The recent escalation in the Sino-US trade war has made it clear that President Xi Jinping has taken a more cautious approach than during Trump's first term, with Beijing's swift but calculated retaliation for Washington's imposition of 10% tariffs. Trump told reporters he was in no rush to speak to Xi and that they would speak at an appropriate time.
A wave of arrests and investigations in Turkey since the start of the year — which have targeted domestic politicians, journalists, a prominent security guard and the mayor of Istanbul — has left some observers questioning President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's motives. The arrests come as Erdogan's allies have expressed support for him to serve a third term beyond 2028, which could require constitutional changes.
Screenshot_20250205-050639.png
Panama is considering canceling its contract with a Hong Kong company that operates ports near the Panama Canal, a possible concession to soften Trump's threats to counter China's influence around the key waterway. President José Raúl Mulino's moves are a delicate balancing act to appease the United States while preserving national pride and avoiding military threats.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will place most of its employees — except those in mission-critical and leadership positions — on administrative leave starting Friday, as the embattled agency becomes a battleground in Trump and Elon Musk's campaign to restructure the federal government. Meanwhile, the CIA has proposed hiring staff to reduce staff numbers in line with Trump's broader job cuts.
[attachment deleted by admin]