TOP NEWS

Security in Europe
NATO Naval Chief: We Can't Handle a Long War

Europe is not prepared for a long-term military conflict with Russia. NATO Naval Chief Mike Utley said in an interview with Bloomberg.

NATO's military capabilities are certainly superior to Russia's, but the alliance lacks the stamina if war comes, he says.

- Do we have the resilience we would like? I would say that recent events show that we do not.

He adds that Europe has begun to realize that major defense investments are required and that he hopes that capabilities will be strengthened.

Political situation in France
France cannot agree on a budget

Despite intensive efforts, French politicians have not managed to agree on a budget for 2026, something that Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu previously warned poses a "danger" to the economy. Politico reports.

On Monday, politicians will meet again to try to shape a way forward, but then there is no hope of reaching an agreement before the New Year. Instead, the focus will be on getting a temporary budget into next year to avoid a shutdown of the state apparatus.

One concern analysts have had is that France has now found it so difficult to put together a strong government that it is affecting the ability to budget state finances.

Political situation in Norway
The bill for Støre's private flight: Ten million

Since November 2021, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has traveled by private plane for 11.4 Norwegian million, around 10.4 Swedish kronor. This is reported by E24 with reference to documents from the Prime Minister's office. Almost half, 43 percent, of the total sum has been spent this year.

In an email to the site, the office's communications manager Ann Kristin Hjukse writes that the prime minister generally travels by scheduled flight.

“Chartered flights are only used in individual cases when it is deemed necessary or appropriate for safety reasons,” she writes, adding that time and efficiency also play a role.

Political situation in South Korea
South Korean president calls hair loss a life-threatening condition

Let the state subsidize hair loss treatments. This proposal comes from South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung. Baldness and thinning hair are not just a matter of appearance but of “life and death,” Lee claims according to The Guardian.

Losing hair is associated with a great stigma in South Korea, especially among young people. The country has a big problem with “alienation” among young people with hair loss, says Lee.

The proposal has led to harsh criticism from both the healthcare industry and Lee’s political opponents. South Korea’s largest medical union writes in a statement that it would be better to prioritize cancer care, for example.

Climate Threat  Global Challenges
Study: Climate Crisis Makes Food Less Nutritious

Elevated levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are making crops such as wheat, rice, potatoes and tomatoes less nutritious, a study shows according to The Guardian.

According to the study, published by the University of Leiden in the Netherlands, harvests are certainly larger – but the number of nutrients is decreasing, while the lead content is rising.

– Seeing how dramatic the nutritional change was and how it differed between the plants was a shock, says study author Sterre ter Haar.

The researchers warn of serious health consequences and “hidden hunger”, meaning that people get their calorie needs met but not their nutritional needs.