Israel and Hamas were expected to swap more hostages for Palestinian prisoners on Saturday, the second such exchange since a ceasefire began in the Gaza Strip last weekend and another test for the deal.

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, faced hours of questioning yesterday during his Senate confirmation hearing. A vote to decide whether he will lead the Pentagon — a department with three million employees and an $849 billion budget — could come as soon as Monday. Read more.

Who advanced: The Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills won in blowout matches, while the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders eked out wins — with the Commanders’ victory coming by a last-minute field goal. [CNN]

The proposed phased agreement to end the Gaza conflict was preceded by the Oct. 7, 2023, mass killing and hostage-taking by Hamas militants that triggered the Israel-Gaza war and Israel’s attacks on Gaza. The ceasefire goes into effect Sunday, with saying on Wednesday that he hoped the “details will be finalized tonight.”

(“Cease-fire between Israel and Hamas begins with hostages being handed ... At least do not call these trades “deals.” Jesa Kreiner, Los Angeles To the editor: Donald Trump is starting ...

Hours before Jan. 19, after the Supreme Court upheld a law that would require TikTok be sold to a U.S.-held company in order to remain active in the country, a nationwide ban of the popular video sharing app officially went into effect. Pets were rescued from shelters in LA to help alleviate the overcrowding happening after the fires.

Mediators say Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire agreement following weeks of negotiations, pausing a destructive 15-month war in Gaza. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says details have yet to be finalized.

Officials representing Israel and Hamas said today that the two sides had agreed to a 42-day cease-fire that would coincide with the release of Israeli hostages who have been held captive in Gaza. The final details are still being worked out, but the tentative agreement raised hopes that there could soon be an end to the war.

Gazans took the rare opportunity to see what, if anything, was left of their homes. NBC News crews in Gaza captured large crowds of families moving near Rafah, in southern Gaza, mostly on foot.

Firefighters scrambled Sunday to make further progress against wildfires that have destroyed thousands of homes and killed 24 people in Los Angeles.

CAIRO — Hamas has accepted a draft agreement for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and the release of dozens of hostages, two officials involved in the talks said Tuesday. Mediator Qatar said ...

A strategic victory is to bring peace to the Middle East," Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat said of the ceasefire deal with Hamas. Barkat also told CNBC that former President Joe Biden ...