Politics

Facebook continues to allow political advertisements on its platform, facing widespread criticism from employees and the public. The company argues that decisions about political ads should not be made by private companies, urging legislators to develop comprehensive regulations for digital political advertising.

The United States and China have agreed to restart their semi-annual economic dialogue to address trade tensions and resolve ongoing economic disputes following the Phase 1 trade deal signing in Washington, DC.

President Trump emphasized economic achievements during a Toledo rally, boasting about job creation, investment increases, and trade improvements. He highlighted creating over 7 million new jobs and replacing NAFTA with the USMCA trade agreement, positioning these as victories for American workers and the economy.

China's new Foreign Investment Law (FIL) launched on January 1 aims to equalize treatment for foreign businesses, reducing market entry barriers and promising increased access for international companies across manufacturing and financial service sectors.

Lord Berkeley claimed HS2 could cost over £108bn, far exceeding the official £88bn budget. The government rejected his assertions, arguing the criticisms have been previously dismissed by northern business and political leaders.

India experiences deadly unrest as protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act spread across Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka. At least 25 people killed, over 260 police personnel injured during demonstrations against a law seen as discriminatory by many.

Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador accused previous administrations of enabling drug lord Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzman to hold power comparable to a national leader, citing widespread government corruption that delayed his arrest and allowed criminal influence.

Turkey's constitutional court has ruled the two-year government ban on Wikipedia unconstitutional. The court's 10-6 vote determined the block violated free speech rights, ordering the ban immediately lifted. The original block stemmed from Wikipedia entries alleging government cooperation with terrorist organizations.

Benjamin Netanyahu secures landslide victory in Likud party leadership primary, defeating opponent Gideon Saar with 41,792 votes against 15,885, maintaining his party leadership despite pending legal challenges.

Iraq's President Barham Saleh refused to name Iran-backed Governor Asaad al-Eidani as prime minister, seeking to avoid further bloodshed. He is prepared to resign, highlighting the ongoing political tension and uncertainty in the country's leadership selection process.