Israel / Gaza: ceasefire deal reached
16 Jan 2025
A ceasefire deal has been reached, ending fifteen months of conflict in the Gaza strip. This agreement, hailed by Joe Biden, Qatar’s prime minister, and Hamas officials, aims to bring a much-needed break in violence. It will also lead to the release of dozens of hostages and prisoners from both sides. The phased plan includes the withdrawal of Israeli forces to the Gaza border, allowing displaced Palestinians to return home, as well as providing humanitarian aid and rebuilding Gaza's healthcare infrastructure. Hamas has agreed to release 33 hostages in exchange for 100 Palestinian prisoners with life sentences, while Israel will release 1,000 Palestinian prisoners who were not involved in the 7 October attacks. The deal follows months of intense diplomatic efforts, particularly by the USA, Egypt, and Qatar. Breaking news: the Israeli cabinet has not yet ratified the deal, with Benjamin Netanyahu saying that Hamas were reneging on some parts of the agreement. See Also, Israel has continued air strikes on Gaza, with at least 73 killed on 16 January.
South Korea: president arrested
16 Jan 2025
South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol has been arrested, ending weeks of standoff at his fortified residence. Yoon recorded a video before being taken to a detention centre, criticising the ‘collapse of the rule of law’. While he complied with the arrest warrant to prevent violent clashes, he has refused to cooperate with investigators. The arrest involved 3,200 officers, some scaling barriers to access the property. A standoff earlier this month delayed his detention as his presidential security service resisted, leading to the arrest of its acting chief. Yoon’s martial law declaration on 3 December, which deployed troops to the National Assembly, lasted hours before lawmakers voted to end it. His impeachment on 14 December suspended his powers, with the opposition accusing him of rebellion. He had defended his actions as a warning to the opposition, whom he called ‘anti-state forces’. Pro- and anti-Yoon protests have drawn thousands in Seoul since his impeachment.
Sudan: shelling kills at least 120
16 Jan 2025
On 13 January at least 120 people were killed by indiscriminate shelling in Omdurman, with the death toll expected to rise. Sudan's civil war, between the army and the paramilitary RSF, began 21 months ago. It has claimed tens of thousands of lives, displaced over twelve million, and left the country on the brink of famine, described by the UN as a humanitarian disaster. Both sides have been accused of indiscriminately targeting civilians, including health workers, as fighting devastates Omdurman and neighbouring areas. Volunteers face severe challenges in accessing affected regions, and medical supplies are critically low. Recent weeks have seen the army intensify efforts to reclaim territory, seizing areas and confiscating weapons, while the RSF counterattacks. The recent skirmishes have forced emergency response rooms, which support local communities, to shut several health centres, affecting provision of medical services to thousands of residents.
A rescue operation is under way at a gold mine which has been under police siege since Aug as part of a government initiative targeting illegal mining, an industry valued at 60 billion rand a year. The siege, which included cutting off food and water, drew criticism from human rights organisations. In December a court ruled that volunteers could send down supplies to the trapped men, and recently ordered the state to launch a rescue operation. Rescuers, using metal cages to recover people from depths of over 2,000 metres, have now recovered 78 bodies and 216 survivors, who face charges of illegal mining, trespassing, and immigration violations. Miners' rights groups report that hundreds more survivors and dozens of bodies remain underground.
Winds in Los Angeles, which have exacerbated wildfires, were expected to intensify again on 15 January, but in fact weakened to much lighter gusts. At least 25 people have been killed and more than 12,000 structures destroyed in some of the worst fires in memory to engulf America's second biggest city. The two largest fires, Eaton and Palisades, are still burning after more than a week - and firefighting help has been sought from Mexico and Canada. Officials said there has been little to no fire growth in the last 24 hours, but stressed that unburned, dry fuel combined with low humidity could pose threats despite the decreased winds. While first responders are making progress putting out flames, evacuated residents will not be able to return to their neighborhoods for at least one more week, even for areas deemed safe. Around 82,400 Californians are under evacuation orders, according to Sheriff Robert Luna. He also said there have been 47 arrests related to looting and violations of evacuation orders.
Cuba: USA set to remove ‘terrorism’ designation
16 Jan 2025
As Joe Biden nears the end of his term, he is set to remove Cuba’s designation as a ‘state sponsor of terrorism’. This decision comes after an assessment found no evidence supporting Cuba’s continued listing. However, with Donald Trump soon to take office, the move may be symbolic and subject to reversal. Cuban officials welcomed the ‘overdue’ action, pointing out the harm which the designation caused to their economy and population. The designation, originally made in 1982 under Ronald Reagan, has been rescinded and reinstated several times. While some Republicans plan to challenge the move, the change could allow US humanitarian organisations to provide aid to Cuba without facing sanctions. In response, Cuba announced the release of 553 prisoners, including some linked to the anti-government protests in 2021.
The Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer, a monumental Christian structure near Birmingham, is progressing toward construction. Designed as the largest Christian monument worldwide, it will feature one million white bricks, each digitally linked to a personal story of answered prayer. The 169-foot structure, shaped like an infinity loop, symbolises the eternal nature of God’s love and faithfulness and will be visible from six miles away. It aims to chronicle the transformative power of prayer, blending testimonies from ordinary Christians with those of historical figures such as Winston Churchill and Queen Elizabeth II. Visitors can interact with the structure, accessing individual prayer stories through their phones. Founder Richard Gamble highlights the global impact of these testimonies, urging American Christians to contribute to the project’s goal of 200,000 US prayer stories. He calls this monument a 'testimony to Christ’s finished work’, emphasising its potential to inspire faith worldwide.
Here's the secret to Bible reading in 2025
09 Jan 2025
Reading the Bible devotionally in 2025 can deepen spiritual growth and intimacy with God. Many start the year with plans to read the entire Bible, but success requires organisation and the right tools. A structured plan, such as the M’Cheyne Bible reading plan, offers an effective approach. Created by 19th-century minister Robert Murray M’Cheyne, the plan enables readers to journey through the New Testament and Psalms twice in a year and the Old Testament once. Daily readings balance OT and NT passages, fostering personal devotion and a comprehensive understanding of Scripture. Reading devotionally involves engaging the mind and heart, seeking God in worship, and responding in adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and prayer. Scripture, as God’s living Word (Heb 4:12), guides believers and inspires joy and wonder. M’Cheyne emphasised that reading should lead to spiritual growth, not mere formality.