DAILY NEWS Stream – January 23, 2025

Jakarta [Indonesia] records 79 cases of acute respiratory infection due to HMPV [human metapneumovirus] in early 2025 (Tempo.co)

Australia: Japanese Encephalitis [JEV] remains a risk in New South Wales after new detections (VBT)

Cholera outbreak in Angola leaves 12 dead out of 170 total cases in Luanda Province (The Tribune India)

Presence of microplastics in commonly eaten fish described as “very concerning” in US study (Plant Based News)

United States: FDA [Food and Drug Administration] finally bans Red Dye No.3 from food, drinks and medicines – following cancer link (Good News Network)

Los Angeles [US] fire losses could reach US$30 billion for insurers, marking costliest wildfire in California history, report finds (ABC News)

Los Angeles [US] teen Ruben Varghese creates website for wildfire victims seeking food, shelter, supplies called Save LA (Good Good Good)

Western Himalayas [India]: Over 50% reduction in snow depth on Sutra Dhaka Glacier raises risk of floods (The Times of India)

Indonesians warned cold weather, high population density and mobility are factors contributing to HMPV [human metapneumovirus] transmissions (Jakarta Globe)

Artificial intelligence [AI] has alarming environmental impact, consuming unsustainable amounts of water and energy, researchers warn (Meteored)

Report: Planet is getting warmer, faster, with 2.7ºC rise likely by 2100 without immediate action (Amsterdam News)

Malaysian government urged to address animal welfare concerns, with nonprofit Persatuan Haiwan Terbiar Malaysia demanding legislative reform and humane sterilization program (The Sun)

Philippines Senator Grace Poe vows one big push to pass animal welfare bill amid rising cruelty cases (Senate of the Philippines)

Gibraltar [UK]: Environment Minister John Cortes commits to “meat-free Mondays” as Government reiterates policy of encouraging plant-based eating for environmental and health benefits (GBC) SupremeMasterTV.com/NWN

US President Trump delivers inaugural address to mark the official beginning of His presidency, saying “the Golden Age of America begins right now” as God spared His life for this purpose (The Hill) The Golden Age of America begins right now. US Efficiency Commissioner and SpaceX founder Elon Musk gives thumbs-up as President Trump vows to plant American flag on Mars during inauguration speech (NBC News)

President Trump’s inauguration features billionaires, tech titans, and, for the first time in US history, other countries’ world leaders, all standing prominently on the central dais near the President, including three of the world’s five wealthiest men – Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg – Google CEO Sundar Pichai, five former US Presidents, and three foreign leaders – Argentina’s President Javier Milei, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, and China’s Vice President Han Zheng, representing President Xi (AP)

World leaders congratulate President Trump on His inauguration as 47th US President, including Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy, Russia’s Putin, Turkish President Erdoğan, German Chancellor Scholz, Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, UK Prime Minister Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Meloni, European Union President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary-General Rutte, Swedish Prime Minister Kristersson, Finnish President Stubb, Norwegian Prime Minister Støre, Australian Prime Minister Albanese, New Zealand Prime Minister Luxon, and de facto Syrian Leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (RBC Ukraine)

Families of American hostages held in Gaza shake hands with President Trump following speech by Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who declared peace in the region is attainable (The Hill)

President Trump signs dozens of executive orders at Capital One Arena following His inauguration, including: 1) Reversing 78 Biden-era executive orders, 2) Requiring federal workers to return to work in-person full time, and 3) Directing federal department to: a) Address the “cost of living crisis,” b) Withdraw from the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, c) Prevent “government censorship” of freedom of speech, and d) End the “weaponization of government” against political adversaries – At one point asking the crowd, “Could you imagine Biden doing this? I don’t think so” (The Hill)

President Trump grants pardon/commutations to all January 6, 2021 defendants, ending prison sentences or cases of around 1,500 people convicted of crimes related to the Capitol protest and commuting the sentences of six others, to be considered for full pardons later (The Hill)

President Trump designates drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, saying He’d consider sending forces into Mexico to pursue them for national security (The Hill)

President Trump signs executive order ensuring merit is the sole criterion of federal government hiring, and another order officially launching the Department of Government Efficiency, headed by tech billionaire Elon Musk to cut billions of dollars from annual budget deficit (The Hill)

President Trump signs order to withdraw US from World Health Organization [WHO], citing its “mishandling” of the COVID-19 pandemic and “unfair” reliance on US funding (The Hill)

President Trump order seeks end to birthright citizenship in US, directing federal agencies to refuse to recognize US citizenship for children born in the US to mothers who are in the country illegally or here legally on visas, if the father is not a US citizen or lawful permanent resident (Politico)

President Trump orders a temporary freeze on federal government hiring, as he pledges to fire most bureaucrats and replace them with “competent people who are faithful to the American public” – delivering on His promise to upend the “deep state” (The Hill)

Poll: Most American adults support President Trump’s goal of deporting legal and illegal immigrants convicted of violent crimes (AP)

US Senate passes Laken Riley Act, supporting President Trump’s plans to detain illegal immigrants who commit crimes, in its first move after President Trump’s inauguration (The Hill)

US Senator Marco Rubio unanimously confirmed as Secretary of State by the Senate, becoming President Trump’s first Cabinet official (The Hill)

President Trump’s special envoy Richard Grennell says he’s in talks with Venezuelan officials about taking back Venezuelan criminals who are in the US (The Hill)

European Union announces nearly US$2 billion humanitarian aid budget in 2025 aimed to help more than 300 million people worldwide (The Voice of Vietnam)

The vegan community rallies for Los Angeles [US] wildfire relief: Restaurants and businesses supporting firefighters and victims (VegNews)

Belgium: Medical overload due to seasonal flu epidemic, leaving hospitals struggling to cope (VTV.vn)

Hong Kong flu season expected to peak in February; 15 deaths confirmed so far in 2025 (South China Morning Post)

Philippines and United Arab Emirates’ energy firm Masdar agree on US$15 billion renewable energy project to aid Philippines’ 2030 sustainability goals (Reuters)

Illegal pet breeding operation raided in central Taiwan (Taiwan News)

Clear-sighted quote of the day: “Mankind is made of two kinds of people: wise people who know they’re fools, and fools who think they are wise.” – The Venerated Enlightened Master Socrates (vegetarian)