South Korea photograph

South Korea

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Presidents Moon Jae-in
Capital Seoul
Dialing code+82
Population51. 47
Currency South Korean won
Date of Reg.
Date of Upd.
ID405752
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About South Korea


South Korea, an East Asian nation on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula, shares one of the world's most heavily militarized borders with North Korea. It's equally known for its green, hilly countryside dotted with cherry trees and centuries-old Buddhist temples, plus its coastal fishing villages, sub-tropical islands and high-tech cities such as Seoul, the capital.

Why is North Korea saying it's watching the White House?

Why is North Korea saying it's watching the White House?
Nov 29,2023 8:51 pm

... Closer to home, Pyongyang also listed South Korean military targets and its port city of Busan...

Robert De Niro tells Gotham Awards his speech was edited without his knowledge

Robert De Niro tells Gotham Awards his speech was edited without his knowledge
Nov 28,2023 6:21 am

... The top prize for best feature went to drama Past Lives, about childhood sweethearts in South Korea who are separated when one emigrates to the US...

North Korea: Kim Jong Un celebrates 'space power' after spy satellite launch

North Korea: Kim Jong Un celebrates 'space power' after spy satellite launch
Nov 24,2023 7:41 am

... It claimed it was a success but South Korea said it was too soon to tell if the satellite is functioning, after two previous launches failed...

Korean true crime fan murdered stranger 'out of curiosity'

Korean true crime fan murdered stranger 'out of curiosity'
Nov 24,2023 5:31 am

...By Frances MaoBBC NewsA South Korean court has given a life sentence to a true crime fan who told police she murdered a stranger " out of curiosity"...

Japan ordered to compensate wartime 'comfort women'

Japan ordered to compensate wartime 'comfort women'
Nov 23,2023 11:41 pm

...A South Korean court has ordered Japan to compensate a group of women who were forced to work in military brothels during World War Two...

Changing of the guard switches to K-pop

Changing of the guard switches to K-pop
Nov 22,2023 7:01 am

... Honouring the South Korean state visit, the band surprised tourists with a rendition of Gangnam Style by the group Psy and Ddu-du, Ddu-du by Blackpink...

BTS's RM, Jimin, V and Jung Kook begin military enlistment process

BTS's RM, Jimin, V and Jung Kook begin military enlistment process
Nov 22,2023 5:51 am

... In South Korea nearly all able-bodied men are obliged to enlist, like the three older band members currently serving...

King Charles deploys K-pop at South Korea state banquet

King Charles deploys K-pop at South Korea state banquet
Nov 21,2023 4:21 pm

... K-pop stars Blackpink and BTS were name-checked by the King as he welcomed South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on the first day of his state visit...

Climate change: Why Australia refuses to give up coal

Nov 20,2023 3:51 am

In a World Racing to reduce pollution, Australia is a stark outlier.

It is one of the dirtiest countries per head of population and a massive global supplier of fossil fuels. Unusually for a rich nation, it also still burns Coal for most of its electricity.

Australia's 2030 emissions Target - a 26% cut on 2005 levels - is half the US and UK benchmarks.

Canberra has also resisted joining the two-thirds of countries who have pledged net zero emissions by 2050.

And instead of phasing out Coal - the worst fossil Fuel - it's committed to digging for more.

So it's no surprise That Australia is being viewed as a " bad guy" going into the COP26 global climate talks in Glasgow, analysts say.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison 's government is under huge pressure to do more.

Loyalty to the industry

Mining has helped drive Australia's economy for decades, and Coal remains the country's second-biggest export.

Only Indonesia sells more Coal than Australia globally.

The government often credits Coal for much of the country's wealth, but many analysts argue this is overblown.

Coal exports totalled A$55bn (£29bn; $40bn) Last Year , but most of this wealth was kept by mining companies. Less than a tenth went to Australia directly - That 's about 1% of national revenue.

The Coal workforce of 40,000 is about half the size of McDonald's in Australia. But Coal jobs do sustain some rural communities.

The in Canberra.

Though, some Coal towns lie in swing constituencies That are key to winning elections.

The mining lobby has " distorted" much policy over The Years , says Prof Samantha Hepburn , a climate law expert at Deakin University .

The current government dismantled Australia's emissions trading scheme in 2014, shortly after winning power in a campaign heavily backed by mining interests.

It's Never Again tried to put a price on carbon, or to restrict emissions from fossil Fuel producers.

Instead it's provided extra support to Coal . This includes:

Approving new mines and extensions: There are over 80 proposed projects including plant upgradesTax subsidies: About A$10bn went to fossil Fuel companies Last Year alone'Clean Coal ' investments: Schemes such as carbon capture and storage, often criticised as ineffectiveChasing a shrinking market

Australia argues Coal will continue to generate national wealth for decades to come.

It talks up demand in Asia, particularly from industrialising economies.

China and India alone account for 64% of global Coal consumption. Demand in Indonesia and Vietnam has also surged.

But analysts say there's no long-term market as countries race to meet emissions goals.

Australia's biggest Coal buyers - Japan , South Korea and China - have all pledged net zero targets by mid-century.

Coal use has already plunged in North America and Europe. The G7 rich nations and China , as well as many banks, have committed to stop financing overseas Coal projects.

" Australia knows The Party is over. But The Police haven't been called yet. So they'll continue to Party On until they're stopped, " says Richie Merzian, a climate expert at the Australia Institute.

Missing The Green opportunity?

Australia could end its literally toxic relationship with Coal fairly quickly, experts say.

Its economy is stable and well-diversified to absorb The Loss of Coal exports.

But Australia controversially sees liquified natural Gas - Another dirty Fuel - as its next big domestic energy source.

The government has already pledged half a billion dollars to new Gas basins and plants, defying global calls for an end to new fossil Fuel projects.

This has frustrated those who say Australia should be investing to become a renewables superpower.

As One of the sunniest and windiest continents on Earth, Australia is " uniquely placed to benefit economically" from its abundant natural resources, says the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), an intergovernmental organisation.

Its industries are also well positioned to pivot to new export markets like green steel and aluminium.

Media caption, Australia's lack of Climate Action is harming its own people, activists argue

Advocates say Coal workers could instead mine for the rare minerals needed for batteries and magnets That Will Power Renewable Energy grids.

Canberra has put some money into renewables, but the majority has come from state governments and businesses.

Its allegiance to fossil fuels has scuppered progress, critics say.

The government has cut its renewables spending in recent years, and there is no current national Clean Energy Target .

It has also withdrawn from the UN's Green Climate Fund, and tried to change one local fund's mandate so taxpayer money could go to Coal projects instead.

" The rest of The World is accelerating past Coal , " says the Climate Council , a group of scientists.

" Australia can either choose to reap the opportunities of this transition, or be left poorer and less secure. "

The COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow in November is seen as crucial if Climate Change is to be brought under control. Almost 200 countries are being asked for their plans to cut emissions, and it could lead to major changes to our everyday Lives .



Source of news: bbc.com

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