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≡ Opposition Parties Blast Moon's China Trip
Rival parties had mixed reactions to President Moon Jae-in's first state visit to China.
The Democratic Party called the trip a success, saying it helped ease strained Seoul-Beijing ties.
The Liberty Korea Party, however, described the visit as humiliating and shameful, and said President Moon put on a show.
The People's Party said the president shouldn't try to paper over problems here at home through diplomacy.
President Moon returned home on Saturday after a four-stay stay in China, which was largely aimed at mending ties frayed by Seoul's THAAD deployment and seeking cooperation on North Korea.■[2017.12.18]
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≡ Trump Set To Announce New Natl Security Strategy
U.S. President Donald Trump is set to lay out a new national security strategy on Monday.
It will be based on his "America First" policy and will likely make clear that China is an American competitor.
Trump has praised Chinese President Xi Jinping while also demanding that Beijing increase pressure on North Korea over its nuclear program.
Trump has also urged China to change its trade practices to make them more favorable to the U.S.
The strategy may also reverse former President Obama's declaration in September 2016 that climate change is a threat to security.■[2017.12.18]
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≡ Pakistan Church Bombing Kills At Least 8
An attack on a Methodist church in Pakistan has killed at least eight people and wounded dozens more as worshippers gathered for Sunday services.
Local authorities say two suicide bombers were stopped at the entrance to the church in the city of Quetta.
One managed to detonate his device, but had the men gotten further they say there could have been hundreds of casualties.
So-called Islamic State has claimed responsibility.■[2017.12.18]
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≡ Police Request Autopsies On Four Dead Newborns
Autopsies were scheduled to be performed on four newborn babies that suddenly died Saturday at a hospital in southwest Seoul.
Police are looking into the cause of their deaths, and are considering all possibilities, including virus infection, incubator malfunction and outside intrusion.
Results are expected in about a month.
According to police, the newborns were receiving treatment at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital when they went into cardiac arrest and died.
Seoul city and the Korea Centers for Disease Control have launched a probe into the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit.■[2017.12.18]
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≡ Weather Update 0700
Taking a look at the weather, flurries continue to fall in parts of the capital region on this Monday morning.
Conditions will gradually warm up as the day progresses, with temperatures rising into positive territory.
The local mercury will get up to 5 degrees.
As for the current reading in central Seoul, it is ____ degrees Celsius or _____ degrees in Fahrenheit.■
[2017.12.18]
