WORLD Radio – Friday morning news: January 17, 2025
The news of the day, including ‘last-minute crisis’ holds up Gaza ceasefire, Senate confirmation hearings, Homeland Security panel tackles immigration, and wildfires continue to burn in Los Angeles.
Activists block a road during a protest against the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas in Jerusalem on Thursday. Associated Press / Photo by Ohad Zwigenberg
Gaza ceasefire » Deal or no deal? The Gaza cease-fire agreement announced on Wednesday seemed in danger last night. Then early this morning Israel said Hamas was trying to change the terms yet again creating a “last-minute crisis” just days before the cease-fire was set to take effect.
Israeli government spokesman David Mencer:
MENCER: There remains disagreement. Some things which we thought were agreed have been changed.
That announced deal would require the release of more than 30 hostages held by Hamas. In turn, Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including militants and many accused of crimes.
The U.S. government, which helped negotiate that deal, is downplaying the holdup. Secretary of State Tony Blinken:
BLINKEN: I fully expect that implementation would begin, as we said, on Sunday. Look, it’s not exactly surprising that in a process, in a negotiation, that has been this challenging and this fraught, you may get a loose end. We are tying up that loose ends as we speak.
It’s widely hoped that the ceasefire, if implemented, will halt 15 months of bloodshed.
Ceasefire demonstrations » Meantime in Jerusalem, dueling demonstrations:
SOUND: [Jerusalem demonstration]
Israeli protesters blocked a highway in protest of the announced ceasefire deal, saying it means effectively surrendering to Hamas.
But others are angry about the holdup in finalizing the deal:
SOUND: [Tel Aviv demonstration]
Many friends and family members of the hostages still held in Gaza held their own rally, blocking streets in Tel Aviv. They’re demanding that the Israeli government get the deal done and bring the hostages home.
Confirmation hearings: Burgum » On Capitol Hill: Thursday was the busiest day so far in Senate hearing rooms as lawmakers question President-elect Trump’s cabinet picks.
Interior Secretary nominee Doug Burgum told the Energy and Natural Resources Committee that he is all in on Donald Trump’s ‘kitchen sink’ approach to energy. He warned that America could soon have an energy crisis:
BURGUM: Electricity is at the brink. Our grid is at a point where it could go completely unstable. We could be just months away from having skyrocketing prices for Americans.
Burgum said America needs a wide range of energy sources including ramping up production of fossil fuels.
Democrat lawmakers pushed back, raising concerns about the environment and climate change.
But Burgum said he’d work to find a balance between protecting lands and tapping into resources needed to fuel the economy and national security.
Confirmation hearings: Others » Meanwhile, members of the Senate Judiciary Committee grilled Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi for a second day.
Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse:
WHITEHOUSE: And I’m questioning you right now if you will enforce an enemies list that he announced publicly on television?
BONDI: Oh senator, I’m sorry. There will never be an enemies list within the department of justice.
WHITEHOUSE: Thank you.
Senators also questioned Trump’s pick for EPA Administrator Lee Zelden. And they held hearings for secretary nominees: Scott Turner for Housing and Urban Development, Scott Bessent for Treasury, and Kristi Noem for Homeland Security.
California wildfires » Even as firefighters continue to battle blazes in the Los Angeles area, authorities are already looking ahead.
LA County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella says large areas of now scorched and barren land puts residents at greater risk of flooding.
PESTRELLA: I have to give everyone an early warning that we do expect the window to open for rain in the later part of this month. And so we are already pre deploying, uh, labor forces into the area to make sure that the flood control system is ready as well as our street system is ready again as much as possible.
Meantime, other officials are planning for the hazardous task of cleaning up and removing debris, some of which may be toxic.
The fires have destroyed thousands of homes and other structures and have killed at least 27 people.
Christian persecution report » The international non-profit Open Doors has released its annual persecution watchlist identifying the most dangerous nations in the world for Christians. WORLD’s Christina Grube reports.
CHRISTINA GRUBE: The report reveals that more than 380 million Christians across the world are facing persecution. That’s roughly one out of every seven believers!
Using grassroots data and eyewitness reports, the group once again named North Korea as the most perilous country for Christians, followed by Somalia and Yemen.
Researchers said sub-Saharan Africa is the most violent region for Christians due to Islamic extremist groups growing in power.
The report also found that over 7 thousand Christian churches and homes were attacked within the last year, and nearly 45-hundred Christians were killed for their faith.
For WORLD, I’m Christina Grube.
I’m Kristen Flavin.
Straight ahead: apologetics and podcasting on Culture Friday. Plus, a preview of some of the kids movies coming out this year.
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