The de-facto leader of South Korea's sprawling Samsung group Lee Jae-yong was convicted Tuesday of illegally using the anaesthetic drug propofol, the latest legal travail to beset the multi-billionaire.

North Korea fired a missile towards the sea off its east coast on Tuesday, South Korea's military said, as Pyongyang called on the United States and South Korea to scrap their "double standards" on weapons programmes to restart talks.

North Korea is willing to consider another summit with South Korea if mutual respect between the neighbours can be assured, state news agency KCNA said on Saturday, citing Kim Yo Jong, the sister of the North's leader Kim Jong Un.

For the first time in South Korea, a nursing assistant who was paralysed after receiving a Covid-19 vaccine was recognised as a victim of an industrial accident, making her eligible for government benefits and compensation

Eight people have been confirmed dead and nine more remain missing after a budget hotel collapsed in the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou, the local government said Tuesday.

The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), a leading onshore financial and business centre in the region, saw as many as 136 firms start their operations, representing a steady 32% year-on-year growth during the first half (H1) of 2021 despite the ongoing Covid-19 disruption.

Qatar Petroleum (QP) has entered into a new, 20-year Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) with Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS) for the supply of 2 million tons per annum (mtpa) of LNG to the Republic of Korea.

The family of late Samsung Electronics Co Ltd Chairman Lee Kun-hee said on Wednesday they will pay over 12 trillion won ($10.8 billion) in inheritance tax for his estate and donate his vast private art collection to state curators.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in ordered officials on Wednesday to explore petitioning an international court over Japan's decision to release water from its Fukushima nuclear plant, his spokesman said, amid protests by fisheries and environmental groups.

The United States, South Korea and Japan began a day of talks on Friday to discuss President Joe Biden's long-awaited review of North Korea policy and other pressing concerns, including a shortage of semi-conductor chips.

North Korea has attempted to steal Covid-19 vaccine technology by hacking Pfizer Inc according to South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS), Yonhap news agency reported on Tuesday.

The de facto chief of South Korea's Samsung business empire was convicted Monday over a huge corruption scandal and jailed for two and a half years, in a ruling that deprives the tech giant of its top decision-maker.