News from January 17, 2025 at 2 AM

Israel and Hamas have agreed to a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal following 15 months of conflict, mediated by Qatar and the US. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani stated the agreement would take effect on Sunday, pending Israeli cabinet approval. US President Joe Biden highlighted the deal would halt fighting in Gaza, provide much-needed humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians, and reunite hostages with their families. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Biden for promoting the deal, while Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya attributed it to Palestinian resilience. Despite ongoing ground conflicts in Gaza, both Palestinians and Israeli hostages' families celebrated the news. Since October 7, 2023, over 46,700 people have been killed in Gaza, with most of the population displaced. The first phase of the deal involves exchanging 33 hostages, including women, children, and the elderly, for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, with Israeli forces withdrawing from densely populated areas of Gaza.

US President-elect Donald Trump's incoming national security adviser has stated that Trump will find a way to save TikTok before a ban on the app takes effect this weekend. Congressman Mike Waltz, a Florida Republican, said Trump would intervene if the Supreme Court upholds the law banning the platform in the US unless it is sold by January 19. The Biden administration is also seeking ways to prevent TikTok from suddenly disappearing. ByteDance, the Chinese owner, plans to shut off the app for its 170 million US users by Sunday. Waltz noted that the law allows a 90-day extension for ByteDance if significant progress is made towards a sale. Trump hinted at an executive order to suspend the ban, but it is unclear if this could bypass Congress. TikTok is banned on national security grounds over concerns its data could be collected by the Chinese Communist Party. Trump has invited TikTok's CEO, Shou Zi Chew, to his inauguration. The Supreme Court heard arguments last week and a decision is expected soon.

South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol, arrested on charges of 'insurrection leadership', refused to cooperate with the Supreme Prosecutor's Office's investigation and appealed to the Seoul Central District Court to review the legality of the arrest. The court rejected his request, affirming the legality of the arrest. On January 15, Yoon exercised his right to remain silent during a 10-hour and 40-minute initial interrogation, and on January 16, he again refused a second investigation, questioning the legitimacy of the Prosecutor's actions and refusing to sign or review documents. His legal team's application for a review of the arrest's appropriateness was also rejected. The Prosecutor's Office plans to formally request a detention warrant on January 17, moving the investigation into a new phase.

On January 17, following British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visit to Kiev, his office released the UK-Ukraine 100-year partnership declaration. The document states that the United Kingdom and Ukraine will enhance cooperation on long-range strike capabilities, integrated air and missile defense, and complex weapons stockpiles to bolster deterrence. The parties also plan to cooperate in the exchange of practical experience, equipment, munitions, training, and development support across all domains. Additionally, the two countries intend to carry out joint defense capability projects and encourage the establishment of joint defense enterprises.

Los Angeles officials on January 16 advised evacuees from the wildfires to stay away from their homes for at least another week to allow emergency responders to remove toxic waste and disconnect hazardous electricity and gas lines. The wildfires, which have been burning for 10 days, have killed at least 25 people and destroyed or damaged 12,000 structures. The Palisades Fire has consumed 96 square kilometers and is 22% contained, while the Eaton Fire has burned 57 square kilometers and is 55% contained. Evacuees are eager to return home to assess damage, but officials say it remains too dangerous. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass noted the significant emotional toll the disaster has taken on residents.

On January 16, 2025, SpaceX's Starship rocket conducted its seventh test flight from Boca Chica, Texas, but lost communication with the upper stage about nine minutes into the launch. SpaceX senior manager Kate Tice confirmed the loss. The company stated that the rocket broke up during ascent and would review flight data. Social media users posted images of fireballs near the Caribbean islands, likely debris from the rocket. Several flights, including those from JetBlue and Spirit, altered their routes. The test flight aimed to assess various Starship capabilities, including its heatshield and reentry trajectory. Starship is crucial to SpaceX's future plans and its dominance in the space industry.

After months of speculation about his political ambitions, former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor Mark Carney has announced his bid for the leadership of Canada's governing Liberal Party. Carney formally launched his campaign in his hometown of Edmonton, Alberta, on Thursday at a hockey rink where he learned to skate. If elected, the 59-year-old will succeed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and lead the country into the next general election, scheduled for this year. Trudeau announced his intention to resign earlier this month once a new Liberal leader is chosen. Carney positioned himself as an outsider with extensive financial knowledge to address Canada's economic challenges. He also highlighted the tariff threat from US President-elect Donald Trump, describing extraordinary times for Canada. Carney, educated at Harvard and Oxford, previously worked at Goldman Sachs and served as Canada's central banker from 2008 to 2013. The Liberal Party will elect its next leader on March 9, with the next Canadian general election required to be held by October this year.

Canada's Minister of International Trade, Mary Ng, stated that if President-elect Donald Trump imposes tariffs on Canadian goods, Canada is prepared to retaliate with levies targeting the energy sector. Trump has threatened a 25% tariff on all Canadian exports. In 2022, Canada was the largest purchaser of American goods and the third-largest exporter to the U.S. Ng and her team are drafting a list of U.S. exports to Canada that could face additional tariffs. Previously, Canada imposed retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products in response to Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminum. Canada is now seeking to strengthen ties with other trade partners, including Japan and the European Union.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos's space company, Blue Origin, successfully launched its first New Glenn rocket into orbit, challenging Elon Musk's SpaceX. The rocket took off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 02:02 local time. This marks a significant step in the commercial space race between the world's two richest men. Despite overcoming technical hurdles, Blue Origin failed to recover the rocket's main engine. The New Glenn rocket, more powerful than SpaceX's Falcon 9, is intended for deploying low-earth orbit satellites to provide broadband services. Experts believe this could intensify competition between the two companies and potentially reduce space operation costs.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized in an article for Sputnik that a key component of the new strategic deal between Iran and Russia is the enhancement of security and defense cooperation. Araghchi clarified that the agreement is not a military union but a comprehensive one covering all aspects of cooperation. The defense interaction between Russia and Iran aims to strengthen common security and does not threaten any country. The Kremlin stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will sign the agreement on January 17. The new agreement, which includes 47 articles covering all areas of bilateral relations, will replace the existing treaty signed in 2001. It also encompasses economic, technological, and humanitarian cooperation, aiming to simplify travel conditions for tourists and enhance cultural exchanges.

Cuban dissident and human rights activist Jose Daniel Ferrer told Reuters on Thursday that he had been released from jail and was at home, as part of a broader plan negotiated with the Vatican to gradually free upwards of 500 prisoners. The Cuban government began releasing a small number of prisoners on Wednesday following talks with the Catholic Church, prompting U.S. President Joe Biden to announce significant loosening of sanctions on the crisis-racked nation. Biden's announcement came just days before President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, with Trump's nominee for Secretary of State, Senator Marco Rubio, criticizing the decision to relax sanctions on Cuba. Many of the prisoners released this week were arrested in connection with unprecedented anti-government protests in July 2021, the largest since Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution. The U.S., Europe, and human rights groups had criticized Cuba's response to the protests as repressive. Ferrer, the highest-profile prisoner released so far, is the leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), once the country's largest opposition group. Arrested in October 2019 on charges of abduction and assault, he was sentenced to four years but mostly served under house arrest. Critics argued that the charges were fabricated to silence him. Ferrer was re-arrested on July 11, 2021, for attempting to join a protest in Santiago de Cuba, violating his house arrest terms. His activism dates back decades, including his arrest in 2003 during the Black Spring crackdown. Cuba has stated it will continue to gradually release prisoners in the coming days and weeks.

American filmmaker David Lynch, known for surrealist cult classics like Mulholland Drive and Twin Peaks, has died at the age of 78 due to chronic lung disease. His family announced his death on his official Facebook page. Lynch, who received three Oscar nominations for Best Director, revealed his battle with emphysema last August. His last major project was Twin Peaks: The Return in 2017. Starting his career with Eraserhead in 1977, his films were renowned for their surreal, dreamlike quality. In 2020, he was awarded an honorary Academy Award. Despite his deteriorating health, he stated last year that he was in excellent shape and would never retire.

The South African Police announced on the evening of January 15th that the rescue operation for illegal miners in Stilfontein, North West Province, has been ongoing for three days, during which 78 miner bodies were found and 246 illegal miners were rescued and arrested. Police spokesperson Asrenda Matshe stated that the rescue operation has not yet been confirmed as concluded. Rescue agencies plan to further investigate the mine on the 16th. South African Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, noted that illegal mining caused an estimated loss of 60 billion rand to the South African economy in 2024. By the end of the year, the police intensified crackdowns, leading to many illegal miners, mostly from neighboring countries, remaining trapped in the mines.

Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadera is visiting Russia from January 15 to 17 to strengthen bilateral relations and expand cooperation across various sectors. Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Touadera are holding high-level talks in Moscow, focusing on the current state and future development of cooperation in political, trade-economic, and humanitarian fields, as well as pressing international and regional issues. On December 4, during the 'Russia Calling!' Investment Forum, Putin noted Africa's spiritual closeness to Russia and highlighted the continent's promising development prospects, citing global expert evaluations, including those from Western analysts.

A 53-year-old French interior designer, Anne, was scammed out of €830,000 by individuals posing as actor Brad Pitt. Believing she was in a relationship with Pitt for a year and a half, Anne faced widespread mockery after the scam was revealed, leading French broadcaster TF1 to withdraw a related program. Anne clarified she was not 'crazy or a moron' but had been deceived. A representative for Pitt condemned the scammers for exploiting fans' strong connections with celebrities. Anne's ordeal began in February 2023 after downloading Instagram, where she was contacted by someone claiming to be Pitt's mother. The scammers demanded money for various reasons, including Pitt's supposed kidney cancer treatment. Anne lost her life's savings and attempted suicide three times. An investigation is currently underway.

Nintendo announced on Thursday that its much-anticipated new Switch 2 hybrid console will be available this year, featuring a larger screen and controllers. The company showcased the Switch 2 in a video trailer, demonstrating the detachment of the current 'joy-con' controllers to expand the tablet size. The joy-cons grow in size and change to a matte black color, with magnetic connectivity. The Switch 2 also includes an improved U-shaped kickstand, allowing it to lay almost flat. The design resembles previously leaked mock-ups. Nintendo did not specify a release date but will reveal more details during its 'Nintendo Direct' online event on April 2. The Switch 2 is backward compatible, allowing users to play old Switch games. Nintendo hopes the new console will boost sales, as the current Switch is nearly eight years old. The company reported a net profit of 27.7 billion Japanese yen ($178.2 million) in its September quarter, down 69% year-over-year, with revenues falling 17% to 276.7 billion Japanese yen.

Medical experts have proposed a radical overhaul of obesity diagnosis, moving away from reliance on body mass index (BMI) alone and incorporating broader measurements like heart health. This shift aims for a more personalized diagnosis, considering daily activity capabilities and organ health. On January 14, The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology Commission, comprising global experts, introduced the new definition, endorsed by 76 organizations. The new guidelines require additional checks for excess fat and assessments of organ function and daily activity limitations for those with high BMI. Only with positive results on these metrics will a person be classified as clinically obese. The new framework could impact the prescription of weight-loss drugs.

On January 14th, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against entrepreneur Elon Musk in the federal court of Washington D.C., alleging securities violations. Musk responded on social media platform X, calling the SEC a 'completely broken organization.' Musk's attorney, Spiro, stated that his client 'did nothing wrong' and accused the SEC's lawsuit of being a 'sham.' The allegations are related to Musk's $44 billion acquisition of social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) in 2022, where he allegedly failed to timely disclose his significant purchase of the company's stock.

President-elect Donald Trump's transition team released official portraits of Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance days before their inauguration. Both are depicted in blue suits, white collared shirts, and blue ties, with Trump wearing an American flag pin on his lapel. Trump's photo resembles his expression in his 2023 mugshot, taken after being booked at Fulton County Jail on charges related to attempting to overturn his 2020 election loss to President Joe Biden in Georgia. Vance, the former U.S. senator from Ohio, is shown smiling with his arms crossed. Trump's chief photographer, Daniel Torok, first unveiled the photos on social media on Wednesday. This marks a comparison between Trump's official presidential portraits from 2017 and 2025.