NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-25-2025 7AM EST

Episode Date: January 25, 2025

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It's a new year, and according to Pew, 79% of resolutions are about one thing, health. But there are so many fads around how to keep ourselves healthy. On It's Been A Minute, I'm helping you understand why some of today's biggest wellness trends are, well, trending. Like why is there protein in everything? Join me as we uncover what's healthy and what's not on the It's Been A Minute podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder.

Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari is welcoming the four female Israeli soldiers released today by Hamas. But he says Israel will not forget the others who are still being held captive in Gaza. We cannot and will not forget the 90 hostages including women, children and elderly men still remain in brutal conditions in Hamas captivity. The four soldiers were handed over to the Red Cross in a brief ceremony today in Gaza City with armed and masked Hamas fighters standing in line next to a stage. As part of the ceasefire deal that has brought a pause to

the fighting, Israel is to release 200 prisoners and detainees today. The exchange is the second since the ceasefire went into effect last weekend. Donald Trump's embattled nominee for defense secretary has been approved by the Senate with Vice President J.D. Vance breaking a 50-50 tie. Pete Hegseth was dogged by doubts about his qualifications, as well as allegations of sexual misconduct, public drunkenness, and financial mismanagement of two veterans nonprofits. Here's more from MPR Tom Bowman. Those who have led the Department of Defense since 1947 have come from the highest ranks of politics, industry, or the military. Pete Hegseth is an Army

National Guard combat veteran and former Fox News host. But he calls himself someone with dust on his boots, who will be a change agent at the Pentagon, a place he claims has focused on woke politics and diversity at the expense of war fighting. Of late, Hexeth has changed his long-held stance against women in ground combat, saying

women can serve in those roles as long as they meet the standards. But he says the fitness requirements are lower for women and has vowed a review. Tom Boman, NPR News. Families of refugees approved to resettle in the U.S. or in limbo after their flights were canceled. The cancellations came after President Trump signed an executive order suspending the U.S. refugee admissions program. From New Hampshire Public Radio, Jackie Harris

reports on a local refugee resettlement group that has been breaking the news to its clients. New Hampshire's Ascentria Care Alliance was expecting 12 refugees to come within the next month. All of them had fled a conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians in the last year. Jean Hakuzimana works at Asentria, resettling refugees in the state. He says several people in New Hampshire were supposed to be reunited with their children or spouses and are now in limbo. The communities are crying and I can say depressed as well because of those news.

Hakuzy Manet says he's worried by misinformation regarding refugees who legally enter the U.S. after an extensive vetting process, including criminal background checks and medical exams. For NPR News, I'm Jackie Harris. This is NPR. The first Grand Slam tennis tournament of the Year has a new champion, American Madison Keys, upset two-time defending champion Irina Sobolinka in the women's final today, winning her first Grand Slam title. The men's final is tomorrow.

President Trump has ended the federal security detail for Dr. Anthony Fauci, the infectious disease expert who advised him on the COVID-19 pandemic. Fauci's detail reportedly ended Thursday, and he is believed to have hired private security. Earlier this week, Trump revoked protection details for his former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former Pompeo aide Brian Hook, and his former national security adviser, John Bolton. All three have fallen out with Trump. Speaking to reporters in North Carolina on Friday, Trump said he would not feel any responsibility

if harm befell them. Stocks lost ground on Friday, but still ended up for the week. NPR's Scott Horsley reports that investors are keeping a watchful eye on the new Trump administration. President Trump's first week in office has been marked by a flurry of executive actions, but so far, no new tariffs. Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, China and other trading partners but it hasn't happened yet and markets seem relieved by that.

Trump also says he wants to see lower interest rates around the world. Japan's central bank raised its benchmark rate this week while the Federal Reserve is expected to hold rates steady when policymakers meet next Wednesday. All the major stock indexes gained ground for the week. The S&P 500 index hit a record high on Thursday, then jumped 1-3.25% for the week. The Nasdaq climbed 1-2.3%, and the Dow rose more than 2%. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington. And I'm Giles Snyder.

This is NPR News. The indicator for plenty of money is diving into the world of batteries. News, Washington.