Lee Jae-myung elected S. Korea's president

Lee Jae-myung of South Korea's majority liberal Democratic Party was elected president, the ongoing vote count by the National Election Commission showed on Wednesday.

With 94.4 percent of the votes counted after midnight, Lee won 48.8 percent and his major rival Kim Moon-soo of the conservative People Power Party took 42.0 percent, the National Election Commission data showed.

Even if all the remaining uncounted votes go to Kim, Lee will win the presidential by-election, confirming his victory.

Global GDP growth to slow down to 2.9 pct in 2025, 2026

Global GDP growth is projected to slow from 3.3 percent in 2024 to 2.9 percent this year and the next year, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said on Tuesday.

In its latest Economic Outlook, the OECD revised down its global growth forecast, citing a technical assumption that existing tariff rates as of mid-May will remain in place, despite ongoing legal disputes.

The organization warned that if current trends persist -- such as rising trade barriers, tighter financial conditions, weakening business and consumer confidence and increased policy uncertainty -- they could significantly undermine global growth prospects.

Norwegian official hails Chinese innovation, seeks deeper maritime ties

A Norwegian official has praised the green technologies and innovative solutions showcased by Chinese companies at Nor-Shipping 2025, expressing hope for enhanced maritime cooperation between Norway and China.

Speaking to Xinhua after visiting the China Pavilion, Even Tronstad Sagebakken, state secretary at Norway's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, said he was impressed by the technological progress demonstrated by Chinese shipbuilders.

It is impressive to see not only the innovation but also the practical implementation of green solutions by Chinese shipbuilders, Sagebakken said. "They are at the forefront of technology development... the advancements we need to drive the green transition in the maritime sector."

Federal judge dismisses California's Trump tariffs challenge over jurisdiction

A U.S. federal judge has dismissed California's lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump's tariffs, based on jurisdictional grounds, while allowing the state to pursue an appeal in a court seen as more favorable to its arguments.

U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley in San Francisco ruled late Monday that the case belonged in the specialized U.S. Court of International Trade in New York, which handles tariff disputes. However, she granted California's request to dismiss the case entirely rather than transferring it, enabling the state to appeal directly to the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals as the state requested.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated in a press release Monday night that the move is a "critical step" to protect the state's economy, which faces an estimated 25 billion U.S. dollars in consumer costs and 64,000 job losses due to the tariffs.

Dutch gov't falls, caretaker cabinet stays until elections

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof announced the resignation of his government on Tuesday, saying that he will formally submit his resignation to the King.

The decision came after the far-right Party for Freedom announced its withdrawal from the ruling coalition.

Speaking at a press conference in The Hague, Schoof said he would formally submit his resignation to King Willem-Alexander later in the day.

Bahrain, Colombia, DRC, Latvia, Liberia elected non-permanent members of UN Security Council

Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Latvia and Liberia were elected non-permanent members of the UN Security Council on Tuesday for a two-year term running from Jan. 1, 2026 to Dec. 31, 2027.

Latvia will become a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the first time.

The newly elected members will replace the outgoing non-permanent members of Algeria, Guyana, Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, and Slovenia.