News from February 3, 2025 at 2 AM

US President Trump announced tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China, prompting retaliatory measures from all three nations. Canada will impose a 25% tariff on US$155 billion worth of US products, with the first round starting on February 4. Mexico plans to implement tariffs and other countermeasures, while China is preparing to file a lawsuit with the WTO. All three countries called for dialogue to resolve differences and avoid escalating trade tensions. Trudeau warned of the destructive consequences of US tariffs and considered restricting exports of key minerals and energy to the US. Trump signed the tariff order citing illegal immigration and drug crises, with Mexican President Slim emphasizing the need for cooperation, and the Chinese Foreign Ministry expressing strong opposition and planning countermeasures.

On February 1, 2025, Hamas released three male hostages held for over a year, while Israel freed 183 Palestinian prisoners in the fourth such exchange since the ceasefire began on January 19. The hostages, including French-Israeli Ofer Kalderon and American-Israeli Keith Siegel, were abducted on October 7, 2023. Their release brings the total number of hostages freed since the ceasefire to 18. The ceasefire aims to end the deadliest conflict between Israel and Hamas, with the first phase lasting six weeks and involving the release of 33 Israeli hostages and nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Additionally, 50 sick Palestinian children left Gaza for treatment in Egypt via the Rafah border, marking its first opening since Israel's capture nine months ago. Israel and Hamas are set to negotiate the second phase of the ceasefire next week.

Ukraine accused Russia of killing four people in a strike on a boarding school in the town of Sudzha, Kursk region, on February 1. The town has been under Ukrainian control since August 2024. The Ukrainian army stated that Russian aviation deliberately targeted the school with a guided aerial bomb while dozens of residents were inside preparing to evacuate. During rescue operations, 84 civilians were rescued, with four in serious condition. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of attacking its own civilians and shared a video showing severe damage to the building. A local military spokesman said most of those inside were elderly. Russian officials have not yet publicly commented on the accusation.

UN Secretary-General's spokesperson Dujarric stated on January 31 that intense conflicts in Goma, eastern Congo, from January 26 to 30 resulted in at least 700 deaths and over 2,800 injuries. The casualty figures were assessed by the WHO and its partners in collaboration with the Congolese government. Dujarric warned that the death toll could rise further. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that Goma's safe drinking water supply has been cut off, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) held a special summit in Harare, Zimbabwe, on January 31, calling for dialogue to restore peace. The security situation in eastern Congo has been severe in recent years, with frequent attacks by the anti-government militia 'M23 Movement'.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepared to leave for the United States on February 2 to meet with President Donald Trump, aiming to strengthen ties with Washington after tensions with the previous White House administration over the war in Gaza. Netanyahu, the first foreign leader to visit Trump since his January inauguration, departs with the ceasefire in Gaza still holding and negotiations for a second phase expected to begin this week. Before his departure, Netanyahu stated that their decisions in the war had already altered the Middle East's landscape and believed closer cooperation with Trump could further improve the situation. Facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes in Gaza, Netanyahu had strained relations with Trump's predecessor, Joe Biden, and had not visited the White House since returning to office at the end of 2022.

On February 1, rescuers worked at the site of an apartment building hit by a Russian missile strike in Poltava, Ukraine. On February 2, an aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said a US proposal for Ukraine to hold elections after agreeing to a ceasefire with Russia seemed like a 'failed plan' if that is all it entails, though more details were needed. US President Donald Trump's top Ukraine official, Keith Kellogg, told Reuters the US wants Ukraine to hold elections, potentially by the end of the year, especially if Kyiv can agree to a truce with Russia in the coming months. Dmytro Lytvyn, Zelensky's communications adviser, stated that a plan consisting only of a ceasefire and elections would not intimidate Putin, and Ukraine needs security guarantees to prevent Moscow from regenerating its forces and launching another invasion. Elections are currently prohibited under martial law imposed after Russia's 2022 invasion. Lytvyn noted Ukraine prefers a more in-depth approach from key partners and praised Trump's 'peace through strength' strategy. He emphasized the need for swift action on a concrete plan to end the war and ensure lasting peace. Nearly three years since Russia's full-scale invasion, both sides are advancing in eastern Ukraine and a western Russian region, conducting regular long-range drone strikes far behind the front lines.

Schools on the Greek island of Santorini are set to close on Monday due to increased seismic activity. Tremors up to 4.6 in magnitude have been recorded in recent days, with 4.3 and 3.9 magnitude quakes reported nearby on Sunday morning. Although Santorini is part of the Hellenic Volcanic Arc, authorities state that the recent tremors are not linked to volcanic activity and are subsiding. In addition to school closures, authorities have advised against gatherings at the ports of Ammoudi and Fira, where large cruise ships often anchor and passengers are ferried to shore in smaller boats.

Sudan's health ministry reported that at least 54 people were killed and 158 wounded in a strike by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on a market in the city of Omdurman on Saturday. The RSF denied targeting the market in a statement, instead accusing the Sudanese army of launching attacks against civilians. Both the army and RSF have targeted densely populated areas since the conflict erupted in April 2023 over the integration of the two forces. The conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, displaced millions, and left half the population in hunger.

Georgian opposition leader Nika Melia, detained during a protest near the Tbilisi Mall shopping center on February 2, has been released. Protesters attempted to block a highway leading to the city but were prevented by police, who detained several activists. The demonstrators later marched to the parliament building in downtown Tbilisi. The protests were sparked by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze's November 28 statement postponing EU accession talks until late 2028 and refusing EU funding. Since then, daily protests have occurred in Tbilisi and other major cities, initially leading to clashes with police using water cannons and tear gas, but recently remaining peaceful.

On February 2, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem announced that the funeral for former leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah will be held on February 23, alongside the funeral of Hashem Safieddine. Nasrallah will be buried on land leading to the airport, while Safieddine will be buried in his hometown. Qassem called for a ban on gunfire at the funeral, emphasizing its danger to the public. On September 27, 2024, the Israeli Army launched a heavy airstrike on the southern part of Beirut, killing Nasrallah and others. After Nasrallah's death, Safieddine was widely seen as his successor but was killed in an Israeli attack on October 4. Qassem also stated that Hezbollah will remain patient with Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement, but the Lebanese government must take follow-up actions.

Northern Queensland, Australia, has experienced severe flooding due to torrential rainfall, resulting in the death of a woman and forcing thousands to evacuate their homes. Authorities warn that flood waters could rise to second-storey levels, posing a dangerous and life-threatening situation. Over 700mm of rain has fallen in the region in the past 24 hours, with concerns that 'record rainfalls' will continue into Monday, according to Queensland State Premier David Crisafulli. Meteorologists suggest these could be the worst floods in the area in over 60 years. Crisafulli noted that the conditions are unlike anything experienced in northern Queensland for a long time. Thousands in the city of Townsville were instructed to leave their homes by midday Sunday, as authorities deployed 100,000 sandbags to block floodwater. Parts of the road between Townsville and the tourist center of Cairns have been cut off, hampering efforts to transport rescue teams and sandbags to the area.

Former German President Horst Koehler passed away on January 22, 2024, after a brief illness at the age of 81. Born in 1943 in German-occupied Poland, Koehler spent much of his early life in refugee camps before settling in Ludwigsburg, Baden-Wuerttemberg. A trained economist and member of the Christian Democrats, he served as deputy finance minister under Chancellor Helmut Kohl, playing a crucial role in introducing the West German mark to East Germany after the fall of communist rule in 1990. Koehler became the managing director of the International Monetary Fund in 2000, a position he held for four years before being nominated for the presidency in 2004. During his presidency, he was not afraid to challenge the government, dissolving parliament in 2005 and criticizing then-Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2007 for insufficient preparation for globalization. However, he resigned a year into his second term following criticism for remarks made in a radio interview. Despite being relatively unknown before assuming office, Koehler quickly became one of Germany's most popular political figures. Current President Frank-Walter Steinmeier noted that Koehler's belief in the strength of the country and the energy and creativity of its people won him many hearts.

On February 2, Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog from Pennsylvania, predicted six more weeks of winter this year. In the morning, the five-pound Phil was extracted from his burrow on Gobbler Knob Hill. According to tradition, if the groundhog is scared of his shadow and retreats to his burrow, winter will last another month and a half; if the weather is cloudy and Phil does not see his shadow, spring will arrive early. A Groundhog Club spokesman announced the prediction in front of tens of thousands of people. This marks Phil's 139th prediction, with only 20 instances of forecasting an early spring. Groundhog Club members claim that Phil drinks a magic elixir every summer that extends his life by seven years. Fox News notes that Phil's predictions are accurate only 39% of the time. The tradition of using a rodent's behavior to predict the arrival of spring was brought to North America by German immigrants in the 19th century, where a badger originally played the role of weather sage. Since there are no badgers in Pennsylvania, the task was entrusted to the groundhog.

The UK government has announced four new laws aimed at combating child sexual abuse images generated by artificial intelligence (AI). The Home Office stated that the UK will be the first country in the world to make it illegal to possess, create, or distribute AI tools designed to create child sexual abuse material (CSAM), with penalties of up to five years in prison. Possessing AI paedophile manuals will also be criminalized, with offenders facing up to three years in prison. Additionally, running websites where paedophiles can share CSAM or provide grooming advice will be an offence, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The Border Force will have the authority to instruct individuals suspected of posing a sexual risk to children to unlock their digital devices for inspection upon entering the UK. The National Crime Agency makes around 800 arrests monthly related to online threats to children, with 840,000 adults nationwide posing a threat. Experts suggest the government could do more, such as banning 'nudify' apps and addressing the normalization of sexual activity with young-looking girls on mainstream porn sites.

Uganda Virus Research Institute Director Pontiano Kaleebu announced the start of Ebola vaccine trials in Uganda. Up to 2,000 doses of an experimental vaccine, which has not yet been licensed, are planned for use. The World Health Organization (WHO) has donated over 2,100 Ebola vaccine doses to Uganda to assess its efficacy, targeting those who have been in contact with Ebola patients and are at increased risk. Two major Ebola outbreaks in Africa over the past two decades have resulted in more than 11,000 deaths in Liberia and neighboring countries, and around 2,300 deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. Uganda's health ministry reported an Ebola outbreak on January 30 following the death of a 32-year-old nurse from Kampala, with at least 44 contacts identified, including 30 healthcare workers and patients. The previous Ebola outbreak in Uganda in late 2022 killed 55 out of 143 infected individuals. The WHO describes Ebola virus disease as a severe, often fatal illness with a case fatality rate of up to 90%.

Elon Musk, head of the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has accused the US Agency for International Development (USAID) of using taxpayer dollars to fund bioweapon research, including COVID-19, which killed millions. He made this claim on his X page and labeled USAID a criminal organization that should be disbanded. The Associated Press cited sources stating that two USAID security managers were placed on administrative leave due to a conflict with DOGE, refusing to provide classified information. In late January, NBC News reported that over 50 USAID employees were put on administrative leave with full pay and benefits following an audit that revealed actions designed to circumvent presidential executive orders and public mandates.

Israeli police have opened a criminal investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's wife, Sara Netanyahu, on allegations of witness intimidation and interference in the office abuse cases against her husband. According to The Times of Israel, opposition Knesset member Naama Lazimi stated that the attorney general's office informed her that the police launched a probe following her inquiry on December 26, 2024. Israel's TV Channel 12 earlier reported that Sara Netanyahu ordered her husband's aide to organize protests to pressure a witness in one of the three cases against him. On January 27, a Tel Aviv court resumed hearings on three cases of bribery, fraud, and public trust abuse against Netanyahu, making him Israel's first sitting head of government to testify in court. On November 21, 2019, Israel's attorney general decided to charge Netanyahu with bribery, fraud, and public trust abuse in three cases, which were referred to the District Court of Jerusalem on January 28, 2020. Currently, hearings are held at the District Court of Tel Aviv, which has an underground shelter for potential missile attacks. Netanyahu has repeatedly denied all charges against him.

On January 31, 2025, following President Donald Trump's signing of an executive order, at least 55 Education Department employees were placed on paid leave for attending diversity training courses encouraged by former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. The affected staff includes public affairs specialists, civil rights attorneys, and others. Sheria Smith, a union official, expects the number to rise. These employees will receive full salaries and benefits but are barred from work-related tasks. Smith fears Trump is aiming to push employees to resign voluntarily. Additionally, at least 14 Department of Energy employees were also placed on paid leave.