China counters with tariffs on US products. It will also investigate Google.“The U.S.’s unilateral tariff increase seriously violates the rules of the World Trade Organization,” China’s State Council Tariff Commission said in a statement. “It is not only unhelpful in solving its own problems, but also damages normal economic and trade cooperation between China and the U.S.”
https://apnews.com/article/china-tariffs-us-trump-150fab3a44ec055845e47c82bde544c2Amid Environmental Concerns, Hong Kong’s ‘Silicon Valley’ Project Presses AheadA massive new development project, centered around the San Tin Technopole, will transform farm and village land – including manmade wetlands crucial for regional wildlife.
https://thediplomat.com/2025/02/amid-environmental-concerns-hong-kongs-silicon-valley-project-presses-ahead/https://archive.ph/k8SaePrivate schools’ withdrawal from NTF-ELCAC welcomed by student leadersThe decision is welcomed by youth leaders, who have noted how NTF-ELCAC’s activities in schools turned into red-tagging and harassment of legitimate student organizations and leaders, which has endangered lives.
https://davaotoday.com/human-rights/private-schools-withdrawal-from-ntf-elcac-welcomed-by-student-leaders/Panama court is asked to cancel Hong Kong firm’s contract to run canal portsA subsidiary of CK Hutchison Holdings – owned by the Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing – has operated two of the canal’s five ports since it won the tender in 1997. “After a detailed analysis of the contract … we decided that an action for unconstitutionality was the appropriate means” to challenge the concession, Julio Macías, one of the lawyers behind the suit, told AFP.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/04/panama-canal-lawsuit-ports-chinaRubio escalates hardline policy toward Cuba, while Havana fails to honor prisoner release pledgeAmong these is the reactivation of Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, also known as the LIBERTAD Act, which opens the way for Americans to take legal action against companies or people who handle “assets confiscated by the Cuban regime” after 1959.
https://english.elpais.com/international/2025-02-04/rubio-escalates-hardline-policy-toward-cuba-while-havana-fails-to-honor-prisoner-release-pledge.htmlhttps://archive.ph/fI83jBardella hints French far right won’t topple PM in multiple no-confidence votes Bayrou is expected put his job on the line four times this week by using Article 49.3 of the French Constitution, which allows the government to enact legislation without a vote, but in turn gives lawmakers the ability to put forward no-confidence motions. Bayrou has already triggered the measure twice to pass parts of the budget for 2025, and a vote on the first no-confidence motion is expected Wednesday.
https://www.politico.eu/article/france-far-right-leader-jordan-bardella-hints-at-keeping-pm-francois-bayrou/https://archive.ph/lF0LrGreenland plans to ban foreign political funding over Trump-led election fearsIt is scheduled be considered on Tuesday and if it becomes law, which it is likely to do because the government holds a majority in parliament, it could come into force straight away.Despite Greenland and Denmark saying the Arctic island is not for sale, Trump has repeatedly said he plans to acquire it and has threatened to use tariffs and military force to get his way.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/03/greenland-plans-to-ban-foreign-political-funding-over-trump-led-election-fearsIsraeli far right MK Ben-Gvir introduces Gaza 'voluntary' ethnic cleansing bill echoing Trump's clean-out planThe proposed aid would be available only to Gazans who have not been convicted or suspected of involvement in armed activities. Those who receive the aid but later seek to return to Gaza would be required to repay twice the amount received, adjusted for cost-of-living increases and interest.
https://www.newarab.com/news/israeli-fascist-ben-gvir-introduces-gaza-ethnic-cleansing-billProtests continue in Siirt against the usurpation of municipality On Saturday, hundreds of people took part in a demonstration organized by the DEM Party (Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party), the DBP (Democratic Regions Party) and TJA (Free Women’s Movement), demanding that the government reverse the decision to remove the elected co-mayors from office. Mustafa Dayanan, co-chair of the provincial association of the DEM Party, said that with this step, Ankara is once again disregarding the will of the people.
https://anfenglishmobile.com/kurdistan/protests-continue-in-siirt-against-the-usurpation-of-municipality-77743Rwandan-backed M23 rebels declare ceasefire in DRCThe AFC/M23 rebel coalition announced late on Monday that it would implement a unilateral ceasefire starting on Tuesday. The group, backed by thousands of troops from neighbouring Rwanda, seized Goma, the main city in eastern DRC, last week, with the United Nations estimating 900 people were killed, while hundreds of thousands have been displaced.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/4/rwandan-backed-m23-rebels-declare-ceasefire-in-drchttps://archive.ph/fGjcP