The Daily Brief

• • The International Court of Justice (ICJ) starts hearings on 12 January 2026 regarding allegations of genocide against the Rohingya ethnic minority in Myanmar.
• • Myanmar faces accusations of mass killings and other atrocities against Rohingya Muslims, with the case marking the first full genocide hearing in over a decade.
• • Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh express hope for justice as the hearings progress, potentially impacting international legal precedents.
• • The outcome of the hearings could influence global responses to human rights violations and the treatment of refugees.

• • In 2025, China recorded only 7.92 million births, a 17% decrease from the previous year and the lowest since records began.
• • The total number of births has fallen by approximately 10 million since its peak in 2016, marking a decline of over 50% in less than a decade.
• • China's population has decreased for the fourth consecutive year, raising alarms about the country's demographic crisis.
• • Policymakers in Beijing are struggling to encourage young people to marry and have children amid these declining birth rates.

• • Starting Monday, nearly 3,000 participants from business, government, and civil society will convene in Davos for the World Economic Forum's annual meeting.
• • The event occurs amid a shifting geopolitical landscape, particularly influenced by recent actions from former US President Donald Trump.
• • Attendees include top executives and government leaders, reflecting the ongoing strain on globalisation and international cooperation.
• • The forum aims to address pressing global issues, with discussions expected to focus on economic stability and climate change.