live Iran, U.S. make competing claims over control of Strait of Hormuz
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz remains under its control, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of “total control” over t...
South Korea and Vietnam agreed on Monday to deepen economic cooperation and accelerate joint efforts to mitigate the impact of looming U.S. tariffs, following a ministerial meeting in Hanoi.
South Korea and Vietnam agreed on Monday to expand economic cooperation after a ministerial meeting on Monday, at a time when the two countries are racing to mitigate the impact of potential U.S. tariffs.
South Korea's industry minister Ahn Duk-geun is visiting Vietnam as the two countries scramble to negotiate a reduction of threatened U.S. tariffs of 25% and 46%, respectively, that would otherwise apply in July after a global moratorium expires.
Korean companies are the biggest foreign investors in Vietnam, and the Southeast Asian nation is South Korea's No. 3 export destination.
The two countries agreed on action plans to ensure they can meet an existing target to reach $150 billion in bilateral trade by 2030 and cooperate in the generation of nuclear energy and LNG power and investments in the textile and clothes industries, according to a statement from South Korea's industry ministry.
The agreement came during a meeting of Ahn and Vietnam's Trade Minister Nguyen Hong Dien in Hanoi.
Ahn also met with representatives of top South Korean companies, including Samsung Electronics 005930.KS, LG Electronics 066570.KS, Hyundai Motor 005380.KS and HS Hyosung 487570.KS. The minister pledged that Seoul will continue talks with both the U.S. and Vietnamese governments to minimise the impact of U.S. tariffs on Korean companies.
Samsung produces more than 60% of its phones sold globally in the country. Led by national champions such as Samsung, Korean companies have been building their presence in Vietnam for years as the costs of manufacturing in China rose along with political risks and competition.
Now, that reliance on Vietnam threatens to backfire as the looming steep tariffs exposed the vulnerability of the Southeast Asian country's export model.
China's President Xi Jinping also on Monday called for stronger ties with Vietnam on trade and supply chains amid disruptions caused by U.S. tariffs, as he kicked off a three-nation trip to Southeast Asia in Hanoi.
Disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has increased the strategic importance of Bab al-Mandab, raising fears that instability in both waterways could trigger a wider global energy and trade crisis.
Flights at Catania airport in Sicily will remain suspended until early Friday as ash from Mount Etna continues to disrupt air travel, following hundreds of cancellations and diversions over the past week.
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz remains under its control, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of “total control” over the strategic waterway and insisting it will not reopen until Washington fulfils its commitments under an interim deal.
Iran and the United States remain at loggerheads over efforts to agree a permanent end to the war in the Gulf, according to a senior Iranian source who said there had been no progress in talks to revive the interim deal agreed in June and define a timeframe to implement it.
Russia has accused Ukraine of threatening global grain supplies after recent strikes on Black Sea agricultural infrastructure, while Moscow carried out a new overnight attack on Ukraine’s major Danube port of Izmail.
One person has been killed and six others injured after an explosion at a petroleum storage facility at the Port of Rotterdam, prompting an investigation into the cause.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday for talks focused on Gaza, Palestinian statehood and regional security.
Taiwan staged military defence drills on Wednesday as China concluded joint naval exercises with Indonesia in waters east of the island.
Washington’s counter-narcotics push is expanding as Colombia’s new conservative government backs deeper security cooperation.
Meta said it had removed more than 750,000 Facebook and Instagram accounts suspected of belonging to Australians under 16, as the country’s internet regulator weighs enforcement action over its teen social media ban.
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