Chinese foreign ministry reaffirms commitment to African development

SEOUL, August 29 (AJP) - Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, emphasized on Wednesday China's dedication to fostering Africa's growth during a recent press conference. Lin stated that supporting African development is a global responsibility and expressed China's willingness to collaborate with the international community to advance African prosperity. Responding to comments from a Kenyan economist, Lin highlighted that African nations maintain autonomy in th

August 29, 2024

Large sinkhole injures elderly couple in Seoul

SEOUL, August 29 (AJP) - A large sinkhole suddenly opened up on a busy four-lane road in Yonhui-dong, western Seoul on Thursday. The sinkhole suddenly appeared around 11:20 a.m., swallowing a Tivoli vehicle. The unexpected collapse caused a car to plunge into the hole, which measured 6 meters wide and 4 meters long, leading to serious injuries for the driver and a passenger. The female passenger in her late 70s was found in cardiac arrest but was revived through immediate CPR eff

August 29, 2024

Myanmar Junta court hands severe sentences to journalists

SEOUL, August 29 (AJP) - Myanmar's military junta court has issued harsh sentences to independent journalists, with two reporters from the online news outlet Dawei Watch receiving life imprisonment and 20 years in prison for alleged violations of anti-terrorism laws. These sentences, delivered earlier this year, are reportedly the harshest given to journalists since the 2021 military coup. Dawei Watch editor Kyaw San Min said, "The sentences imposed on the two journalists a

August 29, 2024

NCT's Taeil leaves group amid sexual crime allegations

SEOUL, August 29 (AJP) - Taeil, a member of K-pop boy band NCT has left the group, after being accused of a sexual crime, his agency SM Entertainment said on Wednesday. Specific details of the alleged offense remain undisclosed, but the 30-year-old is reportedly under investigation by police in southern Seoul. "Given the seriousness of the matter, we have determined that it is no longer possible for him to be with us," the agency wrote in a post on X. Making his deb

August 29, 2024

Google's AI Overview struggles in India with translation, search issues

SEOUL, August 29 (AJP) - Google's AI Overview is encountering issues in India, with problems identified in the Hindi translation feature and search result consistency. AI Overview is a generative AI solution designed to improve search results and provide detailed insights using advanced artificial intelligence. According to American online newspaper TechCrunch, the AI solution has been showing several issues in its Indian service, indicating a need for upgrades. Google recent

August 29, 2024

Nurses' nationwide strike averted at eleventh hour

SEOUL, August 29 (AJP) - Just hours before their planned nationwide strike, nurses and other medical workers called it off after reaching an agreement through last-minute negotiations on Thursday. Their major walkout was averted as some 59 out of 62 medical institutions under Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union (KHMU) accepted a proposal over wages and working conditions. The decision just came after a bill, which legalizes the medical practice of Physician Assis

August 29, 2024

At least seven villagers die in wolf attack in India

SEOUL, August 29 (AJP) - At least seven villagers lost their lives to wild wolves in Bahraich, in India’s Uttar Pradesh state, over the past two months. Residents in several villages in Uttar Pradesh have been living under the threat of continuous wolf attacks for the past two months, according to Reuters Thursday. On Wednesday, district authorities, along with forest officials and security forces, used drones to track the wolves' movements and set up nets and traps in

August 29, 2024

Heavy rain hits Philippine capital region

SEOUL, August 29 (AJP) - Severe weather has forced the Philippines to suspend government operations and school classes in Metro Manila and nearby provinces on Wednesday. The torrential monsoon rains have also led to the closure of foreign exchange trading for the day. The government warned residents in low-lying areas about potential dam overflows and subsequent flooding. The weather bureau cautioned about the high risk of landslides and the possibility of heavy rainfall extending t

August 29, 2024

Three dead, millions ordered evacuate as Typhoon Shanshan hits Japan

SEOUL, August 29 (AJP) - A powerful typhoon made landfall in southwestern Japan on Thursday, resulting in at least three deaths and causing widespread disruption to air travel and power supplies. Typhoon Shanshan hit Kagoshima prefecture with winds reaching up to 198 km per hour, prompting local authorities to issue evacuation orders for millions of residents across several prefectures. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi reported that in addition to the three fatalities, o

August 29, 2024

Japan to establish division for tech giant oversight

SEOUL, August 29 (AJP) - Japan's antitrust regulator is planning to create a specialized division to monitor and investigate major technology companies, according to sources familiar with the matter on Wednesday. The move comes amid concerns that these firms are exploiting their market dominance in the smartphone application sector to impede fair competition. The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) aims to launch the new unit as early as April next year, comprising about 50 staff

August 29, 2024