News

Hamas threatens to postpone next hostage release citing broken terms of ceasefire deal by Israel

2025/02/11 17:00

In the Middle East. The fate of the ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas has been rendered uncertain with the latter speaking of plans to postpone the release of Israeli hostages who were expected to return home this coming Saturday. Lee Seung-jae has details. Palestinian militant group Hamas had planned to release Israeli hostages this coming Saturday, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. However, that swap may now be in doubt, as the militant group announced on Monday that it would delay those plans,.. accusing Israel of breaching the Gaza ceasefire agreement. According to Hamas Armed Wing Spokesperson Abu Obeida, the release of the Israeli hostages will be postponed until further notice, pending Israel's "compliance and retroactive compensation for the past weeks." He added that Hamas will reaffirm its commitment to the ceasefire agreement, as long as Israel adheres to it. The spokesperson further explained that for the past three weeks, the Israelis did not abide by the terms of the agreement, having delayed the return of residents of northern Gaza, targeting Palestinians with shelling and gunfire, and stopping aid from entering the enclave. Israel has refuted the claims made by Hamas, and instead blamed the militant group for violating the ceasefire agreement. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also announced on Monday that he had instructed his military to "prepare at the highest level of alert for any possible scenario in Gaza." In response,.. the Israel Defense Forces said it was "raising its level of readiness in southern Israel and postponing leave for combat soldiers," raising concerns over further escalation of tension in the region. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also moved up a political-security cabinet meeting, originally scheduled for Tuesday evening, after the Hamas announcement. An Israeli official said the Israeli leader is consulting with his security leadership team to discuss response measures. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Will leaders of China, Russia, N. Korea meet in Moscow in May?

2025/02/11 17:00

Chinese President Xi Jinping has reportedly accepted a Russian invitation to its Victory Day celebrations that are poised to take place in May. North Korea's Kim Jong-un is also expected to attend this event. Our foreign affairs correspondent Bae Eun-ji has more. Leaders of Russia and China vowed to further develop their partnership throughout this year, in a video call last month, with Putin addressing Xi as his "dear friend." "It is safe to say that foreign policy ties and joint work between Russia and China objectively play an important and stabilizing role in international affairs." "In the new year, I'm willing to work with you to continue guiding China-Russia relations to a new height in 2025, to respond to external uncertainties with the stability and resilience of China-Russia ties, " Citing Russian Ambassador to China Igor Morgulov, Russia's Tass news agency reported Monday, local time, that Chinese President Xi Jinping has accepted Russia's invitation to attend a "Victory Day" ceremony, marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet contribution to victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two. The ambassador also reportedly said that Xi in return, has invited Putin to China for its own commemoration of the end of World War Two --scheduled for September. Although China has yet to officially confirm Xi's visit to Russia, if he does decide to attend, it would be the first time in ten years for a Chinese leader to take part in the event. The Kremlin told Tass that preparations are already underway for Xi's visit to Moscow, and Putin's trip to Beijing. Earlier in December, the Kremlin said it had invited leaders of many countries to attend the 80th anniversary of the end of the war, and that includes North Korea. This means there is a possibility that the leaders of Beijing, Moscow and Pyongyang may hold talks to seek ways to push back against U.S. President Donald Trump. So, eyes are now on whether the three countries will further strengthen their relations and work together to pressure the United States. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

Why do global entrepreneurs choose S. Korea as a destination for their startup?

2025/02/11 17:00

Young entrepreneurs from overseas are opting to start their business ventures here in South Korea. Our Ahn Sung-jin tells us why. Eight years ago, former Samsung employee Pankaj Agarwal started his own business here in South Korea. Now, that business has dozens of employees across two countries. "My journey started with Samsung in Korea and in Samsung there is a program called C-lab that gave me a chance to spin off my company and very naturally from an employee at Samsung we became an individual company." He choose Seoul as the base for his edu-tech startup. "Then what are some of the opportunities that a lot of foreign entrepreneurs see in Korea whether it be perks or what are some of the characteristics or reasons as to why foreign entrepreneurs would find Korea as an attractive destination?" "I think Korea is very unique in that there are a lot of support programs. The government makes sure that startups have a lot of opportunities because startups are always afraid that they will die for us our first office was sponsored by the government." Pankaj says basing his business in Korea has helped in other ways too. "What I benefit the most from Korea is the brand, you know there is Kpop, K-drama and I say why not K-education. I want to create a successful venture that can help showcase Korea's image in the world that a foreign entrepreneur can really build up a business in Korea." U.S. consultancy Startup Genome has ranked Seoul's startup ecosystem 9th out of 300 cities around the world. And to help start-ups get off the ground, the Ministry of SMEs provides special programs to help foreign entrepreneurs settle and grow their businesses, including assistance with visa process, business development funds and other support. "So far we've mostly focused on helping Korean startups expand, but in order to foster a startup ecosystem in Korea, we figured its also important to host foreign entrepreneurs and startups and garner talents from abroad to Korea." More global entrepreneurs are choosing Korea as a place to start their business, and this global startup center also facilitates market entry for these companies through patent and administrative support or corporate partnership matching. "Korea was the one offering the biggest ecosystem, the most developed infrastructure and the best opportunities as well. I would say that the visa process was actually very smooth." "Being able to always ask other entrepreneurs how they're managing their startup entrepreneur life in Korea so we can accelerate our business here much faster." The beginning of a start-up involves struggles such as finding resources and investment. That's why efforts from the government and other stakeholders could be the catalyst for attracting global entrepreneurs and sustaining a healthy startup ecosystem for Korea. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

Samsung Electronics voted "most trusted" refrigerator brand in UK

2025/02/11 17:00

Refrigerators by Samsung Electronics have been voted the "most trusted" by consumers in the U.K. This is according to a survey conducted by Newsweek an American magazine that recently shared its list of most trusted brands for the year in the U.K. Regarding the reasons cited for their vote of confidence in Samsung's fridges consumers in the U.K. highlighted the Korean company's ethical values its reasonable price and customer service.

PPP Floor Leader Kweon calls for prompt approval of supplementary budget, special act to support semiconductor industry

2025/02/11 17:00

And also on the economy ruling People Power Party Floor Leader Kweon Seong-dong called for prompt approval of a supplementary budget and a special act to better support the chip market Addressing the National Assembly today Kweon highlighted the importance of a parliamentary approval within this month to jump-start economic recovery as Korea faces mounting internal and external concerns. He also elaborated on the need to amend the Constitution to decentralize presidential authority to ease political strife among rival parties.

S. Korea's economic growth rate in 2025 slashed to 1.6% with political instability and U.S. trade tariffs

2025/02/11 17:00

The South Korean economy is forecast to grow one-point-six percent this year. Now this is according to a state-run think tank following a downward revision to reflect the prolonged political paralysis here and the broader market ramifications of Trump tariffs. Our correspondent Moon Hye-ryeon reports. South Korea's economic growth projection for the year has been slashed on the back of rising uncertainties with U.S. trade tariffs and continued political instability in the country. In its outlook published on Tuesday, the state-run Korea Development Institute forecasts the economy to grow point-nine percent in the first half of 2025 and two-point-two percent in the second half – bringing the annual growth rate to one-point-six percent. That's down by point-four percentage points from its previous forecast of two percent released in November. This is lower than forecasts from major institutions such as the OECD at two-point-one percent, but similar to the Bank of Korea's projection of one-point-six to one-point-seven percent. The agency noted that the prolonged slump in domestic demand exacerbated by political turmoil in the country, combined with a slowdown in exports, is weighing on economic growth. The construction sector remains in recession while the service sector struggles to recover. Despite strong semiconductor demand, the goods exports were revised down from one-point-nine percent to one-point-five percent – reflecting deteriorating trade conditions. Weak domestic demand is, however, likely to limit inflationary pressure – keeping the KDI's consumer price inflation forecast at one-point-six percent. It is also expected to affect the labor market as sluggish domestic demand limits job growth. These projections, however, come with the KDI assuming that U.S. trade restrictions under the Trump administration would be implemented gradually. The faster-than-expected policy moves have significantly increased uncertainty. "If trade tensions under Trump escalate further or political instability drags on longer than expected, growth could fall below the one-point-six percent we've projected." That being said, the agency pointed out that tariffs on steel and aluminum are unlikely to have a great impact on the country's GDP growth. "Steel and aluminum make up about point-eight percent of our total exports to the U.S., so in the grand scheme of things, it's not a huge portion of our overall portions. If the tariffs do go into effect, these industries would take a significant hit, but in terms of GDP, we don't expect the impact to be that substantial." With weak consumption, slowing exports, and persistent uncertainty both at home and abroad, the KDI's latest outlook signals that the country's economic recovery remains vulnerable. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

K-wave AI News

2025/02/11 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. Korea's iconic cherry blossom festival, 'Jinhae Gunhangje,' will kick off on March 28 in the southern city of Changwon in Gyeongsangnam-do Province. Visitors can immerse themselves in a picturesque floral wonderland while enjoying the festival's signature events such as a military band & honor guard performance, the Admiral Yi Sun-sin memorial ceremony, a multimedia fireworks show, and the Black Eagles air show. This year, it will also feature the 'Cherry Blossom Music Festival' for the first time. Changwon City is expanding its global outreach to accommodate more foreign visitors, securing TV broadcasts, 통역 부스, and cruise ship operations along the Jinhae coastline. Seoul City plans to host a range of cultural events this year at Bukchon Hanok Village. The Bukchon Cultural Center will feature a monthly program called 'Bukchon Dorak' offering immersive cultural experiences that reflect Korea's seasonal traditions, history, and heritage. Highlights include traditional crafts, pop-up libraries, yoga sessions, and year-round exhibitions showcasing K-living and hanok culture. In October, 'Bukchon Day' will be celebrated with hanok workshops, hanok camps, and guided alleyway tours led by local residents. On February 19, the musical "Once" will make its return to the domestic stage after a 10-year hiatus. Based on the beloved film known for hit songs like "Falling Slowly," the production will be a replica of the original musical, preserving the music, choreography, and other key elements. The musical first premiered in Korea in 2014, with a follow-up performance the following year. Co-director Conor Hanratty highlighted that, unlike the original film's quiet atmosphere, the stage version will feature more dynamic and energetic scenes. That's all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[K-wave] A step towards K-pop choreography copyright protection

2025/02/11 14:00

The popularity of K-pop goes beyond just its songs, with its dance elements also a key factor. But the choreography generally does not have proper copyrights. Last year, prominent figures in the dance industry gathered to set up an association to protect these rights. Lee Eun-jin tells us more. Choreography in the K-pop scene ranges from the soft to sharply angled group dance movements. Recently, there was great popularity for dance cover performances by military soldiers on a K-Force Special Show TV program. They are no idols, and without singing a single verse, their dance cover has gained a high number of views. High interest in K-pop choreography is not a new phenomenon. There are fans from abroad who come to Korea to learn from Korean choreographers. "For instance, in France it's just about music. But here in Korea it's about music and dance. And I feel like it has so much. The whole performance is another level. I think it's super nice and fun." But even with the global K-dance craze, returns for the choreographers behind the dance sequences have not changed over many years. They are indeed the creators, but not copyright holders. A survey of some 90 choreographers in Korea showed that only around 2 percent of them have ever held a copyright. That's because there is a longstanding practice regarding this in the industry. It is common for choreographers to sign contracts that include a special agreement condition to hand over the rights of their choreography to the party using it, which is usually an entertainment agency. "Even for me, it's not easy to ask 'Can you take this clause out?'. It's been such a longstanding practice " For young choreographers, they are often not even given the chance to contemplate the conditions of copyright. "I myself can't be proud because the reality is that I've signed contracts without having such knowledge." This is why, last year, choreographers gathered to launch an association to protect copyright. Their first step was carrying out promotional activity to establish that choreography is also subject to copyright. In line with this, the government also began a system reorganization of legal concepts surrounding this issue. Based on research and case studies, the government plans to release copyright guidelines and standard contracts accordingly this year. "There is a hidden effort by choreographers behind the growth of K-pop. I hope that a social atmosphere is established where these choreographers' efforts and their value are recognized." Major Korean entertainment agencies have said they would follow the copyright guidelines and standard contracts set out by the government. And this gives hope to those that have worked hard for years for "an era of copyright in choreography." Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

[K-enter] "Dark Nuns" sees global box office success

2025/02/11 14:00

And we will start off with a K-movie. And it seems that one film is doing very well overseas, which one will you be talking about? Today's film is "The Dark Nuns". A story of two nuns who perform a forbidden ritual to save a boy possessed by a powerful evil spirit, it stars Song Hye-kyo and Jeon Yeo-bin , and has seen global box office success. Released in Korea on January 24, the film has surpassed its break-even point of 1.6 million viewers domestically and has also exceeded 1 million viewers in Indonesia. Additionally, it has remained No. 1 at the box office in the Philippines for two consecutive weeks since its release. The film continues to spread across the world, having been released in North America, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Laos and Myanmar . It is set for further releases in Singapore and Malaysia on February 13, followed by Vietnam on February 21. It's great to see people are still heading to the theatres to see movies and even better that K-movies are at the top of some viewers' lists. Moving onto some news about NewJeans or should I say NJZ? I'm confused. I remember how Bella introduced us to this new name but what's new? Yes, you said it Soa, we are talking about NJZ or are we talking about NewJeans? Well that is the current dispute that is making waves in the K-pop world. The girl group are still embroiled in a law suit with record label ADOR over contractual issues. On Monday, ADOR issued a statement to the media, saying something to the effect of, "On February 7, the NewJeans members announced plans to promote under a group name that was not agreed upon with ADOR." ADOR urged media outlets to "use the official team name, 'NewJeans,' which is based on a legally valid contract." adding "The exclusive contracts between NewJeans members and ADOR remain legally valid." This is a big issue and I am sure we will keep a close eye on developments as they happen. Moving onto another girl group and that is the brand new group Hearts2Hearts. SM Entertainment's new girl group, Hearts2Hearts, has unveiled the teaser image for their debut single. On Monday, the teaser image for their first single, "The Chase", was released through the Hearts2Hearts' official social media accounts. You should be able to see the teaser images on screen now. "The Chase", set to be released on the 24th of February at 6pm, has a total of two tracks: the title track and debut song "The Chase", along with the B-side track "Butterflies". Only a couple of weeks left until their debut so I can't wait for that, and lastly a touching gesture by a member of Stray Kids. I.N, a member of the boy group Stray Kids, donated 100 million Korean won, roughly 68,000 U.S. dollars to Samsung Medical Center in celebration of his birthday, which was February 8th, Saturday. According to the hospital on Monday, the donation made by I.N will be used to cover medical expenses for pediatric cancer patients from underprivileged families receiving treatment at Samsung Medical Center. Known for his continuous philanthropic efforts, I.N was appointed as the youngest-ever member at age 23 last year, of the "Green Noble Club", an exclusive donor society of ChildFund Korea for individuals who have contributed donations exceeding 100 million won.

Trump signs executive order to impose new tariffs on steel, aluminum imports

2025/02/11 10:00

As widely expected, U.S. President Donald Trump has raised steel and aluminum tariffs to 25%, bringing back his aggressive trade policies. They'll be effective as of March 4th. Our Park Kun-woo starts us off. U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order at the White House on Monday to impose new 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. The move raised fears over the impact of an escalating trade war. Canada, the country that exports the most steel and aluminum to the U.S., and another major steel and aluminum trading partner Mexico, are expected to be among the worst hit. The same goes for Asian countries, including South Korea and China which are also among the largest trading partners, according to 2024 data from the U.S. Department of Commerce. South Korea, ranked the U.S.' fourth largest steel and aluminum importer last year. Trump's latest announcement follows plans revealed by the U.S. president the day before to set reciprocal tariffs on countries that tax U.S. imports. Trump said those measures will be implemented in the next few days, adding that he is unconcerned about potential retaliation. That prompted a strong warning from the European Union. "We stand against unjustified barriers to free and fair trade. We will always take the necessary steps to protect our economic interests, as well as European businesses, workers and consumers from unjustified tariff measures." While describing the tariffs as "unlawful and economically counter-productive," he also said the EU remains committed to constructive talks with the U.S. to find mutually beneficial solutions. France's foreign minister also shared a strong response. "It's not a surprise, it's what Donald Trump did already in 2018 and at the time we responded, so this time we'll respond again." Trump also warned on Monday of the possibility of imposing tariffs on items including, automobiles and chips, exports that are critical to South Korea's economy. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

[Weather] Cold snap eases, dusty in west central regions

2025/02/11 10:00

After days of freezing temperatures, the cold snap is finally easing across Korea today. Under bright skies, we're in for a much more bearable afternoon, making it a great day to step outside. However, along with the rise in temperatures, the dust level could also go up high in most of the central regions either earlier in the day or tonight. Afternoon highs will reach around 5 to 10 degrees Celsius in most areas, a pleasant improvement from the bitter cold we've seen lately. But don't get too comfortable just yet. Another round of snow is on the way for tomorrow, west of central regions could see up to 8 centimeters of snow. The west of Gangwon-do could see 10 centimeters of heavy snow. So checking on the first full moon of the new year tomorrow because it is Jeongwol Daeboreum, might not be as clear as we wish it could be. Meanwhile, despite a shift to milder weather in the coming days, it's not quite time to put away your winter coats just yet.

Philadelphia Eagles fans celebrate Super Bowl victory

2025/02/11 10:00

Also, in the U.S., the city of Philadelphia celebrated the Eagles winning Super Bowl fifty-nine. The Eagles had a dominating 40-to-22 victory, over the Kansas City Chiefs, who failed to claim a third consecutive title. Thousands of fans flooded the streets in celebration, causing some destruction, with authorities reporting multiple arrests due to reckless behavior and vandalism. Meanwhile, during the game, Taylor Swift, attending to support her partner Chiefs' player Travis Kelce, faced boos from the crowd, and was later mocked by President Donald Trump, who was also at the game.

McDonald's posts biggest U.S. sales decline in nearly five years

2025/02/11 10:00

Over in the United States, McDonald's reported a 1.4% decline in the country's same-store sales, in the fourth quarter of last year, marking its most significant domestic sales drop in five years. The downturn is attributed to an E. coli outbreak in October, linked to the fast food chain's Quarter Pounder burgers, which affected over a hundred individuals across 14 states and resulted in one death. Despite challenges, global same-store sales increased by 0.4%, driven by strong performances in international markets, particularly in the Middle East and Japan. Overall, the company's fourth-quarter revenue remained steady at 6.4 billion U.S. dollars.

Romanian president announces resignation

2025/02/11 10:00

Over in Romania, President Klaus Iohannis announced his resignation, after pressure from opposition parties. On Monday, Iohannis, who served as president for a maximum of two five-year terms since 2014, announced his resignation from the role, saying he hopes to spare Romania from further national crisis. He had stayed on as president, beyond his two terms following the Constitutional Court's cancelation of the December 2024 presidential election, due to alleged Russian interference, which had unexpectedly favored a far-right candidate. This has led opposition parties, controlling approximately 35% of parliament, to initiate impeachment proceedings against Iohannis. To avoid the turmoil of impeachment, the 65-year-old leader chose to step down, with the resignation going into effect on February 12. Senate Speaker Illie Bolojan is set to assume the role of acting president, until the rescheduled elections expected in May.

At least 53 dead after bus plunges off bridge in Guatemala

2025/02/11 10:00

A bus crash in Guatemala, has killed at least 53 people, including children, and left several others injured. Early on Monday local time, a bus traveling into the capital, Guatemala City, plunged off a highway bridge approximately 20 meters into a polluted river. Firefighters rescued around 20 passengers who were taken to local hospitals. The bus, reportedly over 30 years old, operated with a valid license. Authorities have begun an investigation to determine the cause of the accident and assess whether the vehicle was overloaded. In response to the crash, President Bernardo Arevalo declared a period of national mourning and expressed his condolences to the families affected.

S. Korea adds 1 silver, 2 bronze on Monday at 2025 Winter Asian Games

2025/02/11 10:00

South Korea wrapped up Day 3 of competition at the 2025 Winter Asian Games in Harbin with one silver and two bronze. Speed skater Kim Jun-ho won two medals on Monday, after winning silver in the men's team sprint event, along with his teammate Cha Min-kyu and Cho Sang-hyeok. Kim also won bronze in the men's 500-meter speed skating event. South Korea added a third medal on the day, when snowboarder Kang Dong-hun won bronze in the men's big air event. Team Korea will look to add a few more medals in speed skating on Tuesday, while the men's figure skating short program begins later in the evening.

Hamas threatens to postpone next hostage release citing broken terms of ceasefire deal by Israel

2025/02/11 10:00

Palestinian military group Hamas on Monday threatened to postpone the next hostage release, citing a breach of the ceasefire deal by Israel. Israel refuted the claims, saying instead that the postponement is a "complete violation of the ceasefire." Lee Seung-jae reports. Palestinian militant group Hamas had planned to release Israeli hostages this coming Saturday, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. However, that swap may now be in doubt, as the militant group announced on Monday that it would delay those plans,.. accusing Israel of breaching the Gaza ceasefire agreement. According to Hamas Armed Wing Spokesperson Abu Obeida, the release of the Israeli hostages will be postponed until further notice, pending Israel's "compliance and retroactive compensation for the past weeks." He added that Hamas will reaffirm its commitment to the ceasefire agreement, as long as Israel adheres to it. The spokesperson further explained that for the past three weeks, the Israelis did not abide by the terms of the agreement, having delayed the return of residents of northern Gaza, targeting Palestinians with shelling and gunfire, and stopping aid from entering the enclave. Israel has refuted the claims made by Hamas, and instead blamed the militant group for violating the ceasefire agreement. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also announced on Monday that he had instructed his military to "prepare at the highest level of alert for any possible scenario in Gaza." In response,.. the Israel Defense Forces said it was "raising its level of readiness in southern Israel and postponing leave for combat soldiers," raising concerns over further escalation of tension in the region. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also moved up a political-security cabinet meeting, originally scheduled for Tuesday evening, after the Hamas announcement. An Israeli official said the Israeli leader is consulting with his security leadership team to discuss response measures. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

What Trump's 25% tariffs mean for S. Korea's steel, automobile industry

2025/02/11 10:00

And Monday's announcement is another red flag for South Korea, as Trump said himself that there will be no exceptions or exemptions. How big of a blow will it be this time? Lee Soo-jin reports. South Korean companies are bracing themselves for the potential impact of Trump's universal tariff threat on their production costs and global competitiveness. "Yeah. Any steel coming into the United States is going to have a 25% tariff. Aluminum too." The import tax is drawing global attention because unlike last week's tariffs, this will be the first time in Trump's second term that a tariff measure is targeting all countries. And Korea is one of those that is expected to be affected, as it is a major steel exporter to the U.S., and its car manufacturers with plants there rely on imported steel and aluminum for car production. "Our main export items to the United States are items like vehicles and semiconductors. But if tariffs are imposed, the competitiveness of our products will likely take a big hit." But this isn't the first time that Trump has imposed a 25 percent on all imports of steel, as he did so previously in 2018 during his first term. South Korea at the time negotiated a deal with the Trump administration whereby it was granted a tariff-free quota for steel exports amounting to around 70 percent of the average amount of steel shipped annually to the U.S. As anything above that limit was subject to the 25 percent tariff, it reduced the volume of steel imports from South Korea. With universal tariffs also expected during his second term, Korean companies had already begun exploring ways to expand investments in the U.S. to minimize related risks. Hyundai Steel, for one, is considering building a steel mill in the U.S. to produce automotive steel sheets, while Hyundai Motor Group plans to further expand local vehicle production there. But compared to other nations facing a 50 percent tariff, the impact on Korea may be of less concern, according to the expert. "While universal tariffs will directly impact our country, it's hard to say that we'll be more impacted than others as they target all nations." The government, however,.. is remaining vigilant with the trade and industry ministry announcing on Monday that it plans to closely monitor the situation and work with the steel industry to come up with response measures. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

On-point: Why is Trump targeting steel and aluminum this time?

2025/02/11 10:00

Trump continues to roll out his tariff plans as planned and expected this time a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum coming into the U.S. We discuss more with Voice of America correspondent Jessica Stone. Welcome back, Jessica. 1. Let's begin with the targeted items. Why are steel and aluminum on the list this time? What is the intention here? 2. Also in the coming days, Trump is expected to make a formal announcement about reciprocal tariffs on every country. What are reciprocal tariffs? 3. Which countries are to be included? India? Thailand? What sectors or fields will be targeted next time? 4. How are European countries reacting to Trump's latest tariff plans? 5. Are we hearing anything about possible Trump-Xi negotiations? How likely is it that Trump and Xi will hold talks in the near future? Jessica, thanks for the report today. We appreciate it.

Live: Questions over martial law process as President Yoon's impeachment trial nears end

2025/02/11 10:00

President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial resumes on Tuesday as we speak, with more witnesses to testify at the Constitutional Court. It's the second-to-last hearing, and the question is whether the Court will add any additional sessions or not. We have our Oh Soo-young live to bring us the latest. Q1. Let's begin with what today's hearing will look like. Sure, Dami. Just moments ago, the Court kicked off Yoon's seventh trial hearing, which will see four witnesses summoned to testify: Beginning at 10:30am, questions for the former interior minister Lee Sang-min are expected to focus on the meeting of Cabinet members held before the martial law declaration on December 3 last year. The National Assembly's impeachment panel says the President had bypassed Cabinet procedures before imposing the decree. He's also believed to have received instructions on restricting the press under the rule of the Martial Law Command. Next, National Security Advisor Shin Won-sik who served as defense minister until September last year, is expected to be grilled over whether there was prior planning. As both the National Assembly and President Yoon's legal team have requested Lee and Shin as witnesses, the lawyers will directly question and cross-examine each witness twice. For former Third Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service Baek Jong-wook, and Secretary-General of the National Election Commission Kim Yong-bin,.., the questions are expected to focus on election fraud allegations raised by President Yoon as a pretext for declaring martial law. Yoon previously said the intelligence service found significant issues while inspecting the election commission's electronic voting system. Thus, he ordered the military to be deployed to its headquarters to conduct a comprehensive review. Q2. The eighth and final hearing is currently scheduled for Thursday but we don't know if or how long it will be extended yet. That's right. A Constitutional Court official told reporters on Monday that the judicial bench has not yet confirmed whether additional hearings will be held beyond this coming Thursday. In order to conclude the hearings, the bench must hear the closing arguments from both legal teams and President Yoon's final statement. This would take around 2 to 3 hours, and given that four witness testimonies are planned for Thursday, it is unlikely that justices will conclude the hearings then. Experts say more witnesses are likely to be summoned as some of the main testimonies we've heard so far have caused more confusion due to discrepancies with previous statements or conflicting narratives between witnesses. While the Court has emphasised its commitment to a speedy trial, there's been concern that the back-to-back witness questioning twice a week doesn't allow much time for a thorough review of the testimonies or evidence. For now, it seems the Court has not yet instructed either side to prepare their final arguments. We'll see what happens. Thanks for keeping us updated.