World briefs

CHINA Tech company Huawei opened a cybersecurity lab in Brussels, the heart of the European Union, as it tries to win over government leaders and fight back U.S. allegations that its equipment poses a national security risk.

PHILIPPINES The United States is more likely to be involved in a “shooting war” in the disputed South China Sea than the Philippines but the latter would be embroiled in such a conflict just the same because of its 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with Washington, the Philippine defense chief said yesterday. 

EU Germany’s vice chancellor is welcoming French President Macron’s (pictured) call for reform of the European Union, saying that Europe needs to be strong to avoid being pushed around. Olaf Scholz told the Funke newspaper group yesterday that Macron “has sent a determined signal for cohesion in Europe.” He said “it is important that we are sovereign and strong so that we are not pushed around in the world.”

VENEZUELA Opposition leader Juan Guaido shrouded the route and timing of his return in secrecy amid concerns he might be detained by Venezuela’s government. Yet he breezed through airport immigration checks and brazenly called for the downfall of President Nicolas Maduro at a rally where the presence of security forces was minimal.

CANADA A leading Cabinet minister in Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government resigned, becoming the second minister to step down over a scandal that has shaken the government in an election year. 

USA Hillary Clinton says she won’t run for president in 2020, but vows she’s “not going anywhere.” The former secretary of state, senator and first lady ruled out another campaign during an interview on New York TV station News12 . Clinton, who lost the 2016 election to Trump, says, “I’m going to keep on working and speaking and standing up for what I believe.”

MARDI GRAS The streets of New Orleans will be filled today [Macau time] with excited kids catching beads from atop ladders, revelers in fancy costumes walking through the French Quarter and Mardi Gras Indians wearing finely beaded costumes. It’s the final day of the Mardi Gras season, which began on January 6. The weather is expected to be cold but sunny, there.