Category: Flash News

On January 22, Benjamin Hoffman, acting Secretary of Homeland Security, announced in a statement on January 21 that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will be allowed to conduct enforcement operations in and near places including schools and churches. This decision ends the US government’s policy of avoiding law enforcement in “sensitive areas” since 2011.

On January 22nd, a report released by the International Energy Agency showed that Russia’s natural gas production will increase by nearly 7% in 2024, reaching 682 billion cubic meters. The International Energy Agency stated in its report that Russia’s natural gas production in 2023 will reach 638 billion cubic meters, a year-on-year increase of 6.9%. The report states that the International Energy Agency predicts that Russia’s natural gas production will continue to grow by 2025, with a projected increase of 1.6% to 693 billion cubic meters.

On January 22nd, the Nasdaq China Golden Dragon Index closed down 0.36%, with popular Chinese concept stocks experiencing mixed gains and losses. Xiaopeng Motors rose over 6%, Ideal Motors rose over 5%, Futu Holdings rose over 4%, and iQiyi rose over 2%; New Oriental fell over 23%, TAL Education has fallen over 6%, NIO has fallen over 4%, and JD.com and Pinduoduo have fallen over 1%.

On January 22, Egyptian President Sisi had a phone call with Russian President Putin on January 21 local time to discuss the situation in Gaza and other issues. Sisi stated that the Gaza Strip is a fundamental pillar for restoring peace in the Middle East. Egypt is working hard to ensure the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and to ensure that a sufficient amount of humanitarian aid enters the Gaza Strip without barriers. He also emphasized the importance of the international community working together to ensure the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, thus opening up a political solution based on the “two-state solution” and in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions. Putin appreciates the crucial role played by Egypt in reaching the agreement and thanks Egypt for its unremitting efforts to maintain regional stability and security. Putin emphasized that he hopes to continue communication and coordination with Sisi.

On January 22nd, Meta Platforms is preparing to launch Oakley brand smart glasses this year. The company plans to launch a high-end “Hypernova” similar to AR glasses. The company is developing a competitor to AirPods earbuds, equipped with cameras and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. After years of intermittent development, Meta has restarted the development of its watch products.

On January 22, Ali Yellika, the Interior Minister of Türkiye, said on the night of the 21st that the death toll from the fire in Türkiye’s ski resort hotel had risen to 76. At present, the rescue operation has ended. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and the prosecutor has detained 9 people, including the hotel owner, for further investigation.

On January 22, Mark Uyeda, acting chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), established a cryptocurrency task force “dedicated to developing a comprehensive and clear regulatory framework for cryptocurrency assets. Commissioner Hester Peirce will lead the working group. The focus of the working group will be to assist the committee in defining clear regulatory boundaries, providing practical registration pathways, developing reasonable disclosure frameworks, and deploying enforcement resources wisely.

On January 22, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNHCR) stated that the reconstruction process in the Gaza Strip has exceeded the agency’s capacity due to the severe destruction of various aspects of life in the Gaza Strip. In a statement, the Near East Relief Agency stated that with over a thousand aid trucks entering the Gaza Strip, the agency’s workload has doubled in the past two days, and thousands of staff are working tirelessly to distribute food. The organization can currently assist in restoring the infrastructure of refugee camps, allowing employees to return to work in the camps, and operating the wells in the camps. But the basic service infrastructure of the entire Gaza Strip still needs to be given special attention.

On January 22, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed delivered a speech at the World Economic Forum 2025 Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, urging Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) to comply with all provisions of the Gaza Strip ceasefire and the exchange of detainees agreement. Mohammed said that Qatar hopes that the achievement and implementation of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip is the first step towards achieving regional peace and stability, and all parties involved must ensure that every provision of the agreement is fully implemented. He urged Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) to show sincerity, continue to implement the agreement, and enter into the second phase of negotiations to ultimately achieve a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

On January 22, a fire broke out in a hotel in Kartakaya Ski Resort, Boru Province, Türkiye, on the 21st. So far, 66 people have been killed and 51 injured, including one seriously. On the same day, Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared January 22 as the national day of mourning. The cause of the fire is still unclear. Previously, the prosecutor had detained four people, including the hotel owner, for investigation.