South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been arrested and questioned as part of an investigation into an alleged uprising. The investigation was triggered by Yoon's declaration of martial law on December 3, which led to his impeachment by parliament. Yoon calls the investigation illegal and refuses to testify. Following his arrest in a large-scale police operation, it will be decided whether he will remain in custody for up to 20 days. Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court is examining whether the impeachment is final. Despite criticism, Yoon continues to mobilize supporters who draw parallels with Donald Trump.
There are renewed tensions between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea. This has been triggered by a huge Chinese coast guard ship that was spotted in Philippine waters near Capones Island at the beginning of January. The Philippine Coast Guard asked the ship to leave the region, but it remained in the vicinity. The Philippines accuse China of increasingly aggressive behavior and provocations, especially against fishermen. China rejected the accusations and emphasized that the coast guard was patrolling in accordance with the law. The area around Scarborough Reef, a center of the dispute, remains disputed.
Donald Trump's nominee for US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, faced a heated hearing in the Senate. Despite criticism of his lack of experience, previous controversies and his stance on women in the military, he was able to secure the support of the Republicans. Democrats sharply questioned his suitability, while Republicans like Joni Ernst defended him. Hegseth promised reforms and emphasized that he wanted to restore a “warrior culture”. However, his confirmation hinges on a narrow majority, as his nomination remains controversial.
The fires in Los Angeles continue to take their toll: 25 dead, over 12,000 buildings destroyed and massive evacuations. Despite the efforts of 8,500 firefighters, strong winds and drought threaten containment. The damage could reach up to 275 billion dollars - the most expensive natural disaster in US history. Political disputes over aid measures are complicating the situation.
Negotiations on a ceasefire in Gaza are nearing a conclusion, according to mediators from Qatar, Egypt and the USA. After more than a year of sporadic talks, the agreement could end fighting that has killed tens of thousands and left millions homeless. Israel and Hamas are close to an agreement that provides for the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. A ceasefire would also enable humanitarian aid and defuse tensions in the Middle East. US President Biden and Egypt's President Sisi emphasized the urgency of implementation.
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has sued Elon Musk for late disclosure of his Twitter stake. Musk is said to have reported his exceeding of the 5% ownership limit by 11 days too late in 2022, which enabled him to buy further shares at artificially low prices. The SEC is demanding a fine and the return of ill-gotten gains. Musk rejects the allegations and calls the lawsuit a “harassment campaign”. This is not Musk's first conflict with the SEC, which sued him in 2018 for misleading tweets about Tesla. Further lawsuits from former Twitter shareholders are still pending.
Trump's threat to take over Greenland and the Panama Canal by force if necessary is causing discussions in China about parallels with Taiwan. While some Chinese commentators speculate that Trump's stance could offer new opportunities for China's Taiwan claims, experts emphasize differences. Taiwan is seen by China as an internal matter, while Trump's statements are direct violations of sovereignty. Analysts do not expect an immediate change in Taiwan policy, but point to possible long-term effects of Trump's “transactional” approach.
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has denied allegations that Tehran has plotted to assassinate Donald Trump. In an NBC interview, Pezeshkian stated, “We have never tried to do this, and we never will.” These statements contrast with US investigations that claim to have uncovered a plot commissioned by Iran. Trump survived two assassination attempts in 2024, with no evidence found of Iranian involvement. Iran has repeatedly denied accusations of meddling in US affairs, pointing to decades of Western intervention in the region.
North Korean soldiers are supporting Russia in the war against Ukraine, with many serving as “cannon fodder”. Reports show that they were instructed to kill themselves before being captured. Ukraine reports thousands of casualties among the North Koreans and offers to exchange captured soldiers for its own prisoners of war. Observers warn of the consequences of this war experience for North Korea's military.
President Biden announced that Cuba would be removed from the US terror list and that several sanctions imposed by Trump would be eased. Cuba also announced the release of 553 prisoners, including some who were arrested after the 2021 protests. These steps are aimed at improving relations with Cuba, but could be reversed by Trump once he is in office.
Bundestag election: How AI can help voters. Munich students have developed the LLM-based chatbot wahl.chat. Thanks to AI, the chatbot can be asked questions about the parties' positions, which are answered based on the current election programs. If you like: the next step up from the popular Wahl-O-Mat. (ZDF)
The chemical company BASF is of the opinion that its Swiss competitor Clariant has manipulated the market in its favor - specifically the ethylene purchasing market. BASF is claiming a total of €1.4 billion in damages. (HB)
Germany's support for Ukraine will remain strong and resolute, regardless of what the government looks like after February 23, declared German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius during a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi.
New Year's Eve in Düsseldorf, as in the whole of Germany, was a veritable firework display of events. Despite designated exclusion zones and a strong police presence, some people managed to set off fireworks in the Altstadt district and on the Rhine promenade and get away with it. Although the police were on site to monitor the situation and collect rockets, no fines were imposed on the offenders.
- New US rule: Blocks China's access to AI chips and models (WIR)
- OpenAI: Unveils new 'blueprint' for AI regulation (TC)
- AWS investment: $5 billion dollars for new servers in Mexico (TC)
- AI financial advisor: Targeting young people with financial worries (WIR)
- Mercedes & Google AI: New car with voice assistant coming in 2025 (BBG)
- Stock photo merger: Getty and Shutterstock join forces to face an uncertain AI future (BBG)
- UK companies: Relying on AI investment rather than new hires (FT)
- DAX: Rises after Trump's announcement that tariffs will only be introduced gradually (NTV)
- BASF: Files lawsuit against Swiss competitor Clariant (HB)
- Pharmacies: Report “alarming” supply shortage - better to buy more Elotrans (NTV)
- Election campaign: Merz receives criticism from the steel industry for his doubts about converting to hydrogen (HB)
- Tesla: Starts production of Model Y in Germany (NTV)
- EU: Accuses China of favoring domestic medical products (NTV)
- Pension fund ABP: Largest pension fund in Europe throws Tesla out of its portfolio (MM)
- US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC): Blackstone, KKR, Apollo and others fined for text message violations (BBG)
- China: Central bank promises support for domestic economy in Q1 (WSJ)
- Spain: Introduces 100% tax on property purchases for non-EU nationals aka too many Russians in Ibiza (FT)
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