The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has been ongoing for 15 months, with no end in sight. Despite multiple retreats and stalled progress along the 600-mile front line, Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown no signs of backing down. Ukraine has recently reported shooting down six hypersonic Kinzhal missiles that had been aimed at Kyiv, the country’s capital. This is further evidence of Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against Russia’s most sophisticated weapons.
Meanwhile, Cambodia’s main opposition party has been disqualified from the upcoming general elections, leaving Prime Minister Hun Sen’s ruling party as the only credible challenger. This follows the government’s move to shut down Voice of Democracy, one of the few remaining outlets to provide critical coverage in Cambodia.
In other news, China is so far ahead in making batteries for electric cars that the rest of the world may take decades to catch up. China controls each step of lithium-ion battery production, from getting the raw materials to making the cars. It has invested in a cheaper alternative to the cathode, which is the positive terminal of the battery, and now accounts for half the market.
Finally, South Korea has designated hundreds of restaurants, museums and other public facilities as “no-kids zones” due to the country’s low birthrate. While the policy has popular support, one lawmaker is calling on the government to outlaw it, saying that “we have to recreate a society in which we can coexist with our children.”