China backs Cuba as Havana raises US fuel pressure in Beijing

South China Morning Post - Nov 11, 2026

China pledged on Wednesday to stand by Cuba against sanctions and foreign interference, days after Washington penalised two Chinese state-linked firms for allegedly supplying the Cuban military. Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodriguez in Beijing that China would firmly support Cuba in safeguarding its sovereignty and opposing sanctions, blockades and foreign interference, regardless of how the international situation changed. The ministry’s readout said Rodriguez...

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'The old America is gone': OPCON transfer is Korea's answer to changing US, Moon Chung-in says

Nov 12, 2026

'The old America is gone': OPCON transfer is Korea's answer to changing US, Moon Chung-in says

Korea's push to regain wartime operational control (OPCON) of its military is not just an attempt to reclaim military sovereignty, but a necessary response to a fundamental shift in the United States' foreign and security policy, according to Moon Chung-in, a former presidential special adviser. In an interview with The Korea Times on Tuesday, Moon, currently a professor emeritus at Yonsei University, argued that President Lee Jae Myung's pursuit of OPCON transfer comes in line with Washington's growing expectation that Seoul assume primary responsibility for its own defense, rather than the self-reliant defense agenda set by former President Roh Moo-hyun. "The U.S. is changing, but we are still clinging to the old America. The old America is gone," Moon said. He pointed to U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated demands that Korea shoulder a greater share of its defense burden. Under such an arrangement, Korean forces would take the lead in conventional defense against North Korea, while U.S. forces would provide complementary capabilities in areas where Seoul remains relatively weak, i

India, Guatemala highlight coffee for global consumers at Seoul cafe show

Nov 12, 2026

India, Guatemala highlight coffee for global consumers at Seoul cafe show

Coffee brands, roasters, experts and authorities from around the world are gathering in Seoul for the 25th Seoul International Cafe Show, a four-day event that kicked off Wednesday. This year, India and Guatemala took part in one of the event’s flagship programs, Origin Discovery, showcasing their coffee traditions and explaining how their distinctive beans have won loyal followings among coffee lovers worldwide. Organized by the Coffee Board under the Government of India, a session titled Coffees of India introduced the country’s history of coffee cultivation, which dates back to the 1600s and reached its commercial zenith in the 18th century. Indian coffees, including Arabica, Robusta and Excelsa varieties, have been cultivated across Western Ghats — a biodiversity hotspot recognized by the UNESCO — as well as Eastern Ghats and Northeastern states. Amulya K.G., director of the Coffee Board and the host of the session, said there are 441,000 coffee farms in India, 99 percent of which are small holdings of less than 10 hectares. India is the world’s fifth largest coffee export

Luxury van market heats up in Korea as Mercedes-Benz joins rivalry with V-Class

Nov 12, 2026

Luxury van market heats up in Korea as Mercedes-Benz joins rivalry with V-Class

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Deutsche Bank urges Korean financial markets to match its companies' global reach

Nov 12, 2026

Deutsche Bank urges Korean financial markets to match its companies' global reach

Deutsche Bank said Korea needs to improve financial market accessibility and regulatory predictability to attract more global capital, as its world-class companies continue to underpin the country's investment appeal. In a recent exclusive interview with The Korea Times, Alexander von zur Muehlen, Deutsche Bank's CEO of Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East & Africa and Germany, said "few economies have produced such a concentration of globally competitive companies across strategically important industries" as Korea has. "The next step is to make its financial markets as international as its companies," said von zur Muehlen, who is also a member of the bank's management board. "Greater openness, simplicity and predictability can help broaden international participation." Korea has been opening its financial markets to global investors, introducing 24-hour foreign exchange trading in July. The country also allows foreign institutions to participate directly in its onshore foreign exchange market through the Registered Foreign Institution program, with Deutsche Bank among the first participa

Lee calls for unity at dinner meeting with DPK leaders

Nov 12, 2026

Lee calls for unity at dinner meeting with DPK leaders

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N. Korea's Kim inspects east coast naval base under construction, urges timely completion

Nov 12, 2026

N. Korea's Kim inspects east coast naval base under construction, urges timely completion

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has inspected a major naval base under construction on the east coast, calling the project "crucial" to the country's security and maritime sovereignty, state media reported Thursday. Kim made the remarks during his Wednesday visit and urged the construction work to be finished within the deadline set by the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. Accompanied by Pak Jong-chon, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the WPK, Kim was briefed on the progress of the project by commanding officers at the site. Kim called for building "as early as possible" a Korean-style naval command center, a hub of naval culture and a center of naval combat capability, along with the base's infrastructure, according to the KCNA. "As the construction of the modern naval base is a crucial core undertaking directly related to the security of our state and the defense of its maritime sovereignty from A to Z, it should be completed without fail" to the standard required by the party and within the period it has set, he was qu

Congressman-elect Koh expresses concerns over S. Korea-US alliance under Trump administration

Nov 12, 2026

Congressman-elect Koh expresses concerns over S. Korea-US alliance under Trump administration

WASHINGTON — Korean American Congressman-elect Dan Koh expressed concern Wednesday over the state of the South Korea-U.S. alliance under President Donald Trump, pledging to help restore bilateral ties while questioning the prospects of productive diplomacy between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Koh, a Democrat who won a House seat representing Massachusetts in last week's midterm elections, made the remarks during a press conference hosted by the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus in Washington. "I'm very concerned about the relationship," Koh said, stressing that the alliance should remain strong regardless of whether a Republican or Democratic president occupies the White House. In the past, Koh served as a White House official during former President Joe Biden's administration and chief of staff of former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh. He criticized Trump's treatment of Korean immigrants and Korean workers in the U.S., citing an incident involving South Koreans in Georgia last year, as well as the administration's tariff policies toward U.S. allies. "So I will be doin

Gov't to curb incumbents' influence over CEO selection process in sweeping corporate governance overhaul

Nov 12, 2026

Gov't to curb incumbents' influence over CEO selection process in sweeping corporate governance overhaul

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DOTr-bound Gabriel Go no longer reporting to MMDA

Nov 11, 2026

DOTr-bound Gabriel Go no longer reporting to MMDA

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Nvidia stock tanks after report of second Huang affair

Nov 11, 2026

Nvidia stock tanks after report of second Huang affair

Shares of Nvidia tanked early Wednesday evening, after The New York Times reported that CEO Jensen Huang had a second affair. The company’s stock was down roughly 8.3 percent during after hours trading, dipping below $160 per share. Nvidia shares had not fallen below that threshold since June 2025. Nvidia shares were trading at greater than...

Gov’t told to amend PH fisheries code

Nov 11, 2026

Gov’t told to amend PH fisheries code

MANILA, Philippines — A group composed of fisherfolk, buyers and intervenors on Wednesday called on the government to amend the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 by lifting the blanket prohibition on commercial fishing in municipal waters. This as the group—composed of more than 100 fishers, buyers and intervenors—pointed out in a manifesto submitted to the

DOH reports 17% increase in flu-like cases

Nov 11, 2026

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