Monkeys thwart attempted sexual assault on 6-year-old girl in India

SEOUL (AP) — A group of monkeys in northern India rescued a 6-year-old girl from a man attempting to sexually assault her. The man in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh, lured the child into an abandoned house Saturday and tried to assault her. When the girl screamed, nearby monkeys rushed to attack the man. He fled, threatening to kill her family if she told anyone. The child returned home and told her parents. Her father told media, "My daughter would have been dead by now i

September 26, 2024

Thai Baht surge sparks economic concerns, policy debate

SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) – The Thai baht surged to its strongest level against the U.S. dollar since February 2023 this week, raising concerns about potential harm to Thailand's export and tourism sectors. According to reports, the baht reached 32.86 to the U.S. dollar on Monday, its strongest level in about 17 months. Industry groups, including the Thai Chamber of Commerce, have urged the Bank of Thailand (BOT) to cut interest rates to mitigate the baht's rise.

September 25, 2024

Vietnamese captain gets 7 years for deadly tourist boat accident

SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - A Vietnamese boat captain has been sentenced to seven years in prison for a 2022 accident that killed 17 tourists near Hoi An, a popular tourist destination. The Quang Nam Province People's Court found Le Sen, 54, guilty of violating maritime traffic regulations during the incident about 3 kilometers off the coast. The tragedy occurred on Feb. 26, 2022, when a motorboat carrying Sen, two crew members and 36 tourists capsized while returning from Ch

September 25, 2024

Qatar becomes first Gulf nation to join U.S. visa waiver program

SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - Qatar has become the first Gulf country to join the U.S. visa waiver program, allowing its citizens to travel to the U.S. without a visa for up to 90 days. This announcement came from the U.S. State Department and the Department of Homeland Security, which stated that Qatari citizens could apply starting Dec. 1. Qatar's inclusion in the program highlights its strengthening relationship with the U.S., especially in efforts like mediating a ceasefire in

September 25, 2024

Iran ready to renew nuclear talks, criticizes Israel's actions in Gaza

SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the United Nations General Assembly, expressing Iran's readiness to improve relations with the West, particularly concerning its nuclear program. In his first UN speech, Pezeshkian emphasized a desire for a "constructive" chapter in international relations and reaffirmed Iran's willingness to engage with Western countries on the 2015 nuclear deal, provided all parties uphold their commitments.

September 25, 2024

Xi urges faster progress in space exploration as Chang'e-6 mission marks historic milestone

SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - Chinese President Xi Jinping urged on Monday China's space industry to speed up its efforts in space exploration during a meeting with space scientists and engineers involved in the Chang'e-6 lunar mission at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Chang'e-6 was launched on May 3, 2024, and on June 25, successfully returned with 1,935.3 grams of samples from the moon's far side. Xi highlighted that this mission marked the first time huma

September 25, 2024

Japan settles first forced sterilization case for 15 million yen

SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - A Japanese woman in her 60s has reached a 15 million yen ($104,000) settlement with the government at the Sendai High Court, in the first resolution of a forced sterilization lawsuit under a now-defunct eugenics law. The settlement, made on Tuesday, came more than six years after the plaintiff initially filed her suit and follows a landmark Supreme Court ruling on July 3 that declared the plaintiffs eligible for compensation and deemed the eugenics law un

September 25, 2024

Japan's foreign minister addresses safety concerns with Chinese counterpart

SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa has met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in New York, urging China to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals following a recent fatal incident involving a Japanese schoolboy in Shenzhen. During the hour-long meeting on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly on Monday, Kamikawa expressed "serious concern" about China's recent military activities, including the first reported intrusion of a Chi

September 25, 2024

China unveils sweeping economic measures to boost growth

SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - Chinese officials unveiled a range of significant policy measures aimed at supporting the country's economy on Tuesday. These include reductions in both the policy rate and the reserve requirement ratio (RRR), designed to foster a favorable financial environment conducive to stable economic growth and high-quality development. Foreign media described these actions as "broader-than-expected," signaling the government's commitment to susta

September 25, 2024

Kishida vows continued support for Ukraine in meeting with Zelenskyy

SEOUL, September 24 (AJP) - Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reaffirmed his country's unwavering support for Ukraine during talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as the leaders met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Kishida, who is set to step down later this week, pledged that Japan would maintain its backing for Ukraine on Monday, according to Japan's Foreign Ministry. The two leaders agreed to sustain close coordin

September 24, 2024