News from January 9, 2025 at 2 AM

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump made a series of remarks on July 7, suggesting the use of military or economic means to seize control of the Panama Canal and Greenland, advocating for Canada to become part of the U.S., and proposing to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the 'Gulf of the United States'. The Panamanian government emphasized that the sovereignty of the canal is non-negotiable, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reiterated that Greenland is not for sale, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that Canada could never become part of the U.S. International media and experts strongly reacted, viewing Trump's comments as contrary to international norms and potentially causing turmoil in alliances. The EU and German government both expressed opposition to changing borders by force.

Los Angeles experienced one of its most devastating days on Tuesday as wildfires ravaged the city. The Pacific Palisades Fire began around 10:30 AM local time, rapidly spreading to over 3,000 acres due to fierce winds. Thick black smoke covered the horizon, with ash falling on cars 20 miles away. The fire remains out of control, joined by three other uncontained fires. LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell described it as a 'tragic time' with unprecedented winds. Television footage showed multimillion-dollar homes engulfed in flames, with residents comparing the scene to a disaster movie. Fires are burning uncontrollably, overwhelming emergency services and leading to water shortages. Elderly residents were evacuated from a convalescent home in Altadena amid flying embers. This is the worst wildfire situation in 25 years, resulting in two deaths, at least 1,000 buildings destroyed, with forecasts suggesting worse to come.

On January 9, the situation in Chad's capital N'Djamena returned to normal following an attempted destabilization. A General Staff spokesman stated that the situation is fully under control and the attempt to destabilize has been foiled. Earlier, reports emerged of shots fired near the presidential palace, with unidentified gunmen attacking the palace, but the assault was quickly suppressed. The Al Arabiya TV channel quoted sources saying that Chadian armed forces repelled an attack by the Boko Haram terrorist group on the presidential palace. Tanks and police units have been deployed to the palace, and residents of the capital are also heading there for a rally in support of Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno. According to the AFP news agency, shooting also occurred inside the presidential palace, but this information has not been confirmed by other sources.

On January 7, 2025, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck near Shigatse city in Tibet, China, with a depth of 10 kilometers. According to Chinese state media, the quake has resulted in at least 95 deaths and 130 injuries. Tremors were felt in neighboring Nepal and parts of India. Shigatse, considered one of Tibet's holiest cities, saw significant destruction of houses, with rescue efforts underway. Temperatures dropped to -18°C, disrupting power and water supplies. Jiang Haikun, a researcher at the China Earthquake Networks Center, stated the likelihood of another major quake is low. President Xi Jinping called for all-out rescue efforts to minimize casualties. Nepal reported only minor damages.

Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, arrested in Iran on December 19, has been released and is returning to Rome. Her arrest followed the detention of an Iranian engineer in Milan by Italian authorities on suspicion of supplying drone technology linked to US soldiers' deaths. Held in Tehran's Evin prison, Sala's release was announced by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who thanked those involved in her return. Sala's partner, Daniele Raineri, said she was emotional and overjoyed. Iran initially cited a violation of its laws for her detention, but US officials suggested it was linked to the arrest of Iranian national Mohammad Abedini in Milan on December 16. Abedini is set to appear in court on January 15. Italy's foreign intelligence chief, Giovanni Caravelli, personally escorted Sala back to Italy.

On June 6, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced in Ottawa that he will resign after the Liberal Party selects a new leader. Trudeau has been in power for nearly a decade, with the Liberal Party's support rate now trailing the Conservative Party by over 20 percentage points. Public opinion is concerned that his resignation will exacerbate economic uncertainty. Trudeau faced several controversies during his tenure,被认为未能有效解决生活成本上升等问题. The new leader is expected to be chosen by late March, with Parliament able to initiate a no-confidence motion earliest in May. Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre criticized the Liberals, while Trump's tariff threats are seen as Canada's primary crisis.

French far-right politician Jean-Marie Le Pen passed away on January 7, 2025, at the age of 96. Le Pen founded the National Front in 1972 and ran for president multiple times, notably reaching the second round in 2002, sparking nationwide protests. His daughter, Marine Le Pen, took over as party leader in 2011 and expelled him in 2015. His political career was marked by controversy and multiple convictions for extremist remarks. He was a seminal figure in French far-right politics, leaving a lasting impact on the nation's political landscape.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump requested the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene and halt the sentencing in a hush money case involving him, following the New York appellate court's rejection of his request to suspend the sentencing. New York State Supreme Court Judge Merkin had set January 10 for the sentencing in the hush money case. On May 30, 2024, a New York City jury found Trump guilty of violating New York state laws by paying $130,000 in hush money to an adult film actress during the 2016 presidential election. Trump's motion to suspend the sentencing was denied.

South Korea's anti-corruption agency received a new court warrant to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, following a previous attempt blocked by the presidential security service. Yoon faces rebellion allegations over his short-lived martial law decree on December 3. Last week, 150 investigators tried to detain Yoon but retreated after a standoff. Detention warrants typically last seven days but can be extended to around 10 days. If detained, the agency may seek formal arrest. The Constitutional Court is reviewing Yoon's impeachment.

On January 8, 2025, Takeshi Ebisawa, a leader of the Japanese organized crime syndicate yakuza, pleaded guilty in a New York federal court to charges of trafficking nuclear materials and conspiring to traffic narcotics and heavy weapons. Prosecutors stated that Ebisawa admitted to conspiring to purchase U.S.-made surface-to-air missiles and other heavy weaponry intended for armed ethnic groups in Myanmar, and to accept large quantities of heroin and methamphetamine as partial payment for the weapons. The 60-year-old Ebisawa faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum possible sentence of life in prison.

Ukraine's Telegraf news outlet, citing sources close to Vladimir Zelensky, reported that Zelensky has decided to run for re-election. The information has not been officially confirmed or denied. The report states that with a 52% confidence level, Zelensky still has a chance to win the presidential election, provided former Ukrainian army chief Valery Zaluzhny does not run. Zaluzhny has not yet made a final decision on his political future. Zelensky's presidential term expires on May 20, 2024, and parliamentary and presidential elections have not been held in the country due to martial law.

On January 7, 2025, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump warned Hamas at a press conference in Palm Beach, Florida, that 'all hell will break out in the Middle East' if it does not release the hostages held in Gaza by his inauguration on January 20. Trump emphasized that this would be detrimental to Hamas and everyone involved, stating the need to retrieve the hostages for Israel and the U.S. Approximately 100 hostages are believed to remain in captivity in Gaza, with some presumed dead. Hamas released a list of 34 hostages it is willing to release in the first stage of a potential ceasefire with Israel. Trump's designated envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, reported progress in negotiations in Doha, Qatar, and expressed hope for positive announcements by the inauguration. Israel insists the war will continue until the hostages are freed and Hamas is dismantled.

On January 8, 2025, Ann Altman, the sister of ChatGPT creator Sam Altman, filed a lawsuit in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, alleging that Sam Altman sexually abused her between 1997 and 2006. The lawsuit claims the abuse began when she was three and Sam Altman was 12. Sam Altman, who is the CEO of OpenAI, denied the allegations in a joint statement with his mother and two brothers, stating that all claims are untrue and highlighting the difficulty of caring for a family member with mental health issues. Ann Altman alleges that her brother groomed and manipulated her, causing severe physical injuries and emotional distress, resulting in significant medical expenses. Sam Altman noted that he provides monthly financial support to his sister but emphasized the immense pain this situation causes to their family. The lawsuit states that the last instance of alleged abuse occurred when Sam Altman was an adult and Ann Altman was still a minor. Ann Altman has previously made similar allegations on social media platforms.

On New Year's Day, a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, killing the driver. On January 7, officials revealed that the suspect used ChatGPT to plan the blast. The deceased was identified as Matthew Livelsberger, a 37-year-old active-duty soldier from Colorado Springs. Authorities stated this was the first incident in the U.S. where ChatGPT was used to build an explosive device. Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department noted clear evidence of the suspect using ChatGPT to aid in his attack plan. OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, said their models are designed to refuse harmful instructions. The FBI indicated that the suspect had no animosity towards President-elect Donald Trump and likely suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.

On January 8th local time, Poland's Consulate General in St. Petersburg officially closed. The Polish and EU flags were lowered, and the sign at the entrance of the consulate building was removed. In early December last year, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that in response to the Polish government's closure of the Russian Consulate General in Poznan and the expulsion of Russian diplomats, Russia decided to close the Polish Consulate General in St. Petersburg from January 10, 2025. This incident reflects the tense diplomatic relations between the two countries. The Polish government has not yet made an official response. The closure of the consulate will affect related consular services.

A former senior UK Special Forces officer testified in a public inquiry into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan that the SAS had a 'golden pass' allowing them to get away with murder. The accusation was published by the Afghanistan Inquiry on January 8, 2025, focusing on night raids by UKSF between 2010 and 2013. The officer, a former operations chief of staff for the SBS, raised concerns in 2011 about the SAS carrying out executions and covering them up. The inquiry revealed doubts about the SAS's pursuit of kill counts in Afghanistan. A junior SBS officer testified that the SAS killed civilians, including children. In February 2011, Afghan special forces temporarily withdrew support due to alleged unlawful killings by the SAS.

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.

The Nigerian military announced on Wednesday that its troops had killed 34 Islamist militants in a gun battle in northeastern Borno state, with six soldiers also losing their lives. The clash occurred on Saturday in Sabon Gari village when militants ambushed troops returning to a military base, according to military spokesman Major-General Edward Buba. The militants, belonging to Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), were riding motorcycles and trucks mounted with guns. The troops, supported by the Civilian Joint Taskforce militia and vigilante groups, successfully repelled the attack. Nigeria has been battling a 16-year-long Islamist insurgency in its northeast, primarily driven by Boko Haram and its offshoot ISWAP, leading to significant human and economic losses, including mass displacement and a humanitarian crisis. Buba stated that six soldiers were killed in the operation, and a vigilante commander was injured by an improvised explosive device (IED). The Nigerian Air Force also conducted airstrikes on the fleeing insurgents, resulting in additional casualties beyond the 34 killed in the gun battle.

On January 7, 2025, two British men, Aziz Ziriat and Samuel Harris, went missing while hiking in the Dolomites, Italy. Their last contact was on January 1, and they failed to return as planned. Local rescue teams, including Alpine Rescue, Guardia di Finanza, and the fire brigade, are actively searching, but recent snowfall has hindered progress. Rebecca Dimmock, Ziriat's girlfriend, described them as experienced hikers who planned a New Year's hike. Friends and family have traveled to Italy to assist in the search and have posted appeals on social media.

Hundreds of US veterans and current and former officials have signed a letter urging President-elect Donald Trump to preserve special visa and resettlement programs for Afghans at risk of retribution for working with the US during the 20-year war against the Taliban. The letter, organized by #AfghanEvac, has garnered over 380 signatures, including that of Jack McCain, son of the late Senator John McCain. It calls for continued funding for the resettlement of at-risk Afghans and their families and for an additional 50,000 Special Immigration Visas (SIVs), as the current cap is nearing exhaustion. The Trump transition team has not yet responded. Shawn VanDiver of #AfghanEvac expressed concerns that Trump might curtail these programs. Since the Taliban seized Kabul in August 2021, over 183,000 at-risk Afghans and family members have been resettled in the US. Currently, more than 20,000 SIV applications are being processed, with about 40% of completed applications rejected.

Federal Reserve officials expressed concerns about inflation and the potential impact of President-elect Donald Trump's policies during their December meeting, indicating a slower pace of interest rate cuts due to uncertainty, according to minutes released Wednesday. The meeting summary mentioned the effects of potential changes in immigration and trade policy on the U.S. economy at least four times. Since Trump's November election victory, he has signaled plans for aggressive tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada, along with deregulation and mass deportations. The Fed lowered its benchmark rate to 4.25%-4.5% but reduced the expected number of rate cuts in 2025 from four to two. Market expectations suggest only one or two more cuts this year, with a nearly 100% chance of no change at the Jan. 28-29 meeting. Officials noted increased inflation risks and the need for cautious decision-making. Fed Chair Jerome Powell likened the situation to navigating in uncertainty, emphasizing the need to slow policy easing.