Morning Briefing: Jan 4, 2025

ISTANBUL

Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start your Saturday, including the US State Department “informally” notifying Congress about an $8 billion proposed arms deal with Israel; a bus plunging into a ravine and killing 13 people in Colombia, US President-elect Donald Trump naming Tammy Bruce as the next spokesperson for the State Department and a New York judge setting Trump hush money sentencing for Jan. 10

TOP STORIES

The US State Department “informally” notified Congress of an $8 billion proposed arms deal with Israel, including munitions for fighter jets, attack helicopters and artillery shells, according to a report.

The State Department presented the agreement as a measure to “support Israel’s long-term security by resupplying stocks of critical munitions and air defense capabilities,” Axios reported, citing a source familiar with the matter.

It comes as President Joe Biden approaches the final days of his term before the Jan. 20 inauguration of Donald Trump.

The proposed arms sale, pending congressional approval, includes AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles for fighter jets, 155mm artillery shells, small diameter bombs, 500-pound warheads, bomb fuzes and other related equipment, the report added.

At least 13 people are dead and 30 injured when a bus plunged into a ravine on the Pan-American Highway in southwestern Colombia, authorities reported.

The accident occurred on a mountainous road in the Narino Department near the Ecuadorian border, as the bus plummeted into a 150-meter deep (492-foot) ravine.

The fire department said 11 people died at the scene, while two were later pronounced dead because of their injuries. Twenty-nine victims were seriously injured and are recovering at eight hospitals. The driver of the bus is among the injured.

US President-elect Donald Trump named Tammy Bruce, a Fox News contributor and host, as the next spokesperson for the State Department.

“It is my great honor to announce that Tammy Bruce will be joining our incredible Nominee for United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, as Spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State,” Trump wrote on his social media app, TRUTH Social. “Tammy is a highly respected political analyst who understood the power and importance of ‘MAGA’ early on.”

Bruce is currently a Fox News contributor and hosts “Get Tammy Bruce,” a program on the Fox Nation streaming service since 2019.

US President-elect Donald Trump will be sentenced next week after being found guilty of improperly concealing a hush money payment to an adult film actor, a New York state judge ruled Friday.

Justice Juan Merchan denied a bid from Trump’s defense team to overturn the conviction, and set sentencing for Jan. 10, just 10 days before Trump is set to be sworn in for his second term. He indicated, however, that he would not be imposing any prison term.

Trump can appear in person or virtually, according to his order.

Trump’s team criticized the judge handling his New York criminal case for denying his request for dismissal after his election victory and scheduling a sentencing for next week.

Trump spokesman Steven Cheung called the case “lawless,” asserting it should never have been brought and must be dismissed immediately, the Hill reported.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Donald Trump appointed Morgan Ortagus as deputy special presidential envoy for Middle East peace.
• US President Joe Biden awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award for valor, to seven army soldiers.
• Microsoft plans to spend nearly $100 billion on AI-enabled data centers in fiscal 2025, the company said.
• The Pentagon said that no support was requested for two separate deadly attacks on New Year’s Day, which were carried out by active military personnel and a veteran.
• A young Palestinian male was killed and 16 sustained injuries in assaults by the Israeli army and illegal Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
• Syrian Foreign Minister Assad al-Shaibani said he plans visits this week to Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Jordan in his second trip abroad since taking the post in the Syrian interim government following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime last month.
• Google has paid $CAN100 million ($69 million) to use news stories from Canadian media outlets on its platform, the tech company said.
• The leader of Syria’s new administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa, and Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati agreed to restore calm on the border following clashes between Lebanese soldiers and Syrian gunmen.
• Republican Mike Johnson was re-elected House Speaker on the first ballot in a 218-215 vote.
• Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede encouraged the island’s independence from Denmark, framing it as a step toward breaking free from “the shackles of the colonial era,” according to media reports amid renewed global attention sparked by US President-elect Donald Trump’s interest in purchasing the territory, Politico reported.
• A Saudi delegation met Syrian Health Minister Maher al-Sharaa in Damascus to discuss ways to enhance humanitarian and medical cooperation, according to media reports.
• The UN relief agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) said it is planning to stop aid activities because of the Knesset legislation restricting its work, according to a report.
• Hamas announced the resumption of indirect negotiations with Israel in the Qatari capital, Doha, focusing on the Gaza cease-fire, the withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza and the return of displaced people.
• The White House confirmed that the Treasury Department’s sanctions office was hacked in what reports suggest was a Chinese government operation.
• Jordan announced that it is ready to supply electricity to Syria which is seeking reconstruction help after the ouster of the Assad regime.

SPORTS

• Bellingham scores dramatic goal in 10-man Real Madrid’s 2-1 win against Valencia

Jude Bellingham netted a dramatic winner as 10-man Real Madrid edged Valencia 2-1 in the 19th week of the Spanish La Liga.

Bellingham scored a 95-minute goal to lead Real Madrid’s comeback win on the road.

Real Madrid are atop the table with 43 points in 19 matches ahead of Atletico Madrid, who played 18.

Valencia are 19th with 12 points in 18 matches.

• Fenerbahce Beko beat Anadolu Efes 84-76 in EuroLeague Turkish derby

Fenerbahce defeated Anadolu Efes 84-76 in Round 19 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

Fenberbahce improved to 11-7 in the EuroLeague standings and have a 2-0 record against Efes, which dropped to 10-9.

• AC Milan beat Juventus to advance to Supercoppa final

AC Milan secured a 2-1 comeback win over Juventus to advance to the Supercoppa final against Inter Milan.

Inter Milan will take on city rivals AC Milan in the final at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Microsoft to spend $80 billion on AI data centers in fiscal 2025

Microsoft plans to spend nearly $100 billion on AI-enabled data centers in fiscal 2025, the company said.

“In FY 2025, Microsoft is on track to invest approximately $80 billion to build out AI-enabled datacenters to train AI models and deploy AI and cloud-based applications around the world,” Vice Chair and President Brad Smith wrote in a blog post.

Stressing that AI promises to drive innovation and boost productivity in every sector of the economy, Smith said the US is poised to stand at the forefront of the technology wave, especially if it doubles down on its strengths and effectively partners internationally.

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