Stetson University Concert Choir coming to Savannah’s Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church

Reuters
Thailand's visa waiver for Chinese tourists under fire after string of crimes
Thailand's visa waiver programme for Chinese nationals has come under scrutiny after the high-profile alleged kidnapping of a Chinese actor and similar crimes stoked worries over tourism and security. The incident involving actor Wang Xing was widely shared on Chinese social media earlier this month, prompting Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to reassure Chinese tourists of their safety ahead of the Lunar New Year. Since then, foreign tourist arrivals have jumped by 26% annually to 35.5 million, of which some 6.73 million travelled from China, up 91%.
Reuters
Samsung, LG may move some home-appliance manufacturing from Mexico to US, paper says
South Korea's Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are considering moving some manufacturing of home appliances from their Mexican plants to their U.S. plants, a South Korean newspaper reported on Tuesday. The review comes as U.S. President Donald Trump said he was considering imposing 25% duties on imports from Canada and Mexico on Feb. 1. Samsung Electronics is considering moving the manufacturing of dryers from its plant in Mexico to its plant in South Carolina, Korea Economic Daily reported, citing unnamed industry sources.
AFP
China says committed to WHO, Paris climate deal after US pulls out
China vowed on Tuesday to continue participating in two cornerstone multinational arrangements -- the World Health Organization and Paris climate accord -- after newly sworn-in US President Donald Trump ordered withdrawals from them.Guo also responded to Trump's withdrawal from the Paris climate accord, saying that "Climate change is a common challenge faced by all of humanity".
USA TODAY
Taliban says it has released two Americans in prisoner swap
The deal was struck for Khan Mohammad, a member of the Taliban serving two life sentences in a U.S. prison on 'narco-terrorism charges.'
Associated Press
South Korea's Yoon defends his martial law decree in his first public appearance since his arrest
South Korea’s impeached president denied Tuesday that he ordered the military to drag lawmakers out of the National Assembly to prevent them from voting to reject his martial law decree last month, as he appeared for the first time before the Constitutional Court that will determine his fate. Yoon Suk Yeol’s presence at the court was his first public appearance since becoming South Korea’s first sitting president to be detained over his short-lived declaration of martial law, which plunged the country into political turmoil. After abruptly imposing martial law on Dec. 3, Yoon sent troops and police officers to encircle the National Assembly, but enough lawmakers managed to enter to vote unanimously to reject his decree, forcing Yoon’s Cabinet to lift the measure early the following morning.
AFP
Musk says critics need 'better dirty tricks' after salute row
Billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk said Tuesday his critics needed "better dirty tricks" after a row erupted over a gesture he made at an inauguration event for US President Donald Trump that some likened to a Nazi salute.But Musk later posted on X that his opponents needed "better dirty tricks."
Reuters
Indian state contests life sentence of murder, rape convict, seeks death, source says
India's West Bengal state launched an appeal on Tuesday to overturn a life sentence in favour of the death penalty for a police volunteer convicted of the rape and murder of a junior doctor, a senior lawyer aware of the development said. The state government run by the regional Trinamool Congress party filed the appeal at the Calcutta High Court, the lawyer said, declining to be identified because he was not authorised to speak to the media. The woman's body was found in August in a classroom at the state-run R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, where she worked.
Time
Biggest Moments from the 2025 TIME100 Dinner in Davos
Dario Amodei, CEO and co-founder of AI company Anthropic, joined TIME editor-in-chief Sam Jacobs on stage to talk about the future of AI.
Time
Is China Really Powerless to Stop the ‘Scamdemic’?
The truth is more complex.
AFP
Rain-triggered landslide kills 16 in Indonesia
A landslide triggered by heavy rain on Indonesia's main island of Java has killed at least 16 people with three others missing, disaster officials said Tuesday.In November flooding triggered by intense rains in western Indonesia killed 27 people.
NBC News
American held in Afghanistan has been released, his family says
Ryan Corbett, an American detained in Afghanistan, was released amid the U.S. presidential transition, according to his family.
AFP
Asian markets swing as Trump revives tariff fears on taking office
Asian markets saw big fluctuations Tuesday as Donald Trump took office warning he could impose stiff tariffs on Canada and Mexico next month but appeared to delay any action against China for now."China, Mexico, and Canada remain in the spotlight for possible tariff increases.
CNN
Winds in Southern California are expected to calm, but the fire threat continues this week
As winds across the Southern California area are calmer than their peak and firefighters are making progress, the threat to the fire-weary region remains with Santa Ana winds expected to continue in the coming days.
AFP
Afghan Taliban government announces prisoner swap with US
The Taliban government said Tuesday it had released two American citizens from prison in return for an Afghan fighter held in the United States, in a deal brokered by Qatar."An Afghan fighter Khan Mohammed imprisoned in America has been released in exchange for American citizens and returned to the country," the Afghan foreign ministry said in a statement.
AFP
Trump leaves Paris climate agreement, doubles down on fossil fuels
President Donald Trump on Monday announced the United States' withdrawal from the Paris climate accord for a second time, a defiant rejection of global efforts to combat planetary warming as catastrophic weather events intensify worldwide.Trump previously withdrew the United States from the Paris Accord during his first term.
AFP
Trump signs order to pull US from WHO, citing funding disparities
President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order directing the United States to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO), a body he has repeatedly criticized over its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.Speaking at the White House hours after his inauguration, Trump said the United States was paying far more to the UN body compared to China, adding: "World Health ripped us off."
Reuters
Trump raises prospects for a negotiated reset on US-China ties
Donald Trump unexpectedly held off tariffs on China on his first day back at the White House and did not single it out as a threat, raising the prospect of a rapprochement as both sides look to gain from each other rather than rain harm on an adversary. In a speech after his inauguration, the U.S. president refrained from mentioning China, its erstwhile opponent in a previous trade war, even as he said tariffs would make the United States "rich as hell", leaving the door open for fresh negotiations with the world's second-largest economy. Trump also delayed the ban on China-owned short-video app TikTok, but in an unprecedented move, suggested that the U.S. should be a half owner of TikTok's U.S. business in return for keeping the app alive, saying the company could be worth hundreds of billions of dollars.
AFP
EV sales slip in Europe in 2024 in overall stable car market
Sales of electric cars slid last year in Europe in an otherwise stable market, data from carmakers showed Tuesday.According to ACEA data, overall car sales edged 0.9 percent higher in Europe -- including Britain, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, to just shy of 13 million.
Associated Press
Newly minted Secretary of State Rubio is meeting with members of the Quad. What's it for?
On his first full day as secretary of state, Marco Rubio is meeting with his counterparts from a group of countries known as the Quad, which is made up of the United States plus India, Japan and Australia, representing nearly 2 billion people and more than a third of global GDP. The Quad was established in 2007 to bring together countries that had worked together in response to the devastating 2004 earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean. Its members stress its diplomatic nature and broad focus on regional issues including infrastructure, humanitarian aid, disaster relief, climate change, and maritime security.
Reuters
Factbox-Trump's inner circle offers different perspectives on dealing with China
U.S. President Donald Trump's picks for senior posts in his administration include several people with deep ties to China, but several have divergent views on how to deal with Washington's biggest rival, including Marco Rubio and Elon Musk. Trump unexpectedly held off tariffs on China on day one of his presidency even as he said tariffs would make the United States "rich as hell", leaving the door open for fresh negotiations with the world's second-largest economy.

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