DAILY NEWS Stream – February 3, 2025

Syrian opposition leader Ahmed al-Sharaa declared President of Syria for transition period by opposition military commander Hassan Abdul Ghani (Reuters)

Syria’s newly appointed President Ahmed al-Sharaa pledges to form an inclusive transitional government representing diverse communities that will build institutions and run the country until it can hold free and fair elections in his first speech to the nation (Reuters)

Hamas releases three Israeli and five Thai hostages, and Israel releases 110 Palestinians in latest Gaza ceasefire exchange (HTV - Đài Hà Nội)

Qatar and US call for full implementation of Gaza ceasefire agreement, amid preparations to start negotiations on the second phase of the deal (AA)

“We’re all having to catch up”: NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization] scrambles for drones that can survive the Arctic to counter Russia and China’s increased presence there (Reuters)

Sweden donates US$1.2 billion aid package to Ukraine (Reuters)

US President Trump repeats 100% tariffs threat to dissuade BRICS trading bloc [Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates] from replacing the US dollar as their common currency, warning they can “say goodbye to America!” if they do (Reuters)

US Secretary of State Rubio warns of risk of China shutting down Panama Canal in the event of a conflict with the US, pointing to two China-controlled ports at the canals’ Atlantic and Pacific entrances, and saying the current situation “just can’t continue” (Reuters)

US President Trump’s interest in buying Greenland is “not a joke”, Secretary of State Rubio says, adding that acquiring it from Denmark is in US national interest and needs to be solved (Reuters)

President Trump seeks deal with El Salvador to deport Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua to the Central American country (Bloomberg)

President Trump says escalating crisis between Rwanda and Democratic Republic of the Congo is a “very serious problem” (Reuters)

Google Maps complies with President Trump’s order, will replace “Gulf of Mexico” with “Gulf of America” for United States users, and show both names in all other countries besides Mexico (People)

US Senator Thom Tillis [Republican-North Carolina] applauds President Trump’s Health Secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr., saying he did a phenomenal job at his second Senate hearing for approval to do the job (Fox News)

Applause and cheers when Senator Marsha Blackburn [Republican-Tennessee] says she has “no doubt” Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be confirmed as President Trump’s Health Secretary (Forbes Breaking News)

US Senator Rand Paul [Republican-Kentucky] blasts Democrats for failing to acknowledge Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s decades of environmental activism during Senate hearing (Fox News)

US Senator Ted Cruz [Republican-Texas] slams Democrats’ attacks on President Trump’s nominee for Director of the FBI [Federal Bureau of Investigation] Kash Patel during his confirmation hearing for approval to do the job, saying their claims of Mr. Patel’s involvement in the January 6, 2021 Capitol protests are the most absurd he’s ever heard (Forbes Breaking News)

American seer Reverend Brandon Biggs shares prophetic vision, in which the Lord shows a “10-magnitude” earthquake will hit the US New Madrid fault line in the spring [year not shown], causing 1,800 deaths and catastrophic damage in several states from Texas to Oklahoma. The tragedy will come three days after the US attempts a “two-state solution” in Israel, in which Palestine is granted official statehood; the Lord warns that once the agreement is signed, there will be a three-day window for residents to escape before it’s too late (Daily Mail)

China’s Three Bad Omens at the start of 2025 signaling a turbulent year ahead: 1) Mass Protest in President Xi Jinping’s Hometown – In early January, a large-scale protest erupted in Pucheng County, Shaanxi, after a student’s mysterious death. The school withheld key evidence, triggering public outrage. This unrest is seen as a bad omen for Xi Jinping, as it occurred near his birthplace, indicating potential social instability.

2) Economic Crisis Intensifies – China’s stock, bond, and foreign exchange markets all plummeted to record lows. The yuan currency fell to its weakest level since 2007 (7.36 per USD), despite Beijing’s economic interventions. Meanwhile, global supply chains continued shifting away from China, weakening its export-driven economy.

3) Prominent Family Flees to Canada – The influential Rong family, which had deep ties to the Communist Party and China’s economic reforms, fully relocated to Canada. Their departure suggests a loss of confidence in China’s future, symbolizing the potential end of an era (Bảo Trung TV)

Church of England Bishop John Perumbalath resigns over sexual assault allegations, the latest in a series of high-profile resignations in the Anglican Church amid intensifying public scrutiny (Reuters)

Germany’s Bundestag [lower house of Parliament] passes motion to pursue stricter migration laws, marking first collaboration between the conservative party CDU [Christian Democratic Union] and far-right party AfD [Alternative for Germany] (InfoMigrants)

Uganda confirms outbreak of Ebola in capital Kampala, one dead - the ninth outbreak in the nation since 2000 – with the WHO [World Health Organization] allocating US$1 million to help contain the spread (Reuters)

New research: Sugary drinks caused 2.2 million diabetes cases worldwide in 2020 (Firstpost)

Climate change could spark outbreaks of DIARRHEA in Britain, scientists warn, as warmer conditions increase salmonella cases in England and Wales (Daily Mail)

Thailand spends US$18.4 million to address forest fires and PM2.5 [fine dust] air pollution in several regions, as country’s air quality increasingly deteriorates (VIETNAM NEWS AGENCY)

Glacier melt: A water crisis brewing in Kashmir, with Jhelum River at nearly all-time low water levels, causing shortage of drinking and irrigation water (Kashmir Observer)

Chile orders Canadian mining company Lundin to shut small copper mine in Alcaparrosa and pay US$3.41 million fine after causing massive sinkhole in 2022 (Reuters)

British celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay partners with vegan butter brand Flora for “Skip the Cow” ad campaign. The acclaimed chef says he was “blown away” by Flora’s dairy-free spreads and “encourages home cooks to make the switch, try it for themselves, and see what they can create” (Plant Based News)

Inspirational quote of the day: “We must become bigger than we have been: more courageous, greater in spirit, larger in outlook. We must become members of a new race, overcoming petty prejudice, owing our ultimate allegiance not to nations but to our fellow men within the human community.” – His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I