A US report accuses Matt Gaetz of paying tens of thousands of dollars for sex and drugs, some with minors. The ethics committee found evidence of rule violations, including prostitution and drug use, but none of federal offenses. Gaetz denies the allegations and is appealing against the publication.
The US State Department urged its citizens to leave Belarus because of the risk of arrests and unrest The reasons for such a decision by the US include the arbitrary application of local laws by Belarusian authorities, the risk of arrests and Russia's continued support for the war against Ukraine.
Putin has confirmed that Russia is ready to continue gas supplies to Europe, said Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico after his visit to Moscow.
Honda and Nissan are planning a merger by 2026 in order to hold their own against growing competition from Chinese e-car manufacturers and Tesla. The merger would create the third largest car manufacturer in the world after Toyota and Volkswagen. Mitsubishi Motors could also join. The aim is to remain competitive by 2030 by sharing resources.
Nordstrom is being taken over by its founding family and the Mexican retailer El Puerto de Liverpool for 6.25 billion dollars. Shareholders will receive 24.25 dollars per share, which corresponds to a 42% premium on the share price before the deal was announced. The takeover is expected to be completed by mid-2025.
Forensic psychiatrist Reinhard Haller draws parallels between the Magdeburg attacker and other extreme perpetrators such as Anders Behring Breivik. He suspects that the perpetrator may have suffered from a paranoid personality disorder or delusional disorder, which enabled him to plan his crime. Haller explains that such perpetrators often act out of an irrational desire to inflict maximum pain on society. According to Haller, the perpetrator, who was a psychiatrist, shows a contradictory mixture of radicalization and delusion. Haller emphasizes that lone offenders are particularly dangerous, as they develop their extreme ideas in isolation. To support the victims, Haller recommends compassion and support to alleviate the pain, even if the wound remains permanent.
The Biden administration has launched a new investigation into Chinese “legacy” chips, which are based on older technology and used in everyday products such as cars and household appliances. The aim is to protect US manufacturers from state-sponsored competition from China. The investigation could lead to further tariffs under the incoming Trump administration. Biden has already introduced a 50% tariff on Chinese chips, which will come into force on January 1, 2025.
The US spirits industry sees declining sales during the holiday season as consumers spend less on expensive cocktails and premium spirits due to economic pressures such as high inflation. Instead, many are turning to cheaper options or consuming more at home. While some markets such as the UK are showing signs of recovery, major producers such as Diageo and Pernod Ricard are struggling with weak sales in the US, one of the most important markets. Longer trends such as the decline in alcohol consumption and the move towards alternatives such as THC drinks are adding to the challenges.
The UK economy stagnated in the third quarter of 2024, a setback for Prime Minister Keir Starmer. GDP remained unchanged after previous growth forecasts were revised downwards. Weak exports and a decline in the service sector weighed on the economy, while households increasingly resorted to savings. The government's tax increases are being criticized as they continue to weigh on the business climate. Analysts warn of continued weakness, but hope for an improvement in 2025.
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is under pressure to resign. More than 50 Liberal MPs are calling for a change of leadership following falling poll ratings and growing voter frustration. Trudeau has so far shown no plans to step down, but could be ousted in a vote of no confidence in March. New elections could be clearly favored by the Conservatives.
With Christmas approaching, Christian communities in Syria are concerned about the new Islamist rulers, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Despite assurances that Christians are free to practice their religion, recent incidents such as attacks on Christian churches and threatening messages have heightened their fears. Many are scaling back their celebrations and church leaders are advising caution. Trust remains fragile as the community waits to see if HTS will actually respect religious freedoms and establish civil order. Christians, still scarred by the years of war, are deeply suspicious of the new regime.
France has extended the security measures introduced for the Olympic Games to Christmas markets. These measures, which allow the authorities to monitor the movements of people deemed to be a threat, have been criticized by human rights activists. One case concerns a refugee who has been affected by the measures due to his links to people deemed to be “pro-jihadist”, resulting in him losing his education. Lawyers and activists warn of the increasing use of these measures and a possible violation of rights.
The sickness rate in Germany has reached a new high of 17.7 days of absence per working person in 2024. The main causes are colds, flu and Covid-19, followed by mental illness. A survey shows that many people are dealing with colds responsibly even after the pandemic by avoiding social contact and informing others. 29 percent continue to wear a mask in case of illness.
Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico's visit to Russian President Putin has sparked outrage in Slovakia. Fico explained that the meeting was necessary to discuss gas supplies, as Slovakia and Hungary are affected by the halt in gas transit through Ukraine. Critics accuse Fico of making himself dependent on Russia and distancing the country from Europe. Fico defended the trip and emphasized that the EU had been informed. Ukrainian President Selenskyj asked why Fico was so dependent on Moscow. The meeting in the Kremlin took place without a press conference or joint statement.
South Korea reports that North Korea is sending additional soldiers and weapons, including kamikaze drones, to Russia to assist in the war against Ukraine. It is estimated that around 1,100 North Korean soldiers have suffered casualties in the fighting.
The fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria could weaken the Iranian regime as it loses an important ally in the “axis of resistance”. Many Iranians hope that this could trigger changes in their own country. The loss of Syria as a buffer zone against Israel and the loss of influence in Lebanon are seen as a major defeat for Iran. The regime is reacting more cautiously so as not to weaken further and could be forced to reform itself. Despite the defeated “Women, Life, Liberty” movement, the desire for change is growing.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr writes on his X account that all MC Donald's outlets will close from January 20.
The municipalities in Eastern Finland are calling on the authorities to take measures to restore the regional economy, reports Savon Sanomat. Due to the anti-Russian sanctions, the entire region has been plunged into a crisis. There are particularly serious problems in trade turnover, exports and unemployment.
The elections in Romania were famously annulled due to alleged Russian influence through TikTok campaigns. However, it now appears that the elections were indeed influenced by a TikTok campaign. However, this was not financed by Russia, but ironically by the EU-friendly liberal-conservative PNL party, which is part of the EPP bloc in the EU Parliament.
The Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban, has informed the EU heads of state that he wants to wait for the inauguration of his ally Donald Trump before making a decision on the extension of sanctions against Russia, sources tell the agency. As decisions in the EU are made unanimously, supporters of the Nazi regime will have to wait for the boss.
Negotiations between Volkswagen and IG Metall have been concluded: The agreement provides for the elimination of more than 35,000 jobs by 2030.
Donald Trump will continue military aid to Ukraine in his second term to support European NATO allies, FT reports. These plans have been shared by the president-elect's closest advisers on foreign policy. In addition, Trump will ask NATO member states to double military spending and increase it to 5% of GDP. This prospect worries Europe: it will have to make difficult budgetary and fiscal choices. Even the current contributions of 2% are not sustainable for many countries in the alliance. Sources suggest that Trump could grant a “rebate” to 3.5%. At the same time, he will offer more favorable trade terms with the US for those who increase spending on NATO.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has hinted that Turkey may intervene in northern Syria to eliminate what Ankara sees as threats from Kurdish groups, The Times of Israel reports. He has also called on the West, particularly the US, to stop Israel's military actions in Syria. While Turkey controls parts of northern Syria, Israeli forces have invaded a buffer zone in the Golan Heights, claiming their presence is temporary until a new regime ensures compliance with the 1974 agreement on demilitarization. Erdoğan's comments follow clashes between Turkish-backed fighters and US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The Turkish president promised to neutralize “terrorist organizations” in Syria and prevent recruitment to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is classified as a terrorist organization in Turkey.
A new investigation by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) sheds light on the internal processes in the White House under Joe Biden. According to insiders, the outgoing US president, whose term of office ends in a few weeks, was increasingly under the control of a small circle of advisers who took over key functions. In order to protect Biden's health, a strict lockdown was put in place at the beginning of his term, which, according to the WSJ, was never fully lifted. Even cabinet members rarely had access to Biden. One minister reported that he only met the president twice a year. Decisions that are usually reserved for the president were increasingly made by advisers. Biden himself was only provided with selected information - negative reports or survey results were systematically withheld from him in order to avoid mistakes. Meetings were postponed to later in the day and deliberately kept short, as Biden was particularly slow in the morning. The WSJ reports that the president tired quickly during longer meetings. The reports confirm the fears of many critics: Biden's advanced age was increasingly affecting his work and public appearances. Stumbles, confusion in speeches and an increasingly guarded demeanor had previously fueled speculation about his fitness for office.
- VW: 4000 managers waive 10% of their salary (NTV)
- Christmas business: picks up again on the home straight (HB)
- BMW: Irregularities in Russia uncovered (TGS)
- Engel & Völkers: Searches on suspicion of bogus self-employment (TGS)
- Deutsche Bahn boss: Defends draught beer ban and high prices for spontaneous bookers (NTV)
- USA: Record number of CEOs left US companies in 2024 (AXS)
- Spotify: Chief executive sold $1.25bn worth of shares in 2024 (FT)
- USA: Recession in the agricultural sector picks up (WSJ)
- Wall Street: Overall optimistic about bond & equity markets (FT)
- England: Pubs have to ration Guinness (TGS)
- Cargo ships: More and more are switching to sails - instead of engines (NTV)
Comments
Post a Comment