SEOUL – The chronic devaluation of the South Korean won is a subject of interest for both the Korean and US administrations — significant enough to be included in their high-stake trade negotiation. While Seoul and Washington have agreed to craft a trade package to eliminate US tariffs on Korean exports, the discussion will cover four main areas: tariffs and non-tariff barriers, economic security, investment cooperation and exchange rate policy. “The two countries’ finance ministries will hold separate consultations on the forex policy issue, with working-level talks expected to start soon,” Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok told the press, shortly after…
Author: Asia News Network
ISLAMABAD – Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir on Thursday warned that any “misadventure” by India, amid fraught tensions with Pakistan that has seen continued shelling across the Line of Control after a militant attack in occupied Kashmir last week, would be met with a quick and decisive response. The April 22 attack in Pahalgam killed 26 people, mostly tourists, marking one of the deadliest assaults in the region since 2000. India has implied cross-border links without evidence, while Pakistan has rejected the accusation and called for a neutral probe. Tensions have since spiked, with Pakistan reinforcing its…
ISLAMABAD – Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday said Pakistan will not strike India but reserves the right to retaliate, as he concluded his speech in the Senate on the recent tensions with India and diplomatic overtures deployed by Islamabad to contest New Delhi’s allegations in light of the Pahalgam attack. The Senate session also witnessed a call by PPP lawmaker Syed Masroor Ahsan, who endorsed the idea floated by the PTI seeking the involvement of PTI chief Imran Khan in the multi-party conference to send a “message of unity” in the country. The idea initially floated by PTI’s Ali…
TOKYO – The government is considering presenting a plan to increase the number of cars imported under a preferential certification system as a possible card to play in tariff negotiations with the United States, according to government sources. The system, called the “preferential handling procedure for imported motor vehicles,” or PHP, is designed to promote imports of vehicles by simplifying the screening process of imported cars. The proposal is expected to be put on the table as U.S. President Donald Trump views safety standards as problematic non-tariff barriers. The Japanese government is also considering sounding out the United States about…
SEOUL – A substantial number of single parents in South Korea have low financial instability and far less time to spend with their children than two-parent households, a study by a state-funded research institute showed Tuesday. As of 2021, 31.4 percent of all households with one parent and at least one unmarried child were in the bottom 10 percent in terms of household income, according to research by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs. Another 20 percent were in the second-lowest bracket, the 11th-20th percentile, meaning 51.4 percent of single-parent households belong to the bottom 20 percent in…
JAKARTA – Six months after stepping down from the nation’s top post, former president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has been the target of a barrage of lawsuits, which analysts say underscores the accumulated disapproval over his presidency. The hearings on two civil lawsuits, the first alleges that Jokowi used fake diplomas to qualify for public office the second alleges that he defaulted on his promise regarding the production target for the locally made car brand Esemka began last week at the Surakarta District Court in Central Java, Jokowi’s hometown, without his presence. Jokowi at the time of the first hearings was…
KATHMANDU – These days, it’s not just the master potters who are working with the wheel. Across Nepal, from the heritage alleys of Patan and the workshops of Bhaktapur to Kathmandu’s creative hubs, more young people are picking up clay as a new form of expression. Youths are looking for something slower and more hands-on to do after work or school. What’s interesting is that many aren’t just trying to make bowls or vases; they’re looking for balance, calm, and a way to breathe. Studies suggest they might be onto more than just a creative hobby—working with clay offers profound…
NEW DELHI – As Pakistan continued to indulge in unprovoked cross border firing on the fifth day, a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was held at his residence here on Tuesday. The meeting was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and the Chiefs of the three services. The meeting comes a day before the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), slated to be held on Wednesday. Though there is no official communique from the government regarding the proceedings of the meeting, it is anticipated that plans…
SEOUL – After South Korea battled the worst wildfire in its history in March, another wildfire in the southeastern city of Daegu spread fast Monday, forcing some 1,200 residents to evacuate. Authorities stated that the fire broke out at approximately 2 p.m. in Hamjisan, a mountain in the city’s central region. While the cause of the fire is still yet to be identified, the Daegu city government said the fire is suspected to have started in a restricted mountain access area. Investigations of the exact cause will begin once firefighting efforts are completed. Forest authorities initially issued a Level 1…
BANGKOK – More than 5.9 million LGBTQIA+ individuals—about 9% of Thailand’s population—are emerging as a “new economic powerhouse,” expected to generate over 152 billion baht in revenue, according to new research from Mahidol University’s College of Management (CMMU). Prasert Thanatchoktawee, advisor to the marketing program at CMMU, shared findings from the study “Love Wins Marketing: Decoding LGBTQIA+ Consumer Insights in the Era of Marriage Equality,” revealing that with the Equal Marriage Act taking effect earlier this year, Thailand’s LGBTQIA+ population will play a significant role in boosting the economy. The study projects an influx of 4 million LGBTQIA+ tourists, contributing…