News from January 30, 2025 at 2 AM

The newly launched Chinese AI app DeepSeek has swiftly shaken the technology industry and stock markets, described by venture capitalist Marc Andreessen as AI's 'Sputnik moment.' Over the weekend, DeepSeek became the most downloaded free app on Apple's US App Store. By Monday, the AI chatbot triggered a massive sell-off of major tech stocks, with Nvidia's shares plunging by 17%, erasing nearly $600 billion in market value. DeepSeek's development cost was just $5.6 million, a fraction of what giants like OpenAI spend. Analyst Gene Munster questioned DeepSeek's financials, suspecting subsidies. President Donald Trump called it a 'wake-up call' for US tech. DeepSeek's rise challenges the US's leadership in AI.

Ahmed al-Sharaa, the leader of Syria's new authorities, has assumed the role of the country's president during the transitional period, announced by the Military Operations Command on its Telegram channel. Al-Sharaa will represent Syria at international forums and lead the formation of an interim legislative council. The new authorities dissolved the People's Assembly and related committees formed under the previous regime, annulled the 2012 constitution and laws under emergency conditions, and declared December 8 a national holiday. In late November 2025, the Syrian armed opposition launched a major offensive, entering Damascus on December 8, leading to President Bashar Assad's resignation and departure. On December 10, Mohammed al-Bashir was appointed as the head of the interim government, with the transitional period set to last until March 1, 2025.

A crowd crush at the Kumbh Mela festival in India has resulted in at least 30 deaths and 60 injuries. The Kumbh Mela, the world's largest religious festival, attracts millions of Hindu pilgrims to sacred riverbanks. Held every 12 years in four cities, the 2025 event is a Maha Kumbh Mela, occurring once every 144 years, with an expected attendance of 400 million. The incident occurred during religious bathing rituals. Authorities have set up temporary facilities to manage the massive crowds.

On January 29, 2025, the M23 rebel group clashed with government forces in Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Allegedly backed by Rwanda, the rebels seized Goma. Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe called for a ceasefire in eastern Congo and urged the DRC to negotiate with the rebels, while denying Rwandan troop involvement. The UN, US, France, Britain, and Congo accuse Rwanda of supporting M23. The rebels are moving south, apparently to expand their control. Congo considers M23 a 'terrorist group' and refuses direct negotiations, calling on the UN to sanction Rwanda.

President Donald Trump's nominee for US health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, faced questioning from senators at his first confirmation hearing on Wednesday. Kennedy, a former vaccine skeptic, was asked about his past comments on the Covid-19 vaccine and other immunizations. The hearing was interrupted by protesters, but he received applause for promising to make America healthy again. Kennedy insisted he was not anti-vaccine and supported stringent vaccine studies. He criticized processed foods in the US and vowed to scrutinize food additives. On abortion, Kennedy called every abortion a tragedy and supported state control over abortion rights. Senator Bernie Sanders questioned Kennedy's stance on anti-vaccine onesies. The hearing ended with mixed reviews from senators of different parties.

Earlier this month, Hamas handed over Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The hostage releases are the result of months of tense negotiations following the conflict that began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas fighters killed approximately 1,200 people in Israel and kidnapped 251 others. Over the subsequent 15 months, more than 47,000 Palestinians were killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, with many more losing their homes in Israeli bombardments. Under the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas that commenced on January 19, a total of 33 Israeli hostages are scheduled to be released in the first phase, lasting six weeks. In exchange, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are being freed. The ICRC, acting as a neutral intermediary, conducts complex handover operations to ensure the safe return of the hostages. Israeli military and medical personnel have set up reception points on the outskirts of Gaza to welcome the hostages and reunite them with their families.

The Federal Reserve decided on Wednesday to keep its key interest rate unchanged, reversing a trend of three consecutive rate cuts since September 2024. This meeting was the first since Donald Trump assumed the presidency, who had publicly called for rate cuts. The post-meeting statement indicated a stable labor market and elevated inflation. Fed Chair Jerome Powell stated that the central bank would need to see real progress on inflation or signs of labor market weakness before considering policy adjustments. Stocks fell following the decision. Inflation has decreased but remains above the 2% target, with markets not expecting further cuts this year.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has halted its operations in the Gaza Strip due to an impending ban by Israel. The agency's chief, Philippe Lazzarini, stated that this move will undermine the ceasefire, recovery, and political transition in Gaza. Last week, Israel's mission to the United Nations notified that UNRWA must cease its activities in Jerusalem by January 30. On October 28, 2024, the Knesset, Israel's unicameral parliament, passed a law prohibiting UNRWA's activities in the country, supported by 92 lawmakers and opposed by ten. The legislation was drafted following reports of UNRWA employees' alleged involvement in the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Israel has repeatedly claimed that many UNRWA employees are linked to the radical movement.

Germany's parliament erupted in争议 on Wednesday over a non-binding motion for stricter border and asylum rules, which passed with support from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). CDU leader Friedrich Merz defended the move as necessary, while Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticized it as an unforgivable mistake. Merz plans to propose actual legislation on Friday to curb immigration and family reunion rights, though it is unlikely to take effect before February's snap election. The vote has shattered a long-standing firewall against the far-right in German political culture, causing widespread shock, especially amid recent fatal attacks involving asylum-seekers.

According to an opinion poll conducted by the Verian social research company, 85% of Greenlanders oppose the island becoming part of the US, with only 6% in favor and 9% undecided. The poll, conducted from January 22 to 26, is based on an online survey of 497 Greenlanders over the age of 18. Respondents were asked whether they wanted Greenland to leave the Danish Commonwealth of Denmark, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland to become part of the US. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that Greenland, an autonomous region of Denmark, should join the US.

On January 28, 2025, the Doomsday Clock, symbolizing humanity's proximity to destruction, was moved forward by one second to 89 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BAS) cited nuclear threats, potential misuses of advances in biology and artificial intelligence, and climate change as key factors. Daniel Holz, chair of the BAS Science and Security Board, called the move a warning to all world leaders. In their statement, BAS highlighted that the ongoing war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East could escalate into broader wars, while the long-term outlook for addressing climate change remains poor. Threats in the biological realm persist, and the military use of artificial intelligence increases risks. The spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories exacerbates these dangers, with the US, China, and Russia holding the collective power and responsibility to pull the world back from the brink.

Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic announced his resignation as the chairman of the government, calling it an irreversible decision. He had a lengthy meeting with President Aleksandar Vucic, who accepted his resignation and agreed with his reasoning. This comes after Vucic earlier announced plans to reshuffle the cabinet, replacing more than half of the ministers, amid ongoing student protest rallies.

On January 29, 2025, former Democratic Senator Bob Menendez from New Jersey was sentenced to 11 years in prison at Manhattan Federal Court in New York City. Menendez was convicted for a years-long bribery and corruption scheme involving gold bars and stacks of cash. He pleaded for mercy from Judge Sidney Stein, but the judge noted the overwhelming evidence against him and his failure to the voters of New Jersey. Menendez was found guilty in July 2023 of extortion, conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and acting as a foreign agent. Two co-defendants were also sentenced. Menendez vowed to appeal and has sought a pardon from President Donald Trump.

On January 28, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated in response to a journalist's question that any future negotiations with Ukraine would ensure Russian interests. Putin emphasized that Russia is not opposed to negotiating with any Ukrainian representatives, but the signing of documents must be treated seriously to ensure long-term security for both countries. He pointed out that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is unauthorized to sign documents on behalf of Ukraine, as his term extension was not approved by the Verkhovna Rada. Putin believes that if Ukraine does not revoke the decree prohibiting negotiations with Russia, any talks would be illegal. The chairman of the Verkhovna Rada could legally cancel this decree, but Russia has not seen any willingness from Ukraine to do so. Zelensky's term is set to end in May 2024, and due to the state of war, Ukraine did not hold the scheduled presidential election in March 2024.

CCTV reporters learned that the United Nations announced the United States will officially exit the Paris Agreement on January 27, 2026. The agreement, reached in 2015 and signed by nearly 200 countries and regions, came into effect in 2016, aiming to control global temperature rise. US President Trump signed an executive order on January 20 to announce the withdrawal. The US has toggled its participation in the agreement three times in less than eight years. The European Union expressed regret, emphasizing continued cooperation on climate change. A poll shows about half of Americans oppose the withdrawal.

U.S. Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked a Republican-led effort to sanction the International Criminal Court (ICC) in protest of its arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister. The chamber voted 54-45 in favor of the bill, falling short of the 60 votes needed for passage. Senator John Fetterman was the only Democrat to support the measure. The 'Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act' would have imposed sanctions on foreigners investigating, arresting, detaining, or prosecuting U.S. citizens or those of allied countries, including Israel. The bill had earlier passed the House of Representatives 243-140. Senate Democrats argued the bill was too broad and risked alienating key allies and sanctioning low-level ICC staff in the Netherlands. Republicans had hoped the bill would be signed into law by President Donald Trump soon after his inauguration on Jan. 20, ahead of Netanyahu's planned visit to the White House on Feb. 4. White House officials did not immediately comment on whether Trump would use an executive order to impose sanctions.

On November 19, 2024, Elon Musk spoke with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump at a viewing of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship in Brownsville, Texas. This week, both took to social media to assert that astronauts stranded at the space station must return as soon as possible, despite NASA's plan to bring them back in a couple of months using a SpaceX vehicle. They blamed the previous presidential administration for NASA's August decision to return Boeing's faulty Starliner capsule from the International Space Station without astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. Musk and Trump criticized the Biden administration for leaving the astronauts there for too long. However, it remains unclear if their statements will alter NASA's timeline. NASA and SpaceX have been working to return the astronauts safely but have not specified if they will change their plans. Previously, NASA had returned the Starliner capsule empty in September and adjusted astronaut rotations accordingly.

Georgian Parliament Deputy Speaker Thea Tsulukiani stated that the Georgian delegation will not resume its work in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) until the blackmail against the country and its people ceases. This statement was made following a PACE resolution calling for new parliamentary elections in Georgia. Tsulukiani emphasized that while Georgia remains a member of the Council of Europe, the parliamentary delegation will only resume participation when the unfair sentiment towards Georgia changes, the blackmail ends, and all decision-makers and their backers realize that such pressure will not force Georgia and its popularly elected government to take any anti-Georgian steps.