Donald Trump was sworn in as America’s 47th president. In his inaugural address he declared that “America’s decline is over” and called the day one of “liberation”. Mr Trump used the speech to reel off policies he plans to implement, promising to take “back” the Panama Canal and declare a national emergency at the border with Mexico, in order to deploy troops and speed up deportations. He also vowed to cut oil and gas regulations to lower energy costs.
In his final minutes as president Joe Biden pre-emptively pardoned five members of his family, writing that they were not “engaged in any wrongdoing” but that he anticipated continued “unrelenting attacks” against them. Earlier Mr Biden pardoned several of Mr Trump’s critics, including Mark Milley, Anthony Fauci and Liz Cheney, providing protection from possible prosecution under the incoming administration.
The Houthis said their attacks on ships in the Red Sea would target only those directly linked to Israel, as the second day of the ceasefire in Gaza took hold. The militant group, which controls large parts of Yemen, warned that assaults on American and British vessels would resume if those countries attacked its territory. Houthi strikes have disrupted global shipping and trade.
American regulators escalated an investigation into 129,000 Ford vehicles equipped with BlueCruise, the carmaker’s hands-free driving system, after two fatal crashes. Both incidents involved Ford’s Mustang Mach-E cars colliding with stationary vehicles. Officials are examining whether the system struggles to detect obstacles at night while travelling at highway speeds. The probe could lead to the vehicles being recalled.
China’s crude-oil imports from Russia hit a record high in 2024, rising 1% to 2.17m barrels per day, as economic ties between the two countries continue to strengthen. Imports from Malaysia, an oil producer that also acts as a hub for shipments from Iran and Venezuela, surged 28%. Purchases from Saudi Arabia fell 9% as refiners favoured cheaper Russian and Iranian crude.
Axel Rudakubana pleaded guilty to murdering three children and attempting to kill 10 more people in Southport, Britain, last year. Yvette Cooper, the country’s home secretary, said there would be a public inquiry into the attack, which sparked days of riots. Keir Starmer, the prime minister, said the state must answer “grave questions” about how it “failed” to protect the victims.
Yoon Suk Yeol, South Korea’s president arrested on insurrection charges last week, refused to be questioned by investigators. Mr Yoon, who until last week had barricaded himself inside the presidential residence in central Seoul, was impeached in December for attempting to declare martial law. On Sunday some of his supporters stormed a court building to protest against his detention.
Figure of the day: 25%, the share of the global population living in cities of over a million people, up from 15% six decades ago. Read the full story.
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