YOURSAY | House arrest: Talks about eradicating corruption just a farce

Nov. 11 holds a special place in Angola’s history. It marks the achievement of freedom, sovereignty and the right of a people to determine their own destiny. On this day in 1975, Angola proclaimed its national independence, bringing an end to a long period of colonial rule and beginning a new chapter in its history as a sovereign nation. Independence was achieved through years of resistance, sacrifice and struggle by thousands of Angolans who believed in a free and independent country capable of shaping its own future. Driven by patriotism and a shared aspiration for freedom, men and women contributed to the historic journey that culminated in the proclamation of independence on Nov. 11, 1975, by Angola’s first president, António Agostinho Neto. The years that followed were profoundly affected by armed conflict, which continued until 2002. The loss of human lives, displacement of communities, destruction of infrastructure and disruption of agricultural production and education left lasting consequences. Reconstruction required not only the rebuilding of roads, schools and hospitals

WASHINGTON — Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged the United Nations to address North Korea's human rights situation alongside security issues in future diplomatic engagement with Pyongyang. In a commentary published Monday, the New York-based rights group, citing a recent U.N. report highlighting deepening repression in the country, said the U.N. General Assembly should recommend that future dialogue with North Korea address human rights and security concerns together, rather than treating them as separate issues. "Security and rights issues need to be addressed together. The U.N. General Assembly has the power to forge these connections, even as the Security Council remains deadlocked," Audrey Gregg, HRW's senior coordinator for Asia, wrote in a commentary published Monday. "Security and rights issues need to be addressed together. Gregg added that North Korean rights issues should not be displaced by the focus on security issues, as the United States and South Korea pursue diplomatic dialogues with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The commentary came after U.N. Special Rapporteur Eliz

A revision of the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralisation (CMIM), a multilateral currency swap arrangement among Korea, China, Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), took effect Wednesday, the Bank of Korea said. All 13 members of the ASEAN+3 group have completed their internal procedures for signing the revised agreement, which was endorsed at the ASEAN+3 Finance Ministers' and Central Bank Governors' Meeting in May 2025, according to the BOK. The revised CMIM includes the Rapid Financing Facility, which provides prompt financial assistance to members facing urgent balance of payments needs. It took effect Wednesday, seven days after the completion of the signing procedures, the central bank said. Launched in 2010, the CMIM is a multilateral currency swap arrangement among ASEAN+3 members aimed at providing liquidity to member economies in times of financial crisis. The facility has a total pool of $240 billion, with Korea contributing $38.4 billion.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun stressed mutual respect and trust as the foundation for bilateral relations during his talks with Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha, the Korean foreign ministry said Tuesday. It was their first meeting since a deepening rift emerged between the two countries over Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's September disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) to South Korea. Their discussion took place on the sidelines of the Group of Seven Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in France on Tuesday (local time). "Cho stressed that mutual respect, trust and the faithful implementation of agreements between countries are fundamental prerequisites for developing bilateral relations, expressing hope that all pending issues between the two countries will be resolved amicably," the ministry said in a press release. The remarks are being interpreted as a repetition of the South Korean government’s demand for Ukraine to apologize for the disclosure, which Seoul claims the two sides had agreed to keep confidential. The ministry’s statement, however,

A private school that made teachers share beds with students should be barred from enrolling new students, forced to pay back staff and face investigation over allegations of misused government funding, a landmark parliamentary inquiry has found.

New light shows replacing Hong Kong’s long-running “A Symphony of Lights” should help nearby shops and restaurants attract business, rather than simply drawing spectators who leave after the performance, tourism representatives have said. Lawmaker Perry Yiu Pak-leung and tourism union adviser Leung Fong-yuen on Wednesday backed experimenting with new formats as the nightly Victoria Harbour attraction prepares to stage its final show next Wednesday after 22 years. “Don’t simply attract tourists...

Two researchers in Hong Kong are using advanced data-driven computation and artificial intelligence (AI) alongside traditional scientific principles to better understand the mechanisms of the human brain and tackle the growing urban threat posed by extreme temperatures and air pollution. The academics at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) have been recognised by Hong Kong’s Research Grants Council (RGC), a non-statutory advisory council under the University Grants Committee responsible for...

As uncertainty grows, more Australians are turning to an old-fashioned safeguard.

Larvotto Resources has hit high-grade gold-antimony up to 9.61g/t gold equivalent at the Freehold prospect in its NSW Hillgrove project, doubling the mineralised strike to 700m.

Avenue Aesthetic Plastic Surgery is now in liquidation while its founder practises in Texas. Sources have revealed what brought the Melbourne clinic undone.

The comedian, 51, invited his friends, family, church members and people from the Path of Grace Recovery organization to a beach barbecue on September 27 in Grayton Beach, Florida.

David Jones' receiver, FTI Consulting, is expected to announce the closure of half its stores, impacting thousands of staff.