Good Morning

US President Joe Biden has pardoned his son Hunter Biden after he was convicted of tax offenses and gun possession. Biden explained that he had not interfered with the justice system, but was of the opinion that his son had been prosecuted unfairly and for political reasons. The pardon covers all possible offenses between 2014 and 2024. Hunter Biden, a former drug addict, admitted his mistakes and promised to dedicate his life to serving others. Republicans sharply criticized the decision and accused Biden of corruption.

The US is imposing new export restrictions on China's semiconductor industry, affecting 140 companies and technologies such as memory chips and manufacturing tools. The aim is to restrict China's progress in AI chip production. China has criticized the measures and is planning a counter-response.

At least 25 people were killed in airstrikes by Russian and Syrian forces in the Syrian province of Idlib, including 10 children. The attacks also hit residential areas, while President Assad vows to defeat rebels who have recently captured areas in Aleppo and Idlib. International calls for de-escalation and protection of civilians.

Georgian police have arrested opposition leader Zurab Japaridze after a fourth night of protests in Tbilisi. The demonstrations were triggered by the suspension of EU accession talks, which many see as a rapprochement with Russia. President Salome Zurabishvili supports the protests and criticizes police violence, while Prime Minister Kobakhidze accuses the opposition of planning a coup. Over 100 people have been injured since the protests began.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has described the presence of a Russian Kilo-class attack submarine in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea as “very worrying”. The submarine, spotted 80 nautical miles off the province of Occidental Mindoro, said it was waiting for better weather conditions before proceeding to Vladivostok. The Philippine Navy escorted the submarine to ensure compliance with maritime regulations. Tensions remain high in the region, particularly due to territorial disputes between the Philippines and China.

Ghana is facing elections on December 7, while a severe economic crisis is weighing on the country. High debts, inflation and a controversial debt restructuring have hit many citizens financially. The election is a duel between Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia (government) and former President John Mahama (opposition). Many voters criticize the government for the debt restructuring and hope for economic improvements.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz made a surprise visit to Kiev and promised military aid worth 650 million euros for Ukraine, to be delivered in December. Scholz emphasized that Germany remains Ukraine's biggest supporter in Europe. The visit comes shortly before a NATO meeting and under domestic political pressure ahead of an early election in February.

Argentina's HIV patients and doctors warn of the consequences of President Javier Milei's drastic austerity measures. The budget for free HIV/AIDS treatment was cut by 67% in real terms in 2024 and is set to fall by 46% in 2025. This jeopardizes the care of thousands of patients, reduces the availability of condoms and tests and could lead to more HIV cases. Experts emphasize that cuts in prevention and early diagnosis could lead to higher healthcare costs in the long term.

Benjamin Netanyahu is not only fighting a war, but also against accusations of corruption and investigations by the domestic intelligence service for betraying secrets. Critics see this as an attack on Israeli democracy. Netanyahu accuses the judiciary of a “witch hunt” and emphasizes that the country must stand together despite the internal crises.

In Syria, insurgents under Islamist leadership, led by the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have seized control of Aleppo and other areas. HTS, formerly part of the al-Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front, has distanced itself from the global terrorist organization since 2017, but remains an Islamist militia. The offensive is reportedly supported by Turkey, which exerts influence through its allies in northern Syria. The Assad regime, which is supported by Russia, has announced a counter-offensive to drive out the insurgents and is threatening to annihilate them.

Following the capture of Aleppo by Islamist rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Syria's President Assad announced a counter-offensive. He described the “destruction of terrorism” as necessary for regional security and stability. The Iranian Foreign Minister assured Assad of his country's support and accused Israel and the USA of encouraging the advance of the rebels. Russia flew airstrikes on rebel-held areas, including Aleppo, killing several people, including civilians. The USA, the UK, Germany and France called for de-escalation and a political solution to the conflict.

IG Metall has called for nationwide warning strikes at Volkswagen after the peace obligation expired last night. The strikes will begin today at all VW plants. The wage dispute affects around 120,000 employees, with IG Metall demanding a wage increase, while Volkswagen is proposing a ten percent wage cut as well as plant closures and redundancies. The third round of collective bargaining ended without a result and the union is threatening a tough wage battle if there is no movement at the negotiating table. Volkswagen has already taken measures to minimize the impact of the strike. Talks are to continue on December 9.

Leader of the FDP Christian Lindner refuses to resign despite the “D-Day” affair and the resignation of his Secretary General Bijan Djir-Sarai. In an interview, he said that he plans to become the top candidate and continue to stand for election in the Bundestag elections on February 23. Lindner emphasized that the FDP does not want to continue the traffic light coalition with the SPD and the Greens due to its convictions. The controversial “D-Day” paper, which outlined a possible exit from the coalition in military terms, led to criticism within the party and the resignation of Djir-Sarai. Lindner explained that his party's mistakes were being exploited by political opponents to distract attention from important issues.

Musk vs. OpenAI: Dispute enters next round: xAI founder and US shadow president Elon Musk has filed an injunction against OpenAI, several co-founders and Microsoft to stop alleged anti-competitive behavior

• DAX: Had a strong Black Friday - +1% (MS)
• IW study: This is where people in Germany can afford the most - adjusted for purchasing power (SPG)
• Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems: Receives billion-euro order from the Ministry of Defense (MM)
• Mercedes: Cooperates with China startup on autonomous driving (RT)
• Marco Buschmann: Is the new Secretary General of the FDP (HB)
• US markets: Thanksgiving holiday continues record run (TAG)
• Trump: Threatens BRICS countries with tariffs of up to 100% (POL)
• Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: Confirmed for second term as WTO chief (WTO)
• Gautam Adani: India tycoon suspected of corruption says: “Every attack makes us stronger” (FT)
• $6 million banana: Buyer - crypto billionaire Justin Sun - eats it on stage (INST)