Good morning! It's Hanna Lee.

There's been relief and elation for many, as Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza. We have more on that below. Also, Donald Trump's record inaugural fund, and an hours-long lineup for a family doctor in small-town Ontario.

Israel, Hamas agree to ceasefire deal to stop fighting and return hostages

A Palestinian woman reacts on Wednesday to news of a ceasefire deal reached with Israel, in Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip. (Ramadan Abed/Reuters)

Israel and Hamas have reached a deal for a ceasefire in Gaza, Qatar's prime minister announced on Wednesday, prompting guarded hope after 15 months of war that has destabilized the Middle East and sparked worldwide protests.

But a day later, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a "last-minute crisis" with Hamas was holding up his country's approval of the long-awaited agreement, meant to go into effect Sunday.

The deal is meant to return the remaining Israeli hostages and end over a year of bloodshed in Gaza. Israel's war there has killed more than 46,000 Palestinians since the deadly Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack that precipitated the conflict. 

Here's what you need to know. 

• Final details are still being sorted out, but Netanyahu's office said Thursday morning his cabinet won't meet to approve the deal until Hamas backs down, accusing it of reneging on parts of the agreement to try and gain further concessions.
   
• The complex, three-phase deal begins with a group of Israeli hostages being exchanged for Palestinian prisoners, and Israeli forces gradually withdrawing from Gaza. All U.S. hostages will be released in the first phase.
   
• By Phase 3, the remains of dead hostages are to be returned to Israel, while Gaza will be rebuilt. This part is expected to take years and billions of dollars, and the details are still being negotiated.
   
• The deal doesn't guarantee a permanent truce between Israel and Hamas.

Further reading:

• Here are the main points of the deal.
   
• In Gaza, celebrating people poured into the streets, despite apprehension about the deal possibly falling through. "I cannot resist happiness," one resident said.
   
• It's brought some fragile joy for the families of Israeli hostages, after a roller coaster of on-off negotiations. And in Israel, many describe the hostages as kin, even if not by blood. 
   
• Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he welcomed the news, and that the focus should now be on a two-state solution. 
   
• For some American Muslims who voted for Trump, today's news is vindication — for now.

Trump's inaugural fund has made a record $170M US in donations. Why corporations are cashing in

In a Dec. 19 Truth Social post, president-elect Donald Trump writes, 'EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE MY FRIEND!!!' (@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social)

Donald Trump's second inaugural fund has so far raised $170 million US, breaking the record he set in 2017. And interestingly, that includes a record number of corporate donations — some from first-time donors from the worlds of tech, artificial intelligence and crypto.

Change of heart: Even some companies Trump has once tussled with are getting involved, like Meta's Facebook. He was suspended from that platform in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol in 2021. Last year, he called the company "an enemy of the people." Now? Meta has donated $1 million US to his inauguration fund. 

The takeaway: Despite the inauguration being seen as a non-partisan event, companies can use it to show support for a president or their incoming team. It signals how corporate America is viewing the future, looking to appeal to Trump and his voter base as the political landscape shifts in their favour. "There's an old saying here," said Republican lobbyist Ozzie Palomo, "that if you're not at the table, you're on the menu." 

Rehearsals and preparations are underway for Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20. Here's a photo gallery. 

'We're seeing a Hunger Games' across Ontario: Hundreds in this town line up for a chance at a family doctor

Residents of the Walkerton, Ont., region line up to register for a new family doctor at an event hosted by the Legion on Jan. 15, 2025. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

Five hundred spots and a lineup at 2 a.m.: Getting a family doctor these days can feel more like an extreme sport than seeking medical care. But that was the scene yesterday in Walkerton, Ont., a town of about 5,000.

Word got out last week that Dr. Mitchell Currie was seeking patients for a new family medicine practice. And on Wednesday, when daylight hit, the line had extended around the block. Those who got on the list said they felt like they'd won the lottery, even after standing for hours outside in -10 C cold.

"Everybody's so desperate for a doctor that this is what we're willing to do to try to get one," said Rula Smith, a senior, who stood in line while her husband waited in the car, as he was unable to navigate the icy streets.

If you've had to navigate Canada's health-care system recently, you're likely familiar with that feeling. An increasing number of Canadians have no access to a primary care doctor, and the problem is even worse in rural areas. The Ontario government has taken steps to close the gap, including plans to bring in more foreign-trained doctors and appointing a team to prioritize the issue. But for now, demand far outstrips supply.

By 2 p.m. in Walkerton yesterday, every spot was filled, and 500 more people were put on a waitlist.

In case you missed it

• Canada needs to be united in the potential fight against tariffs, Ontario's premier said. But the premiers' meeting in Ottawa yesterday revealed a rift: Alberta Premier Danielle Smith didn't attend in person — she's in Panama — nor did she join the closing news conference or sign the final joint statement.

• In his farewell speech, U.S. President Joe Biden warned of an ultra-wealthy "tech-industrial complex" that threatens the country's democracy.
   
• Electric vehicles will now be more expensive for Canadians, after the abrupt end of a federal rebate program, though some provincial rebates continue.
   
• Red dye No. 3, used in products like maraschino cherries and some candies, has been banned from the U.S. food supply, as some studies have found it causes cancer in lab rats.

And, great news for ice skaters in the nation's capital...

Almost all of the Rideau Canal is now open for skating

Skaters enjoy the Rideau Canal in Ottawa on Jan. 11, the first day it opened this year. (Nicole Williams/CBC)

The Rideau Canal Skateway can't stop winning.

Last Saturday morning, a portion of Ottawa's favourite winter hot spot opened for skating — the earliest since December 2018. Now, the National Capital Commission says, another chunk of it has been cleared. That means nearly all of the 7.8-kilometre skateway is open for business.

It's the longest stretch of the canal to be open in years. Two years ago, it didn't open at all.

Just 400 metres are left — and those will be the most challenging.