News from January 14, 2025 at 2 PM

The wildfires in Los Angeles, United States, have resulted in 24 deaths, with the total burned area exceeding 160 square kilometers, surpassing the size of San Francisco's urban area. Vice President Harris's property is reportedly under threat. Meteorologists warn that the seasonal Santa Ana winds will return on Monday (January 13), posing a significant risk of escalating the fires. Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Daryl Osby stated that the fire emergency is far from over, and evacuated residents are not allowed to return home before Thursday. Many residents are frustrated and angry after being denied entry to restricted areas. The extended curfew in the disaster zone prevents residents from returning home. The fires have destroyed several upscale residential areas, leaving tens of thousands homeless. Hollywood stars affected by the fires are staying in expensive hotels, while ordinary victims face challenges in finding affordable housing.

On January 14 local time, Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari stated that Israel and Hamas are engaged in high-level indirect negotiations over a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. The negotiations are in their final stages, but Ansari warned against setting high expectations. According to The Times of Israel, Hamas has accepted a draft agreement that includes a ceasefire and the release of dozens of detainees. An Israeli official said progress has been made, but details need final cabinet approval. This round of negotiations resumed in Doha on January 3, and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu sent a high-level delegation to Qatar on January 11 to push for an agreement.

South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol will not attend the first formal impeachment hearing at the Constitutional Court on Tuesday due to personal safety concerns. His lawyer, Yoon Gap-geun, stated that continuous illegal arrest attempts by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and police pose a security threat. On December 3, Yoon's declaration and subsequent withdrawal of martial law triggered a severe political crisis and impeachment. The Constitutional Court is scheduled for five debates from Tuesday to February 4. Since impeachment, Yoon has refused to meet prosecutors, and the Prosecutors' Office may attempt another arrest this week. If arrested, Yoon would be the first sitting president detained. The Presidential Security Service has heightened security, with ongoing protests by both supporters and opponents in Seoul.

Russia reported that Ukraine launched nine attack drones at a gas compressor station in the village of Gai-Kodzor near its southern coast on the Black Sea on January 11. The Kremlin accused Ukraine of conducting 'energy terrorism' and endangering Europe's energy security. Ukraine halted the transit of Russian gas to third countries via its territory on January 1, ending decades of energy cooperation. The US imposed new sanctions on Russia's oil sector last week. The Russian defense ministry stated that all drones were shot down, but some minor damage occurred. Hungary and other countries called for respect for energy supply security. Russia also accused the US of destabilizing the global energy market through fresh sanctions.

On October 30, 2023, US President Joe Biden delivered remarks in the White House, emphasizing the advancement of safe, secure, and trustworthy artificial intelligence. The US government announced further restrictions on AI chip and technology exports to maintain advanced computing power within the US and its allies, while blocking access for China and other countries. The new regulations will cap AI chip exports to most nations but allow unlimited access for close US allies. Aimed at preserving US leadership in AI, the rules also restrict China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The regulations take effect 120 days after publication, allowing the incoming Trump administration to review them. New limits on advanced GPUs, primarily produced by Nvidia and AMD, were imposed. Major cloud providers like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon can seek global authorizations for data centers but must adhere to stringent conditions. Companies like Nvidia and Oracle criticized the rules for being overly restrictive.

Russia has noted a shift from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and his team towards recognizing the 'realities' on the ground in Ukraine, seeing it as a positive sign. The Kremlin is open to a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Trump. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated Moscow is ready to study Trump's plan to end the conflict in Ukraine once he takes office. Lavrov highlighted that both Trump and incoming national security adviser Mike Waltz have mentioned the ground realities. Waltz emphasized the need to end the war through diplomatic means. Trump recently acknowledged Russia's opposition to Ukraine's NATO ambitions. Russia, which controls about a fifth of Ukraine, insists any peace deal must consider this. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stressed that security guarantees would only be effective if provided by the United States.

Recent reports have highlighted the dire situation of illegal miners trapped in an abandoned gold mine in South Africa. These miners have been living underground for months, with over 100 reported deaths. Videos show the miners are starving and in desperate need of help. Following a court order last week, a rescue operation commenced on Monday. So far, 26 miners and nine bodies have been retrieved. The miners' union blames government policies for the tragedy and calls for more assistance. An update on the operation will be provided in a briefing on Tuesday.

According to Bloomberg News, the Chinese government is considering a plan for Elon Musk to acquire TikTok's U.S. operations to prevent the app from being effectively banned. This contingency plan is one of several options China is exploring as the U.S. Supreme Court decides whether to uphold a law requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok's U.S. business by January 19. After this deadline, third-party Internet service providers would be penalized for supporting TikTok's operations in the country. Under the plan, Musk would oversee both X, which he currently owns, and TikTok's U.S. business. However, Chinese officials have not yet decided whether to proceed, and the plan remains preliminary. It is unclear whether ByteDance is aware of the Chinese government's plans and TikTok and Musk's involvement in the discussions. Senior Chinese officials are debating contingency plans for TikTok's future in the U.S. as part of broader discussions about working with President-elect Donald Trump. A TikTok spokesperson said in an email to CNBC, 'We can't be expected to comment on pure fiction.' X did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Nawaf Salam, the president of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), has been named Lebanon's new prime minister. Two-thirds of the 128 members of parliament nominated the 71-year-old judge for the post, reserved for a Sunni Muslim under Lebanon's sectarian power-sharing system, during consultations with newly elected President Joseph Aoun. Caretaker PM Najib Mikati received nine votes. The presidency stated that Salam would return to Lebanon on Tuesday. His appointment is a setback for Hezbollah, which sought to reappoint Mikati but ended up nominating no candidate. Senior Hezbollah lawmaker Mohammed Raad accused opponents of fragmentation and exclusion. However, Hezbollah's Christian and Sunni allies supported Salam. Gebran Bassil, leader of Lebanon's largest Maronite Christian bloc, called him the 'face of reform'. Sunni lawmaker Faisal Karami nominated the ICJ chief due to demands for 'change and renewal' and promises of international support for Lebanon. Salam, from a prominent Sunni family in Beirut, previously served as Lebanon's permanent representative to the UN and became an ICJ member in 2018. He must now form a cabinet that can win a confidence vote in Lebanon's deeply divided parliament.

The six-week-long Hindu festival Kumbh Mela commenced on January 13 in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India. A large number of Hindu pilgrims gathered early in the morning at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers to bathe in the sacred waters, seeking to wash away their sins. Kumbh Mela is the world's largest religious gathering, held every three years in four Indian cities, with the one occurring every 12 years considered especially auspicious. This year marks the 12-year Kumbh Mela, expected to attract up to 400 million people. Many pilgrims set out weeks ago, traveling thousands of kilometers to reach Prayagraj.

South Korea's military reported that North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea on Tuesday, which traveled over 250 kilometers before falling into the sea. The move is believed to be a message to the incoming Trump administration. South Korean forces detected backup mobile launch vehicles near the launch site and are closely monitoring for further actions by North Korea. This marks North Korea's second missile launch in eight days. South Korea, the U.S., and Japan are sharing relevant information and analyzing missile specifications. The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command condemned the launch, while Japanese Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato stated that Japan is cooperating with the U.S. and South Korea in response. South Korean Acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn accused North Korea of violating UN Security Council resolutions and vowed a stronger response to Pyongyang's provocations.

On November 11th, US President-elect Donald Trump posted a video on social media, reiterating his interest in Greenland. The Danish government has privately indicated its willingness to discuss US interests in Greenland but拒绝 selling the island. Five Greenlandic political parties oppose the idea of becoming part of the US. Previously, Trump's threats of using force to control Greenland have raised concerns in Denmark and other European countries. US experts suggest considering the purchase of Greenland in a manner similar to the acquisition of the US Virgin Islands, estimating its value between $12.5 billion and $77 billion. Greenland's Prime Minister Kim Kielsen expressed willingness to negotiate with Trump but emphasized Greenland's desire for independence.

Spain is planning to impose a tax of up to 100% on properties bought by non-residents from countries outside the EU, announced Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, citing it as a necessary measure to address the country's housing emergency. He highlighted the challenge of avoiding a society divided into rich landlords and poor tenants. In 2023, non-EU residents purchased 27,000 properties in Spain for profit, not for living. The move aims to prioritize housing for residents. Sánchez did not provide details on the tax or a timeline for parliamentary approval, but the government plans to finalize the proposal after careful study. Other measures announced include tax exemptions for landlords offering affordable housing, transferring over 3,000 homes to a new public housing body, and stricter regulations on tourist flats.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on Tuesday that Russia maintains daily contact with the new Syrian authorities and is ready to assist in improving the situation in Syria. He emphasized that the Russian embassy in Damascus remains operational and engages in daily communications with Syrian officials. Lavrov highlighted that normalizing the situation in Syria requires an inclusive national dialogue, and the Astana format can play a role in this. He also mentioned discussions with colleagues from Turkiye, Gulf countries, and some Western nations, stressing the necessity of involving Russia, China, and Iran in the process.

US President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense, former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, is set to appear before a Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday. Hegseth is controversial due to his stance on cultural war issues like military diversity. He has faced allegations of sexual assault, excessive drinking, and financial mismanagement, which he denies. Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren has expressed concerns, while Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin supports him. With a slim Republican majority in the Senate, Hegseth must navigate the hearing carefully. If confirmed, he could fulfill Trump's promise to remove generals pursuing progressive diversity policies. Hegseth would oversee a nearly $1 trillion budget and manage around 2.3 million military and civilian personnel in the Department of Defense.

Israeli far-right police minister Itamar Ben-Gvir threatened on Tuesday to resign from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government if he agrees to a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal being negotiated in Qatar. Ben-Gvir, urging Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to join him, aims to prevent what he calls a dangerous capitulation to Hamas. He stated this is the only chance to stop Israel's surrender after over a year of bloody conflict, ensuring the deaths of over 400 IDF soldiers in Gaza are not in vain. Smotrich opposes the deal but hasn't threatened to leave the coalition. Most ministers are expected to support the phased ceasefire. Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack led to the war, killing about 1,200 and taking over 250 hostages. Over 46,000 have died in Gaza since, with widespread destruction and displacement. The U.S., Qatar, and Egypt are mediating the ceasefire, with some hostage families opposing the deal.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on Tuesday that the Comprehensive Partnership Agreement to be signed by the Russian and Iranian presidents in Moscow is not directed against any country. On Monday, the Kremlin announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will sign the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement following negotiations on January 17. Lavrov, speaking at a press conference on the overview of Russian diplomacy in 2024, emphasized that the agreement aims to enhance the capabilities of Russia and Iran globally, promote economic development, address social issues, and ensure reliable defense capabilities.

On January 14, the UK banned imports of cattle, pigs, and sheep from Germany to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, following a confirmed case in Berlin. The UK government stated that while there are currently no cases in the country, the ban aims to prevent the disease's spread and protect British farmers. On January 10, German authorities confirmed the country's first outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in nearly 40 years in a herd of water buffalo on the outskirts of Berlin. The disease poses no risk to human health or food safety, but a severe outbreak in Britain in 2001 led to the slaughter of over 6 million animals, devastating many farmers' incomes. UK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss urged livestock keepers to be vigilant for signs of the disease.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on Tuesday that the Comprehensive Partnership Agreement to be signed by the Russian and Iranian presidents in Moscow is not directed against any country. On Monday, the Kremlin announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will sign the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement following negotiations on January 17. Lavrov, speaking at a press conference on the overview of Russian diplomacy in 2024, emphasized that the agreement aims to enhance the capabilities of Russia and Iran globally, promote economic development, address social issues, and ensure reliable defense capabilities.