staff last week after an employee allegedly embezzled over $70K. The Eugene Weekly is attempting to raise money to keep itself afloat.
Watch Out: The worst drivers in America? They reside in Texas, according to a Forbes Advisors study. The best drivers are in Washington D.C., while New Mexico has the most fatal accidents involving distracted drivers.
Life Hack: As many as 31M Americans are expected to take the Dry January challenge this year. But experts caution a successful approach is about much more than simply refraining from alcohol for a month. Here are some tips to get the most out of the exercise if you plan to participate.
Tipoffs
Speaking of Dry January, these non-alcoholic wines are popular.
... and no, you do not need to do a detox after the holidays end.
Gender-neutral toy aisles and other laws that took effect yesterday.
A towering look at some of the world's most stunning skyscrapers.
Workers at an Atlanta movie theater found a wallet lost 65 years ago.
A N.C. pastor tried to push a man into the deep fryer at a McDonald’s.
… while supply chain issues are rocking the UK's fish and chips industry.
The guest list for the New Year’s Eve bash at Mar-a-Lago was eclectic.
Looking Ahead …
The initial battles for control of the House come November are already being fought. Congressional maps drawn after the 2020 Census are still being litigated in some key states. The eventual legal outcomes of these fights will not directly swing control of the lower chamber, but they could open — or close — paths for Republicans to hold control or for Democrats to regain it.