News

K-pop girl group NewJeans changes its name to NJZ

2025/02/07 17:00

K-pop girl group NewJeans has changed its name to NJZ . Earlier on this Friday the group shared a new concept photo with the new team name on its social media platform. The group has been engaged in a contract dispute with its agency ADOR since last year. NJZ will perform at Hong Kong's "Complex Live" come next month for the first time under its new identity.

Samsung Electronics launches latest Galaxy S25 series on Fri.

2025/02/07 17:00

Samsung Electronics' latest Galaxy S25 series are hitting stores worldwide in phases starting today. The Korean market as well as that in the U.S. in the U.K India and Thailand will be among the early sellers before these Samsung smartphones are made available in over one-hundred-20 countries. This latest lineup also offers Google's AI Gemini in 46 languages. The new series was unpacked in California last month.

Winter Asian Games in Harbin kick off with opening ceremony on Friday night

2025/02/07 17:00

This year's Winter Asian Games opens tonight in the Chinese city of Harbin. The opening ceremony will take place at the Harbin International Convention Exhibition and Sports Center at 9 PM Korea Standard Time. The regional sporting event that takes place every four years marks its ninth edition this year and the first in eight years since the last games in 2017 as the 2021 event was canceled due to the pandemic. South Korea will have one-hundred-48 athletes competing in six sport categories.

2025 F/W Seoul Fashion Week: Where innovation meets sustainability

2025/02/07 17:00

Up next we share with you the fashion trends that will shape the fall and winter of this year as seen at the Seoul Fashion Week. Our Lee Eun-hee was there. Want an exclusive first look at the hottest fall and winter fashion trends? Whether you're a trendsetter or just curious about what's next in the world of fashion, this week, Dongdaemun Design Plaza in central Seoul is the place to be. The 2025 Fall-Winter Seoul Fashion Week kicked off on Wednesday, bringing together top designers, industry professionals, and fashion enthusiasts to showcase the boldest, most innovative styles of the season with the aim of elevating global interest in K-fashion. The opening show features HANNAH SHIN, a brand that says it constantly strives to balance glamor with sustainability. Technology is helping it do that. "One technology our brand has particularly embraced is 3D printing. The first dress you saw in the show, embellished with jewels, was created using the Fused Deposition Modeling method. Another dress, featuring stars, was made using PolyJet printing. By exploring how to integrate 3D printing into fashion, we've been able to create innovative and creative designs." These 3D printing technologies allow vivid prints to be attached directly to textures in a sustainable manner, such as precise material usage and reducing waste. Designer Shin also hinted that one of this year's fashion trends highlights the use of new technologies to create cruelty-free alternatives to traditional fur, with many brands leading the way. Also to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Seoul Fashion Week, the opening day featured the first-ever "Seoul Fashion Forum," bringing together global industry leaders. James Fallon, Chief Content Officer of Fairchild Media Group, a leading source of fashion news and analysis, shared insights on the global competitiveness of Korean designer brands. This year's Fall-Winter Seoul Fashion Week also hosts a trade show with over one hundred thirty fashion brands, offering a platform for interaction between brands and more than 300 domestic and international buyers, with the goal of securing contracts worth around 8-billion Korean Won or approximately over 6-million U.S. dollars. "The event highlights the latest trends with innovative presentations that mix fashion and the work of people from all around the world. Don't miss this exciting look at the future of fashion before it ends on February 9th. Lee Eun-hee, Arirang News."

Trump reiterates plans for U.S. takeover of Gaza

2025/02/07 17:00

Elsewhere. Rampant rejections by the international community have done little to deter U.S. President Donald Trump's intentions to lay claim to the Gaza Strip. Lee Seung-jae covers his latest remarks. During a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this week, U.S. President Donald Trump proposed a U.S. takeover of Gaza, and the relocation of two million Palestinians. The plan was heavily criticized by the international community,.. with some calling it a form of "ethnic cleansing." However, the U.S. president revisited the proposal on Thursday. Taking to his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said the "Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting." Under his proposal, Trump continued to explain that the Palestinians "would have already been resettled in far safer and more beautiful communities, with new and modern homes in the region." He added that the U.S. would be part of efforts to redevelop the enclave. However, he did not mention whether the Gazans would be allowed to return to their homes. Under international law, attempts at forced transfer of populations from occupied territory are strictly prohibited. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday explained that the proposal for Palestinians to leave Gaza would be for an "interim" period while reconstruction took place. Amid concerns that the U.S. may also send troops to Gaza, which would lead to further tensions in the Middle East, Trump said that his proposal would not require any U.S. soldiers. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Ruling party, gov't to work on new measures to prevent workplace bullying, protect freelance workers

2025/02/07 17:00

Following talks with relevant ministries on this Friday the ruling People Power Party has pledged to promote legislation to prevent workplace bullying to better protect freelance and platform workers. Such intentions follow allegations of workplace harassment of a freelance weather forecaster at a local broadcaster that reportedly led to her suicide. The Labor Ministry and ruling party are considering the creation of a special act and the introduction of a "special supervision" with regard to the latest tragic case. Separately ruling lawmakers and government officials will also seek to expand support for young citizens in their teens to those in their thirties who are burdened with the sole responsibility of family care or are socially isolated.

Acting President to work closely with National Assembly to pass "Value-up Bill"

2025/02/07 17:00

Also on this Friday acting President Choi Sang-mok vowed to push for parliamentary support of the so-called "value-up" bill. Speaking at a macroeconomic meeting Choi added he would call on the National Assembly to pass the bill during this month's special session. The bill offers greater tax incentives to boost corporate participation in the government's Corporate Value-Up Program an initiative that seeks to address the undervaluation of South Korean companies on global markets.

Acting President Choi orders military officials to ensure soldier morale does not drop

2025/02/07 17:00

Acting President Choi Sang-mok has called on military authorities to boost troop morale amid the political turmoil. Remarks to this end were made earlier on this Friday during a visit to the Joint Chiefs of Staff Command and Control Center his first visit there since assuming the role of the nation's caretaker. He also highlighted the importance of a maintaining an unwavering readiness posture to firmly respond to any North Korean provocation with priority placed on national defense.

Clashes over whether Pres. Yoon ordered "agents" or "lawmakers" to be removed from Parliament

2025/02/07 17:00

The sixth hearing at the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol back on Thursday became a blazing row over the diction the president claimed to have used and the one that witnesses allege he used. Our correspondent Oh Soo-young explains. There were strong clashes on Thursday over whether President Yoon Suk Yeol had ordered soldiers to pull out members of parliament to stop them overturning martial law on December 3rd. This came at Yoon's sixth impeachment trial hearing, where former Army Special Warfare Commander Kwak Jong-geun stood witness by the request of the National Assembly. Kwak firmly maintained his position that the President, in a phone call, ordered him to drag out lawmakers, or , from the National Assembly, not 'agents,' or ' ' as claimed by Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun. "At the time, the 707th Special Mission forces were in a stand-off and weren't inside the main building. Since I received the call in that context, I naturally assumed he was referring to National Assembly members and understood it that way." Then, with questions fired over his choice of words, he admitted the President told him to pull out the numbers or "in-won" , not legislators or "ui-won" inside the National Assembly. To this President Yoon himself spoke out. Yoon also refuted the former commander's claim that the President and the defense minister did not want the number of legislators in the Assembly to reach 150 the number of votes needed to pass a motion to revoke martial law. He accused Kwak of conspiring to impeach him, with First Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service Hong Jang-won, who also testified unfavorably for Yoon. Kim Hyun-tae, commander of the 707th Special Mission Battalion, who led the break-in at the National Assembly, also testified on Thursday. He said Commander Kwak Jong-geun did say the number of people should not exceed 150 – and added that Kwak seemed to be relaying instructions from a higher authority, rather than issuing a command. Kim said he did not receive any orders to remove or restrict the movement of legislators in the National Assembly, but to lock down the building. Presidential Secretary for Economic Affairs Park Chun-seop also testified, suggesting that Yoon's martial law was motivated by the opposition-led parliament's impeachment of various state officials, unilateral legislation, and slashing of the government budget. As the testimonies continue, the National Assembly's impeachment panel accused Yoon of inconsistency. "He's abandoned his stance that he wanted to eradicate anti-state forces through martial law and is now solely focused on finding statements that are advantageous to him." "With many conflicting statements to cross-check and verify, it's still unclear how the court will manage the pace of the proceedings and whether it will choose to hear from more witnesses, as there are just two hearings left until next Thursday." Court Officer Cheon Jae-hyun said Wednesday scheduling additional hearings is "at the court's discretion," and there's no official position yet. But she noted that trial dates can be postponed depending on circumstances. The Court has approved a total of 16 witnesses requested by Yoon and the National Assembly, rejecting most of the more than 30 witnesses Yoon's team applied for. The next trial hearing takes place on Tuesday. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

M3.1 earthquake struck Chungju city early Friday morning; no damage reported

2025/02/07 17:00

Meanwhile an earthquake measuring slightly above three on the Richter scale struck the central part of Korea in the wee hours of this Friday. Our Kim Jung-sil has more. Early Friday morning, around 2:35 AM, a magnitude 3.1 earthquake struck the central region of the country, waking people with the shake. The epicenter was located about 22 kilometers northwest of Chungju city, at a depth of 9 kilometers. The quake was felt in surrounding areas of Chungju, including Gangwon-do and parts of Gyeonggi-do Provinces. Initially, the Korea Meteorological Administration estimated the quake's magnitude at 4.2, but after further analysis, it was revised to 3.1. South Korea uses the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale to measure earthquake intensity, with 10 being the strongest. In this case, the highest tremor intensity reported in Chungju was level 5, or moderate intensity. "Level 5 means that nearly everyone in the area felt the shaking, with items like dishes and windows breaking, and unstable objects tipping over. Two aftershocks occurred by 8:30 AM, with smaller magnitudes." Experts also suggested further caution for those in the affected areas. "Although this earthquake is relatively small compared to those occurring in seismic hotspots, it may have caused strong shaking that could make some people feel uneasy. If you feel tremors, it is important to stay calm and prioritize protecting your head and body." The Ministry of the Interior and Safety has confirmed that there were no significant injuries or damages, with over 20 reports of 'shaking' as of Friday morning, the most coming from Gangwon-do with 15 reports. The Ministry has activated the emergency response system and issued an earthquake warning for the affected areas. It has also dispatched a field situation manager to Chungju to oversee the situation and ensure proper management. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.

K-wave AI News

2025/02/07 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. Asia’s premier winter sports event, the Asian Winter Games, kicks off today in Harbin, the capital of China’s Heilongjiang Province. Athletes from 34 countries will gather for the opening ceremony tonight, launching a week of intense competition leading up to next Friday. South Korea has sent a 222-member delegation, aiming for an overall second-place finish. The team is targeting six gold medals in short-track events, two in speed skating, and one each in alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, and curling. The Asian Winter Games returns after an eight-year hiatus. The Culture Ministry and the Korea Tourism Organization hosted a forum on AI and tourism in collaboration with the OECD on Thursday. Organized to mark Korea's appointment as this year’s chair of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the forum was held in Gyeongju, the host city of the upcoming APEC Summit. Key participants included Second Vice Culture Minister Jang Mi-ran and OECD Tourism Committee Chair Sérgio Guerreiro. Discussions centered on the impact of AI on the tourism industry, strategies for adaptation, and ways to enhance Korea-OECD tourism cooperation. The Seoul International Sculpture Festa 2025 has officially opened. As Korea's largest sculpture exhibition and art fair, it showcases works by both emerging and established sculptors from Korea and around the world. Over 300 artists are participating this year presenting individual displays as well as group exhibitions. Highlights include sections dedicated to young artists, Chinese youth sculptors and corporate-sponsored works. The exhibition runs until this Sunday at COEX in Seoul. That’s all for now. Stay tuned for more cultural updates and insightful discussions ahead!

Korean community's response to wildfires in Los Angeles

2025/02/07 14:00

Time for K-Correspondent. Today we connect to Los Angeles which is still suffering the aftermath of the recent wildfires. We will talk about the situation with Robert Ahn, the President of the Korean American Federation of Los Angeles which was quick to respond in its relief efforts for the community. Hello Mr. Ahn! Q1) The wildfires that ravaged southern California since early last month and have killed 29 people have been fully contained as of roughly a week ago, but the aftermath continues to impact the area. Mr. Ahn, how is the situation right now? Q2) Los Angeles is home to the largest Korean population in the U.S. How badly has the Korean community been affected by the fires? We’ve heard how former Major League Baseball pitcher Park Chan-ho’s home has been destroyed. What about other damage? Q3) There have also been some unfortunate cultural losses in the latest fires please tell us about that. Q4. Let's now turn to your community's efforts to help. The Korean American Federation of Los Angeles swiftly responded. In what way? Q5. We also heard that individual donations and support from entrepreneurs in the community are continuing. What’s your view of such contributions? Q6. Please tell us about any additional fundraisers or support you're planning in the future, and finally, is there any way we can participate from Korea? Thank you very much Mr. Ahn for sharing and for connecting with us during the difficult time that you, the community and everyone affected by the wildfires must be coping with. We sincerely wish the best for the remaining recovery efforts. Thank you Bella as always. I'll see you back next week.

[K-enter] NewJeans Announces New Group Name: NJZ

2025/02/07 14:00

Time for some K-entertainment news with Bella Kim. Today we are going to start with a familiar group, but not so familiar name? We are going to talk about NewJeans, but they are no longer NewJeans. They have chosen a new name to represent them. It’s NJZ. The members have officially announced on their SNS as they uploaded a photo of them with NJZ written on the top. They also wrote, “Get ready for an exciting journey with NJZ in 2025!” Their first event as NJZ will be the ‘Complex Live’ concert at the ComplexCon Hong Kong festival that will take place from March 21st to 23rd at the Hong Kong Asia World-Expo. The specific date of NJZ’s performance has not been revealed yet. While we are on the topic of NJZ, are there any updates on their dispute with their agency ADOR? The first court hearing date for the on-going legal dispute between NJZ and ADOR has been scheduled for March 7th at the 50th civil division of the Seoul Central District Court. This is the first court hearing after NJZ members announced the termination of their exclusive contracts with ADOR on November 28th of last year. ADOR filed for the provisional injunction last month, accusing the members of severe breach of contract as they had attempted to carry out independent activities. On the other hand, NJZ members have announced that they will not go back to ADOR and will fight for the truth. Next we have some unfortunate news that just came in a few hours before the show? Korean trot singer Song Dae-kwan passed away this Friday at the age of 78. According to his family, he was transferred to the emergency room of Seoul National University Hospital at dawn on Friday as he complained about his poor condition. While getting treated, he suddenly died of a heart attack on Friday morning. It is known that Song had a chronic disease and had received surgery three times so far, but did not get better. Song Dae-kwan debuted in 1967 and has been called the trot king along with Tae Jin-ah, Hyun Cheol, and Seol Un-do. Our third story is on a singer/actress. Who are we going to talk about? Former Miss A member and actress Suzy is making her return as a singer with a new single. According to her agency, SOOP Management, Suzy will release a digital single titled “Come back” on February 17th. This marks Suzy’s first song in about two years, excluding OSTs, since the release of “Cape” in October 2022. Suzy also announced her return on her Instagram, revealing the release date along with concept photos from the album. She starred in the film “WONDERLAND” last year and recently showcased her busking performances on KBS music variety show “Moving Voices.” And lastly, we have a story on a new film coming out at the end of this month? The film “It’s Okay!” has confirmed its release date for February 26th. It was originally scheduled to be released on Christmas Eve of last year, but was delayed due to political turmoil here in Korea. The film “It’s Okay!,” starring Son Suk-ku, Jin Seo-yeon, and Lee, tells the story of individuals who struggle on their own, but find solace in each other’s company as they search for their own happiness. Thank you Bella for today’s stories.

[Features reporter] 2025 F/W Seoul Fashion Week: Where innovation meets sustainability

2025/02/07 14:00

Eun-hee, so this week, Seoul is all about fashion as the 2025 Fall-Winter Fashion Week brings new trends and creative designs to the forefront. How was the event? Yes Soa, the 2025 Fall-Winter Seoul Fashion Week is unveiling the latest trends, taking center stage at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in the heart of Seoul. I attended the opening day, which once again served as a platform to explore Seoul's influence as a global fashion hub and the growth of its fashion industry. Let's all take a look. Want an exclusive first look at the hottest fall and winter fashion trends? Whether you're a trendsetter or just curious about what's next in the world of fashion, this week, Dongdaemun Design Plaza in central Seoul is the place to be. The 2025 Fall-Winter Seoul Fashion Week kicked off on Wednesday, bringing together top designers, industry professionals, and fashion enthusiasts to showcase the boldest, most innovative styles of the season with the aim of elevating global interest in K-fashion. The opening show features HANNAH SHIN, a brand that says it constantly strives to balance glamor with sustainability. Technology is helping it do that. "One technology our brand has particularly embraced is 3D printing. The first dress you saw in the show, embellished with jewels, was created using the Fused Deposition Modeling method. Another dress, featuring stars, was made using PolyJet printing. By exploring how to integrate 3D printing into fashion, we've been able to create innovative and creative designs." These 3D printing technologies allow vivid prints to be attached directly to textures in a sustainable manner, such as precise material usage and reducing waste. Designer Shin also hinted that one of this year's fashion trends highlights the use of new technologies to create cruelty-free alternatives to traditional fur, with many brands leading the way. Also to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Seoul Fashion Week, the opening day featured the first-ever "Seoul Fashion Forum," bringing together global industry leaders. James Fallon, Chief Content Officer of Fairchild Media Group, a leading source of fashion news and analysis, shared insights on the global competitiveness of Korean designer brands. This year's Fall-Winter Seoul Fashion Week also hosts a trade show with over one hundred thirty fashion brands, offering a platform for interaction between brands and more than 300 domestic and international buyers, with the goal of securing contracts worth around 8-billion Korean Won or approximately over 6-million U.S. dollars. The event highlights the latest trends with innovative presentations that mix fashion and the work of people from all around the world. Don't miss this exciting look at the future of fashion before it ends on February 9th. How did you enjoy the fashion show? It was fascinating to see those glamorous and unique dresses. Fashion events also bring out stunning celebrities and influencers, and though my favorite star was right across from me, I managed to keep my focus on the beautiful designs. Can we still go and enjoy the fashion shows? Yes of course. Fashionistas who gather at DDP during the event can get tickets. But each show offers tickets on a first-come, first-served basis, starting one hour before the show. Between 10 and 20 tickets are available for each of the 16 fashion shows until Sunday, so it's pretty competitive. However all shows are being livestreamed on the official YouTube channel, giving fashion lovers worldwide the chance to experience everything from the blue carpet to the runway. So Seoul City is trying to make Seoul one of the top fashion capitals in the world. Any more details about the event that you can give us? Yes, Soa. In addition to the trade show, this season features a showroom tour with 50 brands, giving international buyers a closer look at the designs. Since last season, the event has expanded to include areas like Hongdae and Bukchon, offering a wider experience of Seoul’s fashion scene. For 25 years, Seoul Fashion Week has promoted Korean fashion globally through strategic business initiatives and collaborations, helping the event grow into a key player in the global fashion industry. Absolutely, the future of the fashion industry is really exciting, as every season brings new trends and innovative designs. And of course, we can soon look forward to news about the 2026 spring/summer season as well, right? Yes of course. Thank you Eun-hee for sharing. Thank you Eun-hee. Thank you, it was my pleasure.

Trump reiterates plans for U.S. takeover of Gaza

2025/02/07 10:00

U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated his proposal for a U.S. takeover of Gaza and the relocation of Palestinians in the region. Despite raising the possibility of U.S. troops being sent to the enclave, Trump said that would not be necessary. Lee Seung-jae reports. During a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this week, U.S. President Donald Trump proposed a U.S. takeover of Gaza, and the relocation of two million Palestinians. The plan was heavily criticized by the international community,.. with some calling it a form of "ethnic cleansing." However, the U.S. president revisited the proposal on Thursday. Taking to his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said the "Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting." Under his proposal, Trump continued to explain that the Palestinians "would have already been resettled in far safer and more beautiful communities, with new and modern homes in the region." He added that the U.S. would be part of efforts to redevelop the enclave. However, he did not mention whether the Gazans would be allowed to return to their homes. Under international law, attempts at forced transfer of populations from occupied territory are strictly prohibited. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday explained that the proposal for Palestinians to leave Gaza would be for an "interim" period while reconstruction took place. Amid concerns that the U.S. may also send troops to Gaza, which would lead to further tensions in the Middle East, Trump said that his proposal would not require any U.S. soldiers. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Winter Asian Games in Harbin kick off with opening ceremony on Friday night

2025/02/07 10:00

The 2025 Winter Asian Games in the northeastern Chinese city of Harbin will kick off with its opening ceremony on Friday night. The opening event will take place at the Harbin International Convention Exhibition and Sports Center at 9 PM Korea Standard Time. It will mark the 9th Winter Asian Games, and the first in eight years since the Japanese city of Sapporo hosted the 2017 event, with the 2021 edition canceled due to the pandemic. South Korea will have 148 athletes competing in six sports, with 64 gold medals up for grabs in 11 disciplines.

Clashes over whether Pres. Yoon ordered "agents" or "lawmakers" to be removed from Parliament

2025/02/07 10:00

President Yoon appeared at the Constitutional Court on Thursday for the sixth hearing of his impeachment trial, where more key witnesses turned up to testify, and they had some conflicting memories of the martial law order. Our Oh Soo-young starts us off. There were strong clashes on Thursday over whether President Yoon Suk Yeol had ordered soldiers to pull out members of parliament to stop them overturning martial law on December 3rd. This came at Yoon's sixth impeachment trial hearing, where former Army Special Warfare Commander Kwak Jong-geun stood witness by the request of the National Assembly. Kwak firmly maintained his position that the President, in a phone call, ordered him to drag out lawmakers, or , from the National Assembly, not 'agents,' or '' as claimed by Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun. "At the time, the 707th Special Mission forces were in a stand-off and weren't inside the main building. Since I received the call in that context, I naturally assumed he was referring to National Assembly members and understood it that way." Then, with questions fired over his choice of words, he admitted the President told him to pull out the numbers or "in-won" , not legislators or "ui-won" inside the National Assembly. To this President Yoon himself spoke out. . Yoon also refuted the former commander's claim that the President and the defense minister did not want the number of legislators in the Assembly to reach 150 the number of votes needed to pass a motion to revoke martial law. He accused Kwak of conspiring to impeach him, with First Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service Hong Jang-won, who also testified unfavorably for Yoon. Kim Hyun-tae, commander of the 707th Special Mission Battalion, who led the break-in at the National Assembly, also testified on Thursday. He said Commander Kwak Jong-geun did say the number of people should not exceed 150 – and added that Kwak seemed to be relaying instructions from a higher authority, rather than issuing a command. Kim said he did not receive any orders to remove or restrict the movement of legislators in the National Assembly, but to lock down the building. Presidential Secretary for Economic Affairs Park Chun-seop also testified, suggesting that Yoon's martial law was motivated by the opposition-led parliament's impeachment of various state officials, unilateral legislation, and slashing of the government budget. As the testimonies continue, the National Assembly's impeachment panel accused Yoon of inconsistency. "He's abandoned his stance that he wanted to eradicate anti-state forces through martial law and is now solely focused on finding statements that are advantageous to him." "With many conflicting statements to cross-check and verify, it's still unclear how the court will manage the pace of the proceedings and whether it will choose to hear from more witnesses, as there are just two hearings left until next Thursday." Court Officer Cheon Jae-hyun said Wednesday scheduling additional hearings is "at the court's discretion," and there's no official position yet. But she noted that trial dates can be postponed depending on circumstances. The Court has approved a total of 16 witnesses requested by Yoon and the National Assembly, rejecting most of the more than 30 witnesses Yoon's team applied for. The next trial hearing takes place on Tuesday. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

State of emergency declared for Santorini after quakes

2025/02/07 10:00

Over in Greece, the government declared a state of emergency on Thursday for the island of Santorini, following more than seven-thousand undersea earthquakes that began on January 31. The most significant was a 5.2-magnitude quake on Wednesday. This has prompted the evacuation of more than ten-thousand residents and workers on the island. Authorities have closed schools, restricted access to coastal areas due to landslide risks, and deployed emergency services, including the army and police. While damage has been minimal, the state of emergency is to stay in effect until March 3.

First French fighter jets arrive in Ukraine

2025/02/07 10:00

Moving over to Ukraine, the country has bolstered its air defense capabilities, by receiving the first round of advanced fighter jets from its European allies, France and the Netherlands. Ukraine announced on Thursday, the arrival of its first batch of French Mirage 2000 fighter jets, alongside U.S.-made F-16 fighters from the Netherlands. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed, that the aircraft will commence combat missions soon. The exact number of jets delivered has not been disclosed for security reasons. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to France and the Netherlands for their support in strengthening Kyiv's air force. The Netherlands has committed to providing F-16 fighters and training for Ukrainian pilots, and France has adapted the Mirage 2000 for air-to-ground strikes.

Panama's president denies making deal regarding free transit of U.S. ships

2025/02/07 10:00

Beginning with the diplomatic dispute, between the U.S. and Panama, over usage fees for the Panama Canal. Washington on Thursday, reversed claims made the day before, that an agreement had been reached, to allow passage through the Canal, free of charge. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Panama is "expected" to waive transit fees for U.S. government vessels, acknowledging a "process of laws and procedures" that Panama would need to navigate first. The U.S. State Department announced Wednesday that a deal had been made that would save the U.S. millions of dollars annually. However, Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino refuted the claim, stating that no such agreement exists and emphasized that neither he nor the constitution have the authority to alter canal fees. He said the U.S. assertion was "intolerable" and instructed Panama's ambassador in Washington to confront the statement. The Panama Canal Authority, responsible for setting the transit tolls, also denied any changes to fee structures.