China

The United States is imposing additional duties on imports from Mexico, Canada (25%) and China (10%) due to the fentanyl problem. The new tariffs will take effect on March 4 amid a crisis that claimed more than 72,000 lives in 2023.

The Thai authorities plan to introduce a tourist tax of 300 baht (more than USD 8) from foreign tourists by the end of 2025. The fee will apply to all methods of entry into the country with the possibility of multiple visits within 30-60 days.

The US imposes a 25% duty on goods from Canada and Mexico due to drug trafficking and illegal migration. An additional 10% duty is imposed on Chinese imports, causing financial markets to fall.

Amazon Web Services has announced Ocelot, the first quantum chip capable of reducing error correction costs by up to 90%. The innovative chip design solves the problem of “noise” and increases the efficiency of quantum computing.

The United States plans to sign an agreement with Ukraine on rare earth metals mining to reduce its dependence on China. Ukraine has significant reserves of lithium, graphite, and neodymium, accounting for up to 20% of the world's resources.

The study identified three areas where Ukraine could strengthen the EU's strategic autonomy: critical materials, industry, and food. Ukraine's integration could double its GDP in 10 years and create 815,000 jobs.

Since the beginning of 2024, no cases of Ukrainian children being taken to Belarus have been recorded. The expert attributes this to the "elections" and the country's desire to avoid accusations of child deportation.

U. S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has declared his unwillingness to allow Russia to become a “junior partner” of China. According to him, the United States seeks to balance relations with both nuclear powers.

Hollywood actor Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 63, were found dead in their home in Santa Fe. Hackman was known for his roles in the films The French Connection, Bonnie and Clyde, and Unforgiven.

Nvidia reported revenue of $39. 3 billion in the fourth quarter, up 78% year-on-year. The company expects further sales growth to reach $43 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2026.

China Railway has started testing a new CR450 train capable of reaching speeds of up to 450 km/h. The model features improved energy efficiency, comfort and safety compared to its predecessor, the CR400.

The United States and Russia are in talks about possible cooperation on resource extraction in the Arctic. Washington sees this as a way to weaken ties between Moscow and Beijing, despite the concerns of NATO allies.

Due to a vulnerability in Barracuda software, hackers from China gained access to the mail server of the Belgian intelligence agency VSSE. The attackers intercepted 10% of the correspondence and personal data of hundreds of employees.

U. S. Special Representative Keith Kellogg says Trump's impressive results in 35 days in office and expresses confidence in a quick end to the war. Trump plans to meet with Zelenskiy on February 28 to sign a minerals agreement.

Malaysia resumes the search for MH370, which disappeared in 2014 with 239 people on board. The private company Ocean Infinity will conduct a search over an area of 15,000 km² on a “no result, no payment” basis.

Tesla plans to release an update to its autopilot software for Chinese users with features for city roads. The new version will be simplified compared to the American one due to the peculiarities of Chinese roads.

China's Huawei has increased the yield of quality Ascend 910C chips from 20% to 40% over the year, making production profitable. The company plans to produce 100,000 910C processors this year, challenging Nvidia's market dominance.

A Chinese advisor suggests lowering the minimum marriage age to 18 to boost the birth rate. Currently, men can marry from the age of 22 and women from 20, which is one of the highest in the world.

Brovary has received humanitarian aid from Norway, including rehabilitation equipment, wheelchairs and medical equipment. The aid is intended for wounded soldiers and civilians in need of rehabilitation equipment.

The leaders of China and Russia reaffirmed their “boundless” partnership in a phone call on the anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine. Putin informed Xi of contacts with the United States, and China supported “positive efforts” to “defuse the crisis.

Apple has announced large-scale investments in the US worth $500 billion over the next 4 years. The company will open a new server factory in Texas and create 20,000 new jobs.

The US and Europe are fighting at the UN and G7 over the wording on the war in Ukraine.

The UK imposes sanctions on 100 individuals and companies that support the Russian military machine. The restrictions will affect military supplies, financing and 40 ships carrying Russian oil.

In 1975, at a conference in Asilomar, scientists developed rules for exploring the “uncharted territories” of science. These principles of self-regulation became the basis for the development of genetic engineering, nanotechnology, and AI.

Keir Starmer announced the provision of £4. 5 billion in military aid to Ukraine in 2024. Britain is also introducing the largest sanctions package since the start of the war, targeting companies in the Russian Federation and China.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping held a telephone conversation with Russian dictator Putin. The details of the conversation were not specified.

The President of Ukraine said there were no serious signals from China regarding support or an active role in resolving the war. Zelenskyy does not rule out cooperation with China, especially on issues of territorial integrity.

Minister Sibiga stated that China is interested in a fair end to the war because of the importance of the European market. During the meeting with Wang Yi, they discussed trade cooperation and China's role in restoring navigation in the Black Sea.

China's Defense Ministry has rejected Australia's accusations of insufficient information about military exercises in international waters. New Zealand confirmed its observation of Chinese naval forces in the region.

European intelligence agencies are considering options to limit the exchange of classified information with the United States due to the possible return of Trump. The allies fear data leaks due to his previous experience of disclosing secrets.