South Korea
Harvard ban fallout: international students face a new era of uncertainty
While framed as a matter of national security, the decision has left over 7,000 international students scrambling for clarity, stability, and their futures.
Combined effort to tackle Asian climate change gaining momentum
Over the past five years Asia has witnessed unprecedented heatwaves, with countries like Bangladesh recording temperatures up to 43.8°C in 2024, leading to nationwide school closures affecting tens of millions of children
Inside Malaysia’s $107bn semiconductor gamble
By betting big on chips, Malaysia is not just investing in factories and engineers, it’s investing in long-term technological sovereignty. As the global race for semiconductors accelerates, Malaysia is proving it intends to play for keeps.
Czech PM Fiala admits cabinet may not be able to sign Dukovany nuclear contract
The contract with South Korean Hydro and Nuclear Power faces extended delays after one of the two unsuccessful bidders, French Électricité de France, filed a lawsuit against the selection of KHNP.
South Korea and Japan eye strategic icebreaker advantage in US tariff talks
Japan’s Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, has signalled interest in positioning icebreaker cooperation as a key point in negotiations with President Donald Trump, scheduled for final talks during the G7 summit in Canada this June.
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South Korean consumer confidence up as optimism over new government kicks in, rate cuts expected
The boost in sentiment is being attributed to growing expectations that the incoming government, set to be formed after the June 3 election, will deliver economic support and policy stability.
Czechia gets nuclear fuel delivery from Westinghouse as it moves away from Russian supplies
Prague is pushing to replace the Russian state agency Rosatom and its TVEL arm, on which Czech nuclear power plants relied for years.
Lee VS Kim; a look at South Korea’s leading presidential candidates on foreign policy issues
Whichever way it goes, the result of the presidential election in Korea will play a crucial role in shaping both South Korea and the wider East Asia region’s geopolitical landscape for the foreseeable future.
US panel's ruling clears path for hefty tariffs on solar imports
As a result of the ITC’s decision, the Department of Commerce will now issue orders enforcing countervailing and anti-dumping duties on those solar products. These tariffs were finalised by the department last month.
COMMENT: Vying for influence in Southeast Asia – Russia VS America
Although both nations have engaged with the region historically and continue to do so in the present day, their roles, influence, and staying power differ markedly.
ASIA BLOG: South Korea needs political stability now more than ever
iKorea's current political crisis is deeply troubling. The ongoing impeachment proceedings against the disgraced former president Yoon Suk Yeol, regardless of one’s political leanings, are not merely a domestic affair.
South Korea, ASEAN launch first joint economic think-tank talks
ASEAN, comprising Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, has become an increasingly vital partner for Korea in recent years.
EU Commissioner asks Czechs to wait to sign Dukovany nuclear contract
Czech media speculated that the European Commission could take action over the Dukovany nuclear tender, including a possible review of the selection of KHNP.
COMMENT: Why Asia should not follow the failed European model
Over the past 15 years, Europe’s trade frameworks have faltered, integration has stalled, and a number of its core political and economic ideas have failed under real-world pressure.
ASIA BLOG: Beijing’s South China Sea strategy is about Taiwan — and the world needs to sit up and take notice
Even as Taiwan is described as potentially the most dangerous flashpoint in Asia, it is actually the fulcrum upon which the future of the Indo-Pacific — and by extension the global balance of power — may pivot.
From occupied hosts to strategic partners: the evolving role of Japan and South Korea in US Asia Strategy
Incidents ranging from theft and assault to more egregious acts like rape and murder have periodically reignited public anger such as in the case of the 1995 abduction and gang rape of a 12-year-old Okinawan girl by three US servicemen.
ASEAN aligns with Japan, China and South Korea in warning against protectionist risks
Meeting on the sidelines of the recent Asian Development Bank’s annual gathering in Milan, Italy, the officials reiterated their support for a rules-based, free and fair multilateral trading system.
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Chipping point – the climate toll of AI chip-making in East Asia
The meteoric rise of AI is sparking a parallel and largely overlooked environmental challenge: the significant climate impact of chip manufacturing, particularly in East Asia, says a new report from Greenpeace.
South Korea’s PPP narrows presidential field to two finalists
Former Labour Minister Kim Moon-soo and former PPP leader Han Dong-hoon remain in contention for the party’s nomination in the June 3 election. This vote will determine the successor to President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Japanese official warns of wider Asian security impact of Trump tariffs
Former defence minister Itsunori Onodera, speaking in Washington at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, expressed particular concern about the potential impact on Southeast Asia.