News from January 12, 2025 at 2 AM

Firefighters in Los Angeles are making a concerted effort to prevent a deadly wildfire from spreading into one of the city's most exclusive neighborhoods. Aerial crews have been dropping water and fire retardant on the flaming hills to contain the Palisades fire, which has expanded to threaten Brentwood and scorched nearly 23,000 acres, leaving at least 11 people dead. Large areas of Brentwood, including celebrity homes and the Getty Center museum, have been issued evacuation orders. The second-largest fire, the Eaton fire, has burned over 14,000 acres. Gusty Santa Ana winds are expected to exacerbate the fires. Approximately 153,000 residents are under mandatory evacuation, with another 166,000 warned they may need to flee. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Fire Chief Kristin Crowley face criticism over their response, and Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered an investigation into water supply issues.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on January 11 the capture of two North Korean soldiers in Russia's Kursk region, marking the first time North Korean soldiers have been captured alive since their entry into the war last autumn. According to Kyiv and its Western allies, North Korean regular troops joined the war on Russia's side in October, with initial estimates of their numbers exceeding 10,000. Zelensky stated that the captured soldiers were brought to Kyiv and are communicating with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), receiving necessary medical assistance. Ukraine claims that North Korean troops are fighting in the Kursk region, where Ukraine still controls several hundred square kilometers of territory. Pyongyang is also alleged to be supplying Russia with large quantities of artillery shells. The capture was carried out by Ukrainian special forces and paratroopers. SBU footage showed the wounded soldiers receiving treatment. Due to language barriers, their interrogation is being conducted in Korean with the help of South Korea's NIS. The soldiers, born in 2005 and 1999, have been serving in the North Korean armed forces since 2021 and 2016 respectively. They are being held under conditions in accordance with international law, and a criminal investigation is underway to determine if they violated Ukrainian law.

The black box of the Jeju Air plane that crashed last month stopped recording data four minutes before the accident. On January 11, the Korean Ministry of Transport stated that neither the Cockpit Voice Recorder nor the Flight Recorder recorded data in the final four minutes, and a plan has been formulated to investigate the cause. Investigators emphasized that they will not abandon the quest to determine the crash cause due to the data loss. The recorders have been sent to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board for analysis. Former accident investigator Shim Jae-dong noted that such a complete power failure is rare. The crash resulted in 179 fatalities, with only two crew members surviving. Prior to the incident, the airport had warned of bird activity, and the pilot issued a distress signal before attempting to go around, but the plane crashed on the second attempt when the landing gear was not lowered.

On January 10, US President-elect Donald Trump was convicted for paying hush money to a porn star, but the judge ruled that he will not go to jail or pay a fine. Justice Juan Merchan sentenced the 78-year-old Trump to an unconditional discharge, closing the case just days before his January 20 inauguration. Despite the guilty verdict, Trump will face no legal penalties such as custody, a fine, or probation. Trump pleaded not guilty and vowed to appeal the decision. He appeared with his lawyer via video link in court, with two American flags in the background.

On January 11, 2025, Sudan's army announced the recapture of the central city of Wad Madani, sparking celebrations among citizens. Wad Madani, the capital of El Gezira state, had been under the control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since December 2023. This operation marks the army's biggest gain in nearly two years of conflict. A video posted by the army showed troops inside the city. RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo acknowledged the defeat but insisted the battle was not over. A U.N. panel of experts deemed credible reports of planes from the United Arab Emirates resupplying the RSF in Chad. El Gezira state, facing famine risks due to the conflict, has seen intensified army efforts to retake control, following the recapture of Sennar state in the south and advances in the capital area.

A tram collision occurred in Strasbourg, France on the afternoon of November 11th, injuring over 30 people. Around 3:30 PM local time, a tram reversing at an underground station near Strasbourg Central Station collided with another stationary tram, causing severe damage to both ends. The platform was filled with smoke, and injured people were lying on the ground. Police set up a cordon and ambulances arrived at the scene. Officials from the Lower Rhine Provincial Government reported no severe injuries, while firefighters estimated around 50 casualties. The exact cause of the accident is unclear, and local prosecutors have launched an investigation, ruling out intentional human action.

The US Supreme Court hinted at supporting a ban on TikTok during its hearing on January 10th. The nine justices focused on the risks of the Chinese government using TikTok to surveil Americans, prioritizing national security over free speech. Most justices viewed ByteDance's ties to the Chinese government as dangerous, with only Justice Gorsuch supporting overturning the ban. If TikTok is not divested and sold by January 19th, it will be banned in the US. ByteDance insists on not selling but may reconsider. The ban affects companies like Apple, Oracle, and Google. With 170 million US users, TikTok's performance will degrade if banned. Users and influencers are preparing, while billionaire McCourt plans a $20 billion acquisition of TikTok.

Earlier this week, a cargo plane was parked in the snow at an airport in Louisville, Kentucky. On January 10, a storm in the southern United States led to the cancellation of more than 3,000 flights and thousands of delays, according to airlines and tracking website FlightAware. Delta Airlines reported that a “worse-than-expected mix of winter weather” resulted in the shutdown of all five runways at Atlanta International Airport for over two hours, canceling approximately 1,100 flights across their network. A Delta plane had to abort take-off in Atlanta due to an engine issue, forcing over 200 passengers and crew to evacuate via emergency slides, as reported by US media. Dallas Fort Worth airport in Texas and Charlotte Douglas airport in North Carolina were also affected, with more than 1,200 flights canceled between them. FlightAware recorded over 3,000 cancellations nationwide on January 10. The United States had already been hit by a winter storm at the start of the week, causing at least five deaths, hundreds of flight cancellations, and leaving tens of thousands without electricity as temperatures plummeted below minus 18 degrees Celsius in some areas.

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.

On January 11, Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati visited Syria and met with Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, aiming to improve long-strained ties between the two countries. This was the first visit by a head of government to Syria since President Bashar al-Assad was toppled on December 8, and the first by a Lebanese premier to Syria in 15 years. The countries agreed to prioritize securing their land borders and delineating their shared land and sea borders. Mikati stated that the top priority is the demarcation of land and sea borders between Lebanon and Syria and preventing illegal smuggling. Addressing the issue of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, estimated to be nearly 800,000, has also become urgent, as they place a massive burden on Lebanese public services. Sharaa also named the border as his top priority and discussed Syrian deposits in Lebanese banks. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun noted the historic opportunity for 'serious and equitable dialogue' with Syria.

UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves' planned three-day visit to China, aimed at boosting trade and economic ties, has sparked controversy despite the pound falling to its lowest level in over a year and UK borrowing costs hitting a 16-year high. Opposition parties called for the trip's cancellation, but Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy emphasized the importance of the UK's relationship with China, the world's second-largest economy. Rising borrowing costs have raised fears of further tax hikes or spending cuts. The Treasury ruled out emergency market intervention, stating markets function orderly. Global government borrowing costs have increased due to concerns over US President-elect Donald Trump's tariff plans. Reeves will meet China's Vice Premier He Lifeng and discuss reviving the annual economic dialogue, criticized by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.

A spokesman for the US Justice Department told TASS that Jack Smith, the Special Counsel in charge of proceedings against American President-elect Donald Trump, has resigned. Smith completed his work and submitted his final confidential report on January 7, 2025, and officially separated from the Department on January 10. This information was mentioned in a document previously filed in a federal district court in Florida. The representative confirmed Smith's resignation.

A study published in The Lancet suggests that the actual Palestinian death toll in the Gaza war could be significantly higher than the official figures reported by the Hamas-run health ministry. The UK-led research covered the first nine months of the war, which began with Hamas gunmen attacking Israel on October 7, 2023. Using data from the ministry, an online survey of relatives reporting fatalities, and obituaries, the study estimated that up to June 30, 2024, 64,260 Palestinians died from traumatic injuries, indicating an under-reporting of deaths by 41%. The Israeli embassy in the UK质疑 the reliability of any information from Gaza, while the UN considers the health ministry's figures reliable. The ministry's figures do not distinguish between combatants and civilians, but a recent UN report stated that the majority of verified victims over a six-month period were women and children. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed to have eliminated over 17,000 terrorists in August, though the methodology behind this figure is unclear. Israel is not allowing international journalists, including those from the BBC, independent access to Gaza, making it difficult to verify facts on the ground. The research team used a statistical method called 'capture-recapture' to evaluate deaths, suggesting that the number of deaths directly caused by traumatic injury could be significantly higher than hospital figures published by the Ministry of Health. The Lancet report estimated a death toll between 55,298 and 78,525 people, compared to 37,877 reported by the health ministry. The study also noted that 59% of those killed, for whom data on sex and age was available, were women, children, and the elderly. The war in Gaza was triggered by Hamas's attack, resulting in about 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken back to Gaza. In response, Israel launched a massive military offensive, with the health ministry reporting 46,006 people, mostly civilians, killed by the Israeli campaign.

On January 11, US President Joe Biden spoke with Pope Francis and awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction, the nation's highest civilian honor. This was the first time Biden awarded the medal with distinction during his tenure. Biden, who was scheduled to visit Rome to meet Pope Francis, canceled the trip due to the California fires. He expressed disappointment but felt it was more important to stay in Washington. A week earlier, Biden awarded the medal to figures like Hillary Clinton. The White House stated that the two leaders discussed efforts to advance global peace. In his citation, Biden praised Pope Francis for his service to the voiceless and vulnerable, hailing him as the 'People's Pope' for his humility and grace.

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.

Germany's military will place territorial defence under army command from April 1, 2025. On Jan 11, the army announced the establishment of a new division dedicated to territorial defence, integrating existing reserve units. This reorganization will increase the number of German divisions to four while maintaining the total force size of around 180,000 soldiers. Nato is at its highest alert since the Cold War, with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius noting a potential Russian attack within four years. The new division will focus on domestic defence, protecting critical infrastructure. Germany is preparing to serve as a major logistics hub in any conflict with Moscow, expecting the deployment of tens of thousands of allied troops through its North Sea ports.

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.

Caroline Darian, daughter of Dominique Pelicot, convicted of drugging his ex-wife and facilitating her rape by dozens of strangers, told the BBC her father should die in prison. Pelicot was sentenced to 20 years in December. Darian believes she was also drugged and raped by him. Fifty co-defendants received sentences ranging from three to 15 years. Darian will narrate a documentary on drug-facilitated rape, airing on France 2 on Jan 21, featuring testimonies from six other victims.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud visited Ethiopia on Saturday, following his attendance at an African agriculture summit in Uganda. The visit signals a significant improvement in bilateral relations after a year of tensions over Ethiopia's plans to build a naval base in Somalia's breakaway region, Somaliland. During the visit, discussions focused on strengthening bilateral ties and shared priorities, with both sides agreeing to restore and enhance diplomatic representation. On Jan. 2, Ethiopia's defense minister visited Mogadishu, marking the first bilateral visit since relations soured. Tensions arose in January 2024 after Ethiopia signed an MoU with Somaliland, which Somalia viewed as a threat to its territorial integrity. On Dec. 11, the two countries agreed in Turkey to resolve the dispute and commence technical negotiations by the end of February. The visit to Addis Ababa was a follow-up to the Ankara agreement, with leaders also agreeing to boost security cooperation against extremist threats.

As President-elect Trump prepares to take office, several major US companies are adjusting their policies to align with his ideals. Meta announced the withdrawal of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, while Amazon confirmed the halt of some of its diversity programs. Previously, brands like Walmart, McDonald's, and others had already revoked or scaled back similar plans. Meta will end its supplier diversity program and cancel specific targets for women and minorities, shifting focus to support small and medium-sized enterprises. These DEI initiatives were largely introduced after the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement but are being reevaluated due to their conflict with Trump's policies. Meta also terminated its third-party fact-checking system in favor of a community notes system, drawing criticism from President Biden. Trump and the Republican Party have long been critical of social media fact-checking, and Meta CEO Zuckerberg has been seeking reconciliation with Trump.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva stated that President-elect Trump's tariff threats have already raised global long-term borrowing costs. She warned that the uncertainty surrounding U.S. trade policies would exacerbate headwinds for the global economy, particularly impacting countries and regions closely integrated with global supply chains. The IMF is set to release its latest World Economic Outlook report on January 17, projecting stable global economic growth, but noting that the U.S. economy is performing better than expected, while China faces deflationary pressures and weak domestic demand. Georgieva called on countries to address the challenges of low growth and high debt.