Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, Hyundai is unable to repurchase its former manufacturing plant in Russia, according to a source familiar with the internal deliberations. The automaker sold the plant in St. Petersburg in 2024 to AGR Automotive Group, including a buyback option set to expire in January. Although a final decision has not been made, the source cited the conflict as the primary reason for the situation, making a buyback impossible. This development mirrors a trend among foreign carmakers exiting the Russian market, with several other companies also facing expiring buyback options.
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Following the recent Bondi Beach attack, Australia has announced a gun buyback scheme, the largest since the Port Arthur massacre. The government will also impose limits on the number of firearms an individual can own and restrict firearms licensing, partly in response to the fact that one of the Bondi attackers held a firearms license and possessed multiple weapons. The scheme aims to collect and destroy hundreds of thousands of firearms, funded jointly by the federal government and the states and territories. Additionally, police have stated that there is no confirmed link between the detained group of men with “extremist Islamic ideology” and the Bondi attackers.
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President Sheinbaum’s nationwide “Yes to Disarmament, Yes to Peace” initiative offers cash incentives for the anonymous surrender of firearms, aiming to curb Mexico’s rampant gun violence. The program, expanding a successful Mexico City model, provides varying payouts depending on the weapon type, with funds allocated for destruction of collected arms. This initiative, supported by multiple ministries and religious organizations, forms a key part of a broader anti-crime strategy. The program’s launch included a symbolic weapon destruction and aims to reduce the flow of firearms, a significant driver of Mexico’s high homicide rate.
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New Orleans recently held a gun buyback program, exchanging firearms for PlayStation 5 consoles, aimed at improving public safety in the face of loosened state gun laws. Thirty-two firearms were collected in a single two-hour event, part of a larger initiative involving a local nonprofit that connects youth with gaming programs. While the effectiveness of gun buybacks in reducing violent crime is debated, organizers view this program as a valuable community engagement strategy, providing alternatives and opportunities for families. The initiative seeks to replace guns with positive opportunities, aiming to prevent future crime at a lower cost than incarceration.
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John Q. Hosedrinker