Hegseth calls South Korea's OPCON transfer push 'great'
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U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth positively assessed South Korea's push to retake wartime operational control from the United States, calling it a 'great' endeavor. He depicted South Korea as a 'combat credible partner' during a press meeting on a plane en route to Malaysia. The remarks underscore the U.S. emphasis on allies assuming greater security responsibilities.
Hajj costs for 2026 lowered without reducing service quality
Indonesia's House Commission VIII and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah have set the hajj service cost for 2026 at Rp87.4 million per pilgrim, down about Rp2 million from the previous year. This reduction does not compromise service quality for pilgrims. Pilgrims pay Rp54.2 million directly, with the rest covered by hajj fund management.
Criminal investigations falter before prosecutors' office closure
South Korea's capacity to investigate major crimes is weakening sharply ahead of the prosecutors' office dismantlement. With prosecutors dispatched to special counsel teams and others resigning, key divisions have seen staff halved, and regional offices lost about one-third of dedicated personnel. Despite the Democratic Party's reform bill passing, unresolved details are already causing investigative gaps.
Fajar and Fikri survive pressure in Hylo Open 2025 first round
October 30, 2025 00:33Japan government keeps basic economic view unchanged in October
October 29, 2025 23:04Fact check debunks recent Mayon Volcano eruption claim
October 29, 2025 22:52La Salle beats UE to claim second place in UAAP
October 29, 2025 21:37Comelec: 27 contractors must explain campaign donations
October 29, 2025 20:01Filipino Odette survivors sue Shell in UK court
October 29, 2025 18:36Atep says Bojan Hodak suitable to coach Indonesia national team
October 29, 2025 16:57Japanese insurers trim foreign debt as domestic yields soar
October 29, 2025 14:12Court finds upper house election in unconstitutional state over vote disparity
October 29, 2025 13:39Alas Pilipinas U18 misses bronze in loss to Thailand at Asian Youth Games
Samsung Electronics Q3 net profit rises 21% on chip sales
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Samsung Electronics reported a 21% increase in third-quarter net profit to 12.22 trillion won on October 30. The semiconductor division's record performance, driven by the AI boom, led the gains. Operating profit surged 32.5% to 12.16 trillion won, beating market expectations.
Prabowo emphasizes total war on drugs at destruction event
President Prabowo Subianto attended the destruction of 214.84 tons of narcotics worth Rp29.37 trillion in Jakarta on October 29, 2025. He declared drugs as the biggest threat to the nation and called for synergy among all parties to eradicate them. The event marks one year of Prabowo's government with 49,306 drug cases handled by Polri.
MBG program could reach 40 million beneficiaries by late October
Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Dadan stated that the Free Nutritious Meals Program (MBG) could exceed 40 million beneficiaries before the end of October 2025. The statement came after reporting progress to President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta. The program is also boosting the local economy by absorbing hundreds of thousands of workers.
Leaders and officials of 10 APEC economies arrive in Gyeongju
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Leaders and top delegates from 10 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies have arrived in Gyeongju, South Korea, ahead of the 2025 summit. U.S. President Donald Trump's visit highlights bilateral talks and a special banquet hosted by President Lee Jae Myung. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon plans to honor Korean War veterans at the UN Memorial Cemetery in Busan.
Philippines assumes ASEAN chairmanship amid three key challenges
At the close of the 2025 ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. officially accepted the bloc's chairmanship for 2026 from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. This handover places significant responsibilities on the Philippines, including advancing South China Sea code of conduct negotiations, addressing the Myanmar crisis, and navigating US-China trade tensions. Upon returning home, Marcos reaffirmed the country's firm stance on the West Philippine Sea.
KDDI partners with Google Cloud Japan on responsible AI search
KDDI announced on October 29 an agreement with Google Cloud Japan to develop a 'responsible' AI search service that displays only content consented to by creators. The service will leverage Google's AI assistant Gemini and is set to launch in spring 2026. It aims to build a generative AI search model that respects copyrights.
Finance minister explains reasons for issuing PP 38 of 2025
Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa explained that Government Regulation Number 38 of 2025 was issued to help local governments address temporary funding shortages. The regulation also opens possibilities for long-term loans for clear projects. The Chairman of DPR RI Commission XI welcomed this step as a financing breakthrough.