News from January 28, 2025 at 2 AM

On January 26, US President Donald Trump announced sweeping retaliatory measures against Colombia, including tariffs and sanctions, after the country refused to accept two US military aircraft carrying deported migrants. Colombian President Gustavo Petro initially threatened to impose 50% tariffs on US goods but later revised it to 25%. Trump's measures include imposing 25% tariffs on Colombian goods (to rise to 50% in a week), a travel ban and visa revocations for Colombian officials, and financial sanctions. Petro condemned the US for treating migrants as criminals and offered to welcome deported migrants on civilian planes. The US is Colombia's largest trading partner, with $33.8 billion in two-way trade in 2023.

Tens of thousands of people are fleeing towns in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as rebel forces approach the city of Goma. Explosions and gunshots were heard in Goma on Sunday evening. A rebel spokesman stated they would seize control of Goma at 03:00 local time. Earlier, DR Congo's foreign minister accused Rwanda of supporting M23 rebels, which Rwanda denies, claiming a defensive stance. The M23 rebels, who have controlled vast mineral-rich areas since 2021, urged Congolese troops in Goma to surrender to avoid bloodshed. Over 400,000 people have been displaced in North and South Kivu provinces since the start of 2025. UN Secretary General António Guterres called for Rwanda to withdraw and for the M23 to halt their advance. This follows the death of 13 peacekeepers in clashes with rebels. The UK and France have called for an end to attacks on peacekeepers and for Rwanda to withdraw its troops.

According to the Kremlin's official website, Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Alexander Lukashenko on his re-election as the President of Belarus on the 27th. Putin expressed his anticipation of meeting Lukashenko soon in Moscow. Preliminary results released by the Belarus Central Election Commission early on the 27th showed that Lukashenko won the presidential election held on the 26th with 86.82% of the vote.

Denmark has announced it will invest 14.6 billion kroner (approximately £1.6 billion or $2.05 billion) in partnership with its autonomous territories Greenland and the Faroe Islands to enhance security in the Arctic region. The plan includes three new Arctic ships, additional long-range drones with advanced imaging capabilities, and stronger satellite capacity. Denmark's Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen stated that serious security and defense challenges exist in the Arctic and North Atlantic. This move follows US President Donald Trump's repeated expressions of interest in acquiring Greenland, an island with wide-ranging autonomy but still part of Denmark. Greenland, the world's most sparsely populated territory, is home to about 56,000 predominantly indigenous Inuit people. The US has long maintained a security interest in Greenland, establishing military and radio stations there during World War II. Greenland's strategic location on the shortest route from North America to Europe makes it significant for the US. In recent years, there has been growing interest in Greenland's natural resources, including rare earth minerals, uranium, and iron.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the United States to consider additional exemptions to a 90-day pause on its foreign assistance to ensure the continued delivery of critical development and humanitarian activities. U.S. President Donald Trump announced the pause shortly after taking office to review aid contributions for alignment with his foreign policy, risking the cutoff of billions in life-saving assistance. The U.S., the largest single aid donor, disbursed $72 billion in fiscal year 2023. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric noted the U.S.'s significant contribution and the body's efforts to assess the pause's impact. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has granted an exemption for emergency food aid. Aid and rights groups have expressed concerns, emphasizing the importance of continuing vital assistance during the review.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced on Monday that the European Union is partially lifting sanctions on Syria to help stabilize Damascus after the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad in December. EU foreign ministers discussed the matter at a meeting in Brussels, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas expressing hope for an agreement. Barrot stated that sanctions on Syria's energy, transport, and key financial institutions would be suspended. He also mentioned France's proposal to sanction Iranian officials responsible for detaining French citizens. Assad's overthrow on Dec. 8 ended Syria's 13-year civil war, which left cities in ruins, services deteriorated, and most of the population in poverty, while Western sanctions isolated its economy.

On January 27, 2025, Swedish authorities seized the Maltese-flagged ship Vezhen, suspected of damaging an undersea data cable running to Latvia in the Baltic Sea. The ship is currently anchored outside the Swedish port of Karlskrona. Preliminary investigations suggest sabotage, with Sweden's police, military, and coast guard involved in the inquiry. Bulgarian shipping company Navigation Maritime Bulgare claimed the ship's anchor dropped due to high winds, denying malicious intent. Latvia's military reported three ships in the area where the damage occurred. NATO recently launched a new mission in the Baltic Sea in response to repeated attacks on underwater cables. Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina stated her country is working closely with Sweden and NATO. The damaged cable belongs to Latvia's state broadcaster LVRTC, which reported minor disruptions. NATO's new Baltic Sentry mission includes more patrol aircraft, warships, and drones. NATO chief Mark Rutte vowed to step up monitoring of Russia's 'shadow fleet' and respond robustly to future incidents. Finnish police are also investigating a Russian ship's involvement in a separate cable sabotage between Finland and Estonia.

On July 31, 2018, James McHenry testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill. The U.S. Department of Justice fired officials involved in the now-terminated federal criminal prosecutions of President Donald Trump by former special counsel Jack Smith on Monday. This action came a week after Trump was sworn in for a second, non-consecutive term. Acting Attorney General James McHenry terminated the employment of these DOJ officials, stating he did not trust them to implement the President's agenda faithfully. The fired officials included Molly Gaston, J.P. Cooney, Anne McNamara, and Mary Dohrmann. Former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance criticized the firings as anti-rule of law and anti-democracy. Smith had filed criminal charges against Trump in two separate cases in federal district courts in Washington, D.C., and South Florida, related to the 2020 election interference and retention of classified documents, but both cases were dismissed.

South Korean President Yoon Seok-youl was formally charged with leading a rebellion on January 26, becoming the first sitting president in South Korea's constitutional history to face such charges. Prosecutors applied for his continued detention on the same day, having had previous requests for extension of detention rejected. Yoon has been held at the Seoul Detention Center since his arrest on January 15, and the formal charges mean he will remain in custody until trial, which must take place within six months. Prosecutors deemed the charges appropriate, citing risks of evidence destruction. South Korean opposition parties welcomed the charges, with lawmaker Han Min-soo stating that punishment for the mastermind of the rebellion had begun. Yoon had abruptly declared a national emergency on December 3 last year, only to revoke it hours later, leading to his impeachment and subsequent investigation.

The U.S. Senate confirmed Scott Bessent as President Donald Trump's Treasury Secretary on Monday, with a vote of 68-29, including support from 16 Democrats. As the 79th Treasury Secretary, Bessent will oversee national tax collections and the $28 trillion Treasury debt market, wielding significant influence over fiscal policy. During his confirmation hearing, Bessent warned that failing to renew $4 trillion in expiring tax cuts would be a 'calamity' for middle-class Americans and advocated for tariffs to counter unfair trade practices. His immediate challenge is managing federal cash flows after the government hit its debt limit. Bessent also faces the prospect of rising budget deficits and additional government debt, potentially running into trillions of dollars.

Israeli government spokesman David Mencer stated that Hamas has killed 8 of the 26 hostages due to be released in the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal. Since the ceasefire began on January 19, seven women have been freed in exchange for over 290 Palestinian prisoners. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced that Hamas agreed to release a female civilian, a female soldier, and another hostage on Thursday, with three more to be released on Saturday. Since Hamas's unprecedented cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, more than 47,310 people have been killed in Gaza. Israel claims 87 hostages remain in captivity, with 34 presumed dead. Hostage families express concern over the remaining hostages' status and urge the government to ensure the implementation of all phases of the agreement.

Google announced on Monday that it will rename the Gulf of Mexico to 'Gulf of America' following updates in official government sources. The company also stated it will start using Mount McKinley, currently known as Denali. Last week, President Donald Trump signed executive actions ordering the name changes on official maps and federal communications. Google noted that the Gulf of Mexico will retain its original name in Mexico, while users in other countries will see both names. Trump plans to restore the name of former President William McKinley to a mountain now referred to as Denali in Alaska, citing McKinley's contributions to the country's wealth through tariffs and talent. The mountain was named Mount McKinley until 2015, when the Obama administration changed it to Denali as a symbolic gesture to Alaska Natives.

On January 26, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) announced that Israel had ordered it to vacate its premises and cease all operations in occupied East Jerusalem by January 30. In October, Israeli lawmakers passed a law banning UNRWA from the country and prohibiting Israeli authorities from having contact with the agency, with exceptions possible. The international community, including the UN, generally considers East Jerusalem to be occupied territory, but the Israeli government views all of Jerusalem as part of the country. UNRWA stated that the order to cease operations contradicts Israel's international obligations as a UN member state. In East Jerusalem, over 1,100 students and 70,000 patients rely on UNRWA for education and primary healthcare. Israeli lawmakers who drafted the law banning UNRWA cited the alleged involvement of some agency staff in the October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel.

On January 27, 2025, Coca-Cola recalled some of its drinks in certain European countries due to higher levels of chlorate. The recall is focused on Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, with only five product lines affected in Great Britain, which have already been sold. Affected brands include Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Tropico, and Minute Maid. The company stated that the risk to consumers is very low and has alerted authorities, continuing to collaborate with them. The Food Standards Agency is investigating, promising action if unsafe food is identified. Chlorate exposure can cause health issues, particularly in children and infants. The issue was discovered during routine testing at the company's facility in Ghent, Belgium.

To boost tourism and economic development, New Zealand has relaxed its visitor visa regulations, allowing travelers to work remotely while on vacation. Immigration Minister Stanford announced that the visa policy adjustment, effective January 27, applies to general tourists, family visit visa holders, and dependents of long-term visa holders. Digital nomad visas are popular in other countries, and New Zealand aims to attract high-skilled professionals, particularly IT talents from Southeast Asia and the United States. Economic Growth Minister Willis stated that the new policy is designed to position New Zealand as a welcoming destination for global talent and encourage visitors and their companies to engage in more business with New Zealand. The country's economy entered a technical recession in the third quarter of last year, and the tourism sector has not fully recovered, with current international visitor numbers at about 86% of 2019 levels.

The radical Palestinian group Islamic Jihad released a video of a woman identifying herself as Israeli hostage Arbel Yehud. In the video, she states she is in good health and held by Saraya al-Quds militants. She calls on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump to guarantee the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli prime minister's office said Hamas, an ally of Islamic Jihad, will release Yehud, expected on January 30 along with female soldier Agam Berger and another undisclosed hostage. In exchange, the Israel Defense Forces will allow Gaza residents to move into the northern part of the enclave starting January 27. Previously, thanks to mediation by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire and hostage release agreement, with Hamas releasing 33 hostages in the first phase in exchange for Israel freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

On January 27th, a CCTV reporter learned that a US official stated a US military plane carrying deported migrants landed in Guatemala on the same day. The incident involves a US military aircraft and deported migrants, with specific time and location confirmed. The report was filed by CCTV journalist Liu Xiaojian.

Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean announced that the government has decided to provide Transnistria with 3 million cubic meters of gas on credit to maintain pressure in the gas transportation system until January 31. The EU has offered Moldova a grant of 30 million euros for gas purchases and electricity production. Brussels plans to adopt a two-year program to enhance energy sustainability, aiding Moldova in reducing its energy dependence. Gas supplies to Moldova were halted due to Ukraine's ban on Russian gas transit and Moldova's unresolved $709 million debt. Transnistria, lacking alternative gas sources, implemented energy-saving measures. Transnistrian President Vadim Krasnoselsky urged Moldova to fulfill its gas supply promise.