News from February 11, 2025 at 2 AM

Global leaders and tech executives gathered at the Grand Palais in Paris on February 10 for a two-day AI Action Summit to discuss safe AI adoption without stifling innovation. OpenAI CEO Altman called for allowing innovation, while Trump's rollback of previous AI regulations increased pressure on Europe to relax controls. The EU's AI Act faces calls for flexible implementation. French President Macron emphasized balancing rules and innovation, announcing a €109 billion investment in AI over the next few years. Chinese firm DeepSeek challenges US leadership in AI. Canadian scientist Bengio warned of AI risks, and labor leaders expressed job concerns. The summit expects 1,500 participants, with multiple countries and companies pledging funds to support AI development.

Russian President's press secretary Dmitry Peskov on February 9 stated that he cannot confirm or deny reports of a phone call between President Putin and US President Trump. According to the New York Post, Trump revealed he had spoken with Putin in an attempt to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Peskov noted that there have been multiple communications between Russia and the US, but specific details are unclear. The Kremlin previously said that discussions on a possible Putin-Trump meeting have not yet begun. On February 5, Peskov mentioned that contacts between Russian and US departments are intensifying. Trump expressed his desire to meet with Putin soon, to which the Russian side responded that they are ready for an equal and respectful dialogue. The US is expected to announce a peace agreement to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict next week, while Russia advocates for a comprehensive and sustainable solution. The Ukrainian government is actively engaging with US officials to seek sufficient security guarantees.

Analysts predict that DeepSeek's rise will prompt global investors to allocate more funds to Chinese stocks despite ongoing economic concerns. Liqian Ren, head of quantitative investment at WisdomTree, noted that DeepSeek's open-source model surprised U.S. tech investors with its low cost and innovation, despite U.S. export controls. Nvidia's stock plunged 17% on January 27, raising questions about AI investments. David Chao, global market strategist at Invesco, believes the current high concentration in the U.S. stock market is temporary, with Chinese equities offering attractive valuations. Louis Luo, head of multi-asset investment solutions at abrdn, highlighted that DeepSeek demonstrates Chinese tech giants' ability to build AI models comparable to U.S. ones, benefiting the MSCI China index. Bernstein and J.P. Morgan recommend stocks like Kingdee and Kingsoft Office, expecting them to benefit from AI development. HSBC raised its revenue estimates for Xiaomi, citing its AI capabilities. Despite U.S. tariff uncertainties, DeepSeek's breakthroughs showcase innovation from China's private sector.

Voting for the presidential and parliamentary elections in Ecuador began on February 9, with polling stations open until 5:00 p.m. (10:00 p.m. GMT). Incumbent President Daniel Noboa is running for re-election, joined by 16 other politicians. His main rival is former lawmaker Luisa Gonzalez, who served in various capacities in ex-President Rafael Correa's government. An Ipsos poll shows 45.5% support for Noboa and 31.3% for Gonzalez. A candidate must secure an absolute majority or at least 40% of the votes, with a 10 percentage point lead over the nearest rival to win. If no candidate meets these criteria, a second round will be held on April 13. Voters will also elect 151 deputies to the National Assembly. The election is taking place under heightened security due to recent crises, with Noboa ordering the closure of borders from February 8 to 10 and reinforcing military presence in border areas and seaports.

At approximately 2:45 PM local time on the 10th, two planes collided on the ground runway at an airport in Arizona, United States, resulting in at least one fatality. Emergency responders have promptly arrived at the scene. The airport's runway has been closed for safety reasons. The specific cause of the accident is under investigation.

US President Trump hinted that the Government Efficiency Department led by Elon Musk discovered potential misconduct in the Treasury Department's data, which might allow the US to avoid certain payments. On February 9, while on Air Force One, Trump mentioned this to reporters without providing details. Musk's previous focus was on government payments to contractors and grant recipients. Last week, a federal judge temporarily revoked the Efficiency Department's access to the Treasury's payment system. Trump plans to direct Musk to review the Education and Defense Departments' expenditures, emphasizing the need to uncover billions in fraud and misuse. House Speaker Johnson described Musk as an 'external auditor' uncovering incredible public fund abuses.

A monkey intruded into a power station in the southern suburbs of Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, causing a nationwide blackout. Local media outlet Ceylonwire reported on October 10 that the incident occurred around 11:30 AM on the 9th. Initially thought to be a technical fault, it was later confirmed by Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera that the monkey touched a grid transformer, causing a system imbalance. The blackout affected multiple regions, with some areas gradually restoring power after five to six hours. Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao reported that Sri Lanka has experienced several nationwide blackouts in recent years due to power station issues.

On February 10, the United Nations deadline for submitting new carbon emission reduction targets was missed by nearly all nations, with only 10 out of nearly 200 countries required to deliver fresh climate plans under the Paris Agreement doing so on time. Major economies like China, India, and the European Union were among those that failed to meet the deadline. The United States, Britain, and Brazil were the only G-20 economies to submit on time, though the US pledge was largely symbolic. UN climate chief Simon Stiell called for submissions by September to be properly assessed before the UN COP30 climate conference in November. Analysts expect China, the world's largest polluter and renewable energy investor, to unveil its climate plan in the second half of 2025. The slow response has raised concerns about a potential backslide on climate action.

The United Nations has suspended all operations in Yemen's Sa'ada region following the detention of more U.N. staff by the Houthi authorities. Deputy U.N. spokesperson Farhan Haq stated that this temporary measure aims to balance the need to stay and deliver with ensuring the safety and security of U.N. personnel. The pause is intended to facilitate the release of arbitrarily detained U.N. staff and ensure conditions for critical humanitarian support. The Iran-aligned Houthis, who have controlled most of Yemen including the capital Sanaa since 2014 and early 2015, have detained dozens of U.N. staff since 2021, with 24 currently in detention.

President Donald Trump's executive order to end birthright citizenship in the US has sparked several legal challenges and anxiety among immigrant families. The move aims to prevent children of illegal immigrants and those on temporary visas from obtaining citizenship. A poll by Emerson College indicates that more Americans support Trump on this issue. Globally, birthright citizenship is not the norm, with the US being one of the few countries that grant it automatically. In recent years, several nations have revised their citizenship laws due to immigration and identity concerns. Trump's order faces legal scrutiny, with cases currently being reviewed by the courts.

A coalition of U.S. refugee supporters filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Washington State on Monday, challenging President Donald Trump's indefinite suspension of the U.S. refugee resettlement program. The lawsuit argues that refugees and their families face irreparable harm if the suspension remains in effect, and that Trump exceeded his executive authority by abruptly shutting down the program and freezing funds for refugees already in the U.S. The suspension resulted in the cancellation of travel plans for refugees worldwide, including 1,660 Afghans cleared for resettlement. Nine refugees and their U.S.-based family members, including a family from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, joined the lawsuit, along with three pro-refugee organizations: HIAS, Church World Service, and Lutheran Community Services Northwest. The State Department has not yet commented on the lawsuit.

According to Italian newspaper La Repubblica, the Milan Prosecutor's Office has noted a rise in AI-driven scams targeting top Italian tycoons. Scammers use AI voice systems to mimic Defense Minister Guido Crosetto and his staff,诱导ing wealthy individuals to transfer funds to overseas accounts. Figures like Prada CEO Patrizio Bertelli and former Inter Milan owner Massimo Moratti have been targeted, with Moratti confirming a transfer of over €1 million to a specified account. The scammers use AI to convincingly replicate voices, demanding victims pay ransoms. Crosetto has warned the public to be vigilant. The number and financial impact of cyber scams in Italy are on the rise, with losses exceeding €100 million in the first half of 2024 alone. The government is actively implementing measures to combat cybercrime.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that special envoy Richard Grenell will serve as the interim executive director of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington. On Friday, Trump terminated multiple members of the center's board of trustees, including chairman David Rubenstein, and named himself as chairman, promising to soon announce a new board. Trump criticized the center for hosting 'Drag Shows' targeting youth and vowed to end such 'anti-American propaganda.' The Kennedy Center, which receives federal funding, is a leading national arts facility with bipartisan support. Since taking office last month, Trump has undertaken a massive government overhaul, firing and sidelining hundreds of civil servants and top officials. During his first term, Trump did not attend the annual Kennedy Center Honors, though the center's leaders had indicated he would be welcome in the future. Grenell recently served as Trump's envoy to Venezuela, successfully securing the release of six Americans.

A CBS News/YouGov poll conducted from Feb 5 to Feb 7 showed President Donald Trump with a 53% approval rating in his first month in office. Despite a typical post-election honeymoon, many respondents expressed concerns about insufficient efforts to lower consumer prices, and majorities opposed his plans to impose tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and Europe. Sixty-six per cent of Americans felt his administration had not focused enough on reducing prices, including nearly half of Republicans. While 56% supported the 10% tariffs on China, similar majorities opposed the 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada and unspecified future tariffs on European nations. Half of Americans believed Elon Musk and his so-called Department of Government Efficiency teams should have some influence over government operations, with 74% of Republicans agreeing. Compared to former Presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush, Trump had the lowest initial approval rating in at least 70 years, with 44% in January 2017.