HOOK NEWS BRIEF | 12.08.25
Trump Extends China Tariff Suspension by 90 Days
On Monday, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to extend China’s tariff suspension. The suspension has been extended by 90 days. Trump had suspended tariffs on Chinese imports in May, after a brief trade war. Both the US and China hit each other with tit-for-tat tariffs in April, with the US levying 145% tariffs on some Chinese goods, and China retaliating with 125% tariffs. But the sides paused their trade war for 90 days in May, and have been trying to work out a trade deal since. Trump also reduced the tariffs on China to 30%, and China brought tariffs down to 10%. The pause was going to expire on Tuesday, but just hours before the deadline, Trump extended the suspension by another 90 days.
Trump Declares “Crime Emergency” in Washington DC
Meanwhile, Trump also declared a “Crime Emergency” in the American capital, Washington DC. With the declaration, Trump has asked that DC’s police department be placed directly under federal control. Trump claims that the emergency declaration was necessary because there is “rampant violence” and a surge in crime in DC. Trump says that he will combat crime, get rid of homeless people in DC, and also beautify the city.
French Nuclear Plant Shut Down because of Jellyfish Invasion
In northern France, a nuclear power plant has shut down because a swarm of jellyfish clogged up its cooling system. On Monday, four units at the Gravelines nuclear plant automatically switched off because of the jellyfish invasion. France’s state-owned electric company, EDF, said that the safety of the plant was not impacted, and that the jellyfish were in the "non-nuclear" part of the facilities. The nuclear power plant is cooled using water from the North Sea. The jellyfish swarm entered the canal that draws in the water used for cooling. They managed to get past filters designed to keep animals out because of their gelatinous bodies.
