Xi meets Macao's new chief executive Sam Hou Fai

SEOUL, November 5 (AJP) - Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Sam Hou Fai, the newly elected chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), recently appointed by China's central government, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing last week. During the meeting last Friday, Premier Li Qiang, with Xi present, handed Sam an official decree from the State Council, formalizing his role as Macao SAR's sixth chief executive. Xi offered his congratulations,

November 5, 2024

Dubai hosts prestigious best chef awards for first time in Middle East

SEOUL, November 5 (AJP) - The city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates hosted the eighth edition of The Best Chef Awards this week, marking the event's debut in the Middle East. The three-day event, which began Monday, will wrap up with the main award ceremony at the Asateer Tent in Atlantis, The Palm Jumeirah on Wednesday. Supported by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, the awards feature workshops, panel discussions, and interactive sessions, bringing together cu

November 5, 2024

China appeals to WTO over EU decision on countervailing measures

SEOUL, November 5 (AJP) - China on Monday appealed to the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the EU's final decision on countervailing measures targeting Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), China's commerce ministry said. China firmly opposes the EU's move to impose high countervailing duties on Chinese-made EVs, despite opposition from EU governments, industry groups, and the public, according to a ministry spokesperson. To protect the interests of the EV industry a

November 5, 2024

Volcano kills six in Indonesia's Lesser Sunda Islands, highest alert issued

SEOUL, November 05 (AJP) - Six people died after multiple eruptions at Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki on Flores island, eastern Indonesia, with volcanic ash reaching 2 kilometers high and engulfing nearby villages in hot brown ash early Monday, the disaster management agency reported. Indonesian authorities raised the volcanic alert to the highest level 4, evacuating residents from five villages and imposing a 7-kilometer exclusion zone around the crater. Officials warned of potential flo

November 5, 2024

PHOTOS: K-pop icon G-Dragon arrives at airport in Cybertruck

SEOUL, November 4 (AJP) - K-pop icon G-Dragon turned heads at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on Monday, arriving in Tesla's futuristic Cybertruck before departing for a Chanel fashion show in Hong Kong.

November 4, 2024

South Korea to hire domestic helpers from more Asian countries

SEOUL, November 4 (AJP) - Foreign domestic helpers working here are expected to be more diverse, starting from next year. The Ministry of Employment and Labor said on Monday that it is considering expanding the current program, currently limited to workers from the Philippines, to include more Asian countries like Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. The pilot program, managed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, was introduced this summer to alleviate the challenges faced by young

November 4, 2024

PHOTOS: Disability rights group rallies for job protection

SEOUL, November 04 (AJP) - Disability rights activists rallied at the National Assembly Station in Seoul's Yeouido district last Wednesday, protesting the city's dismissal of 400 disabled workers from public sector jobs. The demonstrators, organized by Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination, also demanded special legislation to protect public sector employment for disabled people.

November 4, 2024

PHOTOS: Baby, parenting fair held at COEX in Seoul

SEOUL, November 4 (AJP) - A four-day baby and parenting expo wrapped up Sunday at Seoul's COEX convention center, connecting parents with pregnancy, childbirth and early childhood resources. The Cobe Baby Fair, running Oct. 31-Nov. 3, focused on parenting education while providing industry vendors direct access to consumers. MESSE ESANG and COEX jointly hosted the event.

November 4, 2024

UN Security Council holds talks over North Korea's ICBM launch

SEOUL, November 4 (AJP) - Member countries of the United Nations Security Council are holding talks in Washinton, D.C. on Monday over North Korea's recent intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch last week. Shortly after the launch, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned it as "clear violations of relevant Security Council resolutions." Barbara Woodward, the U.K. ambassador to the UN and current Security Council president, called North Korea's r

November 4, 2024

Six Cambodians jailed in Korea for violent gang assault

SEOUL, November 04 (AJP) - A Korean court on Sunday sentenced six Cambodian nationals to prison terms ranging from 3.5 to 5 years for a violent attack outside a nightclub in Suwon, south of Seoul. The group assaulted a fellow Cambodian man with blunt weapons on June 9, 2023, leaving the victim with multiple fractures requiring five weeks of medical treatment. Judge Kong Hyun-jin of the Suwon District Court cited the severity of the crime, noting that the main defendant distributed w

November 4, 2024