The USA and Ukraine have agreed on a raw materials agreement that gives the USA access to Ukrainian mineral resources. A “Reconstruction Investment Fund” is to be created, into which 50% of Ukrainian raw material revenues will flow until 500 billion US dollars have been reached. Trump wants to end the war with Russia quickly, but offers no security guarantees for Ukraine. Peacekeeping troops are being discussed, but Russia rejects NATO troops. Europe's reactions are muted.
Israel has massively attacked southern Syria after Defense Minister Katz announced a tougher line. He emphasized that Israel would not allow southern Syria to become a “second South Lebanon” and that any military activity by Syrian troops in the security zone would be met with violence.
South Korea's birth rate rose from 0.72 to 0.75 in 2024 for the first time in nine years due to post-pandemic marriages and government family support. Measures such as higher parental leave allowances and company bonuses (e.g. 100 million won at Booyoung) are having an effect. The goal is a birth rate of 1 by 2030.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy calls for frozen Russian assets to be seized to support Ukraine. USD 300-350 billion are blocked worldwide, of which 210 billion euros are in the EU. There are concerns about legal risks and the impact on the euro.
US President Donald Trump wants to replace the “EB-5” visa program for investors with a “gold card” that can be purchased for USD 5 million and offers a route to US citizenship. The aim is to attract wealthy immigrants. Russian oligarchs could also be eligible, according to Trump. The EB-5 program has been criticized for allegations of fraud. Further details are to follow in two weeks.
The Chinese start-up DeepSeek is planning to release its new AI model R2 earlier than planned. Its predecessor “R1” caused a worldwide stock market decline with its low-cost, high-performance AI. “R2” is supposed to program better and understand more languages. China supports DeepSeek, while Western countries are restricting AI due to data protection concerns.
President Donald Trump has launched an investigation to examine possible new tariffs on copper imports. The aim is to boost US production of the metal, which is important for electric vehicles and military equipment. Trump is particularly critical of China's influence on the global copper market. This measure could primarily affect Chile, Canada and Mexico, which were the largest suppliers of copper to the USA in 2024. Trump emphasizes that the USA must reduce its dependence on imported copper.
Eli Lilly has cut the price of Zepbound by up to $50 and expanded dosing options to counter competition from pharmacies and Novo Nordisk. This follows the removal of Zepbound and Wegovy from the FDA's shortage list. Lilly aims to steer patients away from cheaper but unauthorized copies.
A massive power outage in Chile plunged Santiago into darkness and disrupted operations at major copper mines, including Escondida and Codelco's mines. The outage, caused by a fault in a transmission line, led to the declaration of a state of emergency and a curfew across the country. Around 8 million households were affected, but the power supply was partially restored overnight. Copper production, which is important for the global market, was affected as the mines relied on emergency power supplies.
Joel Le Scouarnec, a former surgeon, is accused of sexually abusing 299 children. His son declared that he could not hate him as a father, but that his actions were unforgivable. Le Scouarnec confessed to the acts and described the damage caused as “incurable”. The case is considered one of the worst cases of abuse in France.
Republican Congressman Byron Donalds announced that he will run for governor of Florida. The three-term congressman from Florida's 19th district, a supporter of Donald Trump, said it was time to take over the state's leadership. Trump endorsed his candidacy and praised Donalds as a “total winner”.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un emphasized the need to build a strong, modern army to be prepared for possible wars. During a visit to the Kang Kon Military Academy, he criticized its inadequate facilities and called for more intensive training with a focus on practical experience and modern warfare. This follows the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia to assist in the Ukraine conflict.
The US produces more than half of the copper it needs itself, but imports the rest, mainly from Chile, Canada and Peru. These countries supply over 90% of the copper processed in the USA. China dominates copper processing worldwide, but most of the raw material comes from Latin America. The USA has only two main smelters.
Noa Argamani, an Israeli hostage of Hamas, called in the UN Security Council for the continuation of the ceasefire to free all hostages, including her partner. The ceasefire, which began in January, will end soon, but important issues remain unresolved.
21 technicians from the US Digital Service have resigned in protest against Elon Musk's restructuring of the public sector. They criticized that their skills were being used to weaken government systems and jeopardize public services. The resignations follow Musk's decision to rename the department the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge).
On Wednesday, the market awaits Nvidia's numbers, which could clarify whether the AI revolution remains strong. Competition from China, such as DeepSeek, is causing uncertainty. In addition, US economic policy and expectations of interest rate cuts could influence the markets.
Verdi calls for warning strikes at Deutsche Post to demand 7% higher wages and more vacation. The postal service is offering 1.8% and 2.0% over 27 months. The fourth round of negotiations begins on Monday.
US President Trump apparently wants to lay off 500 federal agency employees responsible for the US Chips Act and AI regulations. This could delay the implementation of the $39 billion stimulus program for the semiconductor industry. (HEI.)
xAI, Elon Musk's AI company, has seen a sharp increase in user numbers following the release of Grok 3. App downloads increased 10-fold and daily active users in the US increased by 260%. (TC)
The German state recorded a deficit of €118.8 billion in 2024, despite record revenues of €2.01 trillion. Expenditure rose by 5.3% to €2.13 trillion, particularly for interest (+24.2%) and social benefits. (TAG)
Iranian security forces are fighting against Jaish al-Adl militants in the provinces of Chahbahar, Sistan and Balochistan.
Rheinmetall, Europe's largest munitions manufacturer, converts two of its German automotive plants to defense technology - a clear signal of the geopolitical situation and growing military spending.
The Israeli warplanes targeted the districts in the south of Damascus, Homs and the 1st Division in the Kiswa region. In addition, Israeli tanks, accompanied by drones and other warplanes, are advancing towards the north of Quneitra and the Dera region.
In Japan, the highest amount of snow ever was recorded: Up to five meters of snow covered the Japanese city of Minami-Uonuma
- DAX: Rollercoaster ride yesterday (TAG)
- Munich Re: Increases dividend and buys back shares (HB)
- Thyssen-Krupp: Plans for IPO of marine division TKMS before 2025 (DA)
- FMC: Dialysis specialist Fresenius Medical Care significantly increases profit and raises dividend by 21% to €1.44 (MM)
- Heidelberg Materials: Group increases operating profit by 6% to €3.2 billion despite weak demand (SWR)
- Crypto: Bitcoin price slump accelerates (MM)
- US futures: Markets weigh trade risks, NVIDIA sinks ahead of results (FT)
- BoE member: Panel disagrees on pace of rate cuts in the UK (BBG)
- China's real estate market: Prices continue to fall, recovery not expected until 2026 (RT)
- Anthropic: OpenAI competitor valued at +$60 billion (HEI)
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