News from February 13, 2025 at 2 AM

On October 10, Zhang Guoqing, special representative of President Xi Jinping, attended the AI Action Summit in Paris and delivered a speech. The event drew 1,500 participants from over 100 countries, with China's DeepSeek company garnering significant attention. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a €200 billion fund to boost European AI development, while French President Emmanuel Macron indicated a relaxation of AI regulations. Sixty-one countries signed the 'Declaration on the Development of Inclusive and Sustainable AI for Humanity and the Earth,' but the US and UK refused to sign. The summit, co-hosted by France and India, aims to promote global AI governance.

On February 11, 2025, U.S. social media company X agreed to pay approximately $10 million to settle a lawsuit by President Donald Trump. Trump had sued Twitter, then known as Twitter, and its then-CEO Jack Dorsey in San Francisco federal court for deplatforming his account following the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot, alleging a violation of his First Amendment right to free speech. Trump's attorney, John Kelly, confirmed the settlement. At the time of the settlement, Trump had been awaiting the outcome of an appeal of the dismissal of his lawsuit by a federal district court judge for over a year. Meanwhile, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency, is assisting the Trump administration in cutting federal spending and staffing. Musk, who spent over $250 million to help Trump's re-election, acquired Twitter for $44 billion in October 2022 and subsequently reinstated Trump's account.

US President Donald Trump's remarks about acquiring control over Denmark's autonomous territory Greenland have sparked controversy. In response, Danes launched an online petition proposing to buy California, which has garnered approximately 199,000 signatures. The petition suggests Trump might be willing to sell California and proposes renaming the California Disneyland to 'Hans Christian Andersen Land'. Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in Greenland and hinted at using military or economic means to seize it. The Danish government announced an investment of about $2 billion to strengthen Arctic and North Atlantic defenses, with the Greenland government supporting the move and insisting that Greenland is 'not for sale'.

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 October 1, 2024, US Vice President J.D. Vance, speaking to Fox News after participating in the Vice Presidential debate at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York, stated that the US will protect its artificial intelligence and chip technologies to prevent their 'weaponization.' At the AI Action Summit in Paris, Vance highlighted that some authoritarian regimes have stolen and used AI to enhance military and surveillance capabilities, and vowed that the US will block such efforts. He also criticized Europe for focusing too much on regulating AI, urging a more proactive embrace of the technology. The EU has recently implemented stringent AI regulations and plans to invest 200 billion euros in AI technologies.

On February 11, 2025, former Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales testified in court that he was 'absolutely sure' he had Jenni Hermoso's consent before kissing her during the 2023 Women's World Cup final medal ceremony in Australia. Rubiales is on trial for sexual assault and attempting to coerce Hermoso into publicly stating the kiss was consensual. Hermoso insists she did not give permission, calling the incident a stain on one of her happiest days. The event sparked widespread protests, leading to Rubiales's resignation in September 2023. Three former colleagues are also on trial for allegedly pressuring Hermoso. Prosecutors are seeking a two-and-a-half-year jail term for Rubiales, with the trial set to conclude on February 19.

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.

On February 11, 2025, Elon Musk met with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. Members of Musk's government efficiency task force, DOGE, have taken over the offices of top-ranking officials at the Department of Education, rearranging furniture and setting up white noise machines. Acting Education Secretary Denise Carter was seen working outside the main leadership suite, and acting Under Secretary James Bergeron delayed moving into his office due to DOGE's occupation. DOGE representatives occupied the VIP offices on the seventh floor of the agency's headquarters in Washington, D.C., and sought office equipment. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Communications Madi Biedermann stated that DOGE employees are federal workers focused on making the department more efficient. Trump has repeatedly vowed to dismantle the Department of Education, but this requires congressional approval. The DOGE team has already canceled $881 million worth of contracts, causing internal tensions.

Chevron announced on Wednesday that it will cut 15% to 20% of its workforce as part of a cost reduction plan. The layoffs will commence this year, with the majority completed by the end of 2026. The company aims to reduce costs by $2 billion to $3 billion by the end of next year. As of December 21, 2023, Chevron had 45,600 employees, and a 20% reduction would result in over 9,000 layoffs. Vice Chairman Mark Nelson stated that while these actions are not taken lightly, they are necessary for the company's long-term competitiveness. Chevron's shares fell more than 1% on Wednesday, though they are up over 7% this year. The company missed Wall Street's fourth-quarter earnings expectations, with its fuel business posting a $248 million loss. Its pending $53 billion acquisition of Hess Corp. is also entangled in arbitration with Exxon Mobil, creating uncertainty about the deal's closure. Chevron is currently relocating its corporate headquarters from San Ramon, California, to Houston, Texas.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi announced the cancellation of the scheduled rotation of IAEA inspectors at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine on February 12 due to intense military activity. Despite written assurances from both sides that the rotation could proceed safely, the situation proved too dangerous, leading to the mission's abortion. Grossi emphasized that the disruption was completely unacceptable as it jeopardized the safety of the staff. The IAEA is actively consulting with both Moscow and Kiev to ensure the safety of its inspectors and maintain their presence at the ZNPP to continue their crucial mission in nuclear safety and security.