Global Developments: Gaza Border Reopens, Immigration Policy Shifts, and More
Several significant global events unfolded recently, including the partial reopening of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, shifts in U.S. immigration policy, and new tourism fees in Rome.
The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt partially reopened on February 2, 2026, after being sealed for nearly a year, according to NPR Politics. While Israel stated it had allowed the reopening as "a key step in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement," NPR reported that no one had crossed as of yet. Vox reported that the reopening occurred amidst discussions of a "New Gaza" plan proposed by Jared Kushner, contingent on a ceasefire.
In the United States, the Trump Administration announced the deployment of body-worn cameras to federal immigration agents, beginning in Minneapolis. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated in a post on X, "Effective immediately we are deploying body cameras to every officer in the field in Minneapolis." According to Time, Noem added that the program would be expanded nationwide as funding becomes available, and that she had spoken with White House border czar Tom Homan, who is overseeing federal immigration operations. This move follows pressure from Democrats and support from some Republicans amidst ongoing outcry over the Administration's immigration crackdown. Vox also noted that a judge blocked the Trump administration's attempt to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians, while a partial government shutdown continued due to House Democrats' concerns about ICE.
Meanwhile, in Rome, a new 2-euro fee for tourists to access the Trevi Fountain was implemented on February 3, 2026, along with a 5-euro museum fee, NPR News reported. These fees, exempting Rome residents, aim to manage crowds, improve visitor experience, and generate revenue for cultural heritage preservation. According to NPR News, the fees are intended to offset maintenance costs and expand free museum access for locals, building on the success of previous crowd control measures at the fountain.
In other news, Time reported on the alarming decline of oceanic whitetip sharks, once abundant in the open ocean. DNA testing on more than 16,000 fins in Hong Kong, the world's largest shark fin market, found the species appearing 70 times more often than what governments reported. Time stated that in just three years, traders trafficked fins from over 36,000 illegally caught oceanic whitetip sharks, largely due to the illegal trade of their fins for shark fin soup.
These global developments highlight a range of challenges and changes across international borders, environmental conservation, and cultural preservation.
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