Organizers of the Jeju Forum for Peace & Prosperity are seeking to virtually invite Dr. Chang Gwang-chol, a North Korean education expert at UNESCO, to the event. If confirmed, this would mark the first participation of a North Korean national in the forum and a continuation of inter-Korean exchanges outside political spheres.
Organizers of the Jeju Forum for Peace & Prosperity are seeking to virtually invite Dr. Chang Gwang-chol, a North Korean education expert at UNESCO, to the annual security forum. If he attends, he will be the first North Korean national to participate.
A project in Gaoping, Shanxi, is producing 1,000 tonnes daily of building and industrial materials from coal gangue, a solid waste from mining. This marks a significant step towards comprehensive clean utilization of coal wastes in China.
UK ministers are exploring a major reform of the tax system, potentially devolving billions of pounds in business rates to regional mayors. The move aims to give local leaders more control over tax revenue, reward economic growth, and address regional inequality, with proposals expected in the upcoming budget.
Three high-ranking officials in Hunan's emergency management system are under investigation for serious violations following a deadly fireworks factory explosion in Liuyang that killed 37, injured 51, and left 1 missing.
Indian Ambassador Doraiswami visited Tibet to review arrangements for Indian pilgrims heading to Mount Kailash (Gang Renpoche) and Lake Manasarovar (Mapam Yun Tso), with Zhao Peng briefing on facilities and hosting the delegation for dinner, marking a step in Sino-Indian bilateral ties rebuilding.
Gyeongnam Province achieved its best-ever performance in the 2026 Government Joint Evaluation, led by the Ministry of Interior and Safety. The province excelled in quantitative evaluations, meeting 100% of 96 indicators, and secured 9 outstanding cases in qualitative evaluations, including the 'Gyeongnam-type Emergency Room Strobe Light Notification System,' which also received public acclaim.
Jeonbuk and Gyeongnam provinces achieved 100% target attainment in the 2026 Local Government Joint Evaluation, which assessed 17 cities and provinces nationwide. Busan and Gyeonggi led in qualitative assessments, with Busan having the most excellent cases among cities and Gyeonggi among provinces.
Newly elected mayors and county chiefs in Gyeongnam are forming transition committees with varied strategies. Changwon, facing a prolonged administrative vacuum, prioritizes speed, while Gimhae involves citizens in its committee selection.
Around 10,000 protesters in South Korea demand a re-run of local elections due to a ballot shortage that prevented some voters from casting ballots, leading to the resignation of the National Election Commission head.
Two former military generals, Lee Jae-gak for Jindo County and Kim Tae-seong for Shinan County, have been elected as local government heads in South Jeolla Province, a rare occurrence in the region.
In the Gyeongnam local government heads election, the People Power Party secured 10 out of 18 seats, but faced internal dissent and losses to independent candidates. The Democratic Party won 4 seats, failing to capitalize on favorable conditions and suffering key defeats in areas like Changwon.
Prime Minister Kim Min-seok urged the government to enhance communication and collaboration with newly elected local government leaders following the Democratic Party's significant win in the local elections. The goal is to fulfill policy promises and achieve concrete results.
Prime Minister Kim Min-seok urged central and local governments to cooperate for tangible results after the local elections. He also called for thorough checks on high-risk facilities following recent accidents and stressed the need for price stabilization, especially for essential goods impacting low-income households.
Korea faces "three highs" (inflation, exchange rates, interest rates) post-election. Government policies to suppress fuel prices have unintended consequences, while a weak won, rising interest rates, stock market volatility, and housing market risks pose significant challenges.
Monterey Park, California, became the first US city to vote on a permanent datacenter ban via ballot initiative. Early results show strong support, with 86.3% of votes favoring the prohibition, driven by resident concerns over environmental impact and utility costs.
The Democratic Party has secured all 14 mayoral and county executive positions in Jeonbuk Province, a first for the party. This victory strengthens their dominance in the region, despite challenges from other parties.
Five new local government leaders in Jeonbuk, South Korea, all from the Democratic Party, have won elections, promising to bring new administrative directions and development plans to their respective cities and counties. These newcomers aim to leverage their diverse experiences, from central government roles to local cooperative leadership, to revitalize their regions.
President Erdoğan criticized local government scandals, stating that those who see public trust as spoils will be fought legally. He also highlighted the economic damage caused by past coups and the Gezi Park protests.
The number of female local government officials at Grade 5 or higher has surpassed 10,000 for the first time, reaching 10,518 out of 27,139 officials in this category. The overall proportion of women in local government also rose to 52.0%.
President Erdoğan stated that all anti-democratic interventions since 1960 have harmed Turkey and impoverished its people. He condemned local government scandals and vowed to fight those who treat public trust as spoils, predicting economic acceleration once this struggle against "guardianship centers" is won.
China's electric vehicle sales rebounded in May, driven by new models with advanced features and strong performance from brands like Zeekr and Leapmotor. Despite recovery, overcapacity remains a concern.
A local councillor argues that UK local governments, like Kensington and Chelsea, are not doing enough to support residents with the cost of living, particularly regarding renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives.
The ICAC is investigating Angela Jones-Blayney, Gail Connolly, and Roxanne Thornton for allegedly subverting hiring processes at City of Parramatta Council to benefit friends and associates, with evidence showing plans to replace existing staff with their preferred candidates.
