South Korea’s Lee vows to make bold AI investment in record budget push
SEOUL — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung vowed on Monday to make bold investments in artificial intelligence to boost the country’s economic growth potential, in an address to parliament seeking approval for next year’s budget. “We will invest 21.3 trillion won ($15.97 billion), nearly twice this year’s amount, in AI and the three megaprojects […]
Indian authorities tighten security ahead of big opposition march in Delhi
NEW DELHI — Indian security personnel carrying batons and shields and accompanied by riot control vehicles surrounded the site of a planned opposition protest in Delhi on Sunday that is set to demand the resignation of the country’s election chief over a controversial revision of voter lists. Authorities warned of traffic diversions ahead of the […]
New York state police to take over sexual assault complaints at Cornell University
New York state police will take over future sexual assault investigations at Cornell University, Governor Kathy Hochul said on Thursday, in the latest fallout over the university’s handling of an alleged gang-rape on campus. The announcement follows widespread criticism of the university’s conduct in the case and questions about why no criminal charges were filed […]
China trade accord with Swiss bucks wider trend towards protectionism
ZURICH — When Chinese President Xi Jinping meets his Swiss counterpart, Guy Parmelin, on Friday, the two will be marking one of the most favorable trade deals Beijing has granted a European country, bucking a broader global shift towards protectionism. Mr. Xi and Mr. Parmelin are due to sign the upgraded trade accord in Beijing […]
North Korea fires around 10 ballistic missiles toward sea off east coast, Seoul says
SEOUL — North Korea fired around 10 ballistic missiles toward the sea off its east coast on Thursday, South Korea’s military said, as tensions run high ahead of Pyongyang’s end-of-month deadline to activate propaganda loudspeakers along the heavily armed border. The short-range missiles were launched at around 12:30 p.m. (0330 GMT) from around Wonsan on […]
Iran sees only unacceptable ideas in latest mediation to end war, official says
QUATARI mediators have presented Iran with a new draft deal to end the war with the US and Israel, an official briefed on the negotiations said, but a senior Iranian official said Doha had only put forward unacceptable ideas that did not amount to an offer. The official briefed on the negotiations, who is not […]
Hegseth reassures Southeast Asia of US commitment, pledges stronger defense ties
CEBU, Philippines — US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sought to reassure Southeast Asian counterparts on Wednesday of Washington’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific, pledging that Washington would defend its interests and those of its allies and partners. Mr. Hegseth, who is participating in the two-day ASEAN defense ministers and related meetings in Cebu, Philippines, said the […]
AI worries expose dollar’s hot-money problem
INVESTORS have long treated the US dollar as a refuge when markets fall, but foreign money chasing returns from the AI boom could weaken that safe-haven role if the trade unwinds. Foreign capital has poured in to US mega-cap equities, hyperscaler corporate bonds and power-grid infrastructure. That has made the dollar an increasingly crowded bet […]
World to add less clean energy capacity this year, renewables agency chief says
SINGAPORE — The world will add less clean energy capacity in 2026 for the first time in five years due to inadequate transmission networks and trade barriers, the chief of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) said. Growth in solar and wind capacity has been accelerating every year since 2021, when the coronavirus pandemic disrupted […]
Saudi-led coalition says it intercepted Houthi missiles, drones attacking kingdom
CAIRO — The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said on Tuesday it intercepted and destroyed ballistic missiles and drones launched by the Houthis towards two regions of Saudi Arabia, as the conflict between the kingdom and the Iran-aligned group intensifies. The Houthis launched three ballistic missiles towards Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Region, and four drones towards the […]