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On the 20th, upon taking office, Trump issued an executive order to officially rename the internationally recognized Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" and instructed the Department of the Interior to take "all necessary actions" within 30 days to push for the official rebranding, sparking controversy.

The Gulf of Mexico is crucial to America's rise as a superpower, particularly in terms of oil and natural gas reserves. It not only strengthens the United States' commercial and political ties with Latin American countries, but also provides a natural barrier, protecting the country from invasions and conflicts. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the Gulf of Mexico accounts for 17% of the total U.S. oil production, making it critical for American energy independence. Additionally, the Gulf is an important hub for global maritime trade, with 60% of U.S. grain exports passing through its ports, amounting to 30 million tons annually.

Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), countries have exclusive rights to exploit resources in their exclusive economic zones. Mexico has jurisdiction over 829,000 square kilometers of the Gulf, while the U.S. controls 662,000 square kilometers. These territorial boundaries have long been clearly defined and are protected by international law. Although Trump's "Gulf of America" renaming initiative carries significant political symbolism, in practical terms, the U.S. would face multiple legal, diplomatic, and economic challenges.

Former Mexican Ambassador to the U.S., Martha Barcena, warned that Trump's move to rename the Gulf might be the first step in the U.S. attempting to reallocate the Gulf's resource domains, which would undoubtedly draw opposition from both Mexico and the international community. Several international law scholars also pointed out that if the "Gulf of America" becomes a reality, it could have profound implications for oil and natural gas extraction in the region, global energy markets, and international trade, potentially even altering the political dynamics of the area.

Thailand authorities have stated that due to severe air pollution, they have been forced to close up to 350 schools, marking the highest number since 2020. Meanwhile, Bangkok authorities have announced free public transportation for one week in an effort to reduce traffic flow.

Bangkok officials explained that the seasonal air pollution regularly affects this Southeast Asian nation, with stagnant atmospheric conditions over Thailand, combined with pollutants from farmers burning rice straw and vehicle emissions, creating severe air pollution. According to data from IQAir, PM2.5 levels in Bangkok last Friday reached 108 micrograms per cubic meter, far exceeding the World Health Organization’s recommended limit, making Bangkok one of the most polluted major cities in the world.

On Thursday last week, Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul issued an order to ban rice straw burning and threatened legal action against those involved. Traditionally, farmers burn rice straw to eliminate field pathogens and improve soil fertility, but the resulting smoke causes significant environmental damage.

In parallel, to reduce vehicle pollution, Thailand's Minister of Transport announced free public transportation in Bangkok for up to one week, including light rail, subway, and bus systems, hoping the policy will help decrease pollution. Meanwhile, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, attending the World Economic Forum in Switzerland last Thursday, called for more stringent measures to address the pollution issue, including limiting construction in the capital and seeking cooperation with neighboring countries.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported that in 2024, 242 million children’s education will be impacted by climate-related disruptions. At the same time, climate change is expected to exacerbate air pollution, which is considered a "secondary impact of climate-related harm."

US President Donald Trump's second term has barely begun, yet he has launched the largest-scale deportation operation in history. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on social media on the 23rd, stating that 538 illegal immigrants had been arrested, with hundreds more deported.

To fulfill his campaign promises, in addition to the original 2,200 US military personnel and thousands of National Guard troops stationed at the border, another 1,500 troops have been deployed to the US-Mexico border. They are responsible for constructing the border wall and supporting other border-related tasks. The Department of Homeland Security also announced that law enforcement officers carrying out deportations would be allowed to enter churches, schools, and hospitals to arrest illegal immigrants. Furthermore, a policy of "guilt by association" will be applied, leading to widespread fear among immigrant communities.

Mexican authorities have stated they are prepared for the possibility of large-scale deportations. They are currently working quickly to set up reception centers in nine cities in northern Mexico and are constructing temporary shelters capable of housing thousands of people. These shelters will provide food, medical services, temporary housing, and assistance in applying for identification documents. Additionally, convoys will be organized to transport deported Mexicans back to their hometowns.

According to research from a Mexican think tank, approximately 5 million Mexicans are living illegally in the US, including 800,000 refugees fleeing poverty and violence. Although the Mexican government has promised to accept deported citizens, immigrant advocacy groups have expressed concern that the US's large-scale deportation and immigration prevention measures will exacerbate saturation in Mexican border cities and create resource shortages, potentially triggering a humanitarian crisis.

Reports indicate that the southern United States has been struck by a rare winter storm as an Arctic cold front moves southward. Snowfall has been recorded from Texas to Florida, with over 5,000 flights canceled or delayed. There have also been reports of fatalities due to the extreme cold. Schools and government offices have been closed. For the first time in history, the National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for the Gulf Coast region.

The report notes that the Arctic cold front began moving southward on the 21st, reaching the northern Gulf Coast of the U.S., including Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida, where heavy snow and freezing rain were reported. In New Orleans, snowfall reached 23 cm, breaking a local record that had stood since 1963.

Meteorologists have warned that the cold weather is expected to persist through the weekend. The blizzard has already caused several deaths, led to the cancellation of classes for millions of students, and disrupted highways and airports. Major facilities at airports have been shut down, and thousands of flights have been canceled. Multiple states across the U.S. have declared states of emergency.

Colombia's special forces entered guerrilla-controlled areas near the Venezuelan border on January 21, attempting to regain national control. The violent conflict has resulted in at least 100 deaths, forced 20,000 people to flee their homes, and threatens the country’s fragile peace process.

The fighting occurred in remote regions of the Amazon jungle in the south and the northeastern mountain areas bordering Venezuela. It was triggered by territorial disputes between rival militia groups, who believe the fragile peace process hinders their ability to unite and poses a threat to the lucrative cocaine trade.

President Gustavo Petro of Colombia declared a state of emergency in some areas, granting local authorities the power to impose restrictions on movement and take other relevant measures. Authorities have deployed about 5,000 soldiers to the border regions in an effort to control what has become the most severe violent conflict in the country in years.

President Petro, who has staked his political future on easing tensions and dialogue, stated that this crisis will lead to policy changes.

On January 22, 22 U.S. states filed a lawsuit against President Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship, with the White House responding that it is prepared to meet the lawsuit in court.

On his inauguration day, Trump signed an executive order announcing the abolition of birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to illegal immigrants or legal temporary residents. The executive order would apply to babies born in the U.S. 30 days after the signing of the order.

This policy change would affect millions of children born in the U.S. to parents who are not U.S. citizens, challenging the interpretation of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The 14th Amendment clearly states: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States."

In response to the proposed policy, 22 states jointly filed a lawsuit with a federal court on January 22, arguing that the move is unconstitutional and would have significant social and legal consequences. Several state attorneys general stated that ending birthright citizenship would render millions of legally born children stateless and undermine the U.S.'s long-standing policy of immigrant inclusion.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said, “This policy directly challenges America’s core values. Birthright citizenship is a fundamental pillar of our nation’s rule of law. Trump’s actions are not only unconstitutional but will have a profound impact on our economy, society, and families.”

On the other hand, conservative supporters of the policy argue that the current birthright citizenship policy encourages illegal immigration and needs reform to protect national resources. However, critics contend that the move could exacerbate racial and class divisions and lead to further legal disputes.

The lawsuit is expected to become a legal focal point in the coming months and could ultimately be taken up by the U.S. Supreme Court. The 22 states involved in the lawsuit emphasize that they will do everything in their power to defend constitutional rights and ensure that every child born in the U.S. retains their rightful citizenship despite any policy changes.

Newly Inaugurated President Trump Plans to Declare National Energy Emergency, Reversing Biden’s Climate Policies

According to Bloomberg, President Trump is preparing to implement sweeping policy changes, including permitting new oil and gas development on federal lands and directing the rollback of climate regulations introduced during Biden’s presidency. These changes would include eliminating federal incentives for electric vehicles and loosening stringent regulations on vehicle emissions and fuel efficiency. While many of these administrative measures will initiate lengthy regulatory processes, they are set to impact every facet of the U.S. energy sector, from oil fields to car dealerships, underscoring Trump’s determination to reshape federal energy policies in stark contrast to Biden’s efforts to curb fossil fuels.

It remains unclear how the declaration of a national energy emergency would function, but it could grant the president special powers such as controlling crude oil transportation or directing the production and transmission of electricity. During his campaign, Trump promised to declare a nationwide energy emergency and reiterated this pledge at a pre-inauguration event on the 19th, saying: "We will invoke emergency powers to allow the nation, entrepreneurs, and investors to build massive factories—AI factories. We will need double the current energy levels, and eventually, even more than that."

The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU reports that declaring a national emergency grants the president access to as many as 150 special powers. These powers, initially designed for responding to hurricanes, terrorist attacks, and other crises, also enable the activation of laws such as the Cold War-era Defense Production Act. This law, first invoked by President Harry Truman during the Korean War to boost steel production, was also utilized by Biden to promote the domestic manufacturing of renewable energy technologies, including solar panels, fuel cells, and heat pumps. Biden emphasized the importance of these technologies for addressing climate change and enhancing national security.

Israel announced that the Gaza ceasefire agreement took effect at 9:15 a.m. GMT on November 19 (5:15 p.m. Taiwan time) after receiving a list of hostages Hamas plans to release. Mediator Qatar also confirmed that the agreement has been implemented.

Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, taking numerous hostages. After months of negotiations, Israel and Hamas finally reached a ceasefire agreement through mediation by Qatar, the United States, and Egypt. Under the first phase of the 42-day truce, 33 hostages will be released from Gaza and returned home. In exchange, Israel will release approximately 1,900 Palestinian detainees.

The ceasefire was originally scheduled to take effect at 6:30 a.m. GMT (8:30 a.m. local time) on November 19. However, disputes over the initial list of hostages to be released on the first day delayed the agreement's implementation by nearly three hours. Local civil defense agencies reported that Israeli airstrikes resulted in 19 deaths and 25 injuries prior to the ceasefire.

On November 19, Qatar confirmed that the ceasefire agreement had been initiated. It also stated that some of the initial three hostages Hamas planned to release held foreign citizenship. Meanwhile, Hamas indicated that it was awaiting a list of "90 women and children" to be released by Israel on the first day of the truce. While the ceasefire aims to pave the way for a permanent end to the conflict, the second phase of the truce has yet to be finalized.

Donald Trump, the U.S. President-elect, plans to sign several executive orders within the first few days of his presidency aimed at reducing regulatory burdens on cryptocurrency companies and promoting the adoption of digital assets.

According to Reuters, Trump is expected to issue an executive order establishing a cryptocurrency advisory committee to provide the government with crypto-friendly policy recommendations. Additionally, his team has discussed directing the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to rescind the 2022 accounting guidance "SAB 121," which has increased costs for companies, particularly banks, holding cryptocurrencies for third parties. Trump also intends to end measures dubbed "Operation Choke Point 2.0," accused of sidelining cryptocurrency companies from the traditional financial system by instructing banks to deny services.

These measures starkly contrast with the strict regulatory approach taken by the Biden administration toward cryptocurrency companies. The Biden administration had previously filed lawsuits against major exchanges like Coinbase and Binance. If implemented, Trump's policies could accelerate cryptocurrency's entry into mainstream markets, aligning with his campaign promise to become a "crypto president."

Furthermore, according to Germany's Die Welt, Trump introduced his own cryptocurrency, "Trump Coins," shortly before taking office. These coins, classified as meme coins with symbolic rather than economic or transactional value, garnered a market capitalization of billions of dollars within hours. Despite initial skepticism, doubts dissipated after official endorsements. This move signifies Trump's transition from his initial negative stance on cryptocurrencies to active support.

With the backing of his three sons, Trump established a cryptocurrency and investment platform, "World Liberty Financial," in November. Tech billionaire Elon Musk has also provided support as a government advisor for this initiative.

After Israel and Hamas announced a ceasefire agreement on the 15th, Israel continued airstrikes on Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Hamas for attempting to extort, which delayed Israel's agreement to the ceasefire talks and raised concerns about potential changes to the deal. After intense negotiations, Israel's security cabinet approved the ceasefire agreement on the 17th, and negotiators from both sides formally signed the agreement in Doha, Qatar, on the 18th. Both sides also agreed to release hostages. The ceasefire will officially take effect on the 19th, marking the potential end of the 15-month armed conflict.

According to the agreement, the ceasefire will be implemented in three phases. In the first phase, Israel's military will completely withdraw from Gaza's densely populated areas, allowing hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinian residents to return. Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages, while Israel will free 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. After the first batch of hostages is released on the 19th, Hamas will free 4 female hostages seven days later, with a continuing pace of releasing 3 hostages every seven days.

The first phase of the ceasefire will last for six weeks, during which both sides will continue to negotiate toward a final peace agreement. The second phase will begin on the 16th day after the first phase. During this phase, Hamas will release all remaining male hostages, including soldiers and conscripts, while the Israeli military will fully withdraw from Gaza. In the third phase, Hamas will return the remains of deceased hostages and begin the reconstruction of Gaza, re-establishing local governance and security structures.