Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,060 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• India’s Maha Kumbh festival

• NFL playoffs

• Runnin out of Dunkin’

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Big Story

South Africa Gold Mine Operation

The South African government is trying to rescue people trapped in an illegal mine after police cut off their supplies.

• The action came after a court case was filed by the sister of one miner, based on letters from miners who had recently emerged. The letters claimed that 109 miners had already died in the Buffelsfontein gold mine.

• Illegal mining, or "zama zama" mining, is common in South Africa, with many miners working in abandoned shafts. To stop the illegal mining, police began blocking supplies in August of 2024 to force miners to leave. However, the plan backfired, and many miners are dying of dehydration and starvation. Some have resorted to eating insects, toothpaste, or even dead bodies.

• Private rescue teams are now working to bring the trapped miners to safety, with the operation expected to take up to 16 days. Some officials believe the miners are hiding to avoid arrest, but others argue they are truly trapped.

Big Story

Israel and Hamas Nearing Ceasefire

Israel and Hamas are finalizing a ceasefire agreement and hostage exchange deal.

• The deal includes an initial release of three hostages by Hamas, followed by Israel withdrawing troops from certain areas. Over seven days, Hamas would release more hostages, while Israel allows displaced Palestinians to return north on foot. Israel has also agreed to free 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for 34 hostages.

• US President Joe Biden and other global leaders are actively involved in facilitating the agreement. Biden aims to finalize the deal before the end of his presidency. Discussions for further phases of the agreement, including additional prisoner exchanges and military arrangements, are set to begin after the initial ceasefire period.

• Amid the ongoing negotiations, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed over 50 people, targeting schools, homes, and gatherings, according to Gaza's civil defense agency. Israel is investigating these claims while reporting casualties among its soldiers.

Big Story

India Kicks off World’s Largest Religious Gathering

The Maha Kumbh festival kicked off on Monday in Prayagraj, India.

• Over six weeks, millions of Hindu devotees will gather at the confluence of three sacred rivers—the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati—to perform rituals. Hindus believe bathing in these rivers cleanses sins and ends the cycle of rebirth. The festival occurs every 12 years and rotates among four holy cities.

• This year’s festival is expected to draw over 400 million people, far surpassing other global religious gatherings. Authorities have transformed the riverside into a massive tent city with 3,000 kitchens, 150,000 restrooms, and 11 hospitals. Special trains and high-tech crowd control measures, including AI-powered cameras, will help manage the enormous crowds.

• The festival plays a key role in promoting Hindu nationalism under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Uttar Pradesh’s government, led by a prominent Hindu monk, has allocated over $765 million for the event, using it to enhance the ruling party’s image.

Quick Stories

US News

• The Supreme Court rejected appeals from oil companies like Sunoco, Shell, and ExxonMobil, allowing a Hawaii lawsuit to proceed. The lawsuit seeks to hold these companies accountable for climate change through claims under state law.  (More)

• Flags at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club are back to flying at full height. Flags are supposed to fly at half-staff through the end of January to honor former President Jimmy Carter.  (More)

• Los Angeles Mayor promised to stop traveling abroad and focus on domestic agendas if she was elected to lead the city in 2021. However, she was on a trip to Africa when the wildfires erupted last week. (More)

World

• In Belgrade, Serbia, university students protested outside the Constitutional Court against civil rights violations by the government. The rally was part of ongoing anti-corruption protests that have spread throughout the country. (More)

• Greenland said it wants to work more closely with the US on defense and exploring its mining resources. The Danish government also said it was willing to “continue talks” with Trump "to ensure legitimate American interests" in the Arctic. (More)

• A 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck southwest Japan on Monday evening. Tsunami warnings were issued for Miyazaki and Kochi Prefectures, and some residents in coastal areas were evacuated as a precaution. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed mixed on Monday (S&P +0.16%, Nasdaq -0.38%, Dow +0.86%). Rising bond yields have contributed to stock declines. On Monday, the 10-year Treasury yield reached its highest level since November 2023, closing at 4.79%. (More)

• Starbucks is ditching a policy that invited everyone into its stores. Patrons must now buy something if they want to use the tables or restrooms.  (More)

• Kohl’s will close 27 underperforming stores around the US by April. Its sales dropped 9% last quarter compared to a year ago and its stock has fallen 50% over the past 12 months. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• The Rams delivered their best performance of the season in a 27-9 victory over the Vikings during the NFC wild-card round. The Rams advance to the divisional round to face the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. (More)

• The Dallas Cowboys have begun searching for a new head coach to replace Mike McCarthy, with Deion Sanders emerging as a potential candidate. (More)

• US swimmer Gary Hall Jr. left behind his 10 Olympic medals when he fled the Los Angeles fires. On Sunday, the International Olympic Committee announced it will replace the medals. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• NASA satellites recently captured the brief emergence of a "ghost island" in the Caspian Sea, formed by a mud volcano eruption near Azerbaijan. (More)

• A study in Nature Medicine suggests the lifetime risk of developing dementia is significantly higher than previously estimated, rising to about 42% for both men and women, compared to older estimates of 14% for men and 23% for women. (More)

• Scammers have developed a way to bypass Apple's Messages app's restriction on clickable links from unknown senders. They send fake "warnings" about unpaid bills or failed deliveries, asking recipients to reply with "Y" or "N." Once the user replies, the scam link becomes clickable. (More)

Extra Credit

🍩 Some states are not running on Dunkin’.

🥶 How people stay warm in igloos.

🐸 Watch: Frogs bellyflop in slow motion.

🖐️ Why do our fingers become “pruney?”