Tuesday☕️

21 Jan 2025 — 5 min read

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Yesterday, President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders on his first day in office. He reinstated in-person work for federal employees, froze new federal hiring (excluding the military), and paused foreign aid spending to reassess U.S. international commitments. In immigration, he ended the use of the CBP One app, which had been used to assist asylum seekers and manage border entries, signaling a stricter approach to border enforcement.

Trump also withdrew the United States from the World Health Organization, citing concerns over its efficiency and costs. He extended the deadline for ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to sell its U.S. operations by 75 days due to national security concerns. Additionally, he initiated a review of domestic energy and environmental regulations, aiming to increase U.S. energy production and reduce restrictions on industries. These actions reflect a shift in priorities, emphasizing domestic policies, immigration control, and reassessments of international engagements.

Economics & Markets:

Geopolitics & Military Activity:

Over the past 72 hours, Colombia’s Catatumbo region has seen a significant surge in violence, with clashes between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and factions of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). These confrontations, which have left at least 80 people dead, are fueled by competition for control over coca cultivation and lucrative drug trafficking routes. The violence has also forced over 18,000 people to flee their homes, seeking refuge in safer areas like Tibú, Cúcuta, and Ocaña. In response, the Colombian government has suspended peace talks with the ELN and is considering declaring a state of emergency to regain control.

The ELN, founded in the 1960s and inspired by the Cuban Revolution, is Colombia’s largest active rebel group, with about 6,000 fighters. They rely on drug trafficking, extortion, and illegal mining to fund their operations. The FARC dissidents are breakaway factions of the former FARC guerrilla group, which demobilized after the 2016 peace deal. These dissidents rejected the agreement, choosing instead to continue armed resistance and profit from the drug trade.
The clashes in Catatumbo are not directly involving the Colombian military at this stage but reflect the fierce struggle between these armed groups for territorial dominance. The government’s suspension of peace negotiations and consideration of emergency measures highlights the ongoing challenges in maintaining stability in regions dominated by illegal economies and fragmented armed groups.

Environment & Weather:

Privacy & Security:

Space:

Yesterday, China successfully launched a Ceres-1 rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 10:10 UTC. The rocket, developed by the private company Galactic Energy, carried an undisclosed payload, continuing China’s push to support its private aerospace sector. The mission aimed to deploy small satellites into low Earth orbit, although specific details about the satellite or its purpose have not been made public.
The Ceres-1 is a four-stage, small-lift launch vehicle designed to transport payloads of up to 350 kilograms to low Earth orbit. It combines three solid rocket stages with a liquid-fueled fourth stage, allowing for precise orbital adjustments. Galactic Energy’s success with the Ceres-1 showcases the growing capabilities of private Chinese companies in the competitive global space industry.

Science & Technology:

OpenAI has created a specialized AI model called GPT-4b Micro in partnership with Retro Biosciences, a startup focused on extending human lifespan by 10 years. This AI model is designed to improve proteins known as Yamanaka factors, which can turn human skin cells into versatile stem cells that resemble younger cells. By enhancing these proteins, the goal is to make the process of cellular reprogramming more effective, paving the way for advancements in anti-aging and regenerative medicine.

Early results show that GPT-4b Micro’s protein designs are significantly more effective than traditional methods, with over 50 times the efficiency. This marks OpenAI’s first step into biological research and highlights how AI can speed up scientific progress in areas like longevity science. Both OpenAI and Retro Biosciences plan to share their findings to benefit the broader research community and drive further breakthroughs in extending human life.

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