The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Former S. Korean President Chun Doo Hwan dies at 90
SEOUL - Former South Korean President Chun Doo Hwan, who seized power after a military coup in 1979 and suppressed a pro-democracy civil uprising by force the next year, died on Tuesday. He was 90.
The former army general died at his Seoul home after battling chronic illnesses such as multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing his aides.
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IOC rapped for promoting China propaganda over tennis player call
NEW YORK - The International Olympic Committee was accused Monday of promoting Chinese state propaganda after saying a Chinese tennis player whose whereabouts have been in question since making allegations of sexual impropriety against a former senior Chinese official had told the IOC chief in a video call that she was "safe and well."
The condemnation by Human Rights Watch came after the IOC announced Sunday that its president, Thomas Bach, had held a 30-minute video call with Peng Shuai. The group questioned how the online meeting had been arranged at a time when other concerned parties had difficulties reaching the athlete, according to HRW.
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Taiwan, U.S. hold 2nd annual meeting of new economic dialogue
TAIPEI - Taiwan and the United States held a second meeting of their new annual economic dialogue on Tuesday to forge closer ties as U.S. President Joe Biden's administration shows support to the self-ruled island that has come under increasing pressure from mainland China.
Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua, who led Taiwan's delegation, told a press conference after U.S.-Taiwan Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue, or EPPD, that the five-hour virtual meeting focused on such issues as supply chain resilience, science and technology, digital economy and 5G network security, as well as Beijing's economic coercion.
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Japan, Vietnam defense chiefs oppose bids to change status quo
TOKYO - The defense ministers of Japan and Vietnam agreed Tuesday to "strongly oppose" unilateral attempts to change the status quo in regional waters, in a veiled reference to China's maritime expansion.
Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi and his Vietnamese counterpart Phan Van Giang discussed in Tokyo recent developments in the South and East China seas, confirming the two countries will work together to maintain the existing rules-based international order, according to the Japanese Defense Ministry.
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China arranging to invite Russia's Putin to Beijing Olympics
BEIJING - China said Tuesday that it is arranging to invite Russian President Vladimir Putin to the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, while U.S. President Joe Biden has said he is considering a "diplomatic boycott" of the sports event.
China has been recently trying to bolster its relations with Russia, as its tensions with the United States have been intensifying over several issues such as its alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang and security challenges to self-ruled democratic Taiwan.
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Gov't to nix Shinsei Bank's defensive steps against SBI takeover bid
TOKYO - The Japanese government is considering using its stake in Shinsei Bank to vote against its launch of a defense against a hostile takeover by online financial group SBI Holdings Inc., sources familiar with the matter said Monday.
As the combined stake held by SBI and the government amount to around 40 percent, it appears unlikely that Shinsei Bank can win approval for the steps with majority backing at an extraordinary shareholders meeting on Friday, the sources said.
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Dollar climbs to 115 yen, highest since March 2017
SINGAPORE - The U.S. dollar on Tuesday hit the highest level since March 2017 in Asian trading, climbing to the lower 115 yen range, as expectations for an early interest hike by the U.S. Federal Reserve grew with Jerome Powell nominated for a second term as chairman of the central bank.
The dollar rose after fetching 114.82-92 yen in New York and 114.21-23 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Monday. Tokyo markets were closed Tuesday for a national holiday.
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Biden reappoints Powell as U.S. Fed chair in bid to shore up economy
WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden said Monday he plans to keep Jerome Powell as chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve for a second four-year term, tasking him with putting the world's largest economy on a recovery track from the coronavirus pandemic while tackling worsening inflation.
The president also said he intends to elevate to the post of Fed vice chair Lael Brainard, who has been a board member of the central bank and was a leading candidate to replace Powell.
