Missouri sues China for $25B, CCP warns of ‘reciprocal countermeasures’
Missouri is suing China for $25 billion, accusing the Chinese government of hoarding personal protective equipment (PPE) during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The lawsuit, filed by Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, claims China’s actions significantly harmed the people of Missouri and disrupted the global pandemic response.
Bailey argues that the case is an opportunity to hold China accountable for its role in the pandemic. Critics contend that the lawsuit could set a new precedent, allowing the U.S. to be sued in Chinese courts.
The lawsuit’s origins and claims
The lawsuit was originally filed in 2020. Bailey accused China of covering up critical information about the virus and hoarding PPE, such as masks and ventilators, in the pandemic’s early days.
Bailey’s office claims China “thwarted the production, purchasing, and import and export of medical supplies.” As a result, Bailey said China’s actions caused “widespread harm” to Missouri residents.
Legal twists and court rulings
The case has faced legal hurdles. A district court judge dismissed the lawsuit, citing the 1976 Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA), which typically shields foreign governments from prosecution in U.S. courts. However, the U.S. Court of Appeals revived part of the case in 2024. The court ruled that Missouri could pursue claims related to the hoarding of PPE but not allegations about China’s data cover-up.
The court categorized the PPE claims as an “antitrust claim” related to commercial activity, allowing the case to proceed.
China’s response and trial expectations
As the trial begins Monday, Jan. 27, reports suggest that China will not send a representative to court. The CCP has long dismissed lawsuits like Missouri’s as “very absurd” and lacking factual or legal basis.
In a Chinese diplomatic notice to the U.S. State Department regarding state cases against China, the CCP wrote it “does not accept and will not participate in such lawsuits … [i]f the U.S. side allows the frivolous lawsuits to proceed, the Chinese side reserves the right to take reciprocal countermeasures.”
If China does not show up in court, Missouri could win a default judgment, making it easier for the state to secure damages.
What’s at stake
The outcome of this case could have broad implications, with Missouri seeking to hold China financially responsible for its pandemic-related actions. If the court rules in Missouri’s favor, it could further inflame already-tense relations between the U.S. and China.
Trump’s deportation flights: Colombia, China, El Salvador cooperate
One week after President Donald Trump’s inauguration, immigration remains a key priority for his administration. Deportations are underway, with new agreements made with several countries to send migrants illegally in the U.S. back to Colombia and China.
Discussions are also ongoing for a broader arrangement with El Salvador. The country could allow the U.S. to deport migrants from various countries of origin to El Salvador, a small nation aligned with Trump’s immigration crackdown policies.
China pledges to accept deportations
China has pledged to accept undocumented Chinese citizens back to their homeland. This followed a similar decision made by Colombia’s president on Sunday, Jan. 26.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said on Monday, Jan. 27, that the Chinese government would accept U.S. deportation flights for individuals confirmed as Chinese nationals who crossed illegally into the U.S.
According to Department of Homeland Security records, China accepted four charter removal flights from the Biden administration in the past six months. The spokeswoman added that “the Chinese government firmly opposes any form of illegal migration.” The statement signals alignment between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on one of Trump’s first policies regarding China.
Colombia reverses deportation stance after U.S. pressure
The response from China follows Colombia’s reversal after initially denying two U.S. military planes carrying Colombian migrants. The planes were forced to turn back as Colombia’s president stated that deportations “should be carried out with dignity and respect.”
Colombia’s president later agreed to accept deportation flights. The Trump administration said the tariffs would not be implemented. However, they would remain “in reserve” should Colombia fail to honor the agreement.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the events “make clear to the world that America is respected again.”
Possible deal with El Salvador to accept migrants from other countries
A CBS report on Sunday suggested that a deal is brewing between the U.S. and El Salvador. The deal would allow the U.S. to deport migrants there. That includes migrants from other countries like Venezuela.
The plan, known as a “Safe Third Country Agreement,” would allow non-Salvadoran migrant flights to El Salvador. This would block asylum requests to the U.S. and instruct migrants to seek asylum in El Salvador instead.
El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, is seen as an ally of Trump. The two spoke by phone on Thursday about immigration.
Bukele’s government has implemented its own crackdown on illegal immigration and gangs through a mass incarceration campaign. Under the reported plan, Trump is also seeking to deport suspected members of the Tren de Aragua gang in the U.S. to El Salvador. Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to visit El Salvador in early February as part of a Latin American trip.
While international deportation agreements continue to be made, the U.S. has also increased its presence on the border. The U.S. increased its use of military planes and personnel in its border enforcement efforts during the first week of the new administration.
CIA analysis says COVID-19 ‘more likely’ came from lab leak
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) said Saturday, Jan. 25, that the COVID-19 pandemic “more likely” started with a lab leak rather than originating from animals, according to its latest analysis. The agency said, though, it would continue evaluating any new intelligence reporting.
“CIA assesses with low confidence that a research-related origin of the COVID-19 pandemic is more likely than a natural origin based on the available body of reporting,” a CIA spokesperson said in a statement.
For years, the CIA said it could not conclude the origins of the virus that killed more than one million Americans and over seven million people worldwide.
However, in the final weeks of the Biden Administration, former national security adviser Jake Sullivan ordered a new review of the virus’ origins and former CIA director Bill Burns told the agency it needed to take a side.
The decision to release that assessment marks one of the first made under the agency’s new Trump-appointed director, John Ratcliffe, who took over the CIA on Thursday, Jan. 23.
While Ratcliffe has believed COVID-19 started in a lab in Wuhan, China, agency officials told The New York Times that its analysis was in the “works for some time” and did not “bend its views to a new boss.”
“The conclusion that a laboratory leak is extremely unlikely was reached by the China-WHO joint expert team based on field visits to relevant laboratories in Wuhan.”
Mao Ning, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman
China refuted the CIA’s claim in a statement Monday, Jan. 27. “The conclusion that a laboratory leak is extremely unlikely was reached by the China-WHO joint expert team based on field visits to relevant laboratories in Wuhan,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said. “This has been widely recognized by the international community and the scientific community.”
The CIA joins other agencies, like the FBI and the Energy Department, in believing the coronavirus most likely came from a lab leak and not from an infected animal at an outdoor market, which other intelligence agencies have favored.
The FBI and Energy Departments differ, however, on which labs they believe started the leak.
Colombia accepts deported migrants after tariff showdown with Trump
The showdown between the Trump administration and Colombia over deported migrants is over, but what happens to the tariffs the president threatened to impose? And much-needed rain in Southern California brings new concerns to the region. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Jan. 27, 2025.
Colombia accepts deported migrants after tariff showdown with Trump
The Trump administration claimed a quick and decisive victory after Colombia agreed to allow the U.S. to transport repatriated migrants back to the South American country.
Early Sunday, Jan. 26, Colombia blocked two U.S. military planes carrying deportees from landing. Colombian President Gustavo Petro said the U.S. “can’t treat Colombian migrants like criminals.”
President Donald Trump responded to the move on Truth Social, announcing “emergency 25% tariffs” on all imports from Colombia — which would be raised to 50% in a week, a travel ban for Colombian citizens and a revocation of visas for Colombian officials in the U.S.
Within hours, Petro threatened a 25% retaliatory tariff increase on the U.S. in a series of social media posts objecting to the use of military planes and the treatment of migrants.
However, by late Sunday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Colombia’s government agreed to the “unrestricted acceptance” of migrants from Colombia “without limitation or delay.”
Leavitt added tariffs and financial sanctions will be held in reserve but not signed. Still, the visa sanctions against Colombian officials and stricter customs inspections of Colombian nationals and cargo ships, ordered by Trump earlier Sunday, will remain in effect “until the first planeload of Colombian deportees is successfully returned.”
Leavitt’s statement said other countries should take notice and fully cooperate in accepting its deportees who were in the U.S. illegally.
Israel-Hamas ceasefire moves forward after weekend issues
Early Monday, Jan. 27, Qatar announced an agreement was reached to release an Israeli civilian hostage and allow Palestinians to return to northern Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that the hostage release, which is set for Thursday, Jan. 30, will include civilian hostage Arbel Yehoud and female soldier Agam Berger.
As of Monday morning, Palestinians are now allowed to return to northern Gaza on foot. They were set to start returning on Saturday, Jan. 26, but Israel put that on hold because of Yehoud, whom Israel said should have been released on Saturday.
However, Israel did release 200 Palestinian prisoners Saturday as part of the second phase of an exchange in the ceasefire deal that saw Hamas release four female Israeli soldiers.
Trump weighed in on the issue over the weekend, suggesting most of Gaza’s population be temporarily resettled in other countries, such as Egypt and Jordan, to “just clean out” the war-ravaged enclave. Egypt, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority rejected his idea.
Bird feathers found in engines of crashed South Korean plane: Report
Authorities investigating last month’s deadly passenger jet crash at South Korea’s Muan airport said they found evidence a bird may have caused the plane to go down.
A preliminary report, released Monday, said duck feathers and blood stains were found in both engines of the jet that crashed into a concrete structure that houses a “localizer,” killing 179 of the 181 people on board. The localizer aids in the navigation of an aircraft approaching the runway.
The report said investigators will examine the jet engines and concrete structure further to determine the role each played in the deadliest plane crash on South Korean soil.
Rain brings relief to wildfire-devastated Los Angeles area
Thousands of South California residents displaced by deadly wildfires hope to return to their homes, or what remains of them, Monday, as the area sees its first significant rainfall in months.
A slow-moving rainstorm settled over Southern California on Sunday, bringing much-needed relief as three major wildfires, now mostly contained, scorch the already devastated area.
However, this morning, major concerns about mudslides, flash flooding, and toxic ash emerged. Experts said rain that falls on recently burned areas picks up contaminants from ash, charred vehicles, and other debris and can carry pollutants into the ecosystem and water supply.
Forecasters said rain showers will continue into Monday afternoon.
New CIA analysis says COVID-19 outbreak ‘more likely’ came from lab leak
The CIA now says the COVID-19 pandemic “more likely” started with a lab leak rather than originating from animals. However, the agency said it would continue evaluating any new intelligence reporting.
On Saturday, a CIA spokesperson said the pandemic’s “research-related origin” is “more likely than a natural origin based on the available body of reporting.”
However, analysts said they have “low confidence” in that assessment, despite former CIA Director Bill Burns telling the agency it needed to look at the existing evidence again and come down on one side or the other.
The decision to release that assessment marks one of the first made under the CIA’s new Trump-appointed director, John Ratcliffe, who took over the agency on Thursday, Jan. 23.
The country has argued over the origin of COVID-19, with other agencies like the FBI and the Energy Department believing the coronavirus most likely came from a leak in a lab in Wuhan, China, and not the theory of an infected animal at an outdoor market, which other intelligence agencies have favored.
Chiefs to meet Eagles in Super Bowl rematch
Super Bowl LIX is now set for Sunday, Feb. 9, in New Orleans. The Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles will play for the title in a rematch from two years ago.
The Chiefs will attempt to win three consecutive Super Bowls.
The defending champs knocked off the Buffalo Bills 32-29 in a thriller at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday night. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes ran for two touchdowns while its defense held off Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.
The Bills led going into the fourth quarter 22-21, but Mahomes led his team down the field twice, including a game-winning field goal by Harrison Butker with just over three minutes left.
In the first game of the day, the Philadelphia Eagles put up 55 points — the most ever in a conference championship game — and routed the upstart Washington Commanders 55-23.
Eagles star running back Saquon Barkley ran for three touchdowns, including a 60-yarder on the team’s first play from scrimmage. Quarterback Jalen Hurts also showed up to play, running for three touchdowns, as well.
How a kid’s comic book is meant to help the Philippines take on China
The Philippines is deploying a new tactic to counter Chinese propaganda, according to military officials. It’s a 40-page kid’s comic book titled “The Stories of Teacher Jun.” The book is designed to combat Beijing’s alleged disinformation campaign against the Philippines.
A comic book with purpose
During the book’s announcement on Friday, Jan. 24, Filipino military officials said the comic is also meant to educate the public, particularly younger children. The book will teach kids about the country’s complex territorial dispute with Beijing in the South China Sea.
The comic features colorful art, simple language and it’s completely free to anyone who wants one.
Officials have given out about 11,000 copies so far. Thousands more are expected to be printed.
Individuals can even have the books translated into any language of their choosing through a simple request.
The book portrays China as a “bully” and calls the Chinese military’s behavior in the disputed South China Sea “outrageous.”
Distinguished guests
The comic book launch was held in Manila and was attended by some high-ranking officials, including the Philippines’ national security advisor. While at the event, the advisor said the comic would help the Philippines fight China’s distorted narratives and claims of sovereignty over the South China Sea. That part of the ocean is a key waterway for the nation’s economy.
Ambassadors from the United States and Canada were also in attendance. Both countries have been key allies, given the Philippines’ lack of military might compared to China.
Part of the “Shame Campaign”
This latest effort, through a kid’s book, builds on the country’s ongoing “Shame Campaign,” initiated two years ago. The campaign includes the release of videos and pictures showing Chinese military vessels’ aggressive actions toward Filipino Coast Guard ships.
Officials from the U.S., Japan, Australia and other countries not affiliated with Beijing, condemned the Chinese navy’s actions.
China responds
China’s embassy in Manila criticized the latest comic book initiative from the Philippines, calling it “political manipulation.”
WHO makes cutbacks after Trump’s executive order to leave organization
The World Health Organization (WHO) said it’s already making cutbacks following President Donald Trump’s executive order directing the United States, the WHO’s largest donor, to withdraw from the group. AFP news agency obtained an email from the organization’s chief sent to staff Friday, Jan. 2, stating Trump’s decision impacts its financial situation and creates uncertainty for the WHO workforce.
According to the organization, the U.S. withdrawal will take a year to complete, with funding from the U.S. remaining in place until that point.
But despite that, a WHO spokesperson told AFP the organization is already freezing recruitment in less critical areas and cutting back on travel.
The WHO also said it was open to constructive dialogue with the U.S. in hopes Trump would reconsider.
Why did Trump decide to leave WHO?
The White House said in a statement Monday, Jan. 20, that the U.S.’s decision to withdraw from the WHO is a result of “the organization’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic that arose out of Wuhan, China, and other global health crises, its failure to adopt urgently needed reforms, and its inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states.”
Where does the WHO go from here?
The WHO also told AFP that Trump’s decision will impact the critical information it shares with the U.S., noting the bird flu outbreak, which has infected dozens of people and has killed one person in the U.S.
The WHO said for now, it’s working to expand its funding base and continues to rely on support from its member states.
In its 2022-23 budget, the U.S. pitched in $1.3 billion, which is about 16% of the WHO’s total budget.
Solar overtakes coal in the EU for first time, a trend China has benefited from
Solar power has overtaken coal in the European Union’s electricity mix for the first time ever, according to a report released Jan. 23 by the energy think tank Ember. However, the success of solar in the EU is significantly benefiting Chinese manufacturers.
How much of the EU’s energy total did solar and coal account for?
Solar energy, now the EU’s fastest-growing power source, accounted for 11% of the bloc’s electricity in 2024, up from 9.3% the previous year. In contrast, coal’s share fell below 10%, the lowest level recorded since Ember began tracking the data in 2011.
Chris Rosslowe, the lead author of the Ember report, noted that the reduced reliance on coal and gas has saved the EU an estimated nearly $62 billion in fossil fuel imports since 2019.
Why does this surge in EU solar capacity benefit China?
China has played a central role in the EU’s solar success, supplying around 95% of the bloc’s solar panels. In an attempt to combat this trend, the EU has set a nonbinding target of achieving 40% self-sufficiency in solar panel production by 2030.
However, some experts warn that pursuing such a strategy could increase solar panel costs, slow the deployment of new capacity and lead to an industry heavily dependent on subsidies.
EU considers EV subsidies to counter Chinese competition
The European Union is considering using subsidies to support its electric vehicle (EV) industry. The move would aim to counter the influx of Chinese imports lowering the profit outlooks for domestic automakers.
Why is the EU considering EV subsidies to combat China?
Projections suggest that cheaper Chinese EVs could cost European automakers nearly $8 billion by 2030, according to an Allianz Trade study. In response, the EU increased tariffs on Chinese EV models in June 2024. They claim their prices were artificially low due to subsidies provided by Beijing and therefore undercutting the offerings of Europe’s own auto brands.
What has the EU been discussing in regards to EV subsidies?
The EU is now evaluating additional actions, including implementing their own subsidies.
The European Commission’s Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera announced during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that a pan-European EV subsidy scheme is under discussion. Ribera emphasized the importance of a unified EU approach and cautioned against fragmented national programs.
Currently, EV incentives vary significantly across the EU, with some member states offering no purchase subsidies, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association.
What happens next?
However, this plan to aid European EV makers faces potential complications due to the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) rules, which the EU must follow. Because the WTO prohibits subsidies that unfairly favor domestic producers or hinder international competition, enacting a measure that Chinese automakers cannot also benefit from will be a challenge.
Senators introduce bill to ban Chinese from buying US land
A group of lawmakers is pushing a bill that would ban China from purchasing any land in the United States. The “Not One More Inch or Acre Act” is led by Republican Sens. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Kevin Cramer of North Dakota and Katie Britt of Alabama.
It would require land owned or “Influenced” by the Chinese Communist Party that’s considered a national security risk to be sold.
The bill also asks President Donald Trump to take action to prohibit the purchase of public or private real estate in the U.S. by Chinese citizens or companies.
What are the bill sponsors saying about national security?
Sen. Cotton said in a statement, “For decades, the Chinese Communist Party has been gobbling up American farmland and real estate.”
Sen. Britt added, “The CCP’s strategic acquisition of farmland, particularly near our military installations, isn’t just a national security risk, it is a threat to our economic and food security.”
The bill comes as national security concerns about China recently led to a temporary shutdown of Chinese-owned social media company TikTok in the United States.
How much land does China own in the U.S.?
According to a report by the Farm Service Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, China held 277,336 acres of agricultural and non-agricultural land in the U.S. by the end of 2023.
This accounts for less than 1% of all foreign-held acres in the U.S.
The report also notes that none of the U.S. land holdings are directly linked to the Chinese government.
What happens next?
If the act goes to a vote, 60 senators would need to back the measure.
China’s ‘artificial sun’ sets new record in nuclear fusion research
The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) nuclear fusion reactor developed by China has set a new world record, marking another milestone in the pursuit of limitless clean energy. During the week of Jan. 19, the reactor, dubbed an “artificial sun,” maintained a steady loop of super-hot plasma for 1,066 seconds, surpassing its previous record of 403 seconds.
Why is this nuclear fusion record important?
EAST is a magnetic confinement reactor designed to keep the plasma within it burning for prolonged periods, a necessary step for future reactors aiming to generate electricity.
Nuclear fusion reactors like EAST mimic the energy generation process of the sun by fusing light atoms into heavier ones under extreme heat and pressure.
Unlike the sun, which operates under high pressure, reactors on Earth compensate with temperatures many times hotter. Fusion technology has the potential to provide a continuous power source without producing significant greenhouse gas emissions or long-lived nuclear waste.
“A fusion device must achieve stable operation at high efficiency for thousands of seconds to enable the self-sustaining circulation of plasma, which is critical for the continuous power generation of future fusion plants,” Song Yuntao, director of the Institute of Plasma Physics responsible for the fusion project at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said. “We hope to expand international collaboration via EAST and bring fusion energy into practical use for humanity.”
What challenges does the development of nuclear fusion technology face?
While the potential benefits of nuclear fusion are promising, the technology still currently consumes more energy than it produces. EAST’s recent accomplishment is seen as progress toward a future where fusion power plants might generate sustainable, continuous electricity.
EAST is one of several experimental reactors worldwide. Although none have reached “ignition,” the point where fusion reactions sustain themselves, progress is being made. In 2022, the U.S. National Ignition Facility briefly achieved ignition, but the experiments still consumed more energy than the fusion reactions generated.
What happens next?
The data collected from EAST will aid in the development of other fusion reactors, both in China and around the world. China is a part of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) program, a global collaboration on fusion technology involving dozens of countries such as the U.S., U.K., Japan, South Korea, and Russia.
The ITER reactor, currently under construction in southern France, is set to feature the world’s most powerful magnet. It is projected to begin operations in 2039 at the earliest. The lessons learned from EAST and other reactors will contribute to ITER’s development and the broader goal of achieving practical fusion energy.