Plans to drop to 4,500 U.S. troops in Afghanistan have been announced, but officials said a decision to go to 3,000 or fewer by early 2021 has been made. ( read original story ...)
America’s final exit from Afghanistan
A hallmark of the Trump administration has been the removal of U.S. military forces from foreign wars where the nation has no serious strategic interest, and has made remaining forces from Afghanistan ... ( read original story ...)
Afghanistan’s Carpet Loomers Are Feeding Their Kids Hashish
Poverty drives both the carpet and drug business. Husbands tend to be farmers, working long hours in the fields. The only income opportunity for women, who are not able to work anywhere but their ... ( read original story ...)
US military chief disputes Trump’s Afghanistan troop withdrawal pledge
General Mark Milley insisted that any drawdown of US troops would be “condition-based” as major fighting erupted in Helmand province. ( read original story ...)
South Korea’s Big Hit market debut tempered by reliance on K-pop group BTS
Big Hit, which relies heavily on the boy band for revenue, opened at 270,000 won and was trading at 4% above the offer price by late morning as investors sought a piece of the country's largest ... ( read original story ...)
K-Pop band BTS scores huge hit on South Korea stock market in management firm’s IPO
Investors scramble to buy shares in Big Hit Entertainment amid speculation that the boy band members could be allowed to defer military service ... ( read original story ...)
K-pop superstars BTS become multimillionaires after Big Hit shares surge in South Korea
Big Hit Entertainment, the agency behind K-pop superstars BTS, took South Korea's stock exchange by storm on Thursday, reflecting investors' confidence in the staying power of the seven-member group ... ( read original story ...)
BTS Perform ‘Dynamite’ — Straight from South Korea! — at 2020 Billboard Music Awards
BTS — who won the BBMA for top social artist earlier tonight for the fourth year in a row — is also nominated for top duo/group ... ( read original story ...)
What’s the latest with Thailand’s protests and what comes next?
A student-led pro-democracy movement has gathered pace across Thailand for the past three months, with activists making unprecedented calls for reforms of the kingdom's unassailable monarchy. ( read original story ...)
Only 5% FDI projects in Vietnam use high technologies
Vietnam is home to 32,539 valid foreign direct investment (FDI) projects with registered capital of a combined US$381 billion, of which US$233 billion has been fully disbursed. A report from the ... ( read original story ...)