News from January 25, 2025 at 2 AM

Hamas has announced the release of four Israeli hostages on Saturday under the Gaza ceasefire deal, including soldiers Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag. This exchange will free 180 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, marking the second such swap since the ceasefire took effect last Sunday, following the initial release of three hostages and 90 prisoners. The ceasefire ended the war that began with Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in about 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken to Gaza. Over 47,200 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed in Israel's offensive, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry. Israeli civilian Arbel Yehud, initially expected to be released, is not on the list, with unclear reasons, though Israeli media speculate Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) is holding her. Hamas is set to provide details on the remaining 26 hostages, including the Bibas family, over the next five weeks. The prisoners to be released are of a more serious category than those in the first exchange, with some serving over 15 years for killings. Israel insists no one involved in the October 7 attacks will be freed. Ariev, Gilboa, Levy, and Albag were captured at the Nahal Oz military base, shown in footage being tied up and pleading for help. The ceasefire, brokered by the US, Qatar, and Egypt, will be implemented in three stages, with the first stage releasing 1,900 Palestinian prisoners for 33 hostages, and Israeli forces withdrawing from Gaza, allowing hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to return home. The ceasefire aims to permanently end the war in Gaza, with 91 hostages still held, 57 believed to be alive.

Storm Éowyn struck the UK and Ireland on January 24, 2025, resulting in one death in County Donegal, Ireland, when a tree fell on a car. Ireland recorded its strongest ever wind gusts, leaving 725,000 properties without power and around 138,000 people without water. Across the UK, wind speeds reached 100mph, causing one in five flights to be cancelled, all trains in Scotland to halt, and every school in Northern Ireland to close. The storm caused significant damage, with ongoing threats of strong winds in some areas. Power restoration in affected areas could take up to 10 days.

On January 24, 2025, an Israeli drone strike on a vehicle near Qabatiya in the West Bank killed two people, marking the fourth day of a large-scale Israeli operation in Jenin following the ceasefire in Gaza. The Israeli military stated that the airstrike targeted a 'terrorist cell' inside the vehicle but provided no further details. The operation, aimed at cracking down on Iranian-backed Palestinian militant groups, has resulted in at least 12 Palestinian deaths, including two claimed by Hamas's armed wing. The military also arrested 20 wanted suspects and seized weapons. Thameen Al-Kheetan, spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed deep concern over the use of unlawful lethal force, raising serious concerns about unnecessary or disproportionate force in the Jenin operation. Fighting in Gaza has halted for the start of a six-week ceasefire phase backed by the United States. Israeli officials say the Jenin operation is part of a multifront war against Iranian-backed groups in the West Bank, southern Lebanon, and Yemen.

US President Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, could be confirmed by the Senate this week. Hegseth has expressed opposition to using race as a factor in evaluating candidates for elite US military academies, rejecting different standards based on skin color. Proponents of the existing policy argue that a lack of minority officers could lead to distrust within the armed forces. However, Trump allies contend that factoring in race in admissions and hiring is discriminatory. In 2023, the Supreme Court barred race-conscious admissions policies at colleges but exempted military academies. Trump quickly dismantled diversity, equity, and inclusion programs upon taking office, and Hegseth has pledged to remove these initiatives and critical race theory from the US military.

The leader of Moldova's separatist Transdniestria region, Vadim Krasnoselsky, stated that the region's gas reserves are about to run out and urged the central government to end 'artificial delays' and provide new supplies. Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean said the issue could only be resolved if Russian gas producer Gazprom resumed shipments to Moldova, or if Transdniestria agreed to pay for gas secured on European markets. The region, which long relied on Russian gas transiting through Ukraine, faces refusal from Kyiv to extend the transit agreement. Transdniestria endures four to five hours of power cuts daily, with many residents falling ill or dying from fires and carbon monoxide poisoning while trying to stay warm. Krasnoselsky has appealed to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and several world leaders for help.

US President Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday re-designating Yemen's Houthi rebels as a 'Foreign Terrorist Organization,' reversing the Biden administration's decision four years ago. A White House statement noted that the Biden administration's lenient policy towards the Houthis led to numerous attacks on US warships and international merchant vessels, threatening security in the Middle East and global maritime trade. The US will collaborate to eliminate the Houthis' capabilities, review related entities, and terminate projects and funding. In January 2021, Trump first listed the Houthis as a terrorist group, a decision later revoked by the Biden administration. Recently, the Houthis have frequently attacked merchant ships, causing route changes. On Wednesday, the Houthis released 25 detained crew members to support the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

UNICEF reported on January 23 that extreme weather last year disrupted the education of approximately 242 million children in 85 countries, affecting one in every seven students globally. Executive Director Henrietta Fore warned that children are more vulnerable to extreme weather. The report noted that 2024 was the hottest year on record, with global temperatures exceeding pre-industrial levels by 1.5 degrees Celsius, exacerbating heat and storms. Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Thailand, and the Philippines were most severely affected, with 128 million children in South Asia impacted. UNICEF fears that extreme weather may increase the risk of children, especially girls, dropping out of school entirely.

Tens of thousands of people in Slovakia are protesting against Prime Minister Robert Fico's government in about 25 towns and cities. Protesters accuse Fico of undermining the country's institutions, culture, and position in the EU and NATO, particularly his increasing attacks on Ukraine and rapprochement with Moscow. Local newspaper Dennik N estimates that around 100,000 people participated in the protests, with 40,000 in the capital alone. Fico denies opposition claims that he wants to take Slovakia out of the EU and NATO, stating that the country's membership is not in question. Despite Fico's warnings of foreign provocateurs aiming to overthrow his government, the protests remained peaceful with no reports of violence.

The Sudanese army announced on Friday that it had successfully broken a siege by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on its command center in central Khartoum, marking a significant victory in the nearly two-year conflict. The RSF dismissed the army's claims as propaganda aimed at boosting morale and accused the army of spreading falsehoods through manipulated videos. The war, which began in April 2023 over integration disputes, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, millions displaced, and half the population facing hunger. The army stated it had relieved its Signal Corps camp and crossed the Nile to join forces in Central Khartoum. Army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan visited troops in Al-Jili, claiming control of Sudan's main oil refinery. The RSF countered that it had inflicted heavy losses on the army and accused it of consistent misinformation. Meanwhile, fierce clashes erupted in El Fasher, North Darfur, with joint forces repelling an RSF attack. The joint forces alleged UAE support for the RSF, which the UAE has denied, stating its focus is on humanitarian aid.

On January 24 local time, Israel's Permanent Representative to the UN, Danny Danon, wrote to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, demanding that the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) cease operations in Jerusalem and withdraw all its facilities by January 30, 2025. UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq stated that UNRWA is irreplaceable and will continue to provide aid. Earlier this week, Danon told CCTV that Israel believes the UN Development Programme (UNDP) should replace UNRWA's responsibilities in the Gaza Strip, though no contact has been made between Israel and the UNDP. On January 28, the Israeli Parliament passed two bills prohibiting UNRWA from operating in Israel and East Jerusalem in any form, terminating existing agreements with the agency, with the legislation set to take effect on January 30.

On November 20, 2024, the U.S. retail giant Target announced the termination of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, including goals aimed at making its workforce and merchandise better reflect its customer base. Kiera Fernandez, Chief Community Impact and Equity Officer, communicated this decision in a memo to employees. Target will end its three-year DEI goals, cease reporting to external diversity-focused groups like the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index, and halt a program supporting products from Black- or minority-owned businesses. This move aligns Target with other companies like Tractor Supply, Meta, Walmart, and McDonald's that have dropped DEI commitments. Previously, Target had strengthened its diversity initiatives following the George Floyd incident in 2020 but faced conservative pressure. While Target's workforce has become more diverse in recent years, its leadership diversity still lags behind.

US President Donald Trump has revoked security protection for former top US health official Anthony Fauci, who has faced death threats since leading the country's Covid-19 response. Trump stated that government service does not entitle one to lifelong security. This week, he also revoked security for former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former National Security Adviser John Bolton, and former envoy Brian Hook, all of whom faced threats from Iran. Dr. Fauci has hired his own private security team at his own expense. Previously, he was protected by federal marshals and a government-funded private security company. Republican critic Kentucky Senator Rand Paul had called for Fauci's security to be revoked. Trump also revoked the security clearances of 51 intelligence officials who claimed Hunter Biden's laptop showed signs of a Russian information operation. Under US protocol, former presidents and their spouses receive lifelong security, while other officials' protection is based on intelligence threat assessments. Dr. Fauci, former head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, faced death threats during and after the pandemic and criticism from Republicans over Covid restrictions. He led the institute for 40 years, including during Trump's first term, and was awarded presidential commendations for his work on the Operation Warp Speed task force. Former President Joe Biden issued a preemptive pardon for Dr. Fauci, who expressed gratitude, stating that the possibility of prosecution caused immense distress to his family and emphasizing his innocence.

The Trump Administration ordered all federal employees responsible for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies to take immediate leave on Wednesday, with eventual termination. Employees must report any attempts to rename DEI projects within 10 days or face disciplinary action. Multiple federal departments' DEI project webpages ceased operation. The Office of Personnel Management mandated that relevant employees start paid leave by 5 PM Wednesday and shut down DEI-related projects and social media accounts. Agencies were instructed to compile lists of DEI offices and staff by Thursday afternoon and submit layoff plans by Friday. Trump argued that DEI programs racially divide Americans, waste taxpayer money, and lead to discrimination, reversing former President Biden's initiatives.