News
Bills aimed at special probes into fmr. Pres. Yoon fail to pass parliamentary revote
2025/04/17 17:00
The National Assembly today voted down Democratic Party-led bills that had been vetoed by the acting president. These include a special investigation bill related to former president Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law. Our correspondent Shin Ha-young is standing by live on the line. So Ha-young do fill us in. Sunny, just a few minutes ago, the National Assembly voted down a Democratic Party-led bill calling for a special investigation into former President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law last December and the related insurrection charges. In an anonymous vote, of the total 299 votes cast, 197 voted for the bill and 102 voted against. The bill was vetoed in January by then-Acting President Choi Sang-mok and sent back to the parliament for a revote. For a bill already vetoed to pass, it requires approval from two-thirds or more of the lawmakers present in addition to a majority attendance. During Thursday's plenary session, the Assembly also voted down a bill that had been sent back for a revote, which called for a special probe into a political broker called Myung Tae-kyun. The DP in February unilaterally passed the bill seeking to investigate allegations of election fraud involving former President Yoon, first lady Kim Keon Hee, and Myung. Ahead of the session, the rival parties issued sharp messages over the bills up for a revote. Take a listen. "It's time for the PPP to break ties with Yoon Suk Yeol, who was removed from office. If they oppose the special investigation again, it will clearly show they're siding with insurrection and acting against the Constitution." "These are populist and unjust bills that the DP pushed through without sufficient public consensus or regard for national interests and people's livelihoods, just to strengthen its political position." And also, Ha-young tell us about the revote on the Commercial Act revisions. The parliament also rejected a Commercial Act amendment, which was vetoed by Acting President Han Duck-soo earlier this month. The bill sought to revise the Commercial Act to add the word "shareholders" to the director's duties from just "company," in efforts to tackle the so-called "Korea Discount." The PPP has been against the bill, arguing that it could lead to lawsuits and make it difficult for companies to make decisions. It claims that small investors are not contractually bound to the companies, with different types of investors aiming for different results. That's all I have for this hour. Back to you, Sunny. All right Ha-young, thank you for that coverage. That was our political correspondent Shin Ha-young with the latest at the parliament.
S. Korea, U.S. kick off joint two-week Freedom Flag air drills
2025/04/17 17:00
South Korea and the U.S. earlier on this Thursday began their two-week combined air drill. According to the Air Force here some 1-thousand-100 personnel and 90 aircraft from both countries have been mobilized for the semiannual Freedom Flag. Missions include air interdiction counter-air operations and wartime defense rehearsal. Freedom Flag combines two existing exercises the annual Combined Air Force Composite Training and Vigilant Defense.
S. Korean gov't holds preparatory meeting for APEC 2025
2025/04/17 17:00
Organizers of the 2025 APEC Summit to be held in Korea's ancient southern city of Gyeongju this coming November are now looking to move from the planning phase to the execution stage. Speaking at a related meeting earlier on this Thursday acting President Han Duck-soo also highlighted the significance of this latest annual summit as it comes amid much uncertainty over global trade given the changes it currently faces. He further pointed to prospects of new investment in South Korea as corporate leaders look to attend the gathering as well.
DP to move top office from Seoul to Sejong; PPP kicks off primaries with media day
2025/04/17 17:00
In other news. Presidential hopefuls of the Democratic Party have proposed relocating the top office to Sejong City as they begin their partisan campaign while the candidates of the People Power Party prepare to hold a series of debates this weekend on issues of national interest. Our correspondent Kim Do-yeon has the latest. Preliminary presidential candidates from the Democratic Party of Korea unveiled their strategies to boost growth in the Chungcheong-do provinces on Thursday, coinciding with the start of online voting by DP electors the day before. All three candidates shared a common pledge to fully establish Sejong City, located within Chungcheong-do, as South Korea's administrative capital, proposing to relocate the presidential office there. This pledge also follows a move by impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, who previously relocated the presidential office from the Blue House to Yongsan—a decision heavily criticized by the DP as an unnecessary budget expenditure, and notably, the site of his martial law declaration. Chungcheong-do remains a crucial battleground for presidential candidates; notably, the winner of this region has also secured victory in the last seven presidential elections. Meanwhile, the People Power Party held a media day for its primary contestants on Thursday. With eight contestants, they broke the first round debates into two groups by topic. Future for the young generations and social unity. The future for the young generations debate will be held by Yoo Jeong-bok, Ahn Cheol-soo, Kim Moon-soo, and Yang Hyang-ja on Saturday. Social unity by Lee Cheol-woo, Na Kyung-won, Han Dong-hoon, and Hong Joon-pyo on Sunday. The People Power Party also launched its preparatory committee for the presidential election. Chaired by lawmaker Yun Jae-ok, the committee is set to prepare for the PPP presidential election campaign once the party's candidate is chosen. Yun said it's long overdue as the prep should've started before but said, "the tortoise beat the hare." Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.
Government returns medical student quota to pre-increase level of 3,058
2025/04/17 17:00
The government is reversing its earlier expansion of medical school seats in a bid to resolve its protracted standoff with current students and junior doctors. Byeon Ye-young explains. The government announced on Thursday that the 2026 medical school enrollment quota will be returned to the 2024 level of 3,058 students. "We will push for a legal amendment to allow universities to adjust their 2026 medical school enrollment quotas to 2024 levels." Last year, the government raised the quota by 2,000 to 5,058, but doctors and medical students strongly opposed the move, alleging it would hurt training conditions. This led to a wave of leaves of absence among medical students, resulting in a significant gap in their medical education. Presidents of 40 medical schools proposed that the government restore the original quota for 2026 admissions if all first-year students returned to class. The government accepted the proposal on March 7th but only if a sufficient number of students to ensure classes could proceed without disruption returned by the end of March. A surge in last-minute enrollments at the so-called "Big 5" medical schools led to that number being achieved. While many former students returned, a number opted to "register but not attend." So even after reversing the quota increase, the government still has more to do to get these students back to classes and resolve the healthcare workforce shortage. This raises questions about the future of medical education. "We need to predict how the healthcare landscape will change 10 to 20 years from now, and based on that vision, we should determine how many medical professionals we need and what kind of education they should receive." Universities are now required to submit revised admissions plans that reflect the updated quota to the Korean Council for University Education (KCUE) by the end of this month. The proposed changes will then be reviewed and finalized following KCUE approval, expected around May. Byeon Ye-young, Arirang news.
U.S., Japan begin first official trade talks in test case for Trump's tariff negotiations
2025/04/17 17:00
Also in the U.S. this past Wednesday. Japanese trade delegates and their American counterparts met for talks on tariffs during which President Donald Trump made a surprise appearance. Park Jun-han covers these talks. The United States and Japan agreed to finalize a trade agreement as soon as possible during their Wednesday meeting in Washington. Japanese Economic Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa said that while the U.S. was seeking to conclude the agreement within the 90-day suspension period for "reciprocal tariffs," Tokyo was approaching the talks with caution, and the future course of the negotiations remained uncertain. During the talks, Akazawa expressed deep regret over President Donald Trump's tariff measures, noting that Washington had already imposed 25% tariffs on steel and automobiles and is set to apply a 24% reciprocal tariff on Japanese goods. "For my part, I said that the United States' tariff measures are deeply regrettable, I explained Japan's position regarding the impact on Japanese investment and hiring, both in Japan and in the United States, and strongly requested that the U.S. review its series of tariff measures." After meeting the Japanese trade delegation, President Trump noted on his social media that it was a "great honor" and added "big progress." According to Kyodo News, Washington is believed to have demanded higher defense spending by Tokyo, or a larger share of the costs associated with maintaining U.S. military forces in Japan, as part of any tariff reduction agreement, even though the two parties did not reveal the specifics of their conversation. Akazawa explained that the two countries had agreed to reschedule the next round of talks to be held within April and to continue discussions at both the working and ministerial levels. Meanwhile, the U.S.-Japan talks were viewed as a reference point for South Korea ahead of Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok's visit to Washington next week. Park Jun-han, Arirang News
France to expel 12 Algerian diplomats
2025/04/17 10:00
The French government has announced the expulsion of 12 Algerian diplomatic staff, following Algeria's decision to expel 12 French diplomats. Thus comes after France arrested an Algerian consular official suspected of links to a kidnapping. On Wednesday local time, France's foreign affairs minister said France will expel 12 Algerian diplomatic and consular officials in France, and recalled its ambassador from Algiers for consultations. This move comes after Algeria decided to expel 12 French diplomats after France detained an Algerian consular agent linked to a kidnapping case. In 2024, an activist and influencer known as "Amir DZ," a critic of the Algerian government, was abducted near Paris and released the following day. French prosecutors have charged three Algerian nationals, including the consular official, with kidnapping and terrorist conspiracy.
UK Supreme Court says legal definition of 'woman' means biological female and excludes transgender people
2025/04/17 10:00
In the UK, the Supreme Court has made a landmark decision regarding the legal definition of a woman. According to the ruling, under the Equality Act 2010, woman refers exclusively to biological sex, excluding transgender people. The unanimous ruling on Wednesday, local time, stems from a legal challenge by the feminist advocacy group For Women Scotland against the Scottish government's inclusion of transgender women in a 2018 law that mandated 50% female representation on public boards. The Court ruled that the definition of woman should only include biological females. It said that interpreting the definition to include individuals based on gender identity would make the Equality Act inconsistent. However, the decision does not revoke existing protections against discrimination for transgender individuals. Women's rights groups lauded the ruling as a reaffirmation of sex-based rights while LGBTQ+ organizations expressed concern and disappointment.
Eight in for PPP's presidential nomination amid impeachment fallout; Seoul mayor becomes popular
2025/04/17 10:00
The contender list for the People Power Party has now been narrowed down to 8 from the initial 11. The PPP's race will be quite a competitive one, as only 4 of the 8 will make it to the second round. Our Kim Do-yeon has the details. After closing the registration for the presidential primary the People Power Party on Wednesday named eight contestants after cutting three of the registered but not well-known names for not being up to the public's expectations and standards. As expected the eight are Kim Moon-soo, the latest labor minister, five-term lawmaker Na Kyung-won, four-term lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo, former lawmaker Yang Hyang-ja, Incheon mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province Governor Lee Cheol-woo, former PPP chair Han Dong-hoon, the latest Daegu mayor Hong Joon-pyo. The Chair of PPP's election committee emphasized that it'll manage a fair election. "As election committee chair, I will work with my team to ensure each candidate can freely present their vision in an open, energetic atmosphere. Through honest debate, we aim to select a candidate the people can truly trust to lead the nation." Without a clear front-runner, a fierce competition awaits the contestants but some touch of fun awaits as well to garner support from the young generations. This includes heart monitoring during debates, speed round questions, and self-introductions based on MBTIs. All in all, Hwang emphasized party unity amid what could be seen as an uphill battle an election after its former president was impeached. Harmony and unity are our core values. To win the public's trust, every candidate must unite, work together, and move forward as one team. Meanwhile, the eight contestants released their pledges and were doing media interviews on Wednesday. However, an unexpected key figure was in the spotlight. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon who pulled out from the primaries became a popular person to meet. Starting with dinner with Hong Joon-pyo on Tuesday night, the Seoul Mayor met with Kim Moon-soo on Wednesday for breakfast, Na Kyung-won in the morning, and Ahn Cheol-soo for lunch. The candidates emphasized their visions aligned with the Mayor's which was focused on growth and helping "the weak" initially when he launched his campaign. This is largely seen as a message to Oh's supporters as he's not in the race anymore. Meanwhile, Han Dong-hoon visited Daegu on Wednesday. Daegu is a conservative stronghold with many eligible electors that account for 50 percent of the final votes. Meanwhile after a media day for the candidates on Thursday series of debates will be held through the weekend. Based on the debates, four will survive the cut-off for the next round starting April 22nd. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.
DP preliminary candidates pledge fair competition as party primary kicks off in Chungcheong-do Provinces
2025/04/17 10:00
The sprint to the liberal party ticket to the top office is officially in full swing now with the three contenders from the Democratic Party vowing to run a fair race in their first gathering on Wednesday. Our Shin Ha-young reports. As the Democratic Party kicks off its primary race for the 21st presidential election, its three preliminary candidates pledged to compete fairly and come together after the race. On Wednesday, former party leader Lee Jae-myung; Kim Kyung-soo, former Gyeongsangnam-do Province Governor; and Kim Dong-yeon, current Gyeonggi-do Province Governor, made their first joint appearance since registering for the primary. "For a better life for the people and a hopeful future, the DP and our candidate whoever that may be must win this election." "I hope this primary will be a chance to fully showcase the DP's experience and capabilities." "I will give my best through fierce competition and come together to bring real change, beyond just a change in government." Starting Wednesday, the party will run four primaries through April 27th: Chungcheong-do, Gyeongsang-do, Jeolla-do provinces, and the Seoul Metropolitan Area alongside Gangwon-do Province and Jeju. During the regional primaries, dues-paying party members and party delegates will cast their votes, which will account for 50 percent of the total in selecting the presidential candidate. On the last day in each region, the voting results will be announced. Public polls will be conducted for two days sometime between April 21st and 27th, and these will account for the remaining 50 percent. The final candidate will be confirmed on April 27th. All three candidates are focusing their policy visions on the economy. Lee Jae-myung's think tank officially launched on Wednesday, outlining a national vision that aims for 3 percent potential growth, becoming one of the world’s top four exporters, and creating a gross national income per capita of 50-thousand U.S. dollars by 2030. Kim Kyung-soo announced his economic policy focused on boosting the AI industry and promoting balanced regional growth, promising 100 trillion Korean won, around 70 billion dollars, in public-private investment over the next five years to secure AI leadership and drive industrial change. Kim Dong-yeon, meanwhile, has been emphasizing the so-called "Five Big Deals" to differentiate his economic policies, which includes focusing on balanced regional growth, climate change, and tax reform. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.
Japan begins tariff talks with U.S. on Wednesday
2025/04/17 10:00
Ahead of South Korea's turn for tariff talks with the U.S. scheduled for next week, Japan began its own negotiations with Washington on Wednesday, with a surprise attendance by Trump. Lee Seung-jae has more. Top trade officials from Japan arrived in Washington on Wednesday for tariff negotiations with their U.S. counterparts. Tokyo hopes to lower the reciprocal tariff rate of 24 percent, and receive tariff exemptions on steel and automobiles. Japanese economic revitalization minister Ryosei Akazawa, who's leading the talks for Tokyo,.. expressed optimism before, saying the two countries could have good negotiations that will lead to a win-win situation for both sides. U.S. President Donald Trump also joined in on the trade talks with Japanese officials. Trump took to his social media platform to announce that he would be joining Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in discussing tariffs and trade. After the talks, Trump wrote on his social media page that it was a "great honor" to have met with the Japanese delegation, adding that there was "big progress" made during the talks. Trump's decision to get directly involved in the negotiations also comes as he hinted at a desire to cover issues, including the amount Japan pays towards the cost of stationing U.S. soldiers in Japan. Despite Bessent stressing that there's a "first mover advantage" with more than 75 countries requesting trade talks, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said earlier this week, that Tokyo won't rush to reach a deal, nor does it plan to make major concessions. With South Korea set to hold talks with the U.S. soon, all eyes are on Wednesday's trade talks between Washington and Tokyo, as they could be a litmus test of what's to come for upcoming negotiations. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
Putin meets in Kremlin with three hostages released by Hamas, thanks group's leadership
2025/04/17 10:00
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday met with three former hostages held by Hamas, who were released in late 2023 and February of this year. Speaking to Alexander Trufanov, who had been held by Hamas in Gaza for 498 days, Putin pledged to continue efforts to secure the release of remaining hostages. Putin also acknowledged "years of stable relations" with Palestinian representatives as pivotal in facilitating the release of the hostages, and extended gratitude to Hamas for what he termed a "humanitarian act." Trufanov, whose father was killed during the October 2023 Hamas attack, appealed to Putin to persist in efforts to free others still in captivity.
Eight in for PPP's presidential nomination amid impeachment fallout; Seoul mayor becomes popular
2025/04/16 20:00
Meanwhile, the People Power Party has a total of eight candidates hoping to win the partisan primary election to regain the reins of the top office. Our correspondent Kim Do-yeon reports. After closing the registration for the presidential primary the People Power Party on Wednesday named eight contestants after cutting three of the registered but not well-known names for not being up to the public's expectations and standards. As expected the eight are Kim Moon-soo, the latest labor minister, five-term lawmaker Na Kyung-won, four-term lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo, former lawmaker Yang Hyang-ja, Incheon mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province Governor Lee Cheol-woo, former PPP chair Han Dong-hoon, the latest Daegu mayor Hong Joon-pyo. The Chair of PPP's election committee emphasized that it'll manage a fair election. "As election committee chair, I will work with my team to ensure each candidate can freely present their vision in an open, energetic atmosphere. Through honest debate, we aim to select a candidate the people can truly trust to lead the nation." Without a clear front-runner, a fierce competition awaits the contestants but some touch of fun awaits as well to garner support from the young generations. This includes heart monitoring during debates, speed round questions, and self-introductions based on MBTIs. All in all, however Hwang emphasized party unity amid what could be seen as an uphill battle an election after its former president was impeached. Harmony and unity are our core values. To win the public's trust, every candidate must unite, work together, and move forward as one team. Meanwhile, the eight contestants released their pledges and were doing media interviews on Wednesday. However, an unexpected key figure was in the spotlight. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon who pulled out from the primaries became a popular person to meet. Starting with dinner with Hong Joon-pyo on Tuesday night, the Seoul Mayor met with Kim Moon-soo on Wednesday for breakfast, Na Kyung-won in the morning, and Ahn Cheol-soo for lunch. The candidates emphasized their visions aligned with the Mayor's which was focused on growth and helping "the weak" initially when he launched his campaign. This is largely seen as a message to Oh's supporters as he's not in the race anymore. Meanwhile, Han Dong-hoon visited Daegu on Wednesday. Daegu is a conservative stronghold with many eligible electors that account for 50 percent of the final votes. Meanwhile after a media day for the candidates on Thursday series of debates will be held through the weekend. Based on the debates, four will survive the cut-off for the next round starting April 22nd. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.
DP preliminary candidates pledge fair competition as party primary kicks off in Chungcheong-do Provinces
2025/04/16 20:00
Turning to the presidential primaries. The Democratic Party has a total of three contenders competing for the liberal party ticket to the top office, with their focus on the economy. Our correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. As the Democratic Party kicks off its primary race for the 21st presidential election, its three preliminary candidates pledged to compete fairly and come together after the race. On Wednesday, former party leader Lee Jae-myung; Kim Kyung-soo, former Gyeongsangnam-do Province Governor; and Kim Dong-yeon, current Gyeonggi-do Province Governor, made their first joint appearance since registering for the primary. "For a better life for the people and a hopeful future, the DP and our candidate whoever that may be must win this election." "I hope this primary will be a chance to fully showcase the DP's experience and capabilities." "I will give my best through fierce competition and come together to bring real change, beyond just a change in government." Starting Wednesday, the party will run four primaries through April 27th: Chungcheong-do, Gyeongsang-do, Jeolla-do provinces, and the Seoul Metropolitan Area alongside Gangwon-do Province and Jeju. During the regional primaries, dues-paying party members and party delegates will cast their votes, which will account for 50 percent of the total in selecting the presidential candidate. On the last day in each region, the voting results will be announced. Public polls will be conducted for two days sometime between April 21st and 27th, and these will account for the remaining 50 percent. The final candidate will be confirmed on April 27th. All three candidates are focusing their policy visions on the economy. Lee Jae-myung's think tank officially launched on Wednesday, outlining a national vision that aims for 3 percent potential growth, becoming one of the world's top four exporters, and creating a gross national income per capita of 50-thousand U.S. dollars by 2030. Kim Kyung-soo announced his economic policy focused on boosting the AI industry and promoting balanced regional growth, promising 100 trillion Korean won, around 70 billion dollars, in public-private investment over the next five years to secure AI leadership and drive industrial change. Kim Dong-yeon, meanwhile, has been emphasizing the so-called "Five Big Deals" to differentiate his economic policies, which includes focusing on balanced regional growth, climate change, and tax reform. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.
Court halts Acting President’s justice nominations ahead of snap election
2025/04/16 20:00
South Korea's Constitutional Court has suspended Acting President Han Duck-soo's nominations for two Constitutional Court justices. On Tuesday, the court upheld an injunction filed by lawyer Kim Jung-hwan, temporarily blocking Han's picks: Government Legislation Minister Lee Wan-kyu and senior Seoul High Court judge Ham Sang-hoon. The nominations are now on hold until the court rules on whether an acting president has the authority to make such appointments. The case was filed after strong backlash from the Democratic Party and National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, who accused Acting President Han of trying to stack the bench before a new president is elected. Two justices retire from the bench this week, leaving just seven out of nine. In a statement, Han's office said the government respects the court's ruling and will await the final judgment.
EU calls for further efforts from U.S. for fair trade deal
2025/04/16 20:00
Meanwhile, trade officials from the EU and their U.S. counterparts began their talks, which appear to have reaffirmed their differences, with a focus on removing tariffs on all industrial goods proposed by the EU. Park Kun-woo explains. EU trade officials met with their U.S. counterparts in Washington, D.C., on Monday to reach a deal on tariffs, but were unable to bridge gaps in their stances on trade. According to the European Commission on Tuesday, the EU's proposal of zero-for-zero reciprocal tariffs on industrial goods, including cars along with non-tariff barriers, were among the main items on the agenda. It added talks about overcapacity in steel and aluminum, and the resilience of supply chains in semiconductors and pharmaceutical sectors were also part of the talks. And the EU emphasized it would not budge on standards, standing firm on "red lines," including food, health, and safety, as well as regulations regarding technology and the digital market. European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill urged the U.S. to clarify its stance, saying the EU is doing its part, and more engagement from Washington is needed to keep the process moving. Following Monday's meeting, EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic posted on social media, saying a "significant joint effort" from both sides would be needed to reach a fair deal, adding that the EU is ready. Officials from the U.S. trade representative's office reportedly did not respond to requests for comments on the U.S. stance following the meeting. With the EU's 90-day pause on retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods set to last until July 14, EU officials say further measures are also being discussed internally in case no agreement is reached by then. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.
EU calls for further efforts from U.S. for fair trade deal
2025/04/16 17:00
Meanwhile trade officials from the EU and their U.S. counterparts sat down in Washington D.C. for tariff talks that simply appear to have reaffirmed their differences with the European delegation stressing the need for "significant effort" from both sides to ensure "a fair deal." Our Park Kun-woo reports. EU trade officials met with their U.S. counterparts in Washington, D.C., on Monday to reach a deal on tariffs, but were unable to bridge gaps in their stances on trade. According to the European Commission on Tuesday, the EU's proposal of zero-for-zero reciprocal tariffs on industrial goods, including cars along with non-tariff barriers, were among the main items on the agenda. It added talks about overcapacity in steel and aluminum, and the resilience of supply chains in semiconductors and pharmaceutical sectors were also part of the talks. And the EU emphasized it would not budge on standards, standing firm on "red lines," including food, health, and safety, as well as regulations regarding technology and the digital market. European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill urged the U.S. to clarify its stance, saying the EU is doing its part, and more engagement from Washington is needed to keep the process moving. Following Monday's meeting, EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic posted on social media, saying a "significant joint effort" from both sides would be needed to reach a fair deal, adding that the EU is ready. Officials from the U.S. trade representative's office reportedly did not respond to requests for comments on the U.S. stance following the meeting. With the EU's 90-day pause on retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods set to last until July 14, EU officials say further measures are also being discussed internally in case no agreement is reached by then. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.
U.S. limits selling of Nvidia's H20 chips, weighs up delisting stocks of Chinese firms
2025/04/16 17:00
The Trump administration is ratcheting up its pressure on Beijing by restricting the export of Nvidia's H20 chips to China and MAY also explore prospects of removing Chinese stocks from U.S. exchanges. Moon Ji-young has our top story. The Trump administration is seemingly enhancing its curbs on China amid escalating trade tensions. One significant action taken is restricting Nvidia from selling its H20 chips, which have been among its most popular products, to China. Nvidia stated on Tuesday that the Trump administration privately informed them last week that selling the H20 to China would require a license "for the indefinite future." According to Nvidia, the new regulation addresses Washington's concerns that "the covered products may be used in, or diverted to, a supercomputer in China." The AI chip giant warned that it expects to report about five and a half billion dollars in writedowns due to inventory issues, and the new rule will also hinder a product line specifically designed for China to comply with previous U.S. restrictions. Following this announcement, Nvidia's stock fell by 6-point-3 percent in after-hours trading, despite having gained 1-point-3 percent during regular trading hours on the New York Stock Exchange. Meanwhile, the announcement follows Nvidia's commitment made on Monday to invest 5-hundred billion dollars in AI infrastructure in the U.S. over the next four years. "I believe the U.S. intends to convey that if we allow China's manufacturing capabilities to grow without significant obstacles, we risk losing our own manufacturing base. This situation seems to evoke a sense of crisis among us." Additionally, the trade showdown is spilling over to Chinese stocks listed in the U.S. According to Politico, U.S. administration officials are considering actions to delist nearly 300 Chinese firms trading on U.S. exchanges. When asked about this potential during an interview with Fox Business last week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated, "Everything is on the table." Moon Ji-young, Arirang News.
World News: Hamas rejects Israeli ceasefire disarmament proposal
2025/04/16 17:00
This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. In the Middle East, a senior Palestinian official said Hamas rejected a new Israeli ceasefire offer that demanded the group's disarmament. The ceasefire, presented by Israel to Hamas through mediators Egypt and Qatar on Monday, reportedly included the disarmament of Hamas as a condition for the first time. However, on Tuesday, Hamas is said to have rejected the offer, labeling the disarmament clause a "red line" for the group and asserting that it will not surrender its weapons under any circumstances. The offer also included a six-week truce and a phased release of more hostages. Hamas insists that any agreement must include a permanent end to hostilities and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The rejection of the ceasefire proposal comes amid ongoing negotiations in Cairo, which have yet to yield a breakthrough. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made an unannounced visit to northern Gaza to encourage troops, marking a rare appearance in the conflict zone. On Tuesday local time, Netanyahu met with Israeli troops, accompanied by Defense Minister Israel Katz and top military officials. He received briefings on ongoing operations aimed at dismantling Hamas and securing the release of hostages. Netanyahu reiterated Israel's commitment to achieving its war objectives, stating, "We are fighting for our existence. We are fighting for our future." During his visit, he also addressed a recent statement by Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying that Iran's calls for Israel's destruction show the existential nature of the conflict. In the United States, President Donald Trump threatened to revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status on Tuesday, accusing the university of promoting political agendas contrary to public interest. The Trump administration has frozen over 2.2 billion U.S. dollars in federal grants and contracts to Harvard after the university rejected demands to overhaul its academic programs, including eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and increasing cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Harvard's president hit back saying, "The university will not surrender its independence or its constitutional rights." Former President Barack Obama praised Harvard's stance and urged other institutions to defend academic independence. Finally, in France, President Emmanuel Macron honored a hundred-and-one individuals who played significant roles in the restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris on Tuesday local time. The ceremony at the Elysee presidential palace coincided with the sixth anniversary of the devastating fire at the cathedral in 2019. Among the honorees were carpenters, ironworkers, scaffolders, organ restorers, and dozens of other craftspeople recognized for their contributions. Prestigious awards presented by Macron included the Legion of Honour and the National Order of Merit. Commander of the Legion of Honour, France's highest public distinction, was bestowed upon Philippe Jost, who supervised the reconstruction. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.
Eight in for PPP's presidential nomination amid impeachment fallout; Seoul mayor becomes popular
2025/04/16 17:00
Meanwhile, the People Power Party has a total of eight candidates hoping to win the partisan primary election to regain the reins of the top office. Our correspondent Kim Do-yeon has details. After closing the registration for the presidential primary, the People Power Party on Wednesday named eight contestants after cutting three of the registered but not well-known names for not being up to the public's expectations and standards. As expected, the eight are Kim Moon-soo, the latest labor minister, five-term lawmaker Na Kyung-won, four-term lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo, former lawmaker Yang Hyang-ja, Incheon mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province Governor Lee Cheol-woo, former PPP chair Han Dong-hoon, the latest Daegu mayor Hong Joon-pyo. The Chair of PPP's election committee emphasized that it'll manage a fair election. "As election committee chair, I will work with my team to ensure each candidate can freely present their vision in an open, energetic atmosphere. Through honest debate, we aim to select a candidate the people can truly trust to lead the nation." Without a clear front-runner, a fierce competition awaits the contestants but some touch of fun awaits as well to garner support from the young generations. This includes heart monitoring during debates, speed round questions, and self-introductions based on MBTIs. All in all, however Hwang emphasized party unity amid what could be seen as an uphill battle an election after its former president was impeached. Harmony and unity are our core values. To win the public's trust, every candidate must unite, work together, and move forward as one team. Meanwhile, the eight contestants released their pledges and were doing media interviews on Wednesday. However, an unexpected key figure was in the spotlight. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon who pulled out from the primaries became a popular person to meet. Starting with dinner with Hong Joon-pyo on Tuesday night, the Seoul Mayor met with Kim Moon-soo on Wednesday for breakfast, Na Kyung-won in the morning, and Ahn Cheol-soo for lunch. The candidates emphasized their visions aligned with the Mayor's which was focused on growth and helping "the weak" initially when he launched his campaign. This is largely seen as a message to Oh's supporters as he's not in the race anymore. Meanwhile, Han Dong-hoon visited Daegu on Wednesday. Daegu is a conservative stronghold with many eligible electors that account for 50 percent of the final votes. Meanwhile, after a media day for the candidates on Thursday, a series of debates will be held through the weekend. Based on the debates, four will survive the cut-off for the next round starting April 22nd. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.