While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Jan 26, 2025
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Newly released Israeli hostage Liri Albag gestures a heart shape through the window of a military helicopter.
PHOTO: AFP
Elation in Israel as more hostages released from Gaza
Israelis celebrated on Jan 25 the release of four Israeli soldiers held hostages in Gaza for the past 15 months, with scenes of jubilation in Tel Aviv where crowds gathered in a public square to watch the release broadcast live on screens.
The release of Ms Karina Ariev, Ms Daniella Gilboa, Ms Naama Levy, all aged 20, and Ms Liri Albag, 19, comes after days of anticipation for families of hostages with Palestinian militant group Hamas only on Jan 24 announcing who would be released.
Three hostages were released the previous weekend as part of a complex, multi-phased ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas that includes the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
At the Gilboa family home in Petah Tikva, near Tel Aviv, Daniella’s 15-year-old sister said the family never lost hope.
Ukraine ready to transit gas to Europe from Azerbaijan
Ukraine stands ready to transit natural gas from Azerbaijan to Europe and a contract could be inked quickly if an agreement can be reached, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“We can use our infrastructure” to transit the Azerbaijani gas, Mr Zelensky told reporters in Kyiv on Jan 25 after meeting Moldovan President Maia Sandu to discuss a gas supply crisis in Ukraine’s neighbour.
“We can sign a contract quickly if there is political will,” he added.
CIA now favours ‘lab leak’ theory to explain Covid-19
NYT
The CIA has said for years it did not have enough information to conclude whether the Covid-19 pandemic emerged naturally from a wet market in Wuhan, China, or from an accidental leak at a research laboratory there.
But the agency issued a new assessment this past week, with analysts saying they now favour the lab leak theory. That shift is based on “the available body of reporting,” although the other theory remains plausible, a spokesperson for the agency said.
Mr John Ratcliffe, the new director of the CIA, has long favoured the lab leak hypothesis .He has said it is a critical piece of intelligence that needs to be understood and has consequences for US-Chinese relations.
Trump Homeland pick Kristi Noem confirmed by US Senate
Kristi Noem was confirmed by the US Senate as President Donald Trump’s Homeland Security secretary on Jan 25, putting into position a key member of the Republican’s Cabinet as he launches a wide-ranging immigration crackdown.
Ms Noem, who was governor of South Dakota, shares Mr Trump’s hardline immigration views and called illegal immigration an “invasion” during a confirmation hearing earlier this month.
She was confirmed by a vote of 59 to 34 in the Republican-led Senate.
Man City overcome early error to beat Chelsea 3-1
AFP
Manchester City bounced back after conceding an early goal to beat Chelsea 3-1 on Jan 25, sparing the blushes of their debutant defender Abdukodir Khusanov whose error gifted the visitors the lead at the Etihad Stadium.
The win lifts Pep Guardiola’s side to fourth in the table on 41 points, 12 adrift of leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand, and one point ahead of Chelsea, who slip to sixth.
The 20-year-old Khusanov, signed this week from Lens, got his City career off to the worst possible start, first letting the ball bounce over him and then under-hitting his header back to goalkeeper Ederson, allowing Nicolas Jackson to nip in and square the ball for Noni Madueke to score.
