- The Guardian
- Issue #2179
SOUTH AFRICA: China and South Africa have signed a framework agreement for a new trade deal. The agreement, expected to be finalised by the end of February, aims to grant duty-free access to South African fruit and other goods to China, while enhancing Chinese investment opportunities. South Africa is looking for developing all options following high import tariffs imposed by the US.
USA: The White House issued an executive order authorising additional tariffs of up to 25% on imports from foreign countries that directly or indirectly trade with Iran. Under the order, the Commerce Department will identify such countries, while the State Department, in coordination with other agencies, will decide whether, and to what extent the tariffs should be applied.
LEBANON: Israeli aircraft have sprayed chemical substances over agricultural land near the southern border, damaging crops and vegetation. The incidents have prompted official complaints to the United Nations, citing environmental harm and risks to civilian livelihoods. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has expressed concern that chemical substances reportedly sprayed by Israel in southern Lebanon and parts of Syria could have serious consequences for agricultural land, food sources and lives of local residents. It was also pointed out that Israeli aircraft sprayed toxic substances banned in Lebanon and the European Union.
MEXICO: Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed that her government would send a significant shipment of humanitarian aid to Cuba. The shipment will mainly consist of food and other goods to help Cuba cope with the complex and difficult situation it is facing amid the tightening US blockade. In addition to this act of solidarity, the Mexican government is maintaining intensive diplomatic efforts with the United States to normalise the shipment of oil to Cuba. Sheinbaum explained that the goal was to resume crude oil shipments without triggering trade sanctions against Mexico by the Trump administration.
ITALY: Crowds booed US and Israeli official representatives at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics opening over ICE actions and the Gaza war. The public was angered by the presence of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Milan for Olympic security duties. The ICE presence was viewed as a threat to civil liberties. The Milan mayor said in an interview, “They are not welcome in Milan,” and called ICE a “militia that kills.” The Olympic athletes and the public in general are aware of the fact that more than 800 Palestinian athletes have been killed since the start of Israel’s offensive on Gaza, according to Palestinian officials. The sports community in Gaza has suffered immense losses due to continued bombardments, famine and the collapse of critical infrastructure.
HAITI: Haiti’s Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime pledged to implement severe measures against armed gangs. Fils-Aime became PM on 7 February. “The gangs and those who support them will be pursued. The state will reclaim every occupied area until the day when all children can go to school without fear,” he declared. It will be a mammoth task – armed gangs control 90% of the metropolitan area of the capital Port-au-Prince, main highways and other areas of the country. While exact figures are not available, some experts estimate that there are about 600,000 firearms in circulation. Continuing violence has displaced 1.3 million people.
LIBYA: Thousands of mourners gathered in the western Libyan town of Bani Walid for the funeral of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of Muanmar Gaddafi. Gaddafi was assassinated on 3 February. He was seen as a possible leader, and in 2021 he was planning to run in the presidential election – but the election was indefinitely postponed at the time. Libya has not recovered from the NATO-led coup and remains split between Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dbeibah’s UN-backed government based in Tripoli and an eastern administration backed by Khalifa Hafter.
