Thailand has stated it is not planning to immediately repatriate a group of Uyghurs who fled China over a decade ago, despite warnings from UN experts that they could face torture upon return. The 48 Uyghurs have been held in Thai immigration centers since their arrest in 2013 and 2014 after crossing the Thai border seeking protection from alleged human rights abuses in China's Xinjiang region. The UN experts highlighted that 23 of the Uyghurs have serious health conditions and warned the Thai government that returning them would put them at risk of torture, ill-treatment, and irreparable harm.
On his second inauguration, former US President Donald Trump reiterated his desire to balance the trade deficit with the European Union, either through tariffs or increased energy exports. While Trump did not announce any new tariffs on EU products, he did mention the potential for increased energy exports, such as oil and natural gas. The EU has expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue and negotiations with the new Trump administration, emphasizing the importance of addressing shared interests and finding common ground.
Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, who held prominent positions in the Nord Stream pipeline project, is set to testify before a parliamentary investigative committee in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The committee aims to clarify the circumstances surrounding the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline for Russian natural gas, which was completed in 2021 but never activated due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The pipeline was later damaged in explosions believed to be an act of sabotage. The committee is particularly interested in understanding the role of Schröder, who served as chairman of the supervisory board of Nord Stream AG and CEO of Nord Stream 2 AG, in pushing for the completion of the pipeline despite significant opposition.
In the United States, a rule that prevented the detention of undocumented immigrants in sensitive locations like schools and churches has been revoked. The Trump administration granted border patrol agents the authority to enter these areas and take necessary measures for immigration enforcement. The Department of Homeland Security stated that the new policy allows agents to apprehend “criminal aliens” wherever they are found, asserting that “criminals will no longer be able to hide in American schools and churches.” The revoked “sensitive locations” rule had previously required border patrol agents to obtain permission from institutions like hospitals and schools before entering, except in cases of national security emergencies.