Monday, September 1, 2025

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced revisions to investor residence visa rules allowing holders to purchase or construct a single home with a minimum value of NZ$5 million (US$3.55 million), effective immediately.

SEOUL, South Korea - South Korea’s Ministry of Trade reported that semiconductor exports reached a record ₩21 trillion (US$15 billion) in August, marking a near one-third year-on-year increase and driving total monthly exports to ₩81 trillion (US$58.4 billion).

JALALABAD, Afghanistan - The death toll from the 6.0-magnitude earthquake that struck Nangarhar province on Sunday rose to 800, with 2,500 more injured, as search and rescue operations continued.

CHILAS, Pakistan - Five people were killed when a government-operated Gilgit-Baltistan helicopter crashed in Thor Valley, Diamer District. Authorities said poor visibility contributed to the accident.

TANAH BUMBU REGENCY, Indonesia - An EastIndo passenger flight aboard an MBB/Kawasaki BK 117 helicopter went missing with eight people on board. Search efforts are underway but have yet to locate the aircraft.

SEOUL, South Korea - In a landmark move to reduce inter-Korean tensions, Seoul’s defense ministry announced it had suspended the “Voice of Freedom” psychological operations radio broadcasts aimed at North Korea for the first time in 15 years.

YAREN, Nauru / CANBERRA, Australia - Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed a memorandum of understanding with Nauru under which Australia will pay the Pacific nation to resettle foreign-born criminals expelled from Australia, in a bid to ease Canberra’s immigration pressures.

LABOR DAY HOLIDAY - Across Canada and the United States, Monday marks Labor Day, a federal holiday celebrating workers’ contributions, with most federal offices and financial markets closed for the day. In Slovakia and Eswatini, September 1 is observed as Constitution Day and Revolution Day respectively, while Afghanistan commemorates Railway Day and Nepal celebrates Teej.