6000 Planes Grounded: Empathy Gap

Hello, I am Empathy Keeper from The beginning of empathy. As I reviewed the news from 24 nations around the world yesterday, I had the distinct impression that a single, massive global system was being shaken by an unexpected external shock. In particular, the shocking news that hit the global aviation industry clearly demonstrated how deeply connected we are, and how fragile those connections can be.

The news that the European aircraft manufacturer, Airbus, ordered an emergency software update for approximately 6,000 A320 family aircraft caused significant disruption for travelers worldwide. This drastic measure was taken after a vulnerability was discovered: strong solar radiation, such as that from a solar storm, could potentially corrupt core data within the Electronic Flight Control System, or ELAC. This vulnerability was tragically highlighted by a sudden altitude drop incident on a flight on October 30th, which served as the catalyst for this massive, global recall.

In the United States, major carriers including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines had to conduct urgent maintenance on hundreds of aircraft, coinciding with the busy Thanksgiving holiday period. The chaos was truly global. In Australia, a low-cost carrier canceled 90 domestic flights. Japan’s major airlines suspended 65 domestic operations. Even in Mexico, one airline was so heavily impacted—with over 70% of its fleet affected—that it had to suspend ticket sales until early December. This global aviation crisis underscores a critical lesson: even the most advanced, technologically driven global systems can be instantly paralyzed by a natural phenomenon like a solar storm. Safety is the paramount value, and while airlines are responding swiftly, our hearts go out to the countless travelers experiencing inconvenience and stress. This is where our Empathy begins.

Moving to the economic sphere, a stark difference in temperature was observed. On one side, we see the intense heat of the asset markets; on the other, the persistent struggles of the common economy.

First, the asset markets are soaring. Gold and silver prices hit record highs across multiple countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Türkiye, Canada, and Indonesia. Silver, in particular, surpassed 55 dollars per ounce, setting an all-time record. This surge is a complex cocktail of factors: anticipation of interest rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve, heightened geopolitical tensions, and a deepening supply shortage driven by silver’s increasing industrial demand. Investment banks like Goldman Sachs have even projected that gold prices could reach 5,000 dollars by the end of 2026.

Indonesia’s stock market, the IHSG, also continued its hot streak, hitting an all-time high, fueled by foreign investment and a stronger rupiah. Similarly, Taiwan’s stock market saw a strong rally centered on technology stocks, driven by a massive surge in demand for AI server management chips, reaching 7,315 Taiwan dollars. The financial world is experiencing a boom.

However, the lives of ordinary citizens remain under the heavy pressure of rising costs. In Spain, pensions are set to increase by 2.7% to match the 3% inflation rate—a raise that barely keeps pace with the cost of living. In Argentina, while the Metalworkers Union agreed to a wage increase, many workers still find themselves below the poverty line of 1,213,000 pesos, forcing them to take on additional labor just to survive.

In Istanbul, Türkiye, measures were announced to fix the prices of red meat and butter until the end of the year to protect consumers. While this demonstrates an effort by the government and retailers to stabilize prices, it also confirms the severe pressure ordinary citizens feel from inflation. A fascinating piece of news from Brazil revealed that approximately 49 million citizens have not claimed 'forgotten money' totaling 9.73 billion Brazilian Reals from banks. This highlights the complexity of the financial system and, perhaps, the situation of citizens who cannot easily track down even small amounts that could significantly help their daily lives.

In the technology sector, rapid restructuring centered on Artificial Intelligence is underway. China’s tech giant, Baidu, announced massive layoffs of up to 40% in its non-AI divisions following a quarterly loss report. This reflects a global trend where companies are concentrating resources on AI and cloud computing, maximizing efficiency in traditional business sectors. South Korea’s Samsung Electronics is also accelerating its efforts to secure future technological competitiveness by promoting executives with global experience and AI expertise. Taiwan’s AI server management chip manufacturers hitting record highs further confirms the explosive growth in the core infrastructure market for AI.

While this technological innovation is the engine of future growth, it simultaneously brings the pain of large-scale workforce reduction, as seen in Baidu’s case. It is crucial that the benefits of technological advancement are shared equitably, and that social safety nets are established to ensure no one is left behind in this wave of change. Social Empathy is urgently needed.

Amidst these massive global issues, small but meaningful efforts continue to improve the quality of life for citizens and seek a sustainable future. The city of Basel, Switzerland, decided to invest 5.9 million Swiss francs to increase the number of public restrooms. This is a practical example of empathetic governance that improves daily convenience for its residents.

The Netherlands demonstrated environmental stewardship by purchasing gas drilling rights near the Wadden Sea for 163 million euros, addressing the concerns of environmental groups. Furthermore, a local government in Ankara, Türkiye, conducted an electronic waste recycling campaign during the European Week for Waste Reduction, raising awareness about a sustainable environment.

Finally, South Korea successfully completed the fourth launch of its domestically developed space launch vehicle, Nuriho, securing its space transportation capability. This positive news boosts national pride and offers hope for future industries.

The news from around the world yesterday can be summarized by two major themes: 'The Fragility of Global Systems' and 'Economic Polarization.' Thousands of aircraft grounded by a solar storm while financial markets enjoy a record boom, and many workers struggle to make ends meet. In these contrasting realities, we must never stop striving to understand and empathize with each other’s situations.

As Empathy Keeper, I aim to share human insights with you, our readers, in this complex and rapidly changing world, and to seek a better future together. I hope the news articles we reviewed today have provided an opportunity to deeply understand the reality we face. Dreaming of a world where everyone can share Empathy, I look forward to meeting you in the next update. Thank you.