January 1, 2025

Daily News Brief

*) Israeli invasion in Gaza claims first civilian casualty of 2025 The New Year dawns tragically for Palestinians as Israeli forces escalate in Gaza. An air strike hit the Abu Dhaher family home in Bureij camp, killing eight-year-old Adam Farhallah—the first Palestinian civilian casualty of twenty-twenty-five. Meanwhile, National Campaign to Retrieve Martyrs' Bodies, a non-governmental organisation said Israel held the bodies of one-hundred-ninety-eight Palestinians in twenty-twenty-four. Separately Israeli media alleges that Hamas has proposed a week-long ceasefire, offering to provide a list of Israeli captives by the fourth day, awaiting Israel’s response on extending peace or resuming conflict. *) South Korea warns against obstructing Yoon Suk-yeol's arrest South Korean authorities have warned that anyone obstructing the arrest of impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol could face prosecution. Supporters gathered outside his Seoul residence as officials pledged to enforce the arrest warrant by January-six. Yoon, stripped of his duties and facing insurrection charges, could face life imprisonment or the death penalty. His legal team has challenged the warrant, calling it “illegal.” *) Europe's Russian gas era ends as Ukraine transit stops Russian gas supplies to Europe through Ukraine ceased on New Year's Day as a five-year transit deal expired. It marks the end of a decades-long era of Russian dominance in the European gas market. The move comes as Europe has significantly reduced its reliance on Russian energy following the war in Ukraine. While the immediate market impact may be limited, the loss of this crucial supply route has significant geopolitical implications for both Russia and Europe. The halt in gas flows will have a significant impact on countries like Moldova, which relied on this pipeline. *) Thousands in Bangladesh call for prosecution of ousted PM Hasina Thousands rallied at the iconic Shaheed Minar in Dhaka, demanding justice for victims of Bangladesh’s July uprising. The "March for Unity," led by students, called for ousted PM Sheikh Hasina’s prosecution and a ban on her Awami League party. Hasina fled to India on August-five amid escalating violence, leaving behind a fractured nation. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus's interim government now seeks international support for justice, while Hasina dismisses charges as a “political witch hunt.” *) US military court rules 9/11 plea deals can proceed A US military appeals court upheld plea deals for 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two accomplices. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin had tried to invalidate the agreements, but a judge ruled he acted too late. The deals could spare the trio the death penalty in exchange for guilty pleas. Meanwhile, the Pentagon repatriated a Guantanamo detainee to Tunisia, marking another chapter in the detention facility’s controversial history, as 26 inmates remain.