OPINION: Innovative South Korean novelist breaks new ground with Nobel Prize win

SEOUL, October 11 (AJP) - It's often the case that when poets write novels, they deliver arrestingly vivid and nimble prose. Han Kang's "The Vegetarian" (2007) is a case in point, and it is no doubt the work that was most influential in the Swedish Academy's decision to award her the Nobel prize in literature 2024. The committee stated that Han was awarded the prestigious prize because her "poetic and experimental style" has made her "an innovator i

October 11, 2024

OPINION: Google Deepmind founder shares Nobel prize in chemistry for AI that unlocks shape of proteins

SEOUL, October 10 (AJP) - The 2024 Nobel prize in chemistry has been awarded to three scientists for their work on describing and predicting proteins with the help of computers. One half of the prize goes to David Baker from the University of Washington in the U.S. "for computational protein design," with the other half jointly awarded to Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper, both from Google Deepmind, U.K., "for protein structure prediction." Using computers to car

October 10, 2024

OPINION: Nobel prize in medicine awarded for discovery of microRNAs, molecules that control our genes

SEOUL, October 8 (AJP) - Two scientists, Victor Ambros (UMASS Chan Medical School in the U.S.) and Gary Ruvkun (Harvard Medical School in the U.S.), have won the 2024 Nobel prize in medicine or physiology. They received the prestigious award for discovering tiny molecules in our cells called microRNAs. This discovery has not only changed our understanding of how our bodies work, but opens up a whole new area of science as well. It even extends into new treatments. These molecules

October 8, 2024

OPINION: Palestinians want to choose their own leaders – war has distanced them further from this democratic goal

SEOUL, October 7 (AJP) - Over the summer as Israel continued to bombard Gaza, representatives from 14 Palestinian factions, including the two main parties – Hamas and Fatah – met in China. Following the most inclusive talks in years, all the parties agreed to a future unity government and to hold national elections. Such talk of "day after" governance may seem fanciful as the current war marks its first anniversary. The idea of holding Palestinian elections see

October 7, 2024

OPINION: How Middle East conflict could influence US election – and why Arab Americans in swing states might vote for Trump

SEOUL, October 4 (AJP) - As we near the first anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, the conflict in the Middle East has escalated significantly. Iran just launched nearly 200 missiles on Israel, and Israel has continued its fight against Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Hamas in Gaza. In addition to the assassination of top Hezbollah commanders, including its leader Hassan Nasrallah, Israel has struck hundreds of targets in southern Lebanon, the Bekaa and the suburbs of Beirut in the

October 4, 2024

OPINION: Iran's strikes on Israel are latest sign that conflict in Middle East is spiraling, presenting rising global security threats

SEOUL, October 2 (AJP) - Iran fired at least 180 ballistic missiles at Israel on Oct. 1, 2024, amplifying tensions in the Middle East that are increasingly marked by "escalation after escalation," as United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres put it. Iran's attacks – which Israel largely deterred with its Iron Dome missile defense system, along with help from nearby U.S. naval destroyers – followed Israel's killing of Hassan Nasrallah, the longti

October 2, 2024

OPINION: Shigeru Ishiba will be Japan's next prime minister. What should we expect?

SEOUL, September 30 (AJP) - In a vote to replace Fumio Kishia as head of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), party members have elected Shigeru Ishiba as their new leader. Given the LDP's majority in parliament, the party leader will become prime minister by default. Ishiba, aged 67, joined the parliament in 1986 and held key cabinet posts throughout his career, including director of then Defense Agency (now Ministry of Defense). Amid growing public opposition

September 30, 2024

OPINION: Does Hezbollah represent Lebanon? And what impact will death of longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah have?

SEOUL, September 29 (AJP) - Israel has killed the leader of the militant group Hezbollah in a airstrike in Beirut, marking a further escalation of hostilities in the region. The death of Hassan Nasrallah, confirmed by Hezbollah on Sept. 28, 2024, forms part of a major Israeli push against the Iran-backed group in recent days that has resulted in the death of several top leaders – but also killed hundreds of civilians and left many more fleeing Lebanon's south in fear of a gro

September 29, 2024

OPINION: African countries face hurdles, dangers in getting permanent seats at UN security council

SEOUL, September 27 (AJP) - There is growing global consensus among the members of the United Nations that the UN security council, responsible for maintaining international peace and security, requires reform or restructuring to reflect the current balance of forces, and to improve its working methods and ability to do its work. There is also growing consensus among members of the African Union that Africa deserves a permanent presence at the council. The debate took a new turn

September 27, 2024