International
Seoul, Tokyo and Beijing show their willingness to resume the trilateral summits “on a regular basis”
South Korea, Japan and China expressed on Monday their desire to resume their summits to three “on a regular basis and without interruption” in a joint statement at the end of the trilateral meeting held between the South Korean president, Yoon Suk-yeol, and the prime ministers of Japan and China, Fumio Kishida and Li Qiang, respectively.
“We reiterate that promoting the institutionalization of trilateral cooperation improves the respective bilateral relations and promotes peace, stability and prosperity in the Northeast Asian region, and helps to promote a world in which countries, large or small, can benefit universally,” the document reads.
The three countries held their first summits of heads of government annually between 2008 and 2012, but the differences between Seoul and Tokyo around the consequences of the Japanese colonial domination of the Korean peninsula (1910-1945) caused the meetings to begin to be convened intermittently.
Since Yoon’s coming to power in 2022, he and Kishida have sought to smooth out those differences with a reinforcement of the military cooperation of both countries with their traditional partner, the United States.
In turn, China’s lack of transparency around the pandemic and its origins, added to the growing rivalry between Beijing and Washington, has widened in recent years the gap between the three neighbors, who had not held a summit like this since 2019.
Today, the three countries have stressed that this ninth three-way summit held in Seoul “has an important meaning to revitalize trilateral cooperation,” according to the statement, which adds that “conversations will be held to accelerate negotiations for a trilateral free trade agreement (FTA),” as Kishida already said at a press conference.
The three neighbors decided today to establish cooperation projects in six key areas: human exchanges, sustainable development, economic and commercial cooperation, public health and the aging of society, science and technology, and disaster security and assistance.
“We are striving to increase the number of human exchanges between the three countries to 40 million by 2030 by promoting exchanges in areas that include culture, tourism and education,” the document explains.
The two areas that apparently had the most tangible results in terms of cooperation after today’s summit were that of intellectual property and that of “future pandemics”, since two separate memorandums were signed in this regard.
There was no mention of the thorny issue of Taiwan and the growing Chinese pressure on the island and only a heading was dedicated to the North Korean issue, which increasingly worries Seoul and Tokyo but which lately generates lukewarm statements from Beijing, which for years has not supported the activation of new UN sanctions against Pyongyang.
Not even the announcement on Monday that North Korea will launch between today and next June 3 a new spy satellite using ballistic missile technology – something that the UN prohibits – made Li talk about it at the post-summit press conference.
The declaration was limited to recalling the importance of “reaffirming peace, stability and prosperity on the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia” and the “denuclearization of the peninsula.”
International
Portuguese Authorities Seize 2.6 Tons of Cocaine Worth More Than $550 Million in Drug Bust
Italian financial police reported Monday that Portuguese authorities intercepted a speedboat carrying more than 2.6 tons of cocaine, with an estimated street value exceeding $550 million.
Four people — two Spanish nationals, one Albanian citizen, and a man from Gibraltar — were arrested in connection with the operation, according to Italian authorities.
The vessel was intercepted off the coast of Lisbon by Portugal’s maritime police following an investigation led by Italian authorities.
Italian financial police estimated that the seized shipment had a street value of approximately 500 million euros ($570 million), making it one of the largest drug seizures reported in the region in recent years.
Portuguese authorities said the interception took place on Thursday, about 90 kilometers (50 nautical miles) southwest of Cape Espichel, during an operation targeting international drug trafficking routes.
International
U.S. and Iran Maintain Ceasefire as Trump Expresses Optimism Over New Talks
U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that there are “good chances” of reaching an agreement with Iran, as both sides maintained a ceasefire for the third consecutive day following weeks of escalating hostilities.
Trump expressed optimism about the possibility of resuming diplomatic negotiations aimed at ending the conflict, which began in late February and has raised international concerns over its impact on global markets and energy supplies.
The fighting has remained suspended since Saturday, after the United States resumed airstrikes against Iran amid a dispute over control of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil shipments. The renewed military action had previously caused the collapse of an earlier ceasefire agreement.
Asked about the prospects for negotiations aboard Air Force One, Trump said: “I have a lot of patience… We’ll see what happens. I think there are good chances that something could happen.”
The U.S. president also highlighted Washington’s military capabilities, saying: “We have a lot of ammunition,” while adding that he would like to have more resources due to U.S. support for Ukraine.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said Trump was allowing diplomatic efforts more time, explaining that the president was “giving some space to the talks” while maintaining that Washington remains prepared to take action if necessary.
Meanwhile, tensions continue in other areas of the Middle East. Saudi Arabia reported that it intercepted drones launched from Iraq by groups allied with Tehran and urged the Iraqi government to take measures to prevent further attacks.
International
Police Investigate After Remains of Five Newborns Found in French Apartment
French authorities have opened a murder investigation after the discovery of human remains believed to belong to five newborn babies inside an apartment in the historic center of a city, the local prosecutor’s office reported Monday night.
According to prosecutors, a 32-year-old woman had given birth at home on Sunday to a healthy baby before being taken to a hospital for medical care.
The discovery was made after the woman’s 32-year-old partner began searching the residence after reportedly learning, once again and at a late stage, that she had been pregnant.
During the search, the man found what appeared to be human remains and informed the hospital, which then alerted prosecutors.
A forensic doctor determined that the remains likely belonged to five newborn infants. Authorities have not yet established the circumstances or motive behind the case.
Investigators have not been able to interview the mother, who remains hospitalized following the delivery.
Prosecutors also confirmed that the couple has two other children, aged eight and nine years old. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to clarify the events surrounding the discovery.
Portuguese Authorities Seize 2.6 Tons of Cocaine Worth More Than $550 Million in Drug Bust
U.S. and Iran Maintain Ceasefire as Trump Expresses Optimism Over New Talks
Police Investigate After Remains of Five Newborns Found in French Apartment
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