South Korea's central bank on Tuesday slashed interest rates and its annual growth forecast as it looks to bolster the economy in the face of US tariffs and amid the fallout from President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief declaration of martial law last year. The economy grew less than expected in the final three months of 2024 as Yoon's martial law move hit consumer confidence and domestic demand.
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Vladimir Putin accused Western nations of imposing self-serving rules to maintain global dominance. He criticized their support for Ukraine, alleging it provokes conflict and aims to weaken Russia. Putin warned of retaliation if Western actions persist, emphasizing Russia's military modernization, including nuclear forces, and readiness to respond to perceived threats.
Senator Bernie Sanders cut short an interview when asked if Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez should run for the Senate, showing visible irritation and a desire to avoid 'inside-the-beltway' topics. Sanders emphasized his commitment to serving Vermont and praised Ocasio-Cortez's congressional work, but avoided discussing her future ambitions. He underscored his satisfaction with his current role and his focus on progressive causes.
The UAE's ministry of economy launched a three-month roadmap for "green intellectual property (IP)" to drive innovation, sustainability, and a circular economy. The initiative aims to boost eco-friendly patents, strengthen legal protections, and integrate IP into sustainable projects. With a goal of 8 per cent of patents in green technology, it supports the UAE’s vision and reinforces its top regional ranking in the global innovation index 2024.
After Donald Trump expressed interest in buying Greenland, a major power outage struck Nuuk, Greenland's capital, affecting homes and critical infrastructure for about 10 hours in -10°C weather. Americans started commenting on the power outage and said Donald Trump would never allow such an event if Greenland was under American control.
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez have sent out wedding invitations for their June wedding in Venice, Italy. The ceremony will take place aboard Bezos' superyacht, Koru. The couple got engaged in May 2023. Sanchez is also preparing for a space trip with an all-female crew aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket this spring.
Elon Musk, leveraging his social media platform X, launched a campaign against a bipartisan spending deal, influencing some Republicans to oppose it. This unprecedented political move drew criticism and raised concerns about the billionaire's influence on government decisions, even prompting some to suggest him as a potential Speaker of the House.
Investigators identified the victim of a New York subway fire as 61-year-old Debrina Kawam from New Jersey via fingerprint data, dental records, and DNA evidence. Kawam was a homeless woman with mobility issues. The accused, Sebastian Zapeta-Kalil, claimed memory loss of the tragic event, which was recorded on surveillance footage.
​The photo of the X-ray of Luigi Mangione's spine, sourced from his X profile, is going viral and social media users exclaimed that he was probably subjected to a botched surgery. "I'd kill someone too if they did this to me," one user wrote explaining that probably Mangione had a lumbar fusion.
Over 300 people are nominated for this year's Nobel Peace Prize, organisers said Wednesday, with politicians claiming they had put US President Donald Trump and Pope Francis forward for the award. In January, thousands of people signed a UK petition calling for Frenchwoman Gisele Pelicot to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
Cyclone Chido wreaked havoc across Southern Africa. The storm killed dozens in Mozambique and Mayotte. Thousands of homes were destroyed. Many are missing. The cyclone worsened existing hardships in the region. Aid is being provided. The storm's impact on vulnerable communities raises concerns.