Crisafulli doubles down on rejection of Coalition’s AI nuclear push

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday unveiled South Korea's U.S. investment projects under last year's bilateral trade agreement: the construction of a gas-fired power plant in Texas, eight large-scale nuclear power plants and a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Alaska. The announcement followed protracted negotiations over major energy infrastructure projects under the agreement that committed South Korea to investing US$350 billion in the United States -- $150 billion for the shipbuilding sector and the remainder for strategic investments -- in return for lower U.S. tariffs on Korean goods. Trump's explanation of the first investment package under the agreement suggested apparent differences with Seoul's position that the two countries have largely agreed on the Texas and nuclear projects, while Korea's participation in the Alaska project has yet to be finalized. Trump highlighted the investment projects as he has underscored his economic achievements ahead of the November midterm elections amid public concerns over the monthslong war with Iran that has resulted in high energ

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young has said South Korea's response to the recent North Korean land mine explosion inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) should not undermine efforts to build peace on the Korean Peninsula. In a Facebook post from Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Tuesday (local time), Chung said the government should conduct a "thorough investigation" and "truth finding" into the Sept. 21 DMZ blast caused by mines planted by the North and respond accordingly. He said, however, those responses should not "be used as an excuse to belittle or distort our efforts for peace on the Korean Peninsula." "We should reflect on why this tragic event repeats and seek more fundamental answers," he added. "In Northern Island, which has turned past tragedy into today's hope, I reaffirm my resolve to end the long-running war on the Korean Peninsula and build a lasting peace regime," he wrote. The minister cut short his trip to Europe after a military investigation found North Korea responsible for last week's land mine explosion inside the DMZ that injured three South Korean soldiers. He had be

WASHINGTON—Two U.S. Democratic lawmakers have welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump's recent efforts to restart talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, saying dialogue and diplomacy are the "most effective" tools for protecting U.S. national security interests. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) issued a joint statement on Tuesday, underlining their belief that diplomacy with Pyongyang would help address nuclear proliferation concerns and achieve "durable" peace on the Korean Peninsula. Trump has recently expressed his intention to meet Kim later this year, with the White House reiterating that Trump remains open to talks with the North Korean leader "without any preconditions." "We sincerely hope that President Trump will direct the State Department to take steps to lay a foundation for successful, meaningful discussions with North Korea," they said. Those steps could include revisiting the ban on U.S. citizen travel to North Korea; pursuing a formal treaty, legally ending the 1950-53 Korean War; and starting negotiations with North Korea to establish liaison offices

A delegation of Canadian defense ministry officials has toured key air defense facilities of the Korean Air Force in an effort to observe the air defense system, sources said Thursday. The Canadian delegation toured the Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) operations center at the Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, some 60 kilometers south of Seoul, on Tuesday, a government source familiar with the matter told Yonhap News Agency. The Canadian officials are also scheduled to visit Hanwha Aerospace's manufacturing facilities in the southeastern city of Changwon on Thursday. The delegation visited the facilities of LIG Defense & Aerospace in Gumi, some 200 km southeast of Seoul on Monday. The visit comes as Canada has been seeking to reinforce its integrated air and missile defense (IAMD) capabilities to better deter and defend against air and missile weapons in the face of a rapidly evolving strategic environment. The move is part of Canada's broader efforts to modernize a binational military organization with the United States, dubbed the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) to bolst

The unification ministry said Thursday it will continue to pursue peaceful coexistence with North Korea, despite the recent blast caused by North Korean land mines inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The ministry unveiled the stance a day after Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, rejected the South Korean military's finding that blamed the North for the blast, arguing that Seoul is "cooking up the groundless results." "The ministry will steadfastly pursue peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula," the ministry said, while vowing to work with other government agencies to take "necessary measures to prevent the repeat of such tragic incidents." "Ending decadeslong hostility and confrontation and creating a peace where there is no need to fight each other is the most realistic way to protect the lives and safety of our people," the ministry said. Minister Chung Dong-young curtailed his European work trip that was due to last until Monday and is set to return home later in the day to handle the aftermath of the blast, which wounded three South Korean soldiers. Sou

Thomas Mikaelson, 19, appeared in court and admitted attempting to allow sexual penetration by a living animal

The period comedy drama starring Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant, airs on BBC Two

Australia’s top petrol and diesel supplier has raised its bet on the shift to EVs with a deal to triple the size of its fast-charging network.

The two pledges come as foot traffic to branches and cash usage by Australians continues to fall.

“Have a look at our energy plan. It’s working,” the premier said on Thursday.

Swap out fiddly béchamel in this dish from social media star Poppy O’Toole and you’ll be onto a winner.