News

Bessent says Seoul presented 'very good' proposals in trade talks before election

2025/05/14 10:00

Washington has reacted positively to proposals put forward by Seoul during bilateral trade talks before South Korea's presidential election. According to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday during a Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum in Riyadh, Seoul came with "very good" proposals despite going into the process of a change of government. However, he did not elaborate what the proposals were. South Korean officials say the two sides discussed ideas for economic and industrial cooperation, especially in the shipbuilding industry.

[Weather] Early summer warmth this afternoon under sunny skies, rain tomorrow

2025/05/14 10:00

We're in for another day with a warm-up, feeling like early summer by the afternoon. Strong sunshine continues to shine down nationwide with the UV index hitting very high levels. Because of this intense sunlight, ozone concentrations across the nation could climb to the 'unhealthy' level for a time, so take precautions if you have to spend extended time outdoors. Seoul will get up to 26 degrees this afternoon, Daejeon at 28 degrees. Much more comfortable in Busan at 21 degrees. Then the skies will start to cloud over from tonight, and tomorrow will bring rain to most of the country. It will begin in the central regions, Jeolla-do and Jeju around dawn. Most of it should clear out around the evening commute with up to 20 millimeters in the forecast for the central area. The early warmth will take a bit of a break with tomorrow's rain. It has certainly been a week of fluctuating temperatures, so please take good care of your health.

Man in jail for nearly four decades for murder acquitted by London court

2025/05/14 10:00

Finally, in London, the Court of Appeal nullified the 1987 murder conviction of Peter Sullivan on Tuesday. Sullivan, aged 68, spent 38 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Sullivan was convicted for the rape and murder of a 21-year-old victim; however, recent DNA testing revealed that biological evidence from the crime scene did not match him. The Criminal Cases Review Commission, an institute investigating potential miscarriages of justice, reopened the case in 2021. After the court overturned the conviction, Sullivan wept but expressed no bitterness, saying, "The truth shall set you free." The case is considered the longest-known miscarriage of justice in British history.

Former Uruguayan president and guerrilla leader Jose Mujica dies at 89 years old

2025/05/14 10:00

Uruguay's former President Jose "Pepe" Mujica died on Tuesday aged 89, following a battle with cancer. Known globally for his humble lifestyle and progressive policies, Mujica served as Uruguay's president from 2010 to 2015. A former guerrilla with the Tupamaros movement, Mujica spent nearly 15 years in prison during Uruguay's military dictatorship in the 1970s and 80s. After release, when democracy was restored in the country, he returned to politics, eventually leading the country and implementing significant reforms such as the legalization of abortion, same-sex marriage, and the recreational use of marijuana.

Three militants killed in gun battle in Indian Kashmir, meanwhile schools reopen in Pakistani Kashmir after ceasefire with India

2025/05/14 10:00

In India's Kashmir region, the Indian Army has eliminated three militants. The encounter comes a few days after the recent ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan on Saturday. On Tuesday, local time, Indian Army units launched "Operation Keller" in the Shopian district, as part of efforts to combat terrorism in the region. The operation targeted three Pakistani militants, whom the army called "hardcore terrorists." It follows the events of April 22 in Kashmir's Pahalgam, where 26 tourists, mostly Indian, were killed. That attack has been attributed to Pakistani militants. Meanwhile, in a move signaling a return to normal, schools and colleges in non-border districts of Kashmir reopened on Tuesday.

China, Brazil agree to defend free trade as leaders meet in Beijing

2025/05/14 10:00

Starting in Beijing where Chinese President Xi Jinping met his Brazilian counterpart on Tuesday, pledging to defend free trade and multilateralism amid global trade tensions. During President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's four-day state visit to China, the two nations signed 20 bilateral agreements to enhance cooperation in agriculture, technology, finance and other sectors. President Xi emphasized the importance of opposing unilateralism and protectionism, stating that such actions, which he described as "acts of bullying," lead to isolation. President Lula highlighted the necessity of China-Brazil relations and said both countries are "determined to unite their voices against unilateralism and protectionism." Also on Tuesday, President Lula attended a three-yearly ministerial forum between China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States where President Xi pledged to enhance China's trade and investment in the region.

U.S. envoys to resume Gaza ceasefire talks in Doha

2025/05/14 10:00

U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. envoy for hostage affairs Adam Boehler traveled to Doha on Tuesday to resume negotiations for ceasefire in Gaza. Before departing, the two officials met with families of Israeli hostages in Tel Aviv, stressing their commitment to securing the release of all remaining hostages in Gaza. Witkoff said there is a "genuine chance" of making progress in the talks. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the same day that Israel will not stop the war even if hostages are returned.

On-point: Trump's first diplomatic trip of 2nd term to largely focus on economic diplomacy

2025/05/14 10:00

So Trump is Middle East-bound for the first major diplomatic trip of his second term. Why the Middle East, and what is he looking to come back home with? Let's turn to professor Kim Dong-soo. Good morning. 1. Let's start with why the Middle East? 2. Then why Saudi Arabia as the first stop? 3. Some analysts say that Trump's Middle East trip will focus more on economic diplomacy rather than security. 4. Israel is not one of the destinations for Trump's Middle East trip. 5. What is the likelihood of Trump actually going Türkiye to join ceasefire talks between the leaders of Russia and Ukraine? Thanks so much for your time and your insight.

Reform Party candidate declares himself 'future of Daegu City,' appealing to conservative voters

2025/05/14 10:00

And the Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok also made sure to cement his presence in the conservative stronghold of Daegu City. Starting with a rally in the city's commercial center, Lee then sat down for lunch with students at a university cafeteria before heading for talks with medical professionals. The 40-year-old candidate declared himself the future of Daegu, emphasizing his youth and intentions to interact directly with all those involved. He also found fault with the conservative party presidential hopeful for failing to oust the impeached former president from the party. Similarly, he accused the liberal party candidate of abusing legislative power to attack the former administration while inciting political division.

PPP’s Kim courts loyal base after impeachment fallout and presidential nomination turmoil

2025/05/14 10:00

The conservative party candidate Kim Moon-soo was also in the southeast, courting the party's loyal base after the impeachment fallout and the recent presidential nomination turmoil. Our correspondent Kim Do-yeon files this report from Busan. People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo spent a second straight day campaigning in the Gyeongsang-do region Tuesday — pledging to revive an area that's seen a clear population decline. He wrapped up the day's events at a local market in Busan — the nation's second-largest city — promising more jobs and better infrastructure. "If I become the president, I will build an express train system here and make the surrounding cities all within 30 minutes of each other. Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongsangnam-do Province will become one giant -and the best -global city that can be on par with the capital." "While cities like Busan here are traditionally viewed as a conservative stronghold, Kim enters the race at a disadvantage an impeachment of its former president, and the turmoil between Kim and the leadership over his candidacy. That's likely why he started his first extended stay in this region, to solidify the supporter base." Before Busan he was also in the neighboring city of Ulsan, a major industrial city as well. For this city, he pledged a multi-cultural complex. "The city has requested a large-scale cultural complex, estimated to cost around 500 billion won. If I'm elected president, I'll make sure it doesn't take long. I'll allocate a special budget of that amount to Ulsan as soon as I take office." But Kim's visit to the southeast doesn't end there. On Wednesday, he's expected to campaign in smaller cities like Jinju and Sacheon, continuing efforts to shore up support. At the same time, how to deal with issues regarding former president Yoon Suk Yeol and his martial law declaration continues to cast a shadow over the campaign. In a televised interview Monday, Kim offered his first public apology for the incident and its aftermath to the nation. The apology also gave attention to calls from some to expel Yoon from the party. Kim responded to this on Tuesday morning, saying whether the president leaves the party or not is up to him. It's not right for the party to decide that for him. With some party loyalists still backing Yoon, Kim must walk a fine line — keeping the base intact while reaching out to undecided voters, many of whom remain critical of the martial law attempt. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News, Busan.

DP’s Lee Jae-myung visits southeast, focuses on national unity and balanced regional growth

2025/05/14 10:00

We're exactly 20 days away from the snap presidential election. Candidates are traveling across the country to woo voters, and the three main runners all made it down to the southeastern part of the country on Tuesday. Let's start with Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung. Our Shin Ha-young followed the trail. National unity was a key topic that Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung shared during his second day of campaigning for the presidency. Lee kicked off Tuesday in Gumi, the birthplace of former conservative President Park Chung-hee known both for his autocratic rule and having led the country's rapid economic development. Lee's visit to Gumi was part of his campaign through regions known as traditional conservative strongholds, including Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, 경상북도, Daegu and Ulsan. The DP said Lee's visit to this key industrial area shows how strong his intention is to bring the country together and promote balanced regional growth. Lee laid out his vision to make Gumi a key engine driving South Korea's economy. He also acknowledged Park's contributions to the country's industrialization and promised to be a capable leader. Lee said the country's future matters more than political sides or ideology. "What matters most is people's everyday lives not left or right, red or blue, or where you're from. It doesn't matter if a policy came from Park Chung-hee or Kim Dae-jung. If it works, we use it. If not, we don't. Ideology isn't as important as the lives of our people and the future of this country." In the afternoon, Lee visited Pohang, the nation's traditional powerhouse for steel, seeking voter's support. "During his speech, Lee Jae-myung urged people to come together to overcome the hardships that followed the declaration of martial law. He also emphasized national unity regardless of political affiliation." Lee wrapped up his Tuesday campaign in Ulsan, where he focused on strategies for industrial growth and supply chain restructuring. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News, Pohang.

S. Korea adds jobs for 4th straight month in Apr. but losses in manufacturing, construction continue

2025/05/14 10:00

South Korea's job market continued to grow, with on-year employment figures up by six figures for a fourth consecutive month in April. Data from Statistics Korea on Wednesday showed that the number of employed people aged 15 or older stood at 28-point-9 million last month, up 194-thousand from a year earlier. This marks a gain in the 100-thousand range for the fourth straight month starting January, led by job additions in health and welfare as well as scientific and technical services. But the manufacturing sector continued to face headwinds, showing the biggest drop since February 2019 while construction employment extended a year-long decline.

Zelenskyy, U.S. special envoy headed to Türkiye for talks

2025/05/14 10:00

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and special envoys from the U.S. are headed to Türkiye for peace talks with Russia. However, the Kremlin remains silent on whether President Vladimir Putin will be taking part in the talks himself. Lee Seung-jae has more. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy left for Ankara on Tuesday, in the hopes of getting a ceasefire agreement with Moscow. However the Ukrainian president said that he would be going to Istanbul, where Thursday's talks will be held,.. if Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the talks himself,.. as he called on the Russian leader to come to the negotiation talks. "We will wait for the meeting with Putin in Türkiye, If Putin is ready to meet, not only for media purposes but in real life, then on the level of leaders, we will do everything to agree on a ceasefire because I must reach a deal about a ceasefire with him, because he is the only person to decide." Over on the U.S. side, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will be headed to Istanbul, along with the U.S. Special Envoys for the Middle East and Ukraine, Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg. The U.S. officials will look to broker a ceasefire deal, hoping Moscow will agree to a comprehensive 30-day ceasefire agreement. According to Washington, Kyiv has already agreed to such a deal. While Russian officials will be taking part in the negotiation talks in Istanbul, the Kremlin has remained silent on who's going to represent their side at the talks. According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, Russia is continuing its preparations for the upcoming talks, but remained tight-lipped on whether its leader will be traveling to Türkiye, as well. The U.S., Russia and Ukraine will meet in Istanbul on Thursday to discuss a ceasefire for the over-three-year-long war. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Trump lifts sanctions on Syria, warns Iran of nuclear weapons but signals openness to deals

2025/05/14 10:00

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the removal of all U.S. sanctions on Syria during his state visit to Saudi Arabia. He also expressed willingness to strike a deal with Iran there, while warning Tehran against its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Our Park Kun-woo reports. The more than a decade-long U.S. sanctions on Syria to pressure the country's former dictatorship are set to be lifted. That was announced by U.S. President Donald Trump in a speech made at an investment forum held in Riyadh during his four-day visit to the Gulf, Trump's first international trip since his return to the Oval Office. "I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness." Trump said he made the move at the request of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, while saying U.S. measures against Syria had now fulfilled their purpose. Syria had been urging the U.S. to lift sanctions since last December, following the ousting of its former dictator. Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani called Trump's decision a "pivotal turning point" as Syria enters a phase of "reconstruction" after years of war. Trump is expected to meet with Syria's interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday, while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will hold talks with Syria's Foreign Minister in Türkiye later this week. On Tuesday, Trump called Iran the "most destructive force" in the Middle East, vowing it would never be allowed to have nuclear weapons. Trump also said he remains open to diplomacy with Tehran, saying he is not just condemning Iran's previous choices. "I want to make a deal with Iran. But if Iran's leadership rejects this olive branch and continues to attack their neighbors, then we will have no choice but to inflict massive maximum pressure, drive Iranian oil exports to zero, like I did before." Also on Tuesday at the U.S.-Saudi investment forum, Saudi Arabia announced an investment of 600 billion U.S. dollars in the United States. The agreement includes an arms deal -worth nearly 142 billion dollars -which the White House called the "largest defense cooperation deal Washington has ever done" as well as other technology partnerships. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

Italy's La Scala names Korean conductor Chung Myung-whun as Music Director

2025/05/13 20:00

Staying in Europe. Korean conductor Chung Myung-whun will take the podium of the renowned Italian opera house La Scala next year to become its first Asian musical director in history. Byeon Ye-young covers this upcoming event. On Monday, Italy's world-renowned opera house, Teatro alla Scala, announced on its official website the appointment of a new Music Director. According to reports, 72-year-old Korean conductor Chung Myung-whun was unanimously chosen for the role by the opera house's board of directors in a meeting on the same day. Inaugurated in 1778, this is the first time in La Scala's 247-year history that an Asian person will hold the position. Chung will also be just the second non-Italian to take up the role. "This isn't just about being appointed as a music director of an opera house — first and foremost, it marks a personal milestone for the 72-year-old Chung Myung-whun the peak of his career. Secondly, as the first Asian music director of La Scala, it elevates the global status of Asian, and especially Korean, classical music. It's something that can inspire and give hope to the next generation of Korean conductors." Chung's musical journey began as a pianist, but he stepped onto the conductor's podium in 1978, when he was named Associate Conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In the 1980s, he entered the European scene, serving as Music Director of Germany's Saarbrücken Radio Symphony Orchestra and later of the Paris Opera. Chung's ties to La Scala run deep. Since 1989, Chung has led nine opera productions across 84 performances and conducted 141 concerts at La Scala, which is more than any other conductor who did not hold the title of Music Director. According to AP News, the opera house praised his "close and productive" relationship with its orchestra, choir, and philharmonic, stating that no other non-director has contributed more to enhancing La Scala's global reputation. Chung will succeed Riccardo Chailly, with his official term beginning late next year and running through early 2030. Byeon Ye-young, Arirang News.

Pope Leo XIV emphasizes peace and responsible communication in his first press conference

2025/05/13 20:00

At the Vatican. Pope Leo XIV engaged with the media for the first time as pontiff, addressing freedom of the press as well as the role of the media to promote peace. Park Hyo-been covers his comments. Amid thunderous applause, Pope Leo XIV, the 267th pontiff, made his entrance. "Buongiorno, and good morning." He started his first press conference at the Vatican on Monday with a light-hearted joke. "They say when they clap at the beginning, it doesn't matter much. If you're still awake at the end and you still want to applaud, thank you very much." In his address to more than 1,000 journalists from around the world, the Pope emphasized the way the media communicates is key to promoting peace. "We must say 'no' to the war of words and images, we must reject the paradigm of war." He warned against using language that fuels hatred, and emphasized the need to amplify the voices of those who cannot speak for themselves. "Let us disarm words. Disarming words will help disarm the world." He also called for the release of imprisoned journalists, underscoring the importance of press freedom. Pope Leo addressed the rise of artificial intelligence, urging its responsible and ethical use for the benefit of all humanity. "I am thinking in particular of artificial intelligence, with its immense potential, which nevertheless requires responsibility and discernment in order to ensure that it can be used for the good of all, so that it can benefit all of humanity." After speaking for about ten minutes, Pope Leo stepped down from the podium to personally greet and engage with journalists. Following his call for an end to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza last Sunday, Pope Leo has made 'peace' a central theme of the start of his papacy. Park Hyo-been, Arirang News.

Israeli-U.S. hostage released by Hamas after more than 19 months

2025/05/13 20:00

In the Middle East. The last surviving American hostage was set free by Hamas, just one day ahead of Trump's diplomatic tour to the region. This comes as Israel continues ramping up its military actions in Gaza. Choi Chi-hee has the latest. On Monday, local time, Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli-American from New Jersey, was released by Hamas. He had been captured during the October 7, 2023, attacks, while serving in the Israeli military. The announcement of the decision was made on Sunday night by Hamas, after holding days of talks with the United States. Israel had been bypassed during the negotiations. Alexander's release is the first since the resumed military operations by Israel, ending a previous ceasefire. The handover occurred in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza, where Alexander was transferred to the Red Cross before being handed over. Arriving at an Israeli military base, he reunited with his family. "How strong you are, I love you so much Edan, we were so worried." President Donald Trump praised the decision, which comes a day before he visits the Middle East on Tuesday, with scheduled stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, as a step toward peace. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the occasion "a very emotional moment," and credited the release to Israel's military pressure and political influence from the U.S. He reaffirmed his commitment to securing the release of the remaining hostages with plans to continue intensifying military actions in Gaza. Following Alexander's release, still in captivity in Gaza are 58 other hostages, and at least 20 of them are believed to be alive. Alexander was the last U.S. citizen held by Hamas thought to be still alive. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

Trump says he could join Russia, Ukraine ceasefire talks

2025/05/13 20:00

Ceasefire talks are set to begin between Russia and Ukraine later this week in Türkiye. And the American leader may join the much-anticipated meeting. Park Kun-woo has more. As Russia and Ukraine gear up for their upcoming ceasefire negotiations in Istanbul later this week, U.S. President Donald Trump said he might travel to Turkiye, as well. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday, Trump raised the prospects of taking part in the talks, in the hope of putting an end to the killing on the battlefields. "I was thinking about flying over. I don't know where I'm going to be on Thursday. I've got so many meetings. But I was thinking about actually flying over there. There's a possibility of it, I guess, if I think things can happen. But we've got to get it done. We've got to save 5,000 lives a week. 5,000 lives -it's really more than that. It's worse than that." President Trump will be visiting Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar this week. Amid prospects of Trump taking part in the talks in Istanbul, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday that he wanted the U.S president to join the peace talks. In a post on X, Zelenskyy said that everyone in Ukraine wants President Trump to take part in the peace talks in Turkiye, calling it a "good idea." However, the Kremlin remained silent about whether Russian President Vladimir Putin would take part in the talks this week. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

Trump says China will "fully" open its markets to U.S. firms, hints at call with Xi

2025/05/13 20:00

U.S. President Donald Trump has hailed recent tariffs talks with China, claiming that Beijing will fully open its market to American businesses. In the meantime, stock markets were the first to respond to a major rollback on tariffs. Lee Soo-jin has the details. President Donald Trump on Monday hailed the temporary de-escalation of trade tensions with China as a 'total reset' that will open China's market to American companies. "In addition, yesterday we achieved a total reset with China after productive talks in Geneva. And they've agreed to open China, fully open China. And, I think it's going to be fantastic for China. I think it's going to be fantastic for us." He also told reporters in the Oval Office that he may speak to Chinese President Xi Jinping later this week. The U.S. and China reached a trade agreement that slashes U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods to 30 percent from 1-hundred-45 percent, and lowers Chinese tariffs on U.S. imports to 10 percent from 1-hundred-25 percent, a decision that cuts tariffs from both nations by 1-hundred-15 percentage points. But sector-specific tariffs on automobiles, automobiles, aluminum, and steel are still in place, and China will be subject to the tariffs on pharmaceuticals that Trump previously said would arrive "shortly." The agreement followed two days of discussions held in Switzerland between senior-level officials from both nations. "Neither side wants a decoupling. We do want trade, we want more balanced trade and I think that both sides are committed to achieving that." "The two sides held in-depth exchanges on trade and economic issues of their respective concern. The atmosphere of the meeting was candid, in-depth and constructive." The deal,. which will be in place by May 14, will be effective for 90 days and sets up a framework for further talks between the two countries. U.S. stocks responded positively to the news, with the Dow Jones surging to close at 2-point-81 percent, the S&P 500 closed nearly 3-point-3 percent up, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq closed 4-point-35 percent compared to the previous trading day. This comes as investors reacted favorably to the unexpected progress in talks between the U.S. and China, sparking a rally in major tech stocks such as Nvidia, Nvidia, Amazon, and Meta. Companies like Best Buy and Dell Technologies, which rely heavily on Chinese manufacturing, also saw strong gains. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

Icheon warehouse fire under control after 6 hours, no fatalities reported

2025/05/13 20:00

In other news. A massive fire broke out this morning at a logistics warehouse in Icheon city, Gyeonggi-do Province, and was brought under control by 4 PM. Authorities say the blaze, which started on the third floor, did not spread to lower levels. No injuries or fatalities have been reported, and all 178 people inside the building were evacuated. The 80-thousand square meter warehouse stored various items, including paper products and lithium-ion batteries, which made firefighting efforts more challenging. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.