News from February 14, 2025 at 2 AM

On February 12, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation discussing the situation in Ukraine. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the dialogue could lead to lasting peace in Ukraine. Trump expressed support for an early cessation of hostilities and a peaceful settlement, while Putin emphasized the need to address the root causes of the conflict. Trump later posted on social media that immediate negotiations on the Ukrainian conflict would commence between Moscow and Washington. Hegseth, speaking at a NATO meeting in Brussels, noted that a return to Ukraine's 2014 borders was unrealistic and ruled out the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO.

On February 13, a car crash into a crowd in Munich, Germany, injured about 28 people, including several children. Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder suggested it might have been an attack. The incident occurred during a union demonstration, when a car suddenly accelerated towards the crowd. Police said the driver, a 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker with a history of drug and theft offenses, has been arrested, but the motive is believed to be unrelated to the Munich Security Conference. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that the perpetrator must be punished and deported. The 61st Munich Security Conference is set to open on February 14, with the incident site just 1.5 kilometers from the venue.

On February 13, 2025, Robert F Kennedy Jr was officially sworn in as the US Health and Human Services Secretary. His appointment sparked controversy due to his skepticism towards vaccines and baseless health claims. The Senate confirmed him with a 52-48 vote, with no Democratic support and former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell being the lone Republican to vote against him. Kennedy will oversee key health agencies with about 80,000 employees and a trillion-dollar budget, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A former independent presidential candidate in 2024, he later dropped out and backed Donald Trump. His nomination faced scrutiny over his views on vaccinations and abortion, yet he was confirmed despite the concerns.

Chinese businesses are rapidly adopting DeepSeek's latest artificial intelligence model to enhance productivity. The model has recently gained global attention, claiming to be more cost-effective than OpenAI's ChatGPT, despite U.S. restrictions on China's access to advanced semiconductors needed for its development. A wide range of companies, including automaker BYD, at least nine financial securities firms, three state-owned telecommunications operators, and smartphone brand Honor, have integrated DeepSeek within the last week. Cloud computing giants Alibaba, Huawei, Tencent, and Baidu have also provided access to DeepSeek's latest model. Wei Sun, principal analyst at Counterpoint Research, described this adoption rate as unprecedented, highlighting its significant social and economic impact. UBS data shows that AI-related Chinese stocks have risen by 15% since the beginning of the year, outperforming the broader MSCI China Index by 9%. DeepSeek's affordability and open-source nature have made it highly attractive, driving the widespread adoption of AI technology.

Last weekend, kayaker Adrian Simancas and his father were paddling off the coast of Punta Arenas in southern Chile when a massive humpback whale suddenly scooped him into its mouth. Simancas felt himself being lifted and thought he had been swallowed. Fortunately, the whale quickly spat him out unharmed. His father, Dell Simancas, captured the entire incident on camera, noting a brief moment when he lost sight of his son. Adrian Simancas recounted thinking he was going to die during the ordeal.

Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan announced the termination of merger talks but will continue to collaborate in the electric vehicle sector. On February 13, the companies issued a joint statement confirming the end of the memorandum of understanding signed in December last year. The breakdown was due to disagreements, particularly Honda's proposal for Nissan to become its subsidiary. Honda President三部敏宏 and Nissan President内田诚 expressed regret. If the merger had succeeded, it would have created the world's third-largest automaker. Mitsubishi Motors also withdrew from the talks. Nissan expects a net loss of 80 billion yen for the fiscal year and has lowered its revenue forecast, actively seeking new partnerships.

Two Australian nurses employed at a Sydney hospital have been suspended after a video emerged showing them threatening to kill Israeli patients and boasting about refusing to treat them. Authorities in New South Wales (NSW) are investigating the incident. State Health Minister Ryan Park announced a thorough investigation to ensure no adverse patient outcomes, though a rapid review of hospital records found nothing unusual. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the video as 'sickening and shameful' after it went viral online. This incident follows Australia's recent passage of tougher anti-hate crime laws. NSW Police have identified the individuals in the video and immediately suspended them, promising they will never work in the NSW healthcare system again. The video was shared on TikTok by Israeli content creator Max Veifer.

On February 13, 2025, a nationwide strike erupted in Brussels, Belgium, with thousands of people taking to the streets to protest the new government's planned pension reforms. The strike halted all air traffic in the country, resulting in the cancellation of 430 flights at Brussels airport. Protesters carried signs expressing their discontent. The strike was also expected to disrupt public transport and postal services, with firefighters and military personnel joining the protests. The new pension reform benefits those who work past retirement age with 35 years of service but penalizes early retirees without 35 years, being less favorable for lower-income earners compared to the previous system. The reform was proposed by the government of Bart De Wever, which was sworn in on February 3 after forming a five-party coalition including right-wing, centrist, and the socialist party Vooruit.

On February 12, 2025, coalition talks between Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPO) and the People's Party (OVP) collapsed in Vienna. President Alexander Van der Bellen subsequently sought to form a centrist coalition excluding the FPO. Despite winning 29% in parliamentary elections, the FPO failed to form a government, marking the longest period to form an Austrian government since World War Two. Van der Bellen is set to meet with all party leaders on February 13, except the FPO. Amid economic pressures, all parties agree on the need to quickly reduce the budget deficit, with the Social Democrats (SPO) and NEOS open to renewed talks with the OVP.

On February 13, the Australian Department of Defence claimed that an Australian Royal Air Force patrol aircraft had an 'unsafe' interaction with a PLA fighter jet in the South China Sea. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded that the Australian aircraft intruded into China's Xisha Islands airspace without permission, and China's eviction measures were legal and justified. Military experts stated that the PLA's actions were professional and restrained, and any provocative behavior would be countered. The Australian statement said the incident occurred on February 11 and their aircraft was undamaged. China has lodged a stern protest with Australia, demanding an end to侵权挑衅. Experts pointed out that Australia's actions violated international law, and China's measures were lawful and reasonable.

Two British nationals, a man and a woman, have been detained in the southeastern Iranian city of Kerman on security-related charges. Iran's state media published blurred images of the pair meeting with the British ambassador but did not identify them. The exact date of their detention remains unclear. British officials have not yet commented on the situation. In recent years, Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards have arrested numerous dual nationals and foreigners, primarily on espionage and security-related charges. Rights groups and some Western countries have accused the Islamic Republic of using security charges to secure concessions from other nations, allegations Tehran denies.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced the extension of temporary border controls for six months, informing the European Union, as he aims to demonstrate the government's commitment to combating irregular migration less than two weeks before the February 23 election. Germany reintroduced border checks in September in response to a surge in arrivals, particularly from people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East. The controls mainly target asylum seekers from neighboring EU countries, subject to the EU's Dublin rules for processing asylum applications. Data indicates the effectiveness of these measures, with 47,000 people rejected at borders, a one-third drop in asylum applications in 2024 compared to 2023, and the arrest of 1,900 smugglers. With the far-right, anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) polling second at around 20% in most surveys, migration remains a top concern for voters ahead of the election.