Chinese carrier sails near Japanese islands, raising tensions

SEOUL, September 19 (AJP) - China's aircraft carrier Liaoning and two accompanying destroyers entered waters near Japan's southern islands on Wednesday, Japan's Defense Ministry reported. This incident marks the Chinese Navy's fourth occurrence this year. The Chinese vessels traversed the contiguous zone, an area extending 24 nautical miles from shore, between Okinawa Prefecture's Yonaguni and Iriomote islands. While not violating Japan's territorial waters,

September 19, 2024

Samsung SDI unveils next-generation battery solutions for commercial EVs at Hannover trade show

SEOUL, September 19 (AJP) - Samsung SDI is presenting a range of next-generation battery solutions for electric commercial vehicles at the IAA Transportation 2024 trade show this week. At the world’s largest trade show for commercial vehicles, held from Tuesday to Sunday in Hannover, Germany, the Korean battery maker is showcasing its latest LFP+ (lithium iron phosphate) battery, which boasts 10 percent higher energy density than its predecessor and can charge to 80 percent ca

September 19, 2024

OPINION: Fed slashes rates by a half-point – what that means for economy and presidential election

SEOUL, September 19 (AJP) - In a widely anticipated move, the Federal Reserve announced on Sept. 18, 2024, that it was cutting its benchmark interest rate by half a percentage point to a range of 4.75 percent to to 5 percent – the first time the cost of borrowing has been lowered in four years. The move marks an important pivot point, signaling that central bankers believe they have finally won their battle against inflation. It is also significant in timing, coming just month

September 19, 2024

Walkie-talkie explosions at Hezbollah funeral escalate tensions

SEOUL, September 19 (AJP) - On Wednesday, explosions occurred at a funeral for three Hezbollah members and a child who had been killed by exploding pagers the day before. Walkie-talkies, solar equipment, and other devices detonated during the event, leaving 20 people dead and over 450 injured, as reported by Lebanon's health ministry. Hezbollah and the Lebanese government have blamed Israel for Tuesday's initial attack, though Israel has not commented. A representative at

September 19, 2024

UN chief condemns attacks on civilian infrastructure

SEOUL, September 19 (AJP) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the importance of preventing civilian infrastructure from being weaponized after a series of deadly explosions in Lebanon. These blasts, which occurred on Tuesday, targeted wireless communication devices used by Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group. The explosions killed 12 people, including two children, and injured nearly 2,800. Guterres, speaking from UN headquarters in New York, urged governments to

September 19, 2024

Top Chinese lawmaker advocates for stronger ties with Kyrgyzstan's parliament

SEOUL, September 19 (AJP) - Zhao Leji, who heads China's National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, met with Nurlanbek Shakiev, the Speaker of Kyrgyzstan's Parliament last week. Their discussions last Friday centered on enhancing legislative cooperation to support practical collaboration between the two nations. Zhao highlighted the significant progress in China-Kyrgyzstan relations, which have evolved into a comprehensive strategic partnership. He express

September 19, 2024

Trump to meet Indian prime minister next week

SEOUL, September 19 (AJP) - Former U.S. President Donald Trump plans to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi next week. According to Reuters on Tuesday, the Republican presidential candidate made this announcement during a campaign event in Michigan, criticizing India as a "very big abuser" of trade relations with the U.S. However, he did not disclose specific details about the schedule or location of the meeting. While Trump criticized India's trade practi

September 19, 2024

Chinese official engages in extensive discussions on electric vehicle tariffs

SEOUL, September 19 (AJP) - China's Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian reaffirmed on Wednesday that China remains committed to resolving the electric vehicle (EV) tariff dispute with the EU through diplomatic channels. This statement came in response to inquiries about Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao's recent meetings with officials from key EU member states regarding the EV tariff issue. Lin criticized the EU's investigation into Chinese EVs as protect

September 19, 2024

OPINION: Will exploding pager attack be the spark that ignites Israel-Hezbollah war?

SEOUL, September 19 (AJP) - The alleged Israeli attack on members of Hezbollah via their pagers is another ominous development propelling the Middle East towards a full-scale regional war. It leaves Hezbollah with little option but to retaliate with the full support of the Iran-led "axis of resistance." The sophistication and impact of targeting the pagers is unprecedented. The attack resulted in at least 11 deaths, including some of Hezbollah's fighters, and up to 3,0

September 19, 2024

Bahrain to host 2025 F1 pre-season testing as calendar adjusts for Ramadan

SEOUL, September 18 (AJP) - Bahrain has been chosen again to host Formula 1's pre-season testing in 2025, even though it won’t hold the first race of the season next year. Since 2021, the Bahrain International Circuit has been the place for pre-season testing, having exclusive rights for the last two years. To reduce costs, F1 has shortened pre-season testing to just one session over three days for the past two years, and this format will continue in 2025. That

September 18, 2024