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Summary

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is pushing to restart stalled trade talks with the U.K. as Canada seeks to reduce reliance on the U.S. amid Trump's trade war.

While Trudeau secured a temporary delay on U.S. tariffs by agreeing to border security measures, uncertainty remains.

Talks with the U.K. broke down last year over agricultural disputes, but Canada sees renewed negotiations as beneficial for trade diversification.

Summary

Russia criticized Trump’s proposal to provide military aid to Ukraine in exchange for access to its rare earth minerals.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov condemned the idea as a commercial transaction rather than genuine support and reiterated Russia’s stance that halting aid would help end the war.

Trump argued that securing Ukraine’s resources, including titanium and lithium, was in U.S. interests.

While Ukraine has not responded, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz denounced the plan as selfish, noting Ukraine's need to retain resources for postwar rebuilding.

Summary

Trump’s overhaul of U.S. foreign aid has thrown USAID into turmoil, forcing contractors to fire staff and struggle with unpaid invoices.

His administration halted aid projects and tasked Elon Musk with downsizing USAID, leading to layoffs and funding freezes.

Contractors face millions in unpaid dues, with some considering legal action. The cuts have disrupted global health and humanitarian programs, sparking protests.

USAID funding, less than 1% of the U.S. budget, is key to diplomacy and countering China and Russia’s influence, raising concerns about long-term global impact.

Summary

AfD leader Alice Weidel sparked controversy by claiming the Holocaust is "politically instrumentalized" against her party.

In a tense ARD interview, she dismissed criticism of her past remarks, including calling Germany’s remembrance culture a “guilt cult,” a term backed by Elon Musk.

Weidel expressed frustration with Holocaust discussions, calling them “annoying,” and defended labeling Hitler a “communist,” despite historians refuting the claim.

With the AfD polling second ahead of Germany’s February 23 election, the remarks highlight the party’s ongoing struggle with its far-right associations.

Summary

Canada will file a WTO complaint and seek redress under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (CUSMA) against Trump’s new tariffs, calling them a violation of trade commitments.

Trump imposed 25% tariffs on most Canadian imports, with a 10% levy on energy.

In response, Canada announced $30 billion in counter-tariffs on 1,256 U.S. goods, with a potential second round reaching $155 billion.

Officials hope the U.S. reconsiders, but further measures remain an option.

Summary

European Union officials propose holding retailers such as Temu, Shein, and Amazon Marketplace accountable for dangerous and illegal products sold to consumers.

A draft proposal requires platforms to provide customs data before goods enter the EU, enabling authorities to inspect shipments and enforce safety standards.

New reforms shift import responsibilities from individual buyers to online platforms, mandating collection of duties, VAT, and compliance with comprehensive strict EU regulations.

Officials warn that these changes could improve consumer safety and reduce harmful imports, while prompting legal debates and challenges for e-commerce firms.

Summary

Chinese workers at BYD’s factory construction site in Brazil signed contracts with illegal and exploitative clauses, according to investigators.

The workers, hired by BYD contractor Jinjiang, had their passports confiscated, most wages sent to China, and were required to pay an $900 deposit refundable only after six months.

Inspectors found workers living in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions.

BYD denies knowledge of violations but faces legal scrutiny.

The case has sparked concerns over labor practices and Chinese investment in Bahia, where BYD pledged to create thousands of jobs.

Summary

A new type of Ukrainian drone may have been used to bomb a pumping station on Russia’s Druzhba oil pipeline near the Belarusian border.

Unlike previous kamikaze drone attacks, these drones reportedly dropped bombs before possibly crashing into the target in a "double-tap" strike.

This development suggests Ukraine could be transitioning to reusable drone bombers, increasing operational flexibility.

The attack highlights Kyiv’s ongoing campaign against Russian oil infrastructure as the war continues to escalate.

Summary

German lawmakers are debating whether to pursue a ban on the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), but many fear the move could backfire ahead of the Feb. 23 national election.

The proposal, backed by 124 lawmakers, seeks a court review of whether the AfD is unconstitutional.

Critics, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz, warn a failed attempt could strengthen the party, which is polling at 20%.

The debate underscores concerns over the AfD’s extremism but also the risks of fueling its anti-establishment narrative.

Summary

The U.S. military's deportation flight to Guatemala, ordered by Trump, cost approximately $4,675 per migrant—over five times the price of a first-class commercial ticket.

The C-17 military aircraft operation is significantly more expensive than ICE's commercial charter flights, which cost around $630 per person.

Trump defended the policy, vowing to continue deportations and warning countries that refuse cooperation.

The program, part of Trump's national emergency declaration, has already deported hundreds, though some countries, like Colombia, have resisted.

Summary

Alibaba has launched Qwen 2.5-Max, an AI model it claims outperforms DeepSeek-V3, OpenAI’s GPT-4o, and Meta’s Llama-3.1-405B.

The release, coinciding with Lunar New Year, reflects mounting competition in China’s AI sector after DeepSeek’s rapid rise.

DeepSeek’s recent advancements have pressured Chinese rivals like ByteDance and Baidu to upgrade their models and cut prices.

DeepSeek’s founder downplays price wars, focusing on artificial general intelligence (AGI). The company’s lean, research-focused structure contrasts with China’s tech giants, which face challenges in AI innovation.

Summary

Polish Tourism Minister Sławomir Nitras has called for a Tesla boycott following Elon Musk’s remarks urging Germany to “move past” its Nazi history.

Musk’s comments, made during a far-right AfD campaign event, sparked outrage, particularly in Poland, which lost 6 million people in WWII.

The controversy comes ahead of Germany’s February 23 election and just before Musk’s Tesla earnings call.

As a key advisor to Trump, Musk’s stance could impact Tesla’s market position in Europe, where historical remembrance remains a sensitive issue.