News from February 3, 2025 at 2 PM

US President Donald Trump announced tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico, and China, which have not yet taken effect but are already negatively impacting American lives. Trump acknowledged that there may be 'some pain' from these broad tariffs, but believes they will eventually lead to a 'GOLDEN AGE.' The Wall Street Journal editorial board views this as a 'hammer blow to Mexico and Canada,' indicating that 'no country or industry is safe.' Previously, the newspaper called Trump's trade war the 'dumbest in history,' to which Trump responded critically, but the editors stood by their assessment. On Saturday, Trump signed an executive order imposing 25% duties on imports from Mexico and Canada (10% on Canadian energy products) and 10% on Chinese goods, citing the 'extraordinary threat posed by illegal aliens and drugs, including deadly fentanyl.'

80-year-old Gadi Moses, held hostage by Hamas for 15 months in Gaza, survived on a piece of bread and two olives daily. He was among 18 hostages released this year under a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, aimed at ending 15 months of war in Gaza. The war began when Hamas attacked Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel's military response resulted in over 47,000 deaths in Gaza. Families of released hostages noted their significant weight loss. Moses's niece, Efrat Machikawa, thanked Qatar and the US for mediating the deal and called for eradicating terrorism. Fifteen hostages and about 1,300 Palestinian prisoners are still due to be released under the ceasefire.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has demanded that Panama make 'immediate changes' to address what he calls China's 'influence and control' over the Panama Canal. He warned that if Panama fails to act, the US will take necessary measures to protect its rights under a bilateral treaty. This follows a meeting between Rubio and Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino in Panama City. Mulino stated he does not see a serious threat of US military force to seize the canal and proposed technical-level talks with the US. However, President Trump's vow to retake the canal has sparked significant backlash in Panama, with protesters burning effigies of Trump and Rubio. Mulino emphasized that the canal's ownership is non-negotiable. Trump's claims about Chinese soldiers operating the canal are unfounded, and allegations of unfair charges to US ships violate treaty agreements. The canal is owned and operated by the Panamanian government, though Chinese companies have heavily invested in nearby ports.

Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV reported that Syrian Transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa will visit Saudi Arabia on Sunday, marking his first official trip abroad since leading a rebel campaign that ousted Bashar al-Assad in December. Sharaa, a former affiliate of al Qaeda, has been seeking support from Arab and Western leaders since Assad's fall. On January 24, the Saudi foreign minister visited Damascus, stating that the kingdom is in talks with Europe and the U.S. to lift economic sanctions on Syria. Arab nations have long been concerned about Syria's production and trade of captagon, a drug widely used in Gulf states. Western anti-narcotics officials note that captagon has been mass-produced in Syria and transported to Gulf countries via Jordan. The new Syrian Foreign Minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, assured his Jordanian counterpart on January 7 that drug smuggling would not threaten Jordan under Syria's new Islamist rulers.

On February 3, the Belarusian government announced its resignation following the presidential election, in accordance with constitutional procedures. President Lukashenko signed a decree requiring current government members to continue their duties until the formation of a new government. The presidential election was held on January 26, and the Central Election Commission confirmed on February 3 that Lukashenko won with 86.82% of the vote, securing his position as the new president.

Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu, best known for her role in the 2001 TV series Meteor Garden, has died of pneumonia at the age of 48. A major star in the Mandarin-speaking world, Hsu became popular across Asia after the show was dubbed in local languages. She fell ill while vacationing in Japan, and her sister Dee Hsu confirmed her death. Hsu had a history of epilepsy and heart disease and had previously been hospitalized for seizures. She is survived by her husband, South Korean singer DJ Koo, and two children from her previous marriage to Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei. Hsu began her career at 17 with her sister as a pop duo and later became a famous TV host and actress.

Since last Friday, multiple earthquakes, some with magnitudes above 4, have struck the Greek island of Santorini and nearby islands. On Monday, schools were closed, and residents and visitors were advised to avoid indoor spaces and small ports. Disaster response units have been deployed as a precaution. Experts predict the seismic activity will continue for weeks. Aegean Airlines has added flights to facilitate the evacuation of residents and visitors. Local residents are accustomed to quakes, but some workers are choosing to leave.

Former Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales is on trial for kissing player Jenni Hermoso at the 2023 World Cup, which she described as 'staining one of the happiest days of my life.' Rubiales, accused of sexual assault and coercion, denies the charges. Hermoso, the first witness, stated she never consented to the kiss and felt disrespected and abandoned by the federation. She received death threats, prompting her move to Mexico with her family. Prosecutors seek a one-year prison sentence for sexual assault and an additional year-and-a-half for coercion. Three former colleagues are also on trial for allegedly pressuring Hermoso to say the kiss was consensual.

On February 2, 2025, at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, Beyonce won the Album of the Year for her country record 'Cowboy Carter,' marking her first time receiving the top prize in her career. She triumphed over Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, and others, securing three awards in total, bringing her career Grammy count to 35. Kendrick Lamar won Record and Song of the Year for 'Not Like Us.' Chappell Roan was named Best New Artist and called for record labels to provide musicians with a living wage and healthcare benefits. The ceremony, held in Los Angeles, also served as a fundraiser for wildfire victims, raising at least $7 million. Taylor Swift was shut out this time, and The Weeknd ended his Grammy boycott with a surprise performance.

On Monday, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) stated that a member of the Taliban's security forces opened fire at the UN's largest compound in Kabul on Sunday, resulting in one death and one injury. The deceased was a member of the Taliban-run security forces, while the injured was an international security guard contracted by the UN. UN-contracted security guards did not return fire during the incident. The motive for the shooting remains unclear, and both the Taliban and the UN are investigating. Kabul's interior ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qaniee confirmed the incident. Following the event, Taliban authorities halted all movement in and out of the compound, but these restrictions have since been lifted. The compound houses multiple UN agency offices, funds, programs, and accommodation for international staff.

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.

President Donald Trump plans to invoke the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport immigrants alleged to be gang members without court hearings, a move last used during World War II for internment camps. This aims to accelerate mass deportations, potentially affecting those not charged with crimes. Trump has directed military and immigration officials to prepare for implementation and expanded expedited removal processes. Despite facing legal challenges and backlog in immigration courts, his administration is expanding detention facilities, with ICE arrests surging. Critics argue this violates civil rights, and Democratic lawmakers have introduced a bill to repeal the Act.

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.