The edition of
Saturday 1 February 2025
18 stories, section by section, the most important first.
International
U.S. President Donald Trump orders the military to carry out airstrikes against Islamic State positions in Somalia, targeting a series of cave systems used by the group.
This airstrike is later confirmed to have killed ISIS leader Ahmed Maeleminine, a key recruiter and financier for the militant group.
At least 50 combatants are killed after fighting between Al-Shabaab and the Somali National Army and allied Ma'awisley militias in the Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle regions of Hirshabelle state, Somalia.
At least 56 people are killed and 158 others are injured by Rapid Support Forces (RSF) shelling on the Sabrein Market in Omdurman, Khartoum State, Sudan.
Hamas releases three Israeli hostages, including Yarden Bibas. At the same time, Israel releases 183 Palestinian prisoners, seven of which were transferred to Egypt prior to their deportation.
The Rafah Border Crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt is reopened for the first time since Israel captured it nearly nine months ago during the Rafah offensive.
A Russian missile strike on a residential building in Poltava, Ukraine, reportedly kills at least fourteen people and injures at least 17 others. A separate strike kills three police officers in Sumy Oblast.
The RSF are accused of stealing ambulances, food supplies, and other civilian equipment in Khartoum.
Gunmen kill ten people in the Alawite village of Arzah in Hama Governorate, Syria.
Eighteen Pakistani paramilitary troops and 24 Baloch separatists are killed in clashes in Balochistan, Pakistan.
Business
In Canada, British Columbia Premier David Eby announces a ban on imports of alcoholic beverages from "red U.S. states". Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston announces that the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation will remove all U.S. alcohol from its stores starting Tuesday.
U.S. President Donald Trump announces 10% tariffs on goods imported from China. China vows to take the matter to the World Trade Organization.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announces a Plan B, which includes potential tariff measures to defend Mexico's interests in response to Trump's tariffs on the country.
United States President Donald Trump signs an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces a retaliatory 25% tariff on all U.S. goods following Trump's recent executive order.
The Law
In Kyrgyzstan, the ban on the Islamic niqāb takes effect, with women facing a fine of 20,000 som ($230 USD) if they wear it in public places.
Environment
A fire at a retirement home in Bouffémont, Val-d'Oise, France, kills three people and leaves nine others injured.
Two buses collided on the Benin–Ore–Sagamu Expressway in Odigbo, Nigeria before catching fire, killing 30 and injuring two.
Stories adapted from Wikipedia’s Current events portal for 1 February 2025, by Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0.