International

Analyzing the Sewol Ferry Disaster

ONE of the most recent and tragic maritime accidents in South Korea is the sinking of the MV Sewol which occurred on April 16, 2014 while en route to the popular tourist destination Jeju Island from the city of Incheon, just near the capital Seoul. While carrying 476 passengers, the ferry capsized. Most of the passengers of the ill-fated ferry were secondary school students of the Danwon National High School in Ansan City. Many passengers […]

Known cases of MERS-Corona virus reach 339

The number of confirmed cases of persons afflicted with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome – Corona virus in Saudi Arabia has reached 339, with 26 cases added during the weekend. At least 102 are confirmed dead because of the virus and Saudi Arabia is now asking the World Health Organization for help.

Ukraine blames Moscow for ‘human shield’ detentions in east

(Reuters) – Pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine offered on Saturday to release eight captive international observers in a prisoner exchange, as Western governments prepared new sanctions against Moscow. The pro-Western government in Kiev blamed Russia for what it called the kidnapping on Friday of the monitors from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The separatists said they suspected the observers of spying;Ukraine said they were being used as human shields. Since Ukrainians toppled their pro-Russian […]

South Korean PM resigns over government response to ferry disaster

(Reuters) – South Korean Prime Minister Chung Hong-won announced his resignation on Sunday over the government response to the ferry disaster, in which it was first announced that everyone had been rescued, focusing attention on poor regulatory controls. The Sewol ferry sank on a routine trip south from the port of Incheon to the traditional holiday island of Jeju on April 16. More than 300 people, most of them students and teachers on a field […]

Obama reminds North Korea of U.S. ‘military might’

(Reuters) – President Barack Obama said on Saturday the United States did not use its military might to “impose things” on others, but that it would use that might if necessary to defend South Korea from any attack by the reclusive North. The North warned last month it would not rule out a “new form” of atomic test after the U.N. Security Council condemned Pyongyang’s launch of a mid-range ballistic missile into the sea east of the Korean peninsula. […]

Obama Set To Visit Philippines Amid Manila’s Disputes With China

U.S. President Barack Obama’s upcoming visit to the Philippines on April 28 highlights Manila’s desire to strengthen bonds with its longtime ally amid rising tensions in the Asia-Pacific region. The Philippines has said the focus of Obama’s two-day visit in Manila will centre on defence and bilateral cooperation. Obama is also expected to sign a security pact that will allow for increased use of Philippine bases by U.S. ships, aircraft and troops. Filipinos, who look to the U.S. as a big brother […]