News from January 22, 2025 at 2 AM

US President Donald Trump issued his first executive orders from the White House, focusing on domestic issues. He emphasized that national security would be the main focus of his foreign policy and urged NATO member states to increase their defense spending to 5% of GDP. Trump stated that the US spent $200 billion more on military aid to Ukraine than other NATO countries and reiterated that the conflict in Ukraine would not have started under his leadership. He plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is ready to make a deal to resolve the conflict. Trump also signed executive orders to withdraw the US from the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Agreement, impose a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico, and threaten the EU with trade tariffs unless they buy more American oil and gas. Additionally, he appointed billionaire Elon Musk to head a government efficiency agency, pardoned 1,500 people who stormed the Capitol in January 2021, and lifted a federal ban on TikTok. Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on January 20, having won the election on November 5, 2024, defeating Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris.

A fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Turkish ski resort of Bolu has resulted in 10 deaths and 32 injuries. The blaze broke out at 03:27 local time in the restaurant area on the fourth floor and quickly spread to upper levels, with 234 people staying in the hotel at the time. At least two victims died after jumping from windows. Bolu Governor Abdulaziz Aydin noted that the distance from the hotel in Kartalkaya to Bolu's center, combined with freezing conditions, delayed fire engines by over an hour. Rescue efforts continued into the morning, involving 267 emergency personnel. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, with prosecutors appointed by Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc to probe the incident.

Colombian President Petro declared a state of emergency on October 20 to address escalating armed conflicts in the northeastern part of the country. The conflict between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) over territory has resulted in hundreds of casualties and displacement of tens of thousands of civilians. Petro announced an internal disturbance and economic emergency, allowing the executive branch to pass certain types of legislation without congressional approval for three months. The Colombian military has deployed 5,000 soldiers to border areas to curb the country's worst violence in years. FARC, once Colombia's largest rebel group, signed a peace deal with the government in 2016 but some members refused to disarm. The government suspended peace talks with the ELN on October 17.

On January 21, a knife attack occurred in Tel Aviv, Israel, leaving four people wounded. The attacker stabbed three civilians on Nahalat Binyamin Street and one civilian on Gruzenberg Street in the southern part of the city. The police classified the incident as a terrorist attack. The assailant, a 29-year-old Moroccan national with a US residence permit, had entered Israel as a tourist on January 18. The attacker was neutralized by security services, and all injured individuals have been hospitalized.

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan confirmed on January 20 that the country is facing another outbreak of Marburg virus disease, with one confirmed case. This marks Tanzania's second outbreak since 2023. Hassan announced this during a joint press conference with WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in the capital Dodoma, stating that a patient in the Kagera Region had been infected with the Marburg virus. The Tanzanian government has swiftly implemented various measures, including enhanced screening and surveillance, and establishing an emergency response team. The WHO had previously reported a suspected outbreak in the Kagera Region that resulted in eight deaths. In March 2023, the region experienced an outbreak that lasted nearly two months and caused six deaths. Marburg virus disease is a severe viral hemorrhagic fever with symptoms including high fever, headache, muscle pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and bleeding, and is transmitted through contact.

Netflix's shares surged more than 14% on Tuesday after the company reported fourth-quarter results that exceeded market expectations. The company surpassed 300 million paid memberships, adding a record 19 million subscribers. Netflix attributed the growth to its content slate, improved product, and typical fourth-quarter seasonality. The global audience is estimated to exceed 700 million. Q4 earnings per share were $4.27, with revenue of $10.25 billion, both higher than anticipated. Full-year revenue expectations were raised to $43.5-$44.5 billion. Netflix will no longer report quarterly paid subscriber counts, switching to a bi-annual 'engagement report'. The company plans to enhance its core business with more series and films, improve product experience, and grow its ads business.

Houthi spokesman Nasreddin Amer stated that as long as the Gaza ceasefire remains in effect, the Houthis will suspend attacks on Israeli ships. Effective January 19, 2025, the Houthis have halted attacks on ships bound for Israeli ports but warned that restrictions will be reimposed if Israel aggresses against Yemen. The Houthis will continue targeting ships owned by Israel or Israeli companies. Since mid-November 2023, dozens of civilian ships have been attacked by the Houthis in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. In response, the US and UK have conducted multiple strikes on Houthi targets, while Israel has also launched attacks on Houthi-controlled areas, resulting in casualties.