February 5, 2025

MIDDLE EAST | Update from regional conflicts:

• In a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that the U.S. should take over, “own,” and re-develop Gaza. Trump reiterated his belief that the enclave’s 1.8 million Palestinian residents could be relocated to regional nations. International response to Trump's statement has largely been negative, with the U.K., Australia, Ireland, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, France, Russia, China, the Palestinian Authority, and others either rejecting the Trump plan or restating their belief in the need for a two-state solution. [more]

UKRAINE | Today is day 1077 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview yesterday that 45,100 Ukrainian troops have been killed, and close to 390,000 have been wounded, in his country’s nearly three-year-old war with Russia. [more]
• British Foreign Secretary David Lammy is in Kyiv today, where he is expected to announce a new $69 million U.K. support package for Ukraine. [more]

U.S. GUN VIOLENCE | One person was killed, and five others were wounded, last night when a shooter opened fire in a cosmetics warehouse in New Albany, Ohio. Police have identified a suspect in the shooting and say they are still searching for him this morning. [more]

U.S. INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT | President Donald Trump announced yesterday that the U.S. will withdraw from the U.N. Human Rights Council, will not resume funding for the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, and will initiate a review of U.S. involvement in the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO. [more]

U.S. FOREIGN AID | The Trump administration announced yesterday that it is placing almost all direct-hire staff members of the U.S. Agency for International Development on indefinite leave and has given overseas USAID employees 30 days to settle their affairs and return home. [notice to employees] [more]

U.S. CITIZENSHIP | A federal judge in Maryland is scheduled to hear arguments today on challenges to President Donald Trump’s executive order that seeks to end the 14th Amendment’s granting of birthright citizenship to anyone born in the U.S. to someone in the country illegally. [more]

U.S. PROTESTS | Protests have reportedly been planned for today in all 50 state capitals against what organizers say are the Trump administration’s anti-democracy actions and plans. The so-called 50501 protests – standing for 50 protests in 50 states on one day – have been largely organized online. [more]

DC AIR TRAGEDY | Authorities say the remains of all 67 people who died in last week’s in-air collision of an American Airlines regional jet and an Army helicopter have now been recovered. Reports also cite investigators as saying that radar and other data indicates that the helicopter was flying well above its mandated 200-foot flight ceiling at the time of the collision. [more]

U.S. AND CHINA | The U.S. Postal Service announced yesterday that it will stop accepted parcels from China and Hong Kong until further notice. The announcement came after President Donald Trump imposed a 10% tariff on goods from China and his revocation of a customs exception that allowed small value parcels to enter the U.S. without paying tax. [more]

SWEDEN | The death toll from yesterday’s shooting at an adult education center in Orebro, Sweden, has risen to at least 11, including the gunman. Five other people were seriously wounded in the incident, which authorities have described as Sweden’s worst-ever mass shooting. [more]

PHILIPPINES | Legislators in the Philippines’ lower house of Congress have impeached Vice President Sara Duterte, with at least 215 lawmakers signing a petition charging Duterte with violating the constitution, betraying the public trust, corruption, and other high crimes. The case against Duterte will be handed over to the Senate for trial. [more]

CONGO | The Congolese government yesterday characterized a unilateral cease-fire declared by Rwanda-backed M23 rebel forces in eastern Congo as “false communication” amidst reports of ongoing heavy fighting in the region. [more]

AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY | Reports say the proposed $60 billion merger of Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan appears to be in jeopardy due to ongoing disagreements over control levels in what would have become the world’s third-largest automaker following the merger. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1900, the first of two Hay-Pauncefote treaties – named for U.S. Secretary of State John Hay and British Ambassador Lord Pauncefote – was signed between the United States and Great Britain over control of the proposed Panama Canal. [more history]