Lee Jae-myung, head of the Democratic Party of Korea, is accused of corruption, which he has always denied. He was hospitalised two days ago. Meanwhile, his party has tabled a motion calling on the prime minister to resign. In a deeply divided country, confidence in the Yoon Suk Yeol administration is sinking, driven by its failure to oppose Japan’s release of radioactive waters from the Fukushima plant in the name of the détente with the former colonial power.
Today's headlines: prisoner exchange between the US and Iran; Former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra could be granted parole at the end of February; Indonesia reassesses plans to relocate its citizens for Chinese industries; Beijing asks consulates in Hong Kong to share information on personnel; In South Korea, free therapy for teachers.
Today's headlines: ChatGPT lands in Protestant churches in South Korea; Japanese municipalities are in favour of more foreign labour; A woman accused of kidnapping and trafficking children is sentenced to death in China; India beats Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup cricket final; The Mufti of Uzbekistan speaks out against the burqa.
Some 300 Korean pilgrims visited the Vatican on the day of the blessing of a statue of the first priest and martyr of the Korean Church, now placed in a niche outside St Peter's Basilica. “Let us entrust to Saint Andrew Kim the dream of peace of the Korean Peninsula, which is always in my thoughts and prayers,” Francis said. The pope also urged young people to prepare for WYD in Seoul in 2027. They should be heard to prevent them from being “seduced by the false myths” when in fact their hearts “seek something else.”
Founded in 1996 by a US US Christian activist and his wife, the NGO sends food, medicine and necessities to poor North Koreans. Via an “underground route”, it gets escapees out to safety in neighbouring countries. Its Christian ethic attracts volunteers, including non-believers.
Today's headlines: at least 10 dead in clashes between rival factions in a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon; Runoff between Solih and Muizzu scheduled for Sept. 30 to decide next president of the Maldives; Sexist behavior toward women in the workplace persists in South Korea; Kuala Lumpur wants to halt rare earth exports; Delhi ready to reintroduce firecracker ban for Diwali to try to curb air pollution in the capital.
