August 23, 2023

9Round Kickboxing Fitness Inks Deal to Become Karate Combat’s Official Worldwide Fitness Partner

GREENVILLE, S.C., Aug. 23, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 9Round, the world’s largest kickboxing fitness franchise, announced today it will become Karate Combat’s Official Worldwide Fitness Partner. Karate Combat is the premier full-contact striking professional sports league.

9Round has a global presence with nearly 500 locations across 18 countries. Karate Combat is distributed to over 100 countries and has long-term, exclusive contracts with fighters from over 30 countries including the United States, Canada, Mexico, UK, Spain, Australia, Japan and Morocco.

As the league’s Official Worldwide Fitness Partner, 9Round will become the exclusive gym and fitness franchise sponsor of Karate Combat. The partners will co-produce and co-distribute content for 9Round franchisees and members and Karate Combat’s fans. 9Round’s logo will be featured on Karate Combat’s signature fighting pit and red carpet. Local members of 9Round and franchisees will receive opportunities to attend the league’s live events.

The partnership is a natural fit as 9Round’s CEO & Co-Founder, Shannon “The Cannon” Hudson is an IKF Light Middleweight Kickboxing World Champion, a 5th-degree black belt in Japanese Shotokan Karate, a 5th-degree black belt under the Joe Lewis Fighting System, and a 4th-degree black belt under the Superfoot System (Bill Wallace). Both he and his wife, Heather “The Hero” Hudson, co-founder, and 9Round Chief Operating Officer, appreciate the competitiveness of Karate Combat.

“9Round is thrilled to announce its role as Karate Combat’s Official Worldwide Fitness Partner. We find our inspiration in empowering individuals globally through invigorating fitness experiences. This strategic alliance magnifies our testament to fitness and wellbeing, transcending boundaries and crafting a legacy of strength, perseverance, and global unity,” Shannon Hudson said.

Adam Kovacs, League President of Karate Combat, said, “We are excited about this partnership—two global sports brands with similar values and passion for everything striking. I’m thrilled to work with Shannon, a world-class striker who’s so dedicated to the sport.”

Tune into Karate.com on September 16^th to watch Karate Combat 41 live.

For more information on 9Round, please visit https://www.9round.com/

For more information on Karate Combat, please visit https://www.karate.com/

About 9Round
Founded in 2008 by professional kickboxer Shannon Hudson and his wife, Heather, 9Round is the world’s largest kicking boxing franchise both in gyms and online that brings kickboxing fitness training to the average person in a 30-minute, trainer-guided, full-body circuit format. The program is developed around a proprietary and copyrighted system of nine challenging workout stations created by Shannon himself. Today, there are nearly 500 9Round locations open and operating throughout 41 U.S. states and in 17 other countries including Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mexico, Ecuador, New Zealand, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam. Locations are soon to be coming to India and South Korea. For more information, please visit www.9round.com.

About Karate Combat
Karate Combat is the world’s premier full-contact striking league, blending the excitement of live-action, full-contact Karate with immersive CGI environments powered by the Epic Games Unreal gaming and virtual production engine. Olympic medalists and national champions from around the world are just some of the elite black belts invited to compete in eight different weight divisions in pursuit of a Karate Combat World Championship. The league, which is streamed and broadcast to over 100 countries worldwide, is owned by the Sensei Foundation, a Cayman Islands Foundation Company and its affiliates.

Media Contact
press@karate.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8899454

August 23, 2023

The Government of St Kitts and Nevis celebrates a year in office with key accomplishments

Basseterre, Aug. 23, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, addressed the nation recently on St Kitts and Nevis’ Labour Party’s (SKNLP) one-year anniversary and outlined some of the Party’s successes in that period.

After Honourable Dr. Drew consulted with experts during the pandemic, he made the bold decision to lift Covid-19 restrictions. This decision supported the survival of the tourism sector.

Honourable Dr. Drew, shared on social media his gratitude for the support the government received from local citizens and noted the country’s latest developments, he outlined SKNLP administration’s critical achievements from August 2022 to August 2023, which include:

Growth in the education sector

The government has significantly reduced student loan interest rates from nine per cent to five per cent at the Development Bank. And student loans received interest-free debt relief for the first time in a little over four years.

The government implemented a ‘Graduate Finance’ Project with ECD$15,000 credit for students with loans at the Development Bank and other banks. With an additional ECD$25,000 grant for students applying and studying relevant undergraduate or graduate programmes.

Sports and recreation

St Kitts and Nevis Ministry of Sports, under the leadership of Samal Duggins, has launched numerous initiatives as part of the government’s achievements, such as:

Transforming Lambert’s playing field to be used to attract more citizens to partake in sports activities on the field.
Restoration project in the Warner Park Cricket Stadium to host international games and support the growing tourism sector in the country.

Economic growth

Indigenous financial institutions in the country now provide zero down payment for mortgages, which makes it possible for homeowners to qualify to purchase their dream home on the twin island nation.

The government-subsidised Fuel Variation Charge (FVC), and the cost of fuel and electricity subsided to ECD$9 million per month.

The first Citizenship by Investment (CBI) dividends were paid out to CBI investors in December 2022 and in June 2023, indicating that the St Kitts and Nevis CBI Programme has shown strength in economic development.

During the first year of the new SKNLP administration in office, the government received the highest tax collection through inland revenue, despite no tax increases and new taxes. Small businesses in the country impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic received ECD$20,000 Small Business Loans from the Development Bank.

The government was able to reinstate its Gratuity payouts for retired Government Auxiliary Employees (CAE) with a minimum of 10 years of service.

Growth in the tourism sector

The government increased the number of different airlines to the destination with Caribbean Airlines, InterCaribbean Airlines and JetBlue Airlines to the country’s airlift. The “Venture Deeper” tourism brand campaign was launched to diversify tourism initiatives.

Honourable Dr. Drew and his administration welcomed the world’s largest cruise liner, Wonder of the Seas, to its port. Additional, extended discounted value-added tax days to three times a year – in Easter, Summer and Christmas festive seasons. And duty-free import of food up to 400lbs, including a duty-free allowance of US$200 for travellers and non-commercial importers.

Changes in the country’s legislation

The Government of St Kitts and Nevis improved its good governance by implementing changes to laws being passed to support and protect the country’s diverse communities, which include:

A Domestic Violence Act to protect women, men and children who are exposed to and affected by domestic violence.
Alterations were made to the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank legislation, and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) Agreement Act was created for the country to access ECD$1.5 billion of capital to develop projects in electricity and energy, water and various other sectors.

Housing project launched

The government commitment is to build 2,400 affordable hurricane-resilient smart homes in four years that will be built in four phases. Each phase will construct 600 homes, with features for each new homeowner to enjoy, including a water tank and a rooftop water heater in each home.

Growth in the healthcare sector

Honourable Dr. Drew added that there are healthcare initiatives to provide essential healthcare to disadvantaged children through paying for emergency overseas medical care. This initiative saved over thirty sick children in the twin federation.

The above accomplishments were achieved by critical steps to preserve the economy and tourism sector. St Kitts and Nevis’ economy ricocheted in the last year with significant growth in the agriculture, financial services, and tourism sectors. As well as advancing the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme, with new regulations to maintain competitiveness in the Caribbean and in the rest of the world.

The government placed emphasis on job creation and permanent employment opportunities for the country’s people, these subsequently boost the economy and significantly improve the livelihood of citizens.

The Government of St Kitts and Nevis’ vision is to evolve the country into a Sustainable Island State by focusing its governance on integrity, transparency, and accountability. Their commitment is to build a stronger country and empower its citizens.

Secretary of St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Programme
Government of St. Kitts and Nevis
00-1-869-467-1474
communications@skn-ciu.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8899755

August 23, 2023

Guidepoint Celebrates 20 Years of Innovation

Constantly finding new ways to give clients the context they need to navigate the abundance of information available today.

New York, NY, Aug. 23, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — This year, Guidepoint celebrates its 20th anniversary as a leading expert network and research enablement platform, offering solutions that allow clients to obtain essential knowledge to better inform their business decisions.

Since Guidepoint’s founding, the company has pursued its vision of making knowledge available to all by expanding to include 17 strategically located global offices, a network of 1.5 Million subject matter experts across all sectors, and a client list of more than 4,500 top organizations around the world.

In recent years, Guidepoint has expanded its product set to include Guidepoint Insights, offering access to more than 750 live events per month and a library of more than 23,000+ transcripts, and Guidepoint Qsight, an alternative data business focused on bespoke curation of market data in the MedTech, Therapeutics, and Aesthetics spaces.

“I’m proud of what Guidepoint has accomplished in the past 20 years, with the support of our dedicated employees, clients, and Advisors.” said Albert Sebag, CEO of Guidepoint. “While it’s important to celebrate our achievements, we’re already looking forward, positioning ourselves to expand our offerings and deliver on a promise of unparalleled expertise and ongoing innovation — offering knowledge solutions that can create a lasting impact for the firms we serve.”

As Guidepoint’s products have evolved, so has its focus. With an eye toward the future, the company is making significant investments in original content and technology, intent on serving the broader knowledge needs of its expanded roster of clients.

To learn more about Guidepoint, and the products and services they offer, visit their website at www.guidepoint.com.

About Guidepoint

Guidepoint is a research enablement platform designed to accelerate understanding and empower decision‑making through real-time access to data and hard-to-source knowledge. Backed by the world’s largest network of expertise, the company provides critical context and dimension on any topic, letting top companies and investors rapidly turn answers into action.

Mike Gold
Guidepoint
2123752984
marketing@guidepoint.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8899725

August 23, 2023

Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council Collaborates with Top Notch Integrated Wellness Residences Through “Rejuvenate with Malaysia Healthcare”

Pilot Programme Aims to Cultivate Malaysia as an Active Retirement Living Destination

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Aug. 23, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) is proud to announce a pilot programme, “Rejuvenate with Malaysia Healthcare,” which aims to cultivate Malaysia as an active retirement living destination worldwide. The one-year pilot programme sees MHTC collaborating with four (4) leading integrated wellness residences namely Domitys Bangsar, Komune Living & Wellness, ReU Living, and Sunway Sanctuary, located in Kuala Lumpur.

Driven by a commitment to advancing preventive wellness, MHTC is co-creating alongside industry partners to address a niche segment within the healthcare industry. Building on the success of its Premium Wellness Programme launched earlier this year, which seamlessly merges tailored healthcare packages with diverse hotel experiences, MHTC is exploring personalised active senior care and wellness solutions, to position Malaysia as a leading destination for active retirement living.

Announced in conjunction with the World Senior Citizen’s Day, celebrated on 21^st August, this pilot initiative proactively addresses the challenges posed by the “silver tsunami” and the rapidly aging society. According to a recent report published by World Health Organization (WHO), by 2030, one (1) in six (6) people in the world will be aged 60 years or over. At this time, the share of the population aged 60 years and over will increase from 1 billion in 2020 to 1.4 billion. The number of persons aged 80 years or older is expected to triple between 2020 and 2050 to reach 426 million.

MHTC remains steadfast in facilitating and promoting the Malaysian healthcare travel industry by coordinating industry collaborations and building valuable public-private partnerships, at home and abroad. The four (4) participating integrated wellness residences have been carefully curated based on their excellence in offering personalised value-based care, state-of-the-art technology for preventive and curative treatments, as well as a wide range of activities to promote overall well-being.

The pilot programme was commemorated by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) exchange ceremony between the integrated wellness residences involved and MHTC. The event is aimed to introduce the participating facilities and highlight the varied range of packages offered, which starts from USD1,250 (MYR5,800) for flexible stay options from three (3) to six (6) months. The programme serves as a new segment that MHTC is developing for the healthcare travel industry, advancing the industry’s contribution as a key export service to the country.

Presently, each facility has already established working partnerships with some of MHTC’s member hospitals. Hence, this impetus will also set in motion MHTC’s partners to engage with international networks, allowing global outreach to raise awareness and attract more healthcare travellers to Malaysia. This collaborative effort will spur value-creation for industry players and scale up Malaysia Healthcare’s seamless end-to-end ecosystem.

“Rejuvenate with Malaysia Healthcare is a testament to our commitment to providing world-class healthcare services and promoting Malaysia as a preferred choice for active retirement living and holistic wellness. The end goal is to build a sustainable future for the healthcare system and by partnering with such exceptional integrated wellness residences, we are confident that we will help enable and create awareness on the programme, designed to allow seniors to age actively surrounded by various experiential facilities and personal care.” said Farizal B. Jaafar, Acting Chief Executive Officer, MHTC.

With the help of technology and science, today’s seniors are living longer and more active than ever before. Based on studies from WHO, the global population for people aged 60 years and older is expected to total up to two (2) billion by 2050. “Malaysia’s healthcare industry is adapting and aims to deliver more value-added and unique offerings to fill the gaps in the healthcare services.” added Farizal.

“To create a holistic lifestyle, many senior communes are embracing differentiated and customised health and wellness programmes. Research has shown that community bonding and social engagement are one of the key factors in sustaining health and longevity, and this philosophy is one of the key drivers for the development of the four (4) integrated wellness residence facilities. With engaging social programmes, nutritious meal plans and a variety of physical activities plus top notch medical and care services available here, seniors can now live well and thrive in a safe, enriching and supporting environment, to maintain both their physical and mental well-being.” commented Farizal.

The launch event was attended by key representatives from the participating facilities including, Sophie Lim, Vice President Senior Living & Strategic Planning, Domitys Bangsar; Mark Chen, General Manager of Komune Living & Wellness; Anna Chew, Chief Executive Officer of ReU Living; and Dato’ Lau Beng Long, President of Sunway Healthcare Group, representing Sunway Sanctuary.

“Rejuvenate with Malaysia Healthcare” offers a variety of packages for healthcare travellers, ranging from short stays or longer residence. These packages provide access to world-class healthcare facilities, personalised care, and a range of wellness activities, ensuring a rejuvenating and fulfilling experience for all residents.

As Malaysia takes a valiant step towards becoming an active retirement living destination, the pilot programme “Rejuvenate with Malaysia Healthcare” sets the stage to spur industry development. With its holistic approach to healthcare travel encompassing wellness and active senior healthcare, Malaysia is poised to become a global leader in providing exceptional active retirement experiences.
For more information about “Rejuvenate with Malaysia Healthcare” and the services offered by the partnering organisations, please visit here.

For comprehensive information on Malaysia Healthcare and its services, including healthcare travel, visit https://malaysiahealthcare.org.my. Stay updated with Malaysia Healthcare by following our social media accounts on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/malaysiahealthcare.org and on LinkedIn through the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council.

For media enquiries:

Tutie Ismail Vice President Communications Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council tutie@mhtc.org.my	Chandrika Bhaskaran Senior Manager Public Relations & Content Communications Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council chandrika.b@mhtc.org.my

ABOUT THE MALAYSIA HEALTHCARE TRAVEL COUNCIL
The Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) is a government agency under the Ministry of Health Malaysia that has been entrusted with the responsibility of facilitating and promoting the country’s healthcare travel industry, recognised as a key export service sector for the country. Founded in 2009, MHTC works to streamline industry players and service providers in facilitating and growing Malaysia’s healthcare travel industry under the brand “Malaysia Healthcare” with the intended goal of making Malaysia the leading global healthcare destination. MHTC works closely with over 90 private healthcare facilities in Malaysia, who are registered members of MHTC.

ABOUT DOMITYS
The Ascott Limited is a member of CapitaLand Investment. It is one of the leading international lodging owner-operators with properties across Asia Pacific, Central Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the USA. Its portfolio of serviced apartment, coliving and hotel brands include Ascott, Citadines, lyf, Oakwood, Quest, Somerset, The Crest Collection, The Unlimited Collection, Préférence, Fox, Harris, POP!, Vertu and Yello; and it has a brand partnership with Domitys. Through Ascott Star Rewards (ASR), Ascott’s loyalty programme, members enjoy exclusive privileges and offers at participating properties.

ABOUT KOMUNE
Komune Living & Wellness – Southeast Asia’s largest co-living and wellness hotel, is a one-of-a-kind facility that has been designed specifically to help its residents live longer, healthier, and happier. The development, located alongside a serene 122-acres Tasik Permaisuri Park in Cheras, is the first integrated facility in Asia that combines senior co-living spaces with a dedicated wellness hub that will offer professional senior care services, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and luxurious pampering options to both residents and walk-in guests. Our objective is to create a safe and engaging community for seniors, where they can age actively with all the facilities and support their need to maintain both their physical and mental well-being.

ABOUT ReU
ReU Living is a joint venture between Tan & Tan Developments Berhad and Meaningfull Life Sdn Bhd. The name ReU (pronounced Re-You) is derived from the combination of the word Re and You. You being our guest, and the focus of our assisted living and care services for your Rehabilitation, Rejuvenation, Renewal, Restoration, Relaxation and Retirement. ReU Living’s specialisation is in post-operative care for orthopaedics, stroke recovery, cancer care as well as senior strengthening and mobility. ReU Living supports that with its network of specialists which includes DBC’s state-of-the-art in-house physio centre along with its panel of specialists; doctors (geriatric), speech therapists, dieticians, TCM doctors, counsellors and more.

ABOUT SUNWAY SANCTUARY
Sunway Sanctuary, a prestigious senior living destination in Malaysia, caters to the rising demand for premier retirement options in Greater Kuala Lumpur. Residents enjoy a comprehensive monthly subscription that covers lodging, dining, housekeeping, laundry, concierge services, and beyond. With 235 sophisticated studios and suites, the establishment is built on six core pillars: strategic location, holistic well-being, curated experiences, top-notch fitness facilities, elegant design, and seamless healthcare access via Sunway Medical Centre. Amenities include an infinity pool, fitness center, karaoke lounges, and more. Designed for active seniors and those in transition, it offers tailored activities and wellness programs.

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8899480

August 23, 2023

Azerion confirms cancellation of 58,690,961 Treasury Shares

Amsterdam, 23 August 2023 – Azerion is pleased to confirm the completion of the cancellation of 58,690,961 of its ordinary shares held in treasury in line with the resolution of the company’s shareholders at the Annual General Meeting held on 15 June 2023.

After the cancellation, a total of 2,906,088 Azerion ordinary shares will remain held in treasury for purposes including employee bonus schemes, earn outs from previous acquisitions of the Company and other general corporate purposes.

Following cancellation of the treasury shares, as of 23 August 2023, the ordinary shares outstanding in Azerion Group N.V. may be summarised as follows:

Share summary table
Ordinary Shares (excl. Treasury)	119,964,699
Ordinary Shares in Treasury	2,906,088
Total Ordinary Shares	122,870,787

The respective treasury shares will be removed from trading on Euronext Amsterdam in accordance with their usual processes.

About Azerion

Founded in 2014, Azerion (EURONEXT: AZRN) is one of Europe’s largest digital advertising and entertainment media platforms. We bring global scaled audiences to advertisers in an easy and cost-effective way, delivered through our proprietary technology, in a safe, engaging, and high quality environment, utilizing our strategic portfolio of owned and operated content with entertainment and other digital publishing partners.

Having its roots in Europe and with its headquarters in Amsterdam, Azerion has commercial teams based in over 26 cities around the world to closely support our clients and partners to find and execute creative ways to make a real impact through advertising.

For more information visit: www.azerion.com

Contact:
Investor Relations
ir@azerion.com

Media
press@azerion.com

DISCLAIMER
This communication may include forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Azerion to market risks and statements expressing management’s expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections, and assumptions. Words and expressions such as aims, ambition, anticipates, believes, could, estimates, expects, goals, intends, may, milestones, objectives, outlook, plans, projects, risks, schedules, seeks, should, target, will or other similar words or expressions are typically used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict and that could cause the actual results, performance, or events to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements contained in this communication. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Any forward-looking statements reflect Azerion’s current views and assumptions based on information currently available to Azerion’s management. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Azerion does not assume any obligation to update or revise such statements as a result of new information, future events, or other information, except as required by law.

This communication does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities or any other financial instruments.

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1000835844

August 23, 2023

S. Korea’s external debt little changed in Q2: BOK data

South Korea’s external debt remained little changed in the second quarter of this year amid economic uncertainty, central bank data showed Wednesday.

The country’s external liabilities had come to US$665.1 billion as of end-June, compared with $665 billion tallied three months earlier, according to the preliminary data from the Bank of Korea.

The data showed that a rise in long-term external borrowing by the government offset a decline in short-term debt by banks.

Of the total, the country’s short-term debt that matures in a year declined by $11.8 billion on-quarter to $161.9 billion, while long-term debt rose $11.9 billion over the same period to $503.2 billion, the data showed.

The ratio of short-term debt to foreign reserves fell by 2.4 percentage points to 38.4 percent. A lower ratio means a stronger debt-serving capability.

The ratio of short-term debt to total external liabilities also declined 1.8 percentage points on-quarter to 24.3 percent, the data showed.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

August 23, 2023

Unification ministry to downsize, overhaul amid tense inter-Korean ties

The unification ministry said Wednesday it plans to slim down and overhaul its organizational structure, including units that oversee inter-Korean exchanges, amid strained ties between the two Koreas and heightened tensions on the peninsula.

Under the plan, the ministry plans to cut 81 employees, roughly 13 percent of its workforce, and merge four divisions — including those that oversee inter-Korean exchanges and the operation of a now-defunct joint industrial complex in the North — into one, according to an official gazette.

The move comes as President Yoon Suk Yeol urged for a change in the ministry’s function in early July, saying it should no longer act like a “support” agency for the recalcitrant regime.

To prevent a potential policy vacuum coming from the overhaul, the ministry said it plans to “flexibly” run its organization should inter-Korean ties shift to a stage of dialogue and exchange, according to the announcement made prior to legislation.

At the same time, the government plans to establish new units, such as a taskforce aimed at addressing the issue of abductees and detainees in the North, and bolster its role in areas of analyzing intelligence and raising public awareness on reunification.

“The envisioned plan factored in how South-North exchanges and dialogue have been suspended and comes from the notion that a flexible, competitive and efficient organization that is fitting to international political circumstances is necessary,” Vice Unification Minister Moon Seoung-hyun told reporters last month.

Following a six-day period from announcing the envisioned measure to the general public, the plan is set to go into effect following a vice ministerial meeting on Aug. 31 and a Cabinet meeting on Sept. 5.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

August 23, 2023

S. Korea says it is monitoring full-fledged border reopening by N. Korea

South Korea’s unification ministry said Wednesday it is monitoring when North Korea will reopen its border with China in a full-fledged manner, as it has partially opened it following a yearslong closure over COVID-19.

After more than three years of stringent COVID-19 restrictions, North Korea has recently permitted its athletes to cross the border to take part in a taekwondo tournament in Kazakhstan and resumed the operation of commercial flights with China.

“North Korea has opened its border in a limited manner while struggling to stabilize a food crisis,” the ministry said in a report to the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs and unification.

North Korea’s trade with China has recovered to around 85 percent of pre-pandemic levels, but it remains at a standstill due to the slowing growth of exports based on manufacturing on commission, it said.

The ministry said the secretive regime is striving to recover from damage caused by floods and other national disasters, mobilizing all available resources to increase crop production this year.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un harshly berated Premier Kim Tok-hun over flood damage and hinted at his replacement, an apparent move to shift responsibility for the faltering economy to the Cabinet.

Meanwhile, North Korea has kicked off offensive military activities in protest of a combined military exercise between South Korea and the United States, according to the unification ministry.

The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise, based on an all-out war scenario, began its 11-day run of various contingency drills Monday. The North has long denounced Seoul-Washington military drills as a rehearsal for an invasion.

The North seeks to launch a military spy satellite between Thursday and Aug. 31 following its failure in late May.

It also denounced Seoul, Washington and Tokyo for holding their trilateral summit at Camp David last week, saying that they adopted documents to “formulate nuclear war provocations” on the Korean Peninsula.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

August 23, 2023

Today in Korean history Date: 23-Aug-23

1945 — A Japanese ship on its way to Korea’s southern port of Busan from Japan, carrying 3,725 Koreans, explodes. The Ukishima-Maru was returning Koreans who had been forced to leave home and work in Japan during the 1910-45 colonial era. The incident happened a little more than a week after Japan announced it would give up any rights to Korea following its defeat in World War II.

More than 500 people died in the explosion, which survivors said was caused by a bomb. A statement from the Japanese government claimed the ship sank when it accidentally hit a mine. South and North Korean civic groups demand that the Japanese government take responsibility for the incident, saying it was premeditated.

1973 — South Korea establishes diplomatic ties with Finland.

1976 — The Ministry of Education begins to authorize government-designated textbooks in junior high schools.

1985 — A Chinese light bomber makes an emergency landing in Iri, or present-day Iksan, North Jeolla Province.

1992 — South Korea severs diplomatic ties with Taiwan and establishes relations with China.

2001 — Shim Je-ryoon, former head of the Daegu High Public Prosecutors Office, is reinstated after a Supreme Court ruling. He was deprived of his post in 1999 after openly demanding the resignation of the prosecutor general at that time.

2003 — At the Daegu Summer Universiade, North Korean reporters clash with a group of protesters demanding Pyongyang improve its human rights record. Norbert Vollertsen, a German doctor noted for his efforts to bring humanitarian aid to the North, is pushed to the ground and taken to a nearby hospital. A North Korean reporter suffered a finger injury and had his shirt ripped during the confrontation.

2005 — The sixth inter-Korean Red Cross talks open for a three-day run at Mount Kumgang, a tourist resort on the North’s east coast. The two sides agreed to hold more reunions of separated families via a high-tech video connection but failed to narrow differences on the issue of confirming the fate of South Korean prisoners of war and civilians abducted by Pyongyang after the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.

2011 — North Korean leader Kim Jong-il holds rare talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in an eastern Siberian city to discuss how to revive long-stalled talks on ending Pyongyang’s nuclear program.

2016 — North Korea test-fires a submarine-launched ballistic missile in waters off its east coast.

2018 — A Seoul appellate court increases the sentence for former President Park Geun-hye by one year in a massive corruption case that led to her removal from office. The Seoul High Court sentenced Park, 66, to 25 years in prison and ordered her to pay a 20 billion-won fine.

2019 — North Korea fires two short-range projectiles into the East Sea.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

August 23, 2023

The media clings to the front of the prison, the Department of Corrections jointly announced

BANGKOK, Aug. 23 – The media huddled in front of the Bangkok Special Prison after “Thaksin” was transferred to the police hospital due to chest tightness. Department of Corrections will attend a press conference with the police hospital late today as well

Atmosphere in front of the Bangkok Remand Prison even the Department of Corrections Will issue a news document informing the media about the condition of Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra detained in the house that Congestion, insomnia, high blood pressure Until having to Prasarn the duty warden and the medical staff and nurses of the Correctional Hospital in the middle of the night on August 22 and coordinated with the Royal Thai Police Hospital to pick up Mr. Thaksin at 12:20 a.m. on August 23. This morning, there were still media coming. Settle down, wait, follow, make news.

This was confirmed by Mr. Sitthi Sutthiwong, spokesman for the Department of Corrections. that the Department of Corrections will attend a press conference with the Police Hospital at 11:00 a.m. on the 19th floor of the University Building, consisting of Mr. Ayuth Sinthopphan, Director-General of the Department of Corrections, Nathee Thongplad, Commander of the Bangkok Special Prison, Dr. Watchai Ming Banjerdsuk, Director of the Correctional Institution of the Royal Correctional Hospital.-Thai News Agency

Source: Thai News Agency