The ACTUAL NEWS: Tuesday, February 11th 2025 Recap
"Today in History" and the Latest National and Global News
TODAY IN HISTORY
1753: Pennsylvania Hospital, the first hospital in the United States, began admitting patients. It was cofounded by Benjamin Franklin.
1858: In Lourdes, France, 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous, a miller's daughter, first had visions of the Virgin Mary, later authenticated by Pope Pius IX in 1862, starting the cult of Our Lady of Lourdes.
1929: Benito Mussolini of Italy and Pietro Gasparri of the Vatican signed the Lateran Treaty, recognizing papal sovereignty over Vatican City, an enclave in Rome.
1929: A committee met in Paris to devise the Young Plan, a revision of the Dawes Plan of 1924, which renegotiated Germany's reparations for World War I.
1945: The Yalta Conference between the Allied leaders of World War II came to a close.
1975: British politician Margaret Thatcher was elected leader of the Conservative Party, replacing Edward Heath. She became Europe's first woman prime minister in 1979.
1989: The Reverend Barbara Harris of the Protestant Episcopal Church became the first female bishop in the Anglican Communion.
1990: After spending 27 years in prison, Nelson Mandela was released and began negotiations with President F.W. de Klerk, which ultimately led to the end of apartheid in South Africa.
2011: Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stepped down after nearly 30 years in power, following mass demonstrations as part of the pro-democracy uprisings known as the Arab Spring.
2012: American rhythm-and-blues singer Whitney Houston, who rose to fame as a pop superstar in the 1980s, known for her powerful voice, passed away at the age of 48.
QUICK ACTUAL NEWS
NATIONAL
Tulsi Gabbard, a former U.S. Representative with minimal intelligence experience, is expected to be confirmed as the nation's top spy by Wednesday morning, with Republicans supporting her nomination—once considered one of President Donald Trump's most controversial picks.
On Tuesday, the top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee accused President Trump's FBI director nominee, Kash Patel, of secretly overseeing the removal of the bureau's leadership before his confirmation. Senator Dick Durbin stated that he learned of Patel's alleged involvement in the firings from several whistleblowers, prompting him to request an investigation from Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz. Durbin also claimed that Patel was working with senior White House and Justice Department officials to manage the leadership changes.
President Donald Trump plans to instruct federal agencies to begin preparing for widespread government worker firings in the coming months, according to a White House official.
On Tuesday, Trump moved to restore previous standards for light bulbs, toilets, showers, and other water-using appliances, following his order promoting plastic straws and rescinding a plan to reduce single-use plastics.
Binance and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission jointly requested a federal judge delay the regulator's lawsuit against the crypto exchange, citing the potential impact of a newly launched task force.
A group of nine senators on the Environment and Public Works Committee claimed on Tuesday that the Trump administration is illegally withholding $3 billion in previously awarded funds for electric vehicle charging in states.
The government instructed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a leading climate science agency, to identify global warming-related grants, raising concerns about possible cancellations.
The White House shielded Elon Musk's cost-cutting initiative, known as DOGE, from public records requests.
Trump fired the director of the Office of Government Ethics.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, one of Wall Street's most feared regulators, was shut down by the new director over the weekend.
A U.S. judge clarified on Tuesday that an order restricting Elon Musk’s cost-cutting initiative from accessing Treasury Department payment systems does not apply to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Due to a shortage of workspace, the Department of the Air Force issued a directive on February 6 exempting some employees from returning to full-time in-person work. Acting Air Force Secretary Gary A. Ashworth acknowledged the lack of workstations in the Washington D.C. area and other bases in the U.S. and abroad.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the Department of the Air Force to pause all planning for its “Re-Optimization for Great Power Competition” effort, leaving the transformation of the Air Force and Space Force in limbo.
Hegseth is also expected to sign new guidance soon to expedite the Pentagon’s acquisition process, speeding up the introduction of new technology.
Work on the command and launch segments of the Air Force's Sentinel ICBM program is on hold as leaders formulate a plan to restructure the over-budget program replacing aging intercontinental ballistic missiles.
On February 10, L3Harris unveiled Amorphous, a software platform for controlling large swarms of uncrewed systems across multiple domains, enabling seamless operation of aerial drones, ships, and other platforms.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed support for increased U.S. defense spending, downplaying concerns over an audit by Elon Musk's team aimed at finding waste at the Pentagon.
Two Democratic senators asked the White House for details regarding the Trump administration’s offer to incentivize about 2 million federal workers to quit their jobs. Senators Gary Peters and Richard Blumenthal argued the promises violate existing law and could lead to government waste.
Several organizations and companies contracted with USAID, including the American Bar Association and international development firm Chemonics, sued the Trump administration over its moves to dismantle the U.S. foreign aid agency.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell stated the Fed is in no rush to cut short-term interest rates, citing a strong economy with low unemployment and inflation remaining above the Fed's 2% target. Powell alleged that Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency team "have not attempted to access the Fed's secure payment systems".
A federal judge on Tuesday ordered U.S. health agencies to restore websites they had taken offline in response to an executive order by President Trump, which instructed them to remove “gender ideology extremism.”
Starbucks was sued by the state of Missouri on Tuesday, accused of using its diversity, equity, and inclusion commitment to "systematically discriminate based on race, gender, and sexual orientation".
On Tuesday, President Trump appointed Terry Cole to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), following the withdrawal of two previous nominees.
Major U.S. airlines requested the U.S. Transportation Department abandon its review over whether airlines should compensate passengers for flight disruptions, initiated by the Biden administration.
The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency fired its CFO and three other employees over improper payments for New York City hotels used to house migrants, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
A group of Democratic lawmakers announced plans to introduce a bill to prevent the Trump administration from using government funds to eliminate the U.S. Agency for International Development.
On Tuesday, a U.S. court granted prosecutors’ request to drop the criminal case against two associates of President Trump, who had been accused of obstructing the investigation into his mishandling of classified documents.
Trump's administration sought to delay a U.S. judge's ruling, which would force it to comply with an order barring the freezing of federal grants, loans, and other financial assistance, calling the decision “intolerable judicial overreach.”
Top enforcement officials at the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau resigned Tuesday, citing the administration’s decision to halt all activity at the agency.
Paul Martin, the Inspector-General of the U.S. Agency for International Development, was removed from his position, a move following a report revealing how the Trump administration’s actions have hampered the agency's oversight of unspent aid worth $8.2 billion.
A U.S. government agency sent recommendations last week to President Trump regarding which classified documents related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy should be released to the public.
Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon pleaded guilty in New York state court on Tuesday to a fraud charge related to his fundraising campaign for the U.S.-Mexico border wall.
GLOBAL
U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on Tuesday about how the United States can assist India in diversifying its energy sources through investments in U.S. nuclear technology, according to the White House.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated on Tuesday that Canada would highlight the negative impact of the United States' steel and aluminum tariffs, warning that if necessary, Canada's response would be firm and clear.
French industry minister Marc Ferracci called for Europe to respond firmly and united to U.S. President Donald Trump's latest tariffs on Tuesday.
In response to the 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports imposed by President Trump, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said: “I deeply regret the US decision to impose tariffs on European steel and aluminum exports. Tariffs are taxes—bad for business, worse for consumers.
Unjustified tariffs on the EU will not go unanswered—they will trigger firm and proportionate countermeasures. The EU will act to safeguard its economic interests and protect our workers, businesses, and consumers.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his likely successor Friedrich Merz promised on Tuesday that they would never collaborate with the extreme right, following national election speeches ahead of the February 23 vote. Scholz emphasized, “Never, really never will we make common cause with the extreme right,” accusing Merz of breaking his word after the Alternative for Germany (AfD) supported his migration and security motion last month.
The conservative Austrian People's Party (OVP) faced increasing pressure on Tuesday to end its coalition talks with the far-right Freedom Party (FPO), as an FPO-led government seemed increasingly unlikely.
Iran warned the United Nations on Tuesday about "reckless and inflammatory statements" from U.S. President Donald Trump threatening the use of force, warning that "any act of aggression will have severe consequences."
Hamas indefinitely postponed its next release of Israeli hostages, jeopardizing the six-week cease-fire in the war with Israel.
Trump stated that if the U.S. took control of Gaza, Palestinians would not be allowed to return and threatened to cut aid to Jordan and Egypt if they did not comply.
Trump met with the King of Jordan at the White House. The King mentioned that he would propose a united stance to the President with Arab and Muslim countries and receive 2,000 Palestinian children from Gaza, including some who suffer from cancer, for medical treatment in Jordan. The King did not give a direct answer about accepting Palestinians or potential U.S. aid cuts but reiterated his commitment to working with the President for peace. He emphasized protecting Jordan's interests.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Tuesday that if Hamas did not release hostages by midday Saturday, the ceasefire in Gaza would end, and the military would resume fighting until Hamas was defeated.
President Mahmoud Abbas faced criticism on Tuesday, both from allies and opponents, over a decree revising payments to families of Palestinians killed or jailed by Israel. The move, which aims to meet U.S. demands, will likely worsen his unpopularity.
Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, called U.S. President Trump's plan to resettle Palestinians from Gaza a "serious crime" that would ultimately fail.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty told U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday that Arab states rejected Trump's plan to displace Palestinians from Gaza.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will travel to Ukraine this week, as announced by President Trump on social media. The visit aims to help end the Russia-Ukraine war and "secure American access to Ukrainian natural resources".
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth clarified on Tuesday that the U.S. is not sending troops to Ukraine but would encourage European allies to increase their defense spending when meeting with them this week.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Tuesday that there were no new developments regarding discussions between the U.S. and Russia on Ukraine. While contacts had intensified at various levels, there was nothing further to report for now.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office jointly designated Zservers, a Russia-based bulletproof hosting provider supporting LockBit ransomware attacks. LockBit is one of the most deployed ransomware variants, responsible for the November 2023 attack on the Industrial Commercial Bank of China’s U.S. broker-dealer. OFAC also sanctioned two Russian nationals key to Zservers, enabling ransomware and other criminal activities.
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, on an unannounced visit to Moscow, successfully secured the release of Marc Fogel, an American schoolteacher detained in Russia since August 2021, the White House confirmed.
On Wednesday, February 12, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will meet with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at NATO HQ in Brussels. While in Brussels, Trudeau will also meet with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
Norwegian People's Aid (NPA), a humanitarian group assisting with landmine clearance, announced on Tuesday that it would lay off over half of its global staff due to President Trump’s decision to freeze U.S. foreign aid.
At the Aero India 2025 international airshow, a Russian Su-57 Felon fighter sharing the tarmac with a U.S.-
made F-35 stealth fighter has become a symbolic image. The Indian Air Force is considering new fighters while working toward its own fifth-generation aircraft, with both jets being pitched to meet emerging Indian needs.
Legislation to curb U.S. investment in China will be reintroduced in Congress, according to the chair of the House of Representatives' select committee on China.
South Korea’s acting President Choi Sang-mok stated on Tuesday that the government would seek talks with the U.S. administration about the impact of Washington’s tariffs on South Korean companies.
The Secretary-General of South Korea's National Election Commission defended the integrity of the country’s elections on Tuesday amidst claims by impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol that votes might have been compromised.
Pope Francis sharply criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s immigration policies in an open letter to American Catholic bishops on Tuesday, saying criminalizing migrants and using forceful measures "will end badly."
PHOTO(S) OF THE DAY
U.S. Vice President JD Vance attends a bilateral meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas at the residence of the U.S. Ambassador in Paris, France, February 11, 2025.
President Donald Trump's billionaire ally Elon Musk on Tuesday directed his ire at U.S. law firms that have teamed up with advocacy groups to challenge the Republican's sweeping policy changes in court.
He posed for pictures with his son X while talking to reporters at the Oval Office.
TWEETS OF THE DAY
VIDEO QUICK NEWS
Secretary of Defense Hegseth renamed Fort Liberty to Fort Roland L. Bragg while flying over it.
Trump: Canada stole the car industry from us.
Trump: Nobody can work from home.. they’re playing tennis, they go golfing, they aren’t working.
Trump on Ukraine: I want to have our money secured. We are spending hundreds of billions of dollars. They may make a deal, they may not make a deal. They may be Russian someday, they may not be Russian someday. But we have all that money there, I want it back. I said I want the equivalent of $500 billion in rare earth and they have essentially agreed to that, so at least we don’t feel stupid. Otherwise we stupid.. I said we have to get something, we can’t continue pay this money.
Again, there was no direct investment. Most of the funds allocated by congress went to buying old equipment from Pentagon allowing herewith to replenish the US stockpiles.
National Security Advisor Waltz on Ukraine: We need to recoup those costs.
Waltz: Canadian people would love to join the United States.
Waltz on Gaza: President Trump is a builder, a deal maker in chief.
VP Vance at the AI conference in Paris, France: If we choose to focus on dangers rather than future of AI, we will miss the opportunity.
Trump: We're not going to have to buy, we're going to have Gaza. There's nothing to buy. It’s Gaza.
Trump: A bully is the weakest person.
Musk: The President, House, Senate decide what happens as opposed to large unelected bureaucracy.
Altman: OpenAI is not for sale.
Macron: Plug, baby, plug!
China's Expanding Space Alliances in Africa
China is significantly enhancing its space partnerships across Africa, exemplified by a satellite lab near Cairo, Egypt. Initially intended to be the first African facility to produce homegrown satellites, the lab relies heavily on Chinese support. Satellite equipment and parts arrive from Beijing, Chinese scientists oversee operations, and a Chinese flag adorns the facility. The first satellite assembled there, launched in December 2023, was primarily built in China and launched from a Chinese spaceport.
This lab is part of China's broader strategy to enhance its global surveillance network and assert dominance in space exploration. While China publicly offers space assistance to African nations—including donations of satellites, space monitoring telescopes, and ground stations—it also maintains access to the data and images collected from this technology. Chinese personnel have a long-term presence in the facilities they build across Africa.
China has established 23 bilateral space partnerships in Africa, providing infrastructure and expertise to various countries. These collaborations include launching satellites for nations like Algeria, Ethiopia, and Egypt, and constructing ground stations in countries such as Tunisia and Sudan.
This expansion occurs as the United States reduces its foreign aid and space partnerships under the Trump administration, leading African nations to seek alternative partnerships. China's strategic investments in Africa's space sector reflect its ambition to become a leading space power and enhance its global influence.
Trump's New Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum Imports: A Shift with Global Repercussions
In a newly signed set of memorandums, President Trump imposed a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports starting on March 12th, marking a significant escalation in his administration's trade policies. The US relies heavily on imports, with around 80% of its aluminum and 17% of its steel coming from countries such as Canada, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, and Germany. These imports totaled approximately $50 billion last year.
Canada, the US' largest supplier of both steel and aluminum, is expected to be the hardest hit by the new tariffs. While the move aims to benefit US metals companies, it may also raise costs for industries such as construction and automotive manufacturing, which rely on affordable metal imports.
This tariff is not the first of its kind. In 2018, Trump imposed a 25% tariff on steel and a 10% levy on aluminum, citing national security concerns and the desire to strengthen domestic production. While steel imports did decline by 35% from 2014 to 2024, domestic steelmakers argued that imports continued to negatively impact their businesses, as production levels failed to meet the country’s demand.
The 2018 tariffs were met with retaliatory actions from the European Union, which introduced levies on well-known American brands like Harley-Davidson and Levi’s. After lengthy negotiations, the US granted exemptions for certain countries, including those in the EU.
Now, with the new tariffs on the horizon, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has expressed strong opposition. She stated, “I deeply regret the US decision to impose tariffs on European steel and aluminum exports...Tariffs are taxes—bad for business, worse for consumers.” Von der Leyen emphasized that the EU would respond with "firm and proportionate countermeasures" to protect its economic interests.
Additionally, Trump has vowed to introduce reciprocal tariffs on "every country" that imposes duties on US imports, signaling a broader shift in US trade strategy. As tensions rise, the global economic landscape may be significantly impacted by these moves, with businesses and consumers on both sides facing uncertain consequences.
Tech Giants Prioritize AI with Widespread Layoffs and Hiring Shifts
Meta has initiated a round of layoffs, affecting around 4,000 employees, or 5% of its workforce, as the company shifts its focus toward artificial intelligence. CEO Mark Zuckerberg had warned of the layoffs in an internal memo, emphasizing the need to "raise the bar" and "move out low-performers faster" in preparation for what he expects to be an intense 2025. Meta is now focusing on ramping up its hiring of machine-learning engineers to bolster its AI initiatives, according to Business Insider.
Workday also made significant staff cuts last week, laying off 1,750 employees—approximately 8.5% of its workforce—as part of its strategy to prioritize AI. Similarly, Salesforce is laying off over 1,000 workers while increasing hiring for sales roles tied to its AI products. Google, too, is offering buyouts to employees working in its platforms and devices teams, with further cuts expected in areas that focus on AI.
In total, the combined capital expenditures on artificial intelligence by Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Meta are projected to surpass $320 billion this year. This shift toward AI comes amid growing concerns among investors, who are wary of cheaper AI models, like DeepSeek, that could challenge the dominance of these tech giants.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
More than 150 scientists have compiled a report on the state of America's land, water, and wildlife. They are now attempting to publish it, despite opposition from the White House.
In recent weeks, thousands of tremors, sometimes just minutes apart, have struck the Greek island of Santorini. As a result, most residents and tourists have fled, fearing a major earthquake.
Two storms are expected to bring snow to Chicago and the Mid-Atlantic this week.
Construction workers uncovered over 150 unexploded World War II-era bombs beneath a children’s playground in northern England.
The Super Bowl attracted a projected 126 million viewers, according to Fox Sports, setting a record for the game. A performer from Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl Halftime show will be permanently banned from all NFL stadiums and events after unfurling a flag that read "Sudan" and "Gaza" during the performance.
TODAY'S COVER PHOTO
Willow Biden, "the best unpacking buddy". Posted by Dr. Jill Biden on Instagram today, 2/11/25
That's all from me for now. Thank you for reading.
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