Fire in Manila slum destroys 1,000 homes

SEOUL, November 25 (AJP) - A massive fire swept through a seaside slum in Manila, Philippines, on Sunday, burning down approximately 1,000 houses in the impoverished Tondo district, local fire officials said. Authorities deployed 36 fire trucks, four fireboats, and two air force helicopters to battle the blaze, which began on the second floor of a residential building around 8 a.m., Nov. 24. The fire tore through wooden stilt houses in the densely populated area, home to about

November 25, 2024

Japan's foreign minister may visit China soon to discuss boosting bilateral ties

SEOUL, November 25 (AJP) - Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya is expected to visit Beijing this year for discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The planned mission, reported on Sunday, would mark Iwaya's inaugural trip to China since assuming office in October and represents the first high-level visit by a Japanese foreign minister to Beijing after more than a year, last visited in April 2023. The visit follows a recent summit between Japanese Prime Minister

November 25, 2024

US, Japan finalize joint military plan for Taiwan contingency

SEOUL, November 25 (AJP) - The United States and Japan are finalizing a comprehensive military response plan designed to counter potential conflict scenarios arising from tensions between Taiwan and China. The plan, which is expected to be formalized in December, involves strategic missile positioning in key locations across the region. According to media reports on Sunday, the initiative will see the deployment of U.S. Marine Corps' Marine Littoral Regiments, equipped with

November 25, 2024

China cracks down on online platforms' algorithm-based practices

SEOUL, November 25 (AJP) - Chinese regulators launched a coordinated campaign to address key algorithm-related issues on major online platforms. Running from last week to February next year, the initiative will target problems such as repetitive content, unauthorized ranking manipulations, profit-driven practices, and discriminatory pricing based on user data, according to a notice from the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC). The campaign is expected to protect consumer rig

November 25, 2024

China, EU inch closer to agreement on EV tariffs

SEOUL, November 25 (AJP) - China and the EU are reportedly close to resolving the dispute over tariffs on electric vehicle (EV) imports, according to multiple German media outlets. German broadcaster n-tv reported that Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament's trade committee, as saying that both sides are working toward an agreement. As of Sunday, neither the European Commission (EC) nor China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) had commented on Lange's remarks.

November 25, 2024

OPINION: Russia needs peace deal soon as it is running out of soldiers

SEOUL, November 25 (AJP) - For Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump's win couldn't come soon enough. Putin may reportedly accept a deal where Moscow gains significant territory in Ukraine (about the size of the U.S. state of Virginia) and Ukraine remains neutral and forgets about any plans to join NATO or the EU. Though Ukraine is experiencing war fatigue, so is Russia. Russia is making steady advances in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, but the Kremlin is still struggling to recruit

November 25, 2024

South Korea rejects Japan's forced labor memorial

SEOUL, November 24 (AJP) - South Korea has pulled out of a memorial ceremony in Japan honoring forced labor victims, including Koreans, from an old Japanese mine complex. The decision came after Tokyo announced that Akiko Ikuina, a parliamentary vice minister with a history of visiting the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, would represent the government at the event. Seoul expressed concerns about Ikuina's appointment, citing her association with the shrine, which honors conv

November 24, 2024

North Korea given missiles in return for troops, South Korean security adviser says

SEOUL, November 22 (AJP) - Russia has supplied anti-aircraft missiles and air defense equipment to North Korea in return for its troop deployment to support Moscow's war in Ukraine, South Korea's top security adviser said on Friday. "Russia is believed to have provided Pyongyang with missiles and other equipment to bolster its air defense capabilities," said National Security Adviser Shin Won-sik during his appearance on an SBS TV program. Shin also speculated t

November 22, 2024

LG Innotek to spend $270 million to boost production lines in Viet Nam

SEOUL, November 22 (AJP) - South Korea's LG Innotek, the supplier of camera modules to Apple iPhones, announced on Thursday it will make 375.9 billion won (US$270 million) additional investment in Viet Nam. This is part of a plan the company unveiled last year to invest 1.3 trillion won to expand its production subsidiary in Hai Phong. The Hai Phong production subsidiary mainly manufactures camera modules, and the additional production lines are scheduled for completion in

November 22, 2024

Xi Jinping visits Morocco to expand bilateral cooperation

SEOUL, November 22 (AJP) - Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Morocco on Thursday for a brief visit. Xi was welcomed at Casablanca by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan. During the visit, Xi met with Moroccan Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch and other senior officials, including Wali of the Casablanca-Settat region Abdellatif Maâzouz and President of the Regional Council. The Chinese president also received honors from the Royal Guard and participated in a traditional Morocc

November 22, 2024