Opinion: Russia's Relentless Suppression of Free Expression

KENOSHA, August 08 (AJU PRESS) - The release of targeted journalist Evan Gershkovich of "The Wall Street Journal" and 15 others politically imprisoned in Russia is cause for relief and rejoicing. Eight prisoners held in the West, including a murderer, were also released in the largest such exchange since the Cold War. Gershkovich represents a highly respected, influential-news organization. He also personifies Russia dictator’s Vladimir Putin’s long-term repr

August 8, 2024

Opinion: Imane Khelif controversy at Paris Olympics shows how sex testing in women's sports puts regulators in impossible bind

SEOUL, August 8 (AJU PRESS) - In their preliminary 2024 Olympic women's boxing match, Algeria's Imane Khelif delivered a painful blow to the face of Italy's Angela Carini, who abandoned the fight after 46 seconds. "I've never been hit with such a powerful punch," Carini told reporters after the match. The incident might have been relatively uncontroversial were it not for what had happened during the 2023 International Boxing Association (IBA) Women's W

August 8, 2024

Opinion: By picking Tim Walz as her running mate, Harris shows she's running her own race, by her own rules

SEOUL, August 7 (AJU PRESS) - U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris called Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to ask him to be her running mate in her campaign for the presidency on Tuesday. After telling Harris he "would be honored," the first thing Walz observed was "the joy that you're bringing back to the country, the enthusiasm that's out there." Harris' choice of Walz confirms and leans into this extraordinary vibe shift in American politics. In only a

August 7, 2024

Opinion: N. Korea's weapons industry is going global, thanks to help from Russia and China

SEOUL, August 6 (AJU PRESS) - It may not have attracted much attention in recent months with global attention focused elsewhere. But the international sanctions monitoring regime on North Korea has been disbanded, raising concerns about the unimpeded flow of North Korean weapons to global hotspots from Ukraine to Gaza. Enforcement of United Nations sanctions against North Korea has actually been eroding for years. The final coup de grace came in March when Russia vetoed the renewal

August 6, 2024

Opinion: China needs to pick a side, and it just might pick the west

SEOUL, August 5 (AJU PRESS) - For the Kremlin, its "partner of no limits," China, isn't doing enough to aid Russia's war against Ukraine. So, Russia has signed a peace treaty with North Korea, hoping to pressure China into backing Moscow's war effort further. Meanwhile, the west sees China as far too helpful to Russia. The sentiment in the west was best captured on July 10, 2024, during a summit in Washington D.C. Heads of state and government of NATO countries

August 5, 2024

Opinion: Is shallow pool in Paris really slowing Olympic swimmers down?

SEOUL, August 2 (AJU PRESS) - There has been plenty of rain, sweat and tears shed at the Paris Olympics this week. But the pool at the heart of La Defénce Arena has suffered a drought of world records that has athletes and officials scratching their heads. After five days, Paris 2024 has seen only a single world record fall in a swimming event. That compares with six new swimming world records set at Tokyo in 2021 and eight at Rio in 2018. Even the much-hyped women's 400

August 2, 2024

Opinion: Can Olympics survive climate crisis?

SEOUL, August 1 (AJU PRESS) - The 2024 Olympic Games opened on the same week Earth recorded its hottest day ever. A different kind of record-breaking will be animating competitors in Paris, but the climate crisis is making it hard for organizers to keep the tournament on track. A deluge that dumped a month's worth of rain on the opening ceremony and its aftermath strained the city's 200-year old combined sewer system. The resulting discharge of untreated sewage delayed the t

August 1, 2024

Opinion: Hamas leader's killing in Tehran likely to further escalate violence in Middle East

SEOUL, August 01 (AJU PRESS) - Palestinian militant group Hamas says its top political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, has been killed in his home in Tehran. It blames Israel for the attack, saying it was "a Zionist airstrike on his residence in Tehran after he participated in the inauguration of Iran's new president." Iran has not yet given any details on how Haniyeh was killed, but says it is under investigation. With the war in Gaza showing no sign of abating and the who

August 1, 2024

Opinion: Fewer cities can afford to host Olympics, but Paris 2024 may be clever enough to turn profit

SEOUL, July 31 (AJU PRESS) - Many of the world's best athletes are currently competing in the first Olympic Games to be held in Paris since 1924. The French capital is buoyant with excitement and its local businesses filled with paying tourists from all over the world. Indeed, it's difficult not to be tempted into booking a weekend getaway to see the spectacle up close. But are the Olympics really a good deal for host cities? The evidence suggests a resounding no. Host citie

July 31, 2024

Opinion: Is Paris Olympics' open-water swimming in the Seine safe?

SEOUL, July 30 (AJU PRESS) - Open-water swimming events at the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris could be scuppered by the Seine river, where bathing has been prohibited since 1923. Faecal contamination of the Seine, which winds 777 kilometers through northern France, exceeded the bathing quality standard for safe swimming just two days before the men's and women's triathlon races. Athletes testing the waters before making the plunge to compete have become accustome

July 30, 2024