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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.

According to media reports, Trump is considering using an executive order to delay the enforcement of the TikTok ban for 60 to 90 days after his inauguration on January 20. Sources close to Trump revealed that he hopes this will provide a compromise, preventing a complete ban on TikTok. Currently, TikTok has around 170 million users in the United States.

The report also pointed out that under a new law signed by President Biden in April last year, if TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, based in China, does not divest its stake, TikTok will face removal from U.S. app stores, including those of Apple and Google, which would stop new downloads of the app. The ban primarily targets concerns over TikTok potentially sharing U.S. user data with the Chinese government.

The report further noted that TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew has repeatedly emphasized that the company has no ties to the Chinese government, and TikTok has filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court. However, this explanation has not alleviated the U.S. government's national security concerns. The report also analyzed that selling the company might be the only way for TikTok to maintain access for U.S. users, with reports suggesting that its parent company has already proposed a sale to several firms.

On the 14th, Donald Trump, who is set to return as U.S. President on the 20th, announced on social media that on his first day in office, he will establish an **External Revenue Service (ERS)** to oversee tariffs, taxes, and income from foreign sources, in contrast to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which manages domestic taxation. He stated that this new agency would be responsible for foreign trade affairs, including tariffs, taxes, and revenue generated from outside the U.S., and he threatened to charge those who make money through the U.S.

However, establishing a new department requires congressional approval. While the Republican Party holds a majority in the House, Trump had previously proposed creating a government efficiency office (DOGE) to streamline the government. Now, he is proposing the creation of a new unit that would essentially duplicate functions already performed by existing agencies such as the Department of Commerce, Customs and Border Protection, which currently manage tariffs and revenue collection.

Democratic Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon dismissed this idea, stating, "No amount of rebranding can hide the fact that Trump is attempting to increase taxes on American families and small businesses to legally rob trillions of dollars to offset tax cuts for the wealthy."

Tariffs were a central focus of Trump’s economic agenda during his first campaign, and he is expected to continue using tariffs as a primary tool in trade negotiations during his second term. He has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on all goods from Canada and Mexico until those countries take effective action against drug trafficking and cross-border immigration. He also stated that he would impose a 60% tariff on Chinese goods. However, such tariff increases are expected to disrupt trade flows, raise costs, and provoke retaliatory measures from other countries against U.S. exports.

On January 13th, just before the Biden administration's departure from office, the U.S. announced a global export control on AI chips. Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and 18 other countries were exempted, while China, Russia, Iran, and others faced a total ban. This move has been strongly condemned by China's Ministry of Commerce and has sparked backlash from several U.S. chip companies. AI chip giant NVIDIA criticized these measures, arguing that they would only undermine America's leadership.

A week before the end of the Biden administration, the U.S. imposed a strict three-tiered export control system for AI chips. The first tier includes Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and 18 other key allies, allowing these countries unrestricted access to U.S. AI chips. The third tier covers countries like China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Russia, Iran, and North Korea, where the U.S. has banned the export of advanced AI chips. The second tier includes other nations, which will face restrictions on the total computing power of chips they can acquire, primarily aimed at preventing countries like China and Russia from obtaining advanced technology.

The first tier includes the U.S. and 18 key allies: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. The third-tier restricted countries include China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Russia, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Syria, and about 23 other countries. Most other countries fall under the second tier, requiring prior authorization to purchase advanced AI chips.

According to reports, the measures are designed to prevent China from obtaining advanced AI chips through third-party countries, particularly those in the Middle East. Despite the U.S. Department of Commerce offering a 120-day consultation period for industries to adapt, American companies are dissatisfied with the policy.

NVIDIA's Vice President of Government Affairs, Finkel, criticized the regulations, stating that they would not enhance U.S. security but instead would weaken competitiveness and waste America’s technological advantage. Many U.S. chip companies believe the new rules will hinder economic growth. Following the announcement, global stock markets generally declined.

Since late December, South Korea has been grappling with the simultaneous spread of two A-type influenza viruses, "H1N1" and "H3N2." The medical consultation rate has reached an eight-year high, and the number of pneumonia-related deaths has surged, exacerbating the strain on funeral facilities. Crematoriums and funeral halls are overwhelmed, forcing many families to extend funeral durations.

Experts attribute the flu outbreak to a sudden drop in winter temperatures and increased human gatherings. Many infected individuals are experiencing high fever, coughing, and difficulty breathing, with cases progressing to pneumonia. The elderly and those with chronic illnesses are particularly vulnerable. The South Korean government has urged citizens to get vaccinated and maintain personal hygiene, but vaccine supply and vaccination rates remain inadequate.

In addition, the overloaded funeral facilities in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, have highlighted deficiencies in public emergency response capabilities. South Korean funerals traditionally follow a "three-day funeral" system: the first day involves preparing the body and setting up the memorial, the second day for encoffining, and the third day for cremation. However, due to limited crematorium availability, many families have been forced to extend funerals to the fourth day or seek facilities in nearby cities such as Sejong. These locations, however, are also overwhelmed. Experts recommend the government urgently expand medical and funeral resources and strengthen measures to monitor and control virus transmission.

The head of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) stated, "During the COVID-19 pandemic, almost no one contracted influenza, so many individuals and communities lack immunity, leading to the concurrent outbreaks of 'H1N1' and 'H3N2'." Alarmingly, reports suggest that the peak of the flu season has not yet arrived, raising concerns that infection and death tolls may continue to rise.

Ahmed al-Sharaa, the de facto leader of Syria, met with Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati in Damascus on January 12. The meeting aimed to improve the long-standing strained relations between the two nations and focused on enhancing security and cooperation along their shared border.

According to AFP, this marks the first visit of a Lebanese prime minister to Damascus since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011. It is also the first visit by a foreign head of government to Syria since December last year, when former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown by rebel forces. In December, Syrian rebels launched a swift offensive, capturing Damascus on December 8 and ending the decades-long Assad family rule.

For years, successive Lebanese government officials avoided visiting Syria, primarily due to the involvement of Hezbollah, a Lebanese political and military organization, which supported Assad's government during the civil war. On January 9, Lebanon’s parliament elected a new president, with Commander-in-Chief of the Army Joseph Aoun winning in the second round of voting, finally ending a more than two-year presidential vacancy.

Sharaa expressed his desire to open a new chapter in Syria-Lebanon relations. He stated that the two nations will establish a long-term strategic partnership, emphasizing their significant shared interests. Sharaa noted that now is an opportunity to foster positive ties between the two peoples and expressed hope that President Aoun would bring stability to Lebanon.

Mikati, on the other hand, emphasized that bilateral relations should be based on "mutual respect, equality, and sovereignty." After the meeting, Mikati revealed that both sides agreed to cooperate in securing the land border and prioritizing the demarcation of shared land and maritime boundaries. Sharaa’s efforts have prompted EU foreign ministers to consider easing sanctions on Syria in discussions planned for late January.

Greenland's Prime Minister, Múte B. Egede, recently reiterated that the long-term goal of his government is to achieve complete independence from Denmark. He emphasized that Greenland aspires to become a fully sovereign state rather than depend on other major powers, including the United States. His remarks have drawn significant international attention and highlighted the increasingly complex geopolitical landscape of the Arctic region.

In an interview, Egede stated that while Greenland's ultimate aim is full independence, the process requires a stable economic foundation and respect for international commitments. As an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland currently relies heavily on Danish financial support, which accounts for approximately a quarter of its GDP annually.

"We don’t want to rush into independence only to end up dependent on another country," Egede stressed. He noted that Greenland’s government is actively promoting economic diversification, focusing on industries such as fisheries, mining, and renewable energy. Among these, rare earth mineral extraction is particularly critical, as it not only strengthens Greenland’s economy but also has the potential to reduce global dependence on China for rare earth supplies.

With the intensification of global warming, the Arctic’s significance has grown, as new shipping routes and rich natural resources make Greenland a focal point of competition among major powers. In 2019, former U.S. President Donald Trump proposed the idea of "purchasing Greenland," a suggestion that was strongly rejected by both Denmark and Greenland but underscored the island's strategic importance.

In response, Egede made it clear: "We respect our international partners, including the United States, but Greenland is not for sale. Our future lies in deciding our own destiny." Currently, the United States maintains the Thule Air Base in Greenland, further emphasizing its geostrategic importance. Despite maintaining friendly relations with Washington, Egede underscored that Greenland’s foreign policy should prioritize its own interests.

Egede’s government has adopted a pragmatic approach, advocating for gradual steps toward independence while maintaining cooperative ties with Denmark. He stated, "This is not about hostility toward Denmark. We share a long historical connection. Our future independence will be built on mutual respect."

As global interest in the Arctic region continues to grow, Greenland finds itself at a crossroads of opportunity and challenge. For Egede, his vision is clear: to establish a fully independent Greenland, recognized as a sovereign state within the international community, while preserving its cultural identity and avoiding entanglement in global geopolitical rivalries.

President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office on January 20. However, last year, he was found guilty on 34 charges related to the hush money case by a Manhattan jury. On January 11, the sentencing was held at the New York State Supreme Court. Judge Merchan of the New York State Supreme Court stated that, due to presidential immunity, Trump would be "unconditionally released." This also confirmed that Trump would be the first former U.S. president with a felony conviction in history.

Before the 2016 election, Trump had falsified business records to pay adult film star Stormy Daniels $130,000 in hush money. All 34 charges related to this case were found to be valid. The sentencing was originally scheduled for November 26 of last year, but it was postponed indefinitely after Trump won the U.S. presidential election. However, it was later announced that the verdict would be delivered on January 11, with Trump attending via video conference.

Judge Merchan declared: "This court rules that the only legal judgment that can be made without infringing upon the nation's highest office (the presidency) is unconditional release." He also wished Trump "smooth sailing in his second term."

In response to the ruling, Trump described it as "a disgrace to the system," accusing those involved of trying to damage his reputation and asserting that he had been treated unfairly. He indicated that he would appeal the decision to the fullest extent.