ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting Opens; Attention on US-China Diplomatic Talks
The ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, taking place from July 21 to 23 in Manila, Philippines, will see the attendance of top diplomats from the United States, China, and Russia, raising interest in the potential for high-level talks between the US and China, as well as the US and Russia.
According to the US State Department on July 20, Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed a willingness to meet with Wang Yi, head of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (who also serves as Foreign Minister), and Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister.
ASEAN member states are expected to discuss energy supply concerns stemming from prolonged conflicts in the Middle East and the US's stance on China. Additionally, they will address the progress of negotiations on a code of conduct in the South China Sea and seek solutions to the ongoing civil war in Myanmar.
EU Fines AliExpress 930 Million Euros for DSA Violations
The European Union (EU) has imposed a fine of 550 million euros (approximately 930 million won) on AliExpress, the e-commerce platform under Alibaba Group, for violations of the Digital Services Act (DSA).
The EU Commission announced on July 20 that its investigation revealed a significant distribution of illegal and counterfeit products on AliExpress, including fake clothing and shoes, toys that do not meet safety standards, and harmful cosmetics.
AliExpress is required to submit a corrective action plan to the EU Commission by October 20.
Incheon Coupang Warehouse Fire Extinguished; Investigation Underway
A fire at the Coupang warehouse in Incheon has been extinguished three days after it broke out, prompting a joint investigation to determine the cause.
According to the Incheon Fire Department on July 20, the fire started at 6:54 a.m. on July 18 at Coupang's 32nd logistics center in Seongnam-dong, Incheon, and was brought under control around 8 p.m. on July 20, approximately 61 hours later.
Fire authorities plan to conduct a joint investigation with the police, the National Forensic Service, and the Korea Electrical Safety Corporation. The investigation will focus on the sixth floor of Building B, which is believed to be the initial point of ignition, once the building's safety is secured.
"Police Testimony: Separate Investigations Ordered in Jang Yoon-ki Case"
Testimony from police officers indicates that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) directed the separation of investigations into the murder of Lee Chae-won and past sexual offenses involving Jang Yoon-ki.
According to Yonhap News on July 20, officers involved in the investigation claimed they received instructions from the NIA to treat the murder case and the sexual offense case as separate investigations.
The sexual offense in question occurred on May 3, two days before Lee Chae-won's murder, when Jang Yoon-ki allegedly assaulted a female acquaintance from Southeast Asia. Officers stated that after the case was reported to another police station, a combined investigation was considered, but the NIA instructed that it be investigated separately by the Women and Youth Division.
The NIA stated, "The circumstances of the investigation, including whether there was an order for separate investigations, should be clarified in future inquiries." If it is confirmed that the NIA was indeed the authority directing the separate investigations, it could lead to significant repercussions.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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