US judicial authorities on Friday indicted an Iranian man for an alleged plot to assassinate US President-elect Donald Trump by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Farhad Shakeri is said to have received the order to develop a plan for the assassination attempt in October 2024, but refused to develop the plan within the required timeframe. Iranian government spokesman Esmail Baghaei dismissed the allegations as a “heinous” plot by Israel and opposition forces. Shakeri, described as an IRGC ally in Tehran, remains a fugitive and is believed to be in Iran. In addition, two New Yorkers, Carlisle Rivera and Jonathan Loadholt, were indicted for their support of Shakeri. They are also alleged to have been involved in planning an assassination attempt on a prominent US critic of the Iranian regime, believed to be Masih Alinejad.
Following Trump's election victory, investors are speculating about the possible effects of a Republican “red sweep” government, which could implement Trump's tax cuts and deregulation plans more easily. These measures are considered to promote growth, but could also drive up inflation. The Russell 2000 Index and the dollar have already rallied, and analysts expect further gains if the GOP retains control of both chambers of Congress. However, some investors see potential challenges in implementing any plans due to the narrow majorities.
The leadership of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has reportedly launched an external investigation against Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan for alleged misconduct. An internal document seen by Reuters calls for Khan to step down temporarily during the investigation. Khan denies the allegations and has requested an investigation by the court's internal watchdog. Background information suggests that one person involved has doubts about the independence of the internal investigation, as details are said to have been leaked. The results and details of the external investigation remain to be seen for the time being.
Firefighters made progress on Friday in fighting the Mountain Fire north of Los Angeles. The fire, which has been raging since Wednesday, has so far destroyed at least 132 buildings and damaged 88 others. Around 10,000 people have been evacuated, with around 3,500 households now allowed to return, while 2,000 homes remain evacuated. So far, the fire has destroyed an area of 8,350 hectares and is 14% under control. The strong winds from the desert that initially fanned the fire have subsided, making it easier to extinguish. However, firefighters warn of difficult clean-up operations and potential flare-ups.
The collapse of the traffic light coalition pleases the CDU/CSU and gives it new opportunities. Merz and his party colleagues are planning a return to government, but are faced with the challenge of how constructively they should act in times of crisis. Chancellor Scholz calls for cooperation, Merz, on the other hand, demands that Scholz soon submit a vote of confidence. The CDU/CSU withdraw their proposals in order to avoid conflicts with the AfD and use the time to think about their next steps. The pressure on Scholz remains as the CDU/CSU reviews its strategy.
From January 2025, the contribution to long-term care insurance is to rise by 0.2 percentage points in order to prevent the imminent insolvency of some long-term care insurance funds, according to Health Minister Lauterbach. The increase is necessary due to rising costs and care requirements. The Bundestag does not have to agree, only the Bundesrat. The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds criticizes the fact that this will only provide short-term relief and is calling for additional support from the federal government. A comprehensive reform is planned for the next legislative period.
Following the end of the traffic light coalition, Chancellor Scholz has signaled his willingness to discuss a date for a new election. He wants to set the date of the election in consultation with the Bundestag and emphasizes that organizational aspects such as the preparation time for a fair election must also be taken into account. The Federal Election Commissioner warned of the challenges of an election in January or February due to the shortened deadlines. There has been an exchange of blows in the Bundestag between the government, which is seeking the January date for the vote of confidence, and the opposition, which is calling for an earlier election.
Beyoncé leads the Grammy nominations with her country album *Cowboy Carter*, which received 11 nominations, including Album of the Year. This gives her a total of 99 Grammy nominations, more than any other artist. Taylor Swift, Charli XCX and Billie Eilish are also among the favorites with multiple nominations. Beyoncé is competing in several categories, including pop, rap and Americana, which shows the versatility of her album.
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