news highlight

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  ASIA INSIGHT: End of 106-day war and beginning of new Middle East How US-Iran End of War Changes World Order June 15, 2026 is highly likely to be recorded as a turning point in modern Middle Eastern history. On this day, US President Donald Trump announced that negotiations to end the war between the United States and Iran had reached a final settlement, which was officially confirmed by the Iranian government and the mediating nation, Pakistan. Both sides are scheduled to sign a memorandum of understanding on the end of the war in Switzerlan June 15, 2026
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  US declares a peace deal with Iran "complete", reopening of Hormuz SEOUL, June 15 (AJP)-The United States and Iran have agreed to end their war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and U.S. President Donald Trump announced Sunday, a breakthrough that would close a conflict running since late February and restore a waterway critical to global oil supply. An official signing is set for Friday in Switzerland. The precise terms were not immediately confirmed, and the agreement has yet to be signed. Iran June 15, 2026
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  Trump says Iran deal could be signed Sunday, reopening Hormuz Strait SEOUL, June 14 (AJP)- U.S. President Donald Trump said a peace and nuclear agreement with Iran could be signed as early as Sunday, potentially ending months of conflict in the Middle East and reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz to global shipping. "The Deal is scheduled to get signed tomorrow, and immediately after it is signed, the Hormuz Strait is OPEN TO ALL," Trump wrote Saturday on Truth Social, describing the prospective agreement as a complete break f June 14, 2026
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  Uzbekistan hosts Tashkent International Investment Forum SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - Uzbekistan will host the fifth Tashkent International Investment Forum from June 16 to 19 as the country establishes itself as the primary economic and investment hub for Central Asia, the Embassy of Uzbekistan in the Republic of Korea said Friday. The four-day event serves as a sustainable mechanism to transition high-level political dialogue into concrete commercial solutions and cross-border cooperation. The upcoming gathering aims to expand upon the fr June 12, 2026
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  Asia races toward solar as energy security trumps fuel imports SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - From rooftops in Manila to industrial parks outside Seoul, Asia is rapidly turning to solar power as Middle East instability and soaring AI-driven electricity demand force governments to rethink energy security. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz earlier this year exposed the vulnerability of fuel-importing economies across Asia, accelerating what analysts describe as a race to generate more power at home. For many governments, renewable energy is increasing June 12, 2026
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  Trump says Iran deal in 'pretty final shape' as Tehran says no final decision yet SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - A peace deal between Washington and Tehran is in its final stages and could be signed in Europe as soon as this weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said the U.S. had "just made a great settlement of the war with Iran," announcing that he had canceled planned strikes against Tehran. "We have a signing soon and the documents are in pretty final shape, so we'll see," he June 12, 2026
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  Cuba woos Korean firms as sanctions risks loom large SEOUL, June 11 (AJP) - Cuba urged Korean companies to explore business opportunities in agriculture and renewable energy on Thursday, as Havana seeks to turn its new diplomatic ties with Seoul into practical economic cooperation despite deepening U.S. sanctions and persistent payment and logistics risks. The pitch came at the “Cuba Business Opportunities” seminar held in central Seoul, co-hosted by the Cuban Embassy in Korea, the Korea Cooperation League of Latin America June 11, 2026
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  Buried beneath Korea's chip boom, refiners fight for survival SEOUL, June 11 (AJP) - Buried beneath South Korea's semiconductor boom is a quieter survival story unfolding in the country's refineries and petrochemical plants. South Korea's economic narrative has been dictated by silicon in recent years. Memory giants have propelled the KOSPI past stock markets in cities such as London and Toronto while joining the exclusive trillion-dollar market-capitalization club. In contrast, some of the country's oldest industrial pillar June 11, 2026
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  Second Korean vessel exits Strait of Hormuz after being stranded amid Middle East war SEOUL, June 11 (AJP) - A second Korean vessel stranded near the Strait of Hormuz due to the Middle East war has passed through the waterway, South Korea’s Oceans Ministry said Thursday. The latest passage came after the HMM-operated tanker Universal Winner became the first Korean vessel to exit the strait. The tanker, carrying 2 million barrels of crude oil, arrived at the port of Ulsan on Wednesday. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said the second vessel was a liquefie June 11, 2026