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See - Sada Elbalad
12 hours ago
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
Slovakia Temporarily Closes Embassy in Tehran
Israa Farhan Slovakia has announced the temporary closure of its embassy in Tehran and the full evacuation of its diplomatic staff from Iran, citing rising military tensions in the region. The Slovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the decision on Friday, citing escalating hostilities between Iran and Israel as a major security concern. Meanwhile, South Korea has successfully evacuated dozens of its nationals from both Iran and Israel as fears grow over the intensifying conflict between the two countries. According to South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, around 60 South Korean citizens and their family members departed the region via land routes and arrived safely in neighboring countries. The ministry stated that 30 South Koreans and four family members left Iran and crossed into Turkmenistan using transport arranged by the South Korean government. They arrived in the capital, Ashgabat, on 18 and 19 June, according to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency. A foreign ministry official explained that the eastern land route used for evacuation spanned roughly 1,200 kilometers and took around 30 hours to complete by bus, including rest stops along the way. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean News 3 Killed in Shooting Attack in Thailand
Korea Herald
a day ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
'Standard' of 5% GDP defense spending applies to S. Korea, Asian allies: Pentagon
The Pentagon said Thursday that South Korea and other Asian allies are also subject to the "global standard" of spending 5 percent of gross domestic product on defense, a proposal that US President Donald Trump has put forward for European allies Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell made the remarks, a day after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing that there is now a "new standard for allied defense spending that all of our allies around the world, including in Asia, should move to." South Korea's defense spending last year stood at around 2.8 percent of its GDP. "As Secretary Hegseth said today and at Shangri-La, our European allies are now setting the global standard for our alliances, especially in Asia, which is 5 percent of GDP spending on defense," Parnell said in response to a question from Yonhap News Agency. "Given the enormous military buildup of China as well as North Korea's ongoing nuclear and missile developments, it is only common sense for Asia-Pacific allies to move rapidly to match Europe's pace and level of defense spending." He added, "It is common sense because it is in our Asia-Pacific allies' own security interests, and in that of the American people's to have more balanced and fairer alliance burden-sharing with our Asian allies. And common sense is what President Trump's approach is all about." Asked to confirm if the global standard applies to South Korea as well, a Pentagon official said that he believes that interpretation was "correct." During the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual defense forum in Singapore last month, Hegseth made an emphatic call for Indo-Pacific allies to bolster their defense spending. "It doesn't make sense for countries in Europe to do that, while key allies and partners in Asia spend less on defense in the face of an even more formidable threat, not to mention North Korea," he said during the forum. The remarks came amid speculation that Trump might call for a rise in South Korea's defense expenditures or its share of the cost for stationing the 28,500-strong US Forces Korea. The standard for the allies' defense spending comes as Hegseth has called for allies and partners to strengthen their own defense capabilities in the face of various challenges, including North Korea's nuclear program, while the Trump administration seeks to focus on countering the "pacing threat" from an assertive China. Last month, Hegseth tasked Under Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby to draw up the 2025 National Defense Strategy to prioritize increased "burden-sharing" with allies and efforts to deter Chinese threats in the Indo-Pacific. The Pentagon chief directed that a final NDS draft be provided to him no later than Aug. 31. (Yonhap)
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
SUGA completes military service two days before official discharge — BTS now fully reunited as all members return
ARMYs, we've waited patiently, and now we finally get to say it: Suga is back! The BTS rapper has officially wrapped up his alternative military service, days ahead of schedule. Though his official discharge date is June 21, he completed his final day of duty on June 18, sparking excitement across the fandom. Suga completes his military service ahead of official discharge Suga fulfilled his service as a public service worker, an alternate form of mandatory military service, having enlisted on September 22, 2023, due to previous shoulder surgery. And he wrapped it all up efficiently by using his remaining annual leave, which is a standard and approved process, according to the Yonhap News Agency. That means he's technically on leave until June 21 but functionally free to rejoin the world and eventually the stage. He also completed basic military training during his service, proving once again his commitment to both duty and discipline. Suga spotted at J-Hope's concert, cheering for a mini Bangtan reunion Suga was last seen in public on June 13, attending J-Hope's encore solo concert finale at the Goyang Sports Complex Main Stadium, which coincided with BTS' annual Festa celebration. Dressed in a beanie and mask, he kept a low profile in the crowd, but fans quickly caught on and were thrilled to spot him along with other members. His pics and videos, shared widely online, felt like the soft beginning of BTS's long-awaited reunion as Jin and Jungkook joined J-Hope on the stage. V, RM, SUGA, and Jimin at j-hope's concert today. All BTS members have now completed military service Now that SUGA has officially completed his military service, BTS is finally seven again. The long-awaited full reunion is no longer a distant dream, marking the end of an era where fans had to cheer on the members one enlistment at a time. Jin was the first to return in June 2024, followed by J-Hope in October. This month, RM and V were discharged together on June 10, while Jimin and Jungkook came back just a day later on June 11. And with SUGA finishing up his duties ahead of schedule on June 18, the group is now officially complete for the first time since late 2022. With the emotional wave of BTS FESTA 2025 still fresh, and the members now reunited and reenergised, fans are now looking forward to what's next. A HYBE official recently confirmed that the group will release new music in March 2026, but an official announcement is awaited. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
Barnama
2 days ago
- Politics
- Barnama
20 South Koreans, Families Evacuate Iran By Land Amid Escalating Israel-Iran Conflict
This photo, provided by the foreign ministry in Seoul on June 19, 2025, shows South Koreans and their Iranian family members boarding a bus during their evacuation from Iran to Turkmenistan. (Yonhap) SEOUL, June 19 (Bernama-Yonhap) -- Twenty South Korean nationals and their family members have evacuated Iran via a land route and arrived safely in Turkmenistan amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, the foreign ministry said Wednesday. According to Yonhap News Agency, 18 South Koreans and two Iranian family members crossed the border into the Central Asian country on Tuesday morning (local time) via transportation provided by the South Korean government. They arrived in the capital, Ashgabat, the next day, the ministry said. bootstrap slideshow The eastern border land route chosen by the government is about 1,200 kilometres, and it takes around 16 hours to travel by bus without breaks, a ministry official said. A rapid response team from Seoul was in Turkmenistan to assist with the evacuation efforts. About 110 South Koreans had been estimated to be in Iran as of last Friday, when the Israelis initiated an attack on Iranian nuclear and military facilities. The official also indicated that preparations are underway for an additional evacuation. The government has been weighing options to ensure the safety of South Korean nationals in the Middle East, amid the escalating tensions following massive airstrikes between Israel and Iran. "Given the continued exchange of military strikes between the two sides this week, growing concerns over the safety of our citizens, and the ongoing closure of Iranian airspace, we have decided to assist our nationals in evacuating Iran via land routes," the ministry said.
Korea Herald
4 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
S. Korea, US to hold 5th NCG meeting in Seoul next month: source
South Korea and the United States plan to hold a new meeting of their key nuclear deterrence body in Seoul next month, a source said Monday, as Seoul is striving to ensure close security cooperation with US President Donald Trump's administration amid growing North Korean threats. The fifth meeting of the Nuclear Consultative Group is set to take place next month, though a specific date has yet to be fixed, the source said, as the two countries agreed to hold it in the South Korean capital this year during the fourth NCG meeting in Washington in January. If held, the meeting would mark the first NCG gathering since both the Trump administration and the government of South Korean President Lee Jae-myung took office in January and earlier this month, respectively. "We plan to hold it in July with a date yet to be fixed," the source told Yonhap News Agency. The upcoming NCG meeting is expected to be a venue where Seoul and Washington underscore their shared commitment to collaboration against North Korea's advancing nuclear threats amid lingering concerns that Trump's America First policy could mean a lessening of the US' overseas military engagement. It remains to be seen whether there will be adjustments to the focus of overall NCG operations under the Trump administration at a time when Washington is prioritizing deterring the "pacing" threat from China and encouraging its allies and partners to step up in defense "burden-sharing" efforts. Asked if there would be any changes to the NCG makeup or format, a Pentagon official told Yonhap News Agency that there are no new updates to offer. A South Korean defense ministry official said the two sides are working to schedule the next NCG session, but declined to offer further details. "South Korea and the United States are continuing to coordinate to hold the fifth NCG meeting at an appropriate time," the official said. The NCG was launched in July 2023 to strengthen the credibility of America's extended deterrence commitment to using the full range of its military capabilities to defend its ally and reaffirm South Korea's commitment to non-proliferation. In July last year, Seoul and Washington signed the "Guidelines for Nuclear Deterrence and Nuclear Operations on the Korean Peninsula" -- a key NCG milestone. The guidelines outline principles and procedures to support the alliance's efforts to maintain effective nuclear deterrence policy and posture. (Yonhap)
