News from January 11, 2025 at 2 AM

The wildfire in Los Angeles, USA, which began on January 7, has resulted in 10 deaths and the evacuation of 180,000 people as of January 9, with nearly 14,000 hectares of land burned. President Biden described it as the worst fire in California's history, canceling his visit to Italy; Vice President Harris also canceled her trips to Singapore, Bahrain, and Germany. Among the five wildfires in Los Angeles County, the Pacific Palisades and Eaton Canyon fires are the most severe, with over 9,000 buildings damaged or destroyed and 130,000 residents evacuated. Biden announced that the federal government will cover the first 180 days of disaster relief costs, deploying an additional 400 firefighters and 30 firefighting aircraft. Many celebrity homes have been destroyed, with estimated damages reaching up to $150 billion.

The US has increased its reward to $25 million for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, on the day he was sworn in for a third six-year term. The inauguration was met with condemnation from the international community and Venezuelan opposition leaders. Rewards were also offered for the arrest of Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and up to $15 million for Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino. The UK sanctioned 15 Venezuelan officials for undermining democracy and human rights. The EU and Canada also imposed new sanctions due to Maduro's actions. Maduro denied allegations by Western countries and vowed his new term would bring peace and prosperity. The July 28 election results were widely rejected internationally, leaving Maduro increasingly isolated.

The Lebanese Parliament elected army chief Joseph Aoun as the new president, with 99 out of 128 votes. In his inaugural address, Aoun stated that his primary goals are to rebuild Lebanon after the war with Israel and to strengthen relations with Arab countries. He emphasized that Lebanese authorities aim to develop foreign policy relations with both Western and Eastern nations, establishing new alliances based on mutual respect. Aoun highlighted that the reconstruction efforts will address the damage caused by Israeli aggression.

US President Joe Biden imposed significant sanctions on Russia's energy sector on January 10. The sanctions target Russian oil and liquefied natural gas, and are expected to cost Russia billions of dollars per month. The blacklist includes companies like Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, as well as 183 tankers, traders, oilfield services firms, and senior officials at the Russian Energy Ministry. The US has also narrowed the Treasury's license that allowed Western financial systems to process transactions of Russian energy. It is suggested that these sanctions could be part of a potential deal on Ukraine between Moscow and the incoming Trump administration.

In 2024, global average temperatures reached approximately 1.6°C above pre-industrial levels, marking the first time the symbolic 1.5°C threshold was crossed and making it the hottest year on record. Although the international 1.5°C target has not yet been breached, this data indicates we are nearing this critical point. UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged countries to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in 2025. Copernicus data reveals that the last decade has been the warmest in history. The extreme heat in 2024 was primarily due to human-emitted greenhouse gases, with natural factors like El Niño playing a smaller role. Experts warn that even minor global warming can lead to more frequent extreme weather. In 2024, regions such as West Africa, South America, Central Europe, North America, and South Asia experienced severe weather events. Scientists express concern about future climate trends but emphasize that emissions reductions can still control warming.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that Israel has struck multiple Houthi targets in Yemen in retaliation for Houthi attacks on Israel. The targets included military infrastructure sites on Yemen's western coast and inland, particularly at the Hizaz power station, which serves as a central energy source for the Houthi terrorist regime's military activities. Additionally, the IDF targeted military infrastructure in the Al Hudaydah and Ras Isa ports on the western coast. The IDF emphasized that the Houthi terrorist regime has repeatedly attacked the State of Israel, its citizens, and civilian infrastructure, including with UAVs and surface-to-surface missiles. The IDF stressed that Israel has the right and obligation to defend itself. The Houthi regime, a key part of the Iranian axis of terror, continues to destabilize the region and the wider world through attacks on international shipping vessels and routes. The IDF vowed to continue operating against any threat to the State of Israel and its citizens at any distance.

The US Supreme Court is set to rule on a law that bans TikTok in the US over national security concerns unless its China-based parent company, ByteDance, sells the platform before a January 19 deadline. The court's nine justices heard arguments from TikTok and content creators' lawyers, who argued the ban would violate free speech protections for over 170 million US users. The US government contends that without a sale, TikTok could be used by China for spying and political manipulation. President-elect Donald Trump opposes the ban. The law requires ByteDance to sell TikTok in the US or cease operations by January 19, but the company refuses to sell. Congress passed the law with bipartisan support, addressing years of concerns about the popular platform. The legislation does not ban app use but requires tech giants like Apple and Google to stop offering it and inhibit updates, which analysts say would eventually kill TikTok. TikTok denies any Chinese Communist Party influence and claims the law violates users' First Amendment rights. Former US Solicitor General Noel Francisco stressed the ban could lead to dangerous censorship. Stanford law professor Jeffrey L. Fisher, representing creators who sued, noted historical foreign adversary campaigns but argued ideas are not national security threats under the First Amendment. Justice Department lawyer Elizabeth B. Prelogar highlighted ByteDance's ties to the Chinese government as a national security risk. During nearly three hours of debate, justices repeatedly addressed national security and free speech concerns. Trump urged the court to delay its decision for a political solution. Legal observers predict the Supreme Court may side with the government.

On January 10, 2025, U.S. President Joe Biden addressed the media in the Oval Office regarding the federal response to wildfires in Los Angeles. The Biden administration on Friday renewed deportation relief for 900,000 immigrants from Venezuela, El Salvador, Ukraine, and Sudan, delaying any attempts by President-elect Donald Trump to end these protections. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) extended enrollment in the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program for these nations, providing an additional 18 months of deportation reprieve and work permits. Since taking office in 2021, Biden has significantly increased the number of immigrants eligible for TPS, which now covers over 1 million people from 17 countries. Trump, who is set to return to the White House on January 20, previously sought to end most TPS enrollments during his 2017-2021 term but was blocked by U.S. courts. Trump is expected to try again to terminate most TPS protections. The Biden administration's actions fell short of broader demands by activists and some Democrats to grant TPS to more recent immigrants and those from other nations. Todd Schulte, president of the advocacy group FWD.us, said the extensions would allow hundreds of thousands to continue contributing to their communities and the economy, but also urged Biden to expand TPS to Nicaragua and other nations. Approximately 600,000 Venezuelans are eligible for TPS, the largest group in the program. The Biden administration, which first granted Venezuelans TPS in 2021, cited high crime rates in Venezuela linked to political and economic instability under President Nicolas Maduro, who was sworn in for a third term on Friday.

Elon Musk, the world's wealthiest individual and close friend of US President-elect Donald Trump, has escalated his involvement in European politics by broadcasting a lengthy conversation with Alice Weidel, the leader of Germany's far-right party, on his X social media platform. The discussion between Musk and Weidel, who heads the Alternative for Germany (AfD), known for its racist and vehemently anti-immigrant stance, aired late on January 9 in Europe. This dialogue has garnered significant attention, highlighting Musk's sympathies towards far-right politics.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that Slovakia will impose tough measures against Ukraine if the gas transit issues are not resolved, including halting humanitarian aid, reducing support for refugees, and potentially stopping emergency power supplies to Ukraine. Fico also mentioned that Slovakia could use its veto power in the EU on Ukraine-related matters. On Monday, Fico noted that a new round of EU gas consultations scheduled for January 7 was disrupted due to the absence of the Ukrainian delegation. On January 1, transit of Russian gas to Europe through Ukraine was completely halted following Kiev's refusal to extend a previous agreement that allowed for the annual pumping of 40 billion cubic meters. Earlier, Gazprom reported that Kiev's refusal deprived the Russian company of the technical and legal ability to supply fuel via this route. Data from European gas transportation operators confirm that supplies to Austria, Italy, Moldova, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic have been stopped.

On the afternoon of January 10, a hammer attack occurred at the Tama Campus of Hosei University in Tokyo, Japan, injuring eight people. A 22-year-old South Korean female student was arrested for wielding a hammer in class and assaulting her classmates. All the injured were conscious and sustained minor injuries. The police received the report at around 3:45 PM and quickly cordoned off the scene for investigation. The suspect claimed she felt oppressed and frustrated due to being ostracized by her peers, leading her to commit the attack. This incident is a rare case of violence on a Japanese campus.

On January 10, 2025, a massive winter storm hit the Southern U.S., causing over 3,000 flight cancellations and more than 4,000 delays. A Delta Air Lines Boeing 757-300 aborted takeoff at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport due to an engine issue shortly after 9 a.m., leading to the evacuation of 201 passengers and seven crew members via emergency slides. Four passengers sustained minor injuries. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident. Over half of Atlanta's flights were canceled, with more than 400 delayed. Dallas-Fort Worth and Charlotte Douglas International Airports also saw over 1,200 cancellations.

On January 10, US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed Washington's support for Ukraine, new US sanctions against Russia, and enhancing Ukrainian air defenses. In a social media post, Mr. Zelensky thanked Mr. Biden for the nearly three-year support in Ukraine's war with Russia and praised the US for its vital role in uniting the international community. The presidents also talked about new sanctions targeting Russia's energy sector to curb Putin's war funding. Mr. Zelensky emphasized the need to continue strengthening Ukraine's air defenses to protect cities and villages from Russian missile and drone attacks, noting the effectiveness of US-supplied Patriot missiles.

Recently, multiple European countries have been experiencing severe cold weather. The UK Met Office stated that the UK will continue to be covered in snow and ice in the coming days, with temperatures in Scotland's snowfields dropping to as low as -16 degrees Celsius. Sub-zero temperatures have also been observed in northern France and Germany, while Belgium and the Netherlands have issued orange alerts for snow and ice. Brussels, the capital of Belgium, experienced heavy snowfall on January 9th. Satellite service company Maxar reported that a cold front is sweeping through Northern Europe, with the average temperature in Oslo, the capital of Norway, expected to reach -11.3 degrees Celsius on January 12th.

Mozambique's opposition leader Venancio Mondlane has declared himself the country's president after losing the October 9 presidential election. Returning to the capital Maputo from self-imposed exile due to threats to his life, Mondlane took the presidential oath with a Bible at the airport in the presence of his supporters. He expressed readiness for dialogue with the authorities while urging continued protests against the election outcome. Legally elected President Daniel Chapo, also secretary general of the ruling Frelimo party, called for national unity and reconciliation. On December 23, the Constitutional Council confirmed Frelimo's victory and Chapo's election. Mondlane, refusing to recognize the results, called for protests that have reportedly led to over 270 deaths according to opposition sources. The authorities announced Chapo's inauguration for January 15.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Thursday to sanction the International Criminal Court (ICC) in protest of its issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister over Israel's campaign in Gaza. The vote, with 243 in favor and 140 against, supported the 'Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act,' which sanctions foreigners who investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute U.S. citizens or those of allied countries, including Israel. Forty-five Democrats joined 198 Republicans in backing the bill, with no Republican opposition. Representative Brian Mast, Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, stated in a speech that the U.S. is passing this law due to a 'kangaroo court' attempting to arrest Israel's prime minister. The vote highlights strong Republican support for Israel's government, now controlling both chambers of Congress. President-elect Donald Trump, set to be sworn in for a second term on Jan. 20, will see the act swiftly considered in the Senate by Republican majority leader John Thune. The ICC, a permanent court prosecuting war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and aggression, justified the warrants based on prosecutorial evidence and the need to prevent ongoing crimes. Congressional Republicans have denounced the ICC since it issued warrants for Netanyahu and former defense chief Yoav Gallant, accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the 15-month Gaza conflict, allegations Israel denies. The Republican-led House passed a similar act in June, but it was not taken up by the then Democratic-controlled Senate.

On August 22, 2024, Tesla announced a voluntary recall of approximately 239,000 electric vehicles in the U.S. to address an issue that can cause rearview camera failures. The recall affects 2024-2025 Model 3 and Model S sedans, and 2023-2025 Model X and Model Y SUVs. Tesla stated it has released a free over-the-air software update to fix some camera issues. In 2024, Tesla issued 16 recalls in the U.S., covering 5.14 million EVs. For the latest recall, Tesla received 887 warranty claims and dozens of field reports but reported no injurious or fatal accidents due to the camera failures. Vehicles with circuit board failures will receive free computer replacements from Tesla.