News from February 1, 2025 at 2 PM

The US National Transportation Safety Board plans to issue a preliminary report on the plane crash in Washington, D.C. within 30 days. An American Airlines passenger jet collided with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The flight from Wichita, Kansas, carried 60 passengers and four crew members, while the helicopter had at least three service members. Both aircraft crashed into the Potomac River, with 28 bodies recovered so far and no survivors. Reports indicate that members of the US junior figure skating team and Russian citizens, including 1994 world champions Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, were among the passengers. US President Donald Trump confirmed the deaths of Russian citizens and stated that the US has contacted Russia regarding the transfer of their remains.

On January 29, Palestinians walked past rubble in the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip. On February 1, the Palestinian militant group Hamas released three Israeli hostages, and in exchange, dozens of Palestinian prisoners and detainees were freed, marking the latest stage of a truce aimed at ending the 15-month war in Gaza. French-Israeli dual national Ofer Kalderon and Yarden Bibas were handed over to Red Cross officials in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis before being transferred to Israel. Israeli-American Keith Siegel was handed over separately a few hours later at the Gaza City seaport. The first of 183 Palestinian prisoners and detainees were released in Ramallah, greeted by large crowds. Bibas is the father of the two youngest hostages, kidnapped by Hamas-led gunmen on October 7, 2023. Hamas claimed the boys and their mother were killed in an Israeli airstrike. The newly reopened Rafah crossing saw the first Palestinian patients, including children with cancer and heart conditions, expected to cross to Egypt in a WHO-provided bus. The February 1 handover was orderly, unlike the chaotic scene on January 30. The total number of hostages released so far is 18. Israel has released 583 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Crowds in Tel Aviv's Hostage Square watched the release, mixing cheers with tears. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed relief over Kalderon's release. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet US President Donald Trump on February 4 to discuss the ceasefire and potential normalization with Saudi Arabia. The initial six-week ceasefire, agreed with Egyptian and Qatari mediators and backed by the US, remains on track despite accusations of violations. The war, which began with a Hamas-led attack, has killed over 47,000 people and left Gaza in ruins, with reconstruction expected to take 10 to 15 years.

US President Donald Trump will impose tariffs of 25% on Mexico and Canada, and 10% on China starting Saturday. Trump stated on Friday that Canadian oil would face a reduced tariff of 10% effective February 18. He also plans to impose tariffs on the European Union in the future. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the tariffs on Canada and Mexico are in response to the illegal fentanyl issue. Trump's move aims to address undocumented migration and trade deficits. Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang called for a 'win-win' solution to trade tensions at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Canada and Mexico have vowed to retaliate with their own measures, while experts warn that the new tariffs could spark a major trade war and increase prices in the US.

The US Department of Commerce is investigating whether Chinese AI firm DeepSeek uses regulated US chips. Two US congressmen urge the Trump administration to consider restricting Nvidia's AI chip exports. DeepSeek recently launched a low-cost AI assistant, DeepSeek-R1, drawing US government scrutiny. Sources say the Commerce Department has traced organized chip resale to China in several countries. Nvidia emphasizes compliance with US regulations. Trump is expected to meet Nvidia's CEO to discuss tightening H20 chip export restrictions. DeepSeek claims legally purchasing Nvidia H800 chips. Multiple countries' regulators are investigating DeepSeek over data leakage and privacy concerns.

The UN reports that at least 700 people have been killed and 2,800 injured in intense fighting in Goma, the largest city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), since Sunday. M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, have captured the capital of North Kivu province, Goma, and are now advancing towards Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu. The DR Congo government claims the rebels aim to control the region's vast mineral wealth. UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric warned that the death toll could rise further. To halt the rebels' progress, the DR Congo military has set up defenses on the road between Goma and Bukavu, with hundreds of civilian volunteers enlisted to defend Bukavu. South Kivu Governor Jean-Jacques Purusi Sadiki stated that government forces and allies are holding back the rebels, though this claim remains unverified. Earlier this week, M23 vowed to continue its offensive until reaching the capital Kinshasa, 2,600km to the west. DR Congo's Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner accused Rwanda of illegal occupation and regime change attempts, which Rwanda denies. The Southern African Development Community (Sadc) declared support for DR Congo at a summit in Zimbabwe, deploying peacekeeping troops. Sixteen soldiers from southern African countries have been killed in clashes with M23 in the past week, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in eastern DR Congo, with over 400,000 people displaced since the start of 2025.

On January 31, 2025, the German parliament voted against an opposition draft law aimed at tightening immigration policy. Christian Democratic Party (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz spoke to the media following the vote. In Hamburg, activists protested against Merz's migration plans on the same day. Merz, previously favored to become Germany's next chancellor, suffered a setback three weeks before the national election when 12 of his own party members refused to support his migration bill, causing it to fail in parliament. Merz had controversially indicated his willingness to pass the law with support from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), causing dismay within his party. The Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens argued that the bill would not prevent attacks and violated European law. It remains unclear whether this defeat will impact the standings of the parties, with the SPD and Greens significantly behind the conservatives in the polls.

On February 1st, former German President Horst Köhler passed away. Born on February 22, 1943, Köhler was a renowned German politician and economist. He served as the President of Germany from July 1, 2004, to May 31, 2010. His death has garnered widespread attention and mourning both within Germany and internationally. Köhler's political and economic contributions have been widely recognized. The news was reported by journalist Kang Yubin.

President Donald Trump ordered the federal government to recognize only male and female sex and eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. On January 31, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other federal health agencies removed webpages containing information on gender identity and diversity, including HIV statistics among transgender people and health disparities among LGBTQ+ youth, raising concerns among physicians and patient advocates. The Office of Personnel Management provided specific guidance on January 29, requiring agencies to complete the deletions by 5pm ET on January 31. A Health and Human Services Department spokesperson said website changes followed this guidance. The Infectious Diseases Society of America and the HIV Medicine Association warned that this creates a dangerous gap in scientific data for disease monitoring. The head of the Aids Foundation Chicago expressed alarm at the disappearance of basic health information. A senior NIH employee urged agency leaders to refuse the implementation, citing contrary NIH research findings.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to make his first foreign trip from February 1-6 to Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic. Ahead of the visit, US State Department's Special Envoy for Latin America, Mauricio Claver-Carone, emphasized that the Panama Canal is a strategic asset that must not be under China's control. Rubio will discuss the canal situation with Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino, who has stated he has no intention of discussing the canal's ownership, affirming it belongs to Panama. The tour aims to enhance cooperation in combating illegal migration, crime, and drug smuggling, as well as countering China's influence.

The U.N. Palestinian relief agency UNRWA warned that if its humanitarian work in Gaza is forced to halt, it would jeopardize the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. The agreement has paused a 15-month-old war between Israel and Gaza's rulers Hamas, which has decimated the Gaza Strip, killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, and destabilized the Middle East. The deal has facilitated a surge in humanitarian aid and enabled the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza and Palestinian detainees from Israeli jails. Juliette Touma, director of communications of UNRWA, told a Geneva press briefing that if UNRWA is not allowed to continue bringing and distributing supplies, the fragile ceasefire will be at risk. Despite an Israeli ban due to take effect on Jan. 30, UNRWA's work in Gaza and elsewhere continues. However, she noted that its Palestinian staff in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are facing difficulties, including stone-throwing and delays at checkpoints, amid a fierce disinformation campaign against UNRWA.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam on January 29 that he seeks 'strong protections', including from 'malign influence', for the U.S.-British military base on Diego Garcia. In October, Britain agreed to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while retaining control of the military base on a 99-year lease. However, newly-elected Ramgoolam has questioned the deal, which is yet to be ratified. Starmer emphasized the need for a deal to secure the base's operations. Both leaders reiterated their commitment to the deal and looked forward to further discussions. Britain is awaiting the new U.S. administration's review of the agreement. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that the deal poses a threat to U.S. security.

On January 30, the Uganda Ministry of Health reported a fatal case of Ebola Sudan virus at Mulago Referral Hospital in the capital Kampala on January 29. The patient had previously sought treatment in hospitals in Wakiso District and Mbale City. The Ugandan government has activated a public health emergency response mechanism. Ebola virus spreads primarily through contact, with symptoms including high fever, extreme fatigue, and can lead to multiple organ damage in severe cases. The Chinese Embassy in Uganda提醒 Chinese citizens in the country to enhance personal protection, avoid contact with high-risk animals and confirmed or suspected cases, maintain environmental hygiene, and seek medical attention promptly.

On the evening of January 31, the Trump administration announced the removal of The New York Times, National Public Radio, NBC News, and Politico from their dedicated office spaces in the Pentagon to make room for The New York Post, One America News Network, Breitbart News Network, and HuffPost News. The new annual media rotation program stipulates that one outlet from print, online, television, and radio will rotate out each year to allow new outlets the opportunity to become resident members. NBC News expressed disappointment but vowed to continue reporting. The Pentagon Press Association expressed serious concern over the move. John Ullyot stated that the outlets losing their spaces will remain full members of the Pentagon Press Corps, only giving up their physical work areas.

On February 1, China officially took over the rotating one-month presidency of the United Nations Security Council. The Council is expected to hold about two dozen open meetings and closed-door consultations in February, with a focus on the situation in the Middle East. Chinese Permanent Representative to the UN, Fu Cong, will announce the agenda of the meetings at a press conference on Monday. The Security Council comprises five permanent members - China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States - and ten non-permanent members, which currently include Algeria, Guyana, Greece, Denmark, Pakistan, Panama, Slovenia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and South Korea. According to the UN Charter, the Security Council has primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, and all UN member states are obliged to comply with its decisions.