Slow progress at Gaza border after Israel reopens Rafah crossing
Israel reopened the Rafah crossing on Monday (2 February) to a trickle of Palestinians for the first time in months, a major step in a U.S.-backed pl...
President Trump launched his presidency with sweeping executive orders, reversing Biden-era policies on immigration, energy, and diversity, while reinstating a hard-line agenda on border control, resource extraction, and trade.
On Monday, President Trump issued a series of executive orders, signaling a sharp shift from the policies of President Biden. These actions targeted key areas like immigration, the environment, and diversity, aiming to reverse many of Biden’s significant domestic policies while reinstating Trump-era priorities.
In an evening speech, Trump announced the revocation of nearly 80 Biden-era orders, including rebuilding the refugee program and ending the use of private prisons.
His agenda also seeks to expand resource extraction and restrict immigration, moves likely to face legal challenges. Below is an overview of Trump’s initial executive orders:
1. Federal Work Force
The federal workforce faced immediate changes, with a hiring freeze imposed except for military and enforcement roles. Trump reinstated “Schedule F,” a category of federal workers without typical job protections, halted the implementation of new regulations for review by his appointees, and ordered investigations into alleged government misconduct.
Security clearances were granted to White House staff without traditional vetting, and remote work policies for federal employees were terminated.
2. Immigration
Trump moved to bar asylum claims at the southern border and announced plans to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants. The Refugee Admissions Program was suspended, and a border emergency was declared to unlock funds for enforcement and wall construction.
He also reinstated the policy requiring asylum seekers to remain in Mexico while awaiting case decisions and considered designating cartels as terrorist organizations.
3. Gender and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives
Diversity and gender policies saw a rollback, as Trump terminated federal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs, legally recognized only two genders, and removed protections for transgender individuals in federal prisons.
4.Tariffs and Trade
Trump initiated investigations into trade practices, including flows of drugs and migrants. He directed reviews of the U.S.-China trade deal and the USMCA and explored creating an "External Revenue Service" to handle tariffs.
Additionally, he ordered an assessment of national security-related tariffs.
5. Energy and the Environment
Environmental and energy policies underwent significant shifts, with Trump withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Agreement and declaring a national energy emergency.
He lifted Biden-era restrictions on offshore drilling, opened Alaska’s wilderness for resource extraction, and reversed regulations promoting electric vehicles.
Offshore wind farm leases were paused, and environmental justice programs aimed at protecting disadvantaged communities were eliminated.
6. TikTok ban
Regarding TikTok, Trump suspended its ban for 75 days while reviewing potential national security risks, aiming to find a resolution that preserves the platform for American users.
Other actions included withdrawing from the World Health Organization, renaming Mount Denali and the Gulf of Mexico, and ensuring states had sufficient lethal injection drugs for the death penalty.
Trump also launched a cost-cutting initiative led by Elon Musk and revoked security clearances for individuals who questioned the Hunter Biden laptop story.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States has begun negotiations with European leaders over Greenland and that an agreement is already taking shape.
The United States accused Cuba of interfering with the work of its top diplomat in Havana on Sunday (1 February) after small groups of Cubans jeered at him during meetings with residents and church representatives.
Dmitry Medvedev, said European countries have failed to defeat Russia in Ukraine and have instead inflicted serious economic damage on themselves, as he criticised EU policy, praised Donald Trump as a leader who seeks peace, and said Russia would “soon” achieve military victory in the war.
Heavy snow continued to batter northern and western Japan on Saturday (31 January) leaving cities buried under record levels of snowfall and prompting warnings from authorities. Aomori city in northern Japan recorded 167 centimetres of snow by Friday - the highest January total since 1945.
A daylight robbery at a jewellery shop in Richmond, one of London’s most affluent and traditionally quiet districts, has heightened security concerns among residents and local businesses.
India says it's going to stop buying Russian oil and lower trade barriers after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with India on Monday (2 February) that cuts American tariffs on Indian goods to 18% from 50%.
Ukraine is creating a white list for Starlink terminals to ensure only verified devices stay active, after officials warned that Russian forces were attempting to use the network during the Ukraine conflict.
A drone incident at a military base in Przasnysz has triggered a police inquiry in Poland as security agencies across Europe confront a growing number of unauthorised devices entering restricted airspace.
Ukraine’s negotiating team is heading to the United Arab Emirates for a second round of trilateral peace talks with Russia and the U.S., President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said late Monday.
Nigeria has filed 57 terrorism-related charges against nine men accused of planning and executing a June 2025 attack in Benue state that killed about 150 people.
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