MicroWave

Summary

Advisers to Donald Trump acknowledge that resolving the Ukraine war could take months, contradicting Trump's campaign pledge of a "Day One" peace deal.

Trump's incoming envoy, Keith Kellogg, suggested a 100-day target, but analysts consider even that timeline overly optimistic.

Russia has shown limited interest in proposed peace plans, and Trump's team is contemplating freezing battle lines and offering Ukraine security guarantees.

Progress has been slow, hampered by diplomatic complexities and legal concerns, such as Kellogg postponing a pre-inauguration Kyiv visit due to the Logan Act.

Summary

Berkshire Hathaway, led by Warren Buffett, operates the nation’s dirtiest coal plant fleet, emitting the most nitrogen oxides (NOx) in 2023 despite $41B in renewable energy investments.

The plants lack advanced pollution controls (SCR scrubbers), causing significant health and environmental damage, including up to 260 annual deaths and $3.9B in healthcare costs.

For example, the plants in Iowa reduce air quality in Omaha and surrounding areas, leading to premature deaths, healthcare costs, and lost school days. Omaha’s air quality ranks in the bottom third of U.S. cities.

Berkshire has resisted installing pollution controls, prioritizing cost-effectiveness over environmental responsibility.

Summary

Germany’s far-right party, the AfD, is leveraging Elon Musk’s public support to boost its image and connect with Donald Trump’s incoming administration ahead of the February 23 election.

Musk live-streamed the AfD’s convention, where chancellor candidate Alice Weidel praised him and promised “large-scale repatriations” if elected.

The AfD aims to forge ties with both the U.S. and Russia.

While mainstream German parties reject collaboration with the AfD, its rising popularity (21% in polls) mirrors far-right success in Austria, which AfD leaders see as a model.

Summary

China is reportedly considering selling TikTok's U.S. operations to Elon Musk if the company cannot avoid a potential U.S. ban, Bloomberg reports.

Officials prefer TikTok to remain under parent ByteDance but acknowledge the possibility of a forced sale or government-arranged deal.

One proposal involves Musk's platform X co-managing TikTok U.S. Beijing's "golden share" in ByteDance has raised national security concerns in the U.S., with a Supreme Court ruling on a TikTok ban or sale expected by January 19.

Neither TikTok nor Musk confirmed any negotiations.

Summary

Polish Defense Minister dismissed Maj. Gen. Artur Kępczyński, head of the Support Inspectorate, following the discovery of missing anti-tank mines in an IKEA warehouse.

Reports suggest Kępczyński concealed the mishap, which occurred in June 2024 when soldiers failed to unload a train carrying explosives.

False documentation masked the missing mines until IKEA contacted the military to retrieve them.

The defense ministry did not specify reasons for the dismissal, but an investigation is ongoing.

Summary

Greenland's Prime Minister Múte B. Egede stated that Greenlanders want independence and neither want to be Danes nor Americans, following Donald Trump's comments about acquiring the territory for strategic reasons.

Trump suggested using force or economic pressure, alarming Denmark and Europe.

Danish PM Mette Frederiksen reaffirmed Greenland's sovereignty, stating "Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders."

The US sees Greenland as key in Arctic geopolitics, given its resources and location, but Egede stressed Greenland's identity as distinct from Denmark, the US, or NATO politics.

Summary

Tipping in U.S. restaurants has dropped to 19.3%, the lowest in six years, driven by frustration over rising menu prices and increased prompts for tips in non-traditional settings.

Only 38% of consumers tipped 20% or more in 2024, down from 56% in 2021, reflecting tighter budgets.

Diners are cutting back on outings, spending less, and tipping less. Some restaurants are adding service fees, further reducing tips.

Worker advocacy groups are pushing to eliminate the tipped-wage system, while the restaurant industry warns these shifts hurt business and employees.

Key cities like D.C. and Chicago are phasing in higher minimum wages for tipped workers.

Non-paywall link

Summary

Greenlandic MP Pipaluk Lynge condemned Donald Trump Jr.'s visit as a staged effort to portray locals as supportive of U.S. annexation.

His team reportedly distributed MAGA hats to residents, barred journalists, and organized managed photo ops, including locals speaking with Donald Trump on speakerphone.

“We know how they treat the Inuit in Alaska,” Lynge hit back. “Make that great before trying to invade us.”

Lynge and Danish PM Mette Frederiksen reiterated Greenland’s rejection of U.S. takeover threats, while Greenlandic PM Múte Bourup Egede emphasized the island’s focus on sovereignty and independence.

Summary

Three UnitedHealth-owned companies—HealthMarkets and its subsidiaries—were ordered to pay over $165 million for deceptive practices in Massachusetts between 2012 and 2016.

A Suffolk County judge ruled they violated the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act by misleading consumers into buying unnecessary supplemental insurance, with agents trained to obscure costs.

The penalties include $50.1 million in restitution and $115.1 million in civil penalties, the largest ever under the state’s consumer protection law.

UnitedHealthcare plans to appeal.

Summary

The home of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been fortified with barbed wire, buses, and security personnel as authorities prepare a second attempt to arrest him following his Dec. 3 martial law decree, which led to his impeachment.

Yoon’s supporters rallied outside, and his legal team insists investigators lack jurisdiction due to the residence's sensitive military status.

Rumors of Yoon fleeing have been denied, though he vows to fight any "illegal investigation."

Authorities are intensifying preparations for the renewed arrest effort.

Summary

Chinese EV maker BYD is under investigation in Brazil for allegedly bringing 500 Chinese workers on irregular visas to build a factory.

Authorities found 163 workers in "slavery-like conditions," including withheld passports, and have fined BYD.

BYD claims the workers came voluntarily, and the company pledged to comply with Brazilian labor laws for remaining workers.

The case highlights China's labor practices abroad and may strain Brazil-China relations, as Brazil prioritizes local job creation. The probe could impact BYD's $620M project and global expansion plans.

Summary

Iran executed 901 people in 2024, including 31 women, marking the highest total since 2015, according to the U.N. Most executions were for drug offenses, but political dissidents and participants in 2022 protests were also targeted.

Many women executed were victims of domestic abuse or forced marriages, with some convicted for killing abusive husbands.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk condemned the rising executions, calling for reform.

President Masoud Pezeshkian, elected in 2024, had pledged to improve protections for women and minorities, but significant progress remains absent.