News Wrap: Judge orders Trump to appear for sentencing in hush-money case

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• Amna Nawaz:

  We start the day's other news with a surprising twist in Donald Trump's hush money case in New York.

  This afternoon, Judge Juan Merchan ordered the president-elect to appear for sentencing next Friday. That's just 10 days before his inauguration. In his decision, Merchan said he found — quote — "no legal impediment to sentencing," but added that Trump would not face jail time.

  A jury found Mr. Trump guilty last May of 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. His lawyers wanted the case thrown out following Mr. Trump's election victory. He's always denied any wrongdoing.

  The soldier who took his life outside of the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas said he was trying to draw attention to the country's problems. Investigators said they recovered a note from a phone inside the burned-out Cybertruck he detonated, in which Matthew Livelsberger wrote that his actions were not a terrorist attack.

  Rather — quote — "It was a wakeup call. Americans only pay attention to spectacles and violence. What better way to get my point across than a stunt with fireworks and explosives?"

  An FBI investigator said today they do not believe that Livelsberger harbored any malice toward president-elect Trump and that he suffered trauma from his service.

  Spencer Evans, FBI Special Agent in Charge: And although this incident is more public and more sensational than usual, it ultimately appears to be a tragic case of suicide involving a heavily decorated combat veteran who was struggling with PTSD and other issues.

• Amna Nawaz:

  Pentagon officials have not said whether Livelsberger had been suffering from mental health issues, but have turned over his medical records to police. Seven people were injured in the blast, none of them seriously.

  In South Korea, authorities are considering their next steps after failing to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. Yoon has repeatedly resisted attempts by investigators to question him over his declaration of martial law last month, which they say could amount to rebellion.

  Today, officials showed up at Yoon's residence in Seoul to carry out a warrant to detain him, but they withdrew after a six-hour standoff with presidential guards. Scuffles broke out between police and pro-Yoon demonstrators who'd gathered outside.

  Song Jong-Jun, Supporter of President Yoon Suk Yeol (through translator): We the people cannot agree with this unjust warrant. If a warrant is issued to detain a sitting president in such an unjust manner, if such precedent is set, what laws should normal citizens follow, and what laws can protect us?

• Amna Nawaz:

  Others were disappointed that the attempt to detain Yoon failed, which led to scenes like this, with demonstrators calling for his arrest. Yoon's future ultimately depends on South Korea's Constitutional Court, which held hearings today on whether to officially remove him from office or reinstate him.

  Also in South Korea, hundreds of people had to be rescued today after a large fire broke out at a commercial building in the southern city of Seongnam. More than 260 firefighters and 80 vehicles were dispatched to the scene. It took them about an hour-and-a-half to put the fire out. Officials say about 28 people were injured, but none of them seriously.

  The fire department said the blaze began at a restaurant on the building's first floor, but the exact cause is unknown.

  In Gaza, Israeli strikes killed at least 42 people overnight and into today. That's according to hospital workers and emergency responders, who say more than a dozen women and children were among the dead. Israel said it struck Hamas command centers across the Strip and asserted that measures were taken to limit harm to civilians.

  It follows yesterday's wave of strikes that killed at least 50 people. Some Gazans say they can only hope for peace after 15 months of war.

• Abou Mohammad Al-Haddad, Strike Witness (through translator):

  Amidst this rubble, this tragedy in which we are all living, we hope that the free world, that the Arab and Islamic world will look at the Palestinian people and work for a cease-fire to stop this bleeding out of mercy for this afflicted people.

• Amna Nawaz:

  An Israeli delegation was set to resume cease-fire talks in Doha today with Qatari and Egyptian mediators. Hamas officials say they hope to reach a deal as soon as possible.

  The head of the Federal Aviation Administration says Boeing still has work to do one year after a panel blew out of a 737 MAX airplane mid-flight. In an online post today, outgoing chief Mike Whitaker said there needs to be a — quote — "fundamental cultural shift at Boeing that's oriented around safety and quality over profits."

  Whitaker also said that federal oversight of the plane maker will continue indefinitely. The FAA grounded all 737 MAX planes with similar door plugs last year and limited production of new 737s. For its part, Boeing said today that it has taken steps to improve safety, including better training for workers and random quality tests.

  On Wall Street today, stocks bounced higher after a shaky start to the new year. The Dow Jones industrial average gained more than 300 points on the day. The Nasdaq jumped more than 300 points as well. The S&P 500 snapped a five-day losing streak, adding more than 70 points.