News from January 20, 2025 at 2 AM

The ceasefire and prisoner swap agreement between Israel and Hamas took effect on Sunday after a three-hour delay, halting fighting in Gaza. Six hours after the agreement came into force, Hamas handed over three Israeli female hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross, with each hostage exchanged for the release of 30 Palestinian prisoners by Israel. The agreement, originally scheduled to take effect at 8:30 AM, was delayed due to Hamas's failure to provide a timely list of individuals to be released. In the three hours before the ceasefire, Israeli airstrikes and artillery strikes killed 13 Palestinians. The agreement is divided into three phases, with the first six-week phase seeing Hamas release 33 hostages in exchange for Israel releasing nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Following the ceasefire, Gaza residents celebrated and returned home, and UN aid trucks quickly entered Gaza. Netanyahu described the agreement as a temporary measure, with Israel reserving the right to resume fighting if necessary.

A court in Seoul has extended the detention of South Korea's impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed attempt to impose martial law last month. On Sunday, a judge issued a warrant allowing investigators to keep the 64-year-old suspended president in custody for up to 20 days, citing concerns he might destroy evidence if released. Yoon was arrested on Wednesday after a weeks-long standoff with his presidential security team. His supporters reportedly smashed windows and doors after breaking into the court following the extension of his detention, an act condemned by Yoon and the acting president. The warrant and Yoon's refusal to comply with investigators mark the latest development in South Korea's political crisis. Yoon is being investigated by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) for insurrection over the failed martial law order on December 3, which led to his impeachment and suspension, pending a constitutional court ruling.

On January 18, 2025, two senior Iranian judges, Ali Razini and Mohammad Moghiseh, were shot dead in an apparent assassination at the country's supreme court in Tehran. The attacker killed himself while fleeing the scene, and a bodyguard was injured. The motive for the attack remains unclear, but both judges were known for their roles in cracking down on opponents of the Islamic government since the 1980s. The judiciary's media office described the attack as a premeditated assassination. Initial findings indicate the attacker was not involved in any cases before the supreme court, and officials are investigating potential accomplices. Both victims had served in the judiciary for decades, including confirming death sentences. Razini, 71, had previously survived an assassination attempt in 1998, while Moghiseh, 68, had been sanctioned by the EU, the US, and Canada over alleged human rights abuses.

A fuel tanker overturned and exploded in the Suleja area of North Central Niger state, Nigeria, killing 77 people and injuring 25, including rescuers, as they rushed to collect spilled fuel. The incident occurred on Saturday. Nigeria has experienced several similar accidents recently, with a Delta state tanker explosion killing five two weeks ago and another explosion in October claiming 153 lives. Fuel prices in Nigeria have surged by over 400% in the last 18 months due to President Bola Tinubu's economic policies, pushing millions into poverty.

On January 18, a ski lift collapsed at the Astun Ski Resort in the Spanish region of Aragon, injuring dozens of people, including nine seriously and eight moderately. Approximately 80 people remain trapped, hanging in the chairlift. A witness reported that a cable seemed to have come off, causing the chairs to bounce and people to be thrown off. The cause of the cable failure is still unknown. The resort management declined to comment and could not immediately confirm if foreigners were among the injured. Several helicopters were deployed to rescue the trapped skiers and transport the injured to nearby hospitals. The Astun Ski Resort, popular among Spanish skiers, is located near the Spanish border with France in the Pyrenees mountain range.

On January 19, Canada's former Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland launched her campaign to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal Party leader and prime minister. Freeland, a close ally of Trudeau and former finance minister for four years since the Liberals took office in 2015, resigned dramatically in December. In her scathing resignation letter, she accused Trudeau of prioritizing his political interests over preparing Canada for potential threats from the incoming Trump administration. Her departure was a significant blow to Trudeau, prompting him to announce his resignation plans. Trudeau will remain as caretaker prime minister until March 9 when the Liberals select a new leader. Freeland, at her campaign launch, stated Trump's dislike for her stems from her fierce defense of Canada. Trump, who resumed power on January 20, threatened a 25% tariff on Canadian imports, to which Freeland vowed “dollar for dollar retaliation,” calling the proposed tariffs “illegal and unjustified.” Freeland and former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor Mark Carney are front-runners to replace Trudeau. The Liberals are trailing the Conservatives in polls, suggesting the new leader may have a short tenure as opposition parties plan to bring down the government after Parliament resumes on March 24, triggering a general election.

The Brazilian Foreign Ministry announced that Nigeria has become the ninth country to join BRICS as a partner state. On January 17, during its temporary presidency of BRICS, the Brazilian government formally announced Nigeria's admission. The Brazilian government welcomed the decision of the Nigerian government. Thus, Nigeria becomes the ninth BRICS partner country, following Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan. BRICS is an interstate association founded in 2006 by Russia, China, India, and Brazil, with South Africa joining in 2011. Since the beginning of 2024, several other countries have joined BRICS.

On January 19, the German daily Bild revealed a confidential cable from Berlin's ambassador to the United States, Andreas Michaelis, warning of Donald Trump's planned 'strategy of maximal disruption' to redefine the constitutional order, which could weaken democracy in the US. Michaelis was set to represent the German government at Trump's inauguration on January 20, making the timing of the leak highly inconvenient for Berlin. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock confirmed the existence of the cable, stating that embassies writing reports is part of their mission. Conservative candidate Friedrich Merz criticized the cable's content, arguing Germany should not point fingers at the US. Incumbent Chancellor Olaf Scholz, critical of Trump and his allies, expressed concerns about potential US-EU trade conflicts.

On January 18, a suspected attack occurred in Tel Aviv, Israel. The police reported that several people were injured in a shooting incident, while emergency services stated that one person was wounded by stabbing. The incident took place on Levontin Street in Tel Aviv, with the circumstances still unclear. Emergency service provider Magen David Adom is providing medical treatment to a 30-year-old male stabbed victim. This event happened a day before a ceasefire is set to take effect in Gaza.

US President-elect Donald Trump's statements about Greenland have caused panic in Denmark. Greenlandic lawmaker Kuno Fencker from the ruling coalition party Siumut said Denmark is starting to respect Greenland more and attempted to contact Trump and his administration. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen invited Trump to visit Denmark and stated that Greenlanders should decide their independence themselves. Trump called it 'an absolute necessity' for the US to own Greenland, while Greenlandic Prime Minister Mute Egede responded that the island is not for sale. Greenland was a Danish colony until 1953 and remains part of the kingdom, but gained autonomy in 2009 with the ability to self-govern.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on January 19 at a Socialist Party rally a proposal to ban non-EU residents from buying homes in Spain, aiming to address the housing shortage. He noted that non-EU residents purchased around 23,000 houses and flats in 2023, still far below the current estimated shortfall. Previously, Sanchez proposed limiting home purchases by non-EU citizens without Spanish residence and imposing a 100% tax on such purchases. These measures are part of a 12-point plan that includes building more public housing, offering financial guarantees for young tenants, and increasing taxes on short-term holiday rentals. Spain faces an annual housing shortfall of about 200,000 units, with British citizens, the largest group of non-EU buyers, being most affected. Any proposal requires parliamentary approval, which is uncertain given Sanchez's minority coalition government's recent legislative struggles.