News

[Hallyu People] Hailey Brooke Weiss on KBO, Korea and her husband

2025/04/15 14:00

Thirty foreign players are active in Korea’s baseball league this season, which kicked off on March 22. Since the introduction of the foreign player system in the KBO in 1998, Korea has seen a growing number of global players and their families move to the country and get lots of love and attention from baseball fans. For today's Hallyu People we are happy to connect live with Hailey Brooke Weiss, CEO of Power Move Marketing. and wife of Hanwha Eagles’ pitcher Ryan Weiss to talk more about her husband, baseball, social media and life in Korea. Hello Hailey Brooke! 1-1) First off, could you briefly introduce yourself to our viewers? 1-2) So, you’re back in Korea with Hanwha’s pitcher Ryan Weiss, your husband, for a second year. How do you feel about it? 2) We could feel your sincere gratitude after Mr. Weiss signed with the Hanwha Eagles, when you posted about it on your social media account back in November. What does this contract mean to both of you? 3) Let’s talk more about Mr. Weiss and his fandom here in Korea. Hanwha Eagles fans call him the “Daejeon Jesus”. What do you think about this nickname and his growing popularity in Korea? 4) Haley Brooke, you must be at the ballpark all the time these days, do you have any memorable stories to share from any of your husband’s games, maybe episodes you had with fans? 5) Let’s compare the baseball cultures in the U.S. and Korea. What’s different, what do you like about Korea and what do you like about baseball back home? 6) Besides baseball and baseball culture, you mention other cultural aspects of Korea on your social media. Please share some of that. Maybe something you were surprised about? 7) I’m sure you've experienced K-pop, K-dramas or even Korean food back in the U.S. But, has your perception of Korea changed to any extent now that you live here? 8) Do you have some final words for Ryan/Mr. Weiss and his team or fans? Thank you very much Hailey Brooke Mrs. Weiss for connecting with us today, Thank you Walter as always. We'll see you back tomorrow.

[K-wave] Korea steps up push to list 'hanbok' culture as UNESCO heritage

2025/04/15 14:00

Korea is stepping up efforts to have 'hanbok' culture recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. From government initiatives to private sector campaigns, a wide range of efforts are underway to protect, preserve, and promote its cultural significance. Our Han Da-eun takes a closer look. With its graceful lines, vivid colors, and exquisite design, 'hanbok' is more than just a traditional attire—it's a reflection of Korean history, value, and identity. But hanbok has become quite distant from everyday life in Korea, and at times, has been the subject of groundless debates over its origins. To safeguard hanbok from cultural misappropriation and to further promote its beauty and significance worldwide, Korea's leading hanbok experts have come together to launch the 'Hanbok Globalization Foundation.' Its primary goal is to have hanbok culture recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Around 180 prominent figures from hanbok-related industries have joined the group. "Hanbok is unarguably Korea's unique traditional costume and an essential part of the country's cultural heritage. Hanbok culture should've been recognized by UNESCO long ago." The government has recently been accelerating efforts to preserve and promote hanbok. In 2022, it designated hanbok as a national intangible cultural heritage, and last year, it unveiled the "Basic Plan for Promoting Traditional Cultural Industries" to integrate traditional culture into modern industries. "We frequently see foreigners wearing hanbok and taking photos at Korea's traditional palaces. Hanbok has transcended time, evolving into a "hip" and trendy cultural expression." A hanbok fashion show was held at the Paris Olympics, and specially designed hanboks will be crafted for world leaders attending the upcoming APEC Summit in Gyeongju this fall. Hanbok is not just a symbol of Korea's cultural identity but a living tradition that plays a vital role in cultural industry. As the government and private sector continue their efforts, it's time for citizens to embrace hanbok more closely to ensure it thrives as a vibrant part of modern life, both at home and abroad. Han Da-eun, Arirang News.

[K-Enter] BLACKPINK's Jennie: "It's like a dream"

2025/04/15 14:00

So Walter, we've got more Coachella news today! Who would've thought years ago that we would have this much of a K-pop presence on the Coachella stage. Yesterday, we talked about BLACKPINK'S Lisa and ENHYPEN's performance there, now it's time to talk about BLACKPINK's Jennie. How did she go? Yes, Jennie took the stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California. On Sunday evening, local time, Jennie appeared at Coachella’s Outdoor Theatre wearing a stylish Western-style hat and sunglasses, and began her performance with her solo song “Filter.” She went on to perform her pre-release track “Mantra” from her first solo album, along with songs like "Handlebars,” “ZEN,” “F.T.S.,” and “Like JENNIE.” Of course, she put on an amazing performance filled with great choreography, showing how she's a not just a member of a girl group but a fantastic solo performer. Jennie shared her thoughts, saying, "I didn't expect this many people to show up. It really looks like a huge crowd. Thank you for coming to my Coachella stage." Jennie is scheduled to perform once more at Coachella on April 20. We didn't expect anything less than amazing from Jennie, I am sure her second crowd will be just as big. Moving on to news about NCT WISH. On Monday, NCT sub-unit boy group NCT WISH released their second mini album “poppop”. NCT WISH is a multinational boy group based in Japan that debuted in February 2024. Among the six members, four are Japanese, and two are Korean. They are also the “youngest” unit among SM’s various NCT sub-groups, following predecessors like NCT U and NCT 127. Their second mini album includes a total of six tracks: the title song “poppop”, “Melt Inside My Pocket”, “Design”, “1000”, “Silly Dance”, and “Still 3PM”. The title track “poppop” is a dance-pop song that blends a bouncy melody with NCT WISH’s bright and refreshing vibe. The new album surpassed 1.21 million pre-orders, significantly exceeding the 800,000 pre-orders of their first mini-album. Great to see their popularity grow with each new release. Finally we move onto a new film set to be released next month, who is it from? I believe this might be a good year for Korean director Hong Sang-soo. First, with the recent news of his child with actress Kim Min-hee and now a film to follow. It was confirmed on Monday that director Hong Sang-soo’s new film “What Does That Nature Say to You” is set to be released on May 14, making it Hong’s 33rd feature-length film. Partner Kim Min-hee also took part as the production manager. The film follows the story of Dong-hwa , a poet in his 30s, who makes an unexpected visit to the home of his lover Jun-hee . The film was selected for the competition section at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival held in February 2025, but did not win any awards.

Trump signals tariff relief for auto industry following exemptions on electronics

2025/04/15 10:00

The Trump administration could be easing its trade pressures some more, as automakers and tech giants push back on looming tariffs. Our Moon Hye-ryeon leads us this morning. U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled another wave of temporary tariff suspensions — this time, for the auto industry. Speaking to reporters on Monday, he said that he was looking to help car companies with potential pushbacks on his 25 percent tariffs on complete vehicle and parts imports. “"I'm looking at something to help some of the car companies where they're switching to parts that were made in Canada, Mexico, and other places, and they need a little bit of time because they're going to make them here, but they need a little bit of time.” He did not specify when this pause would be implemented nor how long automakers would be granted relief. Levies on fully built vehicles took effect on April 3rd, and those on parts are due to be implemented in stages no later than May 3rd — prompting automakers to lobby for exclusions over the past few weeks. Shares of U.S. car companies, including General Motors and Ford Motor Company, peaked following his comments — reflecting investor optimism that the administration may be softening its stance, at least temporarily, to cushion the impact of trade tensions on vehicle manufacturers. Trump also mentioned that he had spoken to Tim Cook, the head of Apple, and “helped” him and “that whole business”. On Friday, the Trump administration granted exemptions for popular consumer electronics from weighty tariffs on Chinese products and the baseline tariff on imports from other countries, stating that these products would instead be levied based on its national security investigation on semiconductors. Amid these shifts in trade policy, the U.S. stock market has seen fluctuations — and following these exemptions, Wall Street showed gains on Monday. The Dow Jones and S&P 500 both ended around point-eight percent higher than the previous session, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq rose more than point-six percent. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

[Weather] Cooler than norms but pleasant spring day overall

2025/04/15 10:00

It's hard to believe we are in mid-April. It was another chilly start here in Seoul with the wind chill. We will see temperatures start to climb as the day goes on, but it's still going to feel cooler than usual for this time of year. Meanwhile, some of the upper inland regions, including Paju and Chuncheon, saw subzero morning temperatures, but readings will climb fast, along with plenty of sunshine. So as you could tell, the last few days of the wet spring cold snap helped to ease the dryness in the air and cleared the dust the only concern today, in terms of weather, is somewhat chilly spring conditions. Seoul gets up to 14 degrees, Daegu and Gyeongju rise to 17 degrees under mostly clear skies and decent air quality. The good news is that temperatures will generally be on the rise for the next few days, but we will have those significant temperature swings between day and night. So, definitely keep that outer layer handy to stay comfortable during the cooler mornings and evenings.

Meta faces historic antitrust trial that could force it to break off Instagram, WhatsApp

2025/04/15 10:00

A landmark antitrust trial against U.S. tech giant Meta Platforms kicked off on Monday in Washington, D.C. The Federal Trade Commission is seeking to force the tech giant to break Instagram and WhatsApp off from Meta. It alleges that the tech giant bought the platforms in a strategic move to eliminate competition and establish a monopoly in the social networking market. CEO Mark Zuckerberg defended the company's actions, saying the acquisitions enhanced consumer experience, citing competition from platforms like TikTok and YouTube. The trial is expected to span approximately eight weeks and could result in potential structural changes for Meta.

Italy says Rome to host U.S.-Iran nuclear talks

2025/04/15 10:00

The United States and Iran are set to hold a second round of nuclear negotiations in Rome on Saturday to follow discussions in Oman, which both sides described as "positive" and "constructive." Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, confirmed on Monday that Rome will host the upcoming negotiations, after requests from both parties and mediator Oman. The first round of talks in Muscat, with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi, marked the first direct discussions after years of indirect communication between the two states.

Trump meets El Salvador's president amid questions over deportations

2025/04/15 10:00

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump hosted El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, reinforcing their alliance on immigration enforcement amid controversy over deportations. In a meeting at the Oval Office on Monday local time, President Trump and President Bukele discussed their ongoing cooperation on immigration policies. The discussions came in the wake of a Maryland resident mistakenly being deported to El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center despite a U.S. court order preventing his removal. Both leaders have declined to facilitate his return, with Bukele stating he lacks the authority to "smuggle a terrorist" back into the United States, and Trump officials asserting that the responsibility lies with El Salvador. Also during the meeting, President Trump praised President Bukele's efforts in combating gang violence and suggested the possibility of expanding deportations to include U.S. citizens with criminal backgrounds.

Fmr. President Yoon denies insurrection charges at first criminal trial hearing

2025/04/15 10:00

The first hearing in the criminal trial of former President Yoon Suk Yeol took place on Monday. There, he defended himself and reiterated his long claim that the December martial law order was non-violent. Shin Ha-young reports. Former President Yoon Suk Yeol denied charges of insurrection at the first hearing of his criminal trial on Monday. During the hearing, prosecutors pointed to Yoon's actions leading up to his martial law declaration, claiming he aimed to "undermine the constitutional order" to foment a coup. Yoon pushed back, claiming the martial law declaration was intended as a peaceful message to the public, and "not a coup d'état." His legal team asked the court to dismiss the case, arguing that the indictment was unlawful. It brought up the issue of the detention period, stating the indictment was filed after it had expired. Two key witnesses, including Cho Sung-hyun from the army's capital defense command, testified at the hearing. Cho said he was ordered to send troops to remove lawmakers from the National Assembly on the night of the martial law order, repeating his earlier testimony given at the Constitutional Court in February. Yoon arrived at the Seoul Central District Court on Monday morning, as he is required to attend the trial in person. This comes 10 days after he was removed from office. The court did not allow media filming in the courtroom, explaining that the request came in too late for the appropriate judicial procedures to be followed. However, it added that if the request is submitted again for the next hearing, the court would review it. To convict Yoon of insurrection, prosecutors must prove that he intentionally tried to undermine the constitutional order by using the military. If convicted, he could face life imprisonment or even the death penalty. The next hearing is scheduled for next Monday. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

Presidential election D-50: candidates from both sides drop out due to primary rules

2025/04/15 10:00

We are now counting down less than 50 days to the early presidential election. Rival parties have now set their own primary rules but with little consensus. Our Kim Do-yeon has the details. South Korea's major political parties are gearing up for their presidential primaries, but controversy is brewing for both sides, with candidates dropping out. The Democratic Party of Korea's previously announced rules for the competition -50-percent eligible DP members and the other 50 by an open survey -were the issue. In the past two presidential primaries, anyone who signed up in advance could participate in the voting regardless of party membership history. This is why Kim Du-kwan said it's against tradition and the party's spirit and dropped out of the race on Monday. Kim Dong-yeon also said the rules aren't fair but accepted the changes. DP's election committee on Monday brushed off the claims and started its first meeting. "The early election needs to be an answer to the call of those who filled the streets. The committee will be fairer, transparent, and more stable than ever for this primary." Despite the controversy, a new high-profile participant entered the race on Sunday -former Gyeongsangnam-do Governor Kim Kyung-soo. As for the rules, he accepted them. But the DP's front-runner Lee Jae-myung didn't comment on them. He continued to promote his candidacy by visiting an AI chips company on Monday, pledging 100 trillion won or around 73 billion U.S. dollars of investment into AI industries. Meanwhile, the People Power Party's official registration started on Monday, with the deadline set for Tuesday. "I know it's tough times, but I ask good candidates to come forward. Our Party's primary principle is clear. All candidates will be at the same starting point and under same standards." However, the issues seen with its rival party were seen in the PPP as well. Its tactical voting prevention measures asking respondents for the party they support during open survey and excluding those who support opposition were the problem. With some saying that to expand support, this measure has to be scrapped. However, the rule stuck, and former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min said he will not be joining the PPP primary in protest. In addition, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon also declared that he is not joining the PPP primary, but didn't specifically mention that the decision came in protest of the rules. On Monday, however, Hong Joon-pyo, the latest Daegu Mayor, joined the race as he'd previously announced. He focused on the need to beat DP's Lee Jae-myung, and that he's the only candidate who's able to compete with Lee. Now the public waits to see if the candidates who dropped out will still run as independents. With such a short election season, this could have impacts on both parties. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

On-point: Where is Trump's tariff flexibility on autos coming from?

2025/04/15 10:00

Trump's hint at tariff relief is indeed good news for many but it's also important to read behind Trump's tariff formula. For that, we turn to Professor Greg Buchak this morning. Welcome. 1. U.S President Donald Trump is now considering pausing his auto tariffs. Where is this flexibility coming from? 2. The Trump administration says it'll prioritize its allies including South Korea, Australia, the UK, and Japan when it comes to tariff negotiations. Will that be helpful? Great news for South Korea? Or not really? 3. Trump also signaled flexibility on iPhones. Is this generosity to help Apple? Where is THIS flexibility coming from? 4. China is looking to survive through Trump's tariff pressure. Isn't President Xi Jinping on a trip to Vietnam? 5. The U.S. has also begun national security probes into semiconductor and pharmaceutical imports. How much information and what kind of data does the government collect for the president to adjust imports to the U.S. and make a final call? Thanks so much for connecting with us today. We appreciate it.

Washington says trade talks with S. Korea scheduled for next week

2025/04/15 10:00

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday that trade negotiations with South Korea could take place next week. In an interview with Bloomberg TV, Bessent said that the U.S. held talks with Vietnam last week, with Japan scheduled for Wednesday, and South Korea penciled in for "next week." He added that negotiations will proceed quickly. The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that the Trump administration is prioritizing negotiations with South Korea, the United Kingdom, Australia, India and Japan. Meanwhile, Seoul's industry minister, Ahn Duk-geun, could visit the U.S. as early as next week for negotiations with Washington. He's expected to seek an exemption from the sweeping U.S. reciprocal tariffs.

All-female crew on Blue Origin rocket successfully

2025/04/15 10:00

Let's begin with the historic spaceflight by Blue Origin, completing its first all-female crewed mission. Sure. Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin rocket, carrying pop star Kate Perry and five other accomplished women, safely returned to Earth after reaching space. The Blue Origin New Shepard rocket, developed for space tourism, successfully returned to Earth on Monday with an all-women crew of six women after an approximately 10-minute flight to space. "TAKE IT UP SPACE" "And for me, like Gayle said, this wasn't a ride, it wasn't a destination, it was a journey and it was super-natural one." The crew took off from Blue Origin's launch site in West Texas at 9:31 AM on Monday. The six-person crew included pop star Katy Perry, journalist Gayle King, aerospace engineer Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, film producer Kerianne Flynn, and pilot Lauren Sanchez. The flight lasted about 10 minutes and 21 seconds, reaching the Karman line, the recognized boundary of space, where the crew experienced moments of weightlessness before safely returning to Earth. The mission marked the first all-female spaceflight since Valentina Tereshkova's solo journey into space in 1963.

U.S. Commerce Department launches probe into semiconductors and pharmaceutical imports

2025/04/15 10:00

The Trump administration is launching probes that could lay the groundwork for tariffs on semiconductor and pharmaceutical imports. On Monday, the U.S. Commerce Department announced it had initiated national security probes into the import of semiconductors, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, pharmaceuticals, and pharmaceutical ingredients. While the timeline remains uncertain, the investigations are legally required to conclude within 270 days. The move marks the latest effort to bolster domestic manufacturing, as Trump continues to criticize America's reliance on foreign-made medicine and its dependence on chips from Asian countries.

Xi Jinping begins state visit to Vietnam seeking joint response to U.S. tariffs

2025/04/15 10:00

Chinese President Xi Jinping, who has chosen to confront the U.S. head-on over Trump's tariffs, is now turning to Southeast Asian countries that have been hit just as hard as China to look for stronger ties on trade and supply chains. Lee Seung-jae has more. Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived at Hanoi International Airport on Monday, to begin his two-day visit to Vietnam. The trip to the communist nation comes just days after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he's pausing reciprocal tariffs on most countries for 90 days while focusing his trade war on China. During his visit, Xi called on Vietnam to join China in upholding multilateral trade and countering Washington's tariff policies. Xi also signed dozens of cooperation agreements with Vietnam after holding talks with To Lam, the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee. While the contents of the agreement have not yet been released, Xi's visit also comes as Vietnam has been tightening controls on some trade with China, to make sure products exported to the U.S. with a "Made in Vietnam" label have sufficient added value, after pressure from Washington. In order to bypass U.S. tariffs against Chinese goods, Beijing would ship products to Vietnam before they are exported to the U.S. as "Made in Vietnam" products. The Chinese leader will also visit Malaysia and Cambodia from Tuesday to Friday. The two countries have seen increased trade and investment with China in recent years. However, it's also worth noting that Vietnam and Cambodia were among the highest hit by Trump's sweeping reciprocal tariffs, set at 46 percent and 49 percent, respectively. As the U.S and China exchange tariff after tariff, Southeast Asian nations are growing increasingly anxious about being caught in the mix. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Trump to announce tariffs on imported chips "over next week"

2025/04/14 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. The cloud of uncertainty persists over the U.S.' erratic trade policy. The Trump administration earlier announced that smartphones, laptops and other electronics were exempt from its reciprocal tariffs. But now, the American leader says it's only temporary, and he will announce tariffs on imported semiconductors in the coming days. Lee Soo-jin has our top story. U.S. President Donald Trump signaled that he would unveil new tariffs on imported semiconductors over the next week. He announced this to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, local time, adding that certain companies in the sector may be granted some flexibility. "But the tariffs will be in place in the not distant future because as you know like we did with steel, like we did with the automobiles, like we did with aluminum, we'll be doing that with semiconductors, with chips, and numerous other things and that will take place in the very near future." He did not clarify whether products such as smartphones would be exempted, but emphasized again how a certain degree of flexibility will be shown. This comes as he and his key trade officials made it clear that his administration's newly announced exemptions for reciprocal tariffs on electronic products would be partially or completely reversed in the coming weeks. After a technical guidance issued late Friday, Washington issued an exemption on select electronics, such as smartphones, laptops, personal computers, servers, and semiconductor equipment, easing the burden on Samsung Electronics and Samsung Electronics and Apple, among others. Trump also took to his social media page on Sunday to clarify that tariffs would still be imposed on Chinese goods, specifically the existing 20 percent fentanyl tariffs. He also stressed that the U.S. administration is taking a look at semiconductors and the "WHOLE ELECTRONICS SUPPLY CHAIN" in upcoming national security tariff reviews. "So what he's doing is he's saying they're exempt from the reciprocal tariffs, but they're included in the semiconductor tariffs, which are coming in probably a month or two. So these are coming soon." Speaking to CNN on Sunday, White House National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett said that items subject to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act have always been excluded from reciprocal tariffs, and a separate review will be conducted to determine necessary measures to protect the United States. He added that the tariff review of semiconductors has to do with broader concerns of U.S. dependence on Chinese-made imports and that there is a "very uncomfortable amount of Chinese input" in U.S. weapons systems. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

[Weather] Weather clears up on Tuesday with warmer highs under sunny skies

2025/04/14 20:00

We've been experiencing some pretty wild weather since the weekend, with rain and even snow sweeping across the country with gusty winds. There has been more rain nationwide, which could linger into tomorrow at dawn, 그리고 now for mountainous regions in Gangwon-do. Highs were 5 to 10 degrees Celsius lower than norms today, but as the weather clears up tomorrow, daytime highs will return to near average. But you will need a light winter jacket for the morning commute. Seoul starts off at 4 degrees Celsius, Chuncheon at zero degrees under brighter skies. Highs will jump to the mid-teens in most parts at 16 degrees in the capital and Daejeon, Daegu and Busan at 17 degrees with decent air quality. Then, things will get much warmer heading into the weekend. That's Korea for you. Here's a look at the international weather conditions.

[Sports Round-up] Giants' Lee Jung-hoo hits two homers against Yankees

2025/04/14 20:00

Time now to take a look at what's been happening in the world of sports. Joining us is our sports editor, Paul Neat. Hello Paul. Hello. Let's start with baseball. In MLB over the weekend, Lee Jung-hoo had what was probably his best game yet. Yes, not one but two home runs against the New York Yankees. Lee Jung-hoo, an outfielder for the San Francisco Giants, on Sunday hit two home runs and recorded four runs in a 5-4 win over the Yankees in New York. This was the first time he'd hit more than one home run in a single game, and four RBIs is also a career best. The highlight was his second home run, a three-run homer with the Giants down 3-1 in the fourth inning,.. helping to begin the fightback. In total, in what were his first trips to Yankee Stadium, Lee Jung-hoo batted four-for-nine with three home runs in three matches, with seven RBIs and five runs scored. A total of three home runs and 11 RBIs for the season are already career highs. He managed just two home runs in 37 matches last year, but seems to have put his injury problems behind him and is having a successful season. Moving on to golf now. A very respectable finish for Im Sung-jae at the Masters. Yes, he finished tied for fifth and only four strokes behind the winner, Rory McIlroy. Im recorded a three-under 69 in the final round on Sunday at Augusta for an overall score of seven-under 281. He went into the final day in tenth, but rose up the rankings thanks to four birdies, an eagle, and three bogeys. It was Masters number six for him; his best finish is second in 2020. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy was able to complete a career Grand Slam by overcoming Justin Rose in a playoff to win the Masters. McIlroy called it "14 years in the making," having come close in 2011 but blew a four-shot lead in the final round. And finally, to short track speed skating. A rising star is heading to the Winter Olympics. Yes, a high schooler 17-year-old Rim Jong-un. On Sunday, he won the Korean Olympic short track speedskating trials, clinching a spot at the 2026 Winter Games in Italy. The high school senior dominated across two rounds, edging out 2022 Olympic champion Hwang Dae-heon, who also qualifies. Also making the men's team—Shin Dong-min, who will make his senior debut after finishing third. On the women's side, World Cup champion Kim Gil-li finished first, with Noh Do-hee close behind. Choi Min-jeong, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, had already secured her spot with a world title. All eyes now turn to Italy, where Korea's newest and brightest stars will take the ice. Indeed, lots to look forward to. Thanks for that wrap-up, Paul. See you again next week. Thank you.

More than 200 civilians killed as Sudan’s RSF attacks Darfur refugee camps

2025/04/14 20:00

Elsewhere. Paramilitaries in Sudan killed more than 200 civilians over two days of attacks last week on refugee camps and around the city of El Fasher in the Darfur region. The UN said the Rapid Support Forces continued killing at two large camps in Zamzam and Abu Shouk which protected as many as 700-thousand displaced civilians. All nine medical staff members of Relief International who were operating the clinic inside Zamzam camp were murdered. The civil war between the army and the paramilitary forces began almost two years ago, and has seen tens-of-thousands killed and 12-million people displaced.

U.S.-Iran nuclear talks set to resume amid pitfalls after "constructive" first round

2025/04/14 20:00

Over in Oman this past Saturday. Officials from the U.S. and Iran addressed the latter's nuclear weapons ambitions with more talks scheduled for this coming weekend. Our Park Kun-woo reports. Nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran are set to resume this weekend, but with potential pitfalls ahead, including the agenda and format. The first round that took place Saturday in Oman was participated in by U.S. and Iranian diplomats and conducted "indirectly" through Oman's mediation, marking the highest-level meeting between the two nations since 2018. After the talks ended, the two sides spoke for a few minutes face-to-face. On Sunday, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the talks "constructive," but also said the U.S. continues to seek a diplomatic resolution to Iran's nuclear program. And he added that the U.S. military stands ready "to go deep and big" if talks fail. U.S. President Donald Trump also commented. "We'll be making a decision on Iran very quickly." That came after Trump said the day before that things were "going okay." Iran on Sunday also described the first round of talks with the U.S. as "productive," but maintained its stance of keeping the agenda and format the same amid remaining tensions. "What is clear at this stage is that the negotiations are indirect and, from our perspective, are solely about the nuclear issue and with the necessary will to reach an agreement based on equality." That comes as the U.S. is reportedly looking to broaden the agenda to include Iran's ballistic missile program and its support for the "axis of resistance" -a network of militant groups opposed to Israel. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.