News from January 7, 2025 at 2 AM

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation on Monday after nearly a decade in power, citing rising discontent over his leadership and internal turmoil within his government, highlighted by the sudden departure of his finance minister. Trudeau stated he cannot lead during the next elections due to internal battles and will remain as prime minister until a new Liberal Party leader is chosen. Parliament, scheduled to resume on January 27, will be suspended until March 24 to allow for a Liberal Party leadership race. All three main opposition parties plan to topple the Liberals in a no-confidence vote when Parliament resumes, making a spring election likely. Trudeau has become increasingly unpopular due to soaring food and housing costs and surging immigration. Liberal Party President Sachit Mehra expressed gratitude to Trudeau and will begin selecting a new leader this week. Former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland resigned on December 16, criticizing Trudeau's economic priorities.

Hamas has expressed willingness to release 34 Israeli hostages in the first phase of a proposed ceasefire agreement. US Secretary of State Blinken hopes to see the Gaza ceasefire agreement reached within two weeks, with hostages released. Hamas and Israel resumed indirect negotiations in Qatar last week. Hamas needs a week to confirm the status of the hostages. The Israeli Prime Minister's office stated that Hamas has not yet provided a list of hostages, but later Hamas provided a copy of the list to Reuters. On October 7, 2023, Hamas abducted 251 hostages; a temporary ceasefire in late November saw 80 released, with 96 still held in Gaza, 34 of whom are believed dead. Mediation efforts by Qatar, Egypt, and the US have been unsuccessful, with Israel insisting on the elimination of Hamas. Blinken, who has visited the Middle East 12 times to promote a ceasefire without success, hopes to reach an agreement before Trump's inauguration.

The U.S. Congress officially certified Donald Trump's victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election on Monday. Harris, who accepted her defeat the day after the November 5 election, presided over the joint session of Congress and announced the final Electoral College tally: 312 votes for Trump and 226 for Harris. The 30-minute certification ceremony was solemn and orderly. However, the echoes of the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot persist, with Democrats and Republicans disputing its historical interpretation. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned the riot and warned against 'election denialism.' Harris did not challenge the election outcome or spread false conspiracy theories. The Capitol was under heavy security, designated a 'National Special Security Event' by the Homeland Security Department. The Justice Department has charged over 1,580 riot participants, with about 1,270 convictions. Trump, impeached for inciting the riot, has vowed to pardon its participants.

A severe winter storm has swept across multiple US states, resulting in at least five deaths. Seven states, including Maryland, Virginia, and others, declared emergencies, with over 2,000 flights canceled and around 6,500 delayed. More than 250,000 people were without power on Monday afternoon, with snowfall expected to continue into the night on the East Coast. Washington DC saw 5-9 inches of snow, with up to a foot in nearby Maryland and Virginia. Schools closed and travel chaos ensued. Meteorologists predict that the polar vortex-driven cold conditions will persist for several weeks. Numerous car crashes occurred in Missouri and Kansas, causing injuries and fatalities. A man in Houston died due to the cold weather.

On January 6, Russia reported significant gains in eastern Ukraine while defending against a new Ukrainian offensive in the Kursk region of western Russia. The Russian Defence Ministry stated it had captured Kurakhove, 32km south of the Ukrainian logistics hub Pokrovsk, aiding its advance in the Donetsk region. Ukrainian monitoring group DeepState showed Kurakhove largely under Russian control. Both sides are scrambling to improve their battlefield positions before the inauguration of US President-elect Trump, who has pledged to end the nearly three-year-old war. Ukraine's main achievement in the past five months has been capturing territory in Russia's Kursk region, potentially a bargaining chip in peace talks. Ukrainian official said Russia is 'getting what it deserves'. Russian accounts claim initial Ukrainian assaults were repelled, with more expected. Reuters cannot verify battlefield updates. The US, Britain, and EU reaffirmed support for Ukraine, emphasizing its right to self-defense and legitimate targets under international law. The US State Department vowed to strengthen Ukraine's battlefield position, and Britain committed to ongoing support.

U.S. President Joe Biden's decision to block Nippon Steel's $14.9 billion bid for U.S. Steel has cast a shadow over Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Japan on Tuesday. Announced on Friday, the rejection coincides with U.S. efforts to strengthen ties with Asian allies amid South Korea's political crisis, potentially complicating the Washington-Seoul-Tokyo relationship. The State Department stated Blinken will meet Japanese officials to review U.S.-Japan alliance progress and reaffirm its importance. In Seoul on Monday, Blinken expressed confidence in South Korea's handling of its turmoil. Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel sued Biden on Monday, alleging constitutional violation. Experts believe any damage to U.S.-Japan relations will be limited despite tensions. Business lobbies strongly backed the merger, but both Biden and incoming President Trump opposed it.

The first U.S. bird flu death has been reported in Louisiana, involving a person over 65 with underlying health issues who had contact with sick and dead birds in a backyard flock. State health officials announced the death on Monday, confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the nation's first bird flu fatality. Since March, 66 confirmed bird flu infections have been reported in the U.S., mostly mild. Globally, over 950 infections and more than 460 deaths have been recorded since 2003. Experts warn of the virus's serious threat, while the CDC states there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission.

The arrest warrant for South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol is set to expire at midnight on Monday, but Presidential Security Service Chief Park Jong-jun refused to cooperate, citing judicial procedure disputes. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) attempted to arrest Yoon last Friday but failed, and is considering reapplying for the warrant. Yoon is currently suspended due to a parliamentary impeachment motion, but his legal team protests the arrest and plans to indict the CIO chief and over 150 others. The Constitutional Court has scheduled five hearings, and Yoon may appear in person. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Blinken visited Seoul for talks with South Korean officials.

On Monday, three Israelis were killed and several injured in a shooting attack near Kedumim in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, according to Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel's national ambulance service. The Israeli military cordoned off all villages in the area to search for suspects believed to have fled to a nearby Palestinian village. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. Hamas praised the attack but did not claim responsibility. Violence in the West Bank has escalated since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on southern Israel. Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered a forceful military response. MDA reported two women in their 60s and a man around 40 died at the scene, with seven wounded, including a 63-year-old male bus driver in serious condition. On Sunday, Israeli forces killed two Palestinians in Nablus and Jenin.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy went on trial in Paris on Monday over allegations of illegal financing of his 2007 presidential campaign by the government of then-Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. This case, the most significant and potentially shocking among several scandals involving Sarkozy, is scheduled to run until April 10, with a verdict expected later. Sarkozy, 69, faces charges including passive corruption, illegal campaign financing, concealment of embezzlement of public funds, and criminal association, which could result in up to 10 years in prison. He has denied any wrongdoing. The trial involves 11 other defendants, including three former ministers. Franco-Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine, accused of being an intermediary, has fled to Lebanon and is not expected to appear in court. Sarkozy's lawyer, Christophe Ingrain, stated that Sarkozy is facing the hearings with determination and denies any Libyan financing of his campaign. The case emerged in 2011 following reports by a Libyan news agency and an interview with Gadhafi, with French investigative magistrates later deeming a related document authentic, though no definitive evidence of the transaction exists. The official cost of Sarkozy's 2007 campaign was 20 million euros. Additionally, there are allegations of witness tampering, leading to preliminary charges against Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. Sarkozy has been convicted in two other scandals, but the Libyan case is likely to significantly impact his legacy.

The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden reduced the prisoner population at Guantanamo Bay detention center in Cuba by nearly half on Monday, transferring 11 detainees to Oman. The U.S. military stated that only 15 detainees remained after the transfer, marking a significant step towards closing the facility in the administration's final days. The detention center, opened on Jan. 11, 2002, by President George W. Bush, was intended for holding terrorism suspects and 'illegal enemy combatants' during the U.S. 'War on Terror' following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. At its peak in 2003, the center housed about 680 prisoners, according to Pentagon data. The latest transfer of 11 Yemeni men leaves the U.S. naval base with fewer detainees than when it first opened with prisoners from Afghanistan. The U.S. military expressed appreciation for Oman's government and other partners' support in reducing the detainee population and ultimately closing the Guantanamo Bay facility. The Pentagon named the 11 transferred detainees. Of the remaining 15 detainees, three are eligible for transfer, and an equal number are eligible for periodic review board assessments, while the rest have been charged or convicted of war crimes. The facility has long been criticized by human rights groups and legal advocates for potential breaches of international human rights laws and camp conditions.

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden visited a makeshift memorial in New Orleans on Monday to mourn the victims of a deadly New Year's attack. The attack, which occurred last week, saw an Army veteran drive a truck into a crowd of revelers, killing 14 and injuring 30. The Bidens placed flowers and observed a moment of silence at the memorial on Bourbon Street before meeting with grieving families and survivors at St. Louis Cathedral. This visit is likely Biden's last to a crime scene as president to console victims' families. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre highlighted Biden's personal understanding of loss, emphasizing it as part of his presidential duty. Biden also planned to meet with first responders and travel to California. The attacker, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, had posted videos supporting ISIS before the attack and was killed in a shootout with police. Biden urged residents to ignore conspiracy theories, stating the attack was the act of a lone individual. Victims ranged in age from 18 to 63 and hailed from various states and countries.

On January 6, 2025, US President Joe Biden announced a ban on new offshore oil and gas drilling along most of America's coastline. The ban covers the entire Atlantic coast, eastern Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific coast off California, Oregon, and Washington, and a section of the Bering Sea off Alaska. This is the latest in a series of last-minute climate policy actions by the Biden administration ahead of Donald Trump's return to the White House. Trump, who pledged to increase domestic fossil fuel production to lower gas costs despite record high extraction rates, vowed to reverse Biden's conservation and climate change policies upon taking office. Biden's decision, made under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act of 1953, reflects the long-held concerns of coastal communities and businesses about irreversible damage from drilling. The ban has no end date and could be challenging for Trump to overturn. It covers over 625 million acres (253 million hectares) of waters. Environmental groups welcomed the move, while the oil and gas industry criticized it as harmful to American energy security.

New York Judge Juan M. Merchan denied President-elect Donald Trump's request to halt sentencing in his hush money case, scheduling it for this Friday. Trump is set to be the first president to take office with a criminal conviction. Last Friday, Merchan rejected Trump's bid to dismiss the case due to his impending return to the White House but indicated he is unlikely to impose punishment for the 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Trump's lawyers filed an appeal with the state appellate court but did not immediately seek to pause sentencing. Prosecutors urged proceeding as scheduled, citing public interest and the finality of criminal proceedings. Any delay could push sentencing beyond Trump's second term, potentially until 2029. Merchan suggested unconditional discharge as the most viable solution.

US President-elect Donald Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., is set to visit Greenland on January 7, according to a local government official who spoke to Reuters. This comes two weeks after Trump expressed interest in gaining control over the Arctic island. Greenland's permanent secretary for foreign affairs, Mininnguaq Kleist, stated that no meetings with Greenlandic government representatives are scheduled, labeling it a private visit. A source familiar with the trip revealed that Trump Jr. plans a one-day visit to shoot video content for a podcast and will not meet any government officials or political figures. Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark with a population of 57,000, is rich in minerals, oil, and natural gas but has a slow economy reliant on fishing and annual subsidies from Denmark. Trump previously expressed interest in buying Greenland during his 2017-2021 term but was publicly rebuffed by Greenlandic and Danish authorities. Two weeks ago, Trump posted on Truth Social that controlling Greenland is an absolute necessity. Last week, Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede, in his New Year speech, intensified calls for independence from Denmark, urging the island to break free from the shackles of colonialism and shape its own future.

Pope Francis appointed Italian nun Sister Simona Brambilla as the first woman prefect of a major Vatican office, responsible for all Catholic religious orders. This historic appointment marks a significant step in Francis' efforts to increase women's leadership roles in the church. Brambilla, 59, previously served as the deputy in the same department and has worked as a missionary in Mozambique. The pope also named Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime as her co-leader. One of Brambilla's major challenges will be addressing the declining number of nuns globally. Francis' 2022 reform allowed laypeople, including women, to head dicasteries, but he has upheld the ban on female priests.

New York City became the first in the United States to impose a congestion fee for vehicles entering the busiest areas of Manhattan south of 60th Street starting January 5th. The fee varies based on time, vehicle type, and payment method, with regular cars paying $9 during peak hours and $2.25 otherwise. Small commercial trucks and some buses pay $14.40 and $3.60 respectively, while large trucks and tour buses pay $21.60 and $5.40. Taxis and ride-hailing services pass the fee to passengers. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority estimates the plan will reduce congestion by at least 13% and raise $15 billion for transportation improvements, including subway modernization. Critics argue it's a money-making scheme with limited congestion relief. Republican lawmakers have urged President-elect Trump to abolish the fee, as he pledged during his campaign.

Former Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, who led Greece into the European Union's single currency in 2001, passed away on Sunday at the age of 88 at his summer house in the Peloponnese. Simitis, a law professor and reformist, assumed leadership of the PASOK socialist party in 1996 and served as prime minister until 2004. Current conservative Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis paid tribute to him as a worthy and noble political opponent. The government declared four days of mourning and announced that his funeral would be state-funded. While credited for reducing government spending, critics argue he did not sufficiently tackle corruption. Simitis had been vacationing near Athens in the Peloponnese and was rushed to the hospital unconscious early in the morning, where his death was confirmed. He is survived by his wife and two daughters. Under his leadership, Greece reduced its budget deficit and public debt, qualifying Athens for euro zone membership. In 2012, he published a book titled 'Derailment,' criticizing the handling of the Greek debt crisis by Greek politicians and the EU, and accusing the European Commission of ignoring overspending by his conservative successor.

France's health ministry reported its first case of the new mpox variant on Monday, according to AFP. The patient, a woman, had not traveled to Central Africa, the origin of the new virus strain, but had been in contact with two individuals who had returned from that region. The diagnosis was made in the northwestern region of Brittany at a hospital in Rennes, as reported by the French regional newspaper Ouest France. The new form of mpox, known as the clade 1b variant, is associated with a global health emergency declared by the World Health Organization in August. Neighboring Germany and Britain reported their first cases in October.

On Monday, a security guard at the Honduran consulate near Atlanta, USA, was shot dead by an armed man who refused to surrender his weapon and instead opened fire. Honduran Foreign Minister Eduardo Enrique Reina stated that the suspect, a Honduran national, was in custody, and another person was wounded. The guard, of Mexican origin, was mortally wounded with five shots but managed to close the door, potentially preventing further casualties. A Honduran witness reported the suspect's license plate number to the police. The suspect is being questioned at the Doraville Police Department, and the injured person is receiving treatment at a hospital, according to Doraville city spokesperson Emily Heenan.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was found in contempt of court on Monday for failing to properly respond to information requests related to a $148 million defamation judgment awarded to two Georgia election workers. Judge Lewis J. Liman ruled after Giuliani testified for a second day at a contempt hearing. Giuliani missed a Dec. 20 deadline to provide evidence, impacting the judge's decision on whether he can keep his Palm Beach, Florida, condominium. Giuliani failed to disclose full details of his doctors and other professionals, leading the judge to infer they were not in Florida. The judge also barred Giuliani from presenting email or text message evidence. Giuliani testified for three hours on Friday and remotely on Monday. His attorney, Joseph Cammarata, called the case a form of 'lawfare.' The election workers' lawyers cited Giuliani's 'consistent pattern of willful defiance.' The trial is set for Jan. 16.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's incoming Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, has postponed a fact-finding trip to Kyiv and other European capitals originally planned for early January. The trip, which was to take place before Trump's inauguration on January 20, has been delayed. Kellogg's team had also arranged meetings with officials in cities including Rome and Paris. This would have been the first visit to Kyiv by Trump administration officials since the November 5 election. The reason for the delay is not immediately clear. Trump has previously claimed he could resolve the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office, but has made little progress. Ending the conflict swiftly remains a key priority for his incoming administration. Neither Kellogg nor a representative for the Ukrainian embassy in Washington immediately responded to requests for comment.

On Monday, a suspected bomb explosion at a school near Abuja, the Nigerian capital, resulted in at least two deaths and two injuries. Police spokesperson Josephine Adeh stated that the incident occurred at Tsangagyar Sani Uthman Islamiyya School in a village near Abuja. Investigations revealed that three men from the northern state of Katsina, who visited the school, were suspected of bringing an improvised explosive device (IED). Tragically, two of the men died while tampering with the IED on the school veranda, while the third man and a female trader sustained severe injuries and are currently receiving treatment under police guard. The FCT Bomb Squad confirmed it was an IED explosion, as remnants of the device have been recovered. It was unclear if there were students at the school at the time. Schools in Abuja were scheduled to reopen for a new term on January 13, although Islamic schools sometimes follow different calendars. Adeh said the police had taken the school owner into custody for questioning.

Four years after initiating a diversity push, McDonald's is adjusting some of its diversity practices due to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action in college admissions. Following the 2023 decision and conservative backlash against DEI programs, McDonald's joins companies like Walmart, John Deere, and Harley-Davidson in scaling back initiatives. McDonald's will retire specific diversity goals for senior leadership and end a program encouraging supplier diversity training. It will also pause external surveys, similar to Lowe's and Ford Motor Co. In 2021, McDonald's launched diversity initiatives amid sexual harassment and discrimination lawsuits. The company cites the shifting legal and political landscape, including opposition from President-elect Donald Trump, as factors influencing policy review. In an open letter, McDonald's leadership reaffirmed commitment to inclusion, noting progress in gender pay equity and diverse supplier spending. The diversity team will be renamed the Global Inclusion Team, and demographic reporting will continue.

The Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved a 171-page agreement with the federal government to overhaul police training and use-of-force policies following the 2020 murder of George Floyd. The consent decree, requiring court supervision, mandates officers to prioritize human life and prohibits race, gender, or ethnicity from influencing force decisions. This follows a scathing DOJ report in June 2023 alleging systemic discrimination and constitutional rights violations by the Minneapolis Police Department. An independent monitor will oversee changes, subject to judicial approval. Council President Elliott Payne emphasized the long journey ahead, while Council member Robin Wonsley expressed skepticism about the Trump administration's commitment. A similar state agreement was approved in 2023. The DOJ has initiated 12 similar investigations since April 2021, reaching agreements with several cities.

Moldovan Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tatiana Barac stated on the ministry's Telegram channel that a representative of the Russian embassy was summoned to the Foreign Ministry following the embassy's statement on the energy crisis in Transnistria. Barac noted that such statements negatively impact relations between Chisinau and Moscow. Earlier, the Russian embassy expressed concern over the rapidly deteriorating situation in Transnistria, where Russian gas supply was cut off on January 1. The embassy claimed the crisis in the unrecognized republic was artificially created by the collective West and Ukraine, accusing Moldovan and Ukrainian media of shamelessly shifting responsibility to Russia. Unlike Moldova, Transnistria lacks an alternative gas source and has shut down central heating and hot water supply, closed industrial enterprises, and initiated rolling blackouts. The Cuciurgan (Moldovan) power plant in Transnistria has switched from gas to coal, with stockpiles expected to last until late January or mid-February.