South Korea: one year and eight months for former first lady for corruption

Today's headlines: Sixth round of talks between US and Taiwanese officials; In the Indian state of Manipur, some tribal organisations have opposed the awarding of an honour to a police officer, Malaysia abandons a plan to test six-year-olds to see if they are ready for school; Pyongyang is preparing a memorial for its soldiers who died in Ukraine.

SOUTH KOREA

Former first lady Kim Keon Hee, wife of former president Yoon Suk Yeol, has been sentenced to one year and eight months in prison for accepting bribes from the Unification Church in exchange for political favours. The sentence comes after investigations into Yoon's brief imposition of martial law in 2024 and scandals involving the couple. Prosecutors had initially sought a 15-year prison sentence, accusing Kim Keon Hee of accepting luxury handbags and a diamond necklace from the Unification Church.

NORTH KOREA – RUSSIA

North Korea is preparing a memorial museum in honour of soldiers who died during Russia's war against Ukraine, starting in October 2024, with triple-sized statues, sculptures and bas-reliefs approved directly by dictator Kim Yong-un in the halls of the museum of military heroes in overseas military operations, to “pass on to future generations the legendary example of the heroism and glorious life of North Korean soldiers”.

USA – TAIWAN

Yesterday in Washington, Taiwanese and US officials held the sixth round of talks as part of the Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue and signed a pact recognising the principles of “Pax Silica”, focused on coordinating reliable supply chains for advanced technologies. The talks also touched on topics such as the certification of unmanned aircraft system components, digital infrastructure and rare earths.

INDIA

Kuki-Zo organisations in the state of Manipur protested against the central government's decision to award Vipin Wilson, an officer of the Central Reserve Police Force, accused of killing ten men from the community. On 25 January, President Droupadi Murmu approved the awarding of a series of honours to 70 members of the armed forces. According to tribal organisations, the men killed were not trained fighters but volunteers who were trying to protect villages during ethnic clashes that began in May 2023.

MYANMAR

United Nations agencies have reported that immunisation rates against certain diseases in Myanmar have fallen to 37%, compared to 94% before the Burmese army seized power in February 2021. It is estimated that between 2022 and 2024, approximately 1.2 million children, including around 800,000 living in conflict areas, will not receive vaccinations.

MALAYSIA

Kuala Lumpur has abandoned a plan to require six-year-olds to take a “diagnostic test” before enrolling in primary school because it risked being discriminatory and penalising children who failed it. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim nevertheless defended the proposal, which he said proposed “an assessment system to check whether the child is ready to start school” at the age of six rather than seven, as is currently the case in Malaysia.

ISRAEL – CENTRAL ASIA

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, visited Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan to “develop bilateral political and economic relations” with the two countries in the region traditionally closest to Israel. He also met with representatives of the Jewish communities, against the backdrop of Kazakhstan's accession to the “Abraham Accords”, and participated in a Holocaust Remembrance Day event in Astana.