Holt Children's Services has been ordered by the Seoul Central District Court to pay Adam Crapser $75,000 in compensation. The US citizen, formerly Shin Song-hyuk, had been deported to South Korea after it emerged none of his adoptive parents had obtained US citizenship for him. Crapser was subsequently found to have broken the law, was jailed and then deported. In his suit against Holt and the South Korean government, Crapser said they were liable for his botched adoption. The case is the first reprimand of a South Korean adoption agency. Holt has yet to respond.
South Korea is the costliest country in the world in which to raise a child - from birth to the age of 18 - according to YuWa Population Research Institute’s annual study. South Korea’s high costs can be attributed to extra lessons offered at cram schools: extra tuition lessons that cost KRW26tn ($17.9bn) in 2022 - the equivalent of KRW524,000 ($360) per child per month. The country also has a very low fertility rate at 0.78 among 100 women, part of a wider population challenge, with experts warning that Korea needs to maintain a fertility rate of 2.1 in order to maintain a stable population without resorting to immigration.
China has seen an increase in the number of "patient companions," people who go to medical appointments with patients. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and China's strict zero COVID rules which prohibit travel from province to province, friends could no longer chaperone ill family members to hospital visits. As a result, patient companions became increasingly popular, taking the place of adult children who live too far away or cannot take time off work. Hundreds of videos of companions advertising their services can be found on Little Red Book, a lifestyle platform, or Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok. These videos detail the difficulties of finding a hospital appointment and, once an appointment has been made, the long waiting times. However, there is some reticence related to this emerging industry; doctors are not always comfortable with the idea of paid companions and, in some cases, the children of the patients who hire companions do not want their parents to know that someone is being paid to accompany them to the hospital.
From Renaissance ideals to Ebenezer Howard's Garden City, architects and urban planners have created some of the most famous cities with specific ideals in mind. The author mentions an 8th century Kyoto, which had a grid system modeled from China's Chang'an (modern-day Xi'an), long before Manhattan existed; a scaled-down version was made of Nara, the capital before it; the city had temples, shrines, and delicate gardens to the city's backdrop of mountains. 15-minute cities were polarizing in the UK due to their association with low-traffic neighborhoods; Blooming with parks, temples and huge statues, Ramesses II's Pi-Ramesses, was built on the banks of a now-dry branch of the Nile, but was little more than a lost city buried under Egyptian fields for 3,000 years. In the wake of Europe's Black Death, Renaissance idealists harked back to Roman and Greek settlements, developing the concept of the Ideal City. Architects such as Maverick Filarete named his pioneering, star-shaped prototype the Sforzinda. Lastly, urban planner Ebenezer Howard sought a way for normal working-class families to escape the city, leading to garden cities such as Letchworth and Welwyn Garden City that influenced the capital cities of New Delhi and Canberra.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's visit to South Korea represents a new point for the two nations, especially on trade and energy. Last month, both countries agreed to share advanced tech and data, as they plan on working together on a variety of initiatives to enhance their positions at home and abroad. South Korea is Canada’s seventh largest trading partner, with a two-way merchandise trade of $21.9 billion. It is also the world’s 10th largest economy, and South Korea’s economic prowess, along with the fascination for Korean pop culture, commonly known as “Hallyu,” have garnered interest around the world.
Travel preferences of different generations of Australians have diverged since the pandemic. With cost of living pressures and rising interest rates, more people are looking for value. Package deals are expected to continue to perform well. People are now looking for security while seeking travel advice from agents. Most generations of Aussies are choosing multi-country trips where they can see as much as possible, guided tours and cruises. Generation Zers are choosing social connection, whereas the Millennials are spending on unusual travel experiences and activities, such as difficult hikes. They are also eager to visit iconic sites such as the pyramids, Machu Picchu or the Taj Mahal. Gen Xers are traveling with sustainability or looking for low-cost family holidays, and Baby boomers are mostly wanting to visit their favourite destinations overseas.
South Korea's finance minister, Choo Kyung-ho, has discussed economic co-operation with China's ambassador to South Korea, as diplomatic tensions – stemming mostly from China's policies towards Taiwan – cast a pall over South Korea's economy. South Korea's sluggish economy and its export industry, which accounts for nearly 40% of its economy, have already been hit by low global demand for Korean technology products. South Korea's ambassador to Washington announced earlier this month that Seoul would soon open senior-level dialogues with Beijing.
The Group of Seven (G7) summit in Hiroshima is expected to highlight the Ukraine war, the growing power of China and the threat to Taiwan. Leaders from India, South Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam and Australia will also be attending the summit, which opens today. Discussions will also focus on matters involving supply chains, economic and energy security. The Indian presence at the summit is expected to create a focus on the developing world within the G7, while the recent overtures of Russia and China towards Central Asia are also set to feature prominently. Yesterday, the G7 leaders released a statement ahead of the summit stressing their support for Ukraine which “will not waver”, and detailing “new steps” to be taken to ensure Russia's aggression fails. Sanctions imposed on Russia are also likely to be discussed, as well as their impact on trade of agricultural, medical and humanitarian products.
Canada's Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, paid tribute to the victims of Hiroshima and spoke on the importance of disarmament, while also increasing the country's involvement in NATO. Canada appears to be signing on to the extended version of the Cold War, confronting Russia in Europe and joining the U.S-led alliance that is taking on China in Asia. The significance of the Trudeau visit to Seoul that took place this week has little to do with Canada-Korea trade. Rather it is a new front in the reinvigorated Cold War, as every significant country in Asia from China to North Korea will be tied into Canadian security interests, whether the country wants to be involved or not. The most significant development since the Hiroshima bombing is that the great powers have made it easier to touch off a nuclear conflict. This is because NATO’s entire fleet of weaponry is available to every tiny country involved in the Russia-Ukraine war and if even the most minor NATO member is drawn into the war, widespread nuclear warfare becomes a possibility.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who will be attending the 2021 G7 summit, has called for China to remove restrictions on trade between Australia and China. Although China lifted bans on Australian timber, it has maintained sanctions on wine, seafood, and other industries as concerns over human rights and national security remain. Albanese stated that it was crucial "that any of the impediments to trade between China and Australia be lifted". The G7 leaders are expected to discuss sanctions on Russia over the country's invasion of Ukraine. The summit will also feature discussions of China's use of economic coercion.
Ukraine’s Zelensky caps frenetic week of diplomacy with plans to appear in person at Japan’s G7 summit
CNN
23-05-19 07:02
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has announced his intention to travel to Japan for the G7 summit. It will be his first visit since last February’s Russian invasion of Ukraine, and is seen as a sign of Western solidarity. The war is expected to dominate the summit, particularly as the nations will be discussing measures to stop Russia from funding the fighting and supplying its forces. Zelensky has this week visited European nations and secured promises of further military aid, including $3bn from Germany. Ukraine is expecting counterattacks from Russia, and hopes to purchase more modern fighter jets.
Thousands of South Korean nurses went on strike on 24 September after President Yoon Suk Yeol vetoed a bill that would improve pay and working conditions for nurses. Doctors and nursing assistants began protests against the bill stating concerns over job security, but nurses insist the southeast Asian nation needs more care facilities for its ageing population. The strike has had minimal impact so far as most protesters used holiday time or shortened business hours, with major hospitals operating normally.
The G7 is holding its annual summit in the Japanese shrine city of Hiroshima where the talks are set to focus on the growing influence of China, the Ukraine crisis and the ongoing threat to Taiwan. G7 leaders, however, are keen to avoid confrontation with China over the issue of its territorial claims that are threatening the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. Instead, the leaders are set to extend the promise of G7 cooperation. Alongside the G7 nations, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, Laos, Indonesia, and the Philippines have been invited as guests, symbolising Japan's ongoing interest and focus on Southeast Asia. In addition, India and South Korea, which have previously pressed Japan to address issues related to Japanese Imperial Army’s conscripting of sex slaves for the military during World War II, will also take part, together with the EU.
China has promised billions of dollars in "financing support and free assistance" to five Central Asian countries, boosting trade, infrastructure and technology investment and including visa-free travel arrangements. Speaking at the two-day China-Central Asia Summit in Xi'an, China's President Xi Jinping presented himself as a reliable partner to nations which were formerly part of the Soviet Union, while emphasising the importance of safeguarding their sovereignty and territorial integrity. Those countries attending the summit included Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, which have been increasingly concerned over Russian efforts to regain control of Ukraine.
South Korean company Qcells has created the first production line for perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells, which offer an efficiency increase of up to 75% over standard solar panels. The capabilities of perovskite as a material have long been under review as it has the potential to revolutionise several industries. Qcells is investing $100m in a pilot production line at a factory in Jincheon with the aim for it to become operational by the close of 2021. In comparison to the 22% efficiency currently offered by silicon-based solar cells, perovskite cells are forecast to improve this figure significantly.
The Ontario government has pledged to improve its financial package to Stellantis-LG Energy Solution to keep its $5bn electric vehicle battery factory in Windsor. Ontario Premier, Doug Ford, did not disclose the amount offered to the companies this week, yet this increased financial package will theoretically aid in preventing the plant from being lured away to the US states. Reports suggest this is following President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act offering automakers huge subsidies. The plant being constructed in Windsor is scheduled to employ up to 2,500 people and was supposed to be opened early next year.
It is believed that Ottawa and Queen’s Park are under pressure to put together a more considerable subsidy for the plant as companies halted construction on Monday to obtain further subsidies that would match those offered to Volkswagen, which has a similar investment plan in St. Thomas. At present, the Canadian government’s production tax credits for Volkswagen in Canada is about $13.2 billion, which is the same amount that the carmaker could’ve received if they went to the United States. It is thought the tax deal for Volkswagen was a significant factor in luring the plant to Canada, which some say has helped secure Canada’s car industry for future production in electric vehicles.
Stellantis, which owns Jeep, Chrysler, Fiat, and Dodge, has declined to comment on the funding arrangement thus far. It should be noted that President Biden plans to provide US automakers a $100 billion overhaul towards electric vehicles to persuade reluctant American drivers to abandon petrol automobiles. This plan includes greater investments in charging stations and robust tax incentives.
A South Korean delegation of 21 members will visit the Fukushima nuclear plant to assess the safety of Japan’s planned release of treated radioactive water into the sea. They will inspect relevant facilities at the plant for two days and hold a meeting based on their inspection results on Thursday. A six-day visit starting on Sunday has been scheduled and comes under President Yoon Suk-yeol's instructions amid improving relations with Japan. This and other measures are planned to be used to ensure the safety of South Korean citizens.
The G7 summit in the city of Hiroshima in Japan may feature debates on the Ukraine conflict, China’s economic power and the domination of Taiwan. Issues of global energy and economic security are also expected to be discussed. The presence of India, a country that is currently chairing G-20, is likely to bring a focus to global developing nations and the concerns of the so-called Global South. Significant Asia-Pacific nations including India, South Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam and Australia are participating alongside the seven member states of the G7 and the European Union. Gambia, Laos, Papua New Guinea, Senegal and Vietnam have been invited to send representatives to a meeting on tropical diseases.
Leaders of the G7 countries and their invited guests, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Vietnam and Australia, are meeting in Hiroshima over the next few days. The likely topics for discussion include the Ukraine conflict, growing Chinese dominance and the threat to Taiwan as well as issues surrounding supply chains and economic and energy security. The prominent attendance of India, a country that chairs the G20 this year, is highlighted as likely to shine a spotlight on the developing world. However, many have asked why the focus of the summit is background noise, rather than on the nuclear threat signaled by North Korea's recent nuclear tests and missile launches.
Leaders at the G7 summit in Japan have held talks focusing on the deepening dominance of China and political tensions on the Korean peninsula. The likely impact on the Japanese economy of the UK's Brexit decision is also a significant concern. Top of the agenda was the situation in the Ukraine and issues related to economic security and supply chains. India's attendance, as chair of the G20, has highlighted the importance of the developing world. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made several contributions to the talks, arguing for inclusive food systems to be created across the world. At a separate meeting, involving the leaders of Japan and Brazil, mention was made of the need for security council reform. Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama became the first sitting US president to visit Hiroshima, where he laid a wreath at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial.
