The Bulletin

• Biden's farewell address: Just five days before President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office, President Joe Biden will deliver his farewell address to the nation tonight. Here's how to watch his speech.

• Bet on wildfire containment: Polymarket users, a crypto-based prediction market that gained attention during the presidential campaign, are wagering on L.A. wildfire containment outcomes. Get more details.

• Gaza ceasefire: Hamas has accepted a draft agreement for a Gaza ceasefire and the release of dozens of hostages, Associated Press reports. Know more.

• Iran rejects Russia's Crimea annexation: In a new treaty with Russia to be signed on Friday, Iran has rejected Moscow's annexation of Crimea, according to the Middle East Eye. Find out more.

• Israel accounts for most civilian casualties: A conflict monitor has identified Israel as being responsible for the majority of the world's civilian deaths and injuries during wartime throughout 2024. Here's what the report reveals.

• Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial: Lawyers for Sean 'Diddy' Combs said Tuesday in court documents that videos depicting sex acts between their client and his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura prove the disgraced mogul's innocence in his sex trafficking case. Here's what we know.

• Top Putin aide warning: Russian President Vladimir Putin's aide Nikolai Patrushev warned in an interview published on Tuesday that Ukraine may "cease to exist" in 2025. Read his full remarks.

The rundown: President-elect Donald Trump's return to the world stage is being welcomed more by traditional U.S. adversaries than by the nation's allies, a poll has revealed.

Why it matters: The survey, taken by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) across 24 countries, found that while many people internationally welcome another Trump term, believing that he can bring peace to global conflicts, Europeans and South Koreans feel anxious that Trump will contribute to weakening of the "geopolitical 'West.'" According to the ECFR survey, the country with the second lowest amount of optimism about a Trump presidency's impact on its own country was the U.K., previously known for its "special relationship" with the U.S.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Trump Planning to 'Remake the World': Putin Ally

TL/DR: This poll shows not only a weakening of the ties between Western democracies and the U.S. but also a desire from countries that were not part of that alliance to be larger figures on the world stage.

What happens now? A running theme in the ECFR report is that many people believe Trump will be good for global peace. He initially promised to end the Russia-Ukraine war on his first day but has now moved that goal up to his 100th day in office.

Deeper reading Donald Trump's Return More Welcome by US Adversaries Than Allies: Poll

The rundown: Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Anthony Marrone says crews are "on edge" as the National Weather Service (NWS) updated the time for residents to be aware of a "particularly dangerous situation" amid the ongoing wildfires. Know more.

Why it matters: Portions of Southern California are under a red flag warning along with a "particularly dangerous situation" alert for 3 a.m. Wednesday until 3 p.m. in the afternoon. Winds could gust up to 70 mph in the mountains and 50 mph along the coast and in the valleys, the NWS says. The NWS Los Angeles also took to X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday to alert residents that they are "not quite out of the woods yet," ahead of the dangers overnight and into Wednesday. The deadly Palisades and Eaton fires—in Pacific Palisades and Malibu, and Pasadena and Altadena, respectively, have been the most destructive.

Read more in-depth coverage:
What Is Cloud Seeding? Marjorie Taylor Greene's Wildfires Solution Mocked

TL/DR: Air quality is also a concern for residents in Southern California as these wildfires rage.

What happens now? The extreme red flag warning expires at 3 p.m. Wednesday as winds are expected to calm, the NWS says.

Deeper reading Los Angeles Fire Chief Says Crews 'On Edge' Amid New Wind Warning

The rundown: South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol has been arrested on Wednesday, Reuters reported. Get more updates on the arrest.

Why it matters: Yoon is under investigation related to his declaration of martial law on December 3, 2024, which ultimately pivoted the country into a political crisis. After the brief declaration, the National Assembly voted to impeach Yoon on December 14. He previously vowed to "fight to the end" as authorities prepared to arrest him. According to Reuters, Yoon's motorcade was seen approaching the anti-corruption agency offices on Wednesday. Yoon's arrest is related to insurrection allegations over his declaration of martial law.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Yoon Detainment Standoff Intensifies Amid Resignation of Security Chief

TL/DR: A previous attempt to arrest Yoon was carried out last week but forces guarding his home reportedly blocked authorities from detaining him, the Associated Press notes.

What happens now? According to Reuters, the CIO can question Yoon for two days but ultimately will need to deliver a warrant to detain him further or release him. Yoon's lawyers also say that the arrest is illegal, as the court that issued the warrant is in the wrong jurisdiction, Reuters notes.

Deeper reading South Korea's Impeached President Yoon Arrested: What We Know

The rundown: With a U.S. ban on TikTok looming, self-proclaimed "refugees" are migrating to the Chinese social media app Rednote, creating a buzz among local netizens. Find out what's behind the surge.

Why it matters: Rednote, which is known in China as Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book), features a blend of lifestyle and social commerce content. Earlier this week, it rode the wave of interest to become one of the most downloaded apps on the Apple App Store in the U.S. The sudden influx of foreign accounts and English-language content has created a buzz on the app. TikTok is set to be banned on January 19, affecting 170 million American users and incurring losses on an estimated 2 million creators. That is unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, divests from the video-sharing site, as mandated by a law Congress passed last April, citing national security concerns.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Full List of Chinese-Owned Social Media Apps Trending as TikTok Ban Looms

TL/DR: The newcomers have sparked curiosity, with some netizens offering welcome messages and tips, and others expressing interest in personalized glimpses into American life.

What happens now? ByteDance has rejected calls to sell the app. The Supreme Court last week heard TikTok's arguments but is widely expected to uphold the ban, as a federal appeals court did last month.

Deeper reading Chinese RedNote Users React to US TikTok Refugee Influx: 'Welcome to China'

The rundown: Whole genome sequencing (WGS), which is also being used widely to improve treatments of difficult-to-diagnose diseases as well as for genetic screening of newborns, has given hope to patients with certain rare cancers. Here's what experts say.

Why it matters: In 2015, jazz musician Michael Wolff was misdiagnosed with lymphoma, but after seeking a second opinion at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, doctors identified his rare blood cancer, histiocytic sarcoma, affecting 300 Americans each year. Treatment with a newly available genetic sequencing test led to a groundbreaking discovery: Wolff's cancer mutation responded to a melanoma drug, Mekinist. Within days, his symptoms vanished and his tumors reduced by 80 percent. Nearly a decade later, Wolff remains cancer-free. This case highlighted the power of WGS, which is revolutionizing cancer care by offering more precise, personalized treatments.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Scientists Create First Draft of Human 'Cell Atlas' for Disease Research

TL/DR: Most experts who spoke with Newsweek placed the total cost of a test between $7,000 and $10,000.

What happens now? Leaders in the space believe WGS could eventually shape health care for everyone. But access remains limited due to high costs and regulatory hurdles, while some professionals question the purpose of such extensive testing. After all, we can only interpret about 2 percent of the data that WGS returns.

Deeper reading Scientists and Doctors Reveal How Genes are Mapping Cures for Cancer