News from February 13, 2025 at 2 PM

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.

According to AFP and other media reports on the 13th, a car rammed into a crowd in Munich, Germany. The police stated that several people were injured in the incident. Currently, the police are investigating the cause of the accident and taking appropriate measures. The exact number of injured and details of the incident have not been fully disclosed.

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.

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 December 26, 2024, Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan announced the termination of merger talks, ending speculation over a $60-billion deal that was intended to create the world's third-largest auto company by sales. Various options were considered, including a proposal by Honda to change the merger structure to make Honda the parent company and Nissan a subsidiary through a share exchange. The companies stated they will continue to collaborate within a strategic partnership aimed at the era of intelligent and electrified vehicles. Previously, Reuters reported that Nissan seemed likely to step back from the talks. Honda's shares rose 2.14% on the day, while Nissan's stock fell 0.34%. The merger fell apart due to Nissan's 'pride and denial' and its refusal to close factories, with Honda's push to make Nissan a subsidiary further complicating the deal. In December, the two companies began merger discussions aimed at concluding by June. Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe had said the deal aimed to share intelligence and resources, achieving economies of scale and synergies. On December 18, Nissan's shares surged 24% on merger reports, marking the stock's best day since at least 1985. The merger was announced a month after Nissan posted disappointing second-quarter results and revealed plans to cut 9,000 jobs and reduce global production capacity by a fifth. Separately, Honda reported its third-quarter results with revenue of 5.53 trillion yen ($36.4 billion), up 1.4% year-on-year, and operating profit rising to 397.8 billion yen, a 4.6% increase from the same period last year.

Afghanistan's interim government officials confirmed on the 13th that a suicide attack occurred at the Kabul Urban Development and Housing Ministry building, resulting in one death and three injuries. The attacker, intercepted by security personnel while attempting to enter the building, detonated the bomb. The attacker's identity remains unknown, and no group or individual has claimed responsibility. On the 11th of this month, an explosion at Kabul Bank in Kunduz city, northern Afghanistan, killed five and injured seven.

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, 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.

Friedrich Merz, the conservative candidate for chancellor and leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), told the Wall Street Journal that Elon Musk will face consequences for interfering in Germany's election campaign. Merz emphasized that the actions during the campaign cannot go unchallenged and may result in political or legal responses. Musk has repeatedly criticized incumbent Chancellor Olaf Scholz and supported the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) ahead of the elections scheduled for February 23.

On February 13, the Moldovan Foreign Ministry summoned Russian Ambassador to Chisinau Oleg Ozerov in response to two drones flying into the south of Moldova from Ukraine. The incidents pose a serious threat to citizen security and regional stability. No casualties were reported from the drone crashes, but Moldova deems such airspace violations unacceptable. Police are investigating the sites, which contained no explosives. The incident suspended the Reni-Giurgiulesti checkpoint for 2.5 hours, with all staff evacuated. Last year, five single-engine plywood aircraft fell in Moldova, also without explosives.

On February 13, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's website published a decree imposing sanctions on former President Petro Poroshenko and Viktor Medvedchuk, leader of the Other Ukraine movement. Both face indefinite sanctions, including asset freezes, bans on land acquisition, and 17 other restrictive measures. Additionally, businessmen Igor Kolomoisky, Konstantin Zhevago, and former Privatbank shareholder Gennady Bogolyubov were also sanctioned. These three have previously faced persecution in Ukraine, with Kolomoisky incarcerated since 2023. The decree's publication date coincides with Kolomoisky's birthday, who had supported Zelensky's presidential bid in 2019.

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.