(EDITORIAL from Korea Times on Aug. 18)
Unexplained dismissal risks misunderstanding: Lee's abrupt firing of trade minister sparks speculation
· Woo Jae-yeon
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Newest first · UTC+11:00(EDITORIAL from Korea Herald on Aug. 18)
Growing spy threat: Rising Chinese espionage exposes gaps in S. Korea's counterintelligence system
· Woo Jae-yeon
PNP to beef up intel, deployment as BARMM polls near
MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. called for an intensified intelligence-gathering and real-time deployment adjustments as the first Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections nears this September.
· Izel Abanilla
Claims Hegseth ‘on verge of losing job’ raise questions about future US-China defence ties
Donald Trump is losing patience with the Pentagon chief because of the stalled Iran war, according to several sources
· Dewey Sim
Claims Hegseth ‘on verge of losing job’ raise questions about future US-China defence ties
Donald Trump is losing patience with the Pentagon chief because of the stalled Iran war, according to several sources
· Dewey Sim
SSS extends emergency loan program to members hit by tropical storm, ‘habagat’
MANILA, Philippines — The Social Security System (SSS) has announced that members affected by Tropical Storm ‘Maymay’ and the enhanced southwest monsoon, locally known as ‘habagat,’ may now avail themselves of the existing Emergency Loan Program (ELP) to help ease the financial strain brought about by the calamities.
· Arlie O. Calalo
Japan’s Summer Koshien baseball tradition comes face-to-face with new climate reality
Nishinomiya, Hyogo Pref. – A siren blares, cutting through the sticky August air as two teams bow in a show of respect before the biggest game of their young lives.
· Joel Tansey
Chip boom pushes Vietnam, Philippines closer to 'high-income' status
Among the 11 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, only Singapore and Brunei are categorized as "high-income countries" by the World Bank. © Reuters
· Staff Writer
DepEd honors Tacloban learner who died protecting classmates
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday posthumously honored a 15-year-old learner who died protecting his classmates during a June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School (SJNHS) in Tacloban City.
· Dan Madrazo
China’s space race has a new problem: finding room for failure
Does Beijing have time to fully investigate the year’s fourth rocket failure or will launch schedules force rapid returns to service?
· Tang Meng Kit
China’s space race has a new problem: finding room for failure
Does Beijing have time to fully investigate the year’s fourth rocket failure or will launch schedules force rapid returns to service?
· Tang Meng Kit
State Dept. reiterates U.S. remains open to dialogue with N. Korea 'without preconditions'
WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 (Yonhap) -- The State Department reiterated Monday that the United States remains open to talks with North Korea "without preconditions," a day after President Donald Trump said he has ordered the Pentagon to reduce South Korea-U.S. military exercises in what appears to be a conciliatory gesture …
· Song Sang-ho
North Korea grows stronger as the South ponders fading US support
Keep independent journalism alive
· Virginie Grzelczyk
Japan readies strategic changes as drones, China upend landscape
Technological innovation has changed the nature of conflict since Japan formulated the current editions of its main security documents in 2022. (Illustration by Nikkei)
· Staff Writer
Delta Electronics' Thai subsidiary thrives despite recent share slump
Delta Electronics (Thailand), which employs almost 22,000 people, became the country's first company to hit a market capitalization of $100 billion. (Source photos by Joseph Rachman and Kenya Akama)
· Staff Writer
Ecuador’s Noboa courts China on shrimp, copper without threatening US ties
Ecuadorian president lands in Beijing seeking to free up key exports and gain Chinese investment, months after deepening US security ties
· Igor Patrick
Ecuador’s Noboa courts China on shrimp, copper without threatening US ties
Ecuadorian president lands in Beijing seeking to free up key exports and gain Chinese investment, months after deepening US security ties
· Igor Patrick
(2nd LD) Pentagon says it is 'actively working on executing' Trump's directive on S. Korea-U.S. military drills
(ATTN: ADDS more info in paras 3-6)By Song Sang-ho
· Song Sang-ho
Eala and Auger-Aliassime, Errani-Vavassori get US Open mixed doubles wild cards
Alexandra Eala, of the Philippines, waves to the crowd after losing to Belinda Bencic, of Switzerland, in a round of 16 match at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (Keito Newman/The Canadian Press via AP)
· Brian Mahoney
Global stock pickers' Japan buys: JX Advanced Metals, Sanrio move up
Net inflows into Japanese stocks are moving at a record pace this year. (Photo by Kazuho Fujiwara)
· Staff Writer
Senate considering Saturday budget hearings if work suspensions continue
MANILA, Philippines — The Senate is considering holding committee hearings on the proposed 2027 national budget on Saturdays should work suspensions persist, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said Monday.
· Catherine S. Valente
Won and yen: 2 currencies, 2 very different problems
Japan and South Korea have been struggling with weak currencies relative to the dollar. (Source photos by Reuters)
· KANG-KOOK LEE
(LEAD) Pentagon says it is 'actively working on executing' Trump's directive on S. Korea-U.S. military drills
(ATTN: UPDATES throughout)By Song Sang-ho
· Song Sang-ho
Labor groups urge SC to settle wage order dispute
MANILA, Philippines — Labor groups on Monday urged the Supreme Court to settle the legal dispute over the P60 wage increase in Metro Manila after a Pasig court issued a preliminary injunction blocking its implementation.
· Dan Madrazo
Trump appeases North Korea as Kim steps up his Ukraine aggression
Keep independent journalism alive
· Luke Johnson
(LEAD) Trump says N. Korea's Kim has responded to his dialogue overture
(ATTN: UPDATES throughout)By Song Sang-ho
· Song Sang-ho
(URGENT) Pentagon says it is 'actively' working on executing Trump's directive on S. Korea-U.S. military exercises
(2nd LD) Lee proposes dialogue with N. Korea to officially end Korean War, halt Pyongyang's nuclear program
· Song Sang-ho
Japan Inc. raises full-year profit forecast to 14% jump on AI and chips
Hitachi expects to earn greater profit with its high global share in power transmission and distribution equipment, which benefits from the data center boom. (Hitachi)
· Staff Writer
Trump’s move to gut South Korea alliance is ‘inane, haphazard decision’, lawmakers say
US president’s abrupt order to scale back joint exercises with Seoul is meant to ‘flatter’ North Korea’s dictator, top Democrat says
· Joseph Gedeon
US warship loses power and toilets in South China Sea – CNN
A US Navy destroyer spent four days without power in the South China Sea last month, depriving its crew of hot meals, flushing toilets, and air conditioning, CNN has reported. The report comes as US sailors in the Persian Gulf are facing similar conditions.
· RT
Read Full Article at RT.com
A US Navy destroyer spent four days without power in the South China Sea last month, depriving its crew of hot meals, flushing toilets, and air conditioning, CNN has reported. The report comes as US sailors in the Persian Gulf are facing similar conditions.
· RT
Trump says N. Korea's Kim has responded to his dialogue overture
WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has responded to his overture for dialogue, a day after he said he has instructed the Pentagon to "substantially" reduce South Korea-U.S. military exercises that Pyongyang has decried as rehearsals for war.
· Song Sang-ho
(URGENT) Trump says he gets along with Kim 'very well,' is making things safer
(2nd LD) Lee proposes dialogue with N. Korea to officially end Korean War, halt Pyongyang's nuclear program
· Song Sang-ho
Metro Manila drenched by ‘Ondoy-like’ rains, over 200 mm falls in 5 hours
MANILA, Philippines — Metro Manila was hit by an intense, “Ondoy-like” downpour on Monday, with 201.7 millimeters (mm) of rain dumped over the capital in just five hours, quickly flooding several areas.
· Dan Madrazo
(URGENT) Trump says N. Korea's Kim has treated him with great respect
(2nd LD) Lee proposes dialogue with N. Korea to officially end Korean War, halt Pyongyang's nuclear program
· Song Sang-ho
(URGENT) Trump says N. Korea's Kim has responded to him
(2nd LD) Lee proposes dialogue with N. Korea to officially end Korean War, halt Pyongyang's nuclear program
· Song Sang-ho
Japan wrestles with low rates of immigrant pension payments
Japanese law stipulates that all residents in Japan between the ages of 20 and 60 must join the national pension system, regardless of nationality. (Nikkei montage)
· Staff Writer
Japan faces shortfall in pension contributions from self-paying foreigners
Japanese law stipulates that all residents in Japan between the ages of 20 and 60 must join the national pension system, regardless of nationality. (Nikkei montage)
· Staff Writer
Pentagon says 'no changes' to announce about ongoing S. Korea-U.S. exercise
WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. Defense Department said Monday that it has "no changes" to announce regarding the ongoing South Korea-U.S. military exercise, a day after President Donald Trump said he instructed the Pentagon to "substantially" reduce allied exercises.
· Song Sang-ho
Troops discover IHL-Banned Anti-personnel mines in Northern Samar
MANILA, Philippines — Troops of the 20th Infantry Battalion (20IB), 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, discovered two anti-personnel mines while conducting combat patrol in the hinterlands of Barangay Sag-od, Las Navas, Northern Samar, on August 13, 2026.
· Izel Abanilla
Malls open parking spaces overnight as Habagat rains lash Metro Manila
MANILA, Philippines — Several malls in Metro Manila and nearby provinces are offering free overnight parking on Monday, Aug. 17, as heavy rains from the southwest monsoon, or Habagat, continue to affect the capital and surrounding areas.
· Dan Madrazo
Kremlin critic jailed in Russia for 11 years for opposing the war in Ukraine
Lev Shlosberg is a senior member of the Yabloko party which Russia has barred from the ballot in next month’s parliamentary election
· Associated Press
Kremlin critic jailed in Russia for 11 years for opposing the war in Ukraine
Lev Shlosberg is a senior member of the Yabloko party which Russia has barred from the ballot in next month’s parliamentary election
· Associated Press
Japan's life insurers' unrealized bond losses near $200bn as rates soar
Rising yields on government bonds can trigger scenarios where unrealized losses become realized ones. (Photo by Hikaru Yagi)
· Staff Writer
‘Bad in every aspect’: low-tech animation Niu Lai trounces the Odyssey at Chinese box office
Commentary about the ‘so bad it’s good’ qualities of mother and son’s movie has driven people to see it at cinema
· Amy Hawkins
Thousands in Indonesia awaiting aid after devastating earthquake killed at least 68 people
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· Associated Press
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