In 2025, China announced the elimination of tariffs on all imports for 53 African nations
Last month, Kenya and China signed a preliminary bilateral trade agreement that will grant 98.2% zero-duty market access for goods exported from Kenya. The development follows efforts by the East African nation to expand its export basket and reduce trade imbalances with Asian trading partners.
It’s part of a broader landmark move: last June, China announced the elimination of tariffs on nearly all imports – covering roughly 98-100% of tariff lines – from 53 African countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Beijing.
Kenya’s trade and investments minister, Lee Kinyanjui, told RT that the agreement “opens the Chinese market to a broad range of Kenyan products at zero duty, with particular emphasis on agricultural exports, which remain the backbone of the domestic economy”.
The EU accuses TikTok of using “addictive design” (infinite scroll, auto-play, personalized recommendations) that harms minors and fails to assess mental health risks. Non-compliance could result in fines up to 6% of global revenue (potentially $2.1 billion).
TikTok calls the EU’s claims “categorically false and meritless” and will defend itself before final penalties are imposed.
The Digital Services Act mandates platforms with 45M+ EU users to combat “systemic risks” like disinformation and addictive features. Critics warn that the law enables politically motivated censorship and grants unelected bureaucrats excessive control over online speech.
Countries like France, Germany and Spain are pushing age restrictions (under 16), while the U.S. sues TikTok and Meta over youth mental health harms. Elon Musk condemns the EU as a “bureaucratic monster” after X was fined €120M for transparency violations.
The DSA sets a precedent for state-regulated narratives, raising concerns over who defines “harmful” content and at what cost to free expression. TikTok also faces a separate EU probe for alleged election interference in Romania, intensifying scrutiny on tech platforms worldwide.
The European Union has escalated its crackdown on Big Tech, accusing TikTok of employing an “addictive design” that harms users—particularly minors—while enforcing sweeping new censorship rules under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The Chinese-owned platform faces potential fines of up to 6% of its global revenue if it fails to comply, marking one of the most aggressive regulatory moves against social media to date. Critics warn, however, that the law’s broad mandates risk stifling free speech and empowering unelected bureaucrats to dictate online discourse.
In a preliminary decision announced Friday, Feb. 6, the European Commission (EC) claimed TikTok’s algorithm-driven infinite scroll, auto-play videos and personalized recommendations push users into “autopilot mode,” fostering compulsive behavior. The EC alleges the platform failed to assess risks to users’ “physical and mental wellbeing,” especially among children.
TikTok, which boasts over 200 million European users, rejected the findings as “categorically false and entirely meritless.” The company now has an opportunity to respond before final penalties are imposed. If found in violation, TikTok could owe billions—potentially up to $2.1 billion, based on estimated 2024 revenue.
The EMA confirms that Ozempic and Wegovy double the risk of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a rare but devastating condition causing permanent vision loss.
Multiple documented cases reveal patients waking up blind after just one dose, with others experiencing retinal bleeding and irreversible damage—yet Novo Nordisk denies definitive proof while being forced to update warning labels.
Experts suspect rapid glucose drops from GLP-1 drugs deprive the optic nerve of oxygen, triggering NAION—a risk tripled compared to a decade ago, per Harvard researcher Dr. David Sinclair.
Despite harrowing reports, the EMA and U.K.’s MHRA delayed warnings, downplaying risks as “extremely small”—another example of regulatory capture favoring Big Pharma profits over public safety.
Diet, exercise and metabolic therapies can achieve similar benefits without risking blindness, proving yet again that independent research exposes dangers long before captured agencies admit them.
A shocking new warning from European regulators confirms what independent researchers have long suspected: popular weight-loss and diabetes drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy may cause sudden, irreversible blindness. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has officially linked semaglutide-based medications to non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a rare but devastating condition that cuts off blood flow to the optic nerve, leading to permanent vision loss.
Silver prices have whipsawed this February sharply, driven by thin liquidity and heavy speculative positioning, leaving the market struggling to establish a clear floor.
A multiyear precious-metals bull run accelerated in January on geopolitical risks, Fed concerns and speculative buying, especially in China, before abruptly reversing late last month.
Silver suffered its biggest-ever daily drop on Jan. 30 and later fell more than 15% in a single session to a one-month low, while gold saw its steepest decline since 2013.
Despite the selloff, silver remains up over 130% year-on-year, though it is now trading about 35% below its January record high of $121.64 an ounce.
Analysts say price action is being driven more by speculative and CTA flows than physical fundamentals, with reduced liquidity amplifying swings and volatility likely to remain elevated.
Silver prices swung violently earlier this February before rebounding, as thin liquidity and heavy speculative positioning fueled extreme volatility in a market struggling to find a floor.
The turbulence comes after a multiyear bull run in precious metals accelerated sharply last January, driven by heightened geopolitical risks, concerns over the Federal Reserve’s independence and a surge in speculative buying, particularly in China.
A popular dietary supplement has been recalled due to its link to a dangerous, multi-state salmonella outbreak. Why Not Natural voluntarily recalled its Pure Organic Moringa Green Superfood capsules.
The outbreak is significant and growing, with at least 65 illnesses and 14 hospitalizations across 28 states. Health officials warn the true number of cases is likely much higher.
The contamination likely originated in the raw moringa leaf powder within the global supply chain before being used by multiple supplement companies, highlighting a systemic vulnerability.
The incident exposes a regulatory gap, as dietary supplements do not require pre-market FDA safety approval, placing the onus on manufacturers and leaving consumers to understand that “natural” does not mean government-verified as safe.
Consumers are urged to discard the recalled product and seek medical attention if symptoms develop. The outbreak underscores the need for greater industry vigilance and potential regulatory reforms.
In a stark reminder that natural does not always mean safe, a popular dietary supplement marketed for its health benefits has been pulled from shelves nationwide after being linked to a dangerous and widening salmonella outbreak.
Why Not Natural, a Texas-based company, voluntarily recalled its Natural Pure Organic Moringa Green Superfood capsules on Jan. 28. The recall followed an investigation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Newly unsealed DOJ documents claim Bill Gates contracted an STD from “Russian girls” and sought antibiotics to secretly administer to his then-wife, Melinda Gates. Jeffrey Epstein allegedly drafted emails detailing Gates’ “illicit trysts,” cover-ups and unethical requests.
A spokesperson for Bill dismissed the claims as “absolutely absurd and completely false,” attributing them to Epstein’s frustration after their relationship soured. He previously admitted regret over associating with Epstein but denied any wrongdoing.
Melinda reportedly hired divorce lawyers in 2019 after learning of Bill’s repeated Epstein meetings. She later called Epstein “evil personified” and confirmed his involvement was a factor in their 2021 divorce.
Texts suggest Epstein resented Bill after their fallout, even threatening to expose Bill’s alleged affair with a Russian bridge player when he refused to join a JPMorgan-linked charity fund. Flight logs confirm Bill traveled on Epstein’s “Lolita Express” in 2013.
Despite Bill’s denials, the documents deepen scrutiny over his Epstein ties, reinforcing concerns about elite impunity and the extent of their relationship—leaving unanswered questions long after Epstein’s death.
A trove of newly unsealed U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) documents has reignited scrutiny over Bill Gates’ ties to Jeffrey Epstein, with bombshell allegations claiming the Microsoft co-founder contracted a sexually transmitted disease from “Russian girls” and sought antibiotics to secretly administer to his then-wife, Melinda Gates.
Spain enforces strict social media ban for under-16s, becoming the first European nation to follow Australia’s precedent, citing online harms like addiction, hate speech and exploitation.
Five aggressive measures announced: Criminal liability for executives failing to remove “illegal or hateful content”; ban on algorithmic amplification of harmful content; tracking platforms’ role in spreading division and hate speech; investigation of AI-generated crimes by TikTok, Instagram and Elon Musk’s Grok; and strict age verification for social media access.
Critics warn of censorship risks, with Musk calling Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez a “fascist totalitarian” and opponents arguing vague definitions of “hate speech” could suppress dissent.
France, Denmark and the United Kingdom are considering similar bans, while Australia has already implemented fines for non-compliance – despite pushback from Meta and legal challenges.
Supporters argue bans protect children’s mental health, while skeptics see government overreach and a slippery slope toward digital authoritarianism.
Spain has announced sweeping new regulations to ban social media access for children under 16, becoming the first European nation to follow Australia’s controversial precedent.
The new restrictions were announced right after the two countries wrapped up indirect talks in Oman on Tehran’s nuclear program
Any agreement on Iran’s nuclear program can only be reached through “calm” dialogue free of pressure and threats, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said after indirect talks with the US in Oman on Friday. Shortly afterward, Washington announced a new round of sanctions against Tehran.
Araghchi welcomed the resumption of dialogue with the US after “eight turbulent months” and called the eight-hour negotiations in Muscat on Friday, mediated by Oman’s foreign minister, a “good start.” Both sides share a “consensus” on the need to continue the talks, Tehran’s top diplomat said in a statement.
Moments after the talks ended, the US Department of State announced restrictions against 15 entities, two individuals and 14 vessels, accusing them of being linked to what it called “the illicit trade in Iranian petroleum, petroleum products, and petrochemical products.” It said the move was part of a “maximum pressure campaign” launched by the administration of President Donald Trump.
President Donald Trump said his administration may need a “softer touch” in immigration enforcement following the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by federal agents in Minneapolis.
The January deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti triggered national protests and sharp criticism from Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.
Trump and senior officials initially blamed the victims, at times labeling them domestic terrorists without evidence, though later video footage contradicted claims that the shootings were justified.
Trump acknowledged concerns about aggressive tactics, said agents “make mistakes sometimes,” and confirmed the withdrawal of 700 federal immigration agents from Minnesota.
Despite the softer rhetoric, Trump reaffirmed his commitment to a tough immigration agenda, marked by increased arrests, deportations and strict border controls.
A quiet yet profound shift is underway in the language of finance, a redefinition of the very scourge eating away at our economic foundations. What governments and central bankers dismiss as ‘transitory inflation’ is in reality a systemic cancer, the direct result of decades of monetary corruption. This is not a temporary economic ailment but a terminal symptom of a fiat currency system engineered for eventual collapse.
The deceptive calm of today’s manipulated markets masks a gathering storm. Faith in the U.S. dollar is eroding, not by accident but by design, as those in power use the printing press to finance their agendas. The path from the current erosion of purchasing power to a full-blown hyperinflationary collapse is shorter than most dare to imagine, a journey paved with the broken promises of dishonest money.
Erb News Network 
