On September 2nd, the United States (U.S.) military sank a Venezuelan vessel in the Caribbean Sea, suspected of transporting drugs. The vessel attempted to change course after being detected by U.S. aircraft but was attacked multiple times and ultimately sank. U.S. President Donald Trump announced t
The French National Assembly passed a vote of no confidence against Prime Minister François Bayrou’s government on September 8th, forcing the cabinet to resign just nine months after its inauguration. In the vote, 194 supported the government while 364 opposed it, far surpassing the 288 votes requir
Gangneung City, located in Gangwon Province, has faced its worst-ever drought on record, leading to a severe water shortage crisis. The water level of the city’s main reservoir, Obong Reservoir, once dropped to a dangerously low point, forcing authorities to implement water rationing measures affect
The Lee Jae-myung administration is set to actively pursue labor policies aimed at reducing working hours. On September 17th, the Ministry of Government Legislation announced plans to complete the enactment and revision of 66 subordinate regulations, which include initiatives to improve working cond
This August, Spain endured its most destructive wildfire season in two decades, driven by an unprecedented 16-day heatwave that pushed the temperatures up to 45°C. Since the beginning of the year, more than 380,000 hectares have burned, which is greater than six times the 2006 to 2024 average. In re
On August 18th, Myanmar’s military junta announced that the country’s first general election since the February 2021 coup will begin on December 28th. The election will mark nearly five years since the military overthrew the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, sparking nationwide
The South Korean government has decided not to designate October 10th as a temporary public holiday, ending speculation about a potential extended “golden holiday.” If designated, the day would have created a 10-day break, combining Chuseok, National Foundation Day, Hangul Day, and the proposed Octo
On August 12th, the Seoul Central District Court issued an arrest warrant for former First Lady Kim Keon‑hee, making her and ex-President Yoon Suk‑yeol the first former presidential couple in South Korean history to be detained simultaneously. Judge Jung Jae‑wook, who issued the warrant, cited conce
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba lost the majority of the 248 seats in the House of Councillors on July 21st, raising concerns of political instability in Japan. The LDP’s loss includes seats previously secured with its long-standing coalition with Komeito
A climate visa application period was held from June 16th to July 18th for Tuvalu citizens, giving them a chance to migrate to Australia as the nation faces rising sea levels. Tuvalu is an island country situated southwest of the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and Australia, with an elevation of only
On July 22nd, the government officially repealed the Mobile Device Distribution Improvement Act (MDDIA). The MDDIA was enacted in October 2014 to prevent telecommunication carriers and retailers from selling smartphones with excessive subsidies to improve the transparent distribution of mobile devic
From July 16th to 20th, the heaviest downpour in 200 years swept through South Korea. Most cities and counties were hit with at least 300mm to 500mm of rain, while Hadong County and Hapcheon County recorded a heavier rainfall of 621.5mm and 699mm, respectively. The heaviest rain recorded was over 70
The 21st presidential election date is set for Tuesday, June 3rd. Per the Constitution and the Public Official Election Act, the presidential election must be held within 60 days of the vacancy. Thus, the National Election Commission began registering the preliminary candidates for the 21st presiden
SK Telecom, a Korean telecommunications operator, announced on April 20th that their users’ universal subscriber identity module (USIM) information was leaked through malicious code. The company first detected abnormal activities on April 18th and identified the actual data breach on the 19th. Howev
In April, the European Union’s (EU) top court, the European Court of Justice (ECJ), ruled that Malta’s so-called “golden passport” scheme — which grants citizenship to foreign nationals in exchange for investment — is illegal. In its judgment, the ECJ declared that granting EU citizenship solely bas
On May 8th, during the conclave to elect the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a 69-year-old Chicago-born Augustinian and former missionary in Peru, was elected as the 267th pope, taking the name Leo XIV. The conclave, a secretive gathering of the College of
Türkiye’s most extended anti-government protest in a decade is ongoing in 55 provinces, including major cities such as Ankara and Istanbul. They were sparked as Ekrem Imamoğlu, the city mayor of Istanbul and presidential candidate of the Republican People’s Party, was detained on corruption and terr
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that a federal election will be held on April 28th instead of the original date of October 20th. The election will showcase a compelling contest between Liberal Party leader Mark Carney and Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre. Carney is a former g
With wildfires spreading across the southern region of Korea in the last weeks of March, the Korea Forest Service (KFS) issued a level-three alert, the highest wildfire response level, in Gyeongsang Province. This particular wildfire was suspected to have been started on March 22nd by a man clearing
In March, the Ministry of Science and ICT implemented the Science and Engineering Research Living Allowance project that would benefit approximately 50,000 students. The plan provides various forms of stipends for research activities, including student grants and research fellowships specifically fo
