While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Jan 24, 2025
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
A woman filming with her mobile phone as US President Donald Trump addresses the World Economic Forum in Davos, via video link, on Jan 23.
PHOTO: AFP
Between laughs and ‘disaster’, Trump divides Davos
As Donald Trump appeared on giant screens at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the world’s rich and powerful rapturously applauded and snapped photos of the US leader. But by the end, the crowd had mixed feelings.
Executives, diplomats and officials stood in a long line like fans at a rock concert to pack into the main hall of the WEF’s congress centre in the Swiss ski resort.
“Everyone in the room was listening with rapt attention. He’s been the talk of the week without any question,” said Mr Daniel Signorelli, a skincare company executive.
One American businessman said it was a “disaster”. Another attendee cried “God help us” as he left.
Top US diplomat Rubio chooses Central America for first trip
REUTERS
Marco Rubio will pay his first trip as US secretary of state to Central American nations including Panama, where President Donald Trump has threatened to seize the Panama Canal, a spokeswoman said on Jan 23.
Mr Rubio, who is the first Hispanic and first fluent Spanish speaker to serve as the top US diplomat, has vowed to put a top priority on Mr Trump’s goal of curbing migration from Central American nations.
State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said Mr Rubio would travel starting late next week to Panama as well as Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic.
Russia-linked AI websites aim to dupe German voters: Study
AFP
Fact-checking firm Newsguard and German investigative outlet Correctiv said on Jan 23 they had identified a cluster of Russia-linked websites that were spreading false stories in an apparent bid to sway Germany’s national election in February.
A joint analysis by the two organisations added they had identified links between the 102 websites and John Mark Dougan, a former US police officer now living in exile in Russia.
Describing the sites as “Dougan’s network”, the report said the sites, some bearing names of famous defunct German media brands, were filled with AI-generated content. NewsGuard said it had evidence that Mr Dougan was part of an influence operation involving Russia’s GRU military intelligence.
Wembanyama delights Paris as he leads Spurs to easy win
Victor Wembanyama delighted his home crowd in Paris on Jan 23 by scoring 30 points and grabbing 11 rebounds as he led the San Antonio Spurs to a 140-110 rout of the Indiana Pacers.
The 21-year-old 2.21m centre took control of the game in a third-quarter performance when the Spurs roared into a 23-point lead.
Wembanyama was playing in the French league a year and a half ago before his selection as the number one pick in the 2023 draft set him on the path to global stardom.
Netflix musical Emilia Perez leads Oscar nominations
Netflix’s Spanish-language musical Emilia Perez topped the list of movies nominated on Jan 23 for Academy Awards, followed by The Brutalist and Wicked.
Emilia Perez, the story of a Mexican drug lord who transitions to a woman and starts a new life, earned 13 nominations.
The Brutalist, about a Holocaust survivor chasing the American dream, and The Wizard Of Oz prequel Wicked picked up 10 nods each.
