Landslide kills 15 at illegal gold mine in Indonesia

SEOUL, September 30 (AJP) - A landslide triggered by heavy rains has claimed at least 15 lives and buried 25 others at an illegal gold mine on Indonesia's Sumatra island. The disaster occurred on Friday, in a remote area of West Sumatra province, according to news reports. Rescue efforts were initially hampered by blocked access roads to the remote mining site. Indonesian rescue officials reported three additional injuries and confirmed that search operations for those buried ar

September 30, 2024

Indian steel industry calls for measures to address surge of cheap Chinese imports

SEOUL, September 30 (AJP) - The Indian Steel Association (ISA) has voiced concerns about the influx of cheap Chinese steel products, urging the government to take action. The association made this statement following the United States imposing high tariffs on Chinese steel products, according to news reports on Friday. Earlier this month, the U.S. government decided to impose a 25 percent tariff on Chinese steel and aluminum products. "The increased trade remedial tariffs on

September 30, 2024

Fake hotel websites plague Vietnamese resort town

SEOUL, September 30 (AJP) - Nha Trang, a popular resort town in southern Viet Nam, is facing a surge in hotel booking scams. Fraudsters are creating fake websites and social media pages for 4 and 5-star hotels and resorts, tricking tourists into paying for non-existent reservations. One victim from Hanoi lost about 700,000 won ($520) when attempting to book for a group of 12. Local police have reported nearly 100 similar cases. The scammers imitate pages of well-known establishments

September 30, 2024

India investigates fire at iPhone component manufacturer

SEOUL, September 30 (AJP) - Indian authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of a fire at an iPhone component manufacturing facility in southern India, according to news reports. The fire broke out on Saturday at the Tata Electronics plant in Hosur, Tamil Nadu. No injuries were reported, as all employees present at the plant were safely evacuated. The investigation is expected to delay the resumption of production at the facility, which employs around 1,50

September 30, 2024

UAE's Sharjah attracts expats with affordable prices

SEOUL, September 30 (AJP) - As rents in Dubai, UAE skyrocket, many expatriates are looking to Sharjah, a city with ancient roots just north of Dubai, as a more affordable alternative. Sharjah has begun attracting investors after a recent law allowed foreigners to buy property in specific areas. Developers are responding by building thousands of new homes to meet growing demand. "Sharjah offers lower living costs, and we're seeing a migration from Dubai where rents have beco

September 30, 2024

China, Russia conclude joint naval exercise

SEOUL, September 30 (AJP) - China and Russia wrapped up an 18-day joint naval exercise in East Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk last week, immediately transitioning to their fifth joint maritime patrol in Pacific waters. Experts anticipate increased military collaboration between the two nations in the future. The PLA Navy reported that the closing ceremony for the Northern/Interaction-2024 exercise was held aboard the Chinese destroyer Xining at the joint operation headquarters last Frid

September 30, 2024

Israel's strikes on Lebanon and Yemen ignite humanitarian crises

SEOUL, September 30 (AJP) - Israel's airstrikes have likely displaced up to one million people in Lebanon, according to Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who described it as potentially the largest displacement event in the country's history. The Lebanese health ministry reported that more than 50 people were killed in Sunday's strikes, which followed the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah by Israel. In retaliation, Hezbollah launched rockets into northern Isr

September 30, 2024

Japan's incoming PM Ishiba eyes Oct. 27 election

SEOUL, September 30 (AJP) - Japan's incoming Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is planning to call a general election on Oct. 27, according to senior officials from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Ishiba, who secured the LDP leadership on Friday, is set to be formally appointed as prime minister on Tuesday in an extraordinary Diet session. The former defense minister is reportedly assembling his cabinet and party leadership team, with several key appointments already in c

September 30, 2024

Chinese central bank lowers mortgage rates to bolster property sector

SEOUL, September 30 (AJP) - China's central bank revised the mortgage rate pricing mechanism on Sunday to ease financial pressure on homeowners. This decision prompted the country's leading commercial banks to announce adjustments to interest rates on existing personal housing loans. Analysts view this policy shift as part of a broader strategy to stabilize the real estate market and stimulate consumption, contributing to positive market sentiment. The People's Bank o

September 30, 2024

Giant pandas return to China after 13-year stay in Japan

SEOUL, September 30 (AJP) - Two giant pandas have been returned to China after spending 13 years at Tokyo's Ueno Zoological Gardens, zoo officials said on Sunday. The pandas, Ri Ri and Shin Shin, both 19 years old, were transported to a reserve in China's southwestern Sichuan Province for medical treatment. The pandas, who arrived in Tokyo in 2011, had been receiving medication for age-related high blood pressure, according to the Tokyo metropolitan government. Their departu

September 30, 2024