- Norway is set to become the first country to fully transition to electric vehicles – 28.01.2025
Norway is set to become the first country to effectively phase out gasoline and diesel cars from its new car market, with over 96% of new car sales in early 2025 being electric. This achievement is the result of consistent government policies, including VAT exemptions, road tax discounts, and extensive charging infrastructure, rather than an outright ban. Despite being an oil-rich nation, Norway has embraced sustainable transportation, with EVs now making up 28% of all cars nationwide and over 40% in Oslo. Experts highlight that a societal mindset shift, rather than inherent environmentalism, has driven this transition. The absence of a strong automaker lobby and political consensus on the benefits of electrification have further supported the shift. While other nations like the U.S. (8.1% EV sales in 2024) and Germany face challenges due to policy reversals and budget constraints, Norway’s success demonstrates that a full EV transition is possible with the right incentives and infrastructure. Experts believe Norway will not revert to internal combustion engines, as EVs are now seen as the new normal, offering economic, environmental, and practical advantages.
- Serbian PM quits after months of mass protests – 28.01.2025
Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic has resigned following mass protests over the deadly collapse of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad, which killed 15 people in November. His resignation comes amid ongoing demonstrations demanding accountability and protesting corruption, with students leading the movement and organizing blockades and a general strike. President Aleksandar Vucic, who holds the real power in Serbia, has condemned violence against protesters and announced a major government reshuffle, including pardoning detained students and considering a new prime minister. While opposition parties call for a transitional government to ensure fair elections, Vucic has rejected this demand and is weighing his options, including potential parliamentary elections or a referendum on his own leadership. The protests’ continuation or decline will likely determine the country’s political trajectory.
- How China created AI model DeepSeek and shocked the world – 30.01.2025
Chinese technology start-up DeepSeek has gained attention with the release of its large language models (LLMs) that compete with those developed by major US companies, achieving high performance at a fraction of the cost and computing power. DeepSeek’s success is seen as part of China’s broader ambition to lead in artificial intelligence (AI) by 2030, supported by significant government investment in AI education, talent development, and state-backed initiatives. Despite challenges like US export controls on advanced AI chips, DeepSeek utilized more efficient training techniques, such as a mixture-of-experts architecture and multi-head latent attention, to reduce costs and hardware requirements. The company’s achievements, along with others like Alibaba, highlight China’s growing prominence in AI, offering a potential model for nations with limited resources.
- Midair collision kills 67 people in the deadliest US air disaster in almost a quarter century – 31.01.2025
A midair collision between an Army helicopter and a jetliner near Washington, D.C. resulted in the deaths of 67 people aboard both aircraft. The incident occurred when an American Airlines regional jet collided with a Black Hawk helicopter while the plane was approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport. The wreckage was found in the Potomac River, in one of the most tightly controlled airspaces. The plane had 60 passengers and 4 crew members, while the helicopter had 3 soldiers. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, with reports indicating that altitude and visibility could have been contributing factors. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is examining the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from the plane. This tragedy marks the deadliest aviation disaster in the U.S. in nearly 25 years. The incident sparked political comments from President Trump, who criticized air traffic controllers without evidence. As recovery efforts continued, the crash left a deep impact on Wichita, Kansas, and the aviation community.
- EU foreign policy chief says defence spending must rise – 01.02.2025
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has warned that member states must increase defence spending to address the threats facing the continent. She highlighted that Europe’s current average of 1.9% of GDP spent on defence is insufficient, especially in light of Russia’s 9% spending and the ongoing war in Ukraine. Kallas emphasized that to prevent further escalation, Europe needs to spend more on defence. She also called for coordinated economic pressure on Russia, hinting at a new sanctions package to mark three years of the war. Kallas, who previously served as Estonia’s prime minister, advocated for NATO countries to raise their defence spending to 3% of GDP, noting Estonia’s high defence spending. She expressed confidence that Ukraine could win if all NATO countries contributed similarly.
- Trump announces significant new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China, sparking retaliatory actions – 01.02.2025
President Donald Trump has implemented new tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, and China, with the stated goal of combating drug trafficking and undocumented immigration. The tariffs include a 25% duty on goods from Mexico and most items from Canada, and a 10% tariff on Chinese imports. These measures are set to increase consumer prices on a wide range of products, from vehicles to fresh produce. In response, Canada and Mexico have announced retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, and China plans to challenge the tariffs at the World Trade Organization. The move has sparked concerns about escalating trade tensions and disrupting supply chains. Critics, including business groups and economists, warn that the tariffs will lead to higher costs for American consumers, harm industries reliant on imports, and undermine international trade relationships. However, the Trump administration maintains that these tariffs are necessary to protect national security and secure the U.S. border.
- Burundi’s Ndayishimiye Warns Rwanda: We’ll Fight Back – 01.02.2025
Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye sharply criticized Rwanda for allegedly supporting armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), accusing the country of destabilizing East Africa. Speaking at a diplomatic event in Bujumbura, Ndayishimiye warned that Burundi would defend its sovereignty if Rwanda continued its actions, referencing cross-border attacks by the RED-Tabara rebel group, which has ties to Rwanda. The Burundian government has long accused Rwanda of backing these insurgents, despite Rwanda’s denials. Ndayishimiye also highlighted the broader regional threat, emphasizing that the instability in the DRC could escalate into a larger regional conflict if not addressed. In response, Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe denied the allegations and questioned why Burundi had not taken action against other rebel groups. The tension between the two nations continues to rise, with both sides blaming each other for the violence.
- Qatar’s prime minister calls on Hamas, Israel to begin immediate talks on Gaza ceasefire phase two – 02.02.2025
Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has called on Israel and Hamas to immediately begin negotiations for the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, emphasizing that discussions should have started before the 16th day of the first phase, which is Monday. The ceasefire agreement, reached last month, consists of three phases and has so far led to Hamas releasing 18 hostages in exchange for Israel freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. However, over 70 hostages remain in Gaza. The second phase of the deal is expected to include the release of all remaining hostages, a permanent end to hostilities, and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. While mediators have been in contact with both sides, there is no confirmed plan on when and where formal negotiations will take place. Qatar has set an agenda for the next phase and hopes for progress in the coming days. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to discuss phase two negotiations in Washington on Monday with U.S. Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff, who will later engage with Qatari and Egyptian officials—key mediators in the ceasefire talks.
- Elon Musk says President Donald Trump has ‘agreed’ USAID should be shut down – 03.02.2025
Elon Musk, working with the Trump administration through his “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), announced that the process of shutting down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is accelerating. Musk argued that USAID is “beyond repair” and stated that he and President Trump agreed on its closure. DOGE personnel, despite lacking proper security clearance, attempted to access classified information at USAID, leading to the suspension of two top security officials. The Trump administration has largely frozen USAID’s operations, halting humanitarian and development programs and causing thousands of layoffs. Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized Musk’s access to public funds and personal data, calling for resistance against these actions.
- https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/28/norway-set-to-be-the-first-to-fully-transition-to-electric-vehicles.html?&qsearchterm=norway
- https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1m5x1j3p2yo
- https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00259-0
- https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-crash-62adba7fb1f546b4cf1716e42b86482b
- https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3w87ynn2n2o
- https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/01/politics/mexico-canada-china-tariffs-trump/index.html
- https://chimpreports.com/burundis-ndayishimiye-warns-rwanda-well-fight-back/
- https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/qatars-prime-minister-calls-hamas-israel-begin-immediate-talks-gaza-ceasefire-2025-02-02/
- https://apnews.com/article/doge-musk-trump-classified-information-usaid-security-35101dee28a766e0d9705e0d47958611
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