RUSSIA
Lavrov skeptical of US ties
Russia remains open for cooperation with the US, but is not hopeful about economic ties despite Washington’s ongoing efforts to end the Ukraine war, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov said in an interview published yesterday. Speaking to media outlet TV BRICS, Lavrov cited what he called the US’ declared aim of “economic dominance.” Russian officials, including special presidential envoy on foreign investment and economic cooperation Kirill Dmitriev, have previously spoken of the prospects for a major restoration of economic relations with the US as part of any eventual Ukraine peace settlement. However, although US President Donald Trump has also spoken of reviving economic cooperation with Moscow and has hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin on US soil since returning to the White House, he has imposed further onerous sanctions on Russia’s energy sector. Lavrov also cited Trump’s hostility to the BRICS bloc, which includes Russia, China, India, Brazil and other major developing economies. “The Americans themselves create artificial obstacles along this path” toward BRICS integration,” he said. “We are simply forced to seek additional, protected ways to develop our financial, economic, logistical and other projects with the BRICS countries.”
PORTUGAL
Seguro wins presidency
Socialist Antonio Jose Seguro won the presidential race, defeating far-right challenger Andre Ventura in a runoff that reaffirmed the nation’s tradition of consensus-driven leadership after a turbulent campaign. Seguro secured 66.8 percent of the vote in Sunday’s second-round vote, official results showed. A former Socialist Party leader, he ran on a platform of institutional stability and respect for democratic norms, overcoming Ventura, whose rise had raised concerns about potential political disruption. Official tallies showed that 49.9 percent of registered voters abstained. While the presidency is largely ceremonial, the role comes with key powers, including the ability to dissolve parliament and call early elections. Seguro’s victory is likely to ease tensions with the center-right government of Prime Minister Luis Montenegro and limit the scope for confrontation between the presidency and parliament.
SOUTH KOREA
‘Bride imports’ spark fury
A provincial government has apologized after a mayor suggested importing young women from Southeast Asia to boost the nation’s birthrate. Jindo County Mayor Kim Hee-soo last week said rural hamlets could address shrinking populations by pairing bachelors with women enticed from Vietnam or Sri Lanka. “We should import young women from Vietnam or Sri Lanka so that young men in rural areas can marry them,” he told a town hall meeting. The remarks were condemned in local media and triggered a diplomatic backlash, reportedly drawing an official complaint from the Vietnamese embassy in Seoul. The South Jeolla provincial government, which oversees Kim’s county, sought to dampen the brewing controversy over the weekend. “We deeply apologize for the inappropriate remark made by the Jindo mayor, which has caused deep pain to Vietnamese people and to women,” a spokesperson said on Saturday. The word “import” used in Kim’s remark “violates human dignity and objectifies women,” the spokesperson said, adding that it could never be “justified under any circumstances.” Kim also apologized, conceding he had “used the inappropriate word.”
Heavy rain and strong winds yesterday disrupted flights, trains and ferries, forcing the closure of roads across large parts of New Zealand’s North Island, while snapping power links to tens of thousands. Domestic media reported a few flights had resumed operating by afternoon from the airport in Wellington, the capital, although cancelations were still widespread after airport authorities said most morning flights were disrupted. Air New Zealand said it hoped to resume services when conditions ease later yesterday, after it paused operations at Wellington, Napier and Palmerston North airports. Online images showed flooded semi-rural neighborhoods, inundated homes, trees fallen on vehicles and collapsed
‘COST OF DEFECTION’: Duterte’s announcement could be an effort to keep allies in line with the promise of a return to power amid political uncertainty, an analyst said Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte yesterday announced she would run for president of the Southeast Asian nation of 116 million in 2028. Duterte, who is embroiled in a bitter feud with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, was impeached last year only to see the country’s Supreme Court throw the case out over procedural issues. Her announcement comes just days before her father, former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, begins a pretrial hearing at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Netherlands over crimes against humanity allegedly committed as part of a brutal crackdown on drugs. “I offer my life, my strength and my future
NOT YET THERE: While the show was impressive, it failed to demonstrate their ability to move in unstructured environments, such as a factory floor, an expert said Dancing humanoid robots on Monday took center stage during the annual China Media Group’s Spring Festival Gala, China’s most-watched official television broadcast. They lunged and backflipped (landing on their knees), they spun around and jumped. Not one fell over. The display was impressive, but if robots can now dance and perform martial arts, what else can they do? Experts have mixed opinions, with some saying the robots had limitations and that the display should be viewed through a lens of state propaganda. Developed by several Chinese robotics firms, the robots performed a range of intricate stunts, including martial arts, comedy sketches and choreographed
POST-UPRISING: Bangladesh Nationalist Party lawmakers were yesterday expected to formally elect Tarique Rahman as their leader and new head of government Bangladesh’s prime minister-to-be Tarique Rahman and lawmakers were yesterday sworn into parliament, becoming the first elected representatives since a deadly 2024 uprising. Rahman is set to take over from an interim government that has steered the country of 170 million people for 18 months since the autocratic government of Sheikh Hasina was overthrown. The lawmakers, who promised loyalty to Bangladesh, were sworn in by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin. Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) lawmakers are expected to formally elect Rahman as their leader, with President Mohammed Shahabuddin then to administer the oath of office to the prime minister and his ministers
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