News from February 4, 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.'

Thousands of residents are fleeing the Greek island of Santorini due to a wave of seismic activity, with around 6,000 people leaving by ferry since Sunday. Authorities have closed schools and warned against large indoor gatherings, while Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis urged calm. More than 300 earthquakes have been recorded in the past 48 hours, including a magnitude 4.7 tremor northeast of the island early Tuesday. Despite no major damage reported, emergency measures are in place. Aegean Airlines added three emergency flights, expecting 2,500 to 2,700 passengers to fly to Athens on Monday and Tuesday. Local tour guide Kostas Sakavaras, who left with his family, plans to return once schools reopen.

Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Shara arrived in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, on February 2 for his first official visit since taking office. He held a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. In December 2024, the armed group led by al-Shara declared the liberation of Damascus and the overthrow of the Assad regime. Al-Shara was appointed as the interim President of Syria on January 29 this year. Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan visited Syria on January 24, stating that negotiations are underway with European countries and the United States to lift economic sanctions against Syria.

The alliance of rebel groups in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, including the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, has declared a humanitarian ceasefire starting on Tuesday, citing 'humanitarian reasons.' The UN reports that at least 900 people have been killed and 2,880 injured in recent fighting in and around Goma, the largest eastern city. The G7 nations and the EU have condemned the offensive as a blatant violation of DR Congo's sovereignty. The rebel alliance, known as the Congo River Alliance, accuses the Congolese military of bombing areas it controls and states it will not seize further territory. Over the past three years, regional fighting has displaced hundreds of thousands, with over 400,000 people forced from their homes since the start of 2025. Rwandan President Paul Kagame, also commander-in-chief of the Rwanda Defence Force, expressed uncertainty about Rwandan troops in DR Congo. Human rights groups are calling for increased pressure on Rwanda. DR Congo's communications minister, Patrick Muyaya, urges international sanctions on Rwanda. The presidents of both countries are set to attend a regional peace summit in Tanzania on Friday, with negotiations expected to last for months.

The alliance of rebel groups in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, including the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, has declared a humanitarian ceasefire starting on Tuesday, citing 'humanitarian reasons.' The UN reports that at least 900 people have been killed and 2,880 injured in recent fighting in and around Goma, the largest eastern city. The G7 nations and the EU have condemned the offensive as a blatant violation of DR Congo's sovereignty. The rebel alliance, known as the Congo River Alliance, accuses the Congolese military of bombing areas it controls and states it will not seize further territory. Over the past three years, regional fighting has displaced hundreds of thousands, with over 400,000 people forced from their homes since the start of 2025. Rwandan President Paul Kagame, also commander-in-chief of the Rwanda Defence Force, expressed uncertainty about Rwandan troops in DR Congo. Human rights groups are calling for increased pressure on Rwanda. DR Congo's communications minister, Patrick Muyaya, urges international sanctions on Rwanda. The presidents of both countries are set to attend a regional peace summit in Tanzania on Friday, with negotiations expected to last for months.

Former NATO chief and ex-Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg has been appointed as Norway's new Finance Minister. The government reshuffle was necessitated by the collapse of the ruling coalition, with the Center Party, led by former Finance Minister Trygve Vedum, ending its cooperation with the Labor Party due to disagreements on energy policy and plans for rapprochement with the EU, of which Norway is not a member. Stoltenberg expressed his deep honor in serving his country at this critical juncture and plans to return to the Munich Security Conference after his tenure. His inclusion in the minority government may help reverse the Center Party's declining ratings, ahead of the Norwegian parliamentary election scheduled before September 8, 2025.

On February 4, a politician from Italy's Veneto region, Andrea Zanoni, reported Donald Trump Jr to authorities for allegedly killing a protected species of duck while hunting in the Venice lagoon. Zanoni cited an online video from Field Ethos, which showed Trump Jr and others killing various ducks, including a rare Ruddy Shelduck, protected under the EU Birds Directive and Italian wildlife laws. Zanoni stated that killing the protected bird is a crime and has filed a query with regional authorities regarding potential sanctions. The video was filmed in the Pierimpie’ valley south of Venice, a special conservation area protected by European regulations. The regional council indicated it would respond to the query in due course.

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 4, the Belarusian Defense Ministry announced that it had voluntarily notified the member states of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) about a surprise combat readiness check in the country's army. Valery Revenko, Head of the Department of International Military Cooperation of the Belarusian Defense Ministry, stated that the notification included details on the objectives, timing, number of participants, and other information aimed at ensuring the transparency of military activities. On Monday, the ministry announced the commencement of combat readiness checks in the republic's troops, with Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin noting that the inspection would test new methods of using reconnaissance and strike unmanned aerial systems.

According to reports from Fox News and AFP on February 3, former U.S. President Joe Biden has signed with the renowned talent agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA). AFP reported that Biden is exploring post-presidential work. CAA stated that they had previously signed with Biden during his vice presidency, during which his memoir was published and a 42-day tour was conducted, selling over 85,000 tickets. Biden, who defeated Trump in the 2020 presidential election, officially left office on January 20 this year. This signing comes just two weeks after his resignation. CAA is a well-known agency in the U.S., representing various celebrities and politicians, including former President Obama and his wife, as well as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The European Commission reported on Tuesday that most EU surface water bodies are polluted by chemicals. Only 39.5% of these waters were in good ecological condition in 2021, with 26.8% having a good chemical status, down from 33.5% in 2015. Groundwater bodies fared better, with 86% in good chemical status, but nitrates from farming were widespread pollutants. EU Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall stated the water situation is dire and requires a mindset change. Addressing the issue poses political challenges, particularly due to farming impacts. Last year, European farmers protested EU environmental rules, leading to some measures being scaled back. The Commission acknowledged the need for radical measures against nitrate pollution but noted political difficulties. Most countries are expected to miss the 2027 target for good surface water status, with the Netherlands already under a court order to reduce nitrogen pollution. The EU may allocate more funds for water cleanup, competing with demands for defense and industry spending.