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Russia and Iran Sign 20-Year Strategic Partnership Treaty

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Russia and Iran have signed a 20-year “strategic partnership” treaty, solidifying military and economic ties between the two nations. The agreement was announced during a visit to Moscow by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. 

The treaty outlines closer military collaboration, including joint military exercises on both nations’ territories and beyond. Russia and Iran pledged to consult and cooperate on addressing military and security threats. Additionally, the two countries agreed not to allow their territories to be used for actions threatening the other side. 

Iran has already supplied drones to Russia, and according to Western intelligence, it has also provided ballistic missiles. The partnership further deepens their military relationship amid ongoing tensions with Western nations. 

The treaty extends beyond military cooperation to include trade, technology, and energy collaboration. Iranian President Pezeshkian described the agreement as marking “a new chapter of relations” between the two countries. 

At a joint news conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia is considering building new nuclear power units in Iran. Additionally, Moscow is exploring options to sell its surplus natural gas to Tehran. 

A proposed gas pipeline from Russia to Iran, currently under negotiation, would pass through Azerbaijan, according to Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev. The pipeline could eventually transport up to 55 billion cubic meters of gas annually to Iran. 

Russia has increasingly turned to allies such as Iran, China, and North Korea following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. With the European Union significantly reducing its imports of Russian gas, Moscow is seeking to diversify its energy partnerships and secure new markets. 

Navalny’s Lawyers Sentenced to Years in Russian Penal Colony

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Three lawyers who represented the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny were sentenced to years in a Russian penal colony on Friday, after being found guilty of belonging to an extremist group. 

Igor Sergunin, Alexei Liptser, and Vadim Kobzev were handed prison terms of three and a half, five, and five and a half years, respectively, following a closed-door trial in the Vladimir region, east of Moscow. The trio had been arrested in October 2023 and subsequently added to Russia’s official list of “terrorists and extremists.” 

Human rights organizations and Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, condemned the sentences. 

“Vadim, Alexei, and Igor are political prisoners and must be released immediately,” Navalnaya said. She has accused Russian authorities of targeting the lawyers for their role in defending her husband and supporting dissent. 

Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny

Rights group OVD-Info described the case as a significant escalation in the Kremlin’s suppression of dissent. “Lawyers cannot be persecuted for their work,” the group said in a statement. “Pressure on defense lawyers risks destroying the little that remains of the rule of law, whose appearance the Russian authorities are still trying to maintain.” 

The group argued that Navalny’s lawyers were prosecuted solely for their commitment to upholding the law and ensuring Navalny was not left to face Russia’s “repressive machine” alone. 

Navalny, a prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, died suddenly at age 47 in February last year while imprisoned in an Arctic penal colony. His death sparked international outcry, with Navalnaya accusing Putin of orchestrating his murder—an allegation the Kremlin denies. 

Despite being imprisoned, Navalny used legal channels to post on social media and speak out against Putin’s government and the war in Ukraine. His lawyers were accused of facilitating these communications, enabling him to lead an “extremist group” from behind bars. 

FILE – Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting at the Foreign Ministry in Moscow, on Friday, June 14, 2024. Putin says that Moscow isn’t seeking quick gains in Ukraine and will stick to the current strategy of slow advances as it presses a grinding summer offensive. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)

The Kremlin has consistently sought to portray Navalny and his supporters as Western-backed agents attempting to destabilize Russia. Officials have declined to comment on the trial but maintain that the charges against Navalny and his associates were legitimate. 

Supporters applauded the lawyers as they stood in a barred cage during sentencing. A woman shouted, “Boys, you are heroes,” as the courtroom erupted in applause. 

Navalnaya, who is wanted in Russia for alleged extremist activity, continues to advocate for political change. She has expressed her desire to one day return to Russia and run for president. 

Maryland Woman Declared Dead by Mistake, Faces Severe Life Disruptions

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Nicole Paulino, a Gaithersburg, Maryland resident, has expressed her shock and anguish after being mistakenly declared dead due to a bureaucratic error. 

Paulino discovered the error when she attempted to renew her driver’s license through the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA). A system notification informed her that she was officially deceased. 

“It then appears that I am deceased,” Paulino told NBC4 Washington. “I got a little frightened, I’m not gonna lie, and surprised, because I am alive. I’m here.” 

The mistake caused significant disruptions in Paulino’s life. Officials informed her that she could not renew her driver’s license. Shortly after, she received a letter from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) identifying her as a “deceased taxpayer.” 

The error also resulted in the cancellation of her health insurance, leaving Paulino and her three children without coverage. Medical bills began piling up, and she was unable to access essential medication for her asthma. 

“This really, really messes up my life,” Paulino said tearfully. “It has affected me a lot. It’s affected my health, my mental health.” 

The Social Security Administration (SSA) contacted Paulino to explain that the issue stemmed from a typo. A funeral home had mistakenly entered Paulino’s Social Security number while attempting to report another person’s death. 

The SSA defended its record-keeping, stating that less than 0.33% of the over three million death reports it receives annually are later corrected—equating to approximately 10,000 errors each year. 

“This happens almost on a daily basis,” attorney Joseph McClelland told NBC4 Washington, adding that such mistakes can have devastating consequences on a person’s credit report and overall financial stability. 

Following inquiries by NBC4 Washington, Paulino received a letter from the SSA confirming that the error had been corrected and that she was officially recognized as alive once again. 

Trump Moves Inauguration Ceremony Indoors Amid Frigid Weather Forecast

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President-elect Donald Trump announced Friday that his inauguration will be held indoors due to dangerously cold temperatures forecasted in Washington, D.C.

“I have ordered the Inauguration Address, in addition to prayers and other speeches, to be delivered in the United States Capitol Rotunda, as was done by Ronald Reagan in 1985, also because of very cold weather,” Trump shared on Truth Social.

In addition to moving the swearing-in ceremony indoors, Trump announced that Capital One Arena will be opened on Monday for live viewing of the event and to host the presidential parade. “I will join the crowd at Capital One, after my Swearing In,” Trump added.

CNN reported earlier on Friday that Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance are expected to take their oaths in the Capitol Rotunda. Discussions are also underway to relocate parts of the inaugural festivities to Capital One Arena, where Trump plans to host a rally on Sunday.

This marks the first indoor presidential swearing-in since Reagan’s second inauguration in 1985, when subzero wind chills forced the ceremony inside the Capitol and canceled the inaugural parade.

Trump cited concerns about the safety of attendees and law enforcement personnel amid the extreme weather conditions. “I don’t want to see people hurt or injured in any way. These are dangerous conditions for the tens of thousands of law enforcement officers, first responders, K9 units, horses, and hundreds of thousands of supporters that will be outside for many hours,” Trump posted.

Trump urged attendees to dress warmly if they choose to attend.

Monday’s Inauguration Day temperatures are expected to be in the low 20s—about 20 degrees below average for January—making it potentially the coldest inauguration since Reagan’s in 1985.

Wind speeds of 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph will make conditions feel even colder, with wind chills hovering around 10 degrees during daylight hours and dropping into single digits after sunset.

A mix of rain and snow is possible on Sunday ahead of the ceremony, but Monday is expected to be dry, albeit bitterly cold and windy.

SpaceX Starship Explodes in Test Flight, Disrupts Air Traffic Over Gulf of Mexico 

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A SpaceX Starship rocket disintegrated in space shortly after launching from Texas on Thursday, prompting commercial airlines to reroute flights over the Gulf of Mexico to avoid debris and delaying Elon Musk’s ambitious space program. 

The rocket, carrying a test payload of mock satellites but no crew, lost communication with SpaceX mission control about eight minutes after liftoff from the company’s South Texas launch facility at 5:38 p.m. EST (2238 GMT). 

Video footage captured by Reuters showed orange fireballs streaking across the sky above Port-au-Prince, Haiti, leaving smoky trails behind. 

“We lost all communications with the ship, which suggests an anomaly in the upper stage,” SpaceX Communications Manager Dan Huot said, confirming that the spacecraft was destroyed. 

The last Starship upper-stage failure occurred in March 2022 as it reentered Earth’s atmosphere over the Indian Ocean. However, this incident marked one of the rare occasions a SpaceX mishap disrupted commercial air traffic. 

Flight-tracking website FlightRadar24 reported that dozens of flights diverted to alternate routes or airports to avoid potential hazards. Departures from Miami and Fort Lauderdale airports in Florida were delayed by approximately 45 minutes. 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which oversees private spaceflight operations, briefly restricted air traffic in the affected area but has since restored normal operations. An FAA investigation is expected, potentially grounding future Starship launches until safety concerns are resolved. 

The upgraded Starship model, standing 2 meters (6.56 feet) taller than its predecessor, was designed as a “new-generation ship with significant upgrades,” according to SpaceX’s mission briefing. The spacecraft was intended to make a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean about an hour after launch. 

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk revealed that a preliminary review of the failure indicated a liquid oxygen fuel leak, which caused excessive pressure buildup and ultimately led to the rocket’s breakup. 

The setback threatens Musk’s goal of conducting at least 12 Starship test flights in 2025. “Nothing so far suggests pushing the next launch past next month,” Musk stated. 

This latest mishap comes amid heightened scrutiny of SpaceX’s rapid test-to-failure development approach. The FAA may investigate whether debris from the explosion fell outside the predetermined hazard zone or into populated areas. 

Musk has repeatedly criticized the FAA for imposing regulatory delays, calling them politically motivated. He previously demanded the resignation of FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker, who announced plans to step down in December. 

Thursday marked the seventh Starship test since 2023. Musk’s multi-billion-dollar effort aims to develop a rocket capable of transporting humans and cargo to Mars while deploying large satellite batches into orbit. 

Despite the failure, SpaceX successfully recovered its Super Heavy booster, which returned to its launchpad approximately seven minutes after liftoff. Using its Raptor engines, the booster executed a controlled descent, attaching itself to mechanical arms on the launch tower as planned. 

Israeli Cabinet Approves Ceasefire, First Hostages from Gaza Could Return Sunday

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The Israeli security cabinet on Friday approved a ceasefire agreement, paving the way for the release of hostages from Gaza as early as Sunday and potentially halting more than 15 months of devastating conflict in the region. The deal still requires final approval by Israel’s full cabinet, which was meeting later Friday.

The war between Israel and Hamas has caused widespread destruction in Gaza, killing over 46,000 people and displacing the majority of the enclave’s pre-war population of 2.3 million, according to local authorities. A successful ceasefire could ease tensions throughout the Middle East, where the conflict has expanded to include Iran and its proxies, Lebanon’s Hezbollah, Yemen’s Houthis, and armed groups in Iraq, as well as escalations in the occupied West Bank.

Israeli airstrikes continued in Gaza on Friday, with medics and rescue officials reporting at least 104 Palestinian deaths, including 58 women and children, since the ceasefire agreement was first announced on Wednesday.

The six-week ceasefire agreement is structured in three phases. During the initial phase, Hamas is set to release 33 Israeli hostages, including women (both soldiers and civilians), children, and men over 50. In exchange, Israel will release all Palestinian women and children under the age of 19 currently detained in Israeli prisons. The total number of Palestinians to be freed could range between 990 and 1,650, depending on the number of hostages released.

On Friday, Israel’s Justice Ministry published a list of 95 Palestinian prisoners slated for release during the first exchange, scheduled for Sunday.

Hamas issued a statement Friday saying that all obstacles regarding the ceasefire terms had been resolved. The deal faced delays earlier in the week, with Israeli officials accusing Hamas of stalling. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced early Friday that the security cabinet had agreed to the terms, with the agreement set to take effect on Sunday.

Fire at Massive California Battery Plant Prompts Evacuations and Highway Closure

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A massive fire at one of the world’s largest battery storage facilities forced the evacuation of hundreds of residents and shut down part of Highway 1 in Northern California early Friday. 

The fire broke out Thursday afternoon at the Moss Landing Power Plant, about 77 miles south of San Francisco, California, sending towering flames and plumes of black smoke into the air. Approximately 1,500 people in Moss Landing and the nearby Elkhorn Slough area were ordered to evacuate, according to The Mercury News. 

As of early Friday, the fire was contained within the facility and had not spread further, said Monterey County spokesperson Nicholas Pasculli. Temporary evacuation shelters were established, though most evacuees sought refuge with friends or family. 

Owned by Texas-based Vistra Energy, the Moss Landing Power Plant is home to tens of thousands of lithium batteries, critical for storing energy from renewable sources like solar power. However, lithium battery fires are notoriously challenging to extinguish. 

“There’s no way to sugarcoat it—this is a disaster,” said Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church, speaking to KSBW-TV. Still, Church noted that the fire was unlikely to spread beyond the plant’s reinforced concrete structure. 

The Monterey County Board of Supervisors has scheduled an emergency meeting Friday morning to discuss the incident. 

This is not the first fire at the Moss Landing facility. Previous incidents in 2021 and 2022 were linked to a fire sprinkler system malfunction that caused some units to overheat, The Mercury News reported. The cause of the current fire remains unknown. 

Vistra Energy said in a statement that all personnel were safely evacuated and that an investigation will begin once the fire is extinguished. “Our top priority is the safety of the community and our personnel, and Vistra deeply appreciates the continued assistance of our local emergency responders,” said Vistra spokesperson Jenny Lyon. 

The North Monterey County Unified School District announced the closure of all schools and offices on Friday due to the ongoing emergency. 

Jessica Alba and Cash Warren Announce Separation After 16 Years

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Actress Jessica Alba and her husband, Cash Warren, have announced their separation after 16 years of marriage. 

Alba, 42, shared the news Thursday in a social media post, stating that she and Warren are moving forward individually but will continue to prioritize their three children. The couple, who married in 2008, first met in 2004 on the set of the film “Fantastic Four,” where Alba starred as Sue Storm, and Warren worked as an assistant to the director. 

“I’ve been on a journey of self-realization and transformation for years—both as an individual and in partnership with Cash,” Alba wrote. “We’ve grown as a couple and in our marriage over the last 20 years, and now it’s time for us to embark on a new chapter as individuals.” 

The couple has three children, aged 7, 13, and 16. Alba added that their focus remains on co-parenting with “love, kindness, and respect” and emphasized that they “will forever be family.” 

Representatives for Alba and Warren have not responded to requests for comment. 

AP

Supreme Court Upholds TikTok Ban Without Sale to U.S. Buyer 

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The Supreme Court on Friday unanimously upheld a federal law banning TikTok unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance Ltd., sells the platform to a U.S.-approved buyer. The decision, citing national security concerns, goes into effect on Sunday, Jan. 19, and marks a pivotal moment in the geopolitical tension between Washington and Beijing. 

The ruling affirms that the risks TikTok poses through its data collection practices and ties to the Chinese government outweigh concerns about free speech for its 170 million U.S. users. 

While existing TikTok users will retain access to the app after Sunday, no new downloads or updates will be available, according to the Justice Department. This will gradually render the app nonfunctional for users. 

The Biden administration has indicated it will not enforce the ban on its final full day in office, but President-elect Donald Trump has expressed confidence in negotiating a solution. Trump, who has 14.7 million followers on TikTok, discussed the app with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday, according to his Truth Social post. 

ByteDance has not announced plans to sell TikTok, complicating any resolution. The law includes a provision allowing for a 90-day pause in the ban if progress is made toward a sale. However, Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar said it’s unclear whether this option applies once the law takes effect. 

The court’s unsigned opinion emphasized, “Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address its well-supported national security concerns regarding TikTok’s data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary.” 

Justice Neil Gorsuch, in a concurring opinion, acknowledged the severity of the remedy but stressed the potential threat of China accessing “vast troves of personal information about tens of millions of Americans.” 

TikTok has denied these allegations, asserting that the U.S. has provided no evidence of data misuse or content manipulation on the platform. 

The U.S. government views TikTok as a potential tool for Beijing to collect sensitive data or influence public opinion through its proprietary algorithm. The app’s design, which encourages rapid content consumption, has also faced criticism from states alleging it harms children’s mental health. 

“ByteDance and its Chinese Communist masters had nine months to sell TikTok before the Sunday deadline,” said Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), calling TikTok “a communist spy app.” 

Bipartisan support in Congress led to the law’s passage, which President Joe Biden signed in April 2024. The legislation underscores growing U.S. efforts to counter perceived security threats from Chinese technology. 

ByteDance has resisted selling TikTok but has reportedly received interest from high-profile investors, including former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and billionaire Frank McCourt. McCourt’s Project Liberty initiative, along with partners like “Shark Tank” host Kevin O’Leary, has proposed acquiring TikTok’s U.S. assets, though details remain undisclosed. 

Prelogar suggested the enforcement of the law could pressure ByteDance to reconsider. “Having the law take effect might be just the jolt ByteDance needs,” she told the justices. 

For now, TikTok’s future in the U.S. hangs in the balance, with the platform poised to lose millions of new users and updates unless a resolution is reached. 

Ukrainian Drones Strike Russian Explosives Factory and Oil Depot as Starmer Visits Kyiv 

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Ukrainian drones targeted a key Russian explosives factory and an oil depot deep within Russian territory, coinciding with British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s historic visit to Kyiv. 

The Tambov Gunpowder Plant near Kotovsk, located 310 miles from the Russia-Ukraine border, was among the facilities hit in the drone assault. The plant is a crucial supplier of explosive materials for the Russian military. Despite air defense efforts, drones penetrated the defenses, triggering explosions and fires at the site. 

Authorities deployed firefighters and special fire trains from neighboring regions to contain the blaze at the 23-tank depot, which supplies fuel to the Russian army. 

The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the attack, stating, “During the night, air defense systems on duty intercepted and eliminated three Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles.” 

Alexander Gusev, the governor of Voronezh Region, reported that more than 10 drones targeted the area, with several striking an oil depot in the Liskinsky district. 

This drone assault follows Kyiv’s largest aerial bombardment of the war, which destroyed multiple military facilities inside Russian territory, including targets as far as 680 miles behind enemy lines. 

Ukrainian forces used a tactical combination of drones and missiles, exploiting gaps in Russian air defenses. Key sites, including oil storage plants, refineries, ammunition works, and guided bomb depots, were left ablaze in Engels, Saratov, Kazan, Bryansk, and Tula. 

The attack occurred as Sir Keir Starmer arrived in Kyiv to solidify a historic 100-year partnership between the UK and Ukraine. Starmer, making his first visit to Kyiv as prime minister, emphasized the “unbreakable bond” between the two nations. 

The partnership aims to rebuild Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, develop greener steel production, and mine critical minerals, with British companies and private sector loans providing key support. The pact also includes joint efforts in drone and space technology development and maritime security coordination in the Baltic, Azov, and Black Seas. 

Starmer described the UK as Ukraine’s “preferred partner” for reconstruction and highlighted the importance of collaboration in securing long-term stability in the region. 

The strikes and diplomatic efforts come as discussions of a potential peace deal between Ukraine and Russia gain momentum. Speculation has increased following comments by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and former U.S. President Donald Trump. 

Trump, set to take office on January 20, has claimed he could broker peace within 24 hours of his inauguration. Lammy, however, suggested that a peace deal could materialize by Easter. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remains steadfast in his five-step “victory plan,” prioritizing Ukraine’s security guarantees and closer ties with NATO to deter future aggression. 

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