OPINION: Polaris Dawn mission to Earth's orbit will test SpaceX's capabilities for commercial space program

SEOUL, August 26 (AJU PRESS) - SpaceX's upcoming Polaris Dawn mission aims to be historic in more ways than one. Polaris Dawn plans to not only orbit Earth higher than any astronauts have in more than 50 years but to also feature the first private spacewalk. It's expected to launch Aug. 27, 2024, and feature a crew of four: the mission's commander, Jared Isaacman; Scott Poteet, a 20-year Air Force veteran pilot; and SpaceX employees Anna Menon and Sarah Gillis. Launching

August 26, 2024

OPINION: Harris delivers warm and strong acceptance speech as Democrats take joy, hope and renewal to electorate

SEOUL, August 23 (AJU PRESS) - In the recent history of convention speeches, Kamala Harris' remarks at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago were relatively short. But they hit all the right notes. Harris was steady, warm, clear and, at times, funny. She reaffirmed all the themes her campaign has established so quickly and thoroughly: freedom, unity, and a vision for a better future. While there were a few moments in the speech that may indicate troubles to come, for

August 23, 2024

OPINION: US voters say they're ready for woman president − but sexist attitudes still go along with opposition to Harris

SEOUL, August 23 (AJU PRESS) - Since President Joe Biden exited the presidential race on July 21, 2024, and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee, Harris' campaign has generated widespread enthusiasm and attention. She quickly became the official Democratic presidential nominee and erased Donald Trump's lead over Biden in national and swing-state polling. Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, have also drawn tens of thou

August 23, 2024

OPINION: How Canada finally broke its longtime habit of diplomatic engagement with China

SEOUL, August 23 (AJU PRESS) - Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly recently met with her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, marking the first official visit following a multi-year diplomatic crisis. The resumption of ministerial contact has led some commentators to call for a return to regular bilateral diplomacy between Canada and China since "glimpses of a rainbow appear to be on the horizon" for the relationship. Others have noted that Canadians are stil

August 23, 2024

OPINION: Why North Korea may find South's new vision for reunification provocative

SEOUL, August 22 (AJU PRESS) - Every year, on Aug. 15, there is a public holiday in South Korea to commemorate the day the Korean Peninsula was liberated from Japanese colonial rule. On this day, there is a longstanding tradition whereby South Korean presidents outline their vision for Korean reunification – Korea has been divided between the North and South since 1945. But the country's current president, Yoon Suk Yeol, proposed a new approach this year. Rather than empha

August 22, 2024

OPINION:  Korea Exercises Highlight Japan, South Korea and U.S.

KENOSHA, August 21 (AJU PRESS) - South Korea and the United States on August 19 began regular annual military exercises, including operations geared toward North Korea, but this year there is a difference. Japan is a more visible defense partner in the Pacific and beyond This follows directly from a Camp David summit last year hosted by President Biden that included the prime ministers of both Japan and South Korea. The resulting agreement greatly changes the dynamics of the balance

August 21, 2024

OPINION: British boyband hopefuls face K-pop's brutal training regime in new BBC reality show

SEOUL, August 21 (AJU PRESS) - Five aspiring boy-band members from the U.K., a house in Seoul's popular Itaewon district, and training at one of Korea's leading K-pop talent agencies – this is the recipe offered up by Made in Korea: The K-pop experience, a new BBC reality show. The show charts the journey of a group of young men aged between 19 and 23 through a strict, 100-day training process, leading to their debut as a band called Dear Alice. Made in Korea taps i

August 21, 2024

OPINION: Kamala Harris' polls surge stalls ahead of Democratic National Convention

SEOUL, August 20 (AJU PRESS) - The U.S. presidential election will be held on Nov. 5. In analyst Nate Silver's aggregate of national polls, Democrat Kamala Harris leads Republican Donald Trump by 47.1–44.6 percent with 4.2 percent for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In my previous U.S. politics article last Wednesday, Harris led Trump by 46.8–43.7 percent. Joe Biden's final position before his withdrawal as Democratic candidate on July 21 was a national poll deficit agains

August 20, 2024

OPINION: Mpox outbreak in Africa was neglected – it could now turn into next global pandemic

SEOUL, August 19 (AJU PRESS) - The mpox outbreak in Africa is yet another example of how infectious diseases perceived to be "someone else's problem," and affecting mainly poor, developing countries, may suddenly pose unexpected global threats. Other examples of neglected diseases include the West Nile, Zika and Chikungunya viruses. Mpox was discovered in 1958 (in captive monkeys, hence the original misnomer "monkeypox") and the first human case was identi

August 19, 2024

Opinion: The rise of  China's sports powerhouse at the Paris Olympics

KARACHI, August 16 (AJU PRESS) - The Paris Olympics, which wrapped up on August 11, marked a historic milestone for China. The Chinese delegation secured 40 gold, 27 silver, and 24 bronze medals, setting a new record for their best performance in overseas competition. This success wasn't just about the medal count; it was a testament to China's growing dominance in global sports. The fierce rivalry between China and the U.S. played out until the final day, echoing the tension

August 16, 2024