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President Lee Jae Myung attended a virtual summit led by Britain and France on securing freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, with South Korea considering diplomatic, humanitarian, or military contributions. The talks follow disruptions to the vital oil route amid the U.S.-Iran war, and Seoul emphasizes its heavy reliance on the strait for crude oil imports.
South Korea welcomed a record 2.06 million foreign visitors in March, with first-quarter arrivals reaching 4.76 million, up 23% from a year earlier. The surge is attributed to the global popularity of Korean culture and the comeback of K-pop group BTS, whose concerts drew fans who stayed longer and spent more than average tourists.
According to the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute's annual survey, Japan remains the most trusted power in Southeast Asia, with 65.6% confidence, despite its military build-up and constitutional reform efforts. The survey also reveals Singapore's rise as the perceived leader in addressing regional challenges, surpassing Indonesia.
The stepfather of 11-year-old Yuki Adachi, who disappeared in Kyoto prefecture on March 23, has been arrested and confessed to killing the boy, according to police sources. The admission came after a two-week search involving hundreds of officers found only the boy's backpack. The investigation continues as authorities work to determine the cause of death.
The Matildas clinched the FIFA Series with a 2-0 victory over Kenya, with Sam Kerr's landmark goal complemented by a Clare Wheeler strike. The win follows a dominant 5-0 opening match against Malawi, highlighting both team depth and debutant Leticia McKenna's emergence.
Iran’s military has warned it will block exports and imports across the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman, and the Red Sea unless the United States lifts its naval blockade, which has halted sea trade with Iranian ports. The threats come amid a fragile ceasefire, with Washington and Tehran signalling possible new talks.
Russian officials and commentators have responded to reports that the US is promoting a new military bloc with Ukraine. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Washington seeks to shift the burden of containing Russia onto Europe, while a Turkish journalist called the idea impossible due to lack of NATO solidarity.
A Japanese political commentator's suggestion that Jared Kushner, a US envoy, should be excluded from Iran negotiations because he is Jewish has drawn condemnation from the Simon Wiesenthal Center and Israel's ambassador to Japan. The remarks, made on a TV Asahi morning show, come amid ongoing US-led talks with Iran.
An American YouTuber known as Johnny Somali was sentenced to six months in prison by a South Korean court for public nuisance, including filming himself kissing a statue commemorating wartime sex slaves. The case drew attention to ongoing Korea-Japan tensions over the historical issue.
South Korea's presidential chief of staff announced that the country has secured 273 million barrels of crude oil and 2.1 million tons of naphtha from Middle Eastern nations, enough to sustain the economy for over three months. The supplies will be shipped via alternative routes bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, amid ongoing Middle East tensions. Additional measures include covering extra shipping costs for alternative crude imports.
US Vice President JD Vance said the US remains committed to negotiations with Iran and believes Tehran is aiming for a deal, despite a breakdown in recent talks in Islamabad. Vance described progress in the talks and outlined President Trump's offer of a 'grand bargain' that would allow Iran to join the world economy in exchange for renouncing nuclear weapons. The fragile two-week ceasefire still holds, but key disagreements over the duration of any nuclear suspension remain unresolved.
The 79th Cannes Film Festival will showcase an auteur-driven competition lineup featuring Pedro Almodóvar, Asghar Farhadi, and Hirokazu Kore-eda, with notable absence of major Hollywood studio films. The festival runs May 12-23, with Park Chan-wook presiding over the jury and honorary Palme d'Or awards for Barbra Streisand and Peter Jackson.
Carlos Queiroz has been appointed head coach of Ghana's national football team, the Ghana Football Association announced. The 73-year-old Portuguese takes over from Otto Addo with less than two months before the 2026 World Cup, where Ghana will face Panama, England, and Croatia in Group L.
UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has cleared Axel Springer's £575m takeover of the Telegraph, citing no grounds for intervention. The German publisher expects to complete the deal by the end of June, ending nearly three years of ownership uncertainty.
Diplomatic efforts are intensifying to arrange a second round of US-Iran talks in Islamabad, with Pakistan and regional partners working to extend the current ceasefire. The truce, though under strain, is holding, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed optimism for a comprehensive peace deal.
A growing number of progressive Democrats, including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ro Khanna, are opposing continued US funding for Israel's Iron Dome defense system. The shift marks a significant change in what was once near-unanimous bipartisan support, with critics arguing Israel can fund its own defense and raising concerns about the system's role in enabling offensives.
President Donald Trump has nominated former California congresswoman Michelle Park Steel as the US ambassador to South Korea, a post vacant since January 2025. South Korea's presidential office welcomed the nomination, expressing hope it will strengthen bilateral ties. If confirmed, Steel would be the second Korean American to hold the ambassadorship.
The United States has initiated a naval blockade of Iranian ports and coastal areas, enforcing restrictions on maritime traffic as tensions between Washington and Tehran persist. President Trump has warned that any Iranian vessels challenging the blockade will be destroyed, while Iranian officials downplay the impact on their economy and food supplies.
Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Moscow for talks focused on strategic partnership, energy cooperation, and trade, amid scrutiny of Prabowo's extensive foreign travel and Indonesia's non-aligned diplomatic posture.
Russian presidential aide Nikolay Patrushev said Japan no longer considers itself bound by post-World War II restrictions, citing its military build-up and new unmanned weapons unit. He accused Tokyo of pursuing a policy of militarization that violates the 1945 Instrument of Surrender and Japan's constitution. TASS reported his remarks from an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta.