Opinion
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OPINION: European Union is becoming too obsessed with defense
SEOUL, September 26 (AJP) - A new team of 26 leaders has been appointed to the European Commission, reflecting a carefully crafted balance of political ideologies and member states. Each will take on a different portfolio, from democracy to agriculture to innovation. And for the first time, the EU will have a dedicated defense commissioner in the form of Lithuania's Andrius Kubilius. Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has made it clear that in her second term, the prim
September 26, 2024 -
Opinion: The financial markets and reality
KENOSHA, September 25 (AJP) - There is continuing economic growth and related positive news. Above all, inflation is declining toward the established Federal Reserve target of two percent. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell and colleagues at the Federal Reserve Board of the United States have therefore cut interest rates by fully one-half percent. Interest rates are going down, reflecting the new concern with unemployment. Stock declines have been concentrated in volatile technology sect
September 25, 2024 -
OPINION: AI is fueling deepfake porn crisis in Korea. What's behind it – and how can it be fixed?
SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - It's difficult to talk about artificial intelligence without talking about deepfake porn – a harmful AI byproduct that has been used to target everyone from Taylor Swift to Australian school girls. But a recent report from startup Security Heroes found that out of 95,820 deepfake porn videos analyzed from different sources, 53 percent featured Korean singers and actresses – suggesting this group is disproportionately targeted. So, what&
September 25, 2024 -
OPINION: A weakened Hezbollah is being goaded into all-out conflict with Israel – the consequences would be devastating for all
SEOUL, September 24 (AJP) - For almost a year, Israel and Hezbollah have engaged in increasingly provocative cross-border skirmishes as onlookers warn that this escalating war of attrition could land the region in all-out conflict. The past few days have made that devastating scenario closer to a reality. First came Israel's pager and walkie-talkie attack, an unprecedented assault on Hezbollah's communications that injured thousands of the organization's operatives. It w
September 24, 2024 -
OPINION: Abortion rights are on 10 state ballots in November − Democrats can't count on this to win elections for them
SEOUL, September 23 (AJP) - Ten states will vote on ballot initiatives on abortion this November: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New York, Nevada and South Dakota. Many political analysts and pundits view abortion as a partisan issue, fueling speculation that direct votes on abortion rights will boost Democrats' chances up and down the ballot in November. Some Democratic strategists are hoping that turnout from the ballot initiatives will swin
September 23, 2024 -
Opinion: A wake-up call for Scholz and the European Union
KARACHI, September 20 (AJP) - The political landscape in Germany is undergoing a seismic shift, as evidenced by the recent state election in Thuringia. For the first time since World War II, a far-right party has emerged victorious in a German state election, marking a significant moment in the nation’s post-war history. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured a staggering 32.8% of the vote, outpacing the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which managed only 23.6%
September 20, 2024 -
Opinion: Prime Minister's Visit underscores vital Britain ties
KENOSHA, September 20 (AJP) - The polite, low-key visit of Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain to President Joe Biden has generated relatively little media attention. That is unfortunate, because our alliance remains vital. “Someone to talk to” is how McGeorge Bundy, President John F. Kennedy’s national security adviser, summed up the partnership with Britain. In those years, Prime Minister Harold Macmillan provided unfailing support, encouragement and friends
September 20, 2024 -
OPINION: How Israel's Netanyahu survives in his job
SEOUL, September 20 (AJP) - After several tumultuous weeks in Israel, mass demonstrations increasingly depict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as directly responsible for the fate of the hostages still held by Hamas. Despite mounting internal and international pressure to negotiate a deal with Hamas for the hostages' release, Netanyahu remains steadfast in his opposition to such an agreement. Reports in the Israeli and international media accuse Netanyahu of actively attempting
September 20, 2024 -
OPINION: Fed slashes rates by a half-point – what that means for economy and presidential election
SEOUL, September 19 (AJP) - In a widely anticipated move, the Federal Reserve announced on Sept. 18, 2024, that it was cutting its benchmark interest rate by half a percentage point to a range of 4.75 percent to to 5 percent – the first time the cost of borrowing has been lowered in four years. The move marks an important pivot point, signaling that central bankers believe they have finally won their battle against inflation. It is also significant in timing, coming just month
September 19, 2024 -
OPINION: Will exploding pager attack be the spark that ignites Israel-Hezbollah war?
SEOUL, September 19 (AJP) - The alleged Israeli attack on members of Hezbollah via their pagers is another ominous development propelling the Middle East towards a full-scale regional war. It leaves Hezbollah with little option but to retaliate with the full support of the Iran-led "axis of resistance." The sophistication and impact of targeting the pagers is unprecedented. The attack resulted in at least 11 deaths, including some of Hezbollah's fighters, and up to 3,0
September 19, 2024
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Orderly Gen Z-led upraising in Nepal strikes a chord with Young Koreans
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Global K-pop wave to drive growth in South Korean entertainment firms
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Travel advisory issued for parts of Cambodia
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TRAVEL: Finding solace at old traditional house in Nonsan
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SK hynix dwarfs Korean peers in tax and KOSPI contribution
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Z-gen South Korean chaebol heirs embrace paths once off-limits
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PHOTOS: Global game festival unfolds in the heart of Seoul
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S. Korea mulls renaming term for N. Korean defectors as integration deepens
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US aircraft carrier skips trilateral exercise with South Korea, Japan
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Labor shortage, not low wages, drives foreign hiring by SMEs in South Korea, survey shows