Trump picks pro-Israel hardliner as US envoy

SEOUL, November 15 (AJP) - Mike Huckabee, the former Republican governor of Arkansas, has been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump as the U.S. ambassador to Israel. Huckabee has said that he intends to carry out Trump's policies rather than set his own, but he hinted at a likely continuation of pro-Israel policies similar to those seen in Trump's previous administration. These include the relocation of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and recognition of the Golan Heigh

November 15, 2024

Japan, Britain to hold economic talks amid Trump trade concerns

SEOUL, November 15 (AJP) - Japan and Britain are to hold ministerial talks on economic security ahead of Donald Trump's return to the White House. The initiative will bring together foreign and economic ministers from both countries, political sources said on Thursday. The discussions are expected to commence following next week's G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro where Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are set to meet. The prop

November 15, 2024

Thailand's baby hippo 'Moo Deng' boosts zoo visitors fourfold, drives regional tourism

SEOUL, November 15 (AJP) - Daily visitors to Thailand's Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi province have quadrupled to 12,000 from 3,000, with a record 14,000 visitors on Oct. 13 and 300,000 for the month, the Bangkok Post reported on Thursday. Chonburi Governor Thawatchai Srithong said tourism revenue in the province reached 27 billion baht ($770 million) between July and October, a 4 percent increase from the same period last year, crediting the baby pygmy hippopotamus born in Ju

November 15, 2024

Guangzhou records longest summer since 1961  

SEOUL, November 15 (AJP) - Guangzhou reached an average temperature of 23.3 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, setting a record of 235 summer days since the start of meteorological records in 1961. The figure surpassed the previous record of 234 summer days in 1994, according to the city's meteorological bureau. The city in south China officially entered summer on March 23 this year, based on relevant standards. Ai Hui, a senior engineer at the city's climate and agricultural

November 15, 2024

Railway passengers in China reach record 3.71 billion in first 10 months of this year

SEOUL, November 15 (AJP) - China saw 3.71 billion railway passengers travel during the first 10 months of this year, China State Railway Group said Thursday. While the figure marks a 13 percent increase compared to last year, passenger transport capacity also saw significant growth. The average of 10,555 passenger trains in operation each day represents a 9.3 percent increase from the previous year. Between January and October, the operator ran 1,599 tourist trains, which support

November 15, 2024

India's industrial production rises 3.1% year-on-year in September

SEOUL, November 14 (AJP) - India's industrial output grew 3.1 percent in September from a year earlier, exceeding market expectations amid rebounds in manufacturing and mining sectors, government data showed Wednesday. The Industrial Production Index (IIP) rose to 146.7 from 142.3 in September 2023, according to the Ministry of Statistics. The growth surpassed analysts' forecast of 2.5 percent. The September increase marks a recovery from August's 0.1 percent decline,

November 14, 2024

Japan premier undergoes second health check amid drowsiness concerns

SEOUL, November 14 (AJP) - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba underwent his second medical examination in less than a week, following an incident where he appeared to doze off during a parliamentary proceeding, raising questions about his health condition. "There is no impact on his official duties," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters in Tokyo on Wednesday, explaining that the 30-minute checkup was a routine procedure ahead of his scheduled attend

November 14, 2024

Morocco sees nearly 15 million tourists in first 10 months

SEOUL, November 14 (AJP) - Tourist arrivals in Morocco reached 14.6 million by October, surpassing last year's total, according to Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor on Wednesday. This growth is part of the 2023 - 2026 tourism roadmap, with a 19-percent rise in visitors from the previous year, including a 22-percent increase in foreign tourists and a 16-percent rise in Moroccans living abroad. In October alone, Morocco welcomed 1.5 million tourists, a 30-percent jump from the sa

November 14, 2024

Adani Group to invest $10 billion in US energy, infrastructure projects

SEOUL, November 14 (AJP) - India's conglomerate Adani Group plans to invest $10 billion in energy and infrastructure projects in the United States to strengthen the strategic business relationship between the two countries. Adani Group's Chairman Gautam Adani posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the group is "committed to leveraging its global expertise" and will invest in projects in the U.S. that are expected to create 15,000 jobs. This U.S. investment comes af

November 14, 2024

Philippines hit by unprecedented five typhoons in a month, more storms approaching

SEOUL, November 14 (AJP) - The Philippines faces an unprecedented series of typhoons, with four storms currently active in the Western Pacific region, as Typhoon Usagi approaches landfall in Cagayan province on Thursday, following typhoons Jami, Kongrey, Inching, and Doraji since late October, according to news reports. The Japan Meteorological Agency said this marks the first time since record-keeping began in 1951 that four typhoons have simultaneously operated in the region durin

November 14, 2024