News from January 4, 2025 at 2 PM

At approximately 8 a.m. local time on March 3, personnel from South Korea's High Prosecutors' Office entered the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, attempting to arrest suspended President Yoon Suk-yeol. Investigators faced a 5.5-hour standoff with the Presidential Security Service and military police, involving physical altercations. Confronted by over 200 individuals, the Joint Investigation Headquarters aborted the arrest and withdrew at 1:30 p.m. The High Prosecutors' Office stated it would urge Acting President Choi Sang-moo to order the Security Service's cooperation. A reattempt is expected this weekend, though it may fail. Yoon's defense lawyer claimed the arrest warrant was illegal and invalid. South Korean political parties are divided on the issue, with the ruling party criticizing the investigation's aggressiveness and the opposition demanding a renewed arrest. The Constitutional Court scheduled the first formal hearing of Yoon's impeachment case for March 14.

A US Army veteran drove a truck into a crowd in New Orleans on New Year's Day, killing at least 14 people, followed by a separate vehicle explosion in Las Vegas. US law enforcement and intelligence agencies issued an intelligence bulletin warning of potential copycat vehicle-ramming attacks. The White House stated it is working closely with President-elect Donald Trump's transition team to ensure security for the January 20 inauguration. National Security Spokesman John Kirby said Trump's incoming national security adviser, Mike Waltz, is being kept informed of the investigations. The FBI confirmed the attacker in New Orleans was inspired by ISIS. Some members of Trump's team, including his nominee for secretary of state and chief of staff, already have security clearances to receive intelligence briefings.

On January 3rd local time, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot arrived in Damascus, Syria. He will meet with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and the leader of the Syrian 'Sham Liberation Organization,' Ahmad al-Shara. The French Foreign Ministry stated that this marks the first visit by senior government ministers from major Western countries to Syria since the end of the Assad regime. The meeting is highly anticipated, signaling a potential shift in relations between Western nations and Syria. Discussions are expected to cover regional security and political situations. Specific outcomes of the visit have not yet been disclosed but are seen as a significant diplomatic breakthrough.

Hospital staff in the Gaza Strip reported that at least 30 people, including children, were killed in Israeli strikes overnight and into Friday morning. The strikes hit various locations in Central Gaza, including Nuseirat, Zawaida, Maghazi, and Deir al Balah. Dozens were also killed the previous day, bringing the total death toll in the past 24 hours to 56. The Israeli army did not comment on the latest strikes but stated it had targeted Hamas gathering points and command centers, taking measures to mitigate civilian harm. Thursday's strikes hit Hamas security officers and an Israeli-declared humanitarian zone, killing freelance journalist Omar al-Derawi. Early Friday, Israel faced missile attacks from Yemen, triggering air raid sirens but causing no immediate injuries. Ceasefire talks, stalled for 15 months since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, were set to resume, with an Israeli delegation authorized by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heading to Qatar for negotiations. Israel's offensive has killed over 45,500 Palestinians in Gaza, with women and children comprising more than half of the fatalities.

US Representative Mike Johnson was re-elected as House speaker on January 3, in a lengthy vote that highlighted ongoing divisions within Donald Trump's Republican party. Initially falling short of the majority in an hour-long roll-call vote, Mr. Johnson secured re-election with 218 votes after two Republican opponents switched their votes following over half an hour of negotiations. The Republicans control the chamber by a slim 219-215 majority. This vote served as an early test of the party's ability to unite in advancing Trump's agenda of tax cuts and border enforcement, as well as a measure of Trump's influence on Capitol Hill.

President-elect Donald Trump is set to be sentenced on January 10 in a criminal case involving hush money paid to a porn star, but is unlikely to face jail time or other penalties, according to Judge Juan Merchan. This unprecedented scenario requires Trump to appear in court just 10 days before his January 20 inauguration. Merchan stated Trump, 78, can attend the sentencing in person or virtually and is not inclined to impose jail time, favoring an 'unconditional discharge' instead. This would allow Trump to appeal. Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung argued the case should be dismissed. Merchan denied Trump's motion to dismiss the case due to his election victory, emphasizing that Trump's status as President-elect does not warrant special treatment. The case stems from a $130,000 payment by Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen to adult film actor Stormy Daniels. Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records but pleaded not guilty, claiming the case was politically motivated by Manhattan District Attorney Bragg.

President Joe Biden officially blocked Nippon Steel's $14.9 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel, citing national security concerns. U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel jointly criticized the decision as 'unlawful' and vowed to take action. The United Steelworkers union, which opposed the takeover, praised Biden's move. This decision reflects a broader trend towards protectionism in the U.S., as key industries are safeguarded against foreign control.

Japanese woman Tomiko Itooka, recognized as the world's oldest person by Guinness World Records, passed away at the age of 116 on May 23, 2024. She died in a nursing home in Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture. Itooka became the world's oldest person following the death of Spain's Maria Branyas Morera in August 2024 at age 117. Ashiya's 27-year-old mayor, Ryosuke Takashima, stated that Ms. Itooka's long life gave people courage and hope. Born in May 1908, she lived through world wars and significant technological advancements. As a student, she played volleyball and climbed Mount Ontake twice. In her later years, she enjoyed bananas and Calpis, a popular milky soft drink in Japan. She married at 20 and had two daughters and two sons. During World War Two, she managed her husband's textile factory office. After her husband's death in 1979, she lived alone in Nara. She is survived by one son, one daughter, and five grandchildren. A funeral service was held with family and friends. As of September 2024, Japan had over 95,000 people aged 100 or older, 88% of whom were women. Brazilian nun Inah Canabarro Lucas, born 16 days after Itooka and also 116, is now believed to be the world's oldest person.

Pulkovo airport in St Petersburg, Russia, temporarily suspended flight arrivals and departures from 7:45 a.m. (0445 GMT) on Saturday to ensure the safety of civilian aircraft, according to Russia's aviation watchdog Rosaviatsia. The agency did not specify the reason for the suspension, but Russian airports have previously closed due to risks of Ukrainian drone strikes. Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the northern Leningrad region which includes St Petersburg, stated that Russian forces had shot down two drones near Luga Bay in the Gulf of Finland. A Rosaviatsia representative wrote on the Telegram messaging app, 'The airport is temporarily not accepting or dispatching flights. Aircraft crews, air traffic controllers, and airport services are taking all necessary measures to ensure flight safety - this is the top priority.'

On December 21, volunteers were working to clear spilled oil near the Black Sea resort of Anapa in Russia's Krasnodar region. Russian officials reported that oil leaked from two damaged tankers had spread to more beaches on Ukraine’s Russian-occupied peninsula of Crimea. In December, two aging Russian tankers, the Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239, were hit by a storm in the Kerch Strait, which links the Azov and Black Seas. The tankers were carrying 9,200 tonnes of heavy fuel oil, with around 40% possibly spilling into the sea, an incident Russian leader Vladimir Putin termed an “ecological disaster.” On January 2, Russia’s emergency situations ministry identified two sites of oil contamination in Crimea, near the city of Kerch and Tobechytske lake. Nearly 73,000 tonnes of contaminated sand have been removed from dozens of kilometers of beaches on the Russian coast since the spill. Officials estimate that up to 200,000 tonnes of sand and soil could be contaminated. The regional cleanup headquarters published images of volunteers in white suits scooping contaminated sand off beaches, including in the popular resort city of Anapa. As of January 2, 2,100 birds had been rescued. Ukraine has called this spill “the largest in the Black Sea region in the 21st century,” blaming Moscow for using unsuitable ships for harsh winter conditions. Under Western sanctions, Russia has resorted to using a so-called “shadow fleet” of mostly old tankers to export its fuels.

Russia's defence ministry stated on Saturday that Russian forces had taken control of the village of Nadiya in Ukraine's eastern Luhansk region and had shot down eight U.S.-made ATACMS missiles. Reuters was unable to immediately verify the battlefield reports. The ministry also claimed that its air defence systems had downed 10 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory on Saturday morning, including three over the northern Leningrad region. St Petersburg's Pulkovo airport temporarily suspended flight arrivals and departures on Saturday morning.

On January 3, police computer systems at airports across Germany experienced nearly four hours of downtime. The outage affected systems used by the federal police for airport security and monitoring arrivals, resulting in many passengers being stranded on aircraft and long queues at airports. Arrivals from non-Schengen countries were temporarily halted due to the technical issues. The malfunction was caused by a technical problem in the Federal Criminal Police Office's information system. The systems have now been restored, and airport services have returned to normal.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Democratic philanthropist George Soros, and actor-director Denzel Washington will be awarded the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, at a White House ceremony on Saturday. President Joe Biden will bestow the medal on 19 prominent figures in politics, sports, entertainment, civil rights, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and science. The White House stated that the recipients have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public, or private endeavors. Four medals will be awarded posthumously to Fannie Lou Hamer, who founded the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and laid the groundwork for the 1965 Voting Rights Act; former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy; George W. Romney, who served as both a Michigan governor and secretary of housing and urban development; and Ash Carter, the former secretary of defense. Other awardees include Spanish American chef José Andrés, rock band U2 frontman and social justice activist Bono, professional soccer player Lionel Messi, retired basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Parkinson’s disease research advocate Michael J. Fox, science educator William Sanford Nye, conservationist Jane Goodall, Vogue Magazine editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, American fashion designer Ralph Lauren, American Film Institute founder George Stevens Jr., entrepreneur and LGBTQ+ activist Tim Gill, and David Rubenstein, co-founder of The Carlyle Group global investment firm. Last year, Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 individuals, including the late Medgar Evers, House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, and actor Michelle Yeoh.

According to Axios, the administration of US President Joe Biden plans to sell an $8 billion arms package to Israel. The US State Department has informally notified Congress of its intention to conclude a deal with Israel, under which the country will receive weapons and ammunition, including air-to-air missiles for fighter jets and attack helicopters, artillery shells, small-diameter bombs, additional JDAM ammunition kits, and 500-pound bombs. Some weapons are expected to be transferred directly from Pentagon warehouses, but most will take a year or more to deliver. The deal, aimed at ensuring long-term support for Israel's security, requires approval from the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

A worker digging clay in a southern England limestone quarry discovered unusual bumps leading to the find of a 'dinosaur highway' and nearly 200 tracks dating back 166 million years. In June, a team of over 100 people excavated the Dewars Farm Quarry in Oxfordshire, expanding previous paleontology work and offering insights into the Middle Jurassic period. Kirsty Edgar, a micropaleontology professor at the University of Birmingham, said the footprints reveal details about dinosaur lives. Four sets of tracks show paths of giant, long-necked herbivores, possibly Cetiosaurus, while a fifth set belongs to the 9-meter predator Megalosaurus. Emma Nicholls, a vertebrate paleontologist at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, noted that recent discoveries prove new evidence of these animals remains to be found. Nearly 30 years ago, 40 sets of footprints in the area were deemed scientifically significant, but are now mostly inaccessible. This summer's team took over 20,000 digital images and used drones for 3D models. Duncan Murdock, an earth scientist at the Oxford museum, said the detailed preservation helps recreate the dinosaurs' environment. The findings will be exhibited at the museum and featured on the BBC's 'Digging for Britain' program next week.

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy proposed on Friday that alcohol products consumed by Americans should clearly label alcohol as a leading cause of cancer. Murthy's advisory is based on mounting research and evidence of the negative health effects of alcohol. He notes that nearly one million preventable cancer cases in the U.S. over the last decade are linked to alcohol consumption, resulting in about 20,000 deaths annually. Current warning labels on alcohol products caution against drinking during pregnancy and impaired driving, but Murthy's proposed label would also highlight the cancer risk. Research has found that alcohol increases the risk of at least seven types of cancer, including liver, breast, and throat cancer. Murthy emphasizes that the risk of cancer increases with higher alcohol consumption. Despite new research and the Surgeon General's advisory, it is unlikely that Congress will act swiftly to implement a new warning label. It has been nearly four decades since Congress last updated alcohol warning labels. Previously, Congress approved a health warning on cigarettes, which significantly reduced smoking rates. Any effort to add a cancer warning label to alcohol would face strong opposition from the well-funded beverage industry, which spends nearly $30 million annually lobbying Congress. Just weeks ago, the federal government decided not to alter the existing dietary guidelines on alcohol, which recommend no more than one drink per day for women and two for men.

On Thursday, a small plane crashed through the roof of a furniture manufacturing building in Fullerton, California, killing two people and injuring 19. The deceased were believed to be on the plane, while the injured were inside the building. Eleven people were hospitalized, and eight were treated and released at the scene. The plane crashed less than two minutes after taking off from Fullerton Municipal Airport. Security footage showed the plane tilting as it dove into the building, causing an explosion and black smoke. Firefighters and police responded, battling the blaze and evacuating nearby businesses. The pilot had reported an emergency landing to air traffic control, but the specific issue with the plane remained unclear. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the accident. The Fullerton City Council called the crash a 'solemn tragedy,' with the mayor pledging support for those affected and efforts to uncover the incident's details.

Iran's foreign ministry summoned the Italian ambassador on Friday over the detention of an Iranian national wanted by the U.S. for his alleged role in a deadly drone strike against U.S. forces. This followed Italy's summoning of the Iranian ambassador over the arrest of Italian reporter Cecilia Sala in Tehran on Dec. 19. An Iranian official urged Italy to reject the U.S.'s 'hostage policy' and release Mohammad Abedini soon to avoid damaging bilateral ties. The Iranian embassy in Rome said Sala was receiving necessary humanitarian care and linked her case to Abedini's for the first time. Iran claimed Sala violated its laws. Abedini, an Iranian businessman arrested in Milan, is accused of supplying drone parts used in a 2023 attack in Jordan that killed three U.S. service members. Iran denies involvement. Abedini remains in prison, with a court to decide on his house arrest this month.

Venezuela's government has offered a $100,000 bounty for the arrest of opposition leader Edmundo López. The announcement follows López's outspoken criticism of the administration's economic policies. Despite the government's allegations of sedition, López has maintained his innocence. He has reportedly sought asylum in a foreign embassy. The opposition has decried the reward as a blatant attempt to silence dissent, amid growing unrest and clashes between protesters and security forces.

Donald Trump criticized the UK Labour Government's energy tax policy on social media, calling it a major mistake for taxing North Sea oil and gas producers. He urged opening up the North Sea, opposing wind energy development. This follows US firm Apache's plan to exit the North Sea by 2029. The UK government aims to fund energy transition through increased taxes, facing energy dependency and industry pressures.

Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico has threatened to cut financial support for over 130,000 Ukrainian refugees amid escalating disputes with Ukraine over Russian gas supplies. On January 1, Kyiv shut off a pipeline that had long supplied Central Europe with Russian natural gas, leaving Slovakia, the main entry point, poised to lose millions in transit fees. The UNHCR estimated last month that there were 130,530 Ukrainian refugees in Slovakia. Fico, who recently visited Moscow, labeled Kyiv's move as 'sabotage' and proposed halting electricity exports to Ukraine and significantly reducing financial aid for Ukrainians in Slovakia. He assured there was no risk of gas shortages in Slovakia due to alternative arrangements. However, Kyiv's decision would cost Slovakia 500 million euros in transit fees. Last month, President Zelensky accused Fico of aiding Putin in 'funding the war and weakening Ukraine.' Poland has offered support to Kyiv if Slovakia cuts electricity exports, crucial for Ukraine under regular Russian attacks. The European Commission stated the EU is prepared for the change, while Moldova faces shortages. Russia can still supply gas to Hungary, Turkey, and Serbia via the TurkStream pipeline across the Black Sea.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Donald Trump's unpredictability could influence Russia and help end the Russia-Ukraine war. He hopes the Trump administration will soon engage with Russia but emphasizes that any peace plan must fully consider Ukraine's position. In an interview, Zelensky said Trump could play a decisive role in stopping Vladimir Putin. Trump vowed to quickly end the war, but Kyiv fears it might mean territorial concessions. Zelensky has been trying to establish contact with Trump's team, worried about reduced U.S. aid. He stressed the need for security guarantees for Ukraine, including EU membership and NATO invitation, which Moscow strongly opposes. Currently, Russian forces are advancing in the eastern front, while Ukrainian troops conducted precision strikes and still control parts of the territory.

On December 27, 2024, Chilean President Gabriel Boric became the first leader in the Americas to visit the South Pole, arriving at the US-operated Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. His visit reaffirmed Chile's sovereignty claim over part of Antarctica. Boric highlighted this trip as a significant milestone for Chile, emphasizing the country's pivotal role in scientific projects, particularly those related to climate change. The Chilean government stated that research centers, universities, diplomats, and the armed forces have collaborated to position Chile as the world's gateway to Antarctica. Elected in 2021 at the age of 35, Boric is Chile's youngest-ever president. Only the prime ministers of New Zealand and Norway had previously visited the South Pole. Several countries, including Chile, have laid claims to parts of Antarctica, which is designated as a scientific preserve under the Antarctic Treaty that came into force in 1961.

On January 3, 2025, Apple agreed to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit alleging its devices eavesdropped on users without permission. The plaintiffs claimed Apple used its virtual assistant Siri to listen to customers and shared voice recordings with advertisers. Apple denies any wrongdoing and states it has permanently deleted Siri audio recordings collected before October 2019. Lead plaintiff Fumiko Lopez alleges she and her daughter were recorded without consent and received targeted ads as a result. The class action is set for a decision on February 14 in a Northern California court. Eligible US users could receive up to $20 per Siri-enabled device owned between 2014 and 2019. By settling, Apple avoids the risk of a potentially larger payout. The company has been involved in several class action lawsuits in recent years.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has selected Fox News journalist Tammy Bruce to serve as the Spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State. He announced the decision on his Truth Social network page, stating that Bruce will join the team of Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio. Bruce, a highly respected political analyst, early on recognized the power and importance of 'MAGA'. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from the University of Southern California and, after being a liberal activist in the 1990s, became one of the strongest Conservative voices in radio and television upon witnessing the lies and fraud of the Radical Left. Bruce will succeed current State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller.

On November 12, 2024, Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith spoke at the Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal. Microsoft plans to invest $80 billion in fiscal 2025 to build data centers capable of handling artificial intelligence workloads, with over half of the spending allocated to the United States. Smith noted that the U.S. currently leads the global AI race due to private capital investment and innovations from American companies of all sizes. Microsoft has witnessed this through partnerships with OpenAI, Anthropic, xAI, and its own AI-enabled software platforms and applications. Several top-tier tech companies are rapidly investing billions in Nvidia GPUs for training and running AI models. Microsoft reported $20 billion in capital expenditures and assets acquired under finance leases in Q1 of fiscal 2025, with $14.9 billion spent on property and equipment. CFO Amy Hood stated that capital expenditures will increase sequentially in Q2. Analysts expect $63.2 billion in property and equipment additions in fiscal 2025, indicating 42% year-over-year growth. Revenue from Azure and other cloud services grew 33%, with 12 percentage points from AI services. Smith called on the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump to safeguard U.S. leadership in AI through education and promoting U.S. AI technologies globally.