Panama supreme court cancels Hong Kong company’s canal contractsThe court’s decision on Thursday, which helps US attempts to block any Chinese influence over the strategic waterway, immediately drew a sharp rebuke from Beijing. José Raúl Mulino, Panama’s president, said on Friday that until the court’s ruling was executed maritime officials would work with Panama Ports Company (PPC), a subsidiary of Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison, to ensure continuing operations.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/30/court-ends-hong-kong-china-panama-canal-contractsCubans scramble to survive as US vise on island tightens in push to oust governmentThe long-term repercussions of those halted shipments have yet to hit Cuba, but its people are not waiting. Some are installing solar panels while others are growing their own crops or returning to a simpler way of life, one that doesn’t rely on technology or petroleum.
https://apnews.com/article/cuba-us-trump-sanctions-oil-venezuela-177998b88333ba7d898bb8465367ba2d==Colombia’s Constitutional Court suspends economic emergency meant to close $4.2B budget gap
The suspension bars the Petro administration from issuing emergency decrees that would allow them to increase taxes to fill the gap in the budget that was approved by Congress. Tax decrees that had already been issued and reportedly secured an increase in revenue of $273 million (COP1 trillion) remain in force. In a response, Petro said that the court “rapidly suspends taxes on Colombia’s wealthiest sectors, contrary to the construction of a social state governed by the rule of law as mandated by the Constitution itself.”
https://colombiareports.com/colombias-constitutional-court-suspends-economic-emergency-meant-to-close-4-2b-budget-gap/MSF says it will not hand over staff details to Israeli authoritiesThe decision on Friday follows criticism of MSF’s statement last week that it was prepared to share the names of its staff under strict conditions – a position that sparked concern among aid workers and rights advocates. The organisation has since said it was unable to secure the guarantees it sought from Israeli authorities and has now ruled out sharing any staff data “under the current circumstances”, citing risks to its workers’ safety.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/30/msf-says-it-will-not-hand-over-staff-details-to-israeli-authoritieshttps://archive.ph/yIZL4Iraq PM candidate Maliki denounces Trump's 'blatant' interferenceHe warned that because of Maliki's "insane policies and ideologies, if elected, the United States of America will no longer help Iraq". Maliki was endorsed as Iraq's next prime minister by the Coordination Framework, an alliance of Shiite groups with varying links to Iran that has been in recent years the main ruling coalition.
https://www.newarab.com/news/iraq-pm-candidate-maliki-denounces-trumps-blatant-interferenceMegapicket shuts down every refuse site in BirminghamThe Unite members began striking last January over plans to cut up to £8,000 cuts from their salaries, and have struck continuously since March. The failure to settle has cost at least £33 million, according to council estimates. Addressing the crowds, former shadow chancellor John McDonnell MP said: “It is shameful that this is a Labour council.
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/megapicket-shuts-down-every-refuse-site-birmingham Russia mulls legalization of online gambling – Kommersant The Russian Finance Ministry has asked President Vladimir Putin to consider lifting a long-running ban on online casinos, Kommersant reported on Tuesday, citing sources. The proposal is reportedly being pitched as a way to draw gamblers out of the shadow market and boost budget revenue, with strict government controls intended to curb addiction.
https://www.rt.com/russia/631629-russia-legalization-online-casinos/https://archive.ph/gZo2q‘Essential’ to ICE: French IT giant Capgemini under fire over migrant tracking role French IT group Capgemini is facing growing scrutiny over a controversial contract between its US subsidiary and ICE. While the company says the deal is “not currently being executed” and that it became aware of the contract “through public sources”, investigations by several French media outlets reveal a relationship stretching back nearly two decades.
https://www.france24.com/en/france/20260130-essential-to-ice-french-it-giant-capgemini-under-fire-over-migrant-tracking-rolehttps://archive.ph/u2JZCHuman rights groups call on Greek MPs to vote against Bill seeking criminalisation of refugee solidarityGreece’s migration ministry submitted a new Bill to parliament last Saturday that introduces new measures targeting solidarity initiatives and NGOs working with refugees. Any members of an NGO group deemed by the Greek authorities to be facilitating illegal entry or exit could face up to 10 years in prison and a €50,000 (£43,000) fine.
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/human-rights-groups-call-greek-mps-vote-against-bill-seeking-criminalisation-refugeeThailand proposes 'calibrated engagement' with Myanmar's next governmentThai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow told Reuters that despite ASEAN's bar on Myanmar's military leaders since 2022, the vote may lead to engagement if some requirements are met like expanding aid access and reducing violence. "We think that we have to engage with the regime in Naypyitaw, the new one. They're going to form a government probably in March," Sihasak said in the interview on the sidelines of the meeting, adding that hopefully Myanmar would respond with positive steps.
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/philippines-hosts-asean-foreign-minister-retreat-tackle-regional-issues-2026-01-29/