Schedule for Putin's visit to India will be revealed soon: Kremlin

SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit India within the next few months. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that preparations are underway for Putin’s visit, mentioning that the schedule will be revealed soon. If the visit takes place, it will mark Putin's first trip to India since December 2021, two months before the Russia-Ukraine war began. During that trip, Putin held an annual summit with Indian Prime Ministe

November 20, 2024

China, France agree to cooperate to address global challenges

SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday held a summit on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Brazil. Xi emphasized the strategic importance of China-France relations, saying that both share a responsibility to guide international efforts in addressing global challenges. Macron recalled Xi's visit to Paris in May this year, during which they marked the 60th anniversary of the two countries' diplomatic ties. He

November 20, 2024

Japanese PM emphasizes alliance with US for Indo-Pacific stability

SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed his intention to foster collaboration with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, emphasizing the importance of their bilateral alliance for Indo-Pacific stability. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday following his South American diplomatic tour, Ishiba addressed the postponed meeting with Trump, which could not take place due to U.S. legal restrictions on president-elects meeting foreign leaders. &qu

November 20, 2024

Laos reports 9 deaths from unexploded ordnance this year

SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - Nine people were killed and 39 injured in unexploded ordnance (UXO) accidents across Laos in the first 10 months of this year, Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone told the National Assembly on Monday at its 8th Ordinary Session. The country has cleared UXO from 5,256 hectares of land, achieving 70 percent of its target, while the Lao National Unexploded Ordnance Programme covered 1,565 hectares, reaching 21 percent of its planned area. The government has a

November 20, 2024

Moroccan doctors strike for higher pay and better working conditions

SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - Doctors in Morocco's public hospitals began a three-day strike on Tuesday, demanding better working conditions and higher salaries. The action, organized by the Independent Union of Public Sector Doctors, marks the start of a three-week protest campaign, including planned sit-ins. The strike comes despite government efforts to address long-standing issues in the healthcare sector. In April, Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch announced a monthly

November 20, 2024

Thailand's economy grows at fastest pace in two years

SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - Thailand's economy grew 3 percent year-on-year in the third quarter, its fastest pace in two years, beating Reuters and Bloomberg median forecasts of 2.6 percent and 2.4 percent respectively, the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) reported on Monday. The growth surge follows September's government handout of 10,000 baht ($285) to 14.5 million vulnerable citizens, along with improvements in exports and services sector perform

November 20, 2024

Japan, UK, Italy bolster cooperation on fighter jet development

SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - The leaders of Japan, Britain and Italy strengthened their commitment to collaborate on a next-generation fighter aircraft project, marking a key milestone in their defense partnership. The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), uniting aerospace leaders Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, BAE Systems and Leonardo, targets deployment of the advanced fighter jet by 2035, officials said on Tuesday during a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro

November 20, 2024

Dubai Future Forum brings futurists, global leaders together

SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - The Dubai Future Forum 2024, the world’s largest gathering of futurists, opened Tuesday at the Museum of the Future, bringing together more than 150 speakers and 2,500 participants from 100 countries. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, attended the event, emphasizing Dubai’s role as a global leader in shaping the future. “The Dubai F

November 20, 2024

Viet Nam unveils ambitious semiconductor talent development plan

SEOUL, November 19 (AJP) - Viet Nam plans to produce 10,000 semiconductor engineers yearly as part of its semiconductor ecosystem development strategy through 2050, with the Vietnamese market expected to expand to $18.23 billion next year, officials announced at the SEMIExpo in Hanoi last week. The country has attracted major tech firms, including Samsung Electronics, which launched a specialized master's degree program for top graduates. Intel and Amkor have also established lo

November 19, 2024

India overtakes China as top source of international students in US

SEOUL, November 19 (AJP) - India has surpassed China as the top source country for international students studying at U.S. universities. According to a report published by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the nonprofit Institute of International Education on Monday, the number of Indian students studying at U.S. universities during the 2023–2024 academic year increased by around 23 percent from the previous year to 331,602. Th

November 19, 2024