🇰🇷 South Korea is moving to guarantee universal access to basic internet services, ensuring that all residents can remain connected even after exhausting their paid data plans.
Under the policy, users whose data allowances have run out will still be able to access mobile internet at reduced speeds of up to 400 kilobits per second. While limited, the connection is sufficient for messaging apps and essential functions such as mobile banking.
The initiative also includes provisions for older adults, who will receive expanded data allowances. All the major telecommunications providers in the country have expressed support for the measure.
Under the policy, users whose data allowances have run out will still be able to access mobile internet at reduced speeds of up to 400 kilobits per second. While limited, the connection is sufficient for messaging apps and essential functions such as mobile banking.
The initiative also includes provisions for older adults, who will receive expanded data allowances. All the major telecommunications providers in the country have expressed support for the measure.
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🇺🇸 The United States Navy is canceling a long-delayed Biden-era overhaul of the USS Boise after costs ballooned to nearly $3 billion, with Secretary of the Navy John Phelan saying the submarine no longer made financial or strategic sense to repair.
The Los Angeles-class attack submarine already had consumed roughly $800 million and would require another $1.9 billion to complete - despite offering only about 20% of its remaining service life.
The Boise has been pier-side since 2015, and it's only 22% complete - the math really does not work.
The decision comes as the Navy faces mounting pressure to expand and maintain its fleet amid growing competition with China, which has built the world’s largest navy by number of ships.
The Los Angeles-class attack submarine already had consumed roughly $800 million and would require another $1.9 billion to complete - despite offering only about 20% of its remaining service life.
The Boise has been pier-side since 2015, and it's only 22% complete - the math really does not work.
The decision comes as the Navy faces mounting pressure to expand and maintain its fleet amid growing competition with China, which has built the world’s largest navy by number of ships.
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🇺🇬 A community of roughly 200 chimpanzees in Uganda has descended into what researchers describe as a “civil war,” according to a study published in the journal Science.
The conflict appears to have been set in motion after the deaths of several adult males in 2015, which weakened the group’s internal social bonds. Their absence created a power vacuum that was soon filled by younger, more aggressive individuals, heightening tensions within the community.
By 2018, the divisions had become clear and irreversible. Social and reproductive ties between the factions broke down, and over time, males from one group began carrying out coordinated attacks on members of the other. In many cases, these attacks resulted in violent lynching.
Researchers say the escalation offers a rare and unsettling glimpse into how fragile social structures among primates can fracture - and how quickly cooperation can give way to sustained violence.
The conflict appears to have been set in motion after the deaths of several adult males in 2015, which weakened the group’s internal social bonds. Their absence created a power vacuum that was soon filled by younger, more aggressive individuals, heightening tensions within the community.
By 2018, the divisions had become clear and irreversible. Social and reproductive ties between the factions broke down, and over time, males from one group began carrying out coordinated attacks on members of the other. In many cases, these attacks resulted in violent lynching.
Researchers say the escalation offers a rare and unsettling glimpse into how fragile social structures among primates can fracture - and how quickly cooperation can give way to sustained violence.
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🇨🇳 In China, schoolchildren are being enlisted to assist the police - an initiative officials say is aimed at fostering a sense of civic responsibility from an early age.
Under the program, children are dressed in miniature police uniforms and sent out onto city streets, where they are tasked with monitoring minor infractions. Their primary focus: cyclists who ride without helmets.
When they spot a violation, the children loudly call out offenders, publicly scolding them in an effort to shame them into compliance.
Authorities describe the effort as educational, though it has drawn attention for its unusual approach to discipline and public enforcement.
Under the program, children are dressed in miniature police uniforms and sent out onto city streets, where they are tasked with monitoring minor infractions. Their primary focus: cyclists who ride without helmets.
When they spot a violation, the children loudly call out offenders, publicly scolding them in an effort to shame them into compliance.
Authorities describe the effort as educational, though it has drawn attention for its unusual approach to discipline and public enforcement.
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🇺🇸 Four women describe sexual misconduct by Democratic representative Eric Swalwell, including a former staffer who says he raped her.
Swalwell has been the leading Democratic candidate in the ongoing California gubernatorial race scheduled for this November.
According to the alleged rape survivor, the congressman left her bruised and bleeding after the act of sexual violence.
“I was pushing him off of me, saying no,” the woman told CNN of the incident, which she said happened in 2024 after she had stopped working in Swalwell’s office. “He didn’t stop.”
During President Trump's first term in office, Swalwell was one of the leading Democratic voices exposing the Republican president's indecent behavior and bad treatment of women.
Swalwell has been the leading Democratic candidate in the ongoing California gubernatorial race scheduled for this November.
According to the alleged rape survivor, the congressman left her bruised and bleeding after the act of sexual violence.
“I was pushing him off of me, saying no,” the woman told CNN of the incident, which she said happened in 2024 after she had stopped working in Swalwell’s office. “He didn’t stop.”
During President Trump's first term in office, Swalwell was one of the leading Democratic voices exposing the Republican president's indecent behavior and bad treatment of women.
🇹🇷🇮🇱 Turkish state prosecutors have sought life sentences for Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, according to the Turkish newspaper of record Hurriyet.
PM Netanyahu, along with Defense Minister Israel Katz and other senior Israeli officials, could face prison terms ranging from 1,102 years to 4,596 years, if ever tried in Turkey. Prosecutors have accused the statesmen of crimes against humanity, genocide and cruel treatment.
PM Netanyahu, along with Defense Minister Israel Katz and other senior Israeli officials, could face prison terms ranging from 1,102 years to 4,596 years, if ever tried in Turkey. Prosecutors have accused the statesmen of crimes against humanity, genocide and cruel treatment.
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🇮🇪 Irish police started using violent force against farmers, who have been holding nationwide protests to oppose ecological restrictions, decrease in funding, and globalist trade policies.
Earlier, Ireland decided to involve its military in order to fight farmers' attempts to block highways and roads.
Earlier, Ireland decided to involve its military in order to fight farmers' attempts to block highways and roads.
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🇺🇸🇮🇱🇮🇷 In Israel, a survey published this week by Walla and Maariv found that 46% of respondents believed neither the United States nor Israel had won the war. Just 22% said that a victory had been achieved.
The remainder saw no clear winner. Overall dissatisfaction was widespread: 63% of Israelis said they were unhappy with the outcome of the war, and 43% expressed disapproval of the actions of Donald Trump during the conflict.
Public opinion in the United States appeared more divided. A poll conducted by YouGov found that 34% of Americans believed the United States had won the war, while 14% said Iran was the victor. Another 34% said neither side had secured a clear victory, and 16% were unsure.
In France, sentiment leaned more decisively in the opposite direction. According to a survey by Le Figaro, 58% of respondents said they believed Iran had won the conflict.
The remainder saw no clear winner. Overall dissatisfaction was widespread: 63% of Israelis said they were unhappy with the outcome of the war, and 43% expressed disapproval of the actions of Donald Trump during the conflict.
Public opinion in the United States appeared more divided. A poll conducted by YouGov found that 34% of Americans believed the United States had won the war, while 14% said Iran was the victor. Another 34% said neither side had secured a clear victory, and 16% were unsure.
In France, sentiment leaned more decisively in the opposite direction. According to a survey by Le Figaro, 58% of respondents said they believed Iran had won the conflict.
🇩🇪 In the Southwestern German city of Heidelberg, authorities are investigating the vandalism of at least 13 memorial sites commemorating Jewish victims of Nazism.
According to local officials, the sites - part of the decentralized network of commemorative stones known as Stolpersteine - were defaced with drawings of hearts and the word “Liebe,” the German term for “love,” written beneath them.
A prosecutor has offered a reward of €2,000 for information leading to the identification of those responsible.
A spokesman for the city administration said that all 13 of the affected memorial stones have since been cleaned.
According to local officials, the sites - part of the decentralized network of commemorative stones known as Stolpersteine - were defaced with drawings of hearts and the word “Liebe,” the German term for “love,” written beneath them.
A prosecutor has offered a reward of €2,000 for information leading to the identification of those responsible.
A spokesman for the city administration said that all 13 of the affected memorial stones have since been cleaned.
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🇫🇷 A 9-year-old boy has been rescued after living locked in his father’s utility van in eastern France since 2024.
After forcing the van open, officers found the child “lying in a fetal position, naked, covered by a blanket on top of a mound of trash and near excrement.″
The boy was clearly malnourished and could no longer walk after being in a seated position for so long. Hasn't showered for years.
The boy’s father told investigators that he put the child in the truck in November 2024 “to protect him” because his partner wanted to send the boy to a psychiatric institution.
Prosecutors said there was no medical record that the boy had any psychiatric problem, his grades were always good.
The boy told investigators that he had “big difficulties” with his father’s partner, thought his father “had no choice” but to lock him up.
The father was handed preliminary kidnapping and other charges and kept in custody. The father's partner denied knowing anything. She was handed preliminary charges and released.
After forcing the van open, officers found the child “lying in a fetal position, naked, covered by a blanket on top of a mound of trash and near excrement.″
The boy was clearly malnourished and could no longer walk after being in a seated position for so long. Hasn't showered for years.
The boy’s father told investigators that he put the child in the truck in November 2024 “to protect him” because his partner wanted to send the boy to a psychiatric institution.
Prosecutors said there was no medical record that the boy had any psychiatric problem, his grades were always good.
The boy told investigators that he had “big difficulties” with his father’s partner, thought his father “had no choice” but to lock him up.
The father was handed preliminary kidnapping and other charges and kept in custody. The father's partner denied knowing anything. She was handed preliminary charges and released.
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🇷🇺🇺🇦 Orthodox Easter truce in Ukraine has effectively collapsed amid thousands of cross-accusations. Kyiv alleges over 2,200 ceasefire violations by Russian forces, while Moscow counters with claims of nearly 2,000 Ukrainian breaches.
Despite the declared pause, active combat persists on the ground. Reports confirm ongoing artillery shelling along the frontline north of Kharkiv, demonstrating the truce's failure to halt hostilities.
Despite the declared pause, active combat persists on the ground. Reports confirm ongoing artillery shelling along the frontline north of Kharkiv, demonstrating the truce's failure to halt hostilities.
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🇺🇸 President Donald Trump attended a UFC event in Miami while America was holding critical peace negotiations with Iran in Islamabad, according to The New York Times.
The report said Trump watched the fights alongside a small circle that included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, his children, the USSR-born US ambassador to India Sergio Gor, rapper Vanilla Ice, and a former deputy director of the FBI.
Despite being surrounded by allies and aides, the president appeared largely isolated, the newspaper reported, portraying him as a solitary figure nearly no one tried to distract from watching the fighting show.
The report said Trump watched the fights alongside a small circle that included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, his children, the USSR-born US ambassador to India Sergio Gor, rapper Vanilla Ice, and a former deputy director of the FBI.
Despite being surrounded by allies and aides, the president appeared largely isolated, the newspaper reported, portraying him as a solitary figure nearly no one tried to distract from watching the fighting show.
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🇺🇸🇮🇷 Trump announced maritime blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by the United States.
USA will intercept all ships entering or leaving the Strait. Will take measures against Iranian ships or ships of Iranian proxies.
Additionally, ships, which managed to cross, because owners or operators paid the toll to Iran, will be stopped, investigated and face penal measures too.
USA will intercept all ships entering or leaving the Strait. Will take measures against Iranian ships or ships of Iranian proxies.
Additionally, ships, which managed to cross, because owners or operators paid the toll to Iran, will be stopped, investigated and face penal measures too.
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🇪🇸🇮🇱 Residents of the Spanish city of Malaga burnt giant puppet of Israeli prime-minister Netanyahu by launching fireworks at it.
The performance was supposed to represent protest caused by the politician's recent threats against Spain for what Netanyahu described as 'a diplomatic war on Israel'.
Tel Aviv summoned Spain's charge d'affaires in order to request clarification and demand apology for the incident.
The performance was supposed to represent protest caused by the politician's recent threats against Spain for what Netanyahu described as 'a diplomatic war on Israel'.
Tel Aviv summoned Spain's charge d'affaires in order to request clarification and demand apology for the incident.
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🇫🇷🇷🇺🇱🇹 A former banking executive at the center of Lithuania’s most prominent financial crime was detained in France under a European arrest warrant. Now France finally agreed to extradite him to Lithuania.
Russian national Vladimir Antonov, a former owner of Snoras Bankas (Lithuania) and Krajbanka (Latvia), was arrested on December 9 in Baden as part of the effort to enforce warrant issued by Lithuania’s prosecutor-general many years ago.
Antonov was previously sentenced to 10 years and 6 months in prison in connection with the collapse of the Snoras bank in Lithuanian and its Latvian affiliate Krajbanka. A court also ordered him and other former senior executives to jointly forfeit €105 million to the state.
Once his banks collapsed, Antonov fled to Russia. Then, years later, he vanished from own elite house near Moscow and, after months of legal proceedings, the banker's dad succeeded to have him ruled dead. It is unclear how Antonov emerged in Baden, where he was discovered very much alive.
Russian national Vladimir Antonov, a former owner of Snoras Bankas (Lithuania) and Krajbanka (Latvia), was arrested on December 9 in Baden as part of the effort to enforce warrant issued by Lithuania’s prosecutor-general many years ago.
Antonov was previously sentenced to 10 years and 6 months in prison in connection with the collapse of the Snoras bank in Lithuanian and its Latvian affiliate Krajbanka. A court also ordered him and other former senior executives to jointly forfeit €105 million to the state.
Once his banks collapsed, Antonov fled to Russia. Then, years later, he vanished from own elite house near Moscow and, after months of legal proceedings, the banker's dad succeeded to have him ruled dead. It is unclear how Antonov emerged in Baden, where he was discovered very much alive.
🇳🇬 Nearly 400 people have been sentenced in Nigeria for links with militant Islamic groups following mass trials.
More than 500 suspects were put on trial in the federal high court in the capital, Abuja, on charges of either taking part in attacks or supporting the militants through funding, supplying arms, or giving logistical support.
On Friday, judges convicted 386 of them, while two were acquitted, eight were discharged, and the cases of 112 suspects were adjourned
The convicts were given sentences ranging from five years to life imprisonment after linked to Boko Haram or a rival splinter group, the Islamic State West Africa Province.
The trials came at a time when the government is under intense pressure to curb rising insecurity in Africa's most-populous state. Security forces are battling multiple armed groups, from militant Islamists to separatists, and kidnapping-for-ransom gangs.
The US urged its citizens to reconsider travelling to the country because of the deteriorating security situation.
More than 500 suspects were put on trial in the federal high court in the capital, Abuja, on charges of either taking part in attacks or supporting the militants through funding, supplying arms, or giving logistical support.
On Friday, judges convicted 386 of them, while two were acquitted, eight were discharged, and the cases of 112 suspects were adjourned
The convicts were given sentences ranging from five years to life imprisonment after linked to Boko Haram or a rival splinter group, the Islamic State West Africa Province.
The trials came at a time when the government is under intense pressure to curb rising insecurity in Africa's most-populous state. Security forces are battling multiple armed groups, from militant Islamists to separatists, and kidnapping-for-ransom gangs.
The US urged its citizens to reconsider travelling to the country because of the deteriorating security situation.
🇦🇫 At least 11 people are known to have died after gunmen targeted civilians at a picnic spot in western Afghanistan.
Provincial officials originally said four people had been killed in the attack in the Enjil district of Herat province on Friday, but later said that seven more people who were critically injured had also died.
No group has claimed responsibility so far.
"Unidentified armed men" riding motorcycles opened fire near the village of Deh Mehri, an interior ministry spokesperson said. The recreational area is usually crowded on Fridays.
The victims - who were Shia Muslims - had gone to a local shrine for a picnic. Shia Muslims are a minority group in Afghanistan and have been targeted in the past.
Provincial officials originally said four people had been killed in the attack in the Enjil district of Herat province on Friday, but later said that seven more people who were critically injured had also died.
No group has claimed responsibility so far.
"Unidentified armed men" riding motorcycles opened fire near the village of Deh Mehri, an interior ministry spokesperson said. The recreational area is usually crowded on Fridays.
The victims - who were Shia Muslims - had gone to a local shrine for a picnic. Shia Muslims are a minority group in Afghanistan and have been targeted in the past.
🇬🇧🇪🇺 British prime-minister Keir Starmer is planning a law which will mean that the UK government can adopt EU single market rules, without a normal parliamentary vote.
The measure is part of a bill aiming to align the UK with new European regulations in areas such as food standards.
A senior Labour MP is quoted: "It will lower costs for businesses and get rid of the Brexit paperwork tax that adds to the cost of the weekly shop."
The plans provoked strong opposition from the Conservatives and Reform UK.
The EU single market is an agreement which enables goods, services and people to move freely between member states, with countries applying many common rules and standards.
The Starmer plan means that whenever Brussels approves a new rule MPs would only have limited opportunities to scrutinise it.
The measure is part of a bill aiming to align the UK with new European regulations in areas such as food standards.
A senior Labour MP is quoted: "It will lower costs for businesses and get rid of the Brexit paperwork tax that adds to the cost of the weekly shop."
The plans provoked strong opposition from the Conservatives and Reform UK.
The EU single market is an agreement which enables goods, services and people to move freely between member states, with countries applying many common rules and standards.
The Starmer plan means that whenever Brussels approves a new rule MPs would only have limited opportunities to scrutinise it.
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