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A record 527 children attending elementary, junior high and senior high schools in Japan died by suicide last year, up 14 from 2023 and topping the previous high of 514 in 2022, preliminary government data showed Wednesday. Senior high school students accounted for 349 of the total, up 2 from…
cross-posted from: https://lemm.ee/post/54036653
Angela Merkel rebukes successor for alliance with far-right AfD on anti-immigration motion
Ex-chancellor makes rare intervention to criticise her own party for passing asylum policy with support of AfD
Former German chancellor Angela Merkel has criticised Friedrich Merz, her successor as leader of the country’s conservatives, for pushing through proposals on migration and asylum with the backing of the far-right AfD.
In a rare intervention in public affairs since stepping down from politics in December 2021, Merkel said that Merz, who is tipped to become Germany’s next chancellor, had in effect performed a U-turn.
On her website, she wrote that Merz, head of the centre-right CDU/CSU alliance, had said in a speech last November that he was against passing policies with the support of the generally shunned AfD, even it was by “accident”.
She said she stood by the longstanding conviction that there should never be any association between the mainstream parties and the AfD.
Appointment of former leader of group that led operation to topple Assad comes amid other political changes
This is going to be interesting to watch unfold.
Rush to stockpile gold in New York leads to London shortage
A surge in gold shipments to the US has led to a shortage of bullion in London, as traders amass an $82bn stockpile in New York over fears of Trump administration tariffs.
The wait to withdraw bullion stored in the Bank of England’s vaults has risen from a few days to between four and eight weeks, according to people familiar with the process, as the central bank struggles to keep up with demand.
US Congress proposal to declare Antifa a terrorist organization
cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/17712393
It appears the US congress has just proposed (edited) a bill that declares "Antifa" a terrorist organization.
This doesn't even make sense as Antifa isn't an organization, but just a shared name for anyone that self-identifies as a person opposed to and willing to fight fascism 🤦♂️
Stay safe out there!
Note: SLRPNK is an EU based service and we are openly Antifa here, and proudly so!
Early Ontario election official after Ford meets with lieutenant-governor
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has officially triggered an early provincial election for Feb. 27 after meeting with Ontario's lieutenant-governor, his office confirmed.
Ford visited Lt.-Gov. Edith Dumont on Tuesday afternoon to ask her to dissolve the 43rd parliament of the Province of Ontario. She accepted his request.
Ford has said he needs a new mandate from the electorate in order to deal with U.S. President Donald Trump, something he repeated at a news conference Tuesday morning ahead of his visit to the lieutenant-governor.
In a split second, Russia wipes out three generations of a Ukrainian family: A Grandmother mourns her daughter, grandson and mother - killed in a single Russian strike
A Ukrainian grandmother mourns her daughter, grandson and mother - killed in a single Russian strike.
Make Life Skate Life — Opening to the public on February 1, it will be located at the Ministry of Youth and Sports in the city centre and free-of-charge…
The first ever skatepark in Baghdad is set to open next week, on February 1.
Located at the grounds of the Ministry of Youth and Sports in the Iraqi capital’s centre, entry will be free-of-charge for the public.
The skatepark has been five years in the making, and is being constructed by the Make Life Skate Life project, in collaboration with Baghdad Skatepark Project, Un Ponte Per, Iraq’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, Suli Skatepark and others.
Russia faces surge in corporate bankruptcies, experts close to the Kremlin say
Russia’s economy is facing a potential surge in corporate bankruptcies, the Vedomosti business daily reported Monday, citing experts from a government-aligned think tank.
Russia’s economy is facing a potential surge in corporate bankruptcies, the Vedomosti business daily reported, citing experts from the Center for Macroeconomic Analysis and Short-Term Forecasting (CMASF). The CMASF is a government-aligned think tank that is headed by the brother of Defense Minister Andrei Belousov.
[...]
According to CMASF, more than 20% of manufacturing companies were paying interest costs exceeding two-thirds of their pre-tax profits (EBIT) at the end of 2024, compared to just 10% a year earlier.
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The Central Bank’s decision to raise its benchmark interest rate to 21% — its highest level since the invasion of Ukraine — in October 2024 has driven up business debt burdens.
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The most affected sectors include investment-intensive industries, with transport engineering companies experiencing t
Sweden seizes vessel after damage to Latvian underwater fiber-optic cable in Baltic Sea over suspicions of sabotage
The Swedish Public Prosecutor's Office has seized a vessel as part of an investigation into damage to an underwater fiber-optic communication cable connecting Sweden and Latvia, according to a statement on its website released earlier today. A preliminary investigation has been launched, with suspic...
The Swedish Public Prosecutor's Office has seized a vessel as part of an investigation into damage to an underwater fiber-optic communication cable connecting Sweden and Latvia, according to a statement on its website released earlier today. A preliminary investigation has been launched, with suspicions pointing to sabotage. The damage to the cable in the Baltic Sea was discovered on Jan. 26.
The prosecutor's office stated that “a number of concrete investigative measures” are being conducted but did not disclose further details. The name of the vessel in question has not been made public. The investigation involves Swedish police, the coast guard, and the country’s armed forces.
The damaged cable, owned by the Latvian State Radio and Television Center (LVRTC), is located within Sweden's exclusive economic zone. LVRTC described the damage as significant, with grounds to suspect external interfere
China's AI success has come from policy and Chancellor Rachel Reeves's recent visit to China highlights the importance of a close relationship.
cross-posted from: https://rss.ponder.cat/post/97420
Faisal Islam: UK will not be able to resist China's tech dominance
"The end of the war in Ukraine will herald far more challenges for the Kremlin than the war itself:" As war deepens Russia’s wealth divide, the super-rich only grow richer
Russia’s wealth gap has always been wide, but as the war against Ukraine drags on, the divide is only growing more extreme. Reports about the economy often seem contradictory: despite heavy international sanctions, the Kremlin is pouring billions into defense spending and offering ever-larger sign-o...
Russia’s wealth gap has always been wide, but as the war against Ukraine drags on, the divide is only growing more extreme. Reports about the economy often seem contradictory: despite heavy international sanctions, the Kremlin is pouring billions into defense spending and offering ever-larger sign-on bonuses for army recruits. Meanwhile, with thousands sent to war and a crackdown on migrant workers, the country is grappling with a labor shortage. At the same time, soaring inflation has eroded wages. Yet Russia’s super-rich are only getting richer — with those on Western blacklists often even outperforming their peers. To unpack these conflicting dynamics within the Russian economy,
An interview with Jem Morrow, a researcher studying Russian society.
Question: ***Russia is facing a nationwide labor s
Imprisoned Australian-Chinese writer forced to choose between food and clothes in Beijing jail
cross-posted from: https://beehaw.org/post/18210543
Beijing prison officials slashed jailed Chinese-Australian writer Yang Hengjun’s access to food and hygiene products late last year in a move that triggered official complaints from Australia’s top diplomat in China.
Yang was detained by Chinese authorities six years ago this week and was handed a suspended death sentence last February after being found guilty of mysterious espionage offences.
Yang’s supporters, who say he has been subjected to torture-like conditions since his arrest, are calling on the federal government to forcefully speak out about his treatment even if it offends the Chinese government.
Sources familiar with Yang’s prison conditions said his monthly spending allowance was cut from 200 Chinese yuan ($44) to 1
Lab-grown rocks and fewer weddings have put a huge damper on the market. On the bright side, a big dazzler is now affordable for many
Expulsion of Chinese State-Media Outlet Reveals Scale of Taiwan’s Information Challenge
Executive Summary: Taiwan is acting against media organizations operating in the country that are affiliated with the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) party-state. In early January, Taiwan’s government revoked the operating license of the magazine Strait Herald following revelations about its infl...
cross-posted from: https://beehaw.org/post/18210661
- Taiwan is acting against media organizations operating in the country that are affiliated with the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) party-state.
- In early January, Taiwan’s government revoked the operating license of the magazine Strait Herald following revelations about its influence and infiltration activities.
- A sharp increase in disinformation targeting Taiwan in 2024 has prompted robust countermeasures, legislative reforms, enhanced cognitive warfare defenses, and international collaboration to combat PRC influence operations.
- Calls to improve Taiwan’s national security framework, including by setting up courts dedicated to prosecuting espionage and infiltration cases, indicate how vulnerable Taiwan remains to digital and media influence operations.
[...]
There are currently eight PRC media outlets operating in Taiwan with 12 correspondents, according to recent reporting. These include People’s Daily
More countries call for stronger cooperation with the Philippines as China’s aggression continues
Amid China’s continued aggression in the West Philippine Sea, more countries are pushing for stronger maritime security partnerships with the Philippines in 2025. Ambassadors from France, Japan, the European Union, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Australia reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding regiona...
cross-posted from: https://beehaw.org/post/18198786
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Ambassadors from France, Japan, the European Union, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Australia reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding regional stability and maritime sovereignty during a maritime security forum organized by the Stratbase Institute in partnership with the French Embassy in the Philippines,
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Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya reiterated Japan’s commitment to upholding the rule of law as outlined in the UNCLOS.
“Japan stands ready to work closely with the Philippines, ASEAN, and the international community to advance a Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” he declared.
European Union Delegation Ambassador Massimo Santoro underscored the importance of a rule-based order in the Indo-Pacific.
“A region free from
China: A rare display of public anger is unfolding over the bad quality of domestically produced drugs
Some top doctors and hospital leaders have called on the government to change how it buys drugs for public hospitals. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Cross-post da: https://beehaw.org/post/18183849
A prominent Shanghai surgeon pointed to anaesthetics that do not put patients to sleep. A respected Beijing cardiologist questioned blood pressure medication that failed to regulate. A former editor at a leading online health platform went as far as to accuse domestic drugmakers of fraud.
The concerns became public discussions this past week when some top doctors and hospital leaders called on the government to change how it buys drugs for its public hospitals.
[...]
The outburst of scrutiny, unusual in a country where the authorities keep a tight grip on public criticism of the government, was a rebuke of Beijing’s campaign to lower medical costs. **Officials are working to shore up China’s national healthcare system, which is under financial pressure in part because of
S Korea's Yoon indicted for insurrection over martial law attempt
The unprecedented indictment means Yoon Suk Yeol faces decades in prison if convicted.
cross-posted from: https://rss.ponder.cat/post/96099
