SUMMARY: In Indjija, hundreds of striking students continued their anti-corruption protest, marching from Belgrade to Novi Sad, where they plan to blockade three bridges this weekend, marking three months since a deadly train station collapse. Initially sparked by concerns over corruption in construction contracts, the protests have evolved into a significant challenge to President Aleksandar Vucic’s regime. Despite freezing temperatures, students received enthusiastic support from locals. Recent protests have led to the resignation of Serbia’s prime minister and minor concessions from the government, yet demonstrators remain firm in their demands for accountability. Violence against protesters has also been reported.

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SUMMARY: Asia markets mostly rose on Friday, buoyed by gains on Wall Street after strong earnings from Tesla, IBM, and Meta Platforms. Japan’s core inflation hit 2.5%, exceeding the central bank’s target, potentially leading to interest rate hikes, while the unemployment rate fell to 2.4%. The Nikkei 225 gained 0.1%, but South Korea’s Kospi dropped 1.4% due to tech sector declines, notably SK Hynix’s 9.9% loss. The S&P 500 rose 0.5%, led by Meta’s strong profit report, while Microsoft faced scrutiny over slower cloud growth. Oil prices increased, and the U.S. dollar strengthened against the yen.

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SUMMARY: The Senate confirmed Doug Burgum as Interior Secretary with a 79-18 vote. Burgum, a billionaire and former governor of North Dakota, has been a strong advocate for fossil fuel production. Under President Trump’s direction, he aims to make it easier for energy companies to access resources on public lands, despite environmental concerns. Burgum’s policies are seen as a shift towards prioritizing fossil fuels over renewable energy. Critics argue this could exacerbate climate change, while supporters view it as necessary for energy independence and economic growth. Burgum succeeds Deb Haaland and plans to continue Trump’s energy development agenda.

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