Trump to headline Freedom 250 event after musicians pull out

AdvertisementSouth KoreaAsiaSoutheast AsiaSouth Korea indicts Japanese woman for forcibly kissing BTS’ JinThe suspect, who kissed the K-pop star without consent at an event in Seoul last year, was charged with indecent assault
Reading Time:1 minuteWhy you can trust SCMPThe Korea TimesPublished: 8:13am, 18 Nov 2025A Japanese woman in her 50s has been indicted without detention for forcing a kiss on Jin of BTS during a public fan event last year.AdvertisementThe Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors’ Office said that the suspect was charged on Monday with indecent assault.
She is accused of approaching Jin (real name Kim Seok-jin) during a fan meeting held at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul’s Songpa district in June last year, shortly after he completed his military service. She forced a kiss on Jin’s cheek without consent.
A photo showing Jin pulling away as if in discomfort spread online.
Following the incident, several fans filed complaints through the National Petition System, accusing h..

AdvertisementChina-Latin America relationsChinaDiplomacyAs Trump ramps up pressure on Cuba, China has ‘very limited options’Any response from Beijing is likely to be constrained to diplomatic opposition and humanitarian aid, according to analysts
3-MIN READ3-MINCao Jiaxuanin BeijingPublished: 8:00pm, 18 Mar 2026As Washington steps up rhetoric and pressure on Cuba after its campaign in Iran, Beijing finds itself torn between geopolitical reality and ideological affinity.According to analysts, Beijing has few good options to counter US hegemony in Washington’s own backyard, and its response is likely to be constrained to diplomatic opposition and modest humanitarian aid.
They said any disruption to global stability ultimately harmed Beijing’s interests and did not see prolonged US military action creating a window of opportunity for China.
AdvertisementUS President Donald Trump on Monday said he expected to have “the honour of taking Cuba”, after a tightening US oil squeeze contributed t..

Saudi Arabia sets official Eid Al Fitr 2026 holiday / Image: File Saudi Arabia has officially announced the Eid Al Fitr 2026 public holidays for employees across the government, private and non-profit sectors, giving millions of workers clarity on their break at the end of Ramadan. The decision was confirmed by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, which outlined the start date and duration of the holiday in line with labour regulations in the Kingdom.Saudi Arabia Eid Al Fitr 2026 holiday datesAccording to the ministry, the Eid Al Fitr holiday for the private and non-profit sectors will begin at the end of the working day on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, corresponding to 29 Ramadan 1447 AH. The break will last four days. Employees are therefore expected to remain off duty through Saturday, March 21, 2026, before resuming work based on their company’s official schedule.Israel attacks IranUS-Israel-Iran War Live Updates: Iran launches 'massive missile' strike at ..