South Korea investigates leak of President Lee’s passport details
SOUTH KOREA’S foreign ministry said on Tuesday it was conducting a probe into the leak of personal information related to President Lee Jae Myung’s June overseas trip and was taking steps to reissue passports for Mr. Lee, his wife and other affected officials. The comments came after KBS reported on Monday that passport details of […]
Singapore will push for stronger action against transboundary haze as ASEAN chair in 2027, says minister
SINGAPORE — Singapore will work with ASEAN member states to strengthen the implementation of an agreement on transboundary haze when it chairs the regional bloc next year, the country’s environment minister said on Tuesday. It will also work with the bloc to establish the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control in Indonesia, said […]
Oman proposes preferential trade, investment deal with China
BEIJING/DUBAI — China and Oman lauded a new starting point in bilateral relations on Monday, with the Sultan of Oman proposing to Chinese President Xi Jinping a preferential bilateral trade and investment agreement. “We are confident that such an agreement would open new avenues for trade and investment, facilitate and enhance commercial and investment exchanges […]
South Korea’s Lee vows to make bold AI investment in record budget push
SEOUL — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung vowed on Monday to make bold investments in artificial intelligence to boost the country’s economic growth potential, in an address to parliament seeking approval for next year’s budget. “We will invest 21.3 trillion won ($15.97 billion), nearly twice this year’s amount, in AI and the three megaprojects […]
Indian authorities tighten security ahead of big opposition march in Delhi
NEW DELHI — Indian security personnel carrying batons and shields and accompanied by riot control vehicles surrounded the site of a planned opposition protest in Delhi on Sunday that is set to demand the resignation of the country’s election chief over a controversial revision of voter lists. Authorities warned of traffic diversions ahead of the […]
New York state police to take over sexual assault complaints at Cornell University
New York state police will take over future sexual assault investigations at Cornell University, Governor Kathy Hochul said on Thursday, in the latest fallout over the university’s handling of an alleged gang-rape on campus. The announcement follows widespread criticism of the university’s conduct in the case and questions about why no criminal charges were filed […]
China trade accord with Swiss bucks wider trend towards protectionism
ZURICH — When Chinese President Xi Jinping meets his Swiss counterpart, Guy Parmelin, on Friday, the two will be marking one of the most favorable trade deals Beijing has granted a European country, bucking a broader global shift towards protectionism. Mr. Xi and Mr. Parmelin are due to sign the upgraded trade accord in Beijing […]
North Korea fires around 10 ballistic missiles toward sea off east coast, Seoul says
SEOUL — North Korea fired around 10 ballistic missiles toward the sea off its east coast on Thursday, South Korea’s military said, as tensions run high ahead of Pyongyang’s end-of-month deadline to activate propaganda loudspeakers along the heavily armed border. The short-range missiles were launched at around 12:30 p.m. (0330 GMT) from around Wonsan on […]
Iran sees only unacceptable ideas in latest mediation to end war, official says
QUATARI mediators have presented Iran with a new draft deal to end the war with the US and Israel, an official briefed on the negotiations said, but a senior Iranian official said Doha had only put forward unacceptable ideas that did not amount to an offer. The official briefed on the negotiations, who is not […]
Hegseth reassures Southeast Asia of US commitment, pledges stronger defense ties
CEBU, Philippines — US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sought to reassure Southeast Asian counterparts on Wednesday of Washington’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific, pledging that Washington would defend its interests and those of its allies and partners. Mr. Hegseth, who is participating in the two-day ASEAN defense ministers and related meetings in Cebu, Philippines, said the […]