World | WPN World People News

Greenland's Prime Minister, Múte B. Egede, recently reiterated that the long-term goal of his government is to achieve complete independence from Denmark. He emphasized that Greenland aspires to become a fully sovereign state rather than depend on other major powers, including the United States. His remarks have drawn significant international attention and highlighted the increasingly complex geopolitical landscape of the Arctic region.

In an interview, Egede stated that while Greenland's ultimate aim is full independence, the process requires a stable economic foundation and respect for international commitments. As an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland currently relies heavily on Danish financial support, which accounts for approximately a quarter of its GDP annually.

"We don’t want to rush into independence only to end up dependent on another country," Egede stressed. He noted that Greenland’s government is actively promoting economic diversification, focusing on industries such as fisheries, mining, and renewable energy. Among these, rare earth mineral extraction is particularly critical, as it not only strengthens Greenland’s economy but also has the potential to reduce global dependence on China for rare earth supplies.

With the intensification of global warming, the Arctic’s significance has grown, as new shipping routes and rich natural resources make Greenland a focal point of competition among major powers. In 2019, former U.S. President Donald Trump proposed the idea of "purchasing Greenland," a suggestion that was strongly rejected by both Denmark and Greenland but underscored the island's strategic importance.

In response, Egede made it clear: "We respect our international partners, including the United States, but Greenland is not for sale. Our future lies in deciding our own destiny." Currently, the United States maintains the Thule Air Base in Greenland, further emphasizing its geostrategic importance. Despite maintaining friendly relations with Washington, Egede underscored that Greenland’s foreign policy should prioritize its own interests.

Egede’s government has adopted a pragmatic approach, advocating for gradual steps toward independence while maintaining cooperative ties with Denmark. He stated, "This is not about hostility toward Denmark. We share a long historical connection. Our future independence will be built on mutual respect."

As global interest in the Arctic region continues to grow, Greenland finds itself at a crossroads of opportunity and challenge. For Egede, his vision is clear: to establish a fully independent Greenland, recognized as a sovereign state within the international community, while preserving its cultural identity and avoiding entanglement in global geopolitical rivalries.

President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office on January 20. However, last year, he was found guilty on 34 charges related to the hush money case by a Manhattan jury. On January 11, the sentencing was held at the New York State Supreme Court. Judge Merchan of the New York State Supreme Court stated that, due to presidential immunity, Trump would be "unconditionally released." This also confirmed that Trump would be the first former U.S. president with a felony conviction in history.

Before the 2016 election, Trump had falsified business records to pay adult film star Stormy Daniels $130,000 in hush money. All 34 charges related to this case were found to be valid. The sentencing was originally scheduled for November 26 of last year, but it was postponed indefinitely after Trump won the U.S. presidential election. However, it was later announced that the verdict would be delivered on January 11, with Trump attending via video conference.

Judge Merchan declared: "This court rules that the only legal judgment that can be made without infringing upon the nation's highest office (the presidency) is unconditional release." He also wished Trump "smooth sailing in his second term."

In response to the ruling, Trump described it as "a disgrace to the system," accusing those involved of trying to damage his reputation and asserting that he had been treated unfairly. He indicated that he would appeal the decision to the fullest extent.

Washington, D.C., January 10, 2025 – The state funeral of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter took place today at the National Cathedral, with thousands of mourners attending the solemn ceremony. Carter passed away on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100, marking the end of an era in American history.

Five former U.S. Presidents were present at the ceremony, paying their respects to the 39th President of the United States. Current President Joe Biden, along with former Presidents Donald Trump, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton, attended the service and offered condolences to the Carter family.

Carter's remains were placed at the altar of the National Cathedral, with a group of U.S. Marines carefully carrying the casket. Memorial services were also held across the country, with citizens gathering in major cities to honor the late leader.

Carter, who served as President from 1977 to 1981, was renowned for his commitment to human rights, peace agreements, and environmental policies. During his presidency, he brokered the historic Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel in 2002, which earned him the Nobel Peace Prize the same year. His foreign policy, social reform initiatives, and later humanitarian work with the Carter Center made him a key figure on the global stage.

Though Carter's presidency was relatively brief, his post-presidential years were marked by continuous dedication to charitable work and public service. His efforts to combat global poverty and disease, along with his focus on health and education worldwide, earned him widespread admiration and numerous awards.

Today's state funeral also marks the closing of an important chapter in American politics. Numerous political leaders and citizens expressed their gratitude and respect for Carter, reflecting on his lifelong dedication to serving both his country and the world.

Carter's family, including his wife Rosalynn Carter and several children, were also present at the ceremony and shared heartfelt reflections on the life of this great man.

The state funeral not only marked the farewell to a former president but also symbolized the deep remembrance of a leader known for his honesty, integrity, and unwavering commitment to moral values.

The Eastern and Central United States has been struck by the largest winter storm in a decade, bringing heavy snowfall and extreme cold weather. The storm has caused widespread disruption to land and air travel, power outages, and made cleanup efforts even more difficult.

The winter storm spread from the Central Plains to the Eastern Seaboard, affecting areas such as Wichita, Kansas, and Washington, D.C., with ice and snow covering the ground. This has led to numerous road closures, traffic disruptions, and at least five fatalities due to traffic accidents.

According to the power outage tracking website PowerOutage.us, as of this morning, over 190,000 households remain without power from Missouri to Virginia. Temperatures in these areas are below freezing, further complicating the daily lives of residents. The National Weather Service's Louisville office has warned that cold air will continue to gather after the storm, with some regions possibly experiencing extreme low temperatures below -18°C (0°F) by tomorrow night.

The blizzard has caused widespread flight cancellations and delays, with multiple airports forced to close, resulting in chaos for air travelers. As the storm weakens, air traffic is gradually resuming, and even the severely impacted Kansas City airport has reopened.

Washington, D.C. has recorded several inches of snow, a rare occurrence in recent years. Federal offices and schools remain closed today, further affecting the local population.

In hard-hit Louisville, Kentucky, Mayor Craig Greenberg has urged residents to avoid non-essential travel, as authorities work to clear highways and major roads.

This winter storm not only presents the most severe challenge the region has seen in a decade but also serves as a reminder for local residents to prepare for extreme weather in advance.

On January 6, McDonald's announced the cancellation of certain diversity and inclusion policies, including no longer requiring suppliers to commit to specific diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) goals, and withdrawing from external assessments. The company's diversity committee will also be renamed.

This move comes as the latest example of businesses reevaluating their policies following the U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 ruling that universities cannot use affirmative action in admissions. The decision prompted many companies and institutions to reconsider their programs supporting minority groups.

Affirmative action was initially designed to address America's historical racial discrimination by increasing educational opportunities for African Americans and other minority groups. However, Chief Justice John Roberts, in his ruling, noted that many schools had overly relied on race as an admissions criterion, neglecting individuals' abilities to overcome challenges and develop skills.

McDonald's decision may be influenced by the incoming Trump administration. Trump has been a strong critic of DEI initiatives, and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance proposed a bill in the Senate last year to end federal DEI programs.

McDonald's emphasized that it remains committed to promoting diversity and has already met its goals since 2021, including gender pay equity across positions and ensuring that 30% of its leadership positions are held by minority groups.

According to reports, McDonald's is not alone in this shift. In 2024, other brands such as Ford, John Deere, Lowe's, Harley-Davidson, and Jack Daniel's also adopted similar policies, moving away from DEI targets, reflecting a strong backlash against political correctness in American society.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Announces Resignation as Liberal Party Leader, Ending Nearly a Decade in Power

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on the 6th that he would step down as leader of the Liberal Party, marking the end of nearly ten years of governance. However, he stated he would remain in office until the party selects a new leader. During a press conference in Ottawa, Trudeau expressed his hope that the next election would offer Canadians a real choice, acknowledging that he may no longer be the best option.

Reflecting on his tenure, Trudeau highlighted efforts to support the middle class, including tax reductions for low-income citizens, implementing a national childcare program that reduced daycare costs for some Canadians to an average of 10 CAD per day (approximately 228 TWD), advancing reconciliation with Indigenous communities, and addressing climate change. He expressed regret over failing to fulfill his promise to reform the electoral system (first-past-the-post) but emphasized that his love for Canada was his greatest driving force.

Over the past two years, public dissatisfaction with high living costs and housing shortages has led to a decline in Trudeau’s approval ratings. Polls indicate that the Liberal Party is trailing behind the Conservatives ahead of the October election, fueling internal pressure for his resignation. Last December, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland resigned due to political differences, further compounding Trudeau's challenges. The Canadian Parliament is set to recess until March 24.

Trudeau, 53, was first elected as a Member of Parliament in 2008, became leader of the Liberal Party in 2013, and assumed the office of Prime Minister in 2015. He led the Liberal Party out of its lowest point and gained international recognition for his political pedigree and charismatic image. Liberal Party Members of Parliament are scheduled to hold a caucus meeting on Wednesday, during which key contenders for leadership are expected to emerge. The winner will become the next Prime Minister.

U.S. President-elect Trump, set to take office on January 20, received Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on January 4 during an unannounced visit to Florida. Meloni, who posted a photo of the two on social media, emphasized their readiness to collaborate closely.

Meloni's trip, kept under wraps by Italian officials, saw her travel from Rome directly to Trump’s private Mar-a-Lago estate. Trump was joined by high-ranking members of his incoming administration, including Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor nominee Mike Waltz, and Treasury Secretary nominee Scott Bessent. The prominent lineup highlighted Trump’s regard for Meloni as a significant European ally.

Given her conservative credentials and the stability of her right-wing coalition in Italy, Meloni is viewed as a strong potential partner for Trump. Her close ties with billionaire Elon Musk, a key Trump ally during the election, further cement her strategic importance. U.S. commentators believe Trump might see Meloni as a bridge to improve relations with other European leaders.

One pressing matter likely influencing Meloni’s swift visit is the detention of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala in Iran. Tehran reportedly seeks to exchange Sala for Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi, an Iranian drone expert arrested in Milan earlier this month at the U.S.'s request. Abedini faces charges of organized crime, export law violations, and support for terrorist organizations. A Milan court is currently deliberating whether to extradite him to the U.S.

Trump, who will officially take office later this month, has already hosted leaders from three nations at Mar-a-Lago, with Meloni being the fourth. Expressing his enthusiasm, Trump remarked, “I stand here with an extraordinary woman, the Prime Minister of Italy. She has truly taken Europe by storm!”

The Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) reported today that Japan's oldest person, Tomiko Itooka, passed away on December 29, 2024, due to natural causes related to aging. She was 116 years old. Officials from the Ashiya City government stated that Ms. Itooka spent her later years in a local nursing home and passed peacefully from old age late last year.

Born on May 23, 1908, in Osaka City, Ms. Itooka later moved to Nara Prefecture before settling in Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture, in 1990. Media reports previously highlighted her vitality, noting that she visited the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage twice in her 80s and could still climb stairs to visit shrines without the aid of a cane at the age of 100.

In August 2024, following the death of 117-year-old Maria Branyas Morera of Spain, Ms. Itooka was recognized by Guinness World Records in September 2024 as the world's oldest living person.

Ashiya Mayor Ryosuke Takashima expressed deep condolences, saying, “Ms. Itooka gave us courage and hope throughout her extraordinarily long life. We extend our gratitude for her inspiration and offer our heartfelt sympathies to her family.”

Ms. Itooka, born six years before the outbreak of World War I and in the same year the Ford Model T was introduced, enjoyed bananas and the popular Japanese lactic acid drink Calpis in her later years, according to the mayor. She is survived by a son, a daughter, and five grandchildren. Her funeral will be held privately by her family.

The world's verified longest-lived person remains Jeanne Louise Calment of France (1875–1997), who lived to the age of 122 and is the only person on record to have surpassed 120 years.

As of September 2024, Japan had over 95,000 centenarians, with women accounting for 88% of this figure. Nearly 30% of Japan’s 124 million people are aged 65 or older.

Apple, the U.S. tech giant, has been accused of violating user privacy by having its voice assistant Siri eavesdrop on conversations and sharing the contents with third parties. Several users have filed a collective lawsuit against the company. While Apple denies any wrongdoing, it has recently submitted a preliminary settlement agreement, agreeing to pay $95 million in compensation.

The lawsuit claims that Apple device users often unknowingly activated Siri, causing private conversations to be recorded. Two users specifically mentioned that after discussing Air Jordan sneakers and the Olive Garden restaurant, they started receiving related advertisements. Another user reported having private discussions with a doctor about a specific surgical treatment, only to later receive promotional ads for that treatment. As a result, they questioned whether Siri was recording private conversations, tracking user locations, and collecting personal data, which was then leaked to third parties, violating Apple's commitment to protect user privacy.

The lawsuit covers the period from September 17 to December 31, 2014, the same time Apple introduced the "Hey Siri" voice assistant feature, which was capable of recording conversations without authorization. Consequently, all users of Apple devices supporting Siri, such as iPhones and Apple Watches, are eligible for the settlement. The estimated number of affected individuals could reach tens of millions, with each person potentially receiving up to $20 in compensation.

The case is currently being heard by a federal court in Oakland, California. While Apple denies any improper behavior, it submitted the preliminary settlement agreement to the court on the evening of December 31, agreeing to pay $95 million to resolve the issue. The settlement is now awaiting approval from the judge.

The H-1B work visa for skilled immigrants is an important source of talent for the U.S. tech industry. However, the question of whether skilled immigrants are taking away jobs from Americans has recently caused division within Donald Trump's camp. Trump had previously stated at a campaign rally that immigrants were stealing jobs from Americans and that they should be required to leave the U.S. This led some companies to issue warnings, advising immigrant employees to return to the U.S. before Trump’s inauguration. However, as Elon Musk became a key advisor to Trump, the former president changed his stance on December 28, expressing strong support for Musk and emphasizing the importance of high-skill immigration visa programs.

Musk and Silicon Valley’s support for the H-1B visa program has recently come into conflict with traditional right-wing anti-immigrant supporters within Trump's camp. Both Musk and biotech mogul Vivek Ramaswamy argue that the H-1B visa program should be strongly supported to boost the pool of skilled talent within the U.S., which they believe is crucial for maintaining America's competitive edge. Musk himself came to the U.S. on an H-1B visa and later became a naturalized citizen. Last year, Tesla applied for 724 H-1B visas. Ramaswamy, who is of Indian immigrant descent, has also openly criticized "American culture" for promoting mediocrity, which he believes could result in the U.S. being overtaken by China. In an interview with the *New York Post*, Trump expressed his support for Musk's views, stating, "I’ve always liked the H-1B visa and have always supported such visas."

However, far-right figures like Laura Loomer have expressed frustration, claiming that many in Trump’s camp are unwilling to challenge Musk. Loomer and other accounts with hardline immigration stances have been restricted from verification and other functions on Musk’s platform, X (formerly Twitter). Loomer emphasized, "When a billionaire donates $200 million to help a presidential campaign, that's a problem. We should clearly define campaign finance regulations." According to the Federal Election Commission, Musk donated $239 million to the America PAC, which is supporting Trump’s campaign. Loomer further accused, "We must protect President Trump from the influence of technocrats."