Netanyahu's office announced the hostage release agreement early morning, triggering a day of preparations and negotiations. The deal, including 33 hostages and Palestinian prisoners, gained Israeli security cabinet approval by afternoon. Macron confirmed two French-Israeli citizens on the initial release list.
In parallel, Bayrou launched his pension reform negotiations, setting a May deadline for agreement while facing immediate pushback from CGT noting "major disagreements." The Socialist Party's support came at a cost of over 2 billion euros in concessions on health spending and civil service.
Evening coverage shifted to Trump's upcoming presidency implications, as his inauguration moved indoors due to weather. The Supreme Court's TikTok ban decision placed the platform's fate in his hands. Meanwhile, Nestlé faced judicial investigation over illegal water treatment practices.