The Bulletin

• A look at post-ceasefire Gaza: In the shadow of an imminent ceasefire and hostage deal to end 15 months of bloodshed in Gaza, the future of the devastated Palestinian enclave is still uncertain.

• Should RedNote face ban? Some experts suggested RedNote, dubbed as TikTok alternative, raises similar national security questions as TikTok because it also falls under the jurisdiction of Beijing's authoritarian rulers. Read what experts say.

• NATO scrambled fighter jets: NATO scrambled Norwegian fighter jets stationed in Poland for the first time on Wednesday, after Russia had a "massive" number of aircraft operating against Ukraine. Find out more.

• Imran Khan, wife sentenced: A Pakistani court on Friday sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to 14 and seven years in prison, respectively, for corruption, officials and Khan's lawyer confirmed.

• Arctic blasts: The National Weather Service is warning residents of New Mexico and North Dakota about harsh winter weather throughout their states as arctic blasts are set to hit parts of the country heading into the weekend. Details here.

• NATO 'peacekeepers': The idea of deploying peacekeepers in Ukraine is gaining traction as European leaders have reportedly discussed the concept with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This map illustrates where NATO peacekeepers could be deployed.

• Trader Joe's food recalls: In the past three-and-a-half months, there have been three major food recalls of products, encompassing several items. Check out the full list of products impacted

The rundown: President-elect Donald Trump's youngest son, 18-year-old Barron, is seemingly following in his father's footsteps by incorporating a real estate business. Find out how.

Why it matters: Business filings reviewed by Newsweek show that Barron Trump incorporated a real-estate business in July 2024. In the same month, his older brother Eric Trump also launched a previously unreported firm. The real estate firm linked to Barron Trump, named Trump, Fulcher & Roxburgh Capital Inc., was incorporated on July 15, 2024, and dissolved on November 14, 2024, days after Donald Trump won the presidential election. One of Barron Trump's partners, Cameron Roxburgh, told Newsweek the team dissolved the company to avoid media attention but that it will be relaunched in the Spring. Roxburgh said the firm is a high-end real-estate development company that will have properties and golf courses in Utah, Arizona and Idaho.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Donald Trump Inauguration: List of Democrats Reportedly Skipping Event

TL/DR: Barron Trump's firm was dissolved in November after Trump won the presidential election, but one of his partners told Newsweek there were plans to relaunch it.

What happens now? As Trump prepares to return to the White House on Jan. 20, the business activities of his closest family members in hundreds of companies, will attract more scrutiny partly because of questions of potential political influence.

Deeper reading Exclusive: Barron Trump's New Real-Estate Business Revealed

The rundown: Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced early Friday that a deal to secure the release of hostages held by militants in the Gaza Strip has been reached after his office previously pointed to a "last-minute crisis" caused by Hamas. Here's what happened.

Why it matters: According to the AP, Netanyahu and his Security Cabinet will convene on Friday and then the government will approve the agreed-upon terms. According to Israeli figures, over 250 hostages were taken to Gaza by Hamas militants in the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that ignited the devastating counteroffensive against Hamas. Netanyahu's office said that Hamas reneged on a previous agreement to allow Israel a say in which prisoners, previously convicted of murder, would be released in exchange for hostages, ultimately delaying the approval of the ceasefire deal by the Cabinet.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Arab Nation Calls for Implementation of Ceasefire Plan 'Without Any Delay'

TL/DR: Netanyahu has faced immense political and domestic pressure to assure release of the captives.

What happens now? The hostages are expected to be released over the six weeks during "phase one," set to set begin on Sunday. The first of three phases in the accord is scheduled to include the ceasefire, hostage/prisoner trades and humanitarian assistance for Gaza.

Deeper reading Netanyahu Says Deal Now Reached to Release Hostages in Gaza

The rundown: The incoming Trump administration and Republicans in Congress would commit "political malpractice" by cutting funding for clean energy projects coming to conservative parts of the country, outgoing Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm told Newsweek. Read the full interview here.

Why it matters: Granholm argued that Biden's policies helped make the United States a leader in clean energy and better positioned the country to compete with China and other rivals on critical issues like electric vehicle manufacturing. Trump has often criticized what he calls Biden's "EV mandate." Granholm said that eliminating the subsidies would hurt domestic production and help Chinese automakers seeking to make inroads into the American EV market. "Are we going to compete with China, or are we going to allow China to have this?" Granholm said. Under Biden, the economy created more than 400,000 new clean energy jobs.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Auto Industry Faces 'Ongoing Storms of Disruption'

TL/DR: Granholm said that eliminating the subsidies would hurt domestic production and help Chinese automakers seeking to make inroads into the American EV market.

What happens now? Trump’s transition team is reportedly planning to cut the tax credits for electric cars included in the 2022 climate law.

Deeper reading Exclusive: Sec. Granholm Urges Republicans Not to Cede EV Race to China

The rundown: California's wildfire crisis is reshaping the home insurance landscape, with significant financial implications even for homeowners far from fire-prone areas. Changes to the state's Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) plan could result in additional costs for all policyholders to cover wildfire losses.

Why it matters: Often used as a last resort option, California's FAIR plan has become a critical safety net as private insurers retreat from the state's high-risk market. A recent rule change enables losses exceeding the plan's reserves to be distributed across all policyholders in the state, regardless of their proximity to wildfire zones. This change could mean policyholders are saddled with unwelcome increases on their premiums, or an added insurance bill. If FAIR plan losses exceed available resources, insurers must cover the shortfall relative to their market share, with permission to recoup costs through policyholder assessments.

Read more in-depth coverage:
California Homeowners Delaying Mortgage Payments Could See Huge Increase in Bills

TL/DR: Policyholders throughout the state could face higher premiums if the FAIR plan runs out of money to cover damages.

What happens now? As wildfires grow more frequent and severe, the financial toll on California's insurance system is likely to increase. Homeowners across the state should prepare for rising premiums and potential assessments, even if their properties are not directly affected by fires.

Deeper reading California Homeowners Unaffected by Wildfires Could Get New Insurance Bill

The rundown: Hours after TikTok is set to be banned from the U.S. market, conservative influencers will gather to celebrate President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration at a Washington D.C. party sponsored by the social media app. Here's what you need to know.

Why it matters: Five blocks from the White House, hundreds of the conservative movement's biggest Gen Z names are expected to attend The Power 30 Awards. The party's largest sponsor is TikTok, which is currently staring down an impending ban over its Chinese ownership. Trump, who had tried to block TikTok in the U.S. during his first term, has since warmed to the app. As young, conservative influencers party it up on the eve of Trump's second inaugural, they hope the president-elect is paying attention.

Read more in-depth coverage:
TikTok Ban: Trump Considers Executive Order as Biden Weighs Options

TL/DR: The president-elect himself has repeatedly talked about how TikTok helped him and his campaign reach younger voters and those who tune out of mainstream media.

What happens now? Raquel Debono, who is hosting The Power 30 Awards alongside influencer CJ Pearson, will also be hosting a "We're So Back: Return of the Don" inauguration event with Date Right, the conservative dating app backed by Peter Thiel, on Tuesday.

Deeper reading Gen Z Conservatives Plan TikTok-Backed Gala on Night of Looming Ban