April 24, 2025

MIDDLE EAST | Update from regional conflicts:

• The Hamas-controlled Palestinian Health Ministry says at least 28 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza over the past day, including on the northern Jabaliya area, Gaza City, and the southern city of Khan Younis. [more]

UKRAINE | Today is day 1155 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• At least nine people were killed, and at least 70 others were injured, in an early morning Russian drone and missile attack today on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. Reports say the attack struck five neighborhoods in the city and that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has cut short a trip to South Africa to return home following the attack. [more]
• U.S. President Donald Trump suggested yesterday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is prolonging the Russia-Ukraine war by refusing to cede Crimea to Russia as part of any potential peace plan. [more]
• Russia today accused Japan of complicity in theft after Tokyo signed an agreement last week to lend Ukraine more than $3 billion for reconstruction, backed by the proceeds from frozen Russian assets. [more]

U.S. EDUCATION | In ongoing actions targeting diversity efforts in education, President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders yesterday calling for, among other things, increased enforcement of a federal law requiring colleges to disclose their financial ties with foreign sources, revitalization of accrediting bodies that decide whether colleges can accept federal financial aid awarded to students, and creation a federal task force to promote artificial intelligence-related training to students as early as kindergarten. [White House executive order website] [more]

NEW JERSEY | Emergency officials say the wildfire in southern New Jersey’s Lacey and Ocean townships has grown to encompass more than 20 square miles and could continue to burn for several days. Reports note that road closures and evacuations related to the fire have largely been rescinded and that air quality warnings have been issued in surrounding regions, including New York City, due to smoke from the fire. [more]

U.S. VETERANS AFFAIRS | In a department-wide e-mail this week, VA Secretary Doug Collins asked employees to report allegations of “anti-Christian discrimination” in the department, including “adverse responses to requests for religious exemption under the previous vaccine mandates,” reprimands for displaying Christian imagery or symbols, and “unofficial understandings hostile to Christian views." The move mirrors similar Trump administration actions in other government departments that have raised concerns over potential government favoring of Christianity over other religions. [more]

U.S. TERRORISM CHARGES | The Justice Department yesterday filed terrorism-related charges against Jose Enrique Martinez Flores, 24, who prosecutors say is a high-ranking member of the Tren de Aragua gang that the Trump administration has designated a foreign terrorist organization. Flores is currently in police custody in Colombia awaiting further proceedings. [more]

U.S. TARIFFS | Twelve U.S. states filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York yesterday in an attempt to block the Trump administration from implementing tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and without Congressional approval. In filing the suit, Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York and Vermont allege that tariffs imposed under the Act are unlawful, have brought chaos to the American economy, and have disrupted international trade. [more]

U.S. POLITICS | Reports say President Donald Trump plans to hold a rally – his first since returning to the White House – in Michigan's Macomb County next Tuesday to mark his first 100 days in office. [more]

U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL FINANCE | U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested yesterday that the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund are "falling short" of their international finance missions and said the Trump administration "will leverage U.S. leadership and influence at these institutions and push them to accomplish their important mandates." Bessent also criticized the organizations' progressive policies, saying the IMF "devotes disproportionate time and resources to work on climate change, gender and social issues," and the World Bank "should no longer expect blank checks for vapid, buzzword-centric marketing accompanied by half-hearted commitments to reform.” [more]

INDIA AND PAKISTAN | Reports say tensions between India and Pakistan are high today after Indian officials claimed there were "cross-border links" between Pakistan and the militant group that claimed responsibility for on attack this week on tourists in India-controlled Kashmir. Pakistan has denied the allegations and has closed its airspace to Indian airlines in protest. In new developments this morning, both countries have canceled travel visas for each others' nationals and India has closed its main border crossing with Pakistan, expelled several Pakistani diplomats, and suspended a key water-sharing agreement. [more]

TURKEY | A magnitude-6.2 earthquake struck northwestern Turkey, including the city of Istanbul, yesterday, prompting widespread panic and injuring at least 236 people. Authorities say there have been 378 reports of building damage from the quake and that the region has experienced more than 300 aftershocks after the main quake. [more]

CONGO | In a joint statement released yesterday, the Congolese government and leaders of the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group declared a cease-fire and confirmed that they are actively working toward a lasting truce in eastern Congo following Qatar-mediated peace talks. [more]

SOUTH KOREA | Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who served from 2017-2022, was indicted on bribery charges today. Prosecutors allege that Moon received bribes of more than $150,000 in the form of wages and other expenses paid to his then son-in-law by budget airline Thai Eastar Jet. [more]

GREECE | Greek Civil Protection and Climate Crisis Minister Giannis Kefalogiannis says a record 18,000 firefighters will be deployed across Greece this summer in anticipation of wildfire-related "bad scenarios" amidst the country's increasingly hot and dry conditions exacerbated by climate change. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1800, the Library of Congress was established as U.S. President John Adams signed a measure appropriating $5,000 "for the purchase of such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress." From its initial collection of 740 books and three maps, the Library of Congress has grown to become one of the largest libraries in the world, containing approximately 173 million items. [more history]