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Politics
South Korea mulls dispatching troops to safeguard Strait of Hormuz
Seoul: South Korea has been reviewing various options, including troop dispatch, as to what role it can play to safeguard the Strait of Hormuz, officials said Wednesday. Amid tensions with Iran, the U.S. has asked its allies to join a military coalition to secure the strategic waters, and South Korea…
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Business
Jeju Air to acquire Eastar Jet, portending overhaul in low-cost airline sector
Seoul: Jeju Air Co., South Korea’s biggest low-cost carrier, said Wednesday it has signed an initial pact to acquire smaller LCC Eastar Jet, heralding a shake-up in the country’s airline sector. Jeju Air will take over a 51.17-percent stake in Eastar Jet for 69.5 billion won ($60 million) and sign…
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Business
Chinese visitors to Gulf countries to increase 54% by 2023
Dubai: The number of Chinese tourists travelling to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is expected to increase by 54% from 1.4 million in 2018 to 2.2 million in 2023, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.8%, according to data published ahead of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2020.…
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Politics
Politics in Kuwait: 36 governments in 57 years
Kuwait: Kuwait’s latest cabinet announced on Tuesday is the 36th formed over 57 years since the country’s independence. On Tuesday, Kuwait announced the formation of the cabinet headed by Prime Minister Shaikh Sabah Al Khaled Al Sabah and included 15 ministers. According to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), the first government,…
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Culture
South Korea’s ‘Parasite’ shortlisted for Oscars’ best international film
Seoul: Bong Joon-ho’s black comedy “Parasite” was shortlisted for best international feature film at the upcoming Academy Awards, U.S. media reported Tuesday, raising hopes that it might become the first South Korean film to win an Oscar. According to the Hollywood Reporter and other entertainment news media, the Academy of…
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Politics
Former National Assembly Speaker tapped as South Korea’s prime minister
Seoul: President Moon Jae-in announced his nomination of Chung Sye-kyun, a six-term ruling party lawmaker and former National Assembly speaker, as new prime minister on Tuesday. If appointed after a parliamentary confirmation hearing, Chung will be South Korea’s first prime minister who served as a National Assembly speaker. He’s known…
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Politics
Top diplomats of South Korea, Japan hold talks in Spain
Seoul: The top diplomats of South Korea and Japan held one-on-one talks on the sidelines of a multilateral meeting in Spain on Sunday (Spain time) and discussed key bilateral issues related to the ongoing row over trade and wartime history, Seoul’s foreign ministry said. During the 10-minute talks, Foreign Minister…
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East Asia
Multiple pileups on South Korea highway kill at least 5, injure over two dozens
Seoul: Two massive pileups occurred within moments on a highway in the country’s southeast early Saturday, killing at least five people and injuring more than two dozen others, officials said. The first crash occurred at about 4:40 a.m., when some 10 vehicles, including cargo trucks, collided on a highway en…
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Politics
North Korea could announce end to nuke talks later this month: think tank
Seoul: North Korea could announce an end to denuclearization talks with the United States when it convenes a meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party later this month, a state-run think tank said Friday. The North said last week it will convene a plenary meeting of the Central Committee of…
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Society
Singapore Press Watch: Unexpected responses to fake law strictures
By Ivan Lim Contributor to AsiaN Singapore: The Singapore authorities’ invoking of a new law on fake news to call out two political commentators has met with unexpected responses: while one has complied with an order to post a correction, but not unequivocally, the other has refused to do…
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