🇺🇸U.S. To "Take Over" Gaza Strip

☀️Good morning. It's Wednesday, Feb. 5, and we're covering, US Postal Service Halts Packages From China and Hong Kong Amid Trade Crackdown, Google Aims To Transform Search Into AI-Powered Assistant, Trump Announces U.S. Plan To Take Over Gaza Strip, and much more. First time reading? Sign up to get this newsletter: Sign up here.  

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MARKETS

Cryptocurrency Prices by Market Cap

• The global cryptocurrency market cap today is $3.21 Trillion, a 0.64% decrease in the last 24 hours.

• The total crypto market volume over the last 24 hours is $175.26B, which makes a 27.74% decrease.

• The total volume in Defi is currently $10.08B, 5.75% of the total crypto market 24-hours.

• The volume of all stablecoins is now $163.64B, which is 93.37% of the total market 24-hour volume.

• Bitcoin’s dominance is currently 60.30%, a decrease of 0.48% over the day.

Bitcoin Drops Below $97K After David Sacks Press Conference

Bitcoin experienced a significant selloff, dropping below $97,000 after briefly reaching $101,000 earlier in the day. The downturn occurred alongside a press conference led by David Sacks, the White House crypto and AI czar, which was expected to focus on a potential strategic bitcoin reserve. In addition to bitcoin’s dip, many altcoins, including Solana (SOL), XRP, Cardano (ADA), and Chainlink (LINK), saw declines ranging from 6% to 10%. Ethereum (ETH) also fell by 5.3%. (Read Deeper)

BUSINESS & FINANCE

US Postal Service Halts Packages From China and Hong Kong Amid Trade Crackdown

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has temporarily suspended package shipments from China and Hong Kong following President Donald Trump's closure of the "de minimis" trade loophole and the imposition of a 10% tariff on Chinese goods. The loophole previously allowed duty-free imports for packages valued under $800, benefiting fast-fashion retailers like Shein and Temu. Trump cited concerns over China's failure to curb fentanyl shipments as a key reason for the increased tariffs.

Why It Matters: The crackdown is expected to make Chinese imports more expensive but may not drastically reduce shipment volumes, as consumer demand for cheaper goods remains high. Shein and Temu, which accounted for over 30% of U.S.-bound packages, are adapting by sourcing more products outside China and establishing U.S.-based warehouses. However, most of their goods are still manufactured in China. (Read Deeper)

Toyota Reports 28% Profit Drop In Q3, Plans New EV Company In China

Toyota Motor announced a nearly 28% decline in its third-quarter operating profit, reporting 1.22 trillion yen ($9.3 billion), below the estimated 1.39 trillion yen. Despite the drop, revenue reached 12.39 trillion yen, slightly exceeding forecasts of 12.1 trillion yen. Toyota will establish a wholly-owned subsidiary in Shanghai to produce Lexus battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and batteries, with production expected to begin in 2027.

Takeaway: The automaker faced its second consecutive quarterly profit decline, though net income surged to 2.19 trillion yen from 1.36 trillion yen a year ago. Vehicle sales dropped to 2.44 million units from 2.55 million in the same period last year. Operating profits in key markets such as North America and Asia fell by 113.7 billion yen and over 46 billion yen, respectively. The company maintained its full-year dividend forecast at 90 yen, up from 75 yen a year earlier. (Read Deeper)

TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE

Google Aims To Transform Search Into AI-Powered Assistant

Google plans to make its Search engine function more like an AI assistant by 2025, according to CEO Sundar Pichai. The company aims to integrate advanced AI technologies, including DeepMind's Project Astra and Gemini Deep Research, which can analyze video, generate detailed research reports, and browse websites for users. Pichai highlighted the shift toward conversational search experiences where users can ask follow-up questions, similar to chatbot interactions.

Takeaway: This move is part of Google’s response to the rising popularity of OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Despite early issues with AI-generated errors in Search, Google is continuing to develop AI-powered features and anticipates significant growth opportunities through these innovations. (Read Deeper)

Blue Origin's New Shepard Achieves Lunar Gravity Simulation On NS-29 Mission

Blue Origin successfully launched its uncrewed NS-29 mission on February 4, 2025, using its reusable New Shepard rocket from West Texas. The flight featured a first-of-its-kind lunar gravity simulation, achieved by rotating the capsule 11 times per minute for two minutes using reaction-control thrusters. Blue Origin confirmed a safe landing, as the capsule is designed to function without all parachutes fully deploying.

Takeaway: The mission carried 30 research payloads, with 29 focused on lunar technologies, such as dust mitigation, habitat systems, and spacecraft technologies. Notable experiments included NASA's Electrostatic Dust Lofting project, studying how moon dust reacts to UV light, and the Lunar-g Combustion Investigation, which examined fire behavior under lunar gravity. (Read Deeper)

AROUND DE WORLD & POLITICS

Trump Announces U.S. Plan To Take Over Gaza Strip

President Donald Trump stated that the U.S. plans to take control of Gaza and develop it economically after resettling Palestinians elsewhere. Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump described Gaza as a "demolition site" with the potential to become the "Riviera of the Middle East." The announcement drew swift condemnation from Democrats, human rights advocates, and Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, which reaffirmed its rejection of Palestinian displacement.

Takeaway: Trump proposed a permanent resettlement of Gaza’s 2 million Palestinians in neighboring Arab countries, an idea that critics liken to ethnic cleansing and a violation of international law. His plan marks a significant shift from longstanding U.S. policy, which supports Gaza as part of a future Palestinian state. Netanyahu praised Trump for “thinking outside the box” but avoided detailed comments on the plan. (Read Deeper)

Anglican Church Of Southern Africa Apologizes For Failing To Protect Against British Abuser

The Anglican Church of Southern Africa (Acsa) has apologised for failing to protect the public from the risks posed by John Smyth, a British child abuser who moved to South Africa in 2001. Smyth, who died in 2018, had abused over 100 children and young men in the UK and Zimbabwe during the 1970s and 1980s, often targeting attendees at Christian camps. Smyth continued to interact with young people in South African Anglican communities, occasionally preaching and participating in confirmation classes.

Takeaway: A recent inquiry commissioned by Archbishop of Cape Town Thabo Makgoba revealed that while no new abuse cases were found in South Africa, Smyth’s presence posed a significant risk to young members of the Church. Despite warnings in 2013 from the UK’s Diocese of Ely about Smyth's past, local church leaders failed to inform relevant authorities or fully mitigate the danger. Archbishop Makgoba acknowledged the Church’s failures and pledged to implement urgent measures to improve safeguarding practices. (Read Deeper)

ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

Spain Coach Luis De La Fuente Testifies On Day Two Of Luis Rubiales Trial

Spain men’s coach Luis de la Fuente testified on the second day of former Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales’ trial, where Rubiales faces charges of sexual assault and coercion related to his kiss with player Jenni Hermoso after the 2023 Women’s World Cup final. Hermoso had testified on the previous day that she did not consent to the kiss and was pressured by Rubiales and other federation staff to downplay the incident. (Read Deeper)

Grammys Raise Over $24 Million For Wildfire Disaster Relief

The Recording Academy raised over $24 million for wildfire disaster relief during a restructured Grammy Week and ceremony hosted by Trevor Noah. Despite initial debates about holding the event amid devastating Los Angeles-area wildfires, the Grammys went ahead with scaled-back events. Performances, including Dawes' rendition of "I Love L.A." and a duet by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, highlighted community resilience. Video segments shared stories of wildfire victims. (Read Deeper)

PODCAST(WHAT WE ARE LISTENING TO)

• While "Founder Mode" pertains to leadership styles within organizations, "Customer Mode" focuses on user interface functionalities designed to enhance customer interactions. Both concepts aim to optimize experiences. (Listen)

EXTRA BREVITI

• Google has quietly updated its AI ethics policy, removing previous promises not to use AI for weapons or surveillance purposes. (Read More)

• Gold prices surged to a record high of over $2,854 per ounce on Wednesday as escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and China fueled demand for safe-haven assets. (Read More)

• Cruise, the autonomous vehicle company, is laying off nearly 50% of its workforce, including top executives, as it shifts its focus away from robotaxis. (Read More)

• In a tragic incident on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at least 11 people were killed in a shooting at the Risbergska adult education center in Örebro, Sweden. (Read More)