Good Morning

Denunciations are on the rise in Russia, often with a political background. The pediatrician Nadezhda Buyanova was sentenced to five and a half years in prison based on a complaint without clear evidence. Critics see this as a return to Soviet mistrust and a means of suppressing opposition to the war in Ukraine.

Donald Trump has nominated Tulsi Gabbard as the new head of the secret service, which has caused concern within the security authorities and among international partners. Critics criticize Gabbard's lack of experience, her pro-Russian views and the danger of politicizing the intelligence agencies. While some Republicans support the decision, others expect tough confirmation hearings in the Senate. The choice of Gabbard is seen as part of Trump's efforts to place loyal supporters in key positions.

Sri Lanka's President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and his left-leaning coalition have won a clear victory in the early parliamentary elections, winning 137 of 196 seats outright with the prospect of a two-thirds majority in parliament. The success gives him the power to pursue far-reaching reforms to combat poverty and a possible abolition of the controversial executive presidency. Dissanayake is also seeking an adjustment to the IMF aid program, which worries some investors about economic stability. The election reflects growing support for his reform-oriented course.

Tensions arose during the Nations League match between France and Israel at the Stade de France: The Israeli anthem was booed by some fans and there were clashes in the spectator area. Around 4,000 security personnel were deployed. Demonstrators protested with Palestinian flags outside the stadium, and the attendance of around 16,600 was the lowest for a French national team match since 1998. President Macron emphasized before the match that France would stand up against anti-Semitism and violence.

Typhoon Usagi, known locally as Ofel, weakened considerably on Friday after making landfall in the Philippine province of Cagayan and is now moving towards Taiwan. Nevertheless, the country is preparing for the approaching typhoon Man-yi, which could possibly hit the capital Manila at the weekend and become a super typhoon. Precautionary evacuations are already underway in affected regions. The Philippines has been hit by several storms in recent weeks, leading to flooding and landslides.

The Dutch authorities are investigating reports of alleged police violence against pro-Palestinian demonstrators following a banned protest in Amsterdam on Wednesday evening. A total of 281 people were arrested for protesting in the city center despite a ban. A video circulated online allegedly shows police officers attacking released protesters with batons, which police described as “disturbing”. The tensions follow clashes after a soccer match between Ajax and Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv last week.

China's President Xi Jinping kicked off his week-long trip to Latin America on Thursday with the opening of a new deep-water port in Chancay, Peru, a project worth 1.3 billion US dollars that aims to strengthen China's influence in South America. Xi attended the opening of the port together with Peru's President Dina Boluarte via video. The port, which is part of the Belt and Road Initiative, is intended to promote trade between China and South America, generating USD 4.5 billion annually and creating 8,000 jobs. The port, built by Cosco Shipping, is intended to serve as an important trade hub and connect a planned rail line with Brazil to facilitate the export of Brazilian raw materials. However, the US has expressed concerns and suspects that China could potentially use the port for military purposes, which China has rejected as “slander”.

Efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah are showing initial progress, while Israel continues to carry out heavy air strikes on Hezbollah positions near Beirut. On Thursday, the US ambassador in Beirut presented a draft ceasefire for the Lebanese side to consider. Israeli ministers expressed cautious optimism about the negotiations, and a senior Lebanese official signaled that Hezbollah could withdraw from the border. However, Israel's demand for military freedom of action in the border area remains a major point of contention. Lebanon declared its willingness to implement UN Resolution 1701, which provides for a demilitarized zone between the Lebanese border and the Litani River.

Donald Trump is planning a massive deportation of millions of illegal migrants in his second term, starting with criminal foreigners. He has brought ultra-right hardliners such as Stephen Miller and Tom Homan onto his team to implement the plan. According to estimates, there are around 11 million illegal migrants living in the US and deporting them could cost more than 88 billion dollars. Despite the high costs, Trump states that he wants to implement the program regardless of financial hurdles. Economists warn of the economic consequences, as many migrants occupy important jobs in the US economy.

IMF study: Prosperity gap between the EU and the USA is widening: According to a study by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), weaker productivity in Europe is cementing the prosperity gap between the EU and the USA. In terms of purchasing power parity, the gross domestic product per capita in the European Union is currently only around 72% of the US level. (TAG)

ifo study: Reducing bureaucracy would drive growth in Germany: The bureaucratic burden on companies in Germany is overwhelming, according to the Munich-based ifo Institute. The experts put the annual cost to economic output at €146 billion (IFO)

Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems: More state aid? Following the withdrawal of Carlyle, the submarine shipyard TKMS urgently needs money for investments. The German government is probably already considering a higher state investment than previously planned. (MM)

Hedge fund DE Shaw: Betting €100m against Bayer: The New York-based fund went short €100m on Tuesday, according to a document filed in Germany yesterday. Bayer shares have been on a downward trend for several years - on Tuesday, a further lowering of the earnings forecast for 2024 pushed the stock to a 20-year low. (RT)

Amazon: Closes down its grocery delivery service in Germany: Amazon tried for seven years: Now the tech company is giving up its grocery delivery service Amazon Fresh in Germany. (LZ)

• EU Commission: Imposes €800 million fine on Meta (HB)
• Lufthansa: Could cut one in five jobs in administration (ZON)
• Baywa: Crisis-ridden agricultural group with €300m loss (MM)
• Hapag-Lloyd: Shipping company increases quarterly profit (PT)
• Drugstore billionaire Roßman: “I trade Aurubis shares every day” (HB)
• US debt: Interest costs fell for the first time since August 2023 (BBG)
• Japan: Angebotener Management-Buyout von Seven & i in Höhe von $58 Mrd. wäre größter der Geschichte (RT)
• Adani Group: Indisches Unternehmen investiert $10 Mrd. in US-Energie nach Trump-Wahl (RT)
• Amazon: Startet Discount-Shop Amazon Haul, um mit Billig-Plattformen Temu und Shein mithalten zu können (CNBC)
• Liberty Media: CEO von F1-Eigentümer tritt zurück (BBG)