Summary

South Korea has officially entered the “super-aged” category, with 20% of its population (10.24 million people) now aged 65 or older, according to the interior ministry.

This marks a significant demographic shift, as the nation struggles with low birth rates and a rapidly aging population.

Regions like Jeolla Province report the highest elderly percentage (27.18%), while Sejong has the lowest (11.57%).

In response, the government plans to create a population strategy ministry to address the crisis with systematic measures and long-term solutions.

Summary

Hong Kong police issued HK$1m ($128,000 USD) bounties for six overseas pro-democracy activists accused of national security crimes, including inciting secession and collusion with foreign forces.

Authorities also plan to cancel the passports of seven others, such as ex-lawmakers Ted Hui and Dennis Kwok.

This follows Beijing’s 2020 national security law, which quashed political dissent after the 2019 protests.

Western governments criticized the bounties, which are largely symbolic as extradition is unlikely.

Human Rights Watch called the move an act of intimidation, urging countries like the UK and Canada to respond.

Fifty-five journalists were killed in Palestine this year, and nearly all have been forced from their homes, data shows

Political arrests of Palestinian women in Israel — who face strip-searches, blindfolding, and doxxing — send the community a clear message.

Summary

Brazilian authorities shut down construction of BYD’s first electric vehicle plant outside Asia after discovering 163 Chinese workers living in “slavery-like” conditions.

Hired by contractor Jinjiang Construction Brazil, workers faced excessive hours, withheld passports, and degrading living conditions, including unsanitary accommodations and lack of basic necessities.

The factory, set to open in March 2025, is now under review.

BYD terminated its contract with Jinjiang, relocated workers to hotels, and pledged to investigate all contractor practices.

Summary

Ukraine is struggling to reverse a severe population decline worsened by Russia’s invasion, with 6-10 million citizens still abroad.

To address this, the government created the Ministry of National Unity, prioritizing repatriation as part of a resilience plan.

However, security concerns, economic instability, and lack of services deter returns.

Ukraine faces an urgent labor shortage for post-war recovery, needing millions of workers by 2032, as prolonged displacement reduces the likelihood of return.

Summary

The Russian cargo ship Ursa Major sank in the Mediterranean between Spain and Algeria after an engine room explosion.

Fourteen crew members were rescued, but two remain missing.

The ship, sanctioned by the U.S. in 2022 for transporting cargo to Russia's military, was reportedly en route to Vladivostok carrying two cranes and other equipment. Its exact destination remains unconfirmed.

The incident occurred near the Sparta, another sanctioned Russian ship linked to transporting military equipment from Syria. The cause of the explosion on Ursa Major is still unknown.

Summary

A Saudi national, Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, drove into a German Christmas market, killing five and injuring 200, sparking far-right narratives about Islamist terrorism and immigration.

However, al-Abdulmohsen was Islamophobic and aligned with Germany’s far-right AfD party. His past posts criticized both Islam and immigration.

While officials have not confirmed a motive, far-right figures initially framed the attack as Islamist terrorism, then pivoted to anti-immigration rhetoric when his beliefs surfaced.

Critics accuse the AfD and others of exploiting the tragedy, while concerns grow over social media’s role in amplifying extremist ideologies.

Summary

Global hunger is worsening as wealthy nations cut humanitarian aid. The U.N. expects to help only 60% of the 307 million people in need next year, leaving 117 million without aid.

Funding shortfalls have forced agencies like the World Food Program to slash rations and aid recipients, as seen in Syria.

The U.S., Germany, and the EU provide 58% of global aid, while major economies like China and India contribute less than 1%.

Critics argue donor fatigue, political shifts, and aid restrictions hinder effective relief efforts. Solutions like mandatory U.N. funding remain unimplemented.

Summary

Hundreds protested in Christian areas of Damascus after hooded fighters from the Islamist group Ansar al-Tawhid burned a Christmas tree in Suqaylabiyah near Hama.

The attack follows interim Syrian leader Ahmad al-Sharaa’s assurances to protect minorities after Bashar Assad’s recent ouster.

A religious leader from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham condemned the act, stating the perpetrators were foreigners and would be punished, promising the tree’s restoration.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/23478977

We are forced to choose: Is our priority in Russia fledgling democracy or market economics?

Summary

The Philippines announced plans to acquire the U.S. Typhon missile system to bolster maritime defense against China.

The U.S.-developed mid-range system, capable of striking up to 300 miles, aligns with Manila’s push to counter Chinese claims in the South China Sea.

Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, a key global shipping route, despite an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.

China condemned the move as provocative and warned of an arms race, urging restraint.

The Philippines, deepening U.S. ties under President Marcos, aims to enhance sovereignty protection amid rising confrontations with China. Full acquisition may take years, pending budget approval.

Summary

Lockheed Martin UK’s chief, Paul Livingston, defended the F-35 stealth jet program after Elon Musk called it obsolete due to advances in unmanned drones.

Livingston emphasized the F-35’s unmatched capabilities, including stealth, battlefield data-sharing, and cost-efficiency by replacing multiple aircraft types.

While Musk labeled the program overly expensive and poorly designed, Livingston argued drones alone can’t match the F-35’s capabilities or defend against threats like China’s J20 jets.

Despite criticism over cost and reliability, the F-35 remains integral to NATO defenses, with widespread adoption across 19 nations, including the UK.

Greenland’s elected leader said the gigantic Arctic island is not for sale after Donald Trump once again raised the issue of “ownership and control” of the vast territory that has been part of Denmark for more than 600 years.

“Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom,” Greenland’s prime minister, Múte Egede, said in a written comment.

The US president-elect on Sunday announced that he had picked Ken Howery, a former envoy to Sweden, as his ambassador to Copenhagen, and commented on the status of Greenland, a semi-autonomous part of Denmark.

“For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Summary

France’s Flamanville 3 nuclear reactor, its most powerful at 1,600 MW, was connected to the grid on December 21 after 17 years of construction plagued by delays and budget overruns.

The European Pressurized Reactor (EPR), designed to boost nuclear energy post-Chernobyl, is 12 years behind schedule and cost €13.2 billion, quadruple initial estimates.

President Macron hailed the launch as a key step for low-carbon energy and energy security.

Nuclear power, which supplies 60% of France’s electricity, is central to Macron’s plan for a “nuclear renaissance.”

A Guardian investigation has found workers in France’s champagne industry are being underpaid and forced to sleep on the streets and steal food to stave off hunger.

Workers from west Africa and eastern Europe in the town of Épernay, home to the headquarters of some of the world’s most expensive champagne brands, including Moët & Chandon and Mercier, claim that they are either not being paid for their work or illegally underpaid by vineyards near the town.

The Guardian found workers in the town sleeping on the streets or in tents as the vineyards did not provide accommodation. Other workers staying in a nearby village said they had been forced to steal food from local people as they did not have anywhere to buy provisions.

Yet the champagne industry has been hit by a string of controversies related to its treatment of grape-pickers, with four workers dying from suspected sunstroke during last year’s harvest. In a case scheduled to go to court early next year, four people, including a vineyard owner, have been charged with human trafficking.

Summary

Honda, Nissan, and Mitsubishi have confirmed merger talks to form the world’s third-largest carmaker by annual sales, aiming to tackle challenges from Chinese competition and the shift to electric vehicles.

The proposed merger, through a joint holding company, seeks to combine resources as Japan’s automakers struggle with declining sales and costly EV transitions, lagging behind leaders like Toyota and Chinese rivals BYD.

Nissan’s former CEO Carlos Ghosn criticized the plan, citing overlapping operations, while executives called it a pivotal move amid unprecedented industry changes. Mitsubishi will decide on joining by January’s end.

Summary

The Magdeburg Christmas market attack, where a Saudi refugee drove a car through crowds, killing five and injuring over 200, has fueled political debate in Germany.

The Saudi suspect, critical of Islam and supportive of the far-right AfD, complicates narratives, as he does not fit typical attacker profiles.

The AfD has blamed “uncontrolled migration” for the attack, using it to push anti-immigration rhetoric ahead of elections, while anti-racism groups accuse the party of exploiting the tragedy.

Security lapses are under scrutiny, and tensions remain high amid mourning and polarized reactions.

Summary

South Korea estimates over 1,000 North Korean troops have been killed or injured since joining Russia’s war in Ukraine, while Ukraine claims casualties exceed 3,000.

Intelligence reports suggest up to 12,000 North Korean soldiers have been deployed, with Pyongyang supplying drones and heavy artillery to Russia.

South Korea warns this may bolster North Korea’s military capabilities, increasing regional threats.

Moscow and Pyongyang formalized a defense pact in June, while Russia reports battlefield gains in eastern Ukraine amidst intense drone bombardments from Kyiv.

Summary

Israel and other US allies are reportedly concerned Elon Musk may pose a security risk, fearing he could share sensitive information.

These concerns arose amid at least three federal security reviews into Musk and SpaceX for failing to comply with protocols protecting national security.

The US Air Force recently denied Musk high-security clearance, and Israel's Defense Ministry labeled him a "wild card" during discussions about his Starlink network.

Musk’s contacts with foreign leaders, including calls with Vladimir Putin, and past controversies have heightened scrutiny over his actions and potential risks.