News from January 7, 2025 at 2 PM

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.

On Monday, gunmen opened fire on a bus carrying Israelis in the occupied West Bank village of Al-Funduq, killing at least three people and wounding seven others. Violence in the territory has surged since Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack from Gaza ignited the ongoing war. Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service reported that two women in their 60s and a man in his 40s were killed, with the military searching for the attackers. Palestinians have conducted numerous shooting, stabbing, and car-ramming attacks against Israelis in recent years. Israel has conducted near-nightly military raids across the territory, often leading to gun battles with militants. The Palestinian Health Ministry states that at least 838 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank since the start of the Gaza war. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to apprehend the attackers. Hamas praised the attack but did not claim responsibility. Approximately 3 million Palestinians live in the West Bank under Israeli military rule, with over 500,000 Israeli settlers in more than 100 settlements. The war in Gaza continues with recent progress in ceasefire and hostage release talks.

A strong earthquake struck a high-altitude region of western China and parts of Nepal on Tuesday, killing at least 95 people in Tibet and damaging hundreds of houses. Many were trapped as dozens of aftershocks hit the remote area. Rescue workers searched for survivors in heavily damaged villages. CCTV reported at least 130 injuries in the earthquake-hit area in Tibet. Over 1,000 homes were damaged. Northeastern Nepal felt the quake strongly, but no initial injuries were reported. The epicenter was in Tibet's Tingri county, a seismically active area. Xi Jinping called for all-out rescue efforts, and over 3,000 rescuers were deployed. The government allocated 100 million yuan for disaster relief.

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.

Russia claims that its forces have captured the front-line town of Kurakhove in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region. The town, which has been a focal point of Russian advances in recent months, serves as a crucial stepping-stone to the key logistical hub of Pokrovsk. Ukraine has not acknowledged the fall of Kurakhove, located 35km south of Pokrovsk. Intense fighting has also been ongoing in Russia's Kursk region following a Ukrainian counter-attack on Sunday. An unverified image from social media, provided by Reuters, appears to show a soldier holding a Russian flag in Kurakhove. Viktor Trehubov, spokesperson for Ukraine's Khortytsia group of forces, told Reuters that Ukrainian forces were still engaging Russian troops inside Kurakhove as of Monday morning. Kurakhove is connected to Pokrovsk by roads that are vital for moving troops and supplies along the front line. Analyst Roman Pohorily noted that capturing Kurakhove would allow Russian forces to attack Pokrovsk from a new northern direction. Russia's defense ministry also claimed on Monday that it had captured the village of Dachenske, about 8km south of Pokrovsk. Kyiv's forces have reportedly been suffering from manpower shortages and have been losing ground in eastern Ukraine as Russian troops advance.

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.

North Korea announced on Tuesday that its latest weapons test involved a new hypersonic intermediate-range missile designed to strike remote targets in the Pacific, as leader Kim Jong Un vowed to expand his nuclear arsenal to counter rival nations. South Korea's military had detected a North Korean missile launch the previous day, which flew 1,100 kilometers before landing in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. This launch occurred weeks before Donald Trump's return to the U.S. presidency, following a year of intense weapons testing by North Korea. Last year, North Korea demonstrated various weapons systems capable of targeting its neighbors and the U.S., including solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles. There are concerns that its military capabilities could further advance through technology transfers from Russia, as the two countries align over the war in Ukraine. North Korea has been testing various intermediate-range missiles in recent years, which could potentially reach the U.S. military hub of Guam. Recently, North Korea has been testing these missiles with purported hypersonic warheads to enhance their survivability. Since 2021, North Korea has been testing hypersonic weapons designed to fly at over five times the speed of sound. North Korean state media reported that Kim supervised Monday's launch, with the missile traveling 1,500 kilometers and reaching speeds of 12 times the speed of sound before accurately hitting a sea target. Lee Sung Joon, spokesperson for South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the South Korean military believes North Korea exaggerated the missile's capabilities. The test was likely a follow-up to another hypersonic missile test in April. Kim described the missile as a crucial achievement in bolstering North Korea's nuclear deterrence. The launch coincided with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Seoul for talks on the North Korean nuclear threat. Blinken condemned the launch, which violated U.N. Security Council resolutions, and expressed concerns about growing alignment between North Korea and Russia in Moscow's war on Ukraine. Assessments indicate North Korea has sent over 10,000 troops and conventional weapons to support Russia's war effort, raising concerns about potential technology transfers to North Korea. Kim vowed to implement the toughest anti-U.S. policy and criticized the Biden administration's security cooperation with Seoul and Tokyo.

US President-elect Donald Trump stated that Greenland is an incredible place and its people would benefit tremendously if it becomes part of the US, promising to protect and cherish it from a vicious outside world. He confirmed that his son, Donald Trump Jr., will visit Greenland to see some of its most magnificent areas and sights. According to Danmarksradio, Donald Trump Jr. is scheduled to arrive in Greenland on Tuesday, with no planned meetings with Greenland government members. Greenland's public broadcaster KNR noted that this unexpected visit coincides with intense political debates about Greenland's future relationship with Denmark, sparked by Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede's call for independence in his New Year's address. Late last year, Trump posted on Truth Social that Washington needs to control Greenland, to which Egede responded that the island is not for sale. During Trump's first presidential term in 2019, American media reported his interest in acquiring Greenland, a Danish territory with extensive autonomy, but Danish authorities refused to discuss the sale, deeming the idea absurd.

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.

Austrian Freedom Party leader Herbert Kickl met with the country's president on Monday amid expectations that he might be tasked with forming a new government, which would be the first led by the far right since World War II. The Freedom Party won 28.8% of the vote in September's parliamentary election, defeating outgoing Chancellor Karl Nehammer's conservative Austrian People's Party. However, in October, President Alexander Van der Bellen asked Nehammer to try forming a new government after his party refused to work with the Freedom Party, and other parties also refused to cooperate, leading to the collapse of coalition efforts. Nehammer announced his resignation in the first days of the new year. The People's Party then indicated a willingness to work under Kickl. Negotiations are not guaranteed to succeed, but there are no other realistic coalition options in the current parliament, and polls suggest a new election could further strengthen the Freedom Party. The far right and conservatives have governed together before, with the Freedom Party as the junior partner, most recently from 2017 to 2019, when Kickl served as interior minister in a government that collapsed due to a scandal involving the Freedom Party's leader at the time. The Freedom Party's election program calls for the 'remigration of uninvited foreigners' to achieve a more 'homogeneous' nation through strict border control and suspending the right to asylum via emergency law. The party also advocates ending sanctions against Russia, criticizes Western military aid to Ukraine, and wants to withdraw from the European Sky Shield Initiative, a missile defense project launched by Germany. Kickl has criticized 'elites' in Brussels and called for some powers to be returned from the European Union to Austria.

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.

Shares of Chinese tech giant Tencent Holdings plummeted nearly 8% in Hong Kong after being added to a list of 'Chinese military companies' by the U.S. Department of Defense, mirroring an 8% drop in its U.S. depository receipts on Wall Street. Other companies added to the list included battery maker CATL, part of the supply chain for automakers like Ford and Tesla, with CATL shares falling as much as 5.6% and eventually closing down 2.8% in Shenzhen. The National Defense Authorization Act of 2024 stipulates that the DoD will be prohibited from procuring goods or services directly from entities on the list starting June 2026, and indirectly from June 2027. In response, Tencent stated that its inclusion was 'clearly a mistake,' emphasizing it is not a military company or supplier and that the listing has no impact on its business. CATL also called the designation a mistake, stating it is not involved in any military-related activities. Ivan Su, senior equity analyst at Morningstar, believes Tencent has a good chance of being removed from the list through U.S. courts due to its business model focused on social networking and online gaming. He estimates the fair value of Tencent shares at HK$704 each, representing an 86.14% upside from the current price of HK$378.2. Separately, Vincent Su, also a senior equity analyst at Morningstar, noted that CATL's inclusion may deter U.S. customers from purchasing its energy storage system batteries in the future. The U.S. has been taking steps to restrict the transfer of high-end technologies to China, including revoking certain licenses to sell chips to Huawei in May last year and introducing sweeping export controls on critical technologies in September, including quantum computing and semiconductor goods.

The Yemeni movement Ansar Allah, known as the Houthis, announced on Monday that it had conducted an attack on the US aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman as it was preparing for a major air assault on Yemen. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saria stated that Yemeni Armed Forces' missile and UAV units carried out a joint operation using two winged missiles and four drones north of the Red Sea, thwarting the American attack. Last month, direct conflict between Israel and the Houthis intensified following a series of rocket and drone attacks from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. In response, Israel conducted airstrikes on Yemen's capital Sanaa and the Hudaydah province on December 19, resulting in civilian casualties. On December 26, Israel struck Sanaa International Airport again following additional Houthi attacks. World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was at the airport during the strike; he was unharmed, but a UN delegation crew member was injured.

Recently, scenes of crowded hospitals in Beijing with masked individuals have raised concerns about another pandemic. Beijing has confirmed a significant increase in cases of the flu-like human metapneumovirus (HMPV), particularly among children. Public health experts note that HMPV has been present for decades, with nearly every child being infected by age five. However, it can cause severe illness in very young children and those with weakened immune systems. HMPV spreads through direct contact and presents symptoms similar to the flu. Many northern hemisphere countries, including China, have seen a rise in HMPV cases, attributed to seasonal fluctuations. Experts reassure that HMPV is not likely to cause a pandemic like Covid-19, but advise standard precautions such as mask-wearing and hand hygiene.

On January 6, the Italian Prime Minister's office stated that Prime Minister Meloni did not discuss SpaceX's provision of Starlink services to Italy during her meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, denying any new agreements. The statement called the topic absurd, noting that contacts with SpaceX are part of regular discussions. Meloni arrived in the U.S. on January 4 to meet Trump. Bloomberg reported that negotiations between Italy and SpaceX had stalled but seemed to progress after the meeting. On January 6, Musk posted on social media, ready to provide Italy with the safest and most advanced network connection. Meloni is seen as a potential strong partner for Trump, having close ties with his ally Musk. She is one of the few foreign leaders to meet Trump in Florida since the U.S. elections last November.

At least 46 people, including women and children, were kidnapped in a raid on Gana town in Nigeria's northwest Zamfara state, according to residents and a local traditional leader. The attack, which occurred at about 2200 GMT on Sunday, involved dozens of gunmen on motorbikes who opened fire on the community and set fire to several homes and businesses. Alhaji Garba Haure, a traditional leader, stated that government security forces intervened, preventing the attackers from burning down the entire town, with no lives lost. Resident Bala Harauma suggested the actual number of abductees could be higher, with six people managing to escape. Another resident, Yusuf Mohammed, reported that the bandits set ablaze dozens of houses and silos containing foodstuffs. The captives from a similar attack in December were released after a ransom was paid.

The Wall Street Journal reported in October that then-US presidential candidate Donald Trump might ban certain DEI initiatives if he won a second term. McDonald's has announced it will scale back on its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies towards employees and suppliers, which critics perceive as 'woke.' The company will abandon practices including 'external surveys' that measured workplace inclusion for different minorities. This announcement follows McDonald’s global sales decline of 1.5% in Q3 2024, the largest in four years, coinciding with last year's E. coli outbreak linked to its burgers across 13 US states. McDonald's is the latest US company to roll back diversity goals, following similar actions by Walmart, Ford Motor Co., John Deere, Tractor Supply Company, and Harley Davidson. These developments came after US President-elect Donald Trump named Stephen Miller, a former adviser who leads a group challenging corporate DEI policies, as his incoming deputy chief of policy.

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.

Last month, Musk posed for a photo with Farage, seemingly backing him. On Jan 5, Musk abruptly called for Farage to resign as leader of the UK's right-wing Reform UK party, stating Farage lacks the necessary qualities. Farage responded that he disagrees with Musk. Reform UK won 4.1 million votes and five parliamentary seats in last July's national election. Farage had discussed potential donations from Musk but opposed Musk's support for anti-immigration activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. Musk also endorsed Germany's anti-immigration party and has repeatedly criticized UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Last week, Musk backed calls for an inquiry into the government's handling of rape cases by men of Pakistani heritage. Starmer is expected to address the criticism on Jan 6. UK Health Minister Wes Streeting defended Starmer.

South Korea's Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Park Yang-woo, announced on the 7th his plan to resign, taking responsibility for the plane crash at Muan Airport on December 29, 2024. Park stated at a press conference that he felt a significant responsibility for the disaster and would resign after handling the current situation. The incident involved Jeju Air flight 7C2216 from Bangkok, Thailand, which crashed while landing at Muan Airport, resulting in the deaths of 179 out of 175 passengers and 6 crew members, with only 2 flight attendants surviving. This marks the deadliest aviation accident in South Korea. The Korean prosecution subsequently decided to establish an 'Accident Response Headquarters' to investigate the incident in collaboration with the police, fire services, and other relevant authorities.

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.

New York City's Manhattan 'Congestion Reduction Zone' officially began imposing a congestion fee on the 5th, making it the first city in the United States to do so. Vehicles entering the zone during peak hours on weekdays must pay at least $9, with taxis and ride-hailing services charging passengers a lower fee, and low-income vehicles eligible for discounts. The new regulation aims to alleviate traffic congestion, improve public transportation, and enhance air quality. An average of 500,000 vehicles enter the zone daily, with an expected 13% reduction in traffic after the fee is imposed. The congestion fee is projected to raise $15 billion, which will be used for the maintenance and upgrade of the transportation system. The plan has faced opposition from some politicians and the public, but has been implemented following court rulings.

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.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan stated on Sunday that Syria's new leadership is determined to eliminate separatists within the country. The Turkish military reported it had 'neutralized' 32 members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in Syria. Last month, groups aligned with Turkey ousted Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. Since then, Turkey-backed Syrian forces have clashed occasionally with U.S.-backed Kurdish forces in the north. Erdogan, speaking at his party's provincial congress in Trabzon, said the revolution in Syria has dashed the hopes of the separatist terrorist organization. The new Syrian administration is firmly committed to preserving the country's territorial integrity and unitary structure. He warned the PKK that their only option is to surrender their weapons, abandon terrorism, and dissolve the organization, or face Turkey's iron fist. The defense ministry also announced an operation in northern Syria that neutralized 32 PKK members and another four in northern Iraq, where the militants are based.

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.