Trump threatens 10% tariff on China and considers EU levy

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Yuan and Chinese stocks fall despite suggestion of lower tariff than president mentioned during campaign

Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 10% tariff on Chinese-made goods arriving in the US from as early as 1 February, adding that he was also considering levies on imports from the EU.

Ordering an investigation into US-China trade on his second day in office, Trump said any penalties on Chinese goods would be “based on the fact that they’re sending fentanyl to Mexico and Canada”.

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Middle East crisis live: Israel presses on with Jenin raid as Jordanian minister warns West Bank could ‘explode’

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Further shooting and explosions reported after 10 killed yesterday as Ayman Safadi tells Davos meeting of fears for territory

After months of negotiations, a ceasefire has paused the devastating war in Gaza, but it risks collapsing as a result of deep distrust between Israel and Hamas and the multi-phased nature of the deal, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Qatar, which mediated the talks along with the US and Egypt, has expressed hope the six-week truce and hostage-prisoner exchange will become permanent. However, that outcome is far from certain with the releases timetabled at a slower pace in comparison with a previous truce agreement.

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Colombia scrambles to cope as refugees flee deadly battles between rebel groups

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Officials describe ‘tsunami of people’ in city of Cúcuta escaping one of worst outbreaks of violence in recent years

Authorities in the Colombian border city of Cúcuta are scrambling to cope with an influx of internal refugees, as thousands of civilians flee an outbreak of fighting between rival rebel factions.

Buses, trailers and dump trucks packed with disoriented mothers and children have been streaming into the border city since Friday when the bloody conflict began engulfing north-eastern Colombia.

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Trump threatens China sanctions and puts diversity staff on leave – US politics live

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New US president threatens to ignite trade war, accusing China of ‘sending fentanyl to Mexico and Canada’

The Wall Street Journal has spoken to some federal workers affected by the slew of executive orders signed by president Donald Trump at the outset of his second term as president, and reports “a sense of anxiety and confusion” among staff.

One person, a product-support manager for the US navy, said “It’s leaving a lot of uncertainty that folks have never really had to feel. It seems like there is a level of distrust with how things are working.”

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Syria to dismantle Assad-era socialism, says foreign minister – Financial Times

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  1. Syria to dismantle Assad-era socialism, says foreign minister  Financial Times
  2. Syria foreign minister says removing sanctions ‘key’ to restoring stability  Al Jazeera English
  3. Davos-Syria's economy will be open for foreign investment, foreign minister says  Reuters
  4. Syrian FM says scrapping sanctions ‘key’ to country’s stability  The Times of Israel
  5. ‘We need Syria to be a place of peace and development,’ FM Al-Shaibani tells WEF  Arab News
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UK borrowing jumps unexpectedly, adding to pressure on Rachel Reeves

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Increase to £17.8bn is well above City forecasts and is highest December figure for four years

UK government borrowing jumped unexpectedly to £17.8bn last month, piling pressure on Rachel Reeves to plan budget cuts before a spending review in the summer.

The figure was about a quarter higher than the City had forecast and was up by £10.1bn more than in the same month a year earlier, making it the highest December borrowing for four years.

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Trump rewrites the violence of January 6 and ‘legitimates future ones’

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If criminal charges were meant to deter acts of violence, the pardons of over 1,500 people do the opposite, say experts

Donald Trump spent the four years after the January 6 insurrection attempting to rewrite the violence and chaos he inspired as his supporters stormed the US Capitol.

On the first day of his second term as president, he took the rewriting to its final step by issuing pardons and reducing sentences for those involved in the insurrection, including the leaders of far-right militias and those who battled with police that day.

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US homeowners in disaster-prone states face soaring insurance costs

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Climate crisis is making it harder for insurance companies to operate, with many pausing or withdrawing policies

Homeowners in the United States are facing an enormous financial crunch due to the climate crisis, with many struggling to find insurance or even dropping premiums that are soaring due to a mounting toll of wildfires, hurricanes and other disasters, new federal government data shows.

The figures, the most comprehensive numbers ever released by the US treasury department on the issue, show insurance premiums are increasing quickly across the country, with people living amid the greatest climate-driven risks experiencing the steepest rises of all. In the four years to 2022, people living in the top 20% riskiest places for such perils paid, on average, 82% more than those in the 20% lowest climate risk zip codes.

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China stocks and renminbi hit by Donald Trump’s 10% tariff threat – Financial Times

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  1. China stocks and renminbi hit by Donald Trump’s 10% tariff threat  Financial Times
  2. Trump plans 10% tariffs on Chinese imports on Feb. 1  Fox Business
  3. What will cost you more if Trump places a 10% tariff on all Chinese goods  CNN
  4. Trump threatens 10% tariff on China and considers EU levy  The Guardian
  5. Trump delivers fresh tariff threats against EU and China  Reuters
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Burning wood for power not necessary for UK’s energy goals, analysis finds

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Experts say UK should stop biomass burning as electricity sector decarbonisation by 2030 can be achieved without it

The UK should stop burning wood to generate power because it is not needed to meet the government’s target of decarbonising the electricity sector by 2030, according to analysis.

Ed Miliband, the energy security and net zero secretary, is expected to make a decision soon on whether to allow billions of pounds in new public subsidies for biomass burning, despite fierce opposition from green groups.

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More than 2,400 aid trucks enter Gaza under ceasefire with no major looting, UN says – The Times of Israel

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  1. More than 2,400 aid trucks enter Gaza under ceasefire with no major looting, UN says  The Times of Israel
  2. Aid Is Rushing Into Gaza While the Cease-Fire Holds  The Wall Street Journal
  3. Aid pours into Gaza as ceasefire enters fourth day  NBC News
  4. Ceasefire between Israel and Hamas holds as aid is brought into Gaza  CBS News
  5. Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Colombia  OCHA
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‘When I’m not Trump, I’m just Mike’: UK impersonator enjoys re-election boom

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Mike Osman, aka ‘Donald Trumped’, from Southampton, says he is expecting busiest year of career

A British Donald Trump impersonator is looking forward to an “unstoppable” four years, thanking the American president for providing him with a pension pot for his retirement.

Southampton-based Mike Osman, a 65-year-old comedian, said his income had increased by between 30 and 40% since Trump was re-elected and he was expecting to have the busiest year of his career.

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Fighting Alongside Russia, North Koreans Wage Their Own War – The New York Times

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  1. Fighting Alongside Russia, North Koreans Wage Their Own War  The New York Times
  2. Around 1K North Korean Soldiers Killed Fighting for Russia – BBC  The Moscow Times
  3. The United States expects the DPRK to send reinforcements to the Kursk region  Militarnyi
  4. Russia's Entire North Korean Force May Be Wiped Out by April: ISW  Newsweek
  5. Will Casualties in Ukraine Lead to Change in North Korea?  The Diplomat
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Families fear for Cuban prisoners after Trump reneges on release deal

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US president reinstates Cuba on terror list despite Biden deal to release prisoners jailed over demonstrations

The families of Cuban protesters jailed in anti-government demonstrations are waiting anxiously to see if the government will continue with a planned prisoner release after Donald Trump reneged on a deal made last week by Joe Biden.

Activists from the human rights group Justicia 11J believe around 150 prisoners have been released so far of the 553 agreed with the Catholic church.

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Russian attack drones are killing civilians for target practice, Ukraine says – NPR

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  1. Russian attack drones are killing civilians for target practice, Ukraine says  NPR
  2. Russian pilots appear to be hunting Ukrainian civilians  The Economist
  3. Russian troops strike at Mylove in Kherson region, damaging houses, indestructibility point  Ukrinform
  4. Russia hunting civilians with deadly attack drones in Kherson killing seven  Daily Express US
  5. Ukrainian Attack on Occupied Kherson Kills At Least 2, Moscow-Backed Governor Says  The Moscow Times
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China and US partners are moving closer as Trump returns to the White House – The Associated Press

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  1. China and US partners are moving closer as Trump returns to the White House  The Associated Press
  2. Trump’s Hint at Deal Making Gives China a Little Breathing Room  The New York Times
  3. Soybeans on steroids: Trump’s grand bargain with China?  CNBC
  4. China sees room to avert trade war with Donald Trump despite tariff threat  Financial Times
  5. Have Trump’s tariff threats helped China boost its exports?  Al Jazeera English
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South Korea to remove concrete walls near runways after deadly Jeju Air crash – BBC.com

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  1. South Korea to remove concrete walls near runways after deadly Jeju Air crash  BBC.com
  2. South Korea to remove concrete embankment blamed for exacerbating deadly plane crash  Reuters
  3. South Korea to Change Airport Design After Deadly Jeju Air Crash  Bloomberg
  4. South Korea to remove concrete barrier after Jeju Air crash  DW (English)
  5. South Korea's Deadly Plane Crash Has Created More Questions Than Answers  Jalopnik
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