Chinese companies’ new tactic to stop damaging research: Legal threats

A little over a year ago, a group of researchers at Sheffield Hallam University in England published a report documenting a Chinese clothing company’s potential ties to forced labor. Members of the British Parliament cited the report ahead of a November debate that criticized China for “slavery and forced labor from another era.”

UK on horns of a mega-Chinese embassy dilemma

The United Kingdom is on the horns of a Chinese dilemma in the shape of a new giant-sized embassy designed for the heart of London. While the embassy would likely facilitate more Chinese investment in the UK’s struggling economy, it would also risk relations with the Donald Trump-led United States.

India to host next global summit: PM Modi at Paris AI Action Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday welcomed the decision to set up the AI Foundation’’ and the Council for Sustainable AI, stating that he believed there was unity across all stakeholders in the field of Artificial Intelligence.

Hongkongers lose HK$200 million to scams in a week, AI voice-cloning used

Online fraudsters scammed Hongkongers out of more than HK$200 million (US$25.7 million) in a week last month and used artificial intelligence (AI) to trick a victim into transferring HK$145 million in one of the cases.

Trump signs order shifting US back toward plastic straws

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order ending a US government effort to replace plastic straws with paper.

PM Modi arrives in France, to co-chair the AI Action Summit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached France on Monday in the first leg of his two-nation visit.

Musk-led group makes $97.4bn bid for ChatGPT maker OpenAI

A consortium of investors led by Elon Musk offered $97.4bn to take over OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT.

Trump signs executive order to rename ’Gulf of Mexico’ as ’Gulf of America’

US President Donald Trump has officially renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the ’’Gulf of America’’ and designated February 9 as ’’Gulf of America Day’’ through an executive order.

Is the era of ’’Made in China’’ coming to an End?

It seems like the reign of ’’Made in China’’ products are coming to a close. The once-mighty manufacturing industry in China is facing a significant downturn, with waves of factory closures spreading throughout the country. Capital flight is accelerating, and bankruptcies are being announced at an alarming rate.

Ecuador election ends in a 'tie' prompting run-off

Ecuador’s presidential election will go to a second round after a closely contested first-round result failed to produce an outright winner.

Economic corridor to deepen India-Greece link as Delhi eyes Euro market

New Delhi’s reach in European markets is set to become more prominent as both India and Greece are of the view that connectivity between the two nations would strengthen with the opening of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC).

China’s consumer inflation at 5-month high, producer deflation persists

China’s consumer inflation accelerated to its fastest in five months in January while producer price deflation persisted, reflecting mixed consumer spending and weak factory activity.

China’s DeepSeek AI faces global backlash as nations move to ban the “misleading” platform

In the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence (AI), China’s DeepSeek has emerged as a significant player.

Major Caribbean earthquake triggers tsunami alerts

A powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake has struck the Caribbean Sea triggering tsunami warnings for a number of countries, the US Geological Survey (USGS) has said.

India signs key pact with Panama for Quick Impact Projects

With tensions brewing over US staking claims on the Panama Canal, citing Chinese influence, India has signed an important umbrella agreement with the central American country to implement, for the first time, Quick Impact Projects (QIP). The agreement was signed on Wednesday by India’s Ambassador to Panama, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua, Dr. Sumit Seth, and Panama’s Foreign Minister, Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez, in Panama City.

US aid suspension to hit 60 health facilities in Pakistan

Effects of the suspension of all US foreign aid programmes have started to appear in Pakistan as over 60 health facilities will be closed down, leaving 1.7 million people, including 1.2m Afghan refugees, cut off from life-saving reproductive health services.

Plane goes missing with 10 passengers on board

Authorities are searching for a Bering Air passenger plane with 10 people on board that was reported missing while en route from Unalakleet to Nome, Alaska’s Department of Public Safety said on Thursday.

Australia bans Chinese AI DeepSeek from government devices

Australia has banned DeepSeek AI services from all government systems and devices, becoming one of the first countries to take direct action against a Chinese artificial intelligence start-up that shook Silicon Valley and global markets this year.

Immigrants should only be eligible for UK citizenship after 15 years: Kemi Badenoch

Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, says immigrants should have lived in the UK for at least 15 years before being deemed eligible for a British passport.

Trump signs order imposing sanctions on International Criminal Court

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order sanctioning the International Criminal Court, accusing it of ’’illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel’’.

Unravelling the aftermath: China’s One-Child Policy and Its lasting demographic impact

A video recently went viral across major platforms in China, showing a Chinese official berating a young man for not having children

South Korea orders airports to install bird detection cameras

All South Korean airports will need to install bird detection cameras and thermal imaging radars, after an air crash in December last year killed 179 people.

Philippines, US joint air patrol exercises underway over South China Sea

The air forces of the Philippines and the United States were holding joint patrols over the South China Sea on Tuesday (Feb 4), a spokesperson for the Philippine Air Force said, as Manila said it was monitoring three Chinese vessels in its maritime zones.

India ranks 4th in global firepower index, Pakistan slips to 12th

India has secured 4th place in the Global Firepower Index 2025 (GFP Index), showcasing its military strength on the global stage. The ranking highlights India’s expanding defence capabilities across the Army, Navy, and Air Force, reinforcing its position as one of the world’s most powerful military forces. Meanwhile, Pakistan has dropped from 9th place in 2024 to 12th in the latest rankings.

Protesters set fire to ex-Bangladesh PM’s family home

Protesters in Bangladesh have vandalised and set fire to the former family home of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, as well as those of other members of her party.

Four remanded in orphan girl’s rape, murder case

A local magistrate’s court on Monday remanded the four suspects, including two women, in police custody for four days in the rape and murder case of an orphan girl.

US top diplomat warns Panama to reduce Chinese business interests in Canal

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday threatened action against Panama without immediate changes to reduce Chinese influence on the canal, but the country’s leader insisted he was not afraid of a US invasion and offered talks.

Trump says US will ‘take over’ and ‘own’ Gaza in redevelopment plan

United States President Donald Trump has said the US will “take over” and “own” Gaza after resettling Palestinians elsewhere under an extraordinary redevelopment plan that he claimed could turn the enclave into “the Riviera of the Middle East”.

Indonesia eyes Indian missiles amid China tensions

India and Indonesia are in the final stages of negotiating a $450-million (€440-million) deal for the export of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.

Police say around 10 people killed in Sweden school campus shooting

Police say around 10 people have been killed in a shooting at an education centre in central Sweden, including the suspected gunman.