Trump Appoints Colin McDonald as Assistant Attorney General for National Fraud Enforcement 
South Korea Industry Minister Heads to Washington Amid U.S. Tariff Hike Concerns 
Mark Carney Walks Back Davos Remarks After Call With Donald Trump, Says U.S. Treasury Secretary 
Trump Raises Tariffs on South Korean Autos, Escalating Trade Tensions Despite Prior Deal 
U.S., Denmark and Greenland Begin Talks to Ease Tensions Over Arctic Security 
California Governor Gavin Newsom Launches Review Into Alleged TikTok Content Suppression After U.S. Ownership Deal 
Trump Claims Breakthrough in Syria Talks After Call With President al-Sharaa 
U.S. Links Security Guarantees to Ukraine Peace Deal Talks With Russia 
Trump Says Administration Will ‘De-Escalate’ Federal Immigration Enforcement in Minnesota After Deadly Shootings 
Starmer’s China Visit Signals New Era in UK–China Economic Relations 
Jerome Powell Attends Supreme Court Hearing on Trump Effort to Fire Fed Governor, Calling It Historic 
Donetsk Territorial Dispute Emerges as Key Obstacle in U.S.-Mediated Ukraine Peace Talks 
EU-India Trade Deal Offers European Carmakers a New Opening in India’s Competitive Auto Market 
UK Politicians Call for Full Competition Review of Netflix’s Warner Bros Discovery Deal 
ICE Blocked From Entering Ecuador Consulate in Minneapolis During Immigration Operation 
Los Angeles Mayor Says White House Must Reassure Fans Ahead of FIFA World Cup 
Sam Altman Criticizes ICE Enforcement as Corporate Leaders Call for De-Escalation 
The German government has appointed a new defense minister following Christine Lambrecht’s decision to step down. The new defense minister comes at a time when Germany is under pressure to approve the use of German-made tanks in Ukraine.
Berlin appointed Boris Pistorius as the country’s new defense minister on Tuesday, succeeding Lambrecht, who resigned the day before and ahead of an upcoming conference on Friday that would take place at the US military base in Ramstein on the West’s plans to provide more weapons to Ukraine. Pistorius is expected to host his US counterpart Lloyd Austin in Berlin on Thursday.
Pistorius’ appointment also comes as Germany has shown a reluctance to approve the delivery of heavy Leopard tanks as Berlin has raised concerns that this may only lead to an escalation in the war. Other countries that have Leopard tanks also need Berlin’s approval before they can be provided to another country.
“There are important decisions to be made in the short term, in particular, the urgent question of how we continue to support Ukraine in its right to self-defense,” said German economy minister Robert Habeck of the Greens Party in a statement. “Germany bears a responsibility here and has major tasks to accomplish.”
Pistorius has served as interior minister in Lower Saxony since 2013 and, in the role, has worked with the German armed forces. In 2019, Pistorius ran for a leadership position in the Social Democratic Party and is known for his hardline stance on security issues.
“I want to make the armed forces strong for the time ahead,” said Pistorius in a statement ahead of his formal appointment as defense minister on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands will reportedly be sending Ukraine its Patriot missile defense system, according to Dutch news outlet ANP, citing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who is currently in the United States meeting President Joe Biden.
Citing a fireside conversation between the two leaders, Rutte apparently said they would take part in a US-German initiative to send the missile defense systems to Ukraine. Rutte also said he spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss the decision.
