Category: World

On Wednesday, there was a terrible explosion at the Afghan Ministry of Refugees in Kabul. Sadly, this explosion took the life of Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani, the Afghan minister for refugees, along with several of his coworkers. A government source, who asked to stay anonymous, confirmed the news, saying, “Unfortunately, the explosion happened at the Ministry of Refugees, and Minister Haqqani has been martyred along with some of his colleagues.” This shocking event has left many people in Afghanistan in mourning

A big explosion shook a tall building in a fancy part of Shenzhen, China, on Wednesday. The blast was so strong that it rattled nearby skyscrapers, according to state media reports.

The Shenzhen fire department quickly sent 16 fire trucks and 80 rescue workers to help after they got a call about the emergency. A video shared by Phoenix TV showed flames burning the outside of the building, with thick smoke rising into the sky.

A man named Zhang, who works in a nearby office, said, “Suddenly, there was a loud bang, and the table shook.”

State media, The Beijing News, said early findings showed that a gas explosion on the 28th floor caused the fire, but investigators are still trying to find out exactly what happened. At least one person fell from the building after the blast and was taken away by ambulance. The explosion happened in a luxury condo area where major companies like Tencent have their headquarters. State broadcaster CCTV is working to verify more details about the situation

In northeast Syria, a Kurdish-led group called the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced that they have agreed to a ceasefire with Turkish-backed fighters in the city of Manbij. This agreement comes after a significant rise in violence following the recent fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government. The U.S. helped mediate this ceasefire, as confirmed by SDF leader Mazloum Abdi.

Abdi stated that the SDF’s military team in Manbij will pull out soon. He emphasized the group’s aim is to establish peace throughout Syria and begin a political process for the country’s future. Since the fighting started, over 200 combatants have lost their lives in Manbij, which is mostly populated by Arab people.

Last week, Abdi mentioned that the United Nations has been in touch with them to help find a peaceful solution for Syria. The SDF previously played a key role in defeating the Islamic State militants in 2019.

Recently, U.S. military General Michael Kurilla visited the American bases in Syria, highlighting the importance of U.S. support for the SDF.

In related news, pro-Turkey fighters recently took control of Tal Rifaat, a key area previously held by Kurdish forces. Turkey considers the Kurdish fighters, especially the YPG (who are part of the SDF), to be linked to a group they have banned, called the PKK.

As the situation unfolds, it has been reported that a group known as Hayat Tahrir Al Sham has taken control in Damascus, forcing Assad to seek safety in Russia while rebels take over the government.

Starting April 2025, the Tokyo government will let its workers take an exciting new approach to their jobs: three days off every week! This change aims to help families, especially parents, balance their work and home lives better. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike explained in her speech that this plan will help people keep their jobs while managing life events, like having children. She said, “Now is the time for Tokyo to lead the way in improving life for our citizens.”

Why Japan Needs Change

Right now, Japan is facing a big problem: not enough babies are being born. The birth rate has fallen to only 1.2 children per woman, which is much lower than what is needed to keep the population stable. In just one year, there were only about 727,000 births in Japan, with Tokyo’s rate being even worse at 0.99. If this continues, the population could drop from 128 million today to just 87 million by 2060.

To encourage more people to have babies, the government has tried different methods, like urging men to take time off for their newborns. However, experts believe that Japan’s tough work culture—where people often work long hours—makes having kids harder for many families. Currently, only 55% of women work compared to 72% of men, which shows a big gap in job participation.

The Challenge of Work-Life Balance

Japan is known for its grueling work culture, where long hours can lead to “karoshi,” or death from overwork. This makes it difficult for many women to choose between their jobs and raising kids. The International Monetary Fund has found that women in Japan spend five times more time on housework than men. Many women reported they wanted more children but felt too stressed from their responsibilities at home.

A shorter workweek could really help by giving families more quality time together and easing the stress on parents. As Governor Koike mentioned, no one should have to give up their career for family responsibilities, which could help increase the birth rate.

Positive Signs from Around the World

The idea of a four-day workweek is gaining traction globally. Companies in other countries are trying shorter work hours to improve employee happiness and attract talent. A study from 2022 found that over 90% of workers in six countries reported feeling healthier and less stressed when they worked fewer days. Men in these studies also took on more housework and parenting.

According to workplace expert Peter Miscovich, these shorter workweeks can lead to less stress and burnout, better focus during work, and even more commitment to the job!

Cultural Changes Are Needed

While the four-day workweek has proven to be successful in some places, it might be slow to catch on in Japan. In Japanese businesses, working long hours is often seen as a sign of loyalty. Changing this mindset won’t be easy.

Tokyo’s new plan is a crucial step as Japan faces ongoing population decline. In addition to supporting families, Japan is also looking to make workplaces more family-friendly. For example, Singapore recently made companies consider flexible work options like shorter workweeks.

As Tokyo moves ahead with these ideas, the success of this initiative might inspire other cities in Japan and beyond to adopt similar family-supportive measures.

On Wednesday, South Korean police searched the presidential office, as President Yoon Suk Yeol is being investigated for declaring martial law. This decision has raised concerns about his actions, even though he hasn’t been arrested or questioned yet.

The police have also searched other places, including the National Police Agency and the National Assembly Security Service. The top police leaders, including National Police Agency Commissioner General Cho Ji Ho and Seoul’s police chief Kim Bong-sik, are under investigation for helping enforce the martial law last week.

The situation is serious as the main opposition party plans to introduce a new impeachment motion against President Yoon on Saturday. This comes after a previous impeachment attempt failed because ruling party members did not participate in the vote.

The tensions over Yoon’s martial law declaration have caused political chaos, affected international relations, and disturbed financial markets, making many question whether he can finish his term as president.

After the earlier impeachment attempt, a leader from Yoon’s party suggested they might look to hold early elections, hinting that Yoon could be sidelined. This has drawn criticism as many believe it goes against the Constitution, which states that impeachment is the only way to temporarily remove presidential powers. The Defense Ministry confirmed that Yoon is still in charge of the country’s military.

The two detained police leaders are currently being held at a city police station as investigators look into their actions during the martial law situation that started on the evening of December 3.

The trial of a powerful Sudanese militia leader, Ali Kushayb, is ending this week at the International Criminal Court (ICC). He faces serious charges for crimes committed in Darfur during Sudan’s civil war, including rape, murder, and torture. Prosecutors say he was a key figure in the Janjaweed militia, responsible for attacking villages and harming many innocent people.

During the war from 2003 to 2004, it’s reported that civilians were hurt, homes were destroyed, and thousands were forced to flee. The ICC prosecutor explained that Kushayb led group attacks where people were captured and killed without mercy. He has denied all wrongdoing and claims he is not guilty.

This case is important because it is the first one brought up after the UN Security Council sent it to the ICC. Sudan is still facing violence today between two fighting groups, which has resulted in many more deaths and displacements. Just recently, an airstrike in North Darfur killed over 100 people during a market attack.

The ICC is also looking into the current situation in Sudan, and the prosecutor hopes to hold more people accountable for their actions soon.

Two of South Korea’s top police officers have been arrested as part of an investigation into President Yoon Suk Yeol’s recent martial law declaration. This news comes just before the main opposition party, the Democratic Party, plans to vote on a new impeachment motion against Yoon.

Last week, Yoon’s former defense minister, Kim Yong Hyun, was also arrested. He is accused of leading the effort to enforce martial law and misusing power. Kim is the first person arrested related to the martial law situation from December 3.

The police chiefs, Cho Ji Ho and Kim Bong-sik, are being held at a police station in Seoul. They are under investigation for sending police to block members of parliament from entering to vote against the martial law decree. Armed troops were also sent to the parliament but were unable to stop lawmakers from rejecting the martial law quickly.

During a hearing, Army Special Warfare Command chief Kwak Jong-keun said that he received direct orders from Kim Yong Hyun to stop lawmakers from entering Parliament. Yoon reportedly also called Kwak and asked to remove lawmakers forcefully. Although they discussed the orders, taking physical action against lawmakers was ruled out.

An officer from the military’s intelligence unit shared that his superior asked if there was a place to detain political figures after martial law was declared. Meanwhile, the opposition argues that the martial law was illegal, as it can only be declared in times of war or severe emergencies. In Yoon’s announcement, he called for a need to fight against his political rivals.

Many believe this unfolding situation could lead to Yoon being impeached. If that happens, his powers would be paused until a court decides his fate. If removed, a new election would be held.

North Korea’s state news agency took notice of the protests happening in South Korea, using harsh words against Yoon, labeling him a “traitor.” This indicates that North Korea is aware of the unrest, which could inspire its own people who lack access to outside news.

In 2021, Attorney General Merrick Garland made new rules to protect journalists. These rules say that the government shouldn’t go after journalists’ notes or communications with their sources unless there’s a serious situation, like preventing violence. But these rules can change with different leaders.

Now, President-elect Donald Trump is coming into power, and he has a history of being unfriendly to journalists. He wants Congress to stop these protections, saying they shouldn’t pass a bill called the Press Act, which would make these protections into law. This act has already passed the House of Representatives without any arguments and would stop the government from using tools like subpoenas to invade reporters’ privacy.

Some Republican senators support this bill, but Trump’s disapproval makes them think twice. In the past, both Democratic and Republican leaders have attacked reporters to find out their sources, which is dangerous for Free Speech. If reporters can’t keep their sources secret, people might be afraid to share information that helps the public.

Some critics believe this bill could cause more leaks that would hurt national security. But the reality is that recent government rules didn’t lead to more leaks. It is important now to stand up for journalists because they are vital for uncovering government misconduct. Leaders in the Senate, like Chuck Schumer, need to push to make the Press Act a reality before Congress ends this year.

The U.S. government is thinking about putting stronger rules on Russia’s oil trade. They want to make it harder for Russia to fund its military, especially with Donald Trump coming back to the White House soon. According to Bloomberg News, the plans aren’t final yet, but President Joe Biden’s team is looking at options that could target some Russian oil exports. These new rules aim to limit the money Russia makes from selling oil and to help stop the conflict

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the President of Brazil, is in intensive care after emergency surgery to relieve pressure on his brain due to a fall. Lula, at 79 years old, is a symbol of someone who overcame many obstacles to lead one of the biggest economies in the world. He has faced tough times, including poverty, health issues, and even jail time for a corruption case that was later thrown out because the judge was unfair. Despite his struggles, Lula has always fought for people’s rights, worked to end hunger, and protected the Amazon rainforest.

Recently, Lula had surgery after a fall that caused bleeding in his brain. He is currently serving his third term as president after defeating Jair Bolsonaro in a tough election in 2022 that split the country. Lula’s journey is incredible: he grew up poor as the son of farmers, became a shoeshine boy and a metalworker, and eventually led major workers’ strikes against Brazil’s military government in the 1970s.

He started the Workers’ Party and ran for president three times before finally winning in 2002. Lula was once called “the most popular politician on Earth” by Barack Obama. Though he hopes to live to 120 years old, he has had many health problems, including high blood pressure and cancer treatment. Lula’s latest challenge came after he fell in a bathroom, suffering a concussion and other injuries that required surgery.

In his personal life, Lula has lost two wives and married again in 2022. He has five children from his relationships. Lula’s story is one of resilience, fighting against the odds, and standing up for the less fortunate.