The Antenna

WASHINGTON— President Donald Trump is taking Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit the National Archives on Friday, showing off the sacred texts of U.S. democracy to the leader of the world’s most powerful communist country to cap off a three-day state visit criticized for being heavy on pomp and light on substance . Xi is expected to depart Washington after touring the nation's vault of records, where the Declaration of Independence , the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are held. The two leaders have made a show of working to preserve harmony between the world's two largest economies, though there were no major breakthroughs on issues such as trade or the safety of artificial intelligence . Trump, a Republican, has been seeking to demonize Democrats as communists during the run-up to the November midterm elections, a message that has been muddied by the red-carpet treatment he has given Xi this week. The visit comes as the U.S. celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding, and Trump said Thursday that he wanted to show Xi “some of the greatest treasures of that proud hist

A variety of books published in the new millennium illustrate the experience of Americans in Korea and the experience of Koreans in America. Central to these experiences is cross-cultural contact, on both the personal and institutional levels. Hannah Kim’s rigorously researched monograph "Ties That Bind" succeeds in both respects. The book takes readers through several decades of cross-cultural contact, starting with the story of Philip Jaisohn, the first Korean American, going through the 1910-45 Japanese occupation of Korea through to the 1942 declaration of war by the U.S. against Japan and Korea's liberation in 1945. It also discusses the postwar era, including the start of Korea's international adoptions, in which over 160,000 children were sent overseas for adoption. The final chapter examines the 1955 murder of In-Ho Oh, a Korean international student beaten to death by a group of Black youths who had just been refused admittance to a dance at a local Episcopal church. The reaction to the murder by the Christian community in Philadelphia, as well as political leaders such as

North Korea has begun construction on two new warships on the east and west coasts, a U.S. news outlet said Friday, citing satellite imagery. According to NK News, Planet Labs imagery shows construction under way at the Nampho Shipyard on the west coast as well as at the Chongjin Shipyard on the east coast. At Nampho, large hull sections have been staged and assembled since early July, with the ship likely to be the North's first 10,000-ton cruiser, though it is too early to determine, the outlet said. It noted that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un stated plans in June to build such cruisers. The warship under construction at the Chongjin Shipyard, meanwhile, did not appear until mid-August, with satellite imagery showing red ship hull materials being assembled. Though it is also too early to determine, the ship could be the North's long-planned second destroyer, the fourth of the 5,000-ton class, or a 10,000-ton cruiser, the outlet said. Upgrades have also been taking place at both shipyards after the North Korean leader declared at a Central Military Commission meeting in July that the mi

BURJ QALAWAY, Lebanon — In southern Lebanon, eight-year-old Yara Ajami started the academic year this week in a doorless, windowless classroom after her school was destroyed by an Israeli strike. Well known in the area for its excellence, Ajami's elementary school in Burj Qalaway was struck by Israel in May, two months after Hezbollah dragged Lebanon into the Middle East war by attacking its southern neighbour. "We are happy to be back (to school), but we were happier before. We used to draw, play, but now there are no desks or chairs," the young girl with braided hair said as she climbed a bare concrete staircase. Rather than go to their old school building, Ajami and the other students returning to classes after the summer break on Monday were diverted to a nearby structure still under construction that was being built to house preschoolers. The sun shone through unglazed windows into unfinished classrooms as children followed their lessons, while outside clumps of twisted rebar jutted from the ground like dead bushes where walls used to stand. The students come from areas heavily hit

PARIS — Pope Leo arrived in France on Friday for a whirlwind four-day visit, saying he wished to be a pilgrim of peace for a world at war, on a trip during which he is also hoping to repair the Catholic Church's standing after abuse scandals. Leo was greeted at the Paris Orly airport, under a clear blue sky, by President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte, and by children who sang for him and asked for autographs. He will also travel to the famed Catholic shrine at Lourdes, in the southwest, and to Metz, on the German border. During the Sept. 25-28 trip, he is set to renew calls for global rules on artificial intelligence (AI) development, while laying out a vision for Europe's future. Telling reporters on the plane to Paris that he was coming to convey a message of peace, Leo added: "It is a message which at this time, as we all may know, is particularly important." Leading Leo's agenda on Friday are speeches to Macron and other French leaders at the Elysee Palace and to staff at the headquarters of the U.N. culture and education body, UNESCO, which is facing budget shortfalls afte

Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Gen. Jin Yong-sung on Friday visited a front-line Army unit where a suspected land mine explosion occurred earlier this week and inspected readiness ahead of an on-site probe, officials said. Jin visited the 25th Infantry Division, along with other field commanders, and inspected the progress for an impending on-site inspection to look into the cause of the suspected land mine blast, according to the JCS. The explosion occurred south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) in the western sector of the DMZ on Monday, leaving two officers seriously injured, including one who lost an ankle. The JCS chief underscored the need to conduct a "thorough" investigation by preparing command-and-control and safety procedures while ensuring troop safety. "The on-site inspection task force, led by the vice JCS chief, is carrying out its duties during the Chuseok holiday," the JCS said, adding that "an on-site investigation team will begin its mission once safety measures are in place." The South Korean military earlier said it had detected changes in terrain in some

China is emerging as a critical earnings lifeline for Korea’s struggling low-cost carriers (LCCs), offering them access to fast-growing passenger demand and lucrative business traffic as growth in other short-haul markets loses steam. Some 2.13 million passengers traveled between Korea and China in August, surpassing the previous monthly record of about 2.07 million set in August 2016, before the fallout from the deployment of a U.S. missile defense system in Korea severely disrupted bilateral tourism. The August figure was up 27.5 percent from a year earlier and 9.7 percent from July, according to data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The rebound comes as Korean airlines are gaining access to some of the most commercially attractive China routes. In the latest allocation of traffic rights, the government gave major LCCs additional slots on routes linking Seoul with Beijing and Shanghai, as well as Guangzhou, Dalian and other Chinese cities. Jeju Air and Eastar Jet each secured seven weekly flights on the Incheon-Beijing route, while Parata Air and Air Premia re

Gyeongbok Palace drew a record 2.78 million foreign visitors last year, making it the most visited tourist attraction among international visitors to Korea, as attendance at four of Seoul’s major royal palaces continued to rise. According to the data from the Culture Ministry and the Korea Heritage Service, a total of 6.89 million people visited Gyeongbok Palace in 2025, up 6.88 percent from 6.44 million a year earlier. Foreign visitors accounted for 2.78 million of the total, which is a 37.34 percent increase from 2.03 million in 2024. Domestic visitors also rose 7.11 percent to 4.10 million. The other three major palaces — Deoksu, Changdeok and Changgyeong — also drew millions of visitors last year. Visitor numbers are not tracked at Gyeonghui Palace. Deoksu Palace attracted 3.56 million visitors, up 5 percent from the previous year, including about 378,000 foreign visitors, up 1 percent. Changdeok Palace recorded 2.22 million visitors, including about 666,000 foreign nationals, while Changgyeong Palace drew 1.60 million visitors, of whom about 270,000 were foreign. Combined attend

Ruling and opposition parties clashed over the government’s decision to keep the repatriation of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) from Ukraine confidential. After Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed the arrangement, the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) questioned whether Seoul had been too concerned about provoking Pyongyang. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) defended the decision, saying it was necessary to protect the two men and safeguard national security. President Lee Jae Myung expressed regret over Kyiv’s disclosure, saying Zelenskyy had broken a bilateral agreement to keep the transfer confidential. Lee also criticized opposition politicians for questioning the government's decision, saying those who jeopardize lives and national security for the sake of taking credit are "murderers and traitors." DPK spokesperson Shin Hyun-young defended the government's approach, saying its priority was to protect the two former North Korean soldiers. "(President Zelenskyy's disclosure) was an act that betrayed trust between the two countries and was d

ATHENS, Greece — A powerful blast shook the Greek capital’s tourist district of Plaka, near the ancient Acropolis, on Friday morning, causing a building to collapse and injuring at least two people who had to be rescued from an adjacent building, authorities said. The fire department said the explosion occurred in an old two-story building in the Plaka district, the historic part of Athens that lies at the foot of the Acropolis hill, Greece’s most visited ancient monument. The building collapsed, while neighboring buildings were also damaged. Firefighters rescued two women from an adjacent building, with police saying both were being transported to a hospital. Local media said a passerby was also slightly injured by the blast. Police cordoned off the area, while the fire department said rescue crews were checking whether any more people might be trapped. Video footage from the scene showed rubble strewn across the street, with parked cars smashed by falling debris. The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear, but local media said a gas leak was suspected.

Korean regulators’ hardline stance toward Coupang is complicating Seoul’s talks with Washington over the next stages of its planned $350 billion investment in the United States. The latest development came Wednesday when the Seoul High Court rejected Coupang’s request to suspend the effect of a Fair Trade Commission (FTC) decision ordering an on-site inspection of the U.S.-headquartered e-commerce firm’s alleged violations of a local fair transaction act. Coupang had refused to cooperate with the probe, arguing that the FTC failed to provide advance notice. The court ruling allows the FTC to proceed with the investigation. FTC Chairman Ju Biung-ghi has vowed to review the agency’s internal rules to close what he described as loopholes that allow companies to delay or evade investigations through court injunctions. He has also rejected U.S. criticism that the regulator is discriminating against American companies, saying the FTC will continue to enforce Korean law without regard to nationality. The confrontation is particularly sensitive, as Korea and the U.S. work to flesh out t

MEXICO CITY — A presidential official has pledged a prompt and thorough investigation into who was responsible for the recent explosions in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that injured three South Korean soldiers. "An objective, prompt and thorough investigation is underway," the presidential official told reporters in Mexico City on Thursday while accompanying President Lee Jae Myung on his ongoing state visit to Mexico. The official's remark came in response to suspected mine explosions in the DMZ on Monday that injured three South Korean soldiers, prompting forensic analysis of collected mine fragments to determine whether they were of South or North Korean origin. "A thorough fact-finding is needed to determine whether they were mines, and if they were mines, what kinds of mines they were, as well as whether they were buried by North Korea, and if not, what happened," he said. The investigation is being carried out carefully in coordination with the United Nations Command because the site of the explosions is a new reconnaissance route, making it dangerous to tread on, the official sa

The veterans ministry has assigned only three personnel to collect and review materials related to Korea's independence movement against Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule, data showed Friday, raising concerns over a shortage of personnel to sift through the vast amount of historical records. Only three of the 37 personnel in the ministry's Patriots and Veterans Archives Management Division are tasked with collecting and managing records on the country's independence movement, the ministry told Yonhap News Agency. "We typically collect some 300,000 records over the course of a year," a ministry official said, suggesting a possible disparity between the workload and the number of personnel assigned for the task. Put simply, this means each researcher is responsible for handling some 100,000 historical records a year. The revelation comes after the ministry earlier announced plans to honor more than 600 independence activists who have not previously been recognized by the state this year, up from 502 in 2025. Separate data submitted to Rep. Kim Joon-hyung of the minor Rebuilding Korea Party show

The government is weighing an increase in admission fees at major palaces and royal tombs next year, officials said Friday, as officials and experts argue current prices are low by global standards and point to shifting visitor patterns. If increased, it would mark the first change in two decades, according to the officials. Under current rates, adult admission to both Gyeongbok Palace and Changdeok Palace is 3,000 won ($2.20), while the UNESCO-listed Jongmyo Shrine, Changgyeong Palace and Deoksu Palace charge 1,000 won. Joseon-era royal tombs (1392-1910) range from 500 won to 2,000 won for adults. Kim Jae-kyu, head of the private National Heritage Planning and Evaluation Institute, said at a recent public forum hosted by the Korea Heritage Service that South Korea's palace and tomb fees are very low even by international standards. Using the Big Mac index as a benchmark, Kim noted that France's Versailles equates to about nine Big Macs and Japan's Nijo Castle to roughly 1.2, while fees at Gyeongbok and Changdeok palaces amount to about half a Big Mac. Kim also pointed to changing visitor

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. At the Chuseok table, people may carefully limit their portions of braised short ribs and jeon (pan-fried battered dishes) but feel free to help themselves to japchae, a popular glass noodle dish that looks like a vegetable side dish. However, the main ingredient in japchae is not vegetables but starch. The dish also contains oil and sugar, which can significantly increase its calorie count depending on how much you eat. Glass noodles are made primarily from sweet potato starch and are a high-carbohydrate food, containing about 350 kilocalories per 100 grams before cooking. When boiled, they absorb water and increase in weight, lowering their calorie content per 100 grams, but their carbohydrate content remains unchanged. A generous serving of glass noodles can add a substantial amount of carbohydrates to a meal, much like eating an additional serving of rice. Because japchae contains vegetables and has no broth, it may not look particularly filling, making it easy to go back for more. When eaten alongside rice, songpyeon (half-moon-shaped ri

More than 100,000 people flocked to a waterfront park at Busan’s North Port on Wednesday, the first day of the Chuseok holiday, hoping to catch a glimpse of a shark nicknamed “Bukangi” that has been spotted in a canal there. The turnout was about 50 times the park’s usual holiday visitor count. According to the Busan Facilities Corporation on Thursday, approximately 93,000 people had visited the waterfront park in Dong District by 6 p.m. Wednesday. Including visitors who arrived later, the total was estimated at around 102,000. The park typically receives about 2,000 visitors on a holiday. The shark, which was spotted at North Port and given the nickname Bukangi, has become a local attraction, drawing crowds even during the holiday period. The waterfront park is about 500 meters from Busan Station and is within walking distance. As crowds gathered around the park Wednesday afternoon, Busan Metropolitan City sent a safety alert urging people to avoid driving and to use public transportation, warning of severe congestion in the area. To prevent safety accidents, the city has restri

A fire suspected to have been caused by a power bank broke out aboard an Air Seoul flight bound for Da Nang before takeoff at Incheon International Airport, industry sources said Friday. The fire started at around 9 p.m. Thursday in a passenger's bag stored under a seat aboard flight RS511, operated by low-cost carrier Air Seoul Inc., as the aircraft prepared for takeoff, according to the sources. Cabin crew extinguished the fire, and firefighters arrived at the scene to check on passengers. No casualties were reported. The aircraft was carrying 221 passengers and seven crew members. Air Seoul later deployed a replacement aircraft, which departed two hours and 50 minutes behind schedule.

RIYADH/CAIRO — Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan will hold an urgent, high-level meeting under a joint defence pact to discuss ways to support the kingdom amid attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis, while Tehran sought to distance itself from the rapid advance of its Houthi allies. The Houthis have launched strikes on the Saudi-backed government in Yemen and repeatedly fired into Saudi Arabia, disrupting oil flows from the world's largest energy exporter, as part of a wider Middle East war that began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in February. The Houthis said they had fired dozens of missiles and drones at Saudi targets on Thursday, while authorities in Saudi Arabia said they had intercepted six ballistic missiles fired by Houthi fighters. Saudi Arabia earlier had issued emergency alerts for areas including the holy city of Mecca, Jeddah and Yanbu, the main Saudi Red Sea oil port. Saudi Arabia's top religious authority called on soldiers in the kingdom to be ready to lay down their lives to fight the Houthis until the group is ousted from power, a statement posted on the Saud

Marie Perruchet was born in Seoul, but Korea was not the place that taught her how to be Korean. Sent overseas for adoption at 18 months and raised in Normandy, France, Perruchet grew up without the language, traditions or beauty rituals of her birth country. She later lived in 10 countries, worked as a correspondent for the BBC and spent years in Silicon Valley before eventually returning to Korea as an entrepreneur. When she arrived, she was not coming back to a childhood home. She was discovering one. That experience became part of the story behind Clapoti, the wellness brand she founded in 2022. She describes it as "loved in Paris and perfected by Korean heritage," incorporating Korean manufacturing innovation, French sensory and scent tradition and an American instinct for functional, no-nonsense packaging. Perruchet's relationship with beauty had already been shaped by moving between cultures. Growing up in France, she said she rarely saw herself represented in beauty magazines. Some products weren't designed for her skin tone, and she remembered a stylist admitting she didn't know

UNITED NATIONS — The catastrophic Nepal flooding last month was "not just a local tragedy, it was a warning to the world," the country's Prime Minister Balendra Shah told the United Nations on Thursday. Shah said a warming climate was "destabilizing the fragile Himalayan ecology," melting permafrost and glaciers and accelerating hazards. He urged the international community to help bear the cost of adapting to climate change, because "Nepal cannot build resilience alone against a crisis made worse by the failure of global governance."

Walking down into the basement venue in Sangsu felt like meeting an old friend. I'd been a fan of Seoul's indie hip-hop scene right up until the pandemic hit in 2020, and I never quite got the magic back after that. Venues I used to go to closed for good. Lockdowns worldwide coincided with a boom in Korean culture abroad, but the wave that broke through leaned almost entirely toward K-dramas and K-pop. Since then, there hasn’t been much in the local hip-hop scene that got me excited. Then "HEADLOCK" turned up in my feed one day in the middle of July. I didn't know who Luci Gang was, but the song and the video caught me immediately, a two-minute house-inflected gut-punch that felt unapologetically quirky and infectious. It's the standout single off her third album, "Rolling Stone," from an independent rapper, born Lee Eun-seon, who has spent six years building a catalog almost entirely outside the traditional label system. The song has been traveling. It even landed on rap veteran Lupe Fiasco's Instagram story, which drew even more support and made clear it's resonating with internatio

MEXICO CITY — President Lee Jae Myung reaffirmed Thursday that he will not seek reelection through constitutional reform. The president made the remarks during a meeting with South Korean residents in Mexico while on a state visit. "Those who are worried, don't be," the president said. "There will never be a case of my (term) going beyond June 2, 2030." Lee has repeatedly said he has no intention of seeking reelection through constitutional revision amid opposition accusations that he may seek a second term through the push for a constitutional revision by his administration and his ruling Democratic Party. The Constitution currently stipulates any changes to the presidential system shall not apply to the president in office at the time of a revision. Lee took office in June last year for a five-year term. The president also warned against radicalism in pursuing reforms, saying: "(One) needs to restrain himself properly. If one goes too far or too hastily, he would face backlash. "While minimizing resistance and backlash, (reforms) should be pursued in a way that is effective, practical a

Hyundai Motor Group is poised to overtake Ford Motor in quarterly vehicle sales in the United States for the first time, underscoring the growing presence of the Korean automaker in the world’s largest car market. Cox Automotive estimates that the group’s three brands — Hyundai Motor, Kia and Genesis — will sell 511,421 vehicles in the U.S. between July and September, up 6.5 percent from a year earlier. By contrast, Ford is projected to sell 504,172 vehicles, down 7.1 percent, according to the market researcher’s latest forecast. If the estimates hold, Hyundai Motor Group would rank third in quarterly U.S. sales behind General Motors, with 671,706 vehicles, and Toyota Motor, with 642,707. The result would mark the first time the Korean group has surpassed Ford on a quarterly basis. The shift comes as U.S. consumers increasingly favor fuel-efficient vehicles amid elevated gasoline prices. Utilizing the market condition, Hyundai Motor Group has been going all-out to expand hybrid sales in the U.S. However, Ford sells much fewer hybrid or fuel-efficient vehicles there. Cox Automotiv

North Korea on Friday condemned a recent remark made by the top commander of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) that South Korea plays a decisive center for collective defense, noting Seoul will instead become a target of punishment. The statement came from Kang Chol-su, section chief of North Korea's Institute of Enemy State Studies, in a commentary carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). In the statement, Kang said the U.S. is "openly revealing its gangster-like nature" to use South Korea as Washington's "key base for implementing its hegemonic strategy and as its mercenaries in the regional conflict." "(U.S. Forces Korea Commander Xavier Brunson) talked about the redesigning of the security of the Korean peninsula, stressing the need for the ROK and the U.S. to jointly cope with the threat from outside the Korean peninsula," Kang said. The ROK stands for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea. "This is a clearer manifestation of the attempt to completely discard the deceptive veil of 'defense of the ROK,' which has so far been used as the justification for the existenc

MEXICO CITY— President Lee Jae Myung pledged to work harder to "illuminate" every citizen's life regardless of differences in opinion in a video message released Thursday to mark the Chuseok holiday. Appearing alongside first lady Kim Hea Kyung in the video, Lee said, "As president, I am truly grateful and deeply honored to share this moment with all of you, our great people of the Republic of Korea, who have built today's Korea and are shaping the Korea of tomorrow. "I will work even harder to ensure that every citizen's life is illuminated brightly, regardless of their qualifications or conditions and whatever their opinions or thoughts," he said. "Though our places of residence, occupations and chosen paths may differ, we are united by our love for the country," he added. The president wished citizens "a wonderful Chuseok holiday," expressing his hope that they can reach out to those they miss and share precious moments of happiness with those they love. He delivered the message while spending the holiday in Mexico on a state visit aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation. He is sched

Expressway traffic headed to people's hometowns eased somewhat Friday evening, the second day of the Chuseok holiday, though traffic back to the cities remained heavy, the expressway operator said. As of 7 p.m., travel times from Seoul were estimated at 4.5 hours to the southeastern city of Busan, four hours and 10 minutes to Ulsan, three hours and 40 minutes to Mokpo, 3.5 hours to Daegu, and three hours and 20 minutes to Gwangju, according to the Korea Expressway Corp. This year's holiday for Chuseok, the Korean equivalent of Thanksgiving, runs from Thursday to Sunday. The holiday is marked by visits to hometowns, family reunions, ancestral rites and traditional holiday foods. Trips to Seoul were expected to take five hours and 50 minutes from Busan, 5.5 hours from both Mokpo and Ulsan, and five hours and 10 minutes from Gwangju. The state-run company said traffic congestion on roads leaving the Seoul area was expected to clear between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., and in the opposite direction, between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. the following day. An estimated 6.84 million vehicles were expected to travel

Starbucks plans to close 250 North American stores later this week. It is the second big round of store closures under Starbucks Chairman and CEO Brian Niccol , who joined the company in 2024. Last September, Starbucks closed 627 stores in North America and Europe. In a letter to employees, Starbucks Chief Operating Officer Mike Grams said the locations targeted either aren't delivering acceptable financial results or can't provide the kind of experience that Starbucks wants for customers and employees. The company didn't say Thursday which coffeehouses will close or how many are located in the U.S. Starbucks Workers United, which represents workers at the 700 company-owned U.S. Starbucks stores that have voted to unionize , said 20 unionized stores are among the 250 that are closing, or 8% of the total. Starbucks stores have been voting to unionize since late 2021, but the union and the company have yet to reach a labor agreement. Grams said Starbucks is continuing to retrofit its North American coffeehouses to make them cozier and more inviting. The company expects 1,500 stores will be

MEXICO CITY — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday described Mexico as an "indispensable strategic partner" and stressed the need to deepen bilateral economic cooperation amid global economic uncertainties. Lee made the remarks at a meeting that he jointly hosted with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, according to senior South Korean presidential secretary for public affairs Seong Ghi-hong. The meeting was attended by dozens of business leaders from both countries. Lee said the two countries are indispensable strategic partners to each other, and need to elevate their economic cooperation at a time when global economic uncertainties are growing, with global supply chains undergoing rapid changes, according to Seong. The South Korean president also pledged to support the successful implementation of Sheinbaum's vision, called "Plan Mexico," which she unveiled last year to strengthen industrial competitiveness and expand infrastructure. The meeting discussed ways to strengthen investment and trade between South Korean and Mexican companies, the presidential secretary said.

WASHINGTON — Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday the United States and China reached a new trade arrangement, according to a report, as he and U.S. President Donald Trump held a summit in Washington to discuss artificial intelligence (AI), trade, security and other key issues. Xinhua News Agency reported that Xi made the remarks during the White House summit, calling the arrangement "good news for industries and people of both countries, as well as the global economy," while noting that a stable economic relationship requires "expanding the list of cooperation and shortening the list of problems." It did not elaborate on the arrangement, but U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has told Fox News that Washington and Beijing agreed to extend their trade truce by two months until Jan. 10. During the summit, Trump and Xi also exchanged views on the Korean Peninsula, the situation in the Middle East, and the war between Russia and Ukraine, according to the news outlet. Ahead of the summit, Trump and Xi were expected to touch on North Korea-related issues, as Trump hopes to have a me

While terrestrial TV channels are packed with broadcasts of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games this Chuseok holiday, over-the-top (OTT) streaming services are offering a wealth of new content aimed at holiday viewers. With a long holiday providing plenty of time to relax and watch extended series, here are some OTT picks to carry viewers through the break, from visually striking period dramas to an unconventional inn-themed variety show and a crime investigation program. Hyun Bin's 1979 political whirlwind A showdown between actor couple Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin, both returning with big-budget dramas, has drawn attention. The first to arrive was Disney+'s "Made in Korea" Season 2, starring Hyun. Two episodes have been released each week since Sept. 9, with all six episodes becoming available just before the holiday, making it possible for viewers to binge-watch the entire season. Set in 1979, nine years after the events of the first season, Baek Ki-tae (Hyun) has risen to become a powerful figure in the Korean Central Intelligence Agency by building a drug empire. He clashes with prosecutor

JEONNAM-GWANGJU SPECIAL METROPOLITAN CITY — Pink velvet curtains frame an empty stage. A soft, fluffy carpet lies beneath shifting spotlights. There are no performers in Ru Kim’s “Tails of Courage, or the Master’s Pirouette” (2026), but four-channel sound gives the space its cast: Courage, a pink dog who has escaped an oppressive master, the master, who crawls, barks and searches for the missing animal, and a restless light that seems to move with a will of its own. As a voice fills the room, visitors are invited to picture the chase. The master, aching from crawling on knees, finally reaches for what seems to be Courage’s tail and races toward it— only to realize that the tail is growing from their own body. The strange, tragicomic reversal is Kim’s new installation at “The Look is A Li(k)e,” the Italian Pavilion of the 16th Gwangju Biennale — where Kim was invited to join the Italian Pavilion together with another Korean artist. The artist turns narrative into a testing ground for hierarchy: who is allowed to command, who must obey and what becomes possible when

Korean American actor Sung Kang brings his years of experience from the “Fast & Furious” U.S. film franchise into his directorial debut, “Drifter,” which recently premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Before joining the “Fast & Furious” films in 2006 with " The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift," Kang had no real experience with drifting, a car-community subculture built around controlled sideways driving. This exposure led to a lifelong obsession that would eventually culminate in his directorial debut, “Drifter.” The movie, led by Kang, follows a lonesome racetrack custodian with a secret talent for drifting. “I’ve been so fortunate to be part of this global franchise that has introduced me to this amazing audience that has supported us over decades now. I wanted to go deeper and honor that community with my own story and put my own personal truth to the characters and the world that I built in ‘Drifter,’” said Kang. “It’s really a love letter to the car community that has given me a place to belong, especially in the darkest hours of my l

Almost nothing survives of Lee Jin, the woman a French memoir records as "Li-Tsin." A court dancer in the final years of the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty, she is said to have sailed to Paris in the 1890s with her lover, a French diplomat, then returned to a country that no longer had a place for her. The record rests almost entirely on a single source: "En Coree" a memoir published in 1904 by Hippolyte Frandin, France's second minister to Korea. Scholars have argued for years over how much truth there is in his account. That patchy record is where pansori singer Shin Jin-won started, spinning a tale of a woman barely mentioned in archives. "I suppose it comes down to imagination," Shin during a written interview with The Korea Times. "It started with imagination, and director Lee Wang-soo helped enormously in carrying it through. He expanded that world far beyond what I had imagined myself." Shin, a transmission-certified holder of pansori — a traditional style of Korean narrative performance by a singer accompanied by a drum — performed "Li-Tsin: A Woman Without a Name" on Sept. 12 at t

South Korea’s Daniel Biwesa, left, competes in the men’s 100m Round 1 on Day 5 of the 20th Asian Games at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Nagoya, Japan, Sept. 25. Biwesa advanced to the semifinal. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began the year declaring that he stood “shoulder to shoulder” with U.S. President Donald Trump as the two countries launched a war against Iran. But this week, as world leaders gather in New York for the United Nations General Assembly , there are no plans for the two men to be in the same room, or even in the same city. As the war with Iran has dragged on, Trump and Netanyahu have split over how to prosecute it, straining a relationship between the two allies. Netanyahu has also faced global criticism both for Israel’s war in Gaza and settler violence in the occupied West Bank. Instead of a packed itinerary, Netanyahu, who arrived on Thursday, was scheduled to meet only a handful of leaders before giving his speech. The apparent snub underscored how badly the relationship between Trump and the prime minister has fractured. Many in Washington associate Netanyahu with the increasingly unpopular fight with Iran and Trump has labored to avoid the appearance that the Israeli leader forced him into a war that Trump said would be

Wall Street's main indexes dropped on Thursday, with the blue-chip Dow hitting a more than three-month low, as escalating tensions in the Middle East lifted oil prices and Treasury yields while investors monitored a US-China summit. Crude prices shot up $4 a barrel, with Brent futures hitting $107 after Yemen's Houthis said they attacked Saudi military sites in Jazan, days after US and Iran leaders exchanged barbs at the UN General Assembly. The developments stoked inflation concerns, with the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond reaching its highest since 2004. Bond prices move inversely to yields. Technology stocks led declines on the S&P 500, with Nvidia, Broadcom and Microsoft slipping over 1 percent each. Analysts, however, said faith in the AI trade, which powered the Nasdaq to record highs earlier this week, helped limit losses. "People were maybe less willing to chase stocks, but they didn't seem particularly eager to sell them," said Steve Sosnick, chief market analyst at Interactive Brokers. Oracle dropped 5 percent after a report said it sent a "force majeure" notice to protect i

WASHINGTON — Melania Trump and Peng Liyuan on Thursday toured one of the largest Asian art museums in the United States, celebrating cultural ties between the U.S. and China during a high-profile diplomatic visit to Washington. Leaving their husbands behind at the White House, the first ladies visited the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art in a display of soft power that united two figures known for fusing style and diplomacy. It was the first public meeting in nearly a decade between the spouses, one a former fashion model and the other a famed soprano. Crowds had gathered on the sidewalk across from the museum, many waving Chinese and American flags. The groups also held long banners with Chinese text. Inside the museum, the first ladies visited the Peacock Room, a gilded green, blue and gold dining room that was once housed in a London mansion before opening to the public in Washington in 1923. The room was created by American artist James McNeill Whistler. They also saw the “Princess from the Land of Porcelain,” an oil painting by Whistler hanging in the room and featur

NEW YORK — Reporters from three news outlets banned from White House by President Donald Trump were back on the grounds Thursday afternoon, hours after a federal judge ordered the administration to reinstate their access. CNN, MS NOW and Politico journalists were allowed back in the latest development in an extraordinary showdown between Trump and media outlets whose coverage he dislikes. It comes during a heavy news cycle with Chinese leader Xi Jinping visiting with Trump and world leaders gathered for the United Nations General Assembly. Also Thursday, the news outlets had asked in a court filing for an immediate hearing to address their inability to access the White House grounds earlier in the day. The filing said a Secret Service agent had confiscated the journalists' credentials. Trump first announced he was banning the outlets Friday, assailing what he called “fake news,” and only later arguing that their reporting was a risk to national security. The outlets argued in a joint lawsuit that the ban was a blatant violation of the First Amendment because it singled them out fo

WASHINGTON — U.S. mortgage rates have exceeded 7.0 percent, data showed Thursday, reaching their highest level since Donald Trump returned to the presidency as voters grapple with high costs of living ahead of midterm elections. The popular 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 7.03 percent as of Thursday, a stark uptick from 6.30 percent the same period a year ago. This is the highest average level since January 16 last year, just days before Trump returned to the White House, according to data from mortgage finance giant Freddie Mac. Affordability is a major concern for U.S. voters just weeks before key midterm elections in November. War in the Middle East, which unfolded after U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran in late February, has caused fuel prices to surge as Tehran retaliated by blocking a vital waterway for energy transit. The cost of regular gasoline, which U.S. households rely on, and diesel needed by farmers and truckers have both rocketed — putting pressure on consumers and businesses alike. Higher diesel costs in turn threaten to filter through the world's biggest economy more br

MEXICO CITY — South Korea and Mexico on Thursday adopted a joint action plan to expand bilateral cooperation into crude oil, critical natural resources, defense and artificial intelligence, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said of his summit here with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. The South Korean president announced the signing of the Korea-Mexico Joint Action Plan 2026-2030 in a joint press announcement with his Mexican counterpart. The action plan calls for South Korea and Mexico to expand bilateral cooperation in advanced industries, including AI, digital technology, aerospace and defense, according to Lee. "This will help foster connections between the strategic industries prioritized by my administration and the advancement of new industries envisioned under Mexico's economic development strategy, "Plan Mexico," he said. South Korea and Mexico will also work toward having the agreement take effect promptly by completing necessary procedures, including the formal signing and parliamentary ratification. Also during the summit, the two countries concluded negotiations on a

U.S. and Iran discuss phased deal to reopen Hormuz and end U.S. blockade, U.S. and Iranian negotiators in New York are exploring a phased path out of war that would involve Tehran reopening the Strait of Hormuz and Washington lifting its economic blockade of Iran, sources close to the talks said. The strait has become the central bargaining chip in efforts to end the nearly seven-month U.S.-Iran conflict, with Iran seeking relief from the U.S. blockade that is choking its economy and Washington seeking free passage for ships on the global oil supply route now blocked by Tehran. The talks face a big obstacle as neither side wants to be the first to surrender its leverage, according to comments to Reuters by two Iranian sources, two regional officials and two Western diplomatic sources, but behind Iran's stance is a recognition of the economic cost of prolonged confrontation. A senior Iranian official said the most plausible way to end the impasse would be a phased arrangement, with Iran allowing navigation through Hormuz in return for the U.S. lifting its economic blockade and Tehran pot

MEXICO CITY — President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday expressed regret that Ukraine disclosed the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) to South Korea, calling it a breach of a nondisclosure agreement that he said may lead to many problems. "It was appropriate in every aspect not to disclose, considering many problems it may cause when disclosed, and (we) had agreed to do so," Lee said in a post on his X account, a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York that Ukraine recently sent the two North Korean POWs to South Korea. Shortly after Zelenskyy's speech, the Ukrainian presidential office said the transfer of the two North Korean prisoners to South Korea was carried out through direct dialogue with Seoul. "(Ukraine) disclosed the transfer in breach of a nondisclosure agreement," Lee wrote. "I don't know the reasons (for the disclosure), but I regret it." Lee said the issue is a very sensitive matter that could immensely affect diplomacy and national security, as well as the security environment

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer accused President Donald Trump Thursday of being in thrall to authoritarian leaders — pointing to his red-carpet welcome for China's Xi Jinping. "If you're a foreign authoritarian, Trump won't just invite you to visit America, he'll greet you plane-side," Schumer said on the Senate floor. "That's what Trump did, sort of as a supplicant, for Xi yesterday. That's what Trump did for Putin in Alaska last year. This man has an atavistic attraction to dictators, to bad people."

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House on Thursday for a lavish state summit expected to be heavy on symbolism but light on substance, with both leaders keen to showcase stable ties despite a host of thorny issues such as AI, trade, Taiwan and the war with Iran. The subject of Taiwan, perhaps the most difficult, came up during a bilateral meeting in which Xi urged the U.S. to oppose "Taiwan independence," according to a readout from the official Chinese news agency Xinhua shortly after it concluded. The White House did not immediately provide its own readout of the discussion. Xi had been expected to press Trump this week to halt arms sales to Taiwan. Following his visit to China in May, Trump said he was holding in abeyance an arms package to Taiwan worth some $14 billion and called it a "very good negotiating chip." The move left some U.S. allies in Asia and even some of Trump's fellow Republicans concerned that he may be tempted to soften Washington's support for Taipei in exchange for economic wins with China. China has lo

Computer science student Jack Zemke was getting nowhere despite sending out hundreds of job applications that mostly disappeared into the void — ignored. With his graduation from Tulane University just days away, he was considering moving back in with his parents when he got a break thanks to a group project he had worked on involving an AI-powered search tool. As he touted it at an engineering conference, an employee at a civil engineering firm approached. "We’re not like the most on top of trends, but we know that AI is becoming a big thing," he recalled the man saying. "We need somebody to be essentially an evangelist.” Zemke responded: “I’m your man.” It has been a difficult job market for new graduates, especially in fields like software development where artificial intelligence is shouldering more of the work. While college students majoring in computer science during the recent coding boom were getting job offers without even applying, graduates today in philosophy, art history and ethnic studies majors all have higher employment rates. But as the job market evolves wit

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday hailed the “truly great friendship” he has forged with Xi Jinping as the Chinese leader began his highly anticipated state visit. While Trump has many thorny issues to discuss with the president of America’s biggest economic rival, he focused on his long relationship with Xi as the two gathered with aides for opening remarks before formal talks. “From the time of my first election in 2016, President Xi and I have forged a friendship, a truly great friendship, actually, built on mutual respect and the vital interests of our people,” Trump said. Trump and Xi have no shortage of difficult issues to cover when they sit down for the private discussions. Xi speaks of a ‘healthy’ competition and says Chinese pandas are coming to Atlanta China has resisted the Trump administration's urgings — and economic threats — to use its considerable leverage to prod Iran to agree to U.S. terms to end the nearly seven-month war. Xi wants to see Trump permanently halt arms sales to Taiwan and loosen export restrictions on cutting-edge advance

The two victims of former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson faced him across a courtroom as lawyers made final submissions about the sentence he should receive for abusing them as schoolgirls.

Glasgow City Council announced the move after a stalemate in talks over a new salary structure to address equal pay issues.

U2 have returned to their former school in Dublin for a special performance marking 50 years since the band first came together.

Noah's mother tells parents to "hold their children a little tighter and cherish every moment".

There have been too many cases of staff abusing patient trust, and enough is enough, the head of the NHS in England says.

The pontiff delivered the warning on the first day of his trip to France on Friday.

The European Union has said that it was "ready to defend" its €120 million fine against Elon Musk's X platform after the United States asked a top court to let it intervene on Mr Musk's side.

A 20-year-old man is in a critical condition in hospital following an assault in Listowel, Co Kerry, last night.

Data obtained from an encrypted communications network features in the case against a man charged with the murder of gangland figure Robbie Lawlor, a Belfast court heard today.

The BBC's financial situation "may well mean" some channels and stations close, Matt Brittin says.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese underlined the need for countries to work together to address the climate crisis, emerging technologies such as AI, and the breakdown of international rules, at the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday.

As the high-level debate enters a fourth day, The Takeaway looks back at key highlights on Thursday, with Israeli and Palestinian leaders presenting divergent views on the Middle East conflict and their counterparts from across the world weighing in on the far-reaching impacts of the ongoing crisis in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

U2 have been honoured with a new €2 commemorative coin marking 50 years since the band first came together in Dublin.

Daniel Thomas is accused of criminal damage after a video appeared to show him slashing at a dinghy.

The State body overseeing the administration of sport in Ireland has been ordered to rehire a sacked finance manager to her former role after the Labour Court ruled she had been unfairly dismissed.

Second-level teachers, who are members of the ASTI, have voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking industrial action over delays in agreeing a new public sector pay deal.

In his first public address in France, Pope Leo XIV upholds the Catholic Church’s contribution to French society and encourages the country to work for a peace that is unarmed and disarming.

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Dyfed-Powys Police says no personal data relating to the public was believed to have been accessed.

A number of so-called dawn raids have been carried out by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) of businesses active in the solar panel industry.

A woman who accused Jay-Z of raping her when she was 13 now says she has never met the rap superstar.

Despite diplomatic niceties and gifts, little was shared on substantial issues separating the leaders.

The Minister for Public Expenditure has said that a lower rate of carbon tax on home heating oil is being considered for the Budget.

Collette Stevenson says she has faced "misogynistic bullying" after asking whether government agency Transport Scotland is a charity.

Victims of Zafer Dogan were living close to the 32-year-old who took thousands of pictures of children at a playground from his bedroom window.

The EU had said X "deceives users" by selling blue ticks without "meaningfully verifying" accounts.

Tropical Storm Surigae is currently 791 kilometers south-southeast of Okinawa, packing top sustained winds of 74 kilometers per hour.

The move comes as major financial institutions increase their exposure to the rapidly expanding sector.

Robbie Williams gave an impromptu performance outside a hotel in Lima after his stadium concert was cancelled.

Minoru Kiuchi's comments follow renewed weakness in the yen and further gains in government bond yields this week.

Ethiopian forces battled overnight to repel an assault by Tigray rebels in the Afar region, a humanitarian source today, with reports of an internet blackout in the north of the country.

Once a rising star of sleek R&B, Friday Night Plans has spent the past few years dismantling the pop persona she built.

The federal government has announced a preliminary agreement for the acquisition of six GlobalEye detection aircraft that would be built in Canada by the Swedish firm Saab in collaboration with Canada’s Bombardier.

Beverley Callard has revealed she became unwell while filming Fair City earlier this week, with an ambulance called to the set.

Some municipalities are flipping their low name recognition into opportunities for self-promotion.

German car giant Volkswagen has confirmed a recall of around 2.86 million vehicles worldwide over a potential steering risk, according to the German transport authority KBA.

Waipā District Council said in a social media post that a vigil will be held in Te Awamutu on Sunday after the young person’s "tragic and untimely passing".

Earlier this week, the cash-strapped attraction received a $1.2 million lifeline from ratepayers.

Aboard the papal flight to Paris beginning his Apostolic Journey to France, Pope Leo XIV highlights the importance for peace in today’s world, apologizes for not having been able to return with journalists to Rome on his previous Journey to Spain, and answers questions and exchanges jokes with the press.

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One of the two had been taken into custody by police, a spokesperson says.

Pope Leo XIV departs aboard the papal plane from Rome bound for Paris as he begins his four-day Apostolic Journey to France.

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As the Pope arrives in France, French academic Dr. Alexandra Maclennan speaks to Vatican News about Pope Leo XIV’s Apostolic Journey to France, a surge in adult baptisms in recent years, and the emergence of a new generation of young Catholics despite ongoing challenges facing the Church.

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Head of Events at Dublin City Council Tony Smithers has said that the capital's Winter Lights programme was always intended to run in December as before, and had been extended to February, after Lord Mayor Daryl Bannon appeared to suggest the illuminations had been moved to January instead.

Trump hailed the superpowers' "common interests" that he said made the two "allies in World War II" — remarks likely to raise eyebrows in Tokyo.

Taiwan's government has denounced the Chinese President's comments on the island's future to Donald Trump as a "distortion of the facts", saying only the Taiwanese people can decide their future.

Saudi, Turkish and Pakistani military chiefs are to discuss help for Saudi Arabia as it faces attacks by Yemen's Houthis, while Iraq further curtailed Iranian flights ⁠in line with US pressure.

Deputy Mayor Murray Chong has proved a controversial fixture on the local council.

The Petal cable will help meet the growing data transmission needs of artificial intelligence companies.

Cork parents are calling for a new specialist secondary school for academically capable neurodiverse students whose needs, they say, are not being met by existing provision.

The NDP says its policies have connected a million people across B.C. to a family doctor. So why are so many still struggling to find one?

Far-right activist Daniel Thomas - known to his supporters as Danny Tommo - is to appear in court in England charged with criminal damage after allegedly slashing a boat in the English Channel with an emergency responder on board.

Problems from playing the wrong national anthem to accommodation issues have cast a cloud over the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Three people ⁠were killed in a Russian drone strike on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, city mayor Vitali Klitschko said.

The first tickets for Oasis' two concerts at Slane Castle next year go on sale on Friday morning, but only people who registered in advance and receive an access code will be able to take part.

If Santana Minerals’ open-cast gold mine in Central Otago’s Dunstan Mountains gets approval, an estimated 590,000 protected lizards could be killed.

Media polls showed the support rate for the Democratic Reform Party, formed last week with 18 members, is at zero percent.

Kazuo Yana stopped short of specifying when the government will conduct additional buybacks of rice released from its stockpiles last year.

The Japan Times, Ltd. (Head office: Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo; Chairperson and Publisher: Minako Suematsu) will hold The Japan Times Prep School Fair, bringing together boarding schools and international schools from Japan and overseas, in Akasaka, Tokyo, on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. Registration for the event is now open.

株式会社ジャパンタイムズ（本社：東京都千代田区、代表取締役会長兼社長：末松弥奈子）は、国内外の名門ボーディングスクールやインターナショナルスクール参加する「The Japan Times Prep School Fair」を、2026年10月24日（土）に東京・赤坂で開催します。現在、来場登録を開始しました。

Israel and its involvement in US strikes on Iran, its actions in Gaza and the Occupied West Bank have been central to many of the conversations at the UN this week, including in Taoiseach Micheál Martin's address.

Brazilian Erika Rodrigues Coelho was last seen a week ago, but her car was found near Coronet Peak on Monday.

Staff and community members have sent a letter to the ministry and Teaching Council raising "serious concerns"

WOW say a crew member died after a medical event at the TSB Arena on Friday morning.

The incidents have raised questions about why sweeping legal reforms and tougher punishments have failed to curb sexual violence.

Ritchie Wood is almost brought to tears at he looks at the empty homes once loved by his neighbours.

The return of Kaitaki will see Interislander resume a two-ship timetable.

A limited number of galleries will be open on Friday and Saturday at the museum's South Kensington site.

Leaving Certificate results have been made available to students who appealed their original grades.

From a kitchen in Artane to some of the biggest stages in the world, U2 have spent five decades making music together. As the Dublin band mark their 50th anniversary, here are 50 facts from their remarkable story.

The top junior surfers from 20 countries across Europe are set to compete at the EuroSurf Junior Championships in Bundoran, Co Donegal over the next week.

Some students told RTÉ they are spending up to four hours a day travelling to and from college, with long commutes affecting their sleep, studies and social lives

Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said she would continue to coordinate with her U.S. counterpart Scott Bessent.

Binh Tran has spent the last six months trying to get her money back after falling victim to a scam call.

Report from Human Rights Commission was spurred by complaint from Lyle Howe, a Black Halifax defence lawyer who was disbarred in 2017

The Janet Brown Opinion Research Poll for CBC News suggests 41 per cent of respondents would vote for the UCP if an election were held today, while 41 per cent would vote for the NDP.

The decision removes Radiant World founder Pinkesh Nahar's control over the group's key operating entity.

The number of civillians displaced in West Papua continuities to grow as armed conflict escalates

Despite fears of getting caught by the morality police, drivers are still listening to music as a form of protest.

The largest combined bat genome and fossil study ever conducted is bringing some clarity to the puzzling past of the flying vertebrates.

Police said the large-scale fraud spanned from 2107 to 2025.

It comes after leaked footage of an education ministry manager telling staff to not write things down.

Andres Felipe Valencia Barrientos was cleared of several sexual offences in July but a jury was undecided on three rape charges.

Nepal's Prime Minister has called for grant-based international support at the UN General Assembly to help the Himalayan nation recover ⁠from the glacier flood that killed at least 1,450 people.

The Canadian government has disclosed a handful of fresh details around the delays in opening the Gordie Howe International Bridge, as well as some information related to the cost to build the sprawling span connecting Ontario and Michigan.

Zohran Mamdani's 2025 mayoral campaign put a spotlight on cost of living issues and was characterized by colourful messaging, snappy social media videos and a where-there’s-a-will-there’s-a-way approach to making changes in New York — tactics many candidates in Toronto’s municipal election seem to be replicating.

Unlike other customers who can purchase Habs tickets online, customers who want reduced-mobility seating have to call or go in-person to the Bell Centre's ticket office. But this year, Joey Racanelli said he was shocked to find out the ticket policy was quietly changed, limiting him to one match for the entire season.

Diners have taken to social media to share photos of overly-shiny sandwiches and circular shrimp, lamenting the suspected use of AI. But some in the restaurant business say it's helped them reduce costs and save time in a notoriously difficult industry.

Remember when you could hit up your local suburban mall, catch a show from a pop star next to the food court and buy a new zip-up while you were at it? History is repeating itself. On Tuesday, Gap announced it was launching a collaboration with emerging boyband Just Your Type for its “fashiontainment platform.”

It’s only been six months since Canada's Jeremy Hansen made history by flying around the moon. Now, it’s Joshua Kutryk’s turn to blast off into space.

CBC’s visual investigations team uncovers satellite imagery that shows the IDF removing rubble from sites in Gaza that it bombed, which experts and human rights advocates warn risks destroying evidence of alleged war crimes.

Local governments are promising to build tech clusters and offering subsidies to AI filmmakers and startups, a familiar industrial policy playbook.

The independent fast-track panel has asked mining company Bathurst for more information about how it would protect wildlife in Buller.

China wanted progress on trade, technology and Taiwan - but hasn't got as much as it would have hoped for.

The authority has informed Bathurst Resources that it can prepare and lodge a new application.

The imperial couple will visit areas in the cities of Yatsushiro and Uki and the town of Hikawa, which were hit hard by the July 28 quake.

An adverse ruling could force Thailand back to the polls within months, ending a period of unusual political stability.

In the draft, the team also pushed for a ban on individuals working for foreign governments from acquiring land deemed critical to national security.

NZTA said remaining restrictions are shrinking but there's no set date for the return to normal traffic.

The leaders of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands have issued a strong call to action to industrial nations and the international community to act on the climate crisis.

CNN, MS NOW and Politico said their journalists were readmitted after a federal court ordered a suspension of U.S. President Donald Trump's ban.

A Pacific regional climatologist says it is imperative that boat operators take extra caution in a time of turbulent weather.

Police staff who are charged are acquitted far more often than other defendants, a new analysis found.

Chief nurse Nadine Gray said staff will be sent to the districts where they are most needed after a difficult winter.

Pope Leo XIV has warned against losing humanity in a "paradise of machines" as he made his first papal trip to France with concerns high worldwide about artificial intelligence.

Police would obtain information by remotely operating smartphones believed to belong to tokuryū masterminds, breaking down their anonymity.

A British farm used more than 10,000 pumpkins and squashes to create a portrait celebrating the 100th birthday of Britain's most celebrated naturalist.

The first Samoan person to graduate with a PhD in physics at the University of Auckland has encouraged Pasifika students to remember that they belong and can succeed in academia.

Lok Fung Lorrence Li's lawyer says the evidence of the man he was charged with is neither reliable, nor credible.

The 19-year-old man and woman have appeared in court and had bail denied.

"For nearly 18 months the Crown repeatedly informed claimants, the Tribunal, and the public of its intention to develop alternative plans".

When the true horrors of Gaza "are finally and fully revealed, it will shame the world", Micheál Martin has said in his New York address at the UN.

At least in certain ways

After years of dismissing health issues, Dan Robathan is now unable to return to the pitch.

Gyms are booming, solitary cardio is out - how workouts are changing.

Most of us experienced drought and heatwaves - but temperatures and rainfall were not the same everywhere.

Andy Burnham is under pressure to deliver a compelling vision for the country as he steps from the sidelines on to the main stage.

The test means patients can start treatment sooner and are spared weeks of uncertainty.

After a major win at Toronto, Angh, a film from northeastern India, is now on a path towards the Oscars.

The American rapper will begin with shows in Dublin, Paris and London next month, with the proceeds from the gigs going to Palestinian organisations.

The winning ticket had been sitting inside a book since July.

A sauna at Ōrewa beach has been told to move on from a council-owned campground, despite 4000 people signing a petition backing it to stay.

Police will not say what they have done about a North Korean IT worker who duped a local company - or about the New Zealand citizen who helped them.

Berenadeta* was 23 when she tested positive.

New research has found that women aged 50-65 are leaving the workforce earlier than men, reducing the pool of experienced talent available for senior leadership and board roles.

What's the smallest amount of money you would ask a friend to pay you back?

A series of cold fronts is forecast to move up the country with Sunday expected to be especially wet.

A tumultuous week for the ministry began with a leaked video of a senior official telling staff to avoid putting information in writing.

Auckland deputy mayor Desley Simpson said Portland Road was "fully blocked" by the fallen tree.

Most people want travel and leisure in retirement, but few are confident they're saving enough to fund it.

The Fiji Rugby Union is now actively seeking development compensation from overseas clubs when local talent transfers internationally.

Canadian expat Channon Russette Mondoux tells The National about the moment she created an annual festival to celebrate Canada in Kalamazoo, Mich., and how recent cross-border tensions make it feel different this year.

Samoa's Health Ministry is urging Samoans to use safe sex practices, including using condoms correctly, and to avoid sharing needles as the country rolls out its HIV response.

A man experiencing homelessness who is suing the Edmonton Police Service is facing a new hurdle after EPS applied for an order requiring him to pay $8,400 in security for costs.

Wellington's mayor is pointing to a lack of support inside government as the reason for the U-turn - but the local government minister has rejected this.

The cost of fuelling up your car has gone up again, and experts say it's unlikely to drop any time soon.

Dannevirke locals have echoed calls from other towns in the Tararua region for a return to a local ownership model of healthcare.

At the beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen in St Louis, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle reflects on the missionary vocation of the American bishop, whose preaching reached millions through radio and television. But, he says, Sheen’s blessedness lay not in fame, but in his communion with Christ and his closeness to the poor.

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At Issue this week: The Liberals move to push through accelerated major project approvals as unions push back. Was B.C.’s snap election call about Trump's trade threats or opportunism? And the possible strategy behind Mark Carney's comments about a possible U.S. invasion.

There are no reports of injuries but traffic is backing up, police say.

The plane was travelling from Christchurch to Wellington, and was about to land when the engine caught fire.

Vietnamese President Tô Lâm has upgraded ties with Canada to a strategic partnership, building on Prime Minister Mark Carney's efforts to get middle powers working more closely together to confront American and Chinese coercion.

Federal party leaders are paying tribute to a 45-year-old Canada Revenue Agency employee who was killed in Montreal on Tuesday.

New data from the Angus Reid Institute shows the B.C. Conservatives, led by Lorne Doerkson, holding 43 per cent support among respondents — an eight-point lead over the NDP's 35 per cent.

Cole Sanderson stepped away from his own career to launch a media platform dedicated to wrestling, aiming to highlight athletes' stories and elevate the sport across the country.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said he's considering a ban on diesel exports to improve gas prices for Americans, a move experts say would only push an already-strained global market —further raising diesel prices in Canada and abroad.

U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House on Thursday for a lavish state summit that was heavy on symbolism but light on substance, with no sign that a closed-door meeting yielded breakthroughs on thorny issues such as AI, trade, Taiwan and the war with Iran.

An independence organization is the latest group to try to price out what it might cost should Alberta decide to become a sovereign nation, although critics say the new report omits major expenses such as military spending, Indigenous supports, and Alberta's share of the federal debt.

The government has been slow to deliver on its promised tax relief for Canadians buying their first home, according to federal data.

How much attention did you pay to what happened in the world over the past seven days?

The head of the RCMP says there's no evidence to suggest investigations were impacted following a report last week that FBI Director Kash Patel temporarily halted co-operation with the Mounties in retaliation for an internal CBC memo.

Revolut customers in Ireland are among those impacted by a data breach at a third-party provider, a second this month. Consumer Affairs Correspondent Aengus Cox looks at what we know so far about the latest breach?

Parents will no longer be "forced to immediately choose between male and female" on their child's birth certificate if a child is born with intersex characteristics, under a bill proposed in the Dáil today.

European Commissioner Michael McGrath has expressed concern that AI may go "beyond the capability and control of human beings", given the pace and depth of the technology's development.

A duet between Bono and Dolly Parton is one of the tracks on U2's new album, Carnaval de Luz, which will be released on Friday, 13 November.

A British farm has broken its own world record for the largest squash mosaic, using 10,000 pumpkins and squashes to create a mosiac of David Attenborough.

Actors Susan Sarandon and Hannah Einbinder were among the protestors detained in New York City on Thursday as Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a speech to the United Nations General Assembly.

Garvaghy Road residents have said they will "mobilise" and "come together" if an Orange Order parade is allowed to march through their community.

NATO is "ready" for Russian cyberattacks and other forms of hybrid warfare, the alliance's secretary general has said, urging increased support for Ukraine in response to Moscow's actions.

Macklemore has announced a Dublin concert as part of his new Free Palestine Tour, following his removal from the remaining dates of Ed Sheeran's US tour earlier this month.

Dozens of envoys from across the world walked out of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to the UN in protest at the Israeli leader.

On the eve of Pope Leo XIV's arrival in Paris, Vatican News Correspondent Deborah Castellano Lubov reports from outside the Cathedral of Notre Dame to share the great excitement in France for the Pope's imminent arrival, and great emotion after the devastating 2019 fire.

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The line-up for Friday's Late Late Show on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player has been announced, with "top names from the worlds of sport and entertainment" joining host Patrick Kielty.

In this issue of our environmental newsletter, we check out some wearable art that makes air pollution highly visible; map out where and when this year's El Nino is expected to be a killer; and learn how solar has transformed a scrapyard in a Nunavut community to cut reliance on diesel.

Rank-and-file gardaí are set to withdraw from overtime in Dublin on five dates next month, including the day the Budget is announced as well as Halloween, as part of industrial action calling for better conditions and pay.

Pope Leo meets separately with the Prime Minister of Hungary and the President of Portugal, discussing topics such as global conflict, multilateralism, and the situation of Christian minorities around the world.

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The Assembly of First Nations is still waiting for uncensored access to the government's historic intelligence dossier on the organization six months after a CBC News investigation revealed the RCMP's now-defunct spy agency infiltrated the group in the 1970s.

Russia has invited North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to visit the country, a Russian deputy foreign minister said, according to the TASS news agency Thursday. Details of the visit have not yet been determined, and the schedule is still being discussed. Pyongyang and Moscow have deepened their alignment since North Korea deployed troops to support Russia's war against Ukraine.

Ordering food through delivery apps has become an everyday routine in Korea, and the trend is rapidly reshaping how people prepare for traditional holidays, as demand for Chuseok dishes soars on delivery platforms. On Thursday, the first day of the Chuseok holiday, Woowa Brothers said delivery orders for "songpyeon," or traditional Korean rice cakes, surged 4.8-fold on Chuseok Day last year compared to the same day of the previous week. Other holiday food staples also saw sharp increases in demand during the same period, according to Woowa Brothers, the operator of Korea’s top delivery app Baedal Minjok (Baemin). Orders for "modumjeon," or assorted Korean pancakes, jumped 270 percent, while "namul," or seasoned vegetable dishes, rose 135 percent. Orders for "galbijjim," or braised beef ribs, and traditional sweets such as "yakgwa" and "hangwa" grew 39 percent and 44 percent, respectively. Rather than spreading out over the holiday period, delivery orders were heavily concentrated on Chuseok Day itself. It is interpreted that consumers want convenience, so they choose ready-to-eat meals

Seoul is increasingly becoming a top destination for international students, driven by its high level of safety, efficient public services and rich culture, according to a recent survey conducted by The Korea Times among its Global Supporters. In the survey, international students shared their firsthand experiences of studying and living in the Korean capital. They said the city has various appealing points, but at the same time, pointed out challenges like expensive housing costs, intense competition and limited institutional support. The survey findings show a broader shift in global education trends. British newspaper Financial Times recently reported that Seoul is surging in popularity among international students as the capital city offers a unique lifestyle and relatively manageable living costs compared to major Western cities such as New York, London and Paris. Why students pick Seoul Safety, administrative efficiency and a dynamic academic environment emerged as primary reasons for choosing Seoul over other global study destinations. To capture the insights and lived realities o

South Korea's Gwak Min-ji competes in the Women's Park preliminary on day five of the 20th Asian Games at Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, Aichi, Japan, Sept. 24. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Traffic congestion on Korean highways eased Thursday evening as people headed to their hometowns to reunite with family on the first day of the Chuseok holiday period. This year's holiday period marking the fall harvest runs from Thursday to Sunday. Traditionally, Koreans return to their hometowns during Chuseok to reunite with family members and pay respects at their ancestors' graves. As of 7 p.m., travel time from Seoul to Busan was estimated at four hours and 40 minutes, three hours and 30 minutes to Daegu, three hours and 20 minutes to Gwangju, and three hours and 10 minutes to Daejeon, the Korea Expressway Corp. (KEC) said. Travel time to Seoul was estimated to take four hours and 30 minutes from Busan, three hours and 30 minutes from Daegu, three hours and 20 minutes from Gwangju, and one hour and 30 minutes from Daejeon, according to the KEC. An estimated 6.16 million vehicles were expected to be on the road nationwide Thursday, including about 510,000 cars departing the greater Seoul area and 380,000 vehicles heading toward the capital from other regions.

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Actress Oh Yoon-ah has introduced protein-rich diet recipes for Chuseok as the country celebrates the holiday, during which food plays a central role in family celebrations. Oh recently shared recipes for "galbi-jjim," or braised short ribs, and steamed vegetables in a video posted on her YouTube channel. The key to turning galbi-jjim, a Chuseok staple, into a diet-friendly dish lies in the ingredients used to add sweetness. Oh said she uses no sugar at all and instead adds alternative sweeteners like oligosaccharide syrup and green plum syrup. She also makes the marinade by blending pear and onion. She added that she prefers to season the dish on the salty side rather than make it particularly sweet. Her steamed vegetable recipe was also simple and focused on nutrition. She first seasons the meat with cooking wine and salt before grilling it, then cuts her choice of vegetables diagonally and steams them before serving them with a sauce. Oh explained that cutting vegetables diagonally helps them cook thoroughly even when the pieces are large. H

MEXICO CITY — President Lee Jae Myung said combining the country's technology with Mexico's strong industrial base can create new growth, citing artificial intelligence (AI) and supply chains among areas for cooperation, a media interview showed Wednesday. "For Korean companies, Mexico is much more than a production base: it is a key strategic platform for accessing the markets of North America and the rest of the world," Lee said in an interview with Mexican newspaper El Universal. The interview was released as Lee arrived in Mexico City for a state visit, which will include summit talks with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Thursday. "If we combine Korea's technology, manufacturing capabilities and accumulated experience in its economic development process with Mexico's talent and strong industrial base, we can create new opportunities for growth together," Lee said. He said Korea and Mexico have considerable room to deepen cooperation in strategic sectors, citing semiconductors, the aerospace industry and electric vehicles (EVs) as prospective sectors for cooperation. He referr

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun pledged continued support for Ukraine during bilateral foreign ministerial talks earlier this week, Seoul's foreign ministry said Thursday. Cho met his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, in New York on Wednesday (U.S. time) on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, according to a ministry release. The talks took place as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at the U.N. gathering the same day that his country recently sent two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces to South Korea. The ministry did not mention Zelenskyy's remarks in the release but said Cho pledged continuing support necessary for the Ukrainian people. South Korea earlier announced it would provide $100 million in non-lethal aid to Ukraine during the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in Ankara in July. Cho also held separate talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi the same day. During the talks, Cho stressed the need to ensure free and safe passage for all vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, noting that Seoul has participated in such

WASHINGTON — Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping have no shortage of difficult issues to cover when they sit down for talks on Thursday at the White House. China has resisted the Trump administration's urgings — and economic threats — to use its considerable leverage to prod Iran to agree to U.S. terms to end the nearly seven-month war. Xi wants to see Trump permanently halt arms sales to Taiwan and loosen export restrictions on cutting-edge advanced chips. And the two sides on Wednesday agreed to extend a one-year trade truce set to expire Nov. 10 for two months, kicking the can on finding a more durable agreement. All the while, both leaders seem to believe that time is on their side as they look to outmaneuver the other in what is expected to be the world's most significant economic and national security competition for years to come. “The president very much believes that over time the U.S. economy is going to grow, the U.S. will get stronger, the U.S. will keep making advances in AI and on technology, and that ... the U.S. will develop alternative sources of critical min

A few days before the Chuseok holiday, a long line of customers stretched past three neighboring stores outside Pungnyeon Tteok, a rice cake shop in Incheon’s Bupyeong Traditional Market earlier this week. They were not waiting for “songpyeon,” the traditional rice cake associated with Chuseok, but for “pizza seolgi,” a fusion rice cake topped with tomato sauce, cheese and pepperoni slices on a base of steamed white rice cake. Despite a limit of four pieces per customer, the line showed no sign of letting up. Pungnyeon Tteok owner Hwang Seong-un, 50, said he has been selling pizza seolgi for about two months, with an average of around 1,000 people visiting daily. He said the rice cakes typically sell out between 5:30 and 6 p.m. That day, ingredients ran out at around 5:40 p.m., prompting the shop to put up a notice saying it had closed for the day. Traditional-market rice cake shops are bustling ahead of Chuseok, thanks in part to the popularity of unusual rice cake varieties such as pizza seolgi on social media, particularly among people in their 20s and 30s. New slang terms h

INCHEON — When Incheon native Kim Ji-da opened an English bookstore in the Baedari Secondhand Bookstore Alley in the city’s eastern district, she joined a multigenerational used bookseller tradition that stretches back to the end of the 1950-53 Korean War. Marking its second anniversary at the end of August, Kim's Najeun Munteok is one of eight bookstores currently operating in the alley. As a longtime English teacher and reading club organizer who also goes by her chosen French name Sophie, Kim understands the challenge that English books pose to Korean readers. Her store features many titles for adults and children. She named her store Najeun Munteok — meaning low threshold — to reflect accessibility and an open community spirit. “I never dreamed of opening my bookstore as a business,” Kim said. “Though it’s hard to make a profit and manage everything, I was inspired by the booksellers here and their love for books. I like to communicate through reading and talking about books, and it’s also very rewarding to introduce good books to others. So I am happy with my job

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui said Thursday her country's will to keep nuclear weapons through "all ages" is "irreversible" as she blasted recent trilateral talks between South Korea, the United States and Japan, state media reported. Choe took aim at the talks between the top diplomats of the three countries in New York on Monday that reiterated their commitment to the "complete" denuclearization of North Korea and called on Pyongyang to return to dialogue. "As the foreign minister of the DPRK, I reaffirm and reconfirm in the strongest tone of voice the steadfast will of our state to keep nuclear weapons through all ages, which is irreversible in any case and will remain unchanged forever," she said in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency. DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "There is no change in the fact that the DPRK's position as a nuclear weapons state will be everlasting," she said.

MEXICO CITY — President Lee Jae Myung arrived in Mexico City on Wednesday for a state visit, which will include summit talks with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Lee and Sheinbaum are scheduled to hold summit talks, a luncheon and a joint press announcement on Thursday with the two countries seeking to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment and supply chains. During the summit, the leaders will discuss ways to expand bilateral trade and investment, and bolster institutional support for Korean companies' business operations in Mexico, while seeking cooperation in energy and critical mineral supply chains. Lee also plans to meet with Korean residents in Mexico and attend a business forum during his three-day visit. His trip here marks the first state visit to Mexico by a Korean president in 16 years.

Two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces nearly 20 months ago have arrived safely in South Korea, the president of Ukraine and an opposition lawmaker said Thursday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made the disclosure during a speech at the U.N. General Assembly in New York, Wednesday (local time). “Recently, we sent two North Korean prisoners of war to the Republic of Korea,” Zelenskyy said. Rep. Yu Yong-weon of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) also confirmed the transfer that had remained in secrecy over concerns for the safety of the prisoners and their families. “The two people arrived safely in Korea a few days ago,” Yu said during a press conference at the National Assembly. He has repeatedly raised the issue of North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) captured in Ukraine. The two soldiers are now expected to receive protection under South Korean laws concerning North Korean defectors. Their health is reportedly stable. The National Intelligence Service is expected to conduct questioning and investigations over several weeks or months before det

NEW YORK/CARACAS — Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez told the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday that the country would hold elections as part of a transition to "full democracy," but did not give a specific date for the vote. "I want to make this very clear at this General Assembly: there will be elections in Venezuela," said Rodriguez, who came to power after American forces captured then-President Nicolas Maduro in a January raid. Rodriguez said the government had initiated talks with the opposition and would guarantee the participation of all political forces. She added that national institutions were being prepared for the electoral process. "Venezuela has initiated a process of democratic transformation for its rebirth, an orderly, institutional, and verifiable process, to build a country that is freer for all, more prosperous, and more reconciled with itself," said Rodriguez. Venezuelan and U.S. authorities have previously emphasized the need for an election, yet no date — not even a tentative one — has been set. The opposition views the selection of an autonomou

MENLO PARK, California — Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg unveiled a small handheld gadget called Meta Charm for using its new Muse AI assistant in a surprise announcement at its annual device event on Wednesday. Meta said Charm would be ready to ship for holidays in December, but did not give a price. The AI device is about the size of an Apple AirPods case. The social media giant also unveiled virtual-reality glasses to use with a VR console and a pair of camera-free smart glasses for daily use, designed to ease the growing privacy backlash against AI devices that can take videos and pictures of people without consent. Priced at $1,299, the Meta VR Glasses aim to match the capabilities of bulkier and costlier rivals such as Apple's Vision Pro in a device that weighs about as much as a deck of playing cards, a design made possible by moving the battery and processor into a separate puck. They will launch in spring 2027. Meta is betting the VR device, which looks like a pair of dark wraparound frames and responds to eye, voice and hand gestures, can finally take to the mainstream a category lo

WASHINGTON — The United States and China have agreed to extend by two months a trade truce that was due to expire on November 10, allowing more time to work on a potentially bigger trade deal, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Wednesday. Bessent made the remarks on Fox News hours after his second meeting in four days with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng to prepare for a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday. "We met today to see if we could do a bigger deal as opposed to just a series of smaller things," the Treasury chief said, noting that the two-month extension of the trade truce agreed in Busan, South Korea in May would give the two sides "more time to see what we can do on the economic front." Bessent told reporters earlier that Beijing had raised the prospect of a more expansive U.S.-China trade deal during 12 hours of talks on Sunday, but gave no details of its potential scope. Wednesday's meeting lasted about 90 minutes, Treasury said. Asked if a deal could be negotiated by January 10, Bessent told Fox News that was n

UNITED NATIONS/SEOUL — Ukraine has transferred two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday in an address to the United Nations General Assembly. "Recently, we sent two North Korean prisoners of war to the Republic of Korea," said Zelenskyy in his speech. "These guys are not easy to capture alive. One of them, when he realized he was going to be taken prisoner, tried to kill himself. And he was shocked that fate did not let him die." Zelenskyy did not provide more details about the return. Ukraine captured the two North Koreans in Russia's Kursk region in January last year. They were the first North Korean soldiers to be apprehended alive since the country joined the Russia-Ukraine war in 2024. Zelenskyy said at the time that he would hand them over to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un if he could facilitate their exchange for Ukrainians held captive in Russia. Human rights groups, however, urged him to repatriate them to South Korea citing the risks of punishments the soldiers faced. South Korean media reported that the two c

The Korean historical thriller "The Assassins(s)" is poised to lead the local box office during the Chuseok holiday amid a slate of films seeking to bank on holiday moviegoers. The film, starring Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-il and Lee Min-ho, accounted for 31 percent of advance ticket sales as of 2 p.m. Wednesday, with more than 238,000 tickets sold, according to the data by the Korean Film Council. Directed by Hur Jin-ho, the film was inspired by the 1974 assassination attempt on then South Korean President Park Chung-hee, which resulted in the death of the first lady. The shooting remains one of the most shocking events in the country's tumultuous modern history. The global megahit "The Odyssey," which ranked No. 2, accounted for 17.1 percent of pre-ticket sales. The Christopher Nolan film has amassed more than 11.2 million admissions here since its release in August to become the second most-watched film at Korean theaters this year, only after the Korean historical drama "The King's Warden." Advance ticket sales for the Korean film "Tazza: Song of Beelzebub," the final sequel of the long-ru

North Korea said Thursday it has test-fired shells for an upgraded 240mm multiple rocket launcher system, stressing the need to deploy the "deadliest" attack forces along the border with South Korea. North Korea conducted a test of upgraded 240mm-caliber controlled multiple-launch rockets Tuesday under the country's five-year plan for modernizing artillery and missile forces, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. Leading military cadres overseeing the test said "the development of range-extended rockets assures them of a significant change in the firepower readiness along the southern border," according to the report. Pak Jong-chon, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party, stressed the need to "concentrate the deadliest and destructive attack forces on the southern border," according to the KCNA. "He underscored the need to make the enemy aware of the fact that we have replaced all our armed forces' long-range strike means with the latest ones at the earliest date," it said. The rockets equipped with the "autonomous pinpoint guide system" ar

WASHINGTON — Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Washington Wednesday evening, where he received a rare greeting from U.S. President Donald Trump, who met his counterpart at the base’s airport instead of waiting for him to drive to the White House. Trump’s decision to greet Xi shows how far the U.S. president is going to honor China’s leader as he made his first state visit to the U.S. capital in more than a decade. Xi says China, US should be ‘partners, not rivals’ In a statement marking his arrival in the U.S., China’s leader wrote that his country and the U.S. “should be partners, not rivals.” “Achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great again can go hand in hand and the two countries can contribute to each other’s success, thereby benefiting the wider world,” Xi said. Xi’s statement also suggested that the two sides “should move toward each other and work together to build a stable relationship — one where cooperation is the mainstay, competition is kept within proper limits, differences are managed and peace can be

As millions of families across Korea prepare to pack highways and train stations as they move around the country for the Chuseok holiday, tourism officials are encouraging travelers to look past predictable destinations toward the country’s rich cultural heartlands. The Korea Tourism Organization launched a national campaign this week through its official travel portal VisitKorea, highlighting sites with free admission, outdoor nature reserves and immersive heritage programs tailored or multigenerational families. The curated list arrives at a time when domestic travelers are increasingly seeking authentic cultural experiences over expensive international getaways. Key destinations featured in the initiative span both historical and contemporary cultural landmarks. Travelers heading through Gyeonggi Province can visit the majestic Yeongneung Royal Tombs in Yeoju, the resting place of King Sejong the Great, while art enthusiasts can venture south into central Korea to explore the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Cheongju. Further off the beaten path in the mountainous

SINGAPORE — National University of Singapore (NUS) has built its global competitiveness not only on research excellence, but also on a strong focus on teaching and preparing students to succeed beyond the classroom. For NUS, the quality of a university should ultimately be measured by how well it equips students with the knowledge and skills they need after graduation — an emphasis that has placed teaching and employability at the heart of the university’s strategy. “We take teaching very seriously, and many of these things that we do actually do not count toward the rankings — but yet it’s the mission of our university,” NUS President Tan Eng Chye said in a recent interview with The Korea Times. He emphasized that research remains an essential mission of a leading university, but global rankings — which tend to place heavy weight on research performance — do not always capture what universities accomplish in the classroom. For NUS, graduate employability is one of the key measures of whether the university is delivering on its educational mission. “The employability o

In 1994, Korean television history was rewritten when the legendary horror drama "M" hit the airwaves, eventually peaking at a staggering 52.2 percent viewership rating. Starring iconic actor Shim Eun-ha, the series mesmerized the nation with a groundbreaking visual feat in the ominous glowing green eyes of its possessed protagonist, marking one of Korean television’s earliest uses of computer-generated special effects. Beyond its chilling aesthetic, "M" sent shockwaves through society by tackling the deeply sensitive and taboo subject of abortion, framed through a dark supernatural lens. Over three decades later, that iconic green glow is coming back to life. Tving has officially announced "M: Reboot," a modernized psychological horror thriller that revives the core identity of the 1994 classic while reframing it for contemporary audiences. The original's narrative centered heavily around demonic possession and the social taboo of abortion, with Ma-ri (Shim) possessed by the soul of an aborted fetus seeking vengeance in a supernatural medical horror with a clear social message. The new

HWASEONG, Gyeonggi Province — Hwaseong, a rapidly developing city southwest of Seoul, has become one of Korea’s major destinations for foreign residents, particularly migrant workers. In an area shaped by manufacturing industries and immigration, the everyday lives of migrant workers often remain largely ignored. The Migration Stories Project, located near Balan Manse Market in Hyangnam, was launched in 2020 to change that reality by creating a space where migrants can share their experiences, memories, cultures and creativity in their own voices. The project brings together music, storytelling, photography, sound, video and community-based cultural activities to explore the lives of foreign migrants. Korean artist Kim Yang-woo founded the project under the slogan “World is Our Home,” as an art initiative that brings together migrant communities and local residents through interviews, art, music and community activities. She began the project during the COVID-19 pandemic, when restrictions on movement forced her to stay close to her hometown and made her think more deeply about

WASHINGTON — The extraordinary showdown between President Donald Trump and media outlets whose coverage he dislikes moved Wednesday to a courtroom in the nation’s capital, where a judge is hearing arguments on whether the president’s move banning three news organizations from White House grounds violates the Constitution. The administration has doubled down on its contention that it has the right to decide who can set foot in the White House. “Access to the White House is a privilege — not a right,” it said in a court filing late Tuesday. It also argued that the reporting of the three outlets — CNN, MS NOW and Politico — poses a threat to national security. In his early comments about the case, Trump focused not on national security but on negative coverage by the outlets and allegations of “fake news.” The proceedings are historic, said Katie Fallow, deputy litigation director at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University. “No president has taken this explicit of a step” to ban entire news outlets because he doesn’t like their reporting, she sa

UNITED NATIONS — Executives from three of the world's leading artificial intelligence companies briefed the UN Security Council on Wednesday amid warnings that increasingly powerful AI systems could soon improve themselves, slip beyond human control and pose a threat to international security. Among those addressing the 15-member council during the annual General Assembly gathering were OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and Hugging Face co-founder Clément Delangue, three of the industry's most prominent executives. "If managed poorly, I even believe that AI could be a risk to humanity as a whole," Anthropic's Amodei told the Security Council. Governments have grappled with how to oversee AI systems that are advancing faster than regulators can keep up while the United States and China — the two dominant players in AI development — remain divided over whether the technology needs global guardrails or should be left largely to market forces. “If AI is to be democratic, the most important decisions cannot be made by labs in San Francisco alone. They must be shaped t

WASHINGTON — When Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrived in Washington for a state visit in 2015, he sought to calm the growing unease among the Americans about his country's rapid ascent. Xi largely succeeded, shaking hands with then-President Barack Obama to deepen economic ties and expand cooperation. In the Rose Garden, Obama declared that the U.S. “welcomes the rise of a China that is peaceful, stable, prosperous and a responsible player in global affairs.” Those days are over. Returning to the U.S. capital Wednesday for the first state visit in over a decade, Xi — more confident than ever — is seeking stability even as the globe's two largest economies compete over everything from artificial intelligence to space ambitions and global influence. Xi is expected to urge cooperation with the U.S. for the sake of the world. “In 2015, China was a rising power still, profoundly and quickly rising, but rising undeniably,” said Mira Rapp-Hooper, a visiting fellow at Brookings Institution's Center for Asia Policy Studies. Now, “China is risen.” Both economies have grown remarkabl

WASHINGTON — A White House official said Wednesday South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed shipbuilding cooperation and other topics during a meeting on the margins of the U.N. General Assembly this week. The official made the remarks in response to Yonhap News Agency's question about the meeting on Tuesday, where Seoul officials said that the leaders discussed key issues, including Seoul's push to acquire nuclear-powered submarines and secure rights to enrich uranium and reprocess spent nuclear fuel for peaceful civil purposes. "President Trump and President Lee had a brief meeting on the sidelines of the Leaders Reception at the United Nations General Assembly, where they discussed shipbuilding cooperation among other topics," the official said in an email. After the 30-minute meeting, a presidential official told reporters that Trump expressed interest in shipbuilding cooperation, as the Trump administration seeks cooperation with South Korea to rebuild the United States Navy and shipbuilding industry. Under last year's bilateral trade deal, So

Mounting inflation pressures and a strengthening economy look to be pushing the Federal Reserve towards an interest-rate hike on the eve of critical national elections, with traders on Wednesday piling into bets on a second straight Fed rate increase in late October. A closely watched measure of U.S. business activity, S&P Global's flash U.S. Composite PMI Output Index, jumped this month to its highest level since July 2021, S&P Global reported on Wednesday. The survey's measure of prices paid by businesses for inputs jumped to a nearly four-year high. Oil prices took a leg up on Wednesday, with Brent crude futures rising about 2 percent to $101.09 a barrel, and diesel fuel prices have surged to over $6.50 a gallon, as the US-Iran war continues to disrupt supply. Diesel has particular potential to broaden price pressures, as it powers the equipment and trucks used to make and move goods throughout the economy. The backdrop of rising inflationary risks and a strong economy means the Fed is likely to deliver more rate hikes, Fed Governor Michael Barr said on Wednesday in what's become a r

LONDON — For years, 5 percent on the benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury yield was viewed as the point at which global financial markets would start hitting turbulence. That threshold is beginning to look less like a ceiling and more like a waypoint. This month's breach of 5 percent - something that has happened only briefly in recent decades - has forced investors to contemplate an unsettling question: What if 6 percent is the new number that should be keeping them awake at night? The latest move above 5 percent has not lasted long enough yet to properly test that theory. But it has always been a psychological marker rather than an automatic tripwire, according to BlueBay Asset Management's head of market strategy, Mike Bell. "People think of it as if there's a magic number for Treasury yields at which it becomes a problem, (but) it's a relative number, not an absolute number," Bell explained. What matters is how Treasury yields compare with other key investment metrics, particularly the earnings yield on stocks. Bell says that relationship is now approaching an inflection point, potentia

WASHINGTON — The United States is open to extending the U.S.-China trade truce that expires on November 10 or considering a possibly larger trade deal, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Wednesday as he left a meeting with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng to prepare for a summit between the two countries' leaders. Bessent gave no details about a potentially bigger U.S.-China trade deal following his second meeting with He in four days. U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to discuss the issues further at the White House on Thursday. "The Chinese on Sunday came up with the idea of a bigger deal, and given that this could be a historic year where the leaders meet up to four times — this being the second meeting, in Shenzhen and then in Miami — we're open to the idea of just continuing the Busan arrangement or examining the bigger deal," Bessent told reporters. "We're fine with both, and we're going to do what's best for the American people." Bessent earlier described the meeting at World Bank headquarters in Washington as clearing up som

WASHINGTON — When Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Washington on Wednesday, he's expected to get a rare greeting from President Donald Trump, who will be on the tarmac to welcome his counterpart instead of waiting for him to drive up to the White House. Trump's decision to greet Xi at Joint Base Andrews just outside Washington rather than receiving him at the executive residence shows how far the U.S. president is going to honor China's leader as he makes his first state visit in more than a decade. First lady Melania Trump said her husband decided to personally greet Xi when he arrives in the Washington region because “they have a great relationship.” “He's coming on our soil, and we need to welcome them with the most respect,” she said of Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, during an interview Wednesday on Fox News Channel's ”Fox & Friends." The White House has not released many details about Wednesday's greeting, but Trump is expected to participate in an arrival ceremony at the base with Xi and his wife. The salutation will kick off a three-day visit that's expected to b

NEW YORK — Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced movie mogul, was sentenced in Manhattan to 15 years in prison Wednesday for a felony sex crime in another #MeToo reckoning. Weinstein’s sentencing for sexually assaulting one-time TV production assistant Miriam Haley followed a legal odyssey spanning more than six years. His 2020 conviction was overturned by New York's highest court, citing testimony from other women whose allegations weren’t part of the case. A second jury found Weinstein guilty again at a retrial last year. Once among the most powerful figures in the entertainment industry, Weinstein was an Oscar-winning producer whose hits included “Shakespeare in Love,” “Pulp Fiction” and “Chocolat.” But his downfall came quickly after sexual assault allegations in 2017 set off the #MeToo movement. Weinstein, 74, is expected to appeal. He is now likely to remain behind bars until at least his late 80s. He has denied raping or sexually assaulting anyone. Seated in a wheelchair, he was quickly wheeled out of the courtroom after the sentencing, while some of his accusers hugg

UNITED NATIONS — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused U.S. President Donald Trump of a "bullying mentality" at the United Nations on Wednesday, saying Iran would not surrender in the war with the U.S. but remained open to diplomacy to end the conflict. In a wartime address to the 193-member U.N. General Assembly, Pezeshkian said threats would only harden Iran's resolve, rejecting Trump's warning that he could annihilate Iran if no deal were reached. "The remarks made by the U.S. president yesterday ... are a sign of a bullying mentality ... The Iranian people will not bow to pressure ... Those who are terrorists and train terrorists call us terrorists," he said, referring to Trump's description of Iran as the world's leading sponsor of terrorism. Several times during his speech, Pezeshkian said Iran was ready to resolve tensions with the United States through negotiations, but warned that Tehran would not accept the language of force. The United States delegation walked out at the start of Pezeshkian's speech. The U.S. mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to

WASHINGTON — The United States on Wednesday announced an implementation plan to support a trilateral cooperation arrangement with Korea and Japan on the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs) in third countries, as the countries step up cooperation to meet growing global energy demands. The State Department made the announcement on the margins of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, after Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi signed a memorandum of cooperation (MOC) on civil nuclear energy during their talks in Ankara in July. The department did not elaborate on the implementation plan. "The MOC and Implementation Plan support our mutual security interests by setting out an ambitious agenda in pursuit of SMR fleet deployment to meet growing global energy demands," the department said in a media note. The department took note of the recent signing of a key industry initiative that establishes a cooperation framework among four companies from Korea, the U.S., Japan and Poland — GE Vernova, Hitachi, S

NEW YORK — President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday unveiled an ambitious plan to double Korea's semiconductor production capacity and secure artificial intelligence (AI) supply chains free from external shocks, calling for fresh U.S. investments in the country. Lee made the remarks at the Korea Investment Summit in New York, attended by financial and corporate leaders from both Korea and the United States, to promote U.S. investment in the country. The president referred to the Korea's "three megaprojects" launched earlier this year to build a chip projection cluster and other AI facilities, adding that the country "will double semiconductor production capabilities within the next five years by expanding a chip production hub." "Additionally, (we) will build critical AI supply chains that are not shaken by any shocks," he said. The president highlighted that Seoul is reinvesting "results" from the AI chip boom to create a new "Future Fund" designed to nurture related industrial infrastructure and talent to ensure stable support for future industries. He also pledged to create market condit

Some of K-drama's most memorable pairings are getting another chance to share the screen, years after their romances first captivated viewers. From Song Kang and Kim So-hyun of "Love Alarm" to Suzy and Kim Seon-ho of "Start-Up," actors who once generated buzz with their romantic chemistry are reuniting in a string of new projects — sometimes in relationships dramatically different from the ones fans remember. The reunions come anywhere from four to about 10 years after the stars first worked together, bringing nostalgia as well as curiosity over how their chemistry may have changed. Song Kang and Kim So-hyun reunite 5 years after 'Love Alarm' Song Kang and Kim So-hyun are set to reunite in MBC's upcoming drama "White Scandal," five years after the Netflix series "Love Alarm." Based on a webtoon of the same name, "White Scandal" follows Dan Yi-hyuk, played by Song, a third-generation chaebol heir who does not want to inherit his family's business empire, and Ji Eun-seol, played by Kim, a former child star whose career has fallen apart. The two enter a fake relationship to deceive the pub

In the world of legged robotics, endurance has long been the ultimate hurdle. While four-legged machines can backflip, negotiate rubble and scale staircases with uncanny agility, their high-performance motors typically drain battery reserves in less than an hour. But along the rural stretches of North Gyeongsang Province, a dog-like machine spent over four hours trotting past orchards and cheering spectators to rewrite the limits of mechanical stamina. Engineers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) developed RAIBO2, a quadrupedal robot that completed a full 42-kilometer marathon on a single battery charge. The landmark feat, detailed this week in the flagship scientific journal Nature, marks the first time robotics research from Korea has graced the main pages of the prestigious publication, signaling a major leap forward for long-distance autonomous field machines. The milestone unfolded during the annual Sangju Dried Persimmon Marathon — a local race named after the agricultural region’s famous fruit — where RAIBO2 lined up alongside human runners as

A total of 781 migrants arrive on Wednesday, but the yearly total is below the same point in 2025.

A court has ordered the US government to reinstate access to the building for CNN, Politico and MS NOW.

The BBC has spoken to women who suffered unnecessary surgery, delayed diagnoses and a lack of care.

Some vegetable growers had to pay nine times the normal amount to water their crops during this summer's drought conditions, a new report by Teagasc has found.

In an interview with Vatican Media ahead of Pope Leo’s Apostolic Journey to France, the Apostolic Nuncio to France, Archbishop Celestino Migliore, says that the Holy Father’s visit will further the rediscovery of Christianity and interest in Jesus Christ in the country, and will send a powerful message to a 'hesitant Europe.'

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Revolut customers in Ireland are among those impacted by a data breach at a third-party provider.

“One of the features we see in … a lot of the billionaire tech elites is a real kind of anger,” says Jacob Silverman, author of Gilded Rage: Elon Musk and the Radicalization of Silicon Valley. “They’re angry at what they see as the excesses of woke culture and liberal and lefty politics. … And they’re angry that they don’t have free rein to enact the world they want to enact, and that includes areas like AI.” Silverman also discusses how tech elites like Peter Thiel and David Sacks are shaping the Trump administration’s approach to technology.

The instant deliveries sector has become a rapidly growing force and reshaped how urban Indians shop for everything from milk to iPhones.

A new appeal has been ordered for Neressa and Odelia Quewezance, who were convicted by a jury in 1994 of second-degree murder in the death of Anthony Joseph Dolff.

Seydina Moussa Ndiaye is a member of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence, working on a strategy with the African Union to address the risks and benefits of AI for the continent. African countries face the threat of “colonial AI,” says Ndiaye. “When we talk about colonialism historically, that involves the control of resources, the control of knowledge and the control of terms of exchange, and we see that in Africa when we talk about AI.”

The HSE told the Public Accounts Committee that abolishing private practice in public hospitals will cost around €140 million this year.

PowerCo, the Volkswagen subsidiary building a $7-billion electric vehicle battery plant in St. Thomas, Ont., says the facility is now expected to begin operations in 2029, two years later than originally planned.

Group Captain Gez Currie said the pilots were in hospital being cared for and were with their families.

Leaders of top artificial intelligence firms, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, testified to the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday, urging nations to adopt international standards on the development of AI. This comes after AI agents at OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta and Google have gone rogue in recent months, hacking into other companies’ corporate systems and, in the case of OpenAI, into the portal of Australia’s public health insurance program.

“I think we’re headed in the right direction,” says Malo Bourgon, CEO of the Machine Intelligence Research Institute, who has participated in several AI-related meetings on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly this week. “I do think that the CEOs, while there’s a bunch of reason to be cynical about them, are sincere that they think that the progress with this technology is moving too quickly and that they risk losing control of it, and that that could lead to permanent disempowerment or human extinction.”

The hackers claim they have every agent's name, role, badge number and personal details including home address, phone numbers and spouse information.

A knife attack on the grounds of a Benedictine abbey ⁠in southern Poland left one person dead and at least four injured, local media reported.

CVC Capital Partners and Nippon Sangyo Suishin Kiko are weighing a bid to take the company private, sources said.

A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Trump’s ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico, ordering the administration to restore their White House access for two weeks. CBS, Fox News and NBC had suspended their coverage of President Trump Monday after he expelled CNN from the White House TV press pool. “People are standing up for press freedom,” says Filipino American journalist Maria Ressa, who won the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize. “There are costs to standing up, but there are greater costs to giving up.”

Ressa is also co-chair of the United Nations Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence. “A small group of countries and companies should not be determining the fate of the world,” says Ressa about the current state of AI.

Tusla's school attendance summit is taking place today, with more than 300 representatives meeting to discuss the growing issue of school absenteeism.

The Vatican Secretary of State looks ahead to the Pope’s visit to France and to UNESCO, highlighting the “diplomacy of encounter” and the “creative efforts” capable of freeing Europe from a logic of violence.

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“There is a people. A people who can wait no longer.  A people waiting to regain security, to return home to work, to send their children to school, and to freely choose their leaders.” Those are the words of the Haitian Prime Minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, who spoke at a special UN meeting on the future of security in Haiti.

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) continues to operate under “extraordinary pressure”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Thursday.

This edition of UN News's The Takeaway recaps key highlghts at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, including focus on the war in Ukraine and a renewed push by African countries for Security Council reform.

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley called on world leaders on Thursday to turn knowledge into action, reform international institutions and ensure that new technologies and global wealth benefit everyone.

The Vice-President of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, Abdullah Al-Alimi Bawazir, told the UN General Assembly on Thursday that his Government had engaged “responsibly and positively” with regional and international peace initiatives and made significant concessions to end the suffering of the Yemeni people.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his address to the UN General Assembly to defend Israel’s strikes against Iran as a matter of national survival and described the violence in the West Bank as the work of a few “juvenile delinquents” and rejected accusations of genocide in Gaza as “the greatest lie of the century.”

Israeli policies now threaten “the very life and existence of the Palestinian people on their homeland”, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told the UN General Assembly on Thursday, urging the world not to allow “another Nakba”.

The Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) cautioned against growing global demand for “blood-stained minerals” in the rush to net-zero, in her speech to the UN General Assembly.

Russian armed forces have carried out repeated attacks across Ukraine over the past several days, killing and injuring civilians and damaging homes, hospitals, shops and workplaces, UN human rights monitors said on Thursday.

World leaders approved the UN Declaration on Sea Level Rise by consensus on Thursday as the UN chief warned that encroaching waters are already threatening the future of coastal communities worldwide.

Sea level rise is among the most visible consequences of global warming, but for some countries, it is an imminent existential threat. World leaders approved a new declaration on Thursday while debating the best ways to strengthen international cooperation and support vulnerable low-lying nations most at risk.

Judge Blocks White House Ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico, Tech Leaders Urge U.N. to Regulate AI as Australia Says Rogue OpenAI Agent Hacked Website, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Greg Casar Introduce “Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act”, Iranian President Condemns Trump’s Threat to “Annihilate” His Country, Navy Admits Eight Sailors Attempted Suicide Aboard Carrier Strike Group, “A Spectacle That Shames Us All”: Emmanuel Macron Condemns Israel’s Assault on Gaza, Trump Rolls Out Red Carpet as Xi Jinping Begins Three-Day State Visit to U.S., Guatemalan Immigrant in Michigan Dies in Car Crash After Pursuit by ICE Agents, Costa Rican Immigrant with Diabetes Dies in ICE Custody After Missing Food, Insulin Shots, Texas Congressmember Says Venezuelan Immigrant Shot by ICE Still Has Bullet Lodged in Back, House Democrats Hear Testimony from Family Members of People Killed by ICE, Harvey Weinstein Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Sexual Assault in New York

The satellite station is used in part to provide internet coverage to neighbouring Ukraine, the government says.

Yttrium is a silvery rare earth metal with no easy substitute.

The Michigan tourist who recently went viral over a Facebook photo where she and three family members appeared to be wearing "Lake America" sweatshirts has parted ways with her employer.

Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris has said the Government will provide certainty around excise cuts on petrol and diesel for the winter.

African elephants use dozens of different medicinal plants to treat themselves and their families when they are sick, research reveals.

D Dutchmen Dairy says an overnight fire has devastated three structures on their farm and killed around 40 of their calves.

Red panda Bruce laid on his back under a general anaesthetic, as vets removed the problem tooth and checked him for other illnesses.

Despite promises to make safe AI, examples of bots behaving badly are now coming at us thick and fast.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told world leaders Thursday that attacking Iran "was one of the easiest decisions I've ever had to make" and denounced as "moral cowards" a mass of delegates who walked out of the UN General Assembly when he took the podium to speak.

The University of Galway has written off €1.6 million on expenses incurred for a student record management system, the Public Accounts Committee has heard.

The "Nansei shift" is aimed at countering increased Chinese military activities.

A man who escaped from custody in Northern Ireland has appeared in court after being arrested in Co Donegal yesterday.

On the occasion of the Plenary Session of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Pope Leo receives its members in the Clementine Hall of the Vatican and urges that scientific and technological progress be accompanied by “a corresponding growth in responsibility”, particularly in light of increasingly frequent climate shocks.

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The festival's 35th edition brought together musicians from across generations and continents celebrating collaboration and friendship.

Our editorial director reflects on Pope Leo’s upcoming four-day journey to France.

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A new school-based programme has been launched to help boys speak about the pressures of growing up today.

Total employment in the pharmaceutical and medical technology sector increased by 60% between 2019 and 2025 and the wage bill rose by 98%, according to new figures from the Central Statistics Office.

According to the ministry, the new rules are expected to affect about half of all return gifts, including tissues, lotions and electrical appliances.

The proposals would also see benefits cut for people who are able to work but have failed to hold down a job.

A large crowd turned out at Finn Valley Athletics Club in Stranorlar, Co Donegal last night to welcome home European 800m gold medallist Mark English.

The Government's proposed €2,000 grant to scrap kerosene and oil boilers will "partially" help to address overdependence on fossil fuels, an expert in sustainable energy has said.

The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference warn that the country may be facing a much wider drug-trafficking crisis. The Bishops are calling for stronger action at Ghana’s borders while urging churches, schools, families and communities to confront the growing impact of drug abuse, particularly among young people. They pointed this out after nearly four tonnes of cocaine shipped from Ghana to France was seized.

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Judge Timothy Kelly found the revocation of the three news agencies' press passes "likely violated their constitutional due process rights."

Japanese direct investment in U.S. food manufacturing stood at $8.19 billion as of the end of 2025, about 2.5 times the level seen a decade ago.

Amid the noise of our media-driven world, Bishop Louis Tylka of Peoria, Illinois, reflects on what Archbishop Fulton Sheen called “the most important conversation in a human life”—the one that takes place “in the depths of the heart.”

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Cambodian Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith says that some casinos, though licensed, are suspected of involvement in online scams and gambling.

A senior garda said details of a car stolen in Co Monaghan and later used to bomb Omagh was among a list of stolen vehicles passed to police in Northern Ireland two days before the 1998 atrocity.

In the run-up to his beatification, the Executive Director of the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation explores the life and legacy of this famous evangelizer.

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Ohashi's time of 2:04.83 eclipsed the previous mark (2:05.48) set by China's Qin Haiyang in 2023.

Shaun Chiverton, 68, this summer became the first non-Thai to be elevated to the second-highest rank in Thailand's monkhood.

Beijing has portrayed the United Nations Charter as a continuing safeguard against Japanese militarism rather than an obsolete relic of World War II.

Global demand for protein, specifically whey concentrate protein powders, has increased in the last two years, causing a global shortage just as tariffs hit Canadian retailers.

The settlement includes more than $83 million to resolve a disagreement over how to calculate pay for time couriers spend online between deliveries.

A move to stop supermarkets from discounting the price of alcohol through the use of loyalty points has been described as "modest" by Alcohol Action Ireland.

Police had been looking into footage appearing to show the man, also known as Danny Tommo, slashing at a boat in the English Channel with a knife.

Early supports are needed for families whose children are involved in anti-social behaviour and crime to prevent crime "spiralling" further, the chair of a children's residential and aftercare group said.

A melodramatic narrative with a ruminative core, the TBS series' constituent parts fail to come together in a satisfying way.

Federal primacy in Canada means that when a federal law and a provincial law are in conflict, the federal law wins out. As a part of this October's referendum, the provincial government wants to change that.

Damning review reveals raft of issues, including "unsustainable" workloads and deep fears about speaking out.

An app is helping nomads track their livestock with a solar-charging GPS device attached to one animal per group as well as navigate extreme weather.

Ha Young's experience underscores how unsettled the question of how to reckon with colonial-era collaboration remains in South Korea.

A 41-year-old man has been charged with the murder of Robbie Lawlor in Belfast almost six and a half years ago.

New GCSE subjects could include child development and building and construction as vocational courses are being introduced.

Chinese, Vietnamese, South Korean and Japanese communities mark the season through customs shaped by their own history, food and family rituals.

Currently there is no known cure for phytophthora agathidicida, otherwise known as kauri dieback.

A rogue OpenAI model bypassed safeguards during training and hacked an Australian government website, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said as he admonished the ChatGPT creator over an "obviously unacceptable" breach.

People living near a major chemical factory in Lancashire are told they could be at risk of serious health conditions.

Sean Carleton, one of the co-editors of Truth Before Reconciliation: Confronting Residential School Denialism, says residential school denialism ranges from focusing on positive elements to misrepresenting discoveries of potential unmarked graves near former residential schools.

Cleo was born at Kamo Wildlife Park and spent her 20 years there.

Some residents are struggling to deal with flooding for the second time in weeks, after heavy rain that caused damage and disruption just last month.

A rising volume of litter amid higher foot traffic has become a prominent concern for residents.

Auckland Transport officials is talking to residents about six level crossings from Kingsland to Mount Albert.

The London production, which has been running for 10 years, will reopen next month as a one-part show.

Meta has unveiled several new wearables powered by its AI models, including an audio-only, camera-free version of its smart glasses, amid global concerns about privacy and the filming of women and girls without their consent.

Dolly Parton's sister has denied there is a feud within the family after a temporary restraining order was granted against the late country star's nephew.

While the truce extension ensures stability until 2027, it fell short of the three-to-six month continuation some U.S. officials had floated.

UNESCO’s Deputy Director-General, Åsa Regnér, speaks to Vatican News about the importance of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to the UN agency on September 25, during his Apostolic Journey to France, and emphasizes how multilateral institutions can continue to help build peace.

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Last month's deadly A66 crash shone a light on organised crime and opportunities for young people in Middlesbrough.

The joint operation with law enforcement in Australia focused on organised crime and in particular, airports and borders.

U.S. officials said they would continue to support the immediate resolution of the issue of North Korean abductions of Japanese citizens.

Health NZ would provide "additional clinical workforce support" as the hospital looks to find more clinical staff.

Firefighters are battling a large fire in the small Canterbury town of Dunsandel.

Pakistan said it carried out airstrikes early Thursday on 10 sites in Afghanistan that it said were used to launch drone attacks against Pakistan a day earlier, a sharp escalation in recent fighting between the two countries that threatens international mediation efforts.

The lieutenant has been before the court martial at Auckland's Devonport Naval Base this week.

Almost every country in the world has a seat at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. But where is Ireland's?

Advocates are calling for more investment in supporting children's eye health.

CNN and MS NOW have said their reporters were allowed back into the White House on after a judge ordered that their access be restored.

Lauren had to abandon her career in the NHS after being left "in agony" due to her migraines.

The BBC’s North America technology correspondent Lily Jamali explains how the Medicare breach happened, and why it matters.

About 300 officers took part in simultaneous early-morning raids at 47 sites across Scotland.

After almost four decades of keeping the abuse to himself, Declan Roche has now decided to speak publicly about it for the first time

Sean Kinsella speaks about his experience of homelessness and addiction and how he turned his life around.

The Dublin Theatre Festival opens today, offering plays, shows, events and workshops on stages and venues across the capital.

Single adults have been largely overlooked in housing policy and homelessness responses, a charity has said.

Some food truck operators who worked at the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival in Halifax are calling for a boycott of the festival, saying they're owed thousands of dollars for their work even though the organizers are already selling tickets for next year.

For nearly four years, Alma and James Doucette have lived in a garage on their Upper Malagash, N.S., property after post-tropical storm Fiona damaged their home in September 2022. The public adjuster working on their case says he continues to work on unresolved Fiona claims.

Erika was last seen on Skippers Saddle near Coronet Peak last week, wearing a black hat, tan brown puffer jacket, black tights and hiking boots.

Australia said an OpenAI agent breached a government health data portal in June, gaining ‌unauthorized access to files, in what could be the first known instance of an AI agent hacking a government website.

Reporters from three news outlets banned from the White House by U.S. President Donald Trump were back on its grounds Thursday afternoon, hours after a federal judge ordered the administration to reinstate their access.

President David Adeang used a UN gathering of world leaders to announce his country's voluntary withdrawal from the International Criminal Court and criticise the International Seabed Authority.

Lok Fung Lorrence Li is on trial after he denied murdering Fuk Fu Joseph Kwok and his wife Mei Han Chong in November 2023.

Grassy Narrows First Nation and Wabaseemoong Independent Nations continue to seek justice from the provincial and federal governments over decades of mercury poisoning caused by contamination that dates back to the 1960s and '70s. The First Nations' River Run Rally drew about 9,000 people to downtown Toronto on Wednesday. Here's what they want to see happen.

An Ontario woman says she was offered a financial lifeline after being duped by a controversial HVAC company — only for the proposed solution to sink her further into debt.

Crown prosecutors were unable to speak “legal French” before a judge during the first two court appearances of Dave Faucher, a Quebec man accused of first-degree murder in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

The head of Vanuatu's Citizenship Office says it has not made a decision to revoke Tate's Vanuatu citizenship, as earlier reported.

The Pratas Islands, a national park with largely untouched reefs, lie roughly between southern Taiwan and Hong Kong.

From smart glasses and pins to handheld gadgets, companies are betting artificial intelligence will reshape how consumers interact with technology.

The Marlborough District Council estimates damage from the July storm will cost more than $8 million.

American officials have scolded Canada for making a deal with China. But the numbers show the U.S. does vastly more business with China than Canada would possibly dream of.

On the whole, premiers and prime ministers have benefited from similar gambles in the past. But for others a decision to test the electorate ahead of schedule massively backfired. Here are some examples of both.

As provinces grapple with how to decrease wait times for surgeries, Alberta is introducing a system in which doctors can simultaneously work in public hospitals and do private care on the side — a model that increases public wait times, according to data from within Canada and international jurisdictions.

With less than two weeks until Quebec voters head to the polls on Oct. 5, the leaders of Quebec's five main parties faced off over the health-care system, the trade war and the possibility of a third referendum. Here's a breakdown.

Vietnam and Canada can deepen their relationships on trade, energy and academia, say experts — but some say the Southeast Asian country's track record on human rights shouldn't be ignored.

The idea of introducing public grocery stores has created some buzz during this provincial election campaign. Québec Solidaire is proposing to create 15 of them, claiming they’d help lower the cost of groceries.

The planemaker is trying to finalize a May deal for China to buy 200 planes, rather than pursue hopes of securing new commitments for more jets.

Analysis: When Xi visits Washington this week, he will be sitting down with Trump in a vastly different position than a decade ago.

The disaster has caused climate diplomacy to overshadow Balendra Shah's anti-corruption agenda that helped his rise to office.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin is expected to focus on global uncertainty during his address to the UN General Assembly.

Meanwhile, Fonterra paid its outgoing chief executive, Miles Hurrell, a total abou $8.2 million in the last financial year.

"A very dangerous situation" is how one of the world's top climate scientists is describing the next six months ahead.

The yields SoftBank has committed to pay are its highest-ever for dollar bonds on a day when benchmark U.S. Treasury rates soared to two-decade highs.

Peter Coulsen, who has a 44-year conviction history, is back in prison after being sentenced on 10 charges.

Mortgage costs are climbing as the Bank of Japan raises interest rates and signals its willingness to tighten credit further, damping demand.

Russian strikes have killed two people in Kyiv and six people on a farm in the Kharkiv region of eastern Ukraine.

A fireball seen on Wednesday night may have left behind space rocks for scientists to examine, and enthusiasts to look at - but not touch.

The incident took place on Saturday and the pedestrian who was hit died in hospital the next day.

Minister for Housing and Local Government James Browne is to confirm a bye-election for the remaining vacancy in the Oireachtas later today.

Meta has unveiled audio-only smart glasses, with some questioning whether it is a response to the backlash over privacy.

Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez told the UN General Assembly that the country would ⁠hold elections as part of a transition to "full democracy", but did not give a specific date for the vote.

Police are still speaking with a number of witnesses to the "violent altercation" that occurred.

The BBC has spoken to residents in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky who say they are being "constantly shelled".

Two 19 year olds accused of harming the child are in custody and set to appear in court on Friday.

Experts feared the trend would make it impossible to reach the government's target of 95 percent coverage by 2030.

Campaigners hope the new words will lead to less body shaming and more sex positivity.

The United States has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin ⁠to a December G20 meeting in Miami, Florida where he could hold a summit with President Donald Trump.

Police were still working to establish what happened, with forensic testing ongoing.

An iwi-led conservation project is undertaking one of the largest feral cat removal operations.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has said the US and China have a responsibility to "develop and manage AI for good," with the rapidly developing technology key on the agenda for his meeting with Donald Trump.

Consumers are feeling the pinch from the rising cost of protein.

Ireland is running out of time to prepare for an ageing population, Nursing Homes Ireland has said.

New research from hiring platform Indeed has found more than half of workers said their college degree directly relates to their current career, while one in three said they now work in an area that does not directly relate to what they studied.

Prime Minister Mark Carney says he studied the possibility of U.S.-led military action in Canada. In a lengthy New York Times interview, he declined to discuss in detail what that examination involved, but suggested it would be irresponsible not to prepare for what he called "extreme tail risk."

Powerlifter Bea Toews, 82, tells The National about the moment she travelled from Australia to her home province of Manitoba to compete at the 2026 Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships.

The multimillion dollar estate of the late country star, who died in August, is already embroiled in conflict.

Reports filtering out from West Papua say six civilians were shot by Indonesian security forces last week in Yahukimo Regency.

Sitiveni Rabuka has not yet set a "definitive date" for Fiji's next general election as the government pushes ahead with its plans to amend the country's 2013 Constitution.

A person is in hospital in a critical condition after a serious crash in the central Auckland suburb of Herne Bay.

Pic's Peanut Butter founder says it's one of the greatest inventions of technology, despite concerns of its risk to security and privacy.

The prime minister opposes the law - in place since 1985 - and believes there is a case to remove it.

Lesley Webb says she took on her side hustle after she spotted someone wanting to find a new owner for it, but juggling a job and a business is not without its challenges.

The war in Iran and AI governance may be dominating debate and grabbing headlines at the United Nations General Assembly, but there is also plenty of talk about climate change around New York.

The Conservative Party of B.C. has confirmed former leader John Rustad is not seeking re-election. He joins several other high-profile candidates to bow out of the race, including four former cabinet ministers with the B.C. NDP.

The national security watchdog has labelled this a "new" type of threat in a cyber hazards landscape that's changing faster than ever.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called on every country to draw up a clear roadmap for moving away from fossil fuels, warning that existing climate commitments were not enough.

Handover times between police officers and mental health workers at emergency departments are set to drop from 60 to 30 minutes.

The world's leading artificial intelligence companies warned the United Nations Security Council of the risks posed by AI to humanity, appealing for ⁠governments to work together.

"I hate being a doomsayer, but the problem is becoming much worse," says primary school principal Ash Maindonald.

One person says she was present when a ministry manager told her staff to stop taking notes when teachers started criticising draft curriculums.

The collision, involving a truck and car, was reported about 6.50am.

An Auckland law academic is urging Pacific voters to look beyond election promises and consider what parties have actually delivered for their communities ahead of the general election.

With Russia intensifying attacks on Ukraine's power, water and sewage systems, Ukrainian lawmakers are asking Canada to help fund desperately needed electrical transformers before winter. Their warning is stark: Moscow is trying to make cities unlivable — while exhaustion and fading Western attention threaten to become weapons of war.

Senior members of the North Shore Head Hunters are accused of using drug-dealing proceeds to fund "luxury international holidays".

The number of health insurance disputes increased by 91 percent, overtaking disputes involving house and motor vehicle insurance.

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Washington on Wednesday, where he was met with a rare planeside greeting from U.S. President Donald Trump after their top officials agreed to extend a trade truce until January.

Severe weather hit the Prairies hard this summer, reporting more than $1.8 billion in insured losses across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC).

Senior nurse and midwifery managers will begin industrial action in the form of a work-to-rule from 29 September.

Crown prosecutor Deidre Badcock finished her closing submissions on Wednesday after spending hours reviewing evidence she asserts is enough to convict Tony Humby on dozens of sexual offences involving vulnerable youths.

Minister for Energy Darragh O'Brien said he will bring a boiler scrappage scheme to Cabinet next week, with grants of up to €14,500 to replace oil and kerosene boilers with new technologies.

A Tahltan language instructor in northern B.C. says she uses a puppet named after the Tahltan word for grandmother to make teaching and learning more joyful.

The wife of the police officer wounded in Sunday evening's shootout near a Belleville synagogue is speaking out about what she's calling "the scariest and darkest day" of her family's life.

Jeeneek (Tanya) Louie uses a puppet to make learning the Tahltan language fun.

Cineplex is considering a potential sale, the company revealed in a statement announcing former Landmark Cinemas head Bill Walker as its new CEO. While it said the board is confident in the company’s future prospects, it is evaluating all avenues.

Police evicted the woman from her home of more than 70 years despite hundreds protesting and the government criticising the order.

Disgraced film mogul Harvey Weinstein has been resentenced to 15 years in prison for sexually assaulting a former production assistant.

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly has said that An Garda Síochána is considering bringing in an external body to look at how protected disclosures are currently being handled.

Parallel parking is a driving skill that can be hard to master. Dan Leber founded Pittsburgh’s Parallel Parking Championship in 2021. Now hundreds of drivers participate in the low-stakes, silly competition.

FBI data allegedly stolen by the hacking group ShinyHunters carries granular detail about ‌scores of bureau officials’ job assignments, including sensitive work against Chinese spies, Russian intelligence, drug cartels and more, Reuters has found.

An embattled for-profit plasma centre in Winnipeg is now officially suspended from collecting the blood component, after Health Canada cited concerns about its "quality management" in the wake of a donor's death last year.

A radio network marketing executive had to "put his life on hold" and gave gardaí an "innocent explanation" following a controlled delivery of €111,000 of cannabis to his workplace in Dublin, a court heard.

The Netherlands will participate in next year's Eurovision Song Contest as its public broadcaster steps in to replace a company that had pulled out over the Gaza conflict.

Saudi Arabia reportedly carries out 19 airstrikes across three Yemeni provinces over the last day, forcing thousands of Yemenis to flee their homes, and compounding what is already one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises.

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U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out at Canadian immigration policies on Wednesday, saying the country is "destroying itself" by allowing "millions" of people into the country without proper security checks — comments federal ministers say are ill-informed and grossly inaccurate.

Faith leaders in South Africa’s Gauteng province have condemned the killing of women in Ekurhuleni and called for a sustained effort to rebuild respect for human life, beginning in families and extending to religious communities, schools, government and wider society.

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Ontario Provincial Police and the Office of the Fire Marshal are investigating a fire Tuesday at a seniors’ apartment building in Fort Frances, Ont., that left a 92-year-old resident dead. The 35-unit Rose Manor, with rent geared to income, is owned and operated by the District of Rainy River Services Board. Here's more of what we know so far.

A 15-year-old boy who was identified on social media stealing cars in Limerick and Clare has been sentenced to six months' detention at the Oberstown Children Detention Centre.

A man has died following an assault in Ballymena, Co Antrim at the weekend.

Outkast members Big Boi and André 3000 are suing Ovrkast, an Oakland rapper and music producer, for trademark infringement, unfair competition and breach of contract over similarity in the two acts' names.

Prosecutors sought a 15-year prison term for Kakao founder Kim Beom-su, Wednesday, during an appeal over his alleged involvement in inflating SM Entertainment's stock price during a fierce 2023 takeover battle for the K-pop agency. In a final hearing at the Seoul High Court, prosecutors asked the court to sentence Kim, head of Kakao’s Future Initiative Center, to 15 years in prison and impose a 500 million won ($370,000) fine for violating the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act. They also requested a 12-year prison term and a 500 million won fine for Bae Jae-hyun, Kakao’s former chief investment officer. Prosecutors sought 500 million won fines each for Kakao and Kakao Entertainment. Kim and other defendants are accused of keeping SM Entertainment’s share price above HYPE’s tender-offer price in February 2023 to obstruct the rival entertainment company’s acquisition attempt. The prosecution argued that the lower court failed to properly assess clear evidence supporting the charges and misapplied the law. It urged the appellate court to overturn the defendant

The Korea Coast Guard ordered dozens of vessels to take shelter Tuesday after military authorities detected a suspected North Korean aircraft moving near Baengnyeong Island, South Korea’s westernmost border outpost. The Coast Guard sent an emergency text message at 9:46 a.m. to vessels operating near the island in Incheon’s Ongjin County, telling fish boats and leisure craft to “return to port due to an active situation at this time.” A total of 79 vessels — 50 fishing boats and 29 leisure boats — returned to seven ports, according to the Korea Coast Guard. The measure followed military authorities' notification that they had detected the suspected aircraft’s movement in the airspace near the island, which lies close to the inter-Korean maritime border in the West Sea. Authorities lifted the alarm 2 hours and 10 minutes later at 11:56 a.m. and issued the evacuation message informing vessels they could return to sea.

Two consecutive explosions occurred in the suspected landmine blast that critically injured two South Korean soldiers inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ) earlier this week, with forensic analysis under way into collected mine fragments, a military official said Wednesday. Authorities are investigating Monday's blast that occurred south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) within the DMZ separating the two Koreas, as speculation grows over potential North Korean involvement. Military officials have confirmed that one battalion commander suffered a severe injury to his ankle, with a noncommissioned officer sustaining a leg fracture. They were clearing a path for a U.N. Command (UNC) inspection on North Korea's suspected mine-laying activities, originally set for early next week. "Two explosions occurred in total. Around 10:50 a.m., a staff sergeant was injured in the first blast, while the battalion commander was injured in a second blast that occurred when he approached the staff sergeant to administer first aid at the scene," a military official told reporters, citing initial statement

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — Three shooters killed at least 11 people including a woman who was believed to be pregnant in a late-night attack at a house party in South Africa , police said Wednesday. Three others were wounded in the mass shooting Tuesday night in KwaMakhutha township around 30 kilometers (19 miles) south of the city of Durban on the east coast. The people had gathered at the house for a party when the suspects entered the house and opened fire, police said. Ten people, including the pregnant woman, died at the scene and an 11th was declared dead at the hospital. Authorities did not immediately give out details on the condition of the three people who were wounded. Police are searching for the gunmen Police said they were searching for three men and no arrests had been made. The motive for the shooting was not known, police said, but added that some of the people at the house were known to police as part of investigations into criminal activity. Police said they couldn't give out any more information on those investigations. "Although the motive of the shooting cannot be con

NUUK/COPENHAGEN — Greenland's government and residents expressed relief that a military pact with the US and Denmark may end anxiety over President Donald Trump's threats to seize their Arctic island, but many remain distrustful of Washington. "I am incredibly relieved and think the outcome is very sensible. We can be satisfied," Naaja Nathanielsen, a Greenlandic MP in the Danish parliament, told Reuters. Parliament speaker Kim Kielsen urged households to raise the Greenlandic flag on Wednesday. Activist and influencer Orla Joelsen encouraged residents in the capital Nuuk to show up at the airport to welcome the prime minister and foreign minister back from New York where they struck the deal. New US bases The agreement allows the US to expand its military presence on Greenland, reopening Cold War-era bases in the settlements of Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig, with a prospect of renewed spending and employment potential. But it stopped short of Trump's unsettling previous demand that the US annex Greenland to head off the growing Arctic presence of Russia and China. "There has previously been

India's Mirabai Chanu Saikhom competes in the women's 49kg weightlifting during the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at Nagoya City Trade and Industry Center in Nagoya, Japan, Sept. 23. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

In the first half of 2026, Incheon International Airport saw a staggering 38.39 million travelers and was the world's busiest airport. While security systems and high-tech X-ray machines scan travelers, a unique team guards the frontline with an entirely different set of skills — a leash, a uniform and an extraordinary sense of smell. Their 9-hour shift unfolds in a rhythm completely detached from the chaotic airport terminals. Their morning begins in the quiet of the K-9 center. The handler and his dog share a peaceful walk, an energetic game of fetch and a refreshing bath. But the moment they arrive at the airport, the playful pup transforms into an elite narcotics detection dog. Weaving through mountains of luggage, they hunt relentlessly for contraband. Because a wagging tail often masks their intense focus, the grueling nature of their work is easily overlooked. Knowing that a single missed scent could compromise the nation’s borders, they screen every bag meticulously, guarding the country in their own silent way. Beyond the conveyor belts and strict checkpoints lies a rarely

President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) of Korean forces from Washington to Seoul during a summit in New York, Tuesday (local time). Although the issue has been under discussion for decades, it was the first time that it has been raised between Lee and Trump, according to a senior Cheong Wa Dae official. The 30-minute summit was arranged unexpectedly on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, where Lee and Trump both delivered speeches. The official said Lee devoted “considerable time” to explaining Korea’s position on the transfer and Trump showed “a great deal of understanding” of the issue. The Lee administration has pursued retaking OPCON by 2028 or even 2027 if possible, but U.S. military officials have said necessary conditions would not be met until the first quarter of 2029. Regarding the OPCON transfer, Lee outlined Korea’s efforts to strengthen its own defense capabilities, including plans to increase defense spending, and reaffirmed its willingness to take greater responsibility for de

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on Wednesday raised its 2026 economic growth forecast for Korea to 3.7 percent, citing the country's robust exports. The Paris-based organization's latest projection marks a 1.1 percentage-point increase from the 2.6 percent forecast in its June report. The OECD projected Asia's No. 4 economy would grow 2.6 percent in 2027, up 0.7 percentage point from its previous forecast of 1.9 percent. "The OECD has reaffirmed Korea's strong growth momentum by raising its growth forecast by the largest margin among the Group of 20 countries," the Ministry of Finance and Economy said in a release on the report. The OECD said strong exports and rising production would drive Korea's economic growth this year, while a gradual recovery in consumption would continue next year. The OECD, meanwhile, projected Korea's consumer prices would rise 3 percent in 2026 from a year earlier, up 0.4 percentage point from its previous forecast. Its inflation forecast for 2027 stood at 2.7 percent, up 0.5 percentage point from its previous projection. Earlier

Korea, Britain, France and five other nations from Europe and the Indo-Pacific have warned that disruption of sea lanes, including the Strait of Hormuz, is unacceptable and vowed to stand together in addressing shared challenges, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday. The foreign ministers and high-level representatives of the European and Indo-Pacific Partners (EIPP) — Korea, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Poland and Britain — made the call in a joint statement following a meeting in New York on Tuesday, according to the ministry. The meeting, the second of its kind, was held on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly amid the prolonged conflict in the Middle East and growing disruptions to maritime security. "Disruption of sea lanes, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab-el-Mandab Strait, whether by force, threat or the introduction of unlawful tolls or conditions for transit, threatens security and prosperity of all, especially the world's most vulnerable, and are unacceptable," the statement said. "We call on all countries to speak out wh

KOSPI gave up most of its early gains Wednesday as investors adopted a wait-and-see stance on the final trading day before the Chuseok holiday. The benchmark index closed at 7,080.92, up 0.9 percent from the previous session. The index opened nearly 2 percent higher but gave up most of its gains, extending a recent pattern of strong openings followed by weaker trading later in the day. Foreign and retail investors sold a net 534.4 billion won ($393.7 million) and 1.42 trillion won in shares, respectively. Institutional investors bought a net 320.3 billion won. SK hynix rose 1.2 percent to close at 1,862,000 won, while Samsung Electronics gained 3.25 percent to finish at 285,500 won. U.S. President Donald Trump said at the U.N. General Assembly that the U.S. delegation had held talks with Iranian officials for about three hours. Iran also said it could reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the U.S. naval blockade is lifted, helping stabilize international oil prices and improve investor sentiment in early trading. However, with the Korean stock market closed for the Chuseok holiday on Thursday an

Participants gathered at the Korea Culture Training Institute in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province, on Saturday for the latest edition of "I'm Solo at the Temple," a matchmaking program for singles organized by the Social Welfare Foundation of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism inspired by Korea's hit dating reality series "I Am Solo." Under a clear autumn sky, men and women paired off for a blindfolded walk. The women covered their eyes with black blindfolds, and the men guided them. Reaching the trail's halfway point, they swapped roles, with the men putting on the blindfolds and the women guiding. When one person hesitated to take a step, their partner gently guided them by the elbow. Soon, some were holding hands naturally. "It was nice to walk while relying on the other person," a 32-year-old participant surnamed Kang said. "It feels like affection blossomed through small moments of physical contact." The foundation selected 20 participants from 513 applicants to spend the day together, getting to know potential matches. Organizers arranged activities to foster connection, ranging

The annual exodus for Chuseok, the Korean equivalent of Thanksgiving, began Wednesday as Koreans headed to their hometowns for family reunions and took trips during the extended holiday. This year's four-day Chuseok holiday runs from Thursday to Sunday. Traditionally, Koreans return to their hometowns during Chuseok to reunite with family members and pay respects at their ancestors' graves. Traffic congestion already began building on major expressways across the country on Wednesday afternoon, as Chuseok traffic increased, according to Korea Expressway Corp. The company said traffic would be heavier than usual Wednesday, with 6.13 million vehicles expected to be on the roads throughout the day. The company estimated that 510,000 vehicles would travel from the Seoul metropolitan area to other regions, while 450,000 would travel in the opposite direction. It expects the 420-kilometer drive from Seoul to the southeastern city of Busan, for instance, to take about seven hours and 30 minutes. An expressway trip from Seoul to the southwestern city of Gwangju would take six hours and 50 minutes

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul met with the top U.S. envoy to Korea on Wednesday to discuss key alliance issues, such as the wartime operational control (OPCON) transition and the relocation of a regional air base shared with U.S. forces, the defense ministry said. The meeting with U.S. Ambassador Michelle Steel follows Kang's swearing-in on Tuesday, as Washington and Seoul face a host of shared security issues, with the OPCON transition from the United States high on the agenda. "The two sides discussed key pending issues, including the OPCON transition and the Gwangju military airport (relocation), and agreed to closely communicate to advance bilateral alliance in a future-oriented and mutually beneficial manner," the ministry said in a release. Seoul is seeking to retake OPCON from Washington before the Lee Jae Myung administration's five-year term ends in 2030, or even as early as next year. However, concerns are growing over a divide between the allies regarding the transfer timeline, as Washington remains cautious about a rushed transition. The Lee government is also pushing to re

In an effort to curb market manipulation and enforce fair rules across all home buyers, land and transport officials in Korea have launched an expanded review of real estate transactions involving overseas capital. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said Wednesday that it is currently investigating 840 residential and commercial property transactions conducted by foreign nationals between June 2025 and July 2026. The national inquiry, set to conclude in December, builds on regulatory measures first introduced in 2022 to prevent systemic loopholes that allow unverified foreign funds to bypass domestic lending limits and tax oversight. By expanding review parameters under a revised decree of the Real Estate Transactions Act, authorities are scrutinizing a broader dataset. Inspectors are now verifying whether purchase capital originated from foreign stock sales, cryptocurrency liquidations or overseas loans, while also cross-referencing visa categories to identify unauthorized rental businesses operated by short-term visitors. The crackdowns respond directly to public conce

"Mala" is enchanting Korean palates across the domestic food industry. The tongue-numbingly spicy seasoning that is a traditional favorite in China's Sichuan province has become a popular ingredient for dishes beyond just Chinese cuisine, spreading to Korean and Western dishes in both the dine-in and takeout scenes. Since its introduction to Korea in the early 2010s, the popularity of mala among Korean consumers began to grow more widespread in 2018, and has been on a consistent rise since. At Google Trends, online searches for “malatang" (mala-based hot pot) this month jumped 350 percent from 2022, while "mala rosé" (mala and creamy tomato sauce) jumped 250 percent during the same period. Korean's frenzy over mala has been evident in the country's dine-in landscape as well. Tanghuo Kungfu, the largest Korean malatang franchise, posted sales of 25.5 billion won ($19 million) last year, nearly tripling from 2022. Chunli Malatang enjoyed a sales increase of 134 percent from 2023, while Lahongbang saw a 32 percent rise from the previous year. This year, McDonald’s Korea, Binggrae, Otok

Citibank Korea has tapped Kim Kyoung-ho, its head of corporate banking, as its next CEO, marking the lender’s first leadership change in six years, the bank said Wednesday. The bank’s executive recommendation committee named Kim as the sole finalist at a meeting, Tuesday. If approved by the board and shareholders, he will succeed Yoo Myung-soon, who has led Citi since 2020 as its first female CEO. Her term expires Oct. 27. The committee described Kim as “a corporate banking expert with extensive experience serving large corporations and financial institutions,” citing his track record, deep knowledge of client relationships and the Korean market, as well as his understanding of risk management and internal controls. Kim joined Citibank Korea in 2001 and has held a series of senior roles in corporate banking, including large corporate banking and financial institutions coverage, before being promoted to an executive vice president in 2021. His appointment comes as Citi continues to reshape its Korean business following its exit from consumer banking. With corporate clients now at

Seoul Seobuk Hospital, a public health care hub in western Seoul's Eunpyeong District, transformed its wards into training grounds for international health officials this month, offering visiting delegations from Denmark and Kenya a firsthand look at Korea’s approaches to dementia care, tuberculosis control and palliative care. The hospital hosted Danish elder care policy experts on Sept. 10, followed by 17 Kenyan Ministry of Health officials on Sept. 17, as part of a series of exchanges focused on public health care in Seoul. The Danish delegation examined Seobuk Hospital’s dementia ward, including its admission procedures, caregiver-support rooms, nonpharmacological treatment programs and links between discharged patients and community services. The delegation included Danish elder care policy expert Dr. Jacob Høj Jørgensen, whose name has also appeared in recent Korean reports on Danish elder care policy, along with other officials. Visitors toured the ward’s central garden, Snoezelen multisensory room, patient rooms and program spaces and observed a music-based care program,

A special counsel team has challenged the acquittal of former President Yoon Suk Yeol of charges that he committed perjury during the insurrection trial of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, legal sources said Wednesday. Special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team filed an appeal with the Seoul High Court the previous day, six days after its appellate bench ruled that Yoon did not provide false testimony during a November hearing when he stated he had intended to hold a Cabinet meeting prior to declaring martial law on Dec. 3, 2024. The ruling was consistent with a lower court's decision. Cho's team had charged Yoon with perjury over his testimony, arguing he initially summoned only six Cabinet members before changing his mind to satisfy the legal quorum for a full Cabinet meeting at Han's suggestion. The team had sought a 10 million-won ($7,399) fine for Yoon. The appellate court, however, sided with the former president, concluding that evidence suggested Yoon had intended to invite additional Cabinet members independently of Han's proposal.

A petition calling for an end to visa-free entry for Chinese nationals and tighter screening for all noncitizens has garnered more than 90,000 signatures. The petition, posted on the National Assembly website on Aug. 31, has now been referred to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee after surpassing the 50,000-signature threshold required for parliamentary review. As of Wednesday, it had received 92,000 signatures. The petition urges the government to abolish visa-free entry for Chinese nationals. The issue has drawn attention to Jeju’s separate visa-waiver program, which has been in place since 2002. “Promoting tourism and generating economic benefits are important, but they cannot take precedence over the lives and safety of the public. If visa-free entry is permitted, safeguards must be put in place to prevent blind spots that could make it difficult to adequately verify visitors’ identities and assess potential criminal risks before they enter the country,” said the petitioner. The petition also asks authorities to tighten entry screening for all foreign citizens, calling f

A sleek cap featuring Seoul’s official logo has become an unlikely viral sensation in Japan, racking up millions of social media views and turning municipal merchandise into a sought-after fashion statement. A Japanese user posted a photo of herself wearing the Seoul My Soul Belt Cap on Sept. 7. The post recorded 2.7 million views, 32,000 likes, 7,900 reposts and 9,300 bookmarks without any paid advertising or promotions, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The cap, released Sept. 3 through a collaboration between Seoul’s SEOUL MY SOUL city brand and traditional fashion brand ONGO, combines modern headwear with details inspired by Korean traditional knotwork. Seoul said the post’s popularity in Japan has also generated interest in Korea, illustrating how products built around local designs can spread beyond their intended market through social media. The city government on Wednesday released its first Seoul Goods Top 10 ranking based on international shoppers’ purchases across online and offline sales channels this year. The analysis found that consumers in their 20s a

As Korea confirmed a natural gas-fired combined-cycle power plant in Encinal, Texas, will be the first project under its $200 billion strategic investment commitment to the United States, power purchase agreements (PPAs) with potential power buyers are emerging as a key factor in determining the project’s commercial viability. In a National Assembly briefing on Tuesday, Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan said the project will be worth $22.3 billion, with planned generating capacity reaching 6.3 gigawatts. The project will initially build a 1.4-gigawatt gas turbine power plant to assess actual demand and economic viability, before gradually expanding it with 4.9 gigawatts of more efficient combined-cycle generation capacity. The project will be funded entirely by Korea, while ownership will be split equally between Seoul and Washington. Electricity generated from the plant is expected to power artificial intelligence (AI) data centers in the region. In selecting the gas plant as the first project, the government considered “commercial reasonableness,” stipulated as a key condition in

With the terms of 54 top executives at major financial holding companies’ affiliates set to expire at the end of the year, including the CEOs of all five major commercial banks, the government is stepping up pressure on financial groups to make their leadership succession more transparent and address any procedural shortcomings, according to industry officials Wednesday. Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) Gov. Lee Chan-jin made the call at a meeting with the chairmen of eight financial groups — KB, Shinhan, Hana, Woori, NH NongHyup, iM, BNK and JB — at his agency's headquarters in Seoul, Wednesday. CEO appointments at their subsidiaries, Lee said, should be “a transparent and fair process for identifying the right candidates based on their capabilities, without being swayed by particular factions or personal relationships.” Holding companies that still lack what the FSS considers basic safeguards, including clearly defined qualifications for the top job and a minimum period for assessing candidates at each stage, should address those gaps before launching their appointment pr

President Lee Jae Myung has placed multilateralism at the center of his foreign policy at a time when North Korea refuses to engage South Korea and his government faces pressure to join a U.S.-led military mission in the Strait of Hormuz. His emphasis on multinational engagement with Pyongyang, including Beijing, has come as the reclusive regime continues to refuse to communicate with Seoul and while the anticipated Washington-Pyongyang dialogue has not resumed. Lee’s call for an alliance with other countries on the Hormuz issue also comes as U.S. President Donald Trump presses Seoul to make military contributions to help secure the vital waterway amid its monthslong war against Iran. Other U.S. allies have also been reluctant to deploy forces, leaving Lee to seek ways for South Korea to contribute without joining the fighting. Lee used his speech at the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Tuesday (local time) to call for the North Korea issue to expand beyond U.S.-North Korea talks and instead toward discussions among all parties concerned with ending the Korean War and establishing

In a metropolis where soaring real estate prices and inflation have turned lavish nuptials into an agonizing financial milestone, a quiet change is taking place along the banks of the Han River. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday that it is expanding its signature "A Rosy Wedding on the Hangang" program, offering fully funded, open-air ceremonies to young adults struggling with wedding expenses. Jointly sponsored by KB Securities, the initiative covers every detail of a traditional wedding, from venue rental, photography, catering and floral arrangements to bridal gowns, hair and makeup — all completely free of charge. Previously reserved for low-income families, multicultural households and disabled residents, the public program is opening its doors to more young couples living in the capital. Up to two couples will be selected through an essay contest to exchange vows on Oct. 25 in the Gwangnaru Hangang Park Rose Garden, a scenic public venue established in 2022 that blends waterfront views with lush floral landscapes. The policy shift addresses a growing demographic c

Chuseok is a time for family reunions and celebration. But for many Koreans, the holiday also brings an unavoidable question: How much will it cost this year? Expenses can quickly add up, from gifts and food to fuel and highway costs. Here is a breakdown of how much Korean households can expect to spend during this year's four-day Chuseok long weekend, which runs from Sept. 24 to 27. Charye table For many Korean families, food is one of the biggest Chuseok expenses. Holiday meals typically include traditional dishes and seasonal foods for family gatherings and, in many households, ancestral rites known as "charye." Although more households are choosing not to hold the rite amid shrinking family sizes and changing attitudes among younger generations, preparing food for charye remains a significant expense. A survey by the Korea National Council of Consumer Organizations showed that the cost of preparing a charye meal for a family of four averaged 313,089 won ($231.54) this year, down 2.3 percent from a year earlier. Lower prices for fruit, seafood and processed foods helped drive the decline

Chinese actor Tang Wei may be known for her sophisticated screen presence and glamorous image, but her "Decision to Leave" co-star Park Hae-il says the star he encountered off camera was strikingly down-to-earth — working in a field in loose-fitting farm pants and a straw hat. Park shared the unexpected story about Tang during an appearance with actor Yoo Hae-jin on the 156th episode of the YouTube talk show "Salon Drip," released Tuesday on the TEO channel. When host Jang Do-yeon asked Park about the vegetable garden at his home, the actor said it was Tang who had inspired him to start growing his own produce. Park and Tang starred together in acclaimed Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook's 2022 romantic mystery "Decision to Leave," in which Park Hae-il played a detective investigating the death of a man whose enigmatic widow, played by Tang, becomes the focus of both his investigation and his emotions. Park Hae-il said he first visited Tang after she had been cast in the film, accompanying director Park Chan-wook to meet her. Before the visit, he had a very different picture of what Tang

Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae on Wednesday rejected the presidential office's claim of a procedural flaw in the nomination of a top court justice, a day after refusing a request to make a new recommendation. Last month, Cheong Wa Dae asked Cho to recommend a new candidate after taking issue with his written recommendation of one of two Supreme Court justice nominees to President Lee Jae Myung. Cho said Tuesday that he could not comply with the request, citing a lack of specific reasons or constitutional grounds to do so. He clarified his stance in a statement Wednesday after his comments sparked varying interpretations. "Clear grounds and reasoning must be presented in the text of the official document so that there is no dispute in its validity and to proceed in accordance with the Constitution and the law," he said. "The reason for a procedural flaw in the nomination process, as reported by media, is difficult to accept when viewed in terms of the Constitution and legal regulations." Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung earlier said the presidential office requested a new re

Singer-turned-actor Nana has responded directly to criticism of her appearance in Netflix's new period drama "Scandal," saying that her personal choices may not have been right for her role as an actor. Nana addressed the reactions surrounding her appearance, particularly her lips, in a message to fans on a fan communication platform Tuesday. "If my lips made viewers uncomfortable, that's my fault," Nana said. "I think a personal choice I made may not have been the right choice for me as an actor." She also said she felt sorry that her fans had to see the negative comments directed at her. "I think it must hurt the fans who love me to see the harsh criticism of me, and that makes me feel even more sorry," she said. "I'll work hard so that we can hear good things together from now on." Her comments came after "Scandal," released on Netflix on Sept. 18, sparked online discussion over whether Nana's distinctly modern image suited her character in the Joseon-era drama. The series centers on a dangerous love triangle involving Lady Cho, played by Son Ye-jin, Cho-won, played by Ji Chang-wook, an

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul visited a military hospital Wednesday to console two Army soldiers injured in a suspected land mine explosion inside the inter-Korean border, the defense ministry said. The minister met with the wounded officers and their families at the Armed Forces Capital Hospital in Seongnam, just south of Seoul, following Monday's blast that severed the ankle of a battalion commander and fractured the ankle of a noncommissioned officer. Expressing his deep sympathies, Kang praised the soldiers as "true heroes" who put themselves in harm's way to protect their fellow service members, and promised the government's full support for their medical treatment and recovery, the ministry said. The victims — a lieutenant colonel and a sergeant first class of the 25th Infantry Division — were caught in the blast south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas. They were clearing a path for a U.N. Command inspection on North Korea's border-hardening measures, such as mine-laying and fencing, which was set to begin ear

The appearance of a shark drew crowds to a waterfront park in Busan should be seen as a serious warning about rising sea temperatures, not just an inadvertent tourist attraction, Korea's Green Party said. The party criticized public fascination with the shark, which has remained in the waters around North Port Waterfront Park since Sept. 18, saying its unusual appearance was being treated merely as entertainment. In a commentary titled "The shark came to warn us" released Tuesday, the Green Party took aim at the attention surrounding the animal. "Major media outlets are making a fuss about North Port becoming a new 'hot spot,' with more than four times the usual number of visitors, while some people on social media are cheering that 'a shark aquarium has opened in Busan' and calling the shark 'Bukangi,'" the party said. The nickname "Bukangi" combines the Korean name for the area with a suffix commonly used in Korean nicknames. The Green Party said the shark's appearance was linked to rising sea temperatures off Busan. "The appearance of a subtropical shark in Busan's waters is believed to

WASHINGTON — When Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Washington on Wednesday, he's expected to get a rare greeting from President Donald Trump , who will be on the tarmac to welcome his counterpart's plane instead of waiting for him to drive up to the White House. Trump's decision to greet Xi at Joint Base Andrews just outside Washington rather than receiving him at the executive residence shows how far the U.S. president is going to honor China's leader as he makes his first state visit in more than a decade. The White House has not released many details about Wednesday's greeting, but Trump is expected to participate in an arrival ceremony at the base with Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan. The salutation will kick off a three-day visit that's expected to be saturated with pomp, even by White House standards. The state visit, complete with a formal state dinner at the White House on Thursday, is supposed to reciprocate for the ceremonial grandeur that marked Trump's May visit to China. But it's also a showy patina at a time when tensions between the two geopolitical rivals are high

Sejong University held a ceremony Sept. 4 to welcome back members of its World Friends Korea (WFK) IT Sejong Overseas Volunteer Corps, the university said. The event was held to share the results of the volunteers’ activities in Jizzakh, Uzbekistan, last month and recognize the students who took part in educational and cultural exchange programs. The WFK-IT Volunteer Corps, organized by the National Information Society Agency, is a program that seeks to bridge the global digital divide by providing information technology education and carrying out projects in partner countries with limited access to digital technologies, while helping Korean IT talent develop global capabilities. Sejong University was selected in April to operate the WFK-IT Volunteer Corps this year and formed its volunteer team under the leadership of the Sejong Community Service Foundation and the National Program of Excellence in Software. The volunteer corps provided customized IT education and organized Korean cultural exchange activities in Jizzakh from Aug. 1-17. During the first week, the volunteers provided bas

Several translation errors were found in a Ministry of National Defense glossary meant to help soldiers unfamiliar with the Korean language, raising questions about the ministry's vetting process as the number of troops from multicultural backgrounds continues to grow. In August, the ministry said it had compiled the glossary to explain 562 common military terms such as "salute" and "roll call" for soldiers with overseas permanent residency and those from multicultural backgrounds. The words, compiled from observations of a soldier's daily routine, were translated into English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Spanish and Japanese, posted on the Military Manpower Administration's website and distributed in print to new recruits. But the glossary was plagued with translation errors. In the English version, the Korean word for "petty officer" was mistranslated as "pretty officer." The Korean word meaning "checking the chamber for rounds after firing" was rendered instead as "Weather conditions such as rain, snow, or strong winds that restrict activities," an unrelated sentence about the weather. The te

South Korea's Jeong Ha-sung blocks the ball during a men's team regu sepak takraw Group A preliminary match against Indonesia for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at Mizuho Park Gymnasium in Japan, Sept. 23. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

BENGALURU, India — This year's powerful El Nino and the record global heat it's driving, along with severe droughts, wildfires and shrinking water supplies, could lead to nearly half a million more deaths worldwide by the end of February, according to a research report released Wednesday. The grim warning by the University of Chicago-based Climate Impact Lab says that as many as 451,000 more heat-related deaths between June and the end of February could be attributed to El Nino, compared with heat deaths expected in a typical year. The heaviest toll, the group says, is expected in poorer countries, already struggling with food insecurity and high energy costs, partly due to climate change and the fallout of the war in Iran. Michael Greenstone, a co-founder of the group and the study's co-author, said the heat danger will likely persist beyond February — even though this El Nino is expected to end by then. The fallout of the weather phenomenon could be felt well into next summer, he added. The research, he said, shows that heat is most dangerous in places that are already hot and rela

President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday called the plight of families separated by the 1950-1953 Korean War "the most pressing issue" facing the two Koreas. The president made the remarks in a statement marking the fourth Separated Families Day, read by Unification Minister Chung Dong-young, as Lee is currently in New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly. "Eight years have passed since the last reunion, and we can no longer afford to delay this," Lee said. "Families should be able to reach and see one another, no matter where in the world they live." He called on both Koreas to set aside hostility and confrontation in favor of respect and genuine exchange, adding that his government would keep pursuing the issue even with inter-Korean relations at a standstill. After reading the president's statement, Chung offered a personal reflection. He was born on July 27, 1953, the day the Korean War armistice was signed. That coincidence has always felt meaningful to him, Chung said, adding the two Koreas cannot remain "at war" forever and that the armistice should eventually give way to

Multiple helicopters flew over the Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Tuesday evening, prompting unease among some nearby residents as it coincided with President Lee Jae Myung’s trip to New York. The flights were part of a nighttime training exercise conducted by the Capital Defense Command, according to the Ministry of National Defense. The ministry explained that such drills are occasionally held when the president is outside the country. The ministry had not responded to further questions about the details, such as the number of helicopters involved and the specific purpose and flight routes of the exercise. Although it was a drill, the fact that an unusually large number of helicopters were mobilized and were flying after sunset drew unease among residents nearby. The uneasiness was partially because of the memory of the Dec. 3, 2025, martial law imposition by then-President Yoon Suk Yeol, when a dozen helicopters flew to the National Assembly in Yeouido to arrest opposition leaders. A resident living near Cheong Wa Dae said the chopper noise was unusually frequent and loud compared with n

The number of babies born in Korea rose 11.1 percent in July from a year earlier, marking the 25th consecutive month of increases, government data showed Wednesday. A total of 24,275 babies were born in July, up from 21,854 a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics. It marked the highest figure for any July since 25,222 recorded in 2019. The country's total fertility rate, the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime, rose 0.08 from a year earlier to 0.89 in July. The rate remains well below the 2.1 births per woman needed to maintain a stable population without immigration. The number of births has maintained an upward trajectory since July 2024. Over the January-July period, 170,079 babies were born, up 14.7 percent from a year earlier. It was the highest figure for the period since 2019. The recent rebound came amid a growing number of marriages, an increase in the population in their 30s and more positive attitudes toward having children. The number of marriages in July rose 9.3 percent from a year earlier to 22,282. The number of di

The Bank of Korea (BOK) said Wednesday it had supplied 3.65 trillion won ($2.69 billion) in new banknotes for this year's Chuseok holiday to meet increased demand. The central bank supplied the notes to banks and other financial institutions for the past 10 working days, which is smaller than last year's 4.44 trillion won, according to the BOK. The on-year decline in the supply of fresh banknotes came as this year's holiday period is relatively short at four days compared with seven days in 2025. This year's two-day Chuseok holiday begins Thursday.

The number of Koreans who moved to new residences decreased in August from a year earlier amid a recent decline in housing transactions, data showed Wednesday. Around 471,000 people changed residences in August, down 22,000 from a year earlier, according to data from the Ministry of Data and Statistics. It was the lowest figure for any August in 53 years since the 420,000 recorded in 1973. The population mobility rate — the number of people relocating per 100 residents -- fell 0.5 percentage point from a year earlier to 10.9 percent. The data ministry attributed the decrease to declines in housing transactions and new home supplies. "The number of homes traded in June and July totaled 132,000, down 4.4 percent from a year earlier. Over the same period, the number of apartment units completed came to 43,000, down 29.1 percent," an official from the data ministry said. By region, Seoul reported a net outflow of 2,901 people, while South Gyeongsang Province and the southwestern Jeonnam-Gwangju area posted net outflows of 1,230 and 1,081, respectively. In contrast, Gyeonggi Province reported

As e-commerce rapidly transforms retail across Southeast Asia, Korean brands are using hands-on offline experiences in Vietnam to drive digital sales. Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) hosted its 2026 Korea Festival at Parc Mall in Ho Chi Minh City from Sept. 16-22, bringing 80 Korean companies together for product sales, market testing and cultural experiences. The event featured Korean beauty products, food and household goods, along with tastings linked to KOTRA’s Seoul Food exhibition, live commerce, Chuseok cultural activities and K-pop performances. Among participating companies were 48 domestic firms with limited overseas experience and 10 companies new to exporting, KOTRA said, with local vendors helping them test products and gauge Vietnamese consumers’ responses. KOTRA said it will follow the in-person event with an online promotion on Shopee Vietnam from Oct. 3-5, extending the campaign from mall counters to one of Southeast Asia’s major e-commerce platforms. The online campaign will feature 87 companies, including domestic firms, first-time exporters and co

Unionized workers at Naver Z Corp., the metaverse affiliate of Korea's Naver Corp., staged a walkout on Wednesday, its second collective action this year against the company's decision to freeze wages. Some 70 percent of the union's members, or around 120 people, picketed in front of its parent company's headquarters in Seongnam, south of Seoul, the portal operator's affiliate-wide labor union said. "Across Naver and its affiliates, a rate freeze happened only once in 2009, following the global financial crisis. Even during that time, the company shifted the financial burden onto its employees by increasing the wages of its executives by 71 percent," the union argued during a live broadcast of the walkout. The latest collective action is the second of its kind from Naver Z, after it staged a partial, 4-hour strike early this month. It also marks the second industrial action from Korea's portal service industry after unionized members of Kakao Corp., a messenger app operator, staged multiple walkouts in June.

The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI) and the French-Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) on Tuesday jointly hosted a forum with Korean Prime Minister Han Seong-sook in Seoul to discuss foreign investment conditions and regulatory challenges in Korea facing European companies. About 200 executives from German, French and other European companies, along with government, diplomatic and economic officials, took part in the event at Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul, the KGCCI said Wednesday. It was organized to strengthen direct communication between the Korean government and European businesses. In her keynote speech, Han described Korea, Germany, France and other European Union members as trusted partners built on long-standing ties and shared support for free trade, openness, innovation and a rules-based international order. “The government will do its utmost to cooperate so that investments and business ventures by German and French companies can generate greater results in Korea,” Han said. Han highlighted the 19th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Busine

Former first lady Kim Keon Hee on Wednesday appealed an appellate ruling sentencing her to five years in prison on bribery-related charges, taking the case to the Supreme Court, legal sources said. The Seoul High Court convicted Kim, the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, on charges of accepting bribes for mediation in a Tuesday ruling that partially overturned a lower court's seven-year sentence. A special counsel team earlier indicted Kim on charges of receiving various expensive gifts from multiple people in return for job appointments and business favors between 2022 and 2023. While a district court convicted her on all counts in June, the appellate court acquitted her of charges of receiving a luxury watch and a replica of a Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) painting. The special counsel team has also indicated that it plans to take the case to the top court.

HS Hyosung Advanced Materials is showcasing carbon fiber products for aerospace, defense and drone applications at CAMX 2026 in the United States, as the company seeks to expand into advanced industries. The three-day Composites and Advanced Materials Expo runs from Tuesday to Thursday (local time) in Atlanta. More than 500 companies are participating, with about 7,000 visitors expected to attend. HS Hyosung Advanced Materials has participated in the annual exhibition since it was launched in 2014. The company is displaying 3K carbon fiber, 3K woven fabrics and composites for drones, as well as high-pressure vessels used in satellites. “CAMX 2026 is an important opportunity to share the latest technologies and market trends with major companies and customers in the global composites industry and explore new business opportunities,” HS Hyosung Advanced Materials CEO Lim Jin-dal said. “Based on our high-performance carbon fiber technologies and stable supply capabilities, we will provide differentiated carbon fiber solutions for advanced industries, including aerospace.” Carbon fibe

SALT LAKE CITY — A U.S. Postal Service letter carrier in Utah threw out more than 300 mail ballots that were being sent to voters for the state's June primary , the Justice Department said Tuesday. Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter said during a news conference that Damon Matai Seei was arrested Tuesday and appeared in federal court in Salt Lake City to be arraigned. The 34-year-old from Payson, Utah, pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of destruction or delay of mail. If convicted, he could face up to five years in federal prison. A message seeking comment was sent to his attorney. Seei was delivering mail in Eagle Mountain, a conservative suburb of Provo, when he threw the ballots and other mail into a dumpster in a church parking lot not long after his shift started, McCotter said. Melissa Holyoak, the U.S. attorney for Utah, said Seei indicated to authorities that he had no political agenda and did not intend to discard the ballots. He told investigators in an interview that he acted out of “laziness,” throwing away mail to “lighten his workload," according to c

To mark the International Day of Peace and honor one of Korea’s most revered independence leaders, the Korean National Commission for UNESCO hosted a landmark event in Seoul on Monday, celebrating the 150th anniversary of Kim Koo’s birth. The "2026 70GETHER Walking Campaign" — the name is pronounced "together" — took place around Hyochang Park in Yongsan District, co-hosted by Woori Bank, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and the Kim Koo Museum & Library. Kim Koo (1876-1949) was a leader of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, which campaigned for independence during Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. UNESCO has designated the 150th anniversary of his birth as one of the anniversaries it commemorates in 2026. He is buried in Hyochang Park, which also houses the museum dedicated to him. The International Day of Peace, established by the United Nations, is observed annually on Sept. 21. Commission Secretary-General Hong Hyun-ik, Woori Bank CEO Jung Jin-wan and Vice Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kang Yun-jin attended, along

KATHMANDU, Nepal — Sitting on the floor of a makeshift shelter for survivors of Nepal's deadly recent floods, Tenzin Dolma Ghale said she had nothing left but the clothes she was wearing. Her entire village and members of her family were washed away by the surge of water and debris that killed over 1,450 people and left more than 6,000 missing. After speaking, she waved a hand and looked at the ground. “It’s all finished,” she said. Ghale is among millions of people living with the deadly consequences of climate-related disasters. As such disasters intensify, international climate adaptation and disaster preparedness aid programs have been slashed, leaving countries facing billions of dollars in avoidable damage and dwindling recovery funds. “The reality is that we need trillions of dollars every year, but developed countries have not met their obligation,” said Harjeet Singh, founding director of New Delhi-based Satat Sampada Climate Foundation. Aid cuts weaken disaster monitoring in Himalayas The Trump administration’s abrupt cuts to U.S. foreign aid in 2025 eliminated or

Kim Yoon-ah, the vocalist for rock band Jaurim, said she was abused by her late father during childhood, adding that every member of her family was a victim. During the Sunday episode of the EBS documentary series "Sidae Mokgyeok," she spoke about her childhood. She said time seemed to stand still and she lived in constant fear that something might happen at any moment. She recalled her father assaulting her when she was in the second or third grade for failing to rinse all the soap off the dishes. Although she was only in the second grade and was unable to do the chore perfectly, she blamed herself at the time. She said the abuse usually came without warning. "My biological father was extremely violent, and every member of our family was a victim," she said. "When he died, I asked myself, 'I created music while hating this man, so what story should I tell now?' Hatred was the driving force behind my music." Kim previously spoke about the abuse during the Jan. 7, 2022, episode of Channel A's therapy talk show "Dr. Oh's Golden Clinic." She said she grew up with an abusive father who had w

The Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) said Wednesday it has sent part of the results of its inspection into the state election watchdog to the special prosecutor team investigating ballot shortages in June's local elections. The BAI conducted a financial audit of the National Election Commission (NEC) from July 6 to Aug. 28 to look into whether there were any irregularities that could have contributed to the unprecedented shortages of voting papers in the June 3 elections. The results have not yet been made public. The data handed over to the independent counsel team involved six cases related to budget execution for major elections, including interference with bidding, unfair private contracts, and wrongful inspections, as they were deemed to require a swift investigation, the BAI said. The BAI did not disclose further details. The agency explained that it decided to share the data ahead of the official audit announcement because the special prosecutor team has only 150 days to investigate the case and related materials should be provided in time.

On the wooden veranda of a traditional Korean house, its lattice doors covered in paper, a young couple sits facing each other and smiling. The American husband, hair cropped short, has lather on his face and is about to shave. His younger Korean wife holds up a mirror for him. Last summer, their granddaughter shared 10 of the black-and-white photographs on Reddit, the American online forum. They were taken in the early 1950s in Wonju, Gangwon Province, at the height of the Korean War, and the couple in them is Park Yoo-sun and Ralph Smith. The photos drew widespread attention from users in both countries. The marriage carried a price. Women in Korea who married American servicemen in that era were labeled "yanggongju," literally "Western princess," a derogatory label used against women associated with U.S. troops. By the granddaughter's account, the couple settled in the United States in the 1960s. Their son, Charley Smith, now 74, published "Yoo-sun and Ralph" through the Korean publisher Positive Thinking. The book traces a family history intertwined with the turbulent course of mode

SINGAPORE — Meta has disrupted more than 3.7 million scam-linked accounts, pages and other content this year based on information provided by the Singapore police, the company said Wednesday. The social media giant said the Singapore Police Force (SPF) has been helping Meta's investigators "identify and dismantle entire ecosystems of scammers" through an information-sharing collaboration in place over the past two years. Between January and June, Meta removed more than 113, 000 entities and pages related to fraud and scams on Facebook and Instagram, company executives said at a media briefing. In June, Meta said it disrupted more than 33,600 entities and pages linked to scammers who were trying to take advantage the upcoming school holidays when families are rushing to look at travel websites for good deals. And in July, Meta took action against more than 3.6 million entities and pages, the big majority of which were "shell pages", or those that have no content and are not in active use, but could still be acquired by scammers for their future activities. Meta did not provide comparativ

A Sungkyunkwan University research team has developed an innovative cancer treatment platform in collaboration with researchers at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST). Sungkyunkwan University said the platform is designed to simultaneously identify cancer cells and the surrounding cells that support them and block communication between the two at its source by suppressing the production of extracellular vesicles. The team was led by professor Yang Yoo-soo of the university’s department of integrative biotechnology. It collaborated with a KIST research team headed by Dr. Shim Man-kyu. Cancer does not grow through the efforts of cancer cells alone. Surrounding the cancer cells are cancer-associated fibroblasts and various immune cells that act like collaborators, forming a complex community known as the tumor microenvironment. These cells communicate with one another by exchanging tiny packages called extracellular vesicles, which carry signaling molecules between cells. Through this exchange, cancer cells gain advantages that promote their growth and spread to other orga

K-pop’s entertainment juggernaut is redefining what it means to go to the movies. HYBE, the agency behind BTS, announced Wednesday an ambitious expansion of its cinema franchise, bringing live concert broadcasts and exclusive feature films to more than 1,100 movie theaters across roughly 50 countries next month. The weeklong event, dubbed HYBE CINE FEST 2026, represents the company’s most aggressive effort yet to transform traditional cinema screens into interactive, communal gathering spaces for a global fandom. Organized in partnership with event cinema distributor Trafalgar Releasing, the festival will run from Oct. 24-31. In Korea, the event will screen exclusively at Lotte Cinema, while Japanese distributor Avex Pictures will oversee a tailored rollout in Japan. What began in 2024 as a localized initiative in Latin America — drawing 260,000 attendees — expanded to Asia last year, attracting roughly 320,000 moviegoers. This year’s edition marks its transition into a truly worldwide affair, featuring six distinct theatrical programs. Highlights include never-before-seen conc

WASHINGTON — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov Wednesday morning on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the State Department said Tuesday. The meeting comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is slated to address the United Nations the same day. Earlier Tuesday, the Ukrainian leader told journalists he is ready to halt strikes on Russian energy sites if Moscow also agrees to do so. But Zelensky said he did not know Moscow's position, and expressed hope the "American side will find a way...to bring them to any kind of negotiations." War has raged since Russia launched its all-out invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Washington's efforts to end the hostilities have stalled in recent months. Meanwhile, Russia and Ukraine have been engaged in intensifying long-range strikes targeting a growing number of civilian sites, including factories, warehouses and energy and port infrastructure, as well as ships in the Black Sea. US President Donald Trump met with Zelensky in New York on Tuesday.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump held summit talks Tuesday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly and discussed a number of pending issues, a South Korean official said. The 30-minute summit included discussions on Seoul's pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines, rights to enrich uranium and reprocess spent nuclear fuel, and the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) of Korean troops from Washington, as well as cooperation in shipbuilding, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac told reporters. This marks the third summit between Lee and Trump and reportedly the first time the envisioned wartime OPCON transfer has been discussed at the summit level. Tuesday's summit reportedly took place while Lee was attending a reception in New York hosted by Trump. During the summit, Trump reaffirmed his commitment to dialogue with North Korea, and the two leaders welcomed progress in bilateral strategic projects, Wi said. The leaders also resolved to communicate closely to help promote the resumption of dialogue between North Korea and the Unit

K-pop boy group Seventeen's vocalists Jeonghan and Joshua will launch the group's new unit with their first EP, "Dreamscape," next month, the group's agency said Wednesday. Pledis Entertainment said "Dreamscape," set for release Oct. 19, portrays a "dreamlike realm" in which two notions of dreaming — unconscious fantasies that surface during sleep and the ideals people pursue in waking life — endlessly intertwine and collide. "On the new release, Jeonghan and Joshua become dreamers, offering an audio-visual rapture through the unfamiliar beauty they discover at the point where the boundaries of the two dreams dissolve," Pledis said in a release.

K-pop juggernaut BTS is seamlessly blending heritage with modern pop culture in its latest merchandise collection, weaving traditional Joseon Dynasty folk art (munjado) into the visual universe of its fifth studio album, “ARIRANG.” HYBE said Tuesday that the 2026 BTS DALMAJUNG merchandise collection will go on sale Tuesday, with a pop-up store opening the same day at HYBE Yongsan in Seoul. The collection marks the fourth DALMAJUNG series and the second collaboration between HYBE and the National Museum Foundation of Korea, following their 2024 collaboration through MU:DS, the museum merchandise brand. This year’s collection draws on munjado, a genre of Joseon-era folk painting in which decorative images are incorporated into or placed around the strokes of Chinese characters. Designers also drew on “Aliens,” a track from “ARIRANG,” using the lyric "heungjeukdaegil," a phrase conveying the idea that apparent misfortune can ultimately become great fortune, as a central motif. The collection connects that theme with traditional symbols associated with happiness, longevity and g

SK Enmove, a lubricant unit of SK On, and LG Electronics have teamed up to develop next-generation refrigerants, lubricants and immersion cooling technologies for applications across various industries. SK Enmove CEO Kim Wone-kee and LG Electronics Eco Solution Division President Lee Jae-sung signed a memorandum of understanding a day earlier to jointly develop new refrigerants, refrigeration lubricants and immersion cooling technologies for home appliances, commercial and industrial applications. Under the agreement, the two companies will jointly develop next-generation refrigerants in response to tightening global environmental regulations. The refrigerants will be designed to meet international environmental regulations and refrigerant standards, with a global warming potential below 150 and no per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. SK Enmove will develop refrigerant candidates, while LG Electronics will assess their commercial applicability using its experience with heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) products and systems in global markets. The two companies will also con

With North Jeolla Province pushing to co-host the 2036 Summer Olympics with Seoul, the capital city's government remains hesitant to respond to the proposal, following its own elimination from the domestic selection process. North Jeolla Province officials said the provincial government submitted a joint hosting proposal to the Seoul Metropolitan Government and is currently awaiting a response. Insiders, however, say it would be challenging for the two governments to iron out the details of the co-hosting arrangement as both would want to hold the major events, including the opening ceremony. “They will find it hard to narrow their differences because both sides would want the key events ... Seoul had already lost the initial domestic bid to North Jeolla Province. While Seoul would readily host the event on its own, a joint bid is a completely different matter, as it involves significant taxpayer money,” a government official familiar with the matter told The Korea Times. It has been reported that the metropolitan government told the province that under a joint bid, the capital would

North Jeolla Province has approached Seoul about joining its bid for the 2036 Summer Olympics as a co-host, fueling speculation that the province's bid for the provincial city, Jeonju, to host the games is losing momentum amid concerns about a lack of necessary infrastructure. Although the provincial government says it is not giving up its bid to host the Games on its own but is adopting a strategy to increase its chances of being selected, the co-hosting offer shows it is facing a growing burden over its lack of necessary facilities. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has since postponed its review of the province's plan for the event hosting. Provincial government officials said North Jeolla Gov. Lee Won-taeg recently met with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon to discuss co-hosting the upcoming Olympics. “The governor met with Seoul officials to discuss the broader framework for a joint bid, and we are currently awaiting Seoul’s official response. At the working level, we have formally requested that they submit their proposal on the co-hosting arrangement, and working-level officia

Korea Zinc Chairman Choi Yun-birm was a relatively small player among the Korean business leaders who gathered in Washington last year for a presidential summit, which included much larger groups such as Samsung, SK and Hyundai Motor Group. But Choi brought something increasingly relevant to Washington: critical minerals. Rather than focusing primarily on investment or manufacturing, Korea Zinc highlighted its decades of experience in refining a wide range of non-ferrous metals and recovering multiple critical minerals from raw materials and smelting byproducts — a capability that addresses a key weakness in the U.S. critical minerals supply chain: limited domestic processing capacity. Four months later, Korea Zinc unveiled Project Crucible, a proposed $7.4 billion integrated smelter and critical minerals processing facility in Tennessee, backed by the U.S. government and private investors. The facility is designed to produce 12 types of nonferrous metals, including 11 designated as critical minerals by the U.S. government, as well as semiconductor-grade sulfuric acid. Production is sc

WASHINGTON — The wife of a U.S. expert on North Korean nuclear tests who has been imprisoned in China since late 2024 said on Tuesday the White House has assured her that President Donald Trump will ask Chinese leader Xi Jinping to free her husband when the pair meet this week. Yufang Rong said she feared that Beijing planned to try her Chinese-born husband, Youlin Chen, on fabricated espionage charges even though his U.S.-funded research was openly published, used publicly available data and was done in collaboration with Chinese scientists. Trump will welcome Xi on Wednesday for their second meeting since May as the leaders of the world's leading powers seek stability amid tensions ranging from trade to Iran and Taiwan. Rong said she was assured during a Tuesday meeting at the White House with officials from the State Department and National Security Council that Trump would ask Xi to free her husband. Chen, 54, is one of two Americans held by Beijing that the U.S. has designated as "wrongfully detained," making their release a top priority. The other is Min Zin, a scholar arrested i

South Korean stocks trimmed their earlier gains late Wednesday morning after a strong start, as investors attempted to cash out recent gains. After opening 1.94 percent higher, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 5.96 points, or 0.08 percent, to 7,023.87 as of 11:20 a.m. The KOSPI opened sharply higher, led by gains in tech heavyweights, following the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite's back-to-back record closes. The index has risen for the past three consecutive sessions. Market heavyweights were trading mixed. Top market cap Samsung Electronics rose 1.9 percent, and chip giant SK hynix gained 0.11 percent. SK Square, the parent company of SK hynix, advanced 2.84 percent, while Samsung Electro-Mechanics, an electronics component affiliate of Samsung Electronics, lost 0.74 percent. The Korean won was trading at 1,352.6 won against the U.S. dollar as of 11:20 a.m., up 3.9 won from the previous session's close.

North Korean Vice Defense Minister Ryo Chol-ung has departed for Vietnam, state media reported Wednesday, amid deepening cooperation between the two nations. A delegation, led by Ryo, left Pyongyang the previous day, seen off by defense ministry officials, Vietnam's ambassador to North Korea and the embassy's defense attache, the Korean Central News Agency said. The report gave no details on the delegation's itinerary or the purpose of the trip. The visit comes as Pyongyang and Hanoi have stepped up efforts to deepen bilateral relations. Early this month, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening mutual ties in a letter to President To Lam, marking Vietnam's 81st founding anniversary. The two countries have been moving steadily closer since the October summit. Lam's visit at that time marked the first by a top Vietnamese leader to North Korea in 18 years. In May, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung visited the North for talks with his North Korean counterpart, Choe Son-hui. The following month, the two countries' security ministers held talks in Pyongy

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday raised its 2026 economic growth forecast for Korea to 3.2 percent from the 2.6 percent projected in July, citing strong exports and corporate earnings amid the artificial intelligence (AI) boom. The ADB's latest estimate marks a 0.6 percentage-point increase from the previous report, with the bank also raising its 2027 growth outlook for Asia's fourth-largest economy by 0.3 percentage point to 2.3 percent. The Manila-based bank had projected growth of 1.9 percent and 2.6 percent for 2026 in its April and July reports, respectively, for Asia's No. 4 economy. The ADB said the revised forecast reflected Korea's growing exports amid soaring global demand for AI chips. Korea's expansionary fiscal policy and robust corporate earnings are contributing to a gradual recovery in private consumption, it added. The ADB, however, noted potential risks include rising geopolitical tensions, increased volatility in global financial markets and additional U.S. tariff hikes, which could weigh on exports and investment. As for inflation, the ADB maintained its Ju

UNITED NATIONS — President Donald Trump said U.S. and Iranian officials met Tuesday, an unexpected engagement that came even as he threatened in his address to the U.N. General Assembly that he may “annihilate” the Islamic Republic if a deal isn’t reached soon to end the nearly seven-month war. Trump told reporters that his chief envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner , met for about three hours with the Iranian officials on the sidelines of the annual gathering of world leaders but he offered few details about how the discussions transpired or the substance of the exchange. “It was a very good meeting,” Trump said. The president later added that the Iranian officials were “not the highest level, but it’s something.” Witkoff said in a posting on X that the talks were conducted through mediators who shuttled between the U.S. and Iranian teams. He added that he was hopeful the effort “will prove constructive and promising.” The engagement comes after months of U.S.-Iran communications languishing following the collapse of a short-lived ceasefire that was brokered in

North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Son-gyong has departed for New York to attend the 81st session of the U.N. General Assembly, state media reported Wednesday. A North Korean delegation, led by Kim, left Pyongyang on Tuesday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, without disclosing details of his itinerary. Kim is set to take the floor Monday, the closing day of the General Debate, the annual high-level session where U.N. member states lay out their positions on major international issues. During last year's session, he used his address to reiterate Pyongyang's stance that it will never abandon its nuclear weapons. Following the failed 2019 Hanoi summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump, Pyongyang had not sent any minister-level officials for six years. North Korean Ambassador to the U.N. Kim Song served as its representative instead. Previously, former North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Su-yong attended the U.N. General Assembly from 2014-2015 and his successor, Ri Yong-ho, participated from 2016 to 2018.

The chief of the country's financial watchdog said Wednesday that bank holding companies need to draw up measures to boost fairness and transparency in selecting chief executives of their affiliates. In a meeting with the heads of eight holding companies of banks, Lee Chan-jin, governor of the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), urged them to redouble their efforts to select chief executives of their affiliates in a fair and transparent manner. The watchdog has been racing to map out measures to boost the governance structure of financial holding companies that center around fair and transparent selections of chief executives of banks. Lee also stressed that banks need to enhance their internal control schemes as financial accidents have been on the steady rise. According to the FSS, a total of 171 billion won ($126 million) worth of financial accidents were reported in the banking sector in the first seven months of the year, sharply up from 69.6 billion won in 2023.

NEW YORK — President Lee Jae Myung met with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday and discussed cooperation between South Korea and the world body, as well as issues concerning the Korean Peninsula. The meeting took place on the sidelines of Lee's attendance at the U.N. General Assembly in New York, marking their third in-person meeting since Lee took office in June last year. During the meeting, Lee highlighted his administration's efforts to build peaceful and mutually developmental coexistence between the two Koreas under the vision that building peace without the need to fight is the path toward the most secure peace, Lee's senior secretary for public affairs Seong Ghi-hong said in a press release. Lee also said he expects close communication and cooperation with the United Nations in pursuing the vision. Guterres expressed "active support" for Seoul's overall diplomatic policy, including its policy of building peace on the peninsula, pledging to play a possible role in helping bring the vision to fruition, Seong said. The U.N. chief also hailed the constructive role Ko

For K-pop groups, the seventh year is supposedly cursed. Standard exclusive contracts usually are set to expire around that point, and members start weighing solo careers, new agencies or leaving the industry altogether. For boy band ONEUS, members say that reckoning never really arrived, and agreeing to stay together took far less discussion than deciding where to do it. The five-member boy group — Seoho, Leedo, Keonhee, Hwanwoong and Xion — will release its 12th EP, "FIRST LIGHT: 井," at 6 p.m., Wednesday. It is the group's first release as a full lineup since Seoho was discharged from mandatory military service in August, and their first album since all five moved together to B-Wave Entertainment earlier this year. ONEUS debuted under RBW in January 2019 and parted ways with the agency when their contracts ended in February. At the members' request, B-Wave acquired the ONEUS-related intellectual property from RBW, which allowed the five to carry on under the same name. "There weren't really any difficulties," Keonhee said during an interview with The Korea Times in Seoul, Monday.

NEW YORK — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday reaffirmed his envisioned role as a "pacemaker" in establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula, pledging efforts to help swiftly resume dialogue between the United States and North Korea. The South Korean president made the pledge in his address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, as U.S. President Donald Trump seeks to revive his diplomacy with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, while inter-Korean relations remain at a standstill. "I hope the long-suspended dialogue between North Korea and the U.S. can resume without delay," Lee said. "We will lay the groundwork for this (U.S.-North Korea dialogue) to develop into a dialogue between the related parties to end the war on the Korean Peninsula and transition into a peace regime." The two Koreas remain technically at war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. "Fortunately, President Trump's resolve has recently created a hard-won opportunity for change," Lee said, referring to Trump's repeated expressions of interest in dialogue

TEHRAN — Flights from Iran to the capitals of Iraq and Oman will be cancelled as of midnight, local media reported Tuesday, hours before expanded U.S. sanctions were due to come into force. The Tasnim news agency cited a civil aviation spokesman as saying that "Baghdad and Muscat airports will no longer accept Iranian flights." "Other international flights, including Istanbul, will operate as scheduled and as usual, and at present there are no problems with these flights," Tasnim reported. According to Tasnim, Iran's aviation authorities are in talks to reroute Baghdad flights to Najaf, a major destination for Iranian pilgrims. The agency ISNA said negotiations with Oman were also ongoing. In Iraq, the government has not yet announced plans to enforce the ban, but several sources, including a senior government official, told AFP that Baghdad would comply. Earlier this month the U.S. blacklisted the Iranian aviation sector and threatened sanctions against any foreign organisation working with Iran's airlines. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Monday that Iranian airlines would

The United States, Denmark and Greenland signed a security agreement on Tuesday aimed at ending months of tension over the Danish self-governing territory after U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated threats to take control of the vast Arctic island. Here are some key components of the deal, which adds to a 1951 U.S.-Danish pact on Greenland's defence, according to a text published by the Danish government. What are the military aspects of the deal? The agreement allows the United States to establish twonew military bases — one at Narsarsuaq in southern Greenland and the other at Mestersvig on the east coast — and to expand Pituffik Space Base, currently its only active base on the island. US craft including planes and vessels get flyover, landing and undersea rights in all of Greenland, including territorial waters. The agreement does not specify troop numbers or timelines. How does the pact work with NATO? The agreement expresses support for a stronger NATO presence in the Arctic, and Denmark commits to further strengthen its own security posture in the region. If Greenland ever become

UNITED NATIONS — In a no-nonsense farewell speech, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged global leaders Tuesday to respond to the defining challenge today: Will the world continue on its path to fragmentation or cooperate to tackle the existential threats from climate crisis, runaway artificial intelligence and intensifying inequalities? At the heart of these crises is power, Guterres told the annual high-level gathering at the U.N. General Assembly, pointing to the “irreversible” move toward a multipolar world, the “extraordinary transfer of power” from governments to a handful of private corporations and individuals, and the increasing handover of power from humans to machines with artificial intelligence. Guterres urged leaders to avoid what he called “the great fracture – the division of the world into two rival blocs with separate economic, technological and security systems.” He rebuked might-makes-right thinking, telling superpowers to recognize “that their power isn’t so super” — that “military power alone cannot security peace” and that “no

NEW YORK — Wall Street is holding near its record high Tuesday in a relatively quiet day for markets worldwide. The S&P 500 rose 0.1 percent is sitting 0.4 percent below its all-time high set last month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 168 points, or 0.3 percent, as of 1:55 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was adding 0.4 percent to its own record. Stocks had been higher in the morning, when the price for a barrel of Brent crude briefly fell below $98. But oil prices later trimmed their losses, and Brent was most recently at $99.66 per barrel. That's down from the nearly $110 that it touched last week, but it’s still much more expensive than the $72 it was fetching before the war with Iran began. It’s been swinging with uncertainty about when the war will allow crude to freely flow again from the Middle East to customers worldwide. On Wall Street, AutoZone rose 6.1 percent after the retailer reported a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected, though its revenue fell short. CEO Phil Daniele said the auto parts seller faced “a difficult sel

NEW YORK — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung held summit talks with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday and agreed to cooperate closely to build stable regional energy supply chains. The two leaders reached the agreement during the meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Lee's senior secretary for public affairs Seong Ghi-hong said in a press release. The two leaders had a frank exchange of views on bilateral ties, energy supply chains, cooperation in the defense industry, as well as the international security situation, Seong said. They, in particular, reaffirmed that South Korea and Australia are key partners that rely on each other for energy resources such as liquefied natural gas and petroleum products as the countries jointly respond to the energy crisis stemming from the conflict in the Middle East. "Additionally, they resolved to cooperate closely to build stable and resilient regional supply chains," Seong said. Albanese described South Korea as a trustworthy partner in the critical minerals and clean energy sectors, say

UNITED NATIONS — U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced that the U.S. government would rename artificial intelligence "super intelligence" in official communications, as he firmly rejected calls for international supervision of AI, calling them a "globalist scheme" to control the new technology. Speaking to the United Nations General Assembly, Trump argued the word "artificial" undersold the technology and voiced hope the rest of the world would adopt the new term. "It sounds much better. It is much better, and it's much more accurate," he said. The rebrand is the latest in a series of renamings pursued by the Trump administration, which changed the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America" via executive order last year and, in August, renamed Lake Ontario "Lake America" amid a trade dispute with Canada. Trump has also floated renaming the Atlantic or Pacific oceans. In his speech, Trump dismissed warnings from AI safety advocates, comparing them to warnings about climate change, whose human causes are affirmed by the overwhelming consensus of the scientific community. "The Unite

COPENHAGEN — The United States will build two military bases in southern and eastern Greenland under a wide-ranging security agreement signed Tuesday between the United States, Greenland and Denmark on Tuesday. Since returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump has repeatedly insisted that the U.S. needed to control Greenland for strategic reasons, alarming NATO ally Denmark and sparking fierce pushback from the alliance. On Tuesday, Washington, Copenhagen and Nuuk signed a 10-page agreement in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, giving the U.S. control over security in Denmark's autonomous Arctic territory. Under the deal — which reaffirmed "the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark" and recognised Greenland's "right to self-determination" — Washington will establish military bases in Narsarsuaq in the south of the island and Mestersvig in the east, in addition to the Pituffik base it already operates in the north. In a section aimed at barring U.S. adversaries China and Russia from gaining a foothold in the Arctic, the agreement

NEW YORK — U.S. Treasury yields were slightly higher on Tuesday as investors weighed lower oil prices against expectations for further interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve. The two-year U.S. Treasury yield, which typically moves in step with interest rate expectations for the Fed, hit a fresh two-year high at 4.7879 percent. The Fed last week raised rates for the first time since 2023 to try to control inflation. Traders see a roughly 53 percent chance of another increase when the U.S. central bank next meets in October, according to CME FedWatch. Boston Fed President Susan Collins wrote on LinkedIn on Tuesday that she supported the U.S. central bank's decision last week to raise rates in the face of risks that future inflation will be above the 2 percent target. Oil prices dipped but were off the day's lows. Oil prices have spiked since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran, fueling concerns about inflation and higher interest rates. Investors also digested comments from President Donald Trump, who told the United Nations that he believed the U.S. would make a deal with Iran

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump made no mention of North Korea or other Korean Peninsula issues during his high-profile address to the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, though he has expressed his intention to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un later this year. During the second address to the Assembly under his second term, Trump touched on a series of key issues, ranging from the Iran war to the protracted war between Russia and Ukraine, and artificial intelligence, which he called "superintelligence." But he made no references to North Korea, despite speculation that he would seek to rekindle his personal diplomacy with Kim that led to their three in-person meetings during his first term: the first in Singapore in June 2018, the second in Hanoi in February 2019 and the last at the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom in June 2019. Trump did not mention North Korea during last year's address to the Assembly either, though he mentioned it in three of the four addresses he delivered during his first term, including his 2017 speech in which he famously called North Korea

UNITED NATIONS — President Donald Trump has signed an agreement with Denmark and Greenland aimed at strengthening Arctic and North Atlantic security, easing tensions over his repeated calls for Greenland to become part of the United States. The signing Tuesday on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York comes days after Trump announced the deal to bolster U.S. military presence on the vast, icy island but keep it under Danish control. The governments provided few details of the agreement before the signing. For months, Trump has expressed his desire for Greenland to become part of the United States and issued threats to seize the semiautonomous territory from Denmark, a NATO ally. The US has had a presence in Greenland for many years Officials from the U.S., Greenland and Denmark negotiated for months behind the scenes, searching for solutions to address some of Trump’s security concerns about the mineral-rich island. Trump's designs on Greenland strained relations within NATO, with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warning a U.S. takeover would amount to the end o

SINGAPORE/NEW DELHI — Saudi Arabia has restarted operations at its East-West Pipeline and could resume exports from the Red Sea port of Yanbu later on Tuesday, three sources briefed on the matter said, as signs mounted of an increase in Middle Eastern oil flows. The resumption of supplies on Tuesday helped to drive selling on global oil markets. Global oil benchmark Brent crude fell by more than $2 a barrel towards $97, its lowest since September 8. Drone attacks, which Saudi Arabia has blamed on Iraqi militia, forced the kingdom to shut the pipeline on September 11, halting crude loadings at the kingdom's Yanbu port. Since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran disrupted oil flows from Saudi Arabia and its Gulf neighbours through the Strait of Hormuz, Riyadh has been using the pipeline to reroute around 4 million barrels per day — around 4 percent of global supply — to Yanbu. State oil firm Saudi Aramco did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Full resumption could take weeks, sources say The pipeline was pumping at a low rate after its restart, two of the sources said. Aramco was

UNITED NATIONS — U.S. President Donald Trump told the United Nations General Assembly Tuesday that he had to choose whether to "annihilate" Iran if it fails to make a deal to end the Middle East war. "I have a big decision to make — will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before, maybe one of the greatest in the Middle East or even the world?" Trump said. "Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again? Do I drive them into hell with no chance of survival and no hope of future greatness or generations?" But Trump reiterated that he thought an agreement was possible before U.S. midterm elections in November — in which his Republican party faces losing control of Congress at least partly due to high fuel prices caused by the war. "I believe we'll make a deal right after the election because it doesn't make sense for them not to," Trump said. "They're waiting to see how I do in the midterm election. What they don't realize is that I'm not

This year, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia celebrates its 96th National Day, observed annually on Sept. 23. The occasion commemorates the day in 1932 when the founding king, His Majesty King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud, proclaimed the unification of the country under a single banner as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This followed a long journey of struggle and unification, culminating in the establishment of a strong and enduring state, uniting its people under the banner of Tawhid (the Oneness of God) and setting the kingdom on a path of nation-building and development for a more prosperous and stable future. On this cherished day, Saudis reflect on the journey of a nation founded on enduring values of pride in its faith, identity and sense of belonging. Passed down through successive generations, this journey has enabled the kingdom to become a model of development and transformation, firmly rooted in its historical legacy and authentic identity while advancing confidently toward new horizons of progress and innovation. The 96th National Day is celebrated under the slogan “Our Pride

“Schools have gay people, too!” That was the message of support from a teacher in a booklet published ahead of the launch of the Sexual Minorities Committee of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU). On March 1, the committee became the union’s first-ever body dedicated to sexual minorities. It brings together LGBTQ+ teachers and teachers who support them. Their shared hope is that LGBTQ+ students will encounter at least one teacher who supports them during their years at school. On the evening of Sept. 14, The Hankook Ilbo spoke by phone with “Mo,” the committee’s inaugural chairperson, who uses a pseudonym as an activist. Schools ask about gender every day Mo is a 13-year veteran elementary school teacher. At the first staff meeting held at the school where Mo currently works, Mo proposed eliminating a numbering system that divides students by gender. Under the system, the 30 students in a class are divided into boys and girls, with boys assigned numbers starting with 1 and girls from 16, in alphabetical order. The students are then divided into “boys’ team

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. During the Chuseok holiday, families and relatives who have not seen one another for a long time often greet each other with warm words and questions about their lives. But what may seem like a harmless remark to one person can unexpectedly hurt another or add to their stress. Family members may feel comfortable asking personal questions that they would hesitate to ask others because of their close relationship. To avoid lingering hurt feelings after the holiday, it may be worth thinking not only about what to say this Chuseok, but also about what not to say. Avoid questions that are difficult to answer Questions about marriage, employment and education are among the most common topics to avoid during holiday gatherings. Questions such as “Are you seeing anyone?” “Why haven't you found a job yet?” or “Which university are you planning to attend?” can put pressure on people, especially when the issues are beyond their immediate control or are things they may already be struggling with. Questions about having children should be treated

Emergency services are responding to an incident on Anglesey, after reports of a crash involving an aircraft.

Higher energy prices due to the conflict in the Middle East and climate change could hit growth.

He fronted the rock band Rose Tattoo, but became best known for his solo hit Suddenly.

An Ontario court has quashed a decision denying provincial coverage for out-of-country cancer treatment to a young father with Stage 4 melanoma, saying the government offered no basis for its main reasoning.

This year's powerful El Niño and the record global heat it's driving, along with severe droughts, wildfires and shrinking water supplies, could lead to nearly half a million more deaths worldwide by the end of February, according to a research report released Wednesday.

A Manitoba Indigenous lawyer who filed a lawsuit in 2020 against a firm that represented survivors of federal Indian day schools, alleging she was not compensated for years of her work, has won her court case.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has confirmed the review after Donald Trump told Andy Burnham the deal was "terrible".

The singer reflected on her "crazy" journey as she collected the prize for best independent track.

2026 is already the deadliest year for measles in the United States since the virus was declared eliminated in 2000. Four people died over the last month in Pennsylvania amid an ongoing outbreak in the state, which had not seen a measles-related death in at least 35 years. All four victims, including two infants, were unvaccinated (children do not receive their first dose of the measles vaccine until they have reached a year old). The deaths come as President Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continue to defund public vaccination programs and push debunked claims that vaccines cause autism.

Pediatrician and vaccine expert Dr. Paul Offit warns that the four reported measles deaths — which were reported by Pennsylvania health officials but have not yet been acknowledged by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — are likely a vast undercount. He estimates that there could be “closer to 4,000” cases in the Pennsylvania outbreak. “I don’t think people realize how contagious this virus is,” Offit says. “You don’t have to have direct contact with somebody who has measles. You just have to be within their airspace within two hours of them being there.”

We also speak to Offit about the COVID-19 virus, which he says is now affecting the United States “like flu” by causing “hundreds of thousands of people to be hospitalized and tens of thousands to die, just like influenza does, every year.” Yearly flu and COVID-19 vaccinations, he explains, are “effective at keeping people out of the hospital, effective at keeping them out of the intensive care unit, and effective at keeping them out of the morgue.”

In the wake of devastating flash floods triggered by glacial collapse in the Himalayas, Nepal is demanding climate reparations from polluter countries as it embarks upon the grueling process of rebuilding. Over 1,400 bodies have been recovered from the disaster, with around 6,000 others still missing. Nepal’s government estimates that the cost of infrastructure reconstruction is likely to exceed $4 billion. Nepal contributes less than 0.1% of global carbon emissions, yet as a mountainous country surrounded by glaciers, continues to be vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Recent studies estimate that global surface temperatures will likely exceed 1.5°C above preindustrial levels by the end of the decade.

We go to a rally outside of United Nations headquarters, where Nepali activists, including our guest Anisha Buda, are demanding climate justice, reparations and a just transition out of fossil fuels. Buda, a member of the region’s ethnic minority Kaike-speaking Magar community, says that almost 90% of the victims impacted by August’s flash flooding were part of Nepal’s Indigenous communities. “It is not just the lives of the people lost. It’s not just the houses swept, but it’s their culture, tradition and their very identity that is being lost by the floods, by the climate-induced disasters.”

The tenant of the flat in Madrid, Maricarmen, was unable to pay the rent set by the firm which recently bought it.

On Monday, the South African delegation to the United Nations, in collaboration with Progressive International and the Hague Group, hosted an event in honor of the U.N. Charter at the historic Riverside Church in New York City, less than a day before the U.N. General Assembly convened for its 81st annual session. We play excerpts of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders’s address at the event, in which he denounced the military-industrial complex fueling the U.S. war on Iran, Israel’s genocide in Gaza and the UAE-backed RSF paramilitary in Sudan, called for the end of corporate oligarchy and wealth inequality in the United States and warned about the risks of the unchecked buildup of artificial intelligence.

Bryan Seaver, who announced Parton's death to the world, is accused of trying to extort her estate.

The U.S.-backed Board of Peace is proposing a six-month, $2.45 billion US plan to begin reconstruction and governance in Gaza as President Donald Trump's ceasefire plan struggles to stay afloat.

The annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly opened this week in New York City. On its opening day, President Trump in his address to all 193 U.N. member states threatened to annihilate Iran. “This is probably a new low in U.N. history,” says Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, joining us in our New York City studio ahead of the second day of the General Assembly. As Trump pushes for even more sanctions on Iran, “what you’re most likely to see in that scenario is that the Iranians will counter-escalate” in what threatens to become an “endless war.” Parsi also comments on the U.S. military’s growing reliance on artificial intelligence for strategic and targeting decisions, Trump’s upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Trump administration’s flouting of international law.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s approach to allies and trading partners is reverberating well beyond North America. As Trump forges his own brand of diplomacy, Washington correspondents Katie Simpson, Willy Lowry and Paul Hunter ask: Who are Trump's allies anymore? And does he even care?

Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after the disgraced movie producer’s original conviction was overturned and a retrial last year ended with a jury again finding him guilty of a serious sex crime.

Ukraine will get access to OpenAI's advanced GPT 5.6 Sol model under the deal - a rival to Anthropic's Mythos and Fable

Nine years after the mass displacement of the Rohingya from Myanmar, their situation remains one of the world's most protracted and complex refugee crises, marked by years of persecution and uncertainty over the prospect of returning home.

The Security Council has been briefed by some of the world's top AI executives on the huge benefits and huge risks the frontier technology presents. With warnings mounting that the world may be losing its grip on systems built to outthink us, Yoshua Bengio, a recipient of the prestigious Turing Award and one of the godfathers of machine intelligence, said the dangers of AI beyond human control represent an unprecedented threat for countries “that none can contain alone and that does not respect the borders we defend”.

Five years of war. Another winter closing in. Today, the Security Council once again debates a path to peace – though any resolution still runs up against the veto of Russia, one of its own permanent members, whose objections have repeatedly stalled any consensus. As world leaders take the floor, the gap between diplomatic process and battlefield reality appears to be stark.

Ahead of the 40th anniversary of the groundbreaking Declaration on the Right to Development this December, world leaders gathered at a High-Level Week meeting on Wednesday to map progress made and the 21st century challenges still ahead – from narrowing the digital divide to levelling the AI playing field – as the UN chief presented a “blueprint” to address promises that remain unfulfilled.

More children and young people are beating cancer, but progress remains uneven across regions and age groups, highlighting the need for increased investment to boost survival rates.

More than 130 days into the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), health experts said on Wednesday that response efforts have been scaled up significantly and “the first encouraging signs of progress” are now being seen.

The United Kingdom will fight disinformation at home and abroad, and work to ensure global safety standards for artificial intelligence (AI), new Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Monday evening in his first address to the United Nations General Assembly.

Venezuela is seeking to rebuild after a period of political upheaval and the destruction caused by twin earthquakes earlier this year, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez told world leaders at the United Nations on Wednesday.

Kenyan President William Ruto told the General Assembly on Wednesday that the sovereign equality the UN proclaims is contradicted by its own structures, urging Member States to reform the Security Council and an international financial system “built for another age”.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday called for intensified pressure on Russia to end its war against Ukraine, arguing that Moscow continues to incur massive losses while prolonging a conflict whose consequences are increasingly being felt far beyond the battlefield.

Argentine President Javier Milei told the General Assembly on Wednesday that the UN has broken the “sacred covenant” on which it was founded, failing at what it was meant to do – while excelling at things beyond its remit.

President Masoud Pezeshkian opened his General Assembly address with a direct rebuttal to US President Donald Trump, who a day earlier had branded Iran the “number one sponsor of terror.”

Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa told the UN General Assembly on Wednesday that his country “is rising” on many levels, thanks to the strength of its people.

“We are the first generation with the tools to end the fossil fuel age – and the last who can avert climate catastrophe,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Wednesday, calling on countries to draw up credible roadmaps with clear timelines to transition away from fossil fuels.

From deadly floods in the Himalayas to wildfires and extreme heat across Europe, 2026 has brought a succession of stark reminders of a changing climate. The task is immediate: Protect people from the impacts already unfolding while rapidly cutting the emissions of harmful gasses driving climate change. World leaders have been meeting on Wednesday to discuss how to turn those priorities into action.

Trump Calls for the Annihilation of Iran at the U.N. General Assembly, Fighting in Yemen Leaves 169 People Dead, as Houthis and Gov’t Troops Clash Along the Red Sea Coast, Netanyahu and Mamdani Trade Attacks Ahead of U.N. General Assembly, Lula Warns Against Foreign Interference in Brazil’s Election at U.N. General Assembly, GOP Sen. John Curtis Calls for Probe into Donald Trump Jr., ProPublica: FBI Probe of GOP Sen. Collins Ended After Trump Returned to Office, DOJ Backs Trump in Ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, Federal Judge in Colorado Orders Trump Admin to Return Honduran Immigrant Deported to Central African Republic, Federal Judge Grants Emergency Request to Block Deportation of Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez, Grand Jury Declines to Bring Charges in the Case of Nolan Wells, NYT: Six Major Hospitals Reach Agreements with the DOJ to Halt Gender-Affirming Care to Transgender Youth, DoorDash Agrees to Pay $131.5 Million in Historic Settlement with New York City

Ryanair group CEO Michael O'Leary said today the airline "will not levy a fuel surcharge" amid higher prices for jet oil, though he predicted rivals may do so.

Daniel Thomas, known to his supporters as Danny Tommo, livestreamed a video of the alleged incident.

Three gunmen killed at least 11 people including a pregnant woman in a late-night attack at a house party in South Africa, police said.

Israel's PM denounces the French president after he appeared to downplay Hamas's activities in the occupied territory.

The debate has divided the internet and generations, with some saying that bringing a beverage to a job interview projects an unserious attitude, and others defending their right to remain caffeinated.

In the northern hemisphere, the September equinox occurred in the early hours of Wednesday marking the start of astronomical autumn.

The figure rose by 11% last year, bringing the total deaths in a decade to more than 11,000.

A man accused of a serious knife attack in Belfast will stand trial for attempted murder, a judge has ordered.

The BBC’s China correspondent and US editor explain everything you need to know ahead of the Trump-Xi meeting in Washington DC.

A UK-based data expert has pulled together a presentation showing the links between those suspected of carrying out the Omagh bombing.

A court hears that Aaryan Aggarwal called Jess Carter "stupid" and "ugly before using a racial slur.

Relying on text and email means sick workers disengaged and were less likely to work again, says Sir Charlie Mayfield.

Climate change has fallen as a major concern for people, while 64% identified housing as one of the three most important issues facing Ireland, a survey has found.

The OECD raised projections compared with June for consumer-price growth in every Group of 20 economy apart from China and Saudi Arabia.

The Labour Party has tabled a bill providing for 20 days paid leave for women following early pregnancy loss or miscarriage and 10 days leave for people undergoing fertility treatment.

Takaichi also announced a plan to submit legislation to diversify oil procurement channels.

Pope Leo XIV appeals for the protection of migrant and refugee children, and for everyone to take responsibility for minors on the move. His appeal comes ahead of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees.

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Jonathan Black-Branch, the disbarred former dean at the University of Manitoba's law school, has been arrested in Europe and is facing extradition back to Canada, where he's wanted on a fraud charge.

The Government is considering extending the excise cuts on petrol and diesel until late February or early March.

The Governor of the Central Bank has said the Government should stick to the plans that have been published and prioritise infrastructure in the budget.

On the eve of Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s beatification, Pope Leo XIV expresses his hope that the new American Blessed's example will inspire innovative ways of spreading the Gospel with joyful enthusiasm.

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The Canadian government sees Mexico as a growing market for tourism and projects visits to rise by 40 per cent over the next four years, hitting nearly half a million visitors spending about $1 billion a year by 2030.

The crackdown is likely to have strengthened Xi Jinping's grip on an institution that is a key source of power for the Communist Party, analysts say.

Russia pounded Kyiv with drone strikes on Wednesday, hitting railway infrastructure, warehouses and fuel stations, just hours before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The woman said problems in the family were well known to Oranga Tamariki and police, but they didn't get the help they required.

The TV chef joined Paul Hollywood in the tent as the Channel 4 competition returned for a new series.

Pope Leo XIV continues his catechesis on ‘Gaudium et spes,’ focusing on the chapter dedicated to the meaning of human activity in the universe. ‘Gaudium et spes,” he says, invites us to share “the bread of knowledge and know-how,” so that humanity can develop its potential and, with the help of God, work together to build “a better future.”

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The ferry was carrying 243 people, including 30 crew members, as well as an unknown number of vehicles, when it capsized in bad weather .

The general secretary of the Association of Garda Superintendents has called for an additional 23 superintendents, claiming "the role has changed completely" since 2019.

Tuesday's meeting represented the biggest diplomatic test yet for Burnham, Britain's sixth prime minister in a decade.

Predator Free Dunedin said the Orokonui Ecosanctuary has become a safe haven for native wildlife

As fighting escalates once again, thousands of families have been forced from their homes, many of them for a second or third time.

The body was confirmed to be a man who was reported missing in the river earlier on Wednesday.

Chiba Prefecture reported six deaths while Kanagawa Prefecture reported three as of 8 a.m. Wednesday. Two people are missing in each prefecture.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned Moscow at the United Nations that Ukraine would strike back and make the coming winter deeply painful for Russia.

Police say the lack of any new evidence is disappointing for families after a difficult and emotional few days.

An evacuation of more than 300 homes was under way after a suspected unexploded World War II device was found off the coast of Cornwall, England.

Doctors running a dedicated NHS clinic for children with ketamine bladder say they are seeing patients as young as 13.

The Senate cleared a motion making the constitutional requirement for a two-thirds vote to convict cover only the votes of those present.

The UK could act as "an honest broker" on AI and other global challenges, the prime minister tells world leaders at the UN.

Southwestern Mexico braced for heavy rains and mudslides Wednesday after Polo, a powerful Pacific cyclone, became a major hurricane. Forecasters also warned another system headed for Hawaii could cause catastrophic flooding later in the week.

Top importers in Asia, the Middle East and Africa that were counting on the Black Sea region for wheat have been finding it hard to secure supplies.

Former Booker Prize-winning authors Marlon James and Douglas Stuart have been shortlisted for the 2026 award.

Iran's president has struck a defiant tone in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly, telling the US that Iran would not "bend at the knee".

The affected reservoir has been taken offline and an existing alternative reservoir is now supplying the local network.

Three shooters killed at least 11 people, including a woman who was believed to be pregnant, in an attack at a house party in South Africa, police said Wednesday.

The Colosseum in Rome, a top tourist destination, closed today due to the death of a worker inside overnight, the Italian culture ministry has said in a statement.

Firefighters went on strike for an hour today - the 64th strike since industrial action started two years ago.

Trump also reaffirmed his willingness to engage in dialogue with North Korea.

Two men switched at birth in a rural Manitoba hospital in 1955 were awarded $250,000 each in the 2025-26 fiscal year, according to financial disclosure documents released by the province this week.

The talks — the leaders' first formal summit since March — focused on issues surrounding China, including economic security.

Russia appears to be ramping up its provocations towards NATO. Is the alliance being goaded into a response? What happens if it hits back?

Country ballad Choosin' Texas from singer Ella Langley has broken the record for most weeks topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States, unseating Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas Is You.

A notice of motion declaring the emergency was passed on the eve of the previous council's departure.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping will visit Washington this week for talks ​with U.S. President Donald Trump, as both sides look to bring stability to ties.

Police say a suspected medical event caused the hospitalisation of two people in West Auckland today.

Auckland's payment from Entrust, which owns 75 percent of Vector, is one of the largest.

The three economies, with combined economic output of more than $8 trillion, are grappling with disruption from Trump's trade policies.

The prosecution has questioned whether the accused's evidence is based on memory - or what he has rehearsed.

The UN Population Fund also says there has been a "severe escalation" in the number of early and forced marriages.

A planned scheme to remediate social homes damaged by defective concrete blocks is set to be debated in the Dáil this evening.

Opponents say it has been a "real schmozzle", with the project not suited to the fast-track process due to its complexity.

Three women describe what happened when they travelled abroad for cheap "bleph" eyelid surgery.

A concerning number of patients are reporting problems from treatment abroad, say doctors.

The largely unregulated form of political communication is increasingly being adopted despite a broader backlash against AI-generated content.

Ireland's United Nations youth delegates have said they are excited to bring the issues important to young people to the world stage this week.

The solar farm battery fire in Summerside, P.E.I., is now deemed out, but fire experts say what happened there should concern communities far beyond the Island.

When Nova Scotia's Crown-run alcohol retailer and distributor pulled American booze from the shelves last year, it worked out to about $15 million worth of more than 600,000 units of product. While sales have resumed, there's only about $1.5 million of product left.

It's causing concern about a shortage of counsellors after a survey indicated more than one in five professional counsellors planned to retire or leave in the next two years.

Police are now treating the case as a homicide investigation.

The considerations were made during the final stages of World War II amid concerns that U.S. air raids would severely disrupt public order.

Burnham seemed nervous at first, knowing how explosive these encounters with Trump can be, writes BBC political editor Chris Mason.

The ongoing Games and a historic contest against India are giving cricket an opportunity to add to its steady growth.

Since the military seized power in a February 2021 coup, a protracted civil war has gripped the impoverished Southeast Asian nation.

The Venezuelan opposition leader made three attempts in 24 hours to return home but was unable to complete the journey.

Voyager Broadband has removed an advertisement that depicts two brown men attacking a Pākehā counterpart in "humour".

U.S. President Donald Trump signed a new security agreement with the leaders of Denmark and Greenland on Tuesday. But the U.S. already had a security arrangement with the two parties dating back 75 years. So what's changed? Observers say moderate improvements in the new deal have come at an immense cost.

Calls for the U.S. and China to co-operate on creating AI guardrails are ramping up as U.S. President Donald Trump welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington.

The rise of both Germany’s far-right and hard-left signals a significant shift for a country that founded its postwar political system on stability.

Primetime is a chaotic, spiralling dark comedy — one that is off-putting and strange. But more than that, it attempts to take down Chris Hansen.

In a ‌statement, Iran's Armed Forces dismissed Trump's comments at the U.N. as "propaganda."

The chief ombudsman says he has significant concerns about allegations ministry staff tried to circumvent the Official Information Act.

The Privacy Commissioner has given Health NZ and patient portal Manage My Health until next year to comply with health privacy rules after a massive data breach last year.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended new draft social media regulations after Washington warned the legislation could lead to censorship.

Police have changed their earlier plan to reduce the handover to 15 minutes.

What the latest health target figures show under the surface.

Neighbouring councils are also being urged to chip in and help the cash-strapped park.

'Nuisance' behaviour includes "placing one's feet on seats or playing audio at loud volume, littering, eating or drinking onboard buses".

The Ukrainian leader did not publicly broach the possibility of tieups with Tokyo such as in the area of drone development and air defense equipment.

Beijing has latched on to the clause in its row with Tokyo, insisting it remains legally binding and serves as safeguard of the postwar order.

FENZ said the fire is contained but the wind is making fire fighting conditions difficult.

AI companies with a more inward focus have lost steam in recent years amid cut-throat domestic competition.

Details of the email exchange were outlined by Mizuho as part of a lawsuit in Singapore, where it has accused Radiant World of an alleged fraud.

U.S. courts have long held that the government cannot condition press access on favorable coverage once it has opened a space to the media.

The man is the seventh person to be charged in relation to an investigation in Auckland, dubbed Operation Hawkin.

The 17-year-old Yumeki Kojima's triumph in the men's 400-meter individual medley set a Games record of 4 minutes, 7.02 seconds.

In the first of three public meetings about the state of healthcare in Tararua, Pahīatua locals came out in a force to voice their concerns about an ownership model they no longer have faith in.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has said it is up to the Irish to make a decision when it comes to a United Ireland, adding: "I believe in self-determination, that should be extended to the Irish."

Ireland's EU Commissioner Michael McGrath will raise the threat of AI-generated disinformation during a series of meetings on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York.

The president of the Pacific Islands News Association says journalists investigating drug trafficking face increasing threats to their personal safety.

Grey Lynn and Ponsonby were once working class areas, home to Pasifika communities and a social justice movement.

Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Lorne Doerkson has become the interim leader of the Conservative Party, and MLAs who quit en masse during Kerry-Lynne Findlay's tenure are rejoining. Meanwhile, some MLAs have announced they won't be seeking re-election next month.

It's part of the party's broader Mana Takatāpui policy which Rāwiri Waititi says was built on the principle of "nothing about takatāpui without takatāpui".

Israel has responded angrily to French President Emmanuel Macron after he criticised Israeli actions in the West Bank by saying Hamas was not active in the territory that is home to the Palestinian Authority.

The District of Squamish has rejected a negotiated 10-year tax settlement that would have seen Woodfibre LNG contributing $142 million to the community in the Sea-to-Sky region.

An exhibition of the world's only known triceratops herd could attract big crowds, according to Auckland Museum, which expects more than 100,000 people to visit March of the Triceratops.

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has blamed a failure of Moroccan border controls for a recent migrant crisis in Spain's North African territory of Ceuta.

Climate change is making Ireland increasingly vulnerable to summer drought as higher temperatures draw more moisture from soils and vegetation, new research has found.

Why it's a good idea to get out for an evening stroll, and other essential sleep advice for students.

Three 20-somethings tell BBC News how they are navigating life without parental support.

Auto executives across Europe hope rearmament can help them flex their industrial muscles once more.

Child trafficking remains significantly under-identified in Ireland, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has warned.

Research shows many Kiwis are confident they can spot an AI-generated fake but suggests that's not backed up by their behaviour.

Fiji's Constitution Reivew Commission has recommended a new constitution and sweeping changes designed to overhaul the country's governance

People affected by cancer lose an average of €16,200 in annual income as a result of their diagnosis, the Irish Cancer Society has said.

TikTok's Global Head of Policy in Trust & Safety Zachary Hecht has said that TikTok has identified 1,600 videos in Ireland showing highly risky driving, vehicular theft or related behaviours since the fatal M9 crash last month.

Technology to tackle wrong-way motorway driving could be 15 years away, Transport Infrastructure Ireland has told the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport.

Half of large employers are expected to require workers to attend the office for a fixed number of days by 2027, according to a new report.

Six in ten people in Ireland are now turning to artificial intelligence (AI) platforms for mental health support, with a third of those saying that the advice has led to harmful behaviour.

Incoming capital may give infrastructure, education and healthcare sectors a shot in the arm after the trade deal comes into force on 20 October.

Two high-profile former winners of the prestigious prize are among the strongest contenders.

Braydon Hepworth hasn't been seen or heard from since 14 September.

It comes as the city's mayor warns that the operation of arts venues in the city will be "directly affected" by rates caps imposed by the Government.

The sexual harassment allegations have surfaced just weeks out from Fiji's 2026 Rugby League World Cup opener.

A dagger, two deadlocked votes and one final showdown at the fire pit brought the second series of The Traitors Ireland to a dramatic conclusion on Tuesday night.

The winners of the second series of The Traitors Ireland have been revealed following a tense finale at Slane Castle.

Explainer - It's almost that time of year - here's what you need to know about the clocks changing this weekend.

Papua New Guinea will sever ties with Oceania Rugby and look at joining Asia Rugby if they do not get clear justification for their continued suspension by the regional body.

After city councillors were divided about whether it was the city's place to wade into a debate on Alberta separation, a motion from the mayor affirming Calgary's place as a vital part of the province and the country passed 14-1.

State Highway 10 is closed between Otangaroa Road and Taratara Road and a diversion is in place.

The Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary says four Chinese nationals have been detained as police prepare a range of serious charges.

Before Swan Song was published, the Daily Mail published passages provoking a rare rebuke from Buckingham Palace. Penguin confirmed the extracts were accurate.

Camp Mystic faces a criminal investigation that could include manslaughter or negligent homicide charges in the deaths of 27 girls amid devastating flooding in Texas last year, court documents show.

A spike in AI agents operating outside human instruction has prompted Washington to propose an emergency hotline with Beijing. Andrew Chang breaks down why the U.S. is opting to keep an open line on AI despite a longstanding rivalry and distrust.

Images provided by The Canadian Press, Reuters, Adobe Stock and Getty

Health New Zealand is reviewing concerns raised by Middlemore Hospital employees about chronic understaffing, overcrowding and staff being asked to work while sick.

A dual British citizen says the authorities' response was 'very poor', but they found a quick way to get her daughter's urgently needed passport after RNZ got in touch.

Live-fire cells at Rotorua's national training centre - the only operable place for training inside burning buildings - closed because of safety concerns in September 2025.

One man has died and another was seriously injured when they were struck by an SUV that backed into a barber shop in Vanier on Tuesday afternoon, according to Ottawa police and paramedics. The driver faces impaired driving charges.

First Nations leaders say a declining health-care system and systemic racism within that system both contributed to Chelsea Bear's death from complications during the birth of her twins last month in Saskatoon.

Last year Air New Zealand was top, followed by the Ministry of Innovation and Employment and ANZ - but this year another company has taken first place.

Overlapping municipal and provincial campaign periods and back-to-back elections are likely to stoke voter apathy and confusion, say mayors.

A Vanuatu government consultant says the controversial manosphere influencer "should never have been granted [citizenship] in the first place".

The Seanad has heard calls for a full, independent investigation around the handling of protected disclosures within An Garda Síochána.

The United States, Denmark and Greenland have signed a security agreement aimed at ending months of tension over the Danish self-governing territory after US President Donald Trump's ⁠repeated threats to take control of the vast Arctic island.

Speaking at an event at the Polish Embassy to the Holy See, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher highlights the enduring relevance of Polish-German reconciliation after World War II, stressing that reconciliation requires confronting the truth about the past with courage and openness to dialogue.

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After the U.S. president revoked White House media access for CNN, MS NOW and Politico, other major U.S. networks including Fox News pulled out of the TV pool coverage in solidarity. Andrew Chang breaks down what the coverage boycott could mean for Trump's media reach.

(Photo credits: The Canadian Press, Reuters, Adobe Stock, De Nederlandsche Bank and Getty Images)

The emergency care unit at CHI at Tallaght children's hospital will close for four days later this week to facilitate an IT systems changeover.

A plane landed on the highway between the Town of Banff and Lake Louise. No injuries have been reported.

The figure comes as Albertans will vote in the Oct. 19 referendum on charging certain non-permanent residents a "reasonable fee or premium" for access to Alberta's health care and education systems.

A Venezuelan man shot by a federal immigration agent in Austin, Texas, was treated at a hospital on Tuesday for paralysis on his left side after he had spent a night in ICE detention with a bullet lodged in his back, according to his lawyer.

The United Nations General Assembly is under way in New York, giving delegates a chance to bring the issues most important to them to the world stage.

The federal government has offered Indigenous groups a collective 15 per cent ownership stake in the Trans Mountain pipeline, advancing a long-promised plan to give First Nations equity in the federally owned infrastructure connecting Alberta crude to a Vancouver-area export terminal.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Canada in December, Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed on Tuesday, as the two countries look to reach a trade deal by the end of the year — further signs that the once deep diplomatic chasm between the two governments is being bridged.

U.S. President Donald Trump is vowing to keep using military power to advance his country's interests, including to stop what he calls "hostile foreign adversaries" from gaining influence in the Western Hemisphere.

Heroes actress Hayden Panettiere's cause of death has been revealed as an accidental drug overdose, a South Carolina coroner's office has confirmed.

The Manitoba government paid $4 million to three First Nations men who were wrongfully convicted in a Winnipeg murder more than 50 years ago, a recently released financial document says.

Two schools run by the Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land have been inaugaurated in Syria’s Idlib governorate.

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Flight attendants and pilots for yet another Canadian airline are so far unable to come to a deal with their employer — and one expert says the possibility of both groups going on strike adds pressure.

The Taoiseach has said the Israel Football Association's criticisms of Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson are "unacceptable".

Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada is pledging $100 million in new aid for Palestine in an effort to preserve "the possibility of a two-state solution."

President Donald Trump used his address to the UN General Assembly to defend the US-Israeli campaign against Iran while laying out his foreign policy priorities.

A man who escaped from garda custody at Newcastle West District Court was detained at his home after being on the run for around six hours.

The 2026 Ratzinger Prize recipient is American theologian Dr John Cavadini, recognized for the scholarly merits of his research on Patristics, particularly his studies on St Augustine. Pope Leo XIV will present the award to to Dr Cavadini on December 19 in the Apostolic Palace.

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The annual U.K. prize program honours the best novel written in English from anywhere in the world.

Zelda Williams has taken to social media to defend her father, the late actor and comedian Robin Williams, and debunk AI-generated deepfake videos that appear to show him discussing conspiracy theories.

Canada produces more potash than any other country in the world, all from 10 active mines in Saskatchewan. U.S. President Donald Trump says he's working on a deal to buy potash from Belarus at a cheaper price. But could Belarus replace our supply? Here are the facts.

The US President opened his speech by getting what he sees as the obvious out of the way - that the United States is the strongest country in the world.

Volodymyr Zelensky learned how to deal with Donald Trump the hard way during that first Oval Office meeting.

The digital extortion group ‌known as ShinyHunters says it has breached the Federal Bureau of Investigation and claims to have stolen data on thousands of FBI employees.

US President Donald Trump used his UN General Assembly speech to defend his war with Iran, and warn he could "annihilate the Islamic Republic" if no ⁠deal is reached to end it.

A man accused of attacking Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae in Dublin has been further remanded in custody for another two weeks pending directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The leaders of the US, Denmark and Greenland have signed an agreement that will allow a larger US military presence on Greenland and could end a standoff over the strategically located and mineral-rich island.

LOS ANGELES — Presley Gerber, the son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessperson Rande Gerber, died Sunday at age 27, a family representative said. Gerber died at a rehabilitation facility, according to online records of the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. The medical examiner did not provide a cause of death Sunday. An autopsy was performed, but more testing is required before investigators can give a cause, according to the medical examiner’s website. The death was confirmed by Allie Jenkins, a representative for Crawford and Rande Gerber, who were married in 1998. “The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time,” Jenkins said in an email Sunday night. Gerber was a model in his own right Gerber was a model and the older brother of model and actor Kaia Gerber. He had been open about his struggles with mental health and substance abuse, documenting his journey on Instagram. He even started a “Mental Health Mondays” series on the platform to raise awareness and share wellness tips. Across multiple episodes, he related his own experiences

LOS ANGELES — Paramount has reached a settlement with a group of U.S. states that clears the way for its takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, officials announced Monday, creating a Hollywood empire spanning television, news and cinema. Paramount, which is run by David Ellison, whose ultra-wealthy family has ties to U.S. President Donald Trump, won a bidding war against Netflix in February for control of a stable of assets that includes Warner Bros. Pictures, CNN and the HBO Max streaming service. The Trump administration approved the deal, one of the largest media mergers in years, in June without demanding a change to its business, before 12 U.S. states sued to block the transaction. Financing for the deal reportedly includes about $24 billion in equity from the sovereign wealth funds of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi. David Ellison's father, billionaire Oracle founder Larry Ellison, also provided funding and a guarantee. Opponents in the movie industry said the combined company would slash jobs in a Hollywood already under pressure and reduce the number of films produced every year

COPENHAGEN — The United States, Denmark and Greenland will on Tuesday sign the announced U.S. security deal for Greenland on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Denmark's government said. U.S. President Donald Trump said last Friday that the arrangement will give America "permanent control" over security for Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory in the Arctic that he has long coveted. The office of Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that she, Trump and Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen would sign the deal at 1430 GMT in the UN building in New York. Frederiksen said Monday that the agreement, which has not been published, "recognises" the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark, as well as the right of the Greenlandic people to self-determination. "It is a good agreement from a Danish point of view," she told Danish radio DR from New York. "And when it benefits the Nordic countries and security in the Arctic region, it also benefits NATO and Europe." Since returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump has repeate

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's approval rating fell to 32 percent — the lowest of his political career — as his fellow Republicans soured on his handling of the cost of living amid the unpopular Iran war, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll found. The four-day poll, which closed on Sunday, showed 73 percent of Republicans approved of Trump's job performance, down from 82 percent in a Reuters/Ipsos poll a week earlier. His overall approval stood at 35 percent that week. Trump returned to the White House in January 2025 on promises to tame inflation and end foreign wars. In a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in the hours after he was first sworn in, he enjoyed a 47 percent approval rate. Just 17 percent of respondents in the new poll approved of his handling of the cost of living — the top issue Americans say will determine how they vote in the November 3 midterm elections, when Trump's Republicans are defending narrow congressional majorities. Dissatisfaction among Republicans on the subject has been growing since Trump launched the war on Iran in February that has pushed gasoline and die

WASHINGTON — More than two dozen Democratic lawmakers on Friday urged President Donald Trump to keep in place a ban on Chinese automakers out of the U.S. market, ahead of his meeting with China's President Xi Jinping this week. "We urge you to maintain strong protections against Chinese automobiles and connected vehicle technologies and ensure that China does not gain access to our market through direct imports, local production, and other avenues of circumvention," said the 27 lawmakers led by Representative Debbie Dingell. Earlier this month, Trump told Fox News he would accept Chinese car companies building cars in the United States.

LONDON — Diesel prices have rallied in Europe and the United States to record highs as wars in Iran and Ukraine sharply cut exports from some of the biggest producers such as Russia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, with little options to prevent further gains. Diesel futures in Europe closed at an all-time high last week having more than double their level at the beginning of 2026, after supply disruptions spread to the Red Sea, where Saudi Arabia loads most of its diesel. The wars in the Middle East and Ukraine have damaged oil refineries in the region, and refineries elsewhere are working hard to make fuels. In the United States for example, refineries operated at the highest level in eight years in late August, according to the International Energy Agency. "A key issue is that many refineries around the world are already stretched to capacity," the International Energy Agency said in a newsletter on Monday. "This leaves few available options to prevent a further tightening of supplies and higher prices in the coming months." Middle East diesel exports halved from March to

NEW YORK — U.S. stocks are climbing with markets worldwide on Monday after oil prices and yields in the bond market gave back some of their jumps from last week. The S&P 500 rose 1 percent and pulled within 0.9 percent of its all-time high set last month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 193 points, or 0.4 percent, as of 11:30 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 1.6 percent higher. They got help from the price for a barrel of Brent oil falling 3.4 percent to $100.29. While that’s still much higher than its roughly $72 price from earlier this summer, it’s down from the nearly $110 it touched last week. Oil prices are swinging up and down as some crude from the Middle East is able to sail through the Strait of Hormuz , though nowhere nearly as much as the industry and customers would like because of the war with Iran. Morgan Stanley’s Michael Wilson said another leg higher in prices for oil, gasoline and other refined products is the main risk he sees in the near term that could keep the U.S. stock market from rising to his forecasted target for the year’s end

WASHINGTON — Major American television networks on Monday suspended their involvement in a rotation of broadcasters covering President Donald Trump, as three leading news outlets went to court over being banned from the White House. Broadcasters CNN and MS NOW, along with news outlet Politico, filed suit after Trump last week ordered them to be barred from the presidential complex. "This ban could not be a more direct assault on the First Amendment nor a more blatant violation of our most fundamental constitutional principles," the organizations said in a court filing. Shortly afterward, the five major U.S. broadcasters said they were halting "pool" coverage of the White House in solidarity with CNN. CNN had been scheduled to serve Monday as the White House TV pool, a rotating assignment in which a broadcaster films on behalf of all television outlets for the day. "The public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about its government. No administration should restrict a news organization because it objects to its reporting," ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC said

Advanced Micro Devices soared past $1 trillion in market capitalization for the first time on Monday, joining a small group of chipmakers to reach the milestone, as investors bet on its expanding role in AI computing. AMD shares were last up 9.6 percent at $613.31, scaling a record high. The milestone caps a stellar rally for the Santa Clara, California-based company, regarded as the closest rival to AI bellwether Nvidia for graphics processing units. It becomes only the fourth US chipmaker to top a $1 trillion valuation, after Nvidia, Broadcom and Micron. Nvidia crossed the mark in 2023 and is now the world's most valuable company, worth more than $5 trillion. "Money is moving back into the AI trade," said Thomas Hayes, chairman at Great Hill Capital LLC in New York. Enthusiasm for chipmakers cooled in recent months as markets scrutinized AI spending by hyperscalers. Higher oil prices linked to the US-Iran conflict and expectations of higher-for-longer interest rates added to the pressure. But now investors believe AI is the only area that can work in a Federal Reserve-induced economic s

Alphabet's Google on Monday opened pre-orders for Googlebook, its new premium laptop category for Android users built around the company's Gemini AI tools. Starting at $899, initial models from Acer, Asus, Dell , HP and Lenovo will run on Intel or Qualcomm processors with up to 14 hours of battery life, the company said. The launch comes as Apple moves deeper into lower-priced laptops with its $699 MacBook Neo, adding competition in a market where Chromebook makers have long targeted students and budget-conscious consumers on affordability and simplicity. Googlebook extends that formula into premium laptops with more powerful hardware, AI features and tighter Android integration — Google's latest push for a flagship ChromeOS showcase after the Pixelbook in 2017 and Pixelbook Go in 2019. The lineup includes Gemini tools that can help users draft and organize text, ask questions about content on their screens and resume tasks from an Android phone. It is built on the Android technology stack paired with desktop foundations from ChromeOS, aiming to make switching between phones and compute

NEW YORK — CNN, MS NOW and Politico on Monday sued President Donald Trump’s administration after they were barred from covering the White House over the weekend, saying the selective ban was “a blatant violation” of the First Amendment. The administration’s announcement of the bans Friday and the White House’s subsequent actions over the weekend represented a clear escalation of Trump’s long-running efforts — in the courts and through administrative action — to restrict news coverage he finds objectionable or, in his words, “fake news.” They were also the latest test of First Amendment protections in the United States, where the government is constitutionally forbidden from restricting the press. The Constitution, the banned news outlets said in their lawsuit, “does not allow a president or any other government official to deprive the press of their First Amendment rights and liberty and property interests with no notice or process based solely on his dislike of the content of their reporting.” The three outlets filed the joint lawsuit two days after their repo

Veteran actresses Lee Hye-young and Kim Jung-eun have recalled an era when Korean celebrities faced intense pressure to publicly explain even the most personal parts of their lives, including divorce and breakups. The two actresses discussed their experiences in a video uploaded Sunday to Lee's YouTube channel, reflecting on how dramatically expectations surrounding celebrities' private lives have changed. Lee recalled holding a news conference after her divorce from singer and television personality Lee Sang-min, saying she was effectively pushed into publicly addressing the matter before returning to television. "I got divorced for personal reasons and was going back on 'Heroine 6,'" Lee said. "The head of our entertainment department told me, 'Hye-young, this is something you'll have to get through eventually, so while everyone is here, let's just apologize.' He told me to apologize and make a statement." What followed was far bigger than Lee had expected. "I didn't know there were that many reporters in Korea," she said. "About 300 or 400 came." Lee said she went through with the news

Adapting a literary classic is a double-edged sword. It comes with an enduring legacy, but also the daunting weight of comparison. When Netflix announced its series adaptation of "The Scandal" — a story popularized in Korea by the 2003 feature "Untold Scandal," which itself reimagined Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ 1782 French novel Dangerous Liaisons — actor Ji Chang-wook knew the stakes were high. Yet, the actor said the opportunity to portray Cho Won, the enigmatic aristocrat at the center of the narrative, proved irresistible. "I couldn't help but feel the pressure of working on a piece with such a famous original," Ji said in an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Tuesday. "However, because it is a classic, I really wanted to try playing Cho Won. I decided it was a challenge worth taking." Set against the strict moral backdrop of the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty, "The Scandal" follows Cho Won, a nobleman who pursues calculated romantic conquests. At the heart of his intrigue is Lady Cho (Son Ye-jin), a woman too extraordinary to be confined to women's quarters and the

Among Korean musical fans, actor Cho Jung-eun has long been known as the "Seonnyeo" onstage — the celestial maiden from Korean folklore — ever since she appeared in the costume in "Pimatgol Yeonga" in 2010. The nickname has since followed her through a string of graceful, emotionally charged heroines, from Emma in "Jekyll & Hyde" to Fantine in "Les Misérables." Offstage, however, the actor says she is nothing of the sort. "My everyday personality isn't emotional at all," Cho said during an interview with The Korea Times in central Seoul, Tuesday. "I like things clear, sharp and distinct. I like feedback to be sharp and straightforward too. Meaningless praise actually scares me." That approach has carried her through a quarter century on stage. Cho, who debuted in 2001 as an ensemble member of the Seoul Performing Arts Company, marks her 25th anniversary this year, months after winning best actress at the 10th Korea Musical Awards for her role in "The Bridges of Madison County." She is now back as Mina in "Dracula," a role she first played in the show's 2014 Korean premiere and is re

An attacker opened fire near a high school in western Turkey on Tuesday and wounded at least 11 people, officials said. The suspected shooter was arrested. At least two of the injured were in serious condition, Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said in a statement on X. The attack took place in front of a vocational and technical high school in Turgutlu district, in Manisa province, the provincial governor's office said. Police and medical teams were immediately sent to the scene. HaberTurk news channel said the assailant was a 15-year-old student at the school. The report added that he arrived at the scene armed with a shotgun he took from his grandmother's house and fired randomly near the school before trying to flee the scene on foot. The motive of the attack was not known, according to Gurlek, who said two chief prosecutors were appointed to investigate the shooting, including claims that the student was bullied at the school. The assailant's parents and grandfather, who owned the gun, were taken into custody as part of the investigation, Gurlek said. Security camera video showed the alleg

A grand jury has found there wasn't evidence to bring charges in the death of Nolan Wells, a Black teen who was found dead after a July 4 boating trip off the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The decision announced Monday by Angel Myers McIlrath, the district attorney overseeing Wells’ case, comes after months of intense speculation about how the 18-year-old disappeared from a bustling party and why the friends who ferried Wells to the island left without him. The Jackson County grand jury found no evidence of criminal conduct and noted that examinations of his body by the Mississippi medical examiner’s office and an independent forensic pathologist hired by Wells’ family found the cause and manner of death to be undetermined. “If credible evidence comes to light in the future that suggests Mr. Wells’ death was non-accidental, this matter should be represented to the Jackson County Grand Jury for further consideration,” the panel’s report said. Wells disappeared while celebrating the Fourth of July with friends on Horn Island, an island off Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. His body was d

Korea's indigenous KF-21 fighter jet made its maiden flight Tuesday as part of an official ceremony marking its delivery to the Air Force, the armed service and arms procurement agency said. The first mass-produced KF-21 Boramae took to the skies from the Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. manufacturing plant in Sacheon, about 300 kilometers south of Seoul, heading north to an Air Force unit in Yecheon, roughly 165 km away, the Air Force and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said in a joint release. An FA-50 light attack aircraft, a TA-50 fighter trainer and a T-50 Golden Eagle jet trainer flew in formation alongside the KF-21 to mark its arrival. The handover to the Air Force marks a milestone in the country's decadeslong efforts to develop an indigenous fighter dating back to as early as 2001, when then President Kim Dae-jung declared the initiative. Following years of budget delays and feasibility reviews, South Korea launched the project in December 2015, in partnership with Indonesia, to develop an advanced supersonic aircraft and replace now-retired F-4 fighters an

BLACKPINK's Lisa has once again become the subject of dating speculation after a video circulated online showing a woman believed to be the K-pop star walking arm in arm with a man thought to be Thai actor and model Blue Pongtiwat. The video, which has recently spread across online communities and social media, shows the pair walking together on a street in London. The woman wears a trench coat and hat, while the man is dressed in all black with sunglasses. The two walk with their arms linked, and the man is seen leaning toward the woman as they talk, fueling speculation about the nature of their relationship. It has not been confirmed that the people in the video are Lisa and Pongtiwat. Social media users who shared the footage, however, claimed that Lisa had been spotted at a British airport with luggage and that the two had also been seen together at other locations in the country. The latest sighting follows similar speculation in August, when online accounts claimed that Lisa and Pongtiwat had been spotted together in Hong Kong and later in Japan. Lisa and Pongtiwat are known to have

Lee, a graduate student, took out a Sunshine Loan to cover tuition and living expenses. While juggling her studies and work in a laboratory, she was forced to quit her job because of health problems. She had been making ends meet by working as a restaurant server, but when she fell short of money for living expenses, she eventually turned to a credit card loan. Her outstanding debt stands at 17 million won ($12,500). Of that amount, the greatest burden comes from 4 million won in credit card loans carrying annual interest rates of more than 15 percent. She earns 2.5 million won a month but spends 1 million won solely on interest payments. She looked into refinancing so she could at least pay off the credit card loan, but could not find a loan available to her at her current credit level. According to financial authorities on Sunday, 1,637,532 people have loans from three or more financial institutions. Of these, 342,690 are people in their 20s and 30s, accounting for 20.9 percent. There has been speculation that anxiety over an overheated asset market has driven young people into debt.

ISTANBUL — A gunman opened fire outside a high school in western Turkey on Tuesday, wounding eight people, before being detained by police, local officials said. The incident happened around 8 a.m. (local time) in Turgutlu in the province of Manisa, near the western resort city of Izmir, the regional governor's office said. School shootings are rare in Turkey, although there were two attacks in April on consecutive days in southern Turkey that sparked widespread anger. Several media outlets including IHA news agency and NTV private television said students were among the injured, with police and rescuers rushing to the scene. DHA news agency broadcast CCTV footage of the alleged attacker, a young man wearing black jeans, a black jacket and a green top walking along a street holding what appeared to be a rifle. IHA had a similar image of what appeared to be the same person with a gun, although this time running. Footage from outside the school showed police wrestling a man in a white shirt to the ground before leading him away, as a woman screamed, with onlookers pressed against the schoo

Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok said Tuesday that South Korea's retaking of wartime operational control (OPCON) from the United States would serve its national security interests. The ruling party leader made the remarks during a ceremony at the National Assembly marking the launch of the party's task force on the wartime OPCON transition. "The world is moving toward a landscape and set of relationships in which South Korea exercising its own (wartime OPCON) is what truly benefits national security," Kim said. "There was a time when having the U.S. exercise wartime operational control was considered more advantageous and reliable for the security of the Korean Peninsula and Suth Korea," he said. Kim, who also serves on the Assembly's National Defense Committee, said South Korea's national power, including its defense capabilities, has steadily grown and that the nature of its alliance with the U.S. has evolved toward expanding South Korea's role. "The crux of the matter is whether the conditions, capabilities and circumstances are in place for South Korea to actually exercis

A public servant has been indicted on charges of fatally stabbing his estranged wife in front of their young daughter, prosecutors said Tuesday. The suspect, in his 30s, was charged with stabbing his wife, also in her 30s, outside her home in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, on Sept. 1, driven by concerns that he would face unfavorable outcomes in their ongoing divorce proceedings, according to the Seongnam branch of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office. He was also charged with child abuse for committing the crime in front of their daughter. The wife had been living separately under a court-issued protection order due to the husband's prior domestic violence, but investigators said he tracked her down using the address listed in the divorce documents. Prosecutors said they also sought a court order for the suspect to wear an electronic ankle monitor and be placed on probation, while filing for the termination of his parental rights and the appointment of a guardian to safeguard the surviving child. The suspect is currently under arrest.

Able C&C’s beauty brand MISSHA promoted its products and expanded consumer outreach in Europe during Milano Beauty Week, underscoring the region’s growing importance to the Korean cosmetics company’s overseas business. MISSHA participated in the event, held in Milan from Wednesday to Sunday (local time), through a partnership with Italian fashion and beauty retailer OVS. The company showcased its BB creams, glow primer line and PDRN-NAD+ skincare products, positioning the range around convergence of skincare and makeup. According to Able C&C, samples prepared for visitors were exhausted early in the event and consumers showed a strong interest in product formulations and performance. Milano Beauty Week, hosted by Cosmetica Italia, an Italian association of personal care solution companies and organized by OVS, brought together beauty brands, industry professionals and consumers at venues across the city. Last year’s event drew about 275,000 participants. For Milan Fashion Week, the brand is also operating a dedicated booth and hosting beauty classes at OVS’s Shakaland Beauty H

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — G7 nations called on Yemen's Houthis Tuesday to halt strikes on Saudi Arabia, offering a show of solidarity with Riyadh as the Tehran-backed fighters have added a new threat to the Middle East war. The Houthi movement staged a lightning offensive in recent weeks to take over Yemen's entire Red Sea coast, including Mokha, threatening global trade and pushing up energy prices up. Gains made by Yemen's Houthis have cemented Iran and its allies hold over two key waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz, that the wider Gulf and top crude exporter Saudi Arabia rely on to ship out its oil. G7 leaders representing Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States said in a statement "we call on the Houthis to immediately cease all military actions." "All threats and attacks against civilian shipping, and to return to the political process in good faith," it added. They also called on Iran "to end its arming of and support for the Houthis," alleging Tehran is in violation of past U.N. Security Council resolutions. The war in impoverished Yemen

Kwon Young-min, the newly appointed CEO of Doosan Robotics, faces the crucial task of turning the company’s artificial intelligence (AI)-driven robotics strategy into a profitable and sustainable growth engine. The robotics arm of Doosan Group recently appointed Kwon, who has extensive experience in strategy and global operations, as its new top executive. Kwon joined the group’s strategy and planning division in 2000, and served as chief strategy officer of Doosan Bobcat from 2018 to 2020 and has led Doosan Mottrol, a Doosan Bobcat subsidiary, since 2021, before taking on the new role. His appointment comes as Doosan Robotics attempts to reposition itself from a manufacturer of collaborative robots into a provider of intelligent robot solutions combining hardware, software and AI. The company has already laid out a strategy to integrate AI into its robotic arms and software, allowing customers to automate tasks with less programming while optimizing work routes and sequences. The robotics firm has also been developing applications for manufacturing and logistics. Doosan Robotics has

LONDON — Charles Spencer, brother of the late Princess Diana, is no stranger to writing books about British kings. His previous bestsellers include "Killers of the King" and "To Catch a King" and, while those two works focused on the 17th century, some might say his latest book is along the same lines. "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister" will be published on Tuesday, and is his take on his sister's life and her unhappy marriage to the now King Charles. In pre-released excerpts, Spencer claims Charles was "giddily elated" in the aftermath of Diana's death in 1997, reopening a painful episode for the royal family. Spencer, 62, said he wrote the book because it was his duty "as an eyewitness to history", but his version of events has been rejected by Buckingham Palace in unusually strong terms. "The pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and color memory," it said, in a statement that added to the publicity surrounding the book. Godson to Queen Elizabeth Spencer was born into a British aristocratic family, with close links to the royal family. The late Queen Elizabeth was his g

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. A woman in her mid-50s lives with her elderly mother. She was too busy working to marry and ended up remaining single well past 50. Her mother, now in her 80s, is still disappointed that her daughter has not married but is happy to have her by her side. The mother has limited mobility on one side of her body due to a stroke. Thanks to her daughter, she is able to go out more often. Without her daughter, she might have had to move into a long-term care facility. Her other two children, a son and a daughter, are married and live separately. 1.27 million unmarried people in their 50s and 60s According to data from the Ministry of Data and Statistics, 934,000 men and women in their 50s had never married as of August, accounting for 11 percent of the total population in their 50s. The figure is 3.3 times higher than the 281,000 recorded 10 years ago. Among those aged 60 and older, 339,000 people have never married. The proportion of unmarried people in their 40s also stood at 20 percent. There are various reasons why men and women who have reached m

COPENHAGEN — President Donald Trump is due to meet with leaders of Greenland and Denmark on Tuesday to sign a deal that will allow a larger U.S. military presence on Greenland and could end a standoff over the strategically located and mineral-rich island. Greenland, a former colony and now a semi-autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, sits between the Arctic and North America and holds vast energy resources. Trump's refusal to rule out military or economic force to acquire it triggered a diplomatic crisis in January within NATO and forced Denmark and the island's government into intensive negotiations. US to open two new bases The agreement they reached will allow the U.S. to expand its military footprint in Greenland, three people familiar with the matter have told Reuters. In addition to the existing Pituffik Space Base, the deal is expected to open two new military sites: Narsarsuaq, a former Cold War airbase whose population has dwindled to just a few dozen, and Mestersvig, currently used by the Sirius Dog Sled Patrol, an elite Danish special forces unit. Trump will meet Da

After opening more than 2 percent higher on a strong overnight rally in U.S. artificial intelligence stocks, Korean stocks gave up most of its early gains on Tuesday. The benchmark KOSPI opened at 7,161.61, up 2.2 percent from the previous close, according to the Korea Exchange. But gains steadily faded through the afternoon, with the index ultimately closing at 7,017.91, up just 0.15 percent. Institutions and retail investors were net sellers of 119.1 billion won ($87.56 million) and 1.61 trillion won, respectively, while foreign investors bought a net 85.1 billion won. The two semiconductor heavyweights both opened more than 3 percent higher before losing momentum. Samsung Electronics closed at 276,500 won, up 0.91 percent, while SK hynix fell 1.5 percent to 1.84 million won. “Domestic risks facing the Korean stock market do not appear to be particularly significant. The VKOSPI, which gauges expected volatility in the KOSPI 200, has fallen substantially from this year’s peak of 95 percent to 44 percent,” said Kim Dae-jun, an analyst at Korea Investment & Securities. “Extreme vol

The Korean won has come under renewed pressure, reversing much of its recent gains against the U.S. dollar as tighter U.S. monetary policy, higher oil prices and reduced dollar supply in the local foreign exchange market weigh on the currency, analysts said Tuesday. The won-dollar exchange rate rose nearly 50 won over seven consecutive trading sessions through Friday from its Sept. 9 level, bringing the 1,400-won mark back into focus. The exchange rate has fluctuated sharply in recent weeks. It stood at 1,411.8 won per dollar on Aug. 18 and slid to a 23-month low of 1,336.1 won on Sept. 9 as dollar selling by major semiconductor exporters increased foreign currency supply. That trend quickly reversed the following day, with the rate rising for seven straight sessions through Friday, up 47.2 won from its Sept. 9 close. The won recovered some ground Tuesday, with the rate retreating to close onshore trading at 1,358.2 won per dollar. The U.S. Federal Reserve’s rate hike has been a key factor behind the recent rise in the exchange rate. The Fed raised its benchmark rate by 25 basis points a

South Korean companies involved in inter-Korean economic projects on Tuesday called for additional compensation and debt write-offs, saying they want to close their businesses for good. The Association of Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation Organizations demanded the government write off their debts and offer further compensation for investment assets frozen in the North. The demand comes as they no longer see any chance of normalizing inter-Korean ties, let alone resuming economic projects, amid deteriorating ties between Seoul and Pyongyang. "The scars from the shift in inter-Korean relations are still ongoing," Choi Yo-sik, head of the association, said at a meeting with reporters at the government complex in Seoul. "Investment assets left behind in North Korea have sat untouched," he said, "with no access granted," since the government froze all inter-Korean exchanges on May 24, 2010, following the North's sinking of a South Korean warship. Of roughly a thousand South Korean companies once involved in cross-border businesses, 385 remains in operation. Some 50-60 of them have joined the

New Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul said Tuesday that he would push ahead with the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) based on trust between Korea and the United States, emphasizing that the process should strengthen their alliance and combined defense posture. “OPCON transfer will move in a direction that strengthens the Korea-U.S. alliance,” Kang told reporters at the Ministry of National Defense in Seoul shortly after officially beginning his duties. He noted that successive Korean administrations and the two allies have worked toward the transfer for years, while acknowledging that the process cannot be driven by Seoul alone. Because an alliance involves two sides, Kang said, the process may not always proceed exactly as one side wants, making mutual trust particularly important. “In some ways, I believe trust is even more important than the conditions,” he said, pledging to pursue the transfer “without wavering” in a way that preserves trust. Kang also rejected the notion that the transfer would weaken the allies’ combined defense posture. Drawing on his ex

Korea’s semiconductor boom is producing extraordinary headline growth, but its benefits are not being felt evenly across the economy. While strong chip exports have pushed nominal gross domestic product (GDP) sharply higher, the share of “zombie” companies has climbed to a record, the Bank of Korea (BOK) said Tuesday. The country’s nominal GDP has accelerated since the second half of 2025, fueled by higher semiconductor prices and strong exports. In the second quarter of this year, it surged 26.4 percent from a year earlier, the fastest increase in 47 years. Away from the export sector, however, the picture is considerably weaker. As of last December, 19.1 percent of nonfinancial companies were classified as zombie firms, up from 17.1 percent a year earlier and the highest level since the BOK began compiling the data in 2010. Of the 29,468 companies, 5,632 fell into the category. The term refers to those that have been unable to cover even their interest expenses with operating profits for three consecutive years. Their share increased among both large and small and midsize ente

Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il, who formally took office Tuesday, called for preemptive measures to address economic uncertainties stemming from geopolitical risks. Lee made the remarks during his first meeting with senior officials, noting that although the Korean economy has shown an overall recovery, uncertainties remain over such factors as the semiconductor industry cycle, according to the Ministry of Finance and Economy. Lee called on officials to reassess risks in the real estate, financial and foreign exchange markets from the ground up and take preemptive measures when necessary. During the meeting, Lee said taming inflation would be his top priority, as he mentioned during his confirmation hearing, adding that the benefits of economic growth should be shared across regions, demographic groups and industries. "Policies need to bring about changes that people can feel," Lee said. "We will listen attentively to the public and seek answers on the ground."

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, the organization behind the Doomsday Clock, received this year’s Miwon Peace Prize on Monday, warning that nuclear threats, pandemics, climate change and artificial intelligence (AI) are deepening interconnected risks to humanity. The award ceremony was held at Kyung Hee University in Seoul during the 2026 Peace BAR Festival, the 45th international conference commemorating the U.N. International Day of Peace. The event was hosted by Kyung Hee University System. Accepting the prize on behalf of the Chicago-based nonprofit, Alexandra Bell, its president and CEO, said her organization shared the late Kyung Hee founder Choue Young-seek’s view that humanity must move beyond narrow national interests and build a shared commitment to peace. “The dangers created by modern science and warfare cannot be solved solely by nation-states … Their growing complexity requires international cooperation, the participation of all levels of society and an understanding that the stakes are no less than our shared survival,” Bell said. The Miwon Peace Prize was

Korean authorities closed more than 60 illegal websites distributing sexually exploitative material this year in an interagency crackdown on digital sex crimes, officials said Tuesday. In April, the gender equality ministry, the Korea Media and Communications Commission and the National Police Agency formed a joint task force to better respond to such crimes and strengthen support for victims. Under the interagency effort, police shut down 66 websites hosting such illegal material, and caught 32 website operators, the ministry said, marking a sharp rise from six such websites closed in all of last year. The latest crackdown targeted websites with servers overseas that repeatedly refused to cooperate with authorities' request to take down illegal material. Authorities also remotely deleted illegally filmed material on 16 of the 66 websites to prevent redistribution. They also seized 2.7 billion won ($2 million) worth of criminal proceeds. Under the broader interagency effort, the number of websites with illegal material that remain accessible to the public decreased from 6,683 last month t

Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn has urged Hanwha Systems, the group’s IT solutions arm, to strengthen its defense artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities as the conglomerate seeks to use AI-based command-and-control systems to connect its land, sea, air and space defense systems. Kim visited Hanwha Systems’ Gumi plant in North Gyeongsang Province on Tuesday to review its production and testing capabilities for advanced defense equipment and emphasize the need to secure “unparalleled defense AI capabilities” and uphold a “safety-first” culture. At the site, he inspected the assembly and testing of the multifunction radar for the Cheongung-II medium-range surface-to-air missile (M-SAM) system. The radar detects and tracks aircraft and missiles, identifies targets and guides interceptor missiles. It has been exported to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. “The Gumi facility has grown into a key export hub for Hanwha’s defense business as it expands into global markets, as well as a center for technological innovation,” the chairman said. “What you mak

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has attended EU-Indo-Pacific and MIKTA foreign ministers' meetings in New York and discussed cooperation among like-minded nations, the foreign ministry said Tuesday. Cho attended a meeting of foreign ministers from the European Union (EU) and four Indo-Pacific countries, including Australia, India and Japan, on Monday (local time) on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly High-Level Week, according to the ministry. Cho, along with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong; Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar; Kazuya Endo, a senior official at Japan's foreign ministry; EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas; and representatives from EU member states, discussed the importance of a rules-based international order and ways to strengthen security cooperation amid heightened global uncertainties. Cho expressed concern over deepening military ties between North Korea and Russia, and stressed the importance of strengthening security cooperation between the EU and the Indo-Pacific region. "Participants shared Cho's assessment and agreed that cooperation among

Game developer NC’s overseas revenue is expected to account for a larger share of its total sales in the coming months, as the company expands its intellectual properties (IPs) to target global audiences across North America, Europe and Asia. According to NC’s earnings report, overseas revenue accounted for 52 percent of its total sales in the second quarter of 2026, surpassing the halfway mark and increasing for the fourth consecutive quarter. The increased global share came as NC expanded overseas services for its core IPs and continued to generate results from its global-oriented titles. As its revenue structure shifts from a domestic focus toward greater overseas presence, the company is also increasingly orienting its development strategy toward global markets. In Japan, NC is seeking to diversify its genre portfolio with Astraea Oratio, a subculture-themed role-playing game (RPG) title. Japan has a strong consumer base for subculture content spanning animation and fan-created works. According to research firm Oshikatsu Soken, Japan’s subculture game market was valued at 3.5 t

The antitrust watchdog said Tuesday it has received an application from Uber Technologies Inc. regarding its plan to acquire a stake in Germany-based Delivery Hero SE, the parent company of Woowa Brothers Corp., which operates Korea's leading food delivery app. The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) said the U.S.-based Uber Technologies has submitted the application for a review regarding its plan to acquire a full stake in Delivery Heros. Woowa Brothers operates the delivery platform, Baedal Minjok, or Baemin.

They have spent 25 years together without ever registering a marriage. Now in their 70s, veteran actor Park Jung-soo and TV producer Jung Eul-young have dressed as bride and groom — for a wedding photo shoot. Luxury wedding magazine Wedding H recently unveiled photos of the longtime couple in wedding attire, offering an unexpected bridal moment decades into a relationship they have chosen not to formalize through marriage. In one photo, Jung wears a classic black tuxedo jacket, while Park appears in a modern wedding dress paired with a short veil. Jung beams beside her as Park looks toward the camera with a bashful expression. The couple also depart from traditional wedding styling in another set of photos. Jung throws a leather jacket over his shirt, while Park pairs a voluminous white wedding gown with a black leather jacket. They go all-black for another look, with Jung wearing a long black coat and Park dressed in a sleeveless black gown. Park and Jung, both born in 1952, have been together for 25 years. Jung is also the father of actor Jung Kyung-ho. Their relationship has attracted

Seoul has begun construction on an 18.7 billion won ($12.6 million) redesign of Shin Jungang Market in Jung District in the center of the capital, aiming to turn the traditional market into a destination where shoppers and tourists can eat, rest and experience local culture. The Seoul Metropolitan Government held a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday at the market, marking the first construction project under its Design Innovation Traditional Market initiative, with completion targeted for August 2027. Founded as Seongdong Market in 1962, Shin Jungang Market grew into one of Seoul's foundational commercial hubs, anchoring the central city's postwar trade along with Namdaemun and Dongdaemun markets. Over the decades, it became particularly famous as the city's premier wholesale center for grain and dried fish, weaving itself into the everyday life and culinary heritage of the capital. The project will replace the market’s existing arcade with an environmentally friendly wooden roof designed to admit natural light, while adding terraced resting areas and improving connections between the ma

Seoul has surged in popularity among international students worldwide, owing to its vibrant urban culture and lower housing costs than established hubs, British daily The Financial Times (FT) reported. The number of international students enrolled at universities in Korea rose 69 percent over the past three years to 307,500, data showed. The FT noted Seoul offers students good value, providing access to globally renowned K-pop culture and vibrant city life at manageable costs. Bolstered by K-pop's global reach, the capital increasingly attracts European and American students. The outlet added that Seoul's "energy, culture, food and cityscape promise a cosmopolitan lifestyle, which comes with a cheaper price tag than many students’ home cities." A major draw for these international students is Seoul's housing costs, which remain relatively affordable compared with major Western cities. Monthly rent was reported at about 900,000 won ($660) for a one-room apartment, or studio, and 600,000 won ($440) for "hasuk," a Korean-style boarding house. Students' reasons for choosing Seoul to study

The number of deaths in Korea last year reached the second-highest level on record, while suicide was the leading cause of death among people in their teens through their 40s, according to data released by the Ministry of Data and Statistics on Tuesday. Although both the number of suicides and the suicide rate declined from the previous year, teenagers stood out as an exception, with their suicide rate climbing to an all-time high. Meanwhile, cancer emerged as the leading cause of death starting among people in their 50s, highlighting a sharp divide in mortality patterns across age groups. According to the data, suicide accounted for more than half of all deaths among Koreans in their teens and 20s in 2025, underscoring its disproportionate impact on younger generations. The share stood at 51.2 percent for teenagers and rose to 53.5 percent for those in their 20s. It then fell to 42.3 percent among people in their 30s and 25.4 percent among those in their 40s. The suicide death rate, meanwhile, increased progressively across these age groups. It stood at 8.6 per 100,000 among teenagers, r

The foreign student population in Korea's second-largest city has climbed to a record 24,328 this year, a 30 percent increase from 2025, as Busan expands programs aimed at helping students study, work and settle in Korea. The figure, released Aug. 27 in national basic education statistics, compares with 18,630 foreign students in the southern port city in 2025 and 14,961 in 2024, according to Busan Metropolitan City. The city has worked with local universities since 2024 to attract 30,000 foreign students by 2028, while consolidating previously fragmented recruitment and support programs. Busan opened the Study Busan Hub in February as a one-stop support center for foreign students, linking universities and government agencies to services covering daily life, health care, finance, visas, Korean-language education and employment. The hub also works with Busan Immigration and Foreigners Office on group fingerprint registration for new foreign students and connects students with three designated hospitals — Daedong Hospital, Dong-Eui Medical Center and Good Gang-An Hospital. The city also

President Lee Jae Myung’s decision to rule out sending troops for combat in the U.S.-Iran war is drawing attention to what Seoul can still do in and around the Strait of Hormuz without joining the fighting. The remaining options range from expanding the role of the Cheonghae Unit, a Korean naval contingent operating in waters around the Gulf of Aden focused primarily on anti-piracy and vessel-protection missions, to maritime surveillance and logistical support, according to analysts. They said whether such options would allow Korea to stay out of the war would depend on where and when the country’s military forces are deployed, what missions they take on and whether they remain under Seoul’s command. “It is important that the Cheonghae Unit remains under independent Korean command and focuses on protecting Korean vessels and nationals, rather than becoming involved in combat operations,” said Cho Yong-geun, a professor of military studies at Kyungnam University. He added that “if it is after the war ends, there would be no problem” with expanding the unit’s operations tow

The after school meal never varied. He laid grilled pork belly in the largest pan in the kitchen to grill. After finishing the meat, he made instant noodles, tossing in generous helpings of rice cakes, dumplings and cheese before finishing the meal by stirring cooked rice into the remaining broth. As a high school student, Chang Hyoung-woo cooked this meal alone in the kitchen whenever he could, trying to avoid comments from anyone wandering in. The meal was so heavy that he would sleep hard for an hour or two before waking up to study. Looking back, he said the routine resembled how sumo wrestlers and traditional Korean "ssirum" wrestlers gain weight. Ate like ssireum wrestler Lavish meals had been his primary indulgence since childhood. While other boys his age were outdoors playing with friends, Chang had little interest in exercise. Instead, he favored fried chicken, hamburgers, red meat, snacks, cola and ice cream. He hated meals like sukiyaki and shabu-shabu that mixed thin slices of meat with vegetables to cook in broth. Why would anyone spoil quality meat with unwanted greens? Hi

During the annual Chuseok holiday, when millions of families travel across Korea to gather and celebrate the autumn harvest, finding an open doctor’s office can turn an ordinary illness into a logistical nightmare. In response to potential medical shortages during the four-day break from Thursday to Sunday, Seoul city officials said Tuesday that more than 6,000 medical clinics and pharmacies will remain open, supported by a 24-hour emergency response system. The initiative aims to prevent overburdening hospital emergency rooms with noncritical cases while ensuring that both light ailments and life-threatening conditions are managed smoothly. On average, roughly 1,547 medical institutions — comprising 642 clinics and 905 pharmacies — will operate daily across the capital. For residents experiencing minor illnesses like cold symptoms or indigestion, the city encourages visiting neighborhood clinics rather than rushing to hospital emergency rooms. Basic over-the-counter remedies, including fever reducers and pain relievers, will also remain continuously accessible across 6,926 design

Joshua of K-pop boy group Seventeen on Tuesday released "Baby Come Home," an individual digital single presented in both Chinese and English. The two-track release came out at 1 p.m., with the Chinese-language version featuring award-winning Taiwanese singer-songwriter WeiBird, while the English version is performed solely by Joshua. According to his agency, Pledis Entertainment, Joshua co-wrote and composed the track, which is built around an acoustic guitar arrangement and a warm, understated melody. Joshua's collaboration with WeiBird on the Chinese version adds a new layer to the song, which centers on the theme of becoming a place where someone can always return. The English-language version features Joshua's calm, lyrical vocals that convey the same message of steadfast companionship.

Lee Young-hoon, senior pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, received recognition from the Presidential Committee on Ageing Society and Population Policy for his leadership in tackling Korea's dwindling birthrate through proactive churchwide initiatives. The church said Tuesday that the committee’s Vice Chairman Kim Jin-oh delivered the award to the senior pastor during the church's Sunday service. The committee commended Lee for fostering a family-friendly culture by encouraging marriages among unmarried congregants, offering financial incentives for childbirth and actively supporting families with multiple children. Under his guidance, the total fertility rate among church members aged 20 and older reached 2.1. During the service, Lee Young-mi, a church member who raised 13 children, was also presented with a plaque of appreciation for embodying the value of life in an era of demographic decline. Pastor Lee has consistently emphasized that cherishing life and nurturing the next generation represent an essential faith mission, while actively encouraging church families to have

Hyundai Motor Group has opened its robot training and testing facility for Boston Dynamics’ Atlas humanoid robot as part of efforts to bring the group’s physical artificial intelligence (AI) vision into its global production operations. The carmaker said Tuesday the Robotics Metaplant Application Center (RMAC) has started operations at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in the state of Georgia in the United States. The facility will serve as a major testbed where Atlas is trained in an environment designed to replicate actual automotive production sites before the robots are deployed on factory floors. Atlas is being trained to perform a range of manufacturing-related tasks, including preparing materials for logistics operations and sorting automotive parts according to their assembly sequence. The training is intended to help the humanoid robot handle increasingly sophisticated work in real-world production environments. The facility is expected to play a key role in Hyundai Motor Group’s plan to deploy about 25,000 Atlas robots across its Hyundai Motor and Kia producti

Beauty device and cosmetics developer APR has obtained two international artificial intelligence (AI)-related certifications, establishing a global-level framework for AI governance and product reliability. The company said Tuesday it earned ISO/IEC 42001 certification for its AI management system and Nemko’s AI Trust Mark for the reliability of its AI-assisted product. APR said it is the first beauty company in the world to obtain both certifications. ISO/IEC 42001, established by the International Organization for Standardization and the International Electrotechnical Commission in 2023, is an international standard for AI management systems. It assesses whether an organization has systems in place to manage risks and opportunities associated with AI and support the responsible development, provision and use of AI systems. APR said it has established 46 types of AI management documents across seven stages for its AI-based personalized care services, covering the entire lifecycle of AI systems, from planning to disposal. It has also implemented a governance structure in which individ

Korean telecommunications and technology services provider LG Uplus said Tuesday it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Sodomall, a wholesale and retail distribution platform, to jointly develop artificial intelligence (AI) transformation (AX) solutions tailored to small business owners. Sodomall operates an online-and-offline distribution network that supplies groceries and daily necessities at wholesale prices through nationwide group-buying stores. Under the partnership, the two companies will work together on AI and telecom solutions for in-store use, help small merchants expand their sales channels and identify new business opportunities to revitalize local commercial districts. LG Uplus plans to combine its own telecom and AI infrastructure with Sodomall's online and offline distribution data to help individual merchants forecast product demand. Specifically, the companies will pilot a solution that merges the commercial district analysis feature of LG Uplus' Uri Gage Package — a communications and AI solution built for small businesses — with Sodomall's regional sa

YouTube’s tighter enforcement of its policies on eating disorder-related content is affecting Korean food and diet creators, with some losing advertising revenue or deleting hundreds of old videos. Tzuyang, one of Korea’s best-known "mukbang" creators, also weighed in on the issue in a video uploaded Sunday. Mukbang, which translates to eating broadcast, refers to content showing people eating large quantities of food. “I heard eating a lot isn’t the trend these days,” she said while vising Sinpo Market in Incheon. “I’ll try to be a YouTuber who eats a reasonable amount from now on.” She nevertheless went on to eat fried chicken, spicy rice cakes, Korean blood sausage, donuts and several other dishes in her usual mukbang style. Tzuyang has about 13.5 million subscribers on YouTube. Other creators have already faced restrictions. DietJo, a food and diet YouTuber with about 440,000 subscribers, said her channel had been demonetized as YouTube applies stricter guidelines to videos involving binge eating and eating disorder-related content. She said she had also stopped uploadi

The Korea Medical Tourism Promotion Association (KMTPA) and digital dollar infrastructure company Fypher signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at improving financial convenience for foreign medical tourists and expanding Asia's medical tourism ecosystem. KMTPA said Monday that under the agreement, it will combine its network of medical institutions with Fypher's digital dollar infrastructure, easing payment and remittance difficulties for foreign patients seeking medical services in Korea. "The sustainable competitiveness of Korea's medical tourism industry lies not only in excellent medical services but in branding the entire process, from choosing Korea to booking and payment, as an integrated, high-value-added product," said Kim Jin-kuk, KMTPA president. Kim added that through the partnership, KMTPA will work to make real, on-the-ground improvements so foreign patients can access Korean medical care in a more convenient and reliable environment. Paul Kim, chairman of Fypher, said medical tourism is a field where trust and convenience are essential in cross-border fund transfers. "

Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae said Tuesday he cannot comply with the presidential office's request to re-recommend a candidate for a top court justice post, saying he could find no constitutional grounds for doing so. Last month, the presidential office had asked Cho to recommend a new candidate after taking issue with his written recommendation of two Supreme Court justice nominees to President Lee Jae Myung. Cho told reporters on Monday that the document concerning the request "does not specify the reasons for requesting a re-recommendation or the constitutional grounds for the request." "I cannot find any other specific constitutional grounds or reasons to justify the request for re-recommendation," Cho said. "I therefore state that I cannot comply with the request." Cho had recommended Son Bong-kie of the Daegu District Court and Kim Sung-soo, then a Seoul High Court judge, to be appointed as new Supreme Court justices by the president. Usually, the chief justice visits the president to make a face-to-face recommendation for a new Supreme Court justice after prior coordinati

Chung Mong-gyu, former chief of the Korea Football Association (KFA), has been referred to the prosecution over alleged irregularities in the appointment of former men's national team head coach Hong Myung-bo, police said Tuesday. Chung faces charges of obstruction of business for allegedly interfering in the head coach nomination process to get Hong appointed in July 2024, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. Investigators believe Chung also took steps to make the appointment appear to have followed proper procedures. Hong's appointment sparked major public backlash at the time, with critics raising questions over a lack of transparency and alleged procedural irregularities. The investigation, which first began soon after Hong's appointment, recently gained renewed attention following Korea's elimination from the group stage at this year's World Cup. Investigators, however, decided not to press charges against Hong due to a lack of evidence that he interfered in the appointment process. Both Hong and Chung stepped down from their posts following the country's World Cup elimi

A suspected land mine exploded at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) earlier this week during a route clearance operation to identify a potential North Korea-created minefield south of the inter-Korean border, South Korea's military said Tuesday. The explosion occurred south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) in the western sector of the DMZ, separating the two Koreas, on Monday, leaving three military officers injured, including one who lost his ankle. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said the explosion took place during a military operation to clear a route in the DMZ ahead of an on-site inspection by the United Nations Command (UNC) set for early next week. The South Korean military earlier said it had identified some terrain changes in some parts south of the DMZ and was in consultations with the UNC over the possibility that North Korean troops may have planted land mines. "The site of the explosion was near the MDL," JCS spokesperson Jang Do-young told a press briefing. "We plan to determine the exact location and cause of the explosion through an on-site inspection, once safety is sec

Korean defense and railway systems manufacturer Hyundai Rotem said Tuesday it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Hyundai Motor to bring the automaker's smart factory technology into its aerospace production facility, aiming to improve workplace safety and product quality. Under the agreement, the two Hyundai Motor Group affiliates will work together to introduce automated systems at Hyundai Rotem's aerospace plant. Hyundai Rotem has been developing technology for ducted ramjet and hypersonic engines, as well as methane engines for reusable launch vehicles, through projects with the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and the Korea Research Institute for Defense Technology Planning and Advancement — Korea's state-run defense research bodies. The company plans to apply Hyundai Motor's AI-based smart factory technology to high-risk stages of its aerospace manufacturing process, aiming to create safer working conditions while strengthening quality competitiveness. Hyundai Rotem said a safety incident could disrupt development and production schedules for its advanced aerospac

Korean power equipment and industrial automation solution provider LS Electric said Tuesday it has put two of Boston Dynamics' four-legged Spot robots into regular operation at its Busan plant, using them to monitor production equipment and support quality and safety management as part of a broader smart factory push. The company worked with Hyundai Autoever, a systems integration affiliate of Hyundai Motor Group, for a roughly two-month trial run starting in July before formally deploying the two robots. The Busan plant is LS Electric's main production site for ultrahigh-voltage transformers, a market seeing rising global demand as investment in AI data centers and power grids accelerates. The company said Spot will help build a predictive maintenance system that flags equipment problems before they cause production delays. The robots are being used to monitor vapor phase drying, a core part of transformer manufacturing in which components are dried in a vacuum chamber. Spot's onboard thermal camera checks chamber door seals and detects heat leaks without physical contact, while sensor

TikTok held its first standalone K-beauty pop-up event on TikTok Shop in the United Kingdom, bringing together 19 Korean beauty brands at Protein Studios in London's Shoreditch neighborhood from Sept. 12-13, the company said Tuesday. The two-day event, called "Where Glow Begins," ran alongside an in-app campaign, "K-Beauty Super Brand Week," from Sept. 13-18. TikTok Shop is the platform's built-in e-commerce feature, allowing users to buy products directly through videos and livestreams without leaving the app. The venue featured brand booths, a livestream commerce zone, beauty masterclasses and photo areas, with about 400 creators taking part in product trials, content creation and livestreamed broadcasts over the campaign period. K-beauty has been one of the fastest-growing categories on TikTok Shop UK. The number of active K-beauty sellers on the platform rose 875 percent as of August compared with a year earlier, while K-beauty livestream sessions increased more than 305 percent over the same period. K-beauty product sales grew about 60 percent in the second quarter of this year com

Korean biopharmaceutical company Celltrion said Tuesday it has renewed European Good Manufacturing Practice (EU-GMP) certification for its Songdo campus production facilities, covering a combined 250,000 liters of capacity across drug substance and drug product manufacturing. The certification, issued by the European Medicines Agency, confirms that a facility meets European Union quality standards required to supply pharmaceutical products to the European market. The renewal applies to Celltrion's Plants 1, 2 and 3 at its Songdo campus in Incheon, west of Seoul. The company said it plans to expand total production volume at the campus by about 15 percent this year compared with last year, driven largely by output from Plant 3, which began commercial production in late 2024. Celltrion projects Plant 3 will produce 128 batches this year, up about 142 percent from a year earlier, as the newer facility stabilizes operations. The company is also preparing to bring a new drug product plant online, having received building-use approval from the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority in June. The f

CJ OliveNetworks said Tuesday that its gift card transaction value rose more than 33 percent in the first half of 2026 from a year earlier, setting a record for a six-month period as corporate demand for rewards helped expand its business-to-business sales. The company said annual transaction value rose about 27 percent last year, as gift cards increasingly moved beyond personal gifting into customer rewards, marketing programs and employee benefits. In July, CJ OliveNetworks began supplying CJ Gift Cards and Olive Young gift cards as rewards for LG Uplus home services, covering internet, IPTV and telephone subscriptions and renewals. Customers signing up for or renewing eligible services can receive gift cards worth up to 400,000 won ($291), depending on their service and contract terms. CJ OliveNetworks said the partnership broadens its reach among households and gives LG Uplus customers a wider range of reward options. The company has also expanded where its integrated CJ Gift Card can be used, adding more than 5,700 Emart24 stores nationwide at the start of the year. The card can now b

CJ CheilJedang is taking Korean distilled spirits to New York, unveiling its premium jari brand as it seeks to introduce Korean drinking culture to consumers in one of the world’s most influential food cities. The company is holding a launch event Tuesday (local time) at Moono, a modern Korean restaurant in Manhattan, where it is presenting three jari products alongside a Korean food pairing dinner. The lineup includes jari Munbae Sul 24 and jari Gamuchee 24, which were released in Korea in July, and jari Munbae Sul 41, which is making its U.S. debut. The higher-proof Munbae Sul 41 is designed to offer a deeper expression of the distinctive aroma of munbae, a pear-like fragrance associated with traditional Korean distilled spirits, according to CJ CheilJedang. CJ CheilJedang’s Lifestyle Food Business division executives are among many expected to attend the event with figures from New York’s food, beverage and cultural industries. Bartender Hong Doo-ui, a mixologist with brand ambassador Pine&Co, and chef Kim Ho-young of Moono and Michelin-starred Jua are also taking part, pairing j

The University of Seoul has signed a dual doctoral degree agreement in engineering with the Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T). The University of Seoul said the agreement, signed Thursday, is designed to strengthen educational and research cooperation in engineering between the two universities. It also aims to foster engineering talent with global research capabilities and interdisciplinary problem-solving skills. Under the agreement, doctoral students who meet certain requirements will conduct research under the joint supervision of faculty members from both universities. They can earn dual doctoral degrees upon completing the academic programs and degree requirements of both institutions. The University of Seoul said its students will first complete coursework and conduct initial research in the university’s doctoral program. After meeting relevant requirements, including qualifying as doctoral candidates and passing the qualifying examination, they may be admitted to a doctoral program at Missouri S&T on a conditional basis. They will then complete the requir

HD Construction Equipment is teaming up with France’s Manitou Group to expand its reach in compact construction equipment, signing a mutual sales partnership Monday (local time) at Manitou Group’s headquarters in Ancenis, France, with HD Construction Equipment President Moon Jae-young and Manitou Group President and CEO Sylvain Blaise attending. Under the agreement, HD Construction Equipment will source compact equipment from Manitou Group and sell it globally under its Hyundai and Develon brands. Manitou Group will add HD Construction Equipment’s compact equipment to its portfolio and market the products under its Manitou and Gehl brands. Manitou Group supplies construction, agricultural and industrial equipment, including telehandlers, forklifts, skid steer loaders and aerial work platforms, through operations spanning 140 countries. For HD Construction Equipment, the agreement is intended to broaden its compact equipment lineup while increasing production scale and improving product quality and price competitiveness. The company has set a goal of generating 1.3 trillion won ($884

Actor Shin Hyun-joon’s latest television appearance in Korea has brought an unexpected bit of Peru into the spotlight, as a familiar supermarket bag and local soft drink appeared alongside him during a taping of tvN’s “You Quiz on the Block.” Shin, who recently returned from a fan event in Peru, appeared on the program to share stories from his trip, including his experiences with local fans. During the taping, Shin carried a shopping bag from Wong, one of Peru’s major supermarket brands, creating an unplanned moment of exposure for the retailer. Shin also showed host Yoo Jae-suk a bottle of Inca Kola, a Peruvian soft drink, and encouraged him to try it. Neither Wong nor Inca Kola was presented as part of an advertising or sponsorship arrangement, according to information provided by Shin’s camp. Wong later responded to a promotional post about Shin’s television appearance through its official social media account, tagging the actor and adding a Peruvian flag and heart emojis. The retailer also created an artificial intelligence-generated image depicting Shin visiting a Wong

Samsung Electronics is turning a German kitchen industry hub into a year-round showcase for its built-in appliances as it seeks to deepen partnerships and expand its presence in Europe. The company opened a roughly 480-square-meter permanent showroom on the first floor of Kitchen Center Löhne in Löhne, Germany, during Küchenmeile, a major business-to-business event for the European kitchen industry. Küchenmeile runs through Friday, drawing more than 300 brands and 25,000 industry visitors, Samsung said. The company has participated in the event since 2013, using it to introduce built-in appliances and connect with kitchen furniture companies and other industry partners. The new showroom is designed as a venue for product demonstrations, business consultations and training, giving industry visitors year-round access to Samsung’s built-in appliances and connected kitchen technologies. Its displays include Bespoke artificial intelligence(AI)-powered refrigerators, a Bespoke AI dishwasher, an induction cooktop with an integrated extractor and a Bespoke AI oven equipped with AI Pro Cooki

Korea’s internet-only banks and regional lenders are expanding their co-lending partnerships beyond consumer credit into corporate lending, as they each look for new ways to grow their businesses, industry officials said Monday. KakaoBank and Busan Bank are preparing to launch a joint lending program for small and medium-sized businesses and sole proprietors, following a memorandum of understanding signed in April. The arrangement will combine KakaoBank’s nationwide digital platform with Busan Bank’s experience in assessing and managing business loans in its regional market. Until now, most co-lending partnerships between the two parties have focused on consumer credit. Toss Bank and Kwangju Bank introduced the industry’s first joint loan in 2024, followed by similar offerings from Kbank and Busan Bank, and from KakaoBank and Jeonbuk Bank in 2025. All three programs targeted salaried workers. Their expansion into business lending marks the next step. The incentives for both sides are clear. For internet-only banks, which have relied heavily on household lending, working with regio

In a leafy temple courtyard tucked away from the bustling avenues of Seoul, foreign travelers attempting to navigate the nuanced rituals of temple stays, meditation and traditional Eastern medicine may soon find an unlikely companion: generative artificial intelligence (AI). Under a newly announced initiative from the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Korea is deploying cutting-edge digital technologies to modernize its oldest cultural assets. Officials said Tuesday that three tech startups have been selected to pair advanced AI, location-based audio guides and automated booking platforms with traditional Korean wellness and Buddhist heritage sites. The municipal project addresses a persistent hurdle for overseas visitors exploring Korean cultural heritage: steep language barriers and complex reservation systems. While K-pop and Korean cinema have drawn record numbers of international tourists to the capital, foreign visitors frequently report difficulty navigating off-the-beaten-path experiences like temple stays, herbal medicine consultations and monastic cuisine. To bridge this gap, city

Played by actor Lee Jun-hyuk, Gong Eun-tae is the youngest team leader at major corporation Hongseong International, yet he has risen through the ranks at lightning speed thanks to his characteristic diligence. He has endured a series of unreasonable situations without ever losing his temper. He is looked down on by team members who joined the company before him, while office politics above him leave him saddled with difficult assignments. Now on the verge of burnout, his mundane life takes an unexpected turn when he wins the lottery. The 1.3 billion won ($950,000) jackpot is not enough for him to spend the rest of his life doing nothing, but it is more than enough to serve as a financial safety net. With the windfall in hand, Gong decides to turn his suffocating corporate life upside down. There is no absolute villain to take revenge on, nor is there a Cinderella-style romance. Instead, a new wave of hyperrealistic dramas depicting the everyday lives of ordinary people is making its way onto television screens. Far removed from the cathartic storylines currently in vogue, these dramas

Facing a sharp slowdown in global electric vehicle demand and fierce price competition from Chinese rivals, Korea is overhauling its battery strategy to recapture its edge in the global market. At a high-level industry summit held Tuesday at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seoul, officials from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy met with executives from top battery giants, including LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI and SK On. Together, they unveiled the nation’s official Battery Technology Roadmap, outlining a massive public-private push focused on next-generation chemistries and dramatic cost reductions. The strategic shift marks a clear departure from Korea’s long-standing reliance on high-nickel NCM (nickel-cobalt-manganese) cells. While premium NCM batteries established Korean manufacturers as global leaders in high-performance electric vehicles, Chinese rivals have rapidly gained market share by flooding global supply chains with low-cost lithium iron phosphate alternatives. To counter this squeeze, Korea is pivoting toward a "select and concentrate" strate

The Public Prosecution Service, set to launch Oct. 2 under a sweeping prosecution reform, will initially have 80-85 percent of the current statutory quota of prosecutors, with plans for further reductions through a legal revision, the justice ministry said Tuesday. The ministry said the Cabinet approved legal amendments on the organization of the Public Prosecution Service and the number of prosecutors, reflecting various public opinions gathered during a legislative notice period from Sept. 4-9. The launch of the new agency is part of the government's reform stripping prosecutors of independent investigative powers. The amendments include further cuts to investigative personnel from the previously proposed staffing plan, the abolition of three additional deputy chief prosecutor-level posts and eight departments, and the renaming of departments that had drawn controversy. The number of prosecutors at the new agency, the most contentious issue, will be set at 80-85 percent of the 2,292 prosecutors currently authorized under the Prosecutor Quota Act. The ministry said it will seek an amendm

Private academies will be prohibited from conducting placement tests for preschoolers starting next month, the education ministry said Tuesday, as part of efforts to curb severe forms of early childhood private education. The ban will take effect Oct. 1 under the revised Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Establishment and Operation of Private Teaching Institutes and Extracurricular Lessons, which was passed during a Cabinet meeting the same day. Under the revision, all written, oral, practical and interview evaluations will be prohibited, as well as any evaluations utilizing test scores to grade specific abilities. As an exception, however, diagnostic assessments through observation or interviews after a child has already enrolled will be permitted with prior parental consent. The revision also calls for fines on violators of 1 million won ($735) for a first offense, 2 million won for a second offense, and 3 million won for third and subsequent offenses.

Kookmin University has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Digital Technologies to promote cooperation in advanced technologies and expand industry-academia collaboration. The university said the MOU was signed at the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Seoul on Thursday. The agreement is designed to formalize the areas of cooperation discussed during the visit of Jamol Tilloyevich Makhsudov, Uzbekistan’s deputy minister of digital technologies, to Kookmin University on Sept. 10. Jeong Seung-ryul, president of the university, held a meeting with Uzbekistan’s Digital Technologies Minister Sherzod Shermatov, who was visiting Korea to attend the Korea-Central Asia Summit, to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation. The meeting was attended by Kim Byoung-joon, the university’s director of international affairs, and Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to Korea Alisher Abdusalomov. The two sides exchanged views on talent development and industry-academia collaboration in advanced technology fields, including artificial intelligence (AI) and software. They agreed

LG Group is expanding its partnerships with Big Tech companies in artificial intelligence (AI) data center infrastructure, with Chairman Koo Kwang-mo’s engagement with leaders of Microsoft and Nvidia leading to collaboration opportunities in areas including cooling systems, batteries and robotics components. LG Electronics said in a LinkedIn post on Tuesday that Koo met Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella at the latter's headquarters in Redmond, Washington, on Monday (local time), and discussed strategic collaboration in AI data center infrastructure, AI transformation and physical AI. In AI data center infrastructure, the two sides will explore business opportunities for LG to supply cooling, power and infrastructure solutions in support of Microsoft’s global data center expansion. In the short term, the two sides will concentrate on supplying LG Electronics’ high-capacity cooling solutions for Microsoft’s AI data center projects at key strategic locations, while expanding their collaboration over the medium to long term to prefabricated data centers. Prefabricated data cen

Korea has selected a natural gas-fired combined-cycle power plant in Encinal, Texas, as the first project under its $200 billion strategic investment commitment to the United States. It is also drawing up plans for two further projects related to the construction of eight nuclear reactors and an Alaska liquefied natural gas (LNG) project. Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan briefed the National Assembly's Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs, and Startups Committee on the projects Tuesday, saying the government had decided on the first project following reviews by committees chaired by the industry and finance ministers. “Today, I would like to report on one project the government has decided to pursue,” Kim said during the committee's plenary session. The $22.3 billion project, with planned generating capacity of about 6.3 gigawatts, is aimed at meeting rising electricity demand in Texas as semiconductor plants and artificial intelligence data centers expand in the state. The project will be funded entirely by Korea, while ownership will be split equally between Seoul and Washington. The govern

Rising girl group Rescene will return on Nov. 3 with its new EP, "Pulse," the group's agency, The Muze Entertainment, said Tuesday. This will be the K-pop quintet's first release in four months since "Pretty Girl," a remake single released in July, and its first physical album since "Lip Bomb," its third EP released in November last year. Debuting in March 2024, Rescene rose to fame as "Love Attack," now its signature song, gained traction on major domestic music charts in July, nearly two years after its release. The hit has since ranked high on the charts alongside its new single, "Pretty Girl."

A parliamentary committee on Tuesday adopted a confirmation hearing report for the minister nominee for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), paving the way for her appointment. The report for SME Minister nominee Lee So-young was adopted by bipartisan consensus at a meeting of the parliamentary trade committee, though the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) noted concerns she may be unfit for the job due to unresolved suspicions surrounding her apartment purchase and apparent lack of expertise in SME policies. Still, the party said Lee had also led efforts to remove excessive business regulations and engaged in various parliamentary activities to promote sustainable growth. Lee, a two-term lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, was tapped by President Lee Jae Myung as part of a Cabinet reshuffle in late August and is known for her career as a climate and environmental lawyer.

In a fresh effort to revitalize quiet country towns and rethink domestic travel, Korea is inviting vacationers to explore the countryside not by map, but by specific themes. Under a newly launched autumn initiative, travelers can trek up mist-shrouded peaks with a feng shui master, spot rare birds alongside a celebrity actor or cook seasonal feasts with a prominent chef. The program, dubbed "Five Passions, Five Journeys," is organized by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) as part of its broader Travel Autumn campaign. Applications are open through Sept. 30 for 700 coveted spots across 25 day-trip itineraries, each designed around niche interests rather than traditional sightseeing checklists. The campaign directly addresses a growing challenge in Korea: severe regional depopulation. As younger generations increasingly move to the greater Seoul metropolitan area for work and education, rural counties face shrinking populations and quiet main streets. Government tourism officials hope that connecting urbanites with their specialized hobbies will channel steady foot traffic into under-the

Korea will bring food, beauty, entertainment and technology to Mexico City this week as six government ministries join forces for 2026 K-EXPO MEXICO, a four-day event aimed at expanding Korean exports across Latin America. The expo runs Thursday through Sunday, with consumer exhibitions at Mexico City’s World Trade Center from Friday through Sunday, alongside business meetings and a K-pop concert. Organized by Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism with five other ministries and related agencies, the event will feature products from Nongshim, CJ CheilJedang, Binggrae and CheongKwanJang, as well as beauty offerings from Amorepacific and LG Household & Health Care. Netflix will offer Spanish-language dubbing experiences featuring popular Korean content, while displays tied to Stray Kids will include a photo zone and videos. Samsung Electronics, Kia and LG Electronics will also showcase technology linked to Korean content, including artificial intelligence-based recommendations tailored to individual preferences. Korea’s content market in Mexico is valued at $30 billion, accor

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called on party officials to revamp the party's propaganda and ideological campaign in line with the "expectations of the times," state media reported Tuesday. In his closing address at the party's third workshop for officials in the information sector on Monday, Kim laid out "principled issues" and tasks for modernizing "the contents, forms, methods and means of ideological work," according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). He called for "innovations in information and motivation work and creation of cultures," urging that they align with "the expectations of the times, the revolution and the people." Kim, in particular, called for the use of "modern information and technological means" to "thoroughly block the spread of reactionary ideological culture," a call seen as an effort to more effectively stem the flow of outside ideas and influences. The four-day workshop wrapped up Monday, centered on ideological education built around Kim's "revolutionary ideas" and "the revolutionary relics and the leadership exploits of the party," the KCNA repo

South Korea's liberal President Lee Jae Myung says he’ll underscore the need for a practical, step-by-step denuclearization of North Korea during this week’s U.N. General Assembly, adding that both Seoul and Washington are willing to reengage with Pyongyang. “To change the direction of a moving vehicle, it must be brought to a halt first,” Lee said in written responses to questions by The Associated Press before his departure Monday to New York. “A phased approach of stop, reduction and dismantlement is a practical way of effectively resolving the North Korean nuclear issue.” Lee's push comes as North Korea is ramping up weapons testing activities even after U.S. President Donald Trump scaled back a major military exercise with South Korea in a conciliatory gesture toward leader Kim Jong Un, who viewed it as an invasion rehearsal. Lee advocates phased denuclearization of North Korea North Korea's evolving nuclear program has raised questions about whether its denuclearization can be achieved in a single step and given rise to calls for convincing North Korea to denuclearize i

When Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets U.S. President Donald Trump in New York on Tuesday, the leader casting the longest shadow over the meeting will not even be in the building. Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington on Thursday — two days after Takaichi meets the U.S. leader on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. It will be Xi’s first state visit to the U.S. in over 10 years. Faced with an unpredictable American president eager for tangible results ahead of what could be a tough November midterm election, Japan is working to ensure its vital interests are not traded away at the Xi-Trump summit. The Takaichi-Trump talks will unfold amid frosty ties between Tokyo and Beijing. Takaichi’s remarks last November that an attack on Taiwan could constitute a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan infuriated Beijing and sparked months of diplomatic freeze. Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the United States, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washin

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook said Tuesday that a police reform committee will be established under her office to ensure a responsible and fair policing system as the law enforcement agency is set to take on greater roles according to the government's sweeping prosecution reform. Starting Oct. 2, the police will assume responsibility for all investigations, while the prosecution's role will be limited to indictment without the power to conduct investigations on its own. The reform has raised concerns negative effects could arise if police conduct all investigations as the prosecution has made up for shortfalls in police investigations. Such concerns have deepened in the wake of a series of police misconduct incidents in recent months, including shocking revelations that an officer closed two missing person cases without confirming their safety. The two were ultimately found dead. "Under the new system, the roles and responsibilities of police are of paramount importance," Han said during a Cabinet meeting held at the government complex in the central administrative city of Sejong. "The g

U.S. first lady Melania Trump is set to lead key cultural diplomacy events during the coming official state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, marking their first visit to the White House since 2015. According to an official itinerary released by the first lady’s office, the three-day visit, scheduled from September 23 to 25, will feature extensive ceremonial honours alongside dedicated cultural exchanges highlighting Sino-American relations. Melania will join U.S. President Donald Trump to officially welcome Peng and President Xi to the White House on Thursday following their scheduled arrival at Joint Base Andrews the previous evening. The SCMP reported on September 17 that Trump would greet Xi at Joint Base Andrews, not only at the White House, a rare presidential airport welcome. The official reception will take place across the South Lawn, State Floor and Rose Garden of the White House. It will begin with military pageantry along the White House grounds, where an Armed Forces honour guard will line the South Drive alongside displayed U.S. and Chinese

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has met with U.S. senators in New York and discussed the Korea-U.S. alliance, Korean Peninsula issues and regional affairs, the foreign ministry said Tuesday. Cho, who is in New York to attend the U.N. General Assembly's high-level week, held a meeting with Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Chris Coons (D-DE) together on Monday (local time), according to the ministry. Cho highlighted that he and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio agreed during last week's bilateral talks in Washington to maintain close communication to ensure the faithful implementation of key summit agreements reached by their leaders and outlined in the joint fact sheet. He called for active support from U.S. Congress to ensure the swift advancement of strategic cooperation in key areas, including shipbuilding and nuclear energy. The joint fact sheet, issued in November following the summit between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump the previous month, calls for Seoul to invest $350 billion in the United States, including $150 billion for shipbuilding cooperation, in exchan

South Korean stocks trimmed earlier gains late Tuesday morning, after a strong start. After opening 2.2 percent higher, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 110.94 points, or 1.58 percent, to 7,188.66 as of 11:20 a.m. The KOSPI opened sharply higher, tracking a record close for the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite amid renewed optimism over artificial intelligence (AI) and declines in global oil prices and bond yields. The index later pared some of its gains as individual investors took profits on major stocks. Market heavyweights were trading mostly higher. Top market cap Samsung Electronics rose 1.92 percent, and chip giant SK hynix gained 2.41 percent. SK Square, the parent company of SK hynix, advanced 2.93 percent, while Samsung Electro-Mechanics, an electronics component affiliate of Samsung Electronics, jumped 5.88 percent. The Korean won was trading at 1,360.8 won against the U.S. dollar as of 11:20 a.m., up 13.7 won from the previous session's close.

An appellate court on Tuesday reduced former first lady Kim Keon Hee's sentence to five years in prison during her bribery trial on charges of taking expensive gifts in return for job appointments. The Seoul High Court partially overturned a lower court's seven-year sentence for Kim, the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, acquitting her of some of the charges brought by special counsel Min Joong-ki. Kim's legal team called the partial acquittal "meaningful" but indicated it would appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court. The special counsel team said it would review the ruling before taking it to the top court. Min's team earlier indicted Kim on charges of receiving jewelry worth a total of over 100 million won ($72,800) from a construction company chairman between March and May 2022 in exchange for a government job for his son-in-law. Yoon, Kim's husband, took office in May 2022 following his presidential election victory in March that year. She was also charged with receiving a golden turtle ornament and a replica of a Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910) painting from Lee Bae-yong, former h

President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday approved the appointments of the minister nominees for finance, defense and land, his office said. Finance Minister nominee Lee Hyoung-il, Defense Minister nominee Kang Shin-chul and Land Minister nominee Hong Jee-sun recently underwent confirmation hearings at the National Assembly, and their hearing reports were adopted by the respective parliamentary committees. Lee appears to have signed off on their appointments shortly after arriving in New York, where he is set to attend the U.N. General Assembly.

NEW YORK — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung arrived in New York on Monday to attend the United Nations General Assembly's High-Level Week and deliver a speech. During a speech on Tuesday to the U.N. session, Lee plans to propose ways to reform the U.N. to tackle global issues and outline South Korea's contributions, while also presenting his administration's vision of seeking peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula. On the sidelines of the U.N. session, Lee will seek to engage with other heads of state, including U.S. President Donald Trump, and hold a meeting with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to call for the world body's cooperation in efforts to ensure peace on the peninsula. On Wednesday, the president will attend an investment summit that will bring together economic and financial leaders from South Korea and the United States before departing for Mexico later that day for a state visit.

North Korea on Tuesday reported on its missile launch earlier this week, saying the test of a new combat weapon system was significant in demonstrating the advancement of the country's weapons technology. The North's missile bureau "successfully conducted a test of a new weapon" Sunday in the presence of leader Kim Jong-un, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). North Korea did not specify what the weapon system was but stressed the test was "of significant importance for advancing weapons system technology," it said. The announcement came two days after South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said the North had fired two short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea from the Wonsan area. Kim described the test as "an unquestionable demonstration of advanced defense technology" and "a clear renewal in the modernization of the armed forces," the KCNA said. Noting that such technology would be significant for the country's war preparedness and future development of its armed forces, Kim said the country's adversaries would better understand what the technological advance

Korea’s low-cost carrier (LCC) industry is heading for a major shakeup, as VIG Partners moves to acquire Air Premia, seeking synergies by combining the long-haul-focused carrier with its existing Eastar Jet, which has a stronger presence on short-haul routes. VIG is reportedly in negotiations with AP Holdings and Tire Bank to acquire about 70 percent of Air Premia, with the transaction valued at around 300 billion won ($217 million). The potential deal would mark VIG’s second major move in Korea’s LCC industry since it acquired Eastar Jet in 2023. The latest move would give the private equity firm access to two airlines with distinctly different route strategies: Eastar has focused largely on short- and medium-haul routes, while Air Premia has built its business around long-haul services, including flights particularly to the United States. The combination could therefore offer a way to build scale across a broader network, rather than simply adding another airline to VIG’s portfolio. Eastar Jet and Air Premia generated combined sales of about 1.21 trillion won last year, accordi

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes a standard tool across the legal profession and beyond, clients will ultimately judge law firms not by whether or how much they use the technology, but by the quality of the results they deliver with it, said Yi Joon-ki, managing partner of Bae, Kim & Lee (BKL). “Clients do not really care what tools we use,” Yi said in a recent interview with The Korea Times at his office. “What they want is a compelling and useful analysis — one that addresses their needs. In the end, it is BKL’s judgment, and BKL will be responsible for it. As long as we deliver a reliable answer, that is what matters to them.” The Seoul-based law firm has emerged as one of the most active adopters of generative AI among Korean law firms, rolling out the technology across the organization this year after conducting pilot projects in litigation, legal research, due diligence, document drafting and other legal tasks. Yi said BKL’s broader ambition is not merely to automate routine work, but to redesign legal workflows so that lawyers can deliver deeper analysis, sha

WASHINGTON/SEOUL —The top diplomats of South Korea, the United States and Japan reiterated their "resolute" commitment to the "complete" denuclearization of North Korea and called on the recalcitrant regime to resume dialogue in a joint statement issued after their trilateral talks in New York on Monday. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi met on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly High-Level Week, also stressing the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. "The Secretary and the Foreign Ministers reaffirmed their resolute commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the prohibition on support for revenue generation for the DPRK's nuclear and ballistic missile programs in accordance with the relevant U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions," the three governments said in the statement, referring to North Korea by its official name. "They also reaffirmed that the path to dialogue remains open and called on

Three churches and three luxury hotels were targeted in the 2019 attacks which killed 270.

Ontario's police watchdog says 29-year-old Sean Ward, the man accused of shooting at city police near a Belleville, Ont., synagogue on Sunday night, has died.

The prime minister says he will raise his concerns when he meets the European Commission President later.

A Prince Edward Island orchard owner’s social media post about children damaging apples has blown up online, sparking a conversation about how visitors treat U-pick farms.

Doctors who are members of the Irish Medical Organisation have voted in favour of industrial action, up to and including strike action.

Reading the World is a remarkable new documentary about Paulo Freire, the acclaimed Brazilian educator whose revolutionary approach to teaching connected literacy to critical thinking and democratic participation. It draws on rare archival footage of 1960s Brazil and weaves together the memories of farmers, students and educators who took part in Freire’s culture circles, his method of teaching adults to read in as little as 40 hours by drawing on their own lives, communities and experiences. At the time, Brazil’s illiterate population was barred from voting, so education also opened the door to political participation. The experiment was abruptly halted in 1964 when Brazil’s military overthrew President João Goulart in a U.S.-backed coup that led to Freire’s imprisonment and exile.

“Paulo Freire was one of the most influential educators of the past century and is still widely studied all around the world. But the studies often focus on his ideas, his philosophies, his books, and much less is known about his original praxis,” says co-director Catherine Murphy.

“One of the most important points of his philosophy is that everyone has knowledge,” says Maria Luisa Mendonça, director of the Network for Social Justice and Human Rights in Brazil and a consulting producer.

Governments across the Middle East are preparing for a possible escalation in regional tensions after Iran claimed it had obtained intelligence suggesting the United States is planning a renewed bombing campaign against the Islamic Republic.

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Citing a Japanese official, the report said the two were among a 180-member delegation attending the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games that opened Saturday.

As the United Nations General Assembly opens in New York, we speak with senior Cuban diplomat Carlos Fernández de Cossío, who says the Trump administration is seeking to “asphyxiate the people of Cuba into submission.” On Friday, millions in Cuba lost power in what was at least the sixth major blackout since President Trump cut off fuel shipments to the island in January. The fuel blockade comes on top of the six-decade-long U.S. economic embargo and countless attempts to topple the communist government.

“We will do all we can to stop any nation, the U.S. or any nation, from taking over Cuba,” says Fernández de Cossío, who has served as deputy Cuban foreign minister since 2022.

The storm brought record-breaking rainfall to eastern Japan, triggering landslides, flooding and widespread disruption of transport.

The latest alert issued jointly by United Nations agencies—including UNICEF, the FAO, and the World Food Programme—paints a terrifying picture: in Haiti, an estimated 254,000 children aged 6 to 59 months are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition. The international community is witnessing this agony with an inertia that agencies on the ground decry as “unacceptable.”

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The White House press pool is at the centre of a major row between President Donald Trump and TV networks. What is it?

Francesca Kelly says her family were not told her brother's killer had been temporarily released from prison until after he absconded.

The head of Spain's public broadcaster has said he will propose that the country remains out of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027 over Israel's participation.

Ahead of the midterm elections, activist and writer Bill McKibben says he has been traveling across the United States with Third Act, the environmental group he founded to harness the power of seniors who care about the climate and democracy. “These elections are also starting to set the groundwork for 2028,” says McKibben, who calls the next U.S. presidential vote “maybe the last election that happens in a timeframe when we still really have an opportunity to affect some of the outcomes of these things.”

Poland's intelligence services have arrested a 17-year-old Nazi sympathiser suspected of plotting an attack against a school and a mosque, anti-terror prosecutors in the eastern European country said.

World leaders are in New York this week for the United Nations General Assembly, which coincides with Climate Week. It comes after months of climate-fueled extreme weather around the world, including heat waves in North America and Europe, wildfires in Africa, flash flooding in Asia and a record-breaking El Niño.

Climate campaigner Bill McKibben says that while it’s too late to prevent the climate crisis from unfolding, solar and wind energy are now cheap enough “to blunt its worst excesses.”

We also speak with Kavita Sthanumurthy, a former software engineer at Amazon and a member of Amazon Employees for Climate Justice. She says the artificial intelligence boom is largely being powered by dirty fossil fuel, even as companies like Amazon claim they use 100% renewable energy. “We did our own independent research and found that it was closer to 22%,” says Sthanumurthy.

The first generation to grow up with AI may also be the last one anyone thinks to ask about it – and that has to change, the UN's top human rights official said on Tuesday.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that the world faces a stark choice: “Do we want to live…with a return to the law of the jungle – or do we want to live in a civilized international society?”

The crisis in the Gulf should come as a surprise to no one, the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said on Tuesday, describing it as the cumulative result of years of delay, crisis management through temporary fixes, and unrealistic policies.

The United Nations continues to be weakened, and those who have tied their hopes to the world body – from Palestine to Sudan – have been disappointed, Türkiye’s President said, while adding that his country is committed to restoring confidence in the Organization.

US President Donald Trump used his address to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday to defend recent military action against Iran, urging countries to maintain economic pressure on Tehran – and declaring that he now faces a choice between making a deal, or taking far more drastic steps.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva told the General Assembly on Tuesday that the UN needs to become a “temple of peace” once again, as it confronts one of the most critical periods in its 80-year history.

The UN’s survival for 80 years is not, by itself, proof of success, and now, the institution must confront painful truths if it hopes to rebuild public trust, said Khalilur Rahman, president of the General Assembly’s 81st session on Tuesday.

Humanity faces four defining “tests of power” – around war or peace, inequality, climate change and AI – that will determine whether the world moves towards a new era of cooperation or deeper division, the UN chief warned the General Assembly on Tuesday.

A new academic year is underway in many countries across the world, yet millions of children still attend schools where the water is unsafe to drink, toilets are unusable and there is nowhere to properly wash their hands.

Rising sea levels and ever-more-powerful storms are eroding shorelines, submerging land and threatening to evict millions of people from their homes worldwide.

El Niño is strengthening in a world that is already hotter, raising the risk of drought, floods and crop losses across some of the world’s most important food-producing regions. But unlike many disasters, this one can be seen coming. UN experts say the months ahead offer countries a chance not only to protect the next harvest and our food security, but to prepare for a more unpredictable climate in the long run.

As hostilities worsen in Yemen, more people have been fleeing their homes, further intensifying the humanitarian crisis within the region, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) warned on Tuesday.

The UN chief warned on Tuesday that the two-State solution for the Israel-Palestine conflict is at risk of collapse amid illegal Israeli settlement expansion and annexation.

Iran War Dominates Talks as World Leaders Gather for U.N. General Assembly, U.N. Warns Fighting in Yemen Could Displace 230,000 People , Paramount Settles Antitrust Lawsuits, Setting Up Megamerger with Warner Bros., TV Networks Suspend White House Pool Coverage After Trump Expels CNN, Illinois Authorities Probe Case of U.S. Citizen Hospitalized After ICE Detention, NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Hosts Trump at Gracie Mansion, Israeli Attacks Kill Four Palestinians in Gaza, California to Drop Felony Charges Against Pro-Palestinian Stanford University Students , Jury Convicts Vermont Man in Shootings of Three Palestinian Students , Sen. Bernie Sanders Delivers Major Foreign Policy Speech Ahead of U.N. General Assembly

Ireland's inadequate electricity grid has become the single biggest obstacle to expanding renewable energy and achieving greater energy independence, the wind industry has warned.

The man had jumped in to save a father and son in difficulty in the water, local officials say.

Israel's elections will be the country's first since the deadly Hamas attacks on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) Diocesan Directors from Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe convened for an Induction and Formation Course facilitated by the Missio England and Wales National Director. The course, attended by 19 Diocesan Directors, was held recently at the Hwange Marian Shrine Centre in the Diocese of Hwange, Zimbabwe.

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Ineos said natural gas in the UK is twelve times more expensive than in the US.

Dr Vincent Brown was charged following a seven year British investigation into the 1994 killings.

On the International Day of Peace, Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala of Tombura-Yambio called on the people of South Sudan to renew their commitment to peace, reconciliation, and justice. He urged the political leaders, communities, young people, and faith leaders to reject violence and rebuild trust amid continuing challenges linked to conflict and displacement.

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The two-year-old boy fell from the window of a hotel in Cyprus in July, a Paphos court hears.

New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that wholesale electricity prices jumped by 9.6% on a monthly basis in August, and were a huge 76.9% higher than the same time last year.

There were around 30 active members of the Real IRA at the time of the Omagh bombing, a leading expert on dissident republicanism has told a public inquiry.

Ukraine and Russia traded fresh strikes on their respective energy infrastructure overnight, underscoring the gap between the high-level talk of an energy ceasefire in the ongoing war and the reality on the ground.

The financial connections, shown in public disclosures, enmesh the competitors in a rivalry analysts say is akin to the Cold War space race.

A consultant in emergency medicine has called for Grace's Law to be expanded, citing a rising number of patients presenting at hospitals with injuries from scramblers, e-scooters and e-bikes.

Legal action is being taken against the Garda Ombudsman Fiosrú over a lack of investigations into Troubles incidents.

An original US edition of To Kill a Mockingbird is found in an Oxfam store in west London.

The housing crisis is creating a "cascading, devastating impact" on one-parent families, according to a new report from One Family.

RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop says the Resource Management Act had stifled economic growth, but Opposition parties say the new laws will harm the environment.

An initiative to show that LFW is "bigger than London" launched this year - but will it make a difference?

Three people were driving a former police car and pretending to be detectives when they detained two youths, police allege.

The world’s major powers gather at the United Nations headquarters in New York. At the heart of the agenda are major global issues, including the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, alongside the challenges facing the global economy and the issue of artificial intelligence.

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The UK says it will provide air-to-air refuelling for "defensive" operations following a request from Saudi Arabia.

Borrowing was higher than expected in August as inflation piles pressure on the government ahead of the Budget.

A 45-year-old man who handed himself into police has now been charged with manslaughter.

The PPTA says the leaked footage confirms rumours there was a push to be opaque about what is occurring in the curriculum.

Indonesia plans to conduct trial runs for the envisioned warning system in Jakarta and some other regions by 2030.

The rule is named after 13-year-old Martha Mills, whose family's concerns about her care were not listened to before her death.

An inquest into the suspected suicide of a 12-year-old New Plymouth girl is underway.

Further fuel protests cannot be discounted as hauliers are unable to sustain current diesel prices, the president of the Irish Road Haulage Association has said.

LegaSea says the reduction "does not cut it" and the government should expect more court cases.

The bacteria responsible picked up some new genetic material, say experts.

U.S. trade officials have pressed Vietnam to strengthen rules of origin, customs enforcement and controls on Chinese inputs.

Vets must also tell clients if cheaper medicine is available online as part of the rule updates which surgeries have the coming months to bring in.

European affairs ministers are meeting in Brussels as discussions on the next seven year budget intensify under Ireland's EU presidency.

The renewed search for flight ZK-EBU has brought relatives of its pilot and six passengers to the shores of Lake Moeraki north of Haast.

The clash reflects a global urban-policy conundrum: how cities can manage housing shortages without destroying liveability and environmental health.

The total cost of the project will reach about ¥231 billion, making the investment the largest in Europe for the major Japanese real estate developer.

The release will mark the first time the Yokohama-based automaker has sold a model with the e-Power hybrid system in the U.S.

Shares in the Chinese technology giant jumped 5% in response.

Six staff at the Pahīatua Medical Centre resigned yesterday from the Tararua Health Group.

On July 9, Canada's justice minister issued an order for 88-year-old Peter Murray to be surrendered. One day later, Murray's laywer filed a notice of application for judicial review with the Alberta Court of Appeal.

Peter Grandiek, who turns 95 next month, is gearing up to attempt to break a world record.

Southeast Asia has emerged as a hub for crime syndicates running centers filled with scammers — some willing, some trafficked.

U.S. President Donald Trump had voiced criticism over the project's pace of implementation.

Dunedin is a "unique environment" with a concentrated area of students, says a local police officer trying to reduce alcohol harm in the city.

In return, Beijing is offering help to put pressure on Iran as the U.S.-led war in the Middle East drags on.

A jury on Monday convicted a Vermont man of attempted murder in the shootings of three Palestinian college students who were walking near his home, rejecting an insanity defence rooted in his claims that he was acting on orders from U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies.

Journalist and presenter Piers Morgan has vowed to press ahead with suing Charles Spencer despite the author apologising over an error in his book about his late sister Diana.

The decision to support the Saudi campaign represents one of Burnham's first significant military decisions since becoming prime minister in July.

Typhoon Dujuan has left at least four people dead and 22 injured in Japan, while thousands of houses near Tokyo were without power after the storm swept through the region.

All three bills passed their first readings under urgency over the weekend and will now go to the Justice Select Committee.

The decision follows an investigation by the Department of Internal Affairs.

The prime minister is also set to hold talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, hoping to align their views on China ahead of a U.S.-China summit.

Kim Jong Un said the successful test involving an apparent hypersonic glide vehicle "would give the enemy an incurable headache."

Two 19-year-olds accused of harming the child have been denied bail and remanded in custody.

Plans include fencing strong enough to resist an explosives-laden truck, sensors searching for tunnels, and concrete "sarcophagi" for transformers.

Investors are concerned about brands' growth as sector recovery remains elusive, with inflation due to the Middle East conflict squeezing budgets.

At a court martial hearing at the Devonport Naval Base the defence asked why the complainant continued to have a relationship with the accused, and whether their break-up motivated her accusations.

The man thought he was having a romantic online relationship with an Australian police recruit, but the woman was living rent-free in Auckland.

The driver testing officer has been prohibited from testing drivers amid a major investigation by the transport agency.

The Saving Wildcats partnership is keeping an eye on the latest wildcats being bred in captivity for release into the Cairngorms.

The number of legal aid certificates granted in July this year fell by 93% compared to last year, according to the Law Society, which will appear before the Oireachtas Committee on Justice later today.

After weeks of murders, banishments and shifting suspicions, just four players remain in The Traitors Ireland.

The top diplomats of Japan, South Korea and the U.S. expressed support for the democratic island, days before a U.S.-China leaders' summit.

Selection of a lawmaker without Cabinet experience seen as strengthening the influence of the Prime Minister's Office while reducing opposition input.

Councillors say there is no intention at the moment to sell stakes in the airport, but they want to get a full suite of information about all options.

NZVeg's Mike Brown says squeezing growers' margins further risks reducing supply and raising prices.

The BBC’s Sarah Smith outlines which world leaders Trump is set to meet and the key topics expected on the agenda.

Supporters of John Amagoalik are helping him take the Nunavut government to court as a last resort to force the territory to pay his living expenses so he can spend his final days at home.

CBC News has learned that Canada's change to its citizenship law to recognize the citizenship by descent of 'lost Canadians' is having an unintended consequence south of the border — creating backlogs and processing delays for those seeking genealogical records in the United States.

Winston Peters rejects the idea NZ First has copied the policies of the Make New Zealand Healthy campaign group, despite numerous similarities.

Police said the two victims had moderate injuries.

In the men's individual all-around gymnastics, Shinnosuke Oka took silver and Daiki Hashimoto won bronze behind China's Zhang Boheng.

Already Asia's fastest in the women's medley at 13, Yu's stunning trajectory raises questions of how much stronger she will be at the Olympics.

The deal includes protections designed to limit the market power and ensure the editorial independence of the media giant.

There was a death on the popular walking and biking track yesterday morning.

According to the agency, more than 70% of foreign nationals who faced deportation procedures last year were found to have worked illegally.

A former mayor with limited experience of foreign affairs, the British prime minister is expected to meet Trump for the first time on Tuesday.

The Vanuatu Maritime Safety Authority says there are two confirmed deaths, 14 survivors and 38 people reported as missing following the sinking of the vessel.

The dolphin was carrying a male calf when it was found on Oreti Beach.

The once-obscure roster of companies accused by the Defense Department of helping China's military has emerged as a major irritant for Beijing.

Lian Yunzhi broke the women's world record twice in three days at World Cube Association competitions.

But Tauranga's mayor says he's concerned about a call for more and more resource to complete the recommendations it agreed to following an external review into the fatal Mount Maunganui landslide.

Road closures on Princes Street and Dowling Street have been lifted.

Saudi Arabia has restarted operations at its East-West Pipeline and could resume exports from the Red Sea port of Yanbu later today, three sources briefed on the matter said.

Westland mayor said it was an emotional day for relatives of the people who vanished.

Health NZ is looking into concerns about chronic understaffing, overcrowding and staff being asked to work while sick.

It’s Existential Crises Week!

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres used his final address to the General Assembly to urge world leaders to regulate artificial intelligence, end wars, and focus on climate change.

Police say they are investigating the dispute.

Sri Lanka's High Court has convicted 14 of the 24 men accused of being directly involved in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed 279 people.

The Department of Conservation says engineers identified cable wear on the 47-year-old bridge.

Former culinary-challenged students share four low cost meals they think everyone can master.

Russian missiles and drones struck at least four Ukrainian regions overnight, killing five people, officials said have said.

She was 18 when she was recruited to the Jesus Morning Star cult. She was brainwashed and flew to Korea to meet the leader before her mum stepped in.

More than 3000 were vaccinated in just two weeks earlier this month.

From popping spots to getting enough sleep, experts share their advice on the best way to look after teenage skin.

Some 114,000 Army application were rejected on medical grounds in the past five years, Freedom of Information figures show.

Approval came immediately after the provincial government issued an environmental assessment certificate to FortisBC. The project involves adding a new storage tank and equipment to produce 7,700 tonnes of liquefied natural gas per day.

The chair of Fiji's HIV taskforce says group injecting of drugs in Fiji has significant potential to impact families.

UK residence-visa holders accounted for 12 percent of overall new citizen numbers which climbed to 51,632 last year.

The phenomenon sees retirees spend all their money on enjoying life to the full.

Almost seven in ten young adults are considering moving abroad for a better quality of life, according to new research from the National Youth Council of Ireland.

The minimum wage increase which was implemented in 2024 led to some modest price increases, according to a new study from the ESRI.

A Hamilton man was recently arrested after making a citizen’s arrest. What are the new rules?

One of Fiji's most prominent traditional and political figures is calling for closer scrutiny of two major bilateral agreements with Australia.

Diana Beydoun and Samira Shakib-Bregeth tell The National about the moment they saw Celine Dion sing with fans outside her hotel after her concert in Paris.

The Utilities Dispute commissioner says it's getting a surge of complaints about apps, sorting out disputed bills and delays in getting through to call centres.

The iconic contest run by Katmai National Park in Alaska will run from 22-29 of September this year and votes can be cast online.

Gigablue warned it could be forced to stop operating if it did not get the changes it wanted, putting future economic investment in jeopardy.

A mother bear and her cub entered the pharmacy on Sunday afternoon and spent eight minutes wandering the aisles. Authorities tracked them down nearby and killed the female adult due to public safety concerns. The cub was released into a wilderness area.

But NZTA refused to release the report on the grounds doing so might put people off contributing their "free and frank" views in future.

Hundreds were reportedly on board the train at the time.

The Traitors Ireland is down to its final four after a tied Round Table brought a dramatic penultimate episode to a close.

What the numbers show.

Te Anua Nua Trust's manager has picked up an industry leadership accolade for bringing mana to two houses in Manurewa, where 10 people live with the support of carers.

Most of us never talk about climate change. We want to fix that.

Denmark, Greenland and the U.S. are to sign a deal on Greenland's security on Tuesday, an agreement Denmark says will put Arctic security under NATO's watch rather than leaving it solely to Washington ‌and Copenhagen.

The country's government has declared a national emergency in response to the virus, with an estimated one in 60 people infected.

A fourth whale that was moved out of Marineland in July has died after struggling with its health since arriving at her new home in Chicago, Shedd Aquarium said Monday.

More than 80 percent of New Zealand's firefighters are volunteers. The training course to qualify isn't easy.

The defence lawyer for a woman who attacked a 75-year-old in a community garden last year says sending her to jail is more dangerous to the public than letting her continue her rehabilitation in the community.

Enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the crash are ongoing.

A U.S. court will hear an appeal argument next month from a man convicted in the human smuggling operation that led to the deaths of a family of four who tried to walk across the Manitoba border into Minnesota in a blizzard.

Tania Tapsell says more regional tourism support is needed, as the city gears up for the final event in its 10-year contract with Crankworx.

WASHINGTON — The top diplomats of South Korea, the United States and Japan reiterated their "resolute" commitment to the "complete" denuclearization of North Korea and called on the recalcitrant regime to resume dialogue in a joint statement issued after their trilateral talks in New York on Monday. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi met on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly High-Level Week, also stressing the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. "The Secretary and the Foreign Ministers reaffirmed their resolute commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the prohibition on support for revenue generation for the DPRK's nuclear and ballistic missile programs in accordance with the relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions," the three governments said in the statement, referring to North Korea by its official name. "They also reaffirmed that the path to dialogue remains open and called on the DPRK to

Canada's privacy commissioner has launched an investigation into a data breach at IDScan.net that potentially exposed details from millions of driver's licences and other kinds of government-issued identification from Canada and the U.S.

Prime Minister Mark Carney's government tabled a sweeping bill on Monday meant to fast-track approvals for major projects, cut their review times and create zones of "national interest" to pre-approve certain types of projects.

A lawyer for Lindsay Clancy is asking a judge to investigate the conduct of the lone juror who wanted to convict the mother from Massachusetts of murder in the deaths of her three young children.

After fundraising more than $1.2 million, the Takapau Health Centre is transforming into a GP-led practice and moving into a brand new building.

More than 60 handcrafted lanterns from China will light up the Auckland suburb of Balmoral later this week to celebrate the arrival of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

A casual hobby can quickly become a costly rabbit hole, introducing new rituals and a variety of vocabulary along the way.

Prime Minister Mark Carney is proposing transforming Canada's biggest and busiest airports from user-pay, not-for-profit models to money-making businesses. Andrew Chang breaks down how the country's airports rely so heavily on passengers to fund operations and explains the potential risks and benefits of Carney's proposal. (Photo credits: The Canadian Press, Reuters, Adobe Stock and Getty Images)

The Prime Minister of Norway says threats from Russia are part of the modern security picture and should be taken seriously.

His family asked for privacy during a "very difficult and painful time" following the model's death.

Some commentators say it's a reminder to be careful about 'buy what you know' investment advice - others say there's a bigger lesson.

Channon Mondoux grew up in Windsor, Ont., married an American and eventually made a home with her family in Kalamazoo, Mich. On Saturday, Mondoux helped host the fourth annual Can-Am Peace Jam, a festival celebrating Canadian culture and the longstanding ties between the two countries.

A select few New Zealanders have access to private banks.

Paramount has reached a settlement with the US states in a lawsuit challenging its $110bn merger with Warner Bros

Bougainvilleans may have to wait even longer than expected on whether PNG's parliament will approve their independence.

Maggie had suffered from debilitating migraines her GP couldn't explain. After having her vision tested and learning she needed glasses, they are gone.

Montreal city council has adopted a bylaw to ban people from insulting police officers and other municipal employees.

Denmark, Greenland and the US are to sign a deal on Greenland's security tomorrow, an agreement Denmark says will put Arctic ⁠security under NATO's watch.

The ministry insists the National Library Music Hire Service is not being discontinued - but the PSA says change proposals show it's very much under threat

New Zealand's remaining sand dunes are under pressure, and the species living in them can shed light on the health of the dunes.

Political commentator and former White House director of communications for President Donald Trump Anthony Scaramucci has said that the US president will lose the legal case being taken against him by media organisations he has banned from the White House.

Thomas Lukaszuk's pro-Canadian unity group will now operate as a third-party advertiser to advocate voters in Alberta's referendum cast a ballot in favour of remaining in Canada. But a prominent pro-separatist group argues they've effectively already been campaigning for months.

Hundreds of flights were cancelled and more than one million people were under evacuation advisories in Japan as Typhoon Dujuan approached Tokyo, potentially bringing record rainfall.

Dr Vincent Brown, formerly Dr Vincent Bajinya, 65, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday charged with seven offences.

U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Monday that Britain has agreed to provide limited military support to Saudi Arabia to repeal attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Police told Oranga Tamariki that they believed they had found the children in July 2022 and intended to retrieve them that night, but the children were not there.

A Foo Fighters concert, air hockey and birthday cake were part of a busy weekend for Tumbler Ridge school shooting survivor Maya Gebala, who underwent five surgeries and was unable to move just months earlier.

Four members of the same family and a married couple on a motorbike died in the 2024 collision.

Attempts to refloat the whales off the Northumberland coast are unsuccessful due to the tides.

The chancellor has come under increasing pressure after resounding state election defeats, but says the results "go far beyond my own person"

Age restrictions on the sale of energy drinks to children are supported by more than three in four people, according to new research from Safefood.

Organisations representing primary and special school management and staff have called for an increase in Budget funding to help schools cover essential day-to-day running costs.

Airlines are angry about the delays, with EasyJet saying the latest incident "once again calls into question the resilience" of the system.

The question is whether all of these incidents were isolated and unavoidable, or whether they point to something more systemic.

As London Fashion Week comes to a close, here are the biggest trends for your wardrobe.

Criminal charges were dropped Monday against former Cricket Canada CEO Salman Khan, who was accused of misappropriating $200,000 from the Calgary and District Cricket League.

Major US networks later suspended White House TV coverage of Trump as he heads to New York for the UN summit.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs has said the EU's credibility "is gone" regarding its response to the actions of the Israeli government in the occupied Palestinian territories.

CBC News has learned that the families of the Air India bombing victims have sent letters to the RCMP and the prime minister expressing their dismay that the investigation into the crash is now inactive.

The raids across Teesside follow the A66 crash which killed two police officers and five men.

A 16-year-old boy is alleged to have driven a stolen car against traffic before going onto the wrong side of the Naas Road for 1.6km after leading gardaí on a pursuit in Dublin, Dublin Children's Court has heard.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that Washington is working on a deal to purchase potash from Belarus for less than what the U.S. currently pays to Canada.

The free school meals programme is to be overhauled after two independent reviews highlighted a number of shortcomings.

The "Borgo Dialogues" initiative aims to bring leaders from different sectors together to discuss artificial intelligence, healthcare, sustainability and the common good.

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The federal Conservative party is being criticized over its decision to appoint a candidate for an upcoming byelection, instead of holding a nomination contest.

The $81 billion US dollar blockbuster deal will bring together two of Hollywood's oldest studios, key TV networks like CBS and CNN and streaming platforms HBO Max and Paramount+, as well as decades of libraries with titles ranging from Harry Potter to Top Gun.

Senior judges have been warned there is likely to be "significant" disruption to court proceedings amid the ongoing criminal legal aid dispute.

Hundreds of thousands of children in Gaza returned to in-person teaching ⁠for the first time in nearly three years, albeit in damaged or makeshift school buildings and tents, and with uniforms, notebooks and pens unaffordable for many families.

B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma said the province is suing OpenAI for its failure to notify law enforcement of threats made on its platform, ChatGPT, before the mass shooting.

Ukrainian officials have renewed calls to evacuate a town in Russian-occupied southern Ukraine, accusing Russia of causing a humanitarian crisis by making aid deliveries and evacuations virtually impossible.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has met US CIA chief John Ratcliffe at Shannon Airport, two people familiar with the matter have said.

The BBC's Frank Gardner speaks to some of those who have fled the war by crossing the Red Sea to Djibouti.

Canadian and British officials are considering merging two multinational defence initiatives to help a broader network of allies rearm against Russia and other growing international threats, a Canadian official said.

The country's meteorological agency had warned of an "imminent threat to life," but this has now been downgraded in most areas.

Former leader John Rustad, former interim leader Trevor Halford and MLA Scott McInnis are among those who have accepted invitations from Doerkson to rejoin the troubled caucus.

While promoting Misaligned, an upcoming film from Particle6, in an interview with Piers Morgan and actor Tom Conti, AI-generated 'actor' Tilly Norwood abruptly switched from speaking English to Cantonese.

The ex-husband of a US mother accused of murdering their three children has said he would have been "eaten up inside forever" had he not forgiven her.

Fashioning itself a “global marketplace” for unique and handmade goods, Etsy has long been a destination for small scale crafters to sell to a wider audience. But in recent months, some say AI-generated products are stealing their sales and eroding trust in the platform.

Farage says it was "untenable" for former leader Dan Thomas to continue after his arrest last week.

After intense backlash that included a U.S. congressman, several celebrities, marketing experts and a wide swath of the internet, Converse has pulled the sneaker ad critics have accused of evoking Ku Klux Klan imagery, and apologized.

A federal court refused to strike down a climate lawsuit brought against the Carney government by Canadian youth.

The Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA takes over a party in turmoil amid speculation of a snap provincial election call.

Political shifts in Germany are being watched closely in Europe and beyond, Katya Adler writes.

Students of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan support the North Korean team in the women's Group F football match against South Korea during the 2026 Asian Games at Shizuoka Stadium ECOPA in Fukuroi, Shizuoka prefecture, Sept. 21. South Korea and North Korea tied 1-1. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

PATAN, KUNAR, Afghanistan — Pakistani bombardment has killed three civilians in eastern Afghanistan, the Taliban authorities said on Monday, with Islamabad saying its forces had targeted "terrorist hubs" along the border. AFP journalists saw a house in rubble in the village of Patan, where dozens of men gathered for the funerals of the victims of Pakistan's first deadly cross-border strikes since June. Mubin Khan, a farmer who was injured in the latest bombardment, told AFP: "During the night we were targeted... the house got destroyed." Khan said three members of his family died. The Taliban government's deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said in a post on X that Nurgal district, where Patan is located, came under attack at around 3:00 am (2230 GMT on Sunday). The strike "completely destroyed" a house, killing three and wounding four members of the same family, the spokesman said. Two locations in Paktika province were also bombarded, Fitrat said, reporting no casualties. Pakistan's Information and Broadcasting Ministry confirmed that forces had struck three locations, saying "terrorist h

YONGIN, Gyeonggi Provinde — A giant mural with a black-and-white illustration now blocks the stately front view of the Hoam Museum of Art’s lobby. Outside, enormous cartoon-like images climb its stone façade, while graffiti, colorful T-shirts and caps by subculture artists greet visitors inside. For an institution long associated with celadon, Joseon-era paintings and the refined beauty of its traditional Heewon garden, the transformation is deliberate. “We wanted to break the authority of Hoam,” Kwak June-young, head of modern and contemporary art department II at Leeum Museum of Art and Hoam Museum of Art, said during a press tour Monday. The curators sought to disrupt the building’s imposing symmetry and create a different experience from the moment visitors arrive, she said. The result is “ARoomWhereEveryRadioIsTurnedIntoDifferentStations,” the latest edition of the institution’s years-long Art Spectrum series, running through Dec. 27 at Hoam in Yongin. It is the first Art Spectrum exhibition staged at Hoam and was co-curated with Hugo Vitrani of Paris’ Palais de

BEIJING — China has expelled two top military officers, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, from the Communist Party and the military over "serious violations of discipline and law," the state-run Xinhua news agency said on Monday. Zhang Youxia was second-in-command under President Xi Jinping as vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission — the supreme command body — and has long been seen as Xi's closest military ally. Liu was a CMC member and the chief of staff of its Joint Staff Department. The military has been one of the main targets of a broader corruption crackdown ordered by Xi in 2012. Probes into Zhang and Liu were announced in January, with the pair removed from the state Central Military Commission in late August. The Chinese leadership accused Zhang and Liu of disloyalty, corruption, dereliction of duty and other serious disciplinary violations. The pair "seriously violated political discipline and political rules, formed cliques and factions, and were disloyal and dishonest to the party," Xinhua cited official documents as saying. Zhang and Liu "crossed red lines and basi

TEHRAN — The United States has refused to issue visas for members of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's delegation, including his communications team, for this week's trip to the U.N. General Assembly, Iranian state media reported Monday. Pezeshkian will be the highest-ranking Iranian official to enter the United States since the war began with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in February. "In an unprecedented hostile move by the U.S. government, (U.S. President Donald) Trump has denied U.S. visas to certain members of the president's high-level delegation, including members of his communications team," state news agency IRNA reported. The Mehr news agency also carried the story, citing a spokesperson for the Iranian presidency, and added that Pezeshkian will address the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday. The U.S. has authorized the Iranian delegation to travel for the U.N. General Assembly but will, like last year, put restrictions in place. Iran's delegation will not, for instance, be allowed to purchase luxury goods or other items, the State Department said on Thursday. Iranian Foreig

When Guatemalan-born Kim Min-woo, 24, also known as Andres, suddenly appeared with his hair cut short, his father, Kim Dong-jun, 62, immediately realized what his son had decided to do. Min-woo, who had never visited Korea, had said since childhood that he wanted to “experience my father’s homeland firsthand.” The father and son looked into the enlistment procedures for dual nationals before boarding a flight to Korea. The first place Min-woo visited after arriving in Korea was Sokcho, Gangwon Province, his father’s hometown. He retraced his family roots by visiting Chilseong Shipyard where his grandfather worked, and the neighborhood where his father played as a child. On Sept. 12, Min-woo and his father visited Sokcho City Hall and met Mayor Lee Byung-sun. The elder Kim, a graduate of Sokcho High School, was one class year behind Lee and had participated with him in the Buddhist Students Association during their school days. Min-woo's father worked in the textile industry before moving to Guatemala in the late 1980s, where he settled and started a family. Min-woo is the younge

Prior to the local release of Venice-winning feature, "Possible Love," director Lee Chang-dong said Monday that audience reaction to the film is far more important to him than winning an award. Speaking at a press conference in Seoul alongside lead actors Sul Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung, and Cho Yeo-jeong, the veteran filmmaker reflected on his Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize win at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. "I am happy and honored to receive the award, but the prize is merely a result," Lee said during a media screening and press conference in Seoul, Monday. "The more important thing to me was to know how audience would receive my film because Venice was the first place where it met the world." "Possible Love" follows two contrasting couples who meet through a documentary project. Ho-seok (Sul) is a laid-off worker carrying deep emotional trauma, while his wife Mi-ok (Jeon Do-yeon) strives to protect her family’s dignity. On the other side are Ye-ji (Cho), an ambitious documentary filmmaker, and her wealthy husband Sang-woo (Zo). As their lives intertwine, the four individual

A man in his 30s has been referred to the prosecution on suspicion of beating a man to death at a bar in Itaewon in central Seoul, police said Monday. The man is suspected of beating the victim in his 50s on Sept. 9, apparently leaving him unconscious. The victim was found the following morning, several hours after he was left unattended, by an employee of the bar, according to officials at the Seoul Yongsan Police Station. The suspect was placed under arrest earlier this month, and was referred to the prosecution on Friday for alleged murder, they said.

Japan's average height has barely changed since the 1990s, falling behind Korea and China. Researchers and media reports point to a possible combination of factors, including nutrition, maternal nutritional status and a lack of sleep. In a report by Japanese financial daily The Nikkei on Saturday, it cited data published in the medical journal The Lancet in 2020 by the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC) that the average height of 5- to 19-year-olds in China and Korea increased at the world's fastest pace over the past 35 years, but Japan's remained stagnant. According to the data, the estimated average height of 19-year-old Japanese males in 2019 was 172.1 centimeters and 158.5 centimeters for females. This leaves Japanese 19-year-olds about 3 to 5 centimeters shorter than their Korean and Chinese counterparts, where Korean males averaged 175.5 centimeters and females 163.2 centimeters, while Chinese males averaged 175.7 centimeters and females 163.5 centimeters. Thirty-five years ago, the reverse was true. According to NCD-RisC estimates, Japan led the three countries in 1985 wit

BEIJING — China's leader Xi Jinping will visit the United States this week for talks with President Donald Trump, Beijing confirmed on Monday. Xi will be there from Wednesday to Friday, a government statement said. Foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said the two leaders would "have an in-depth exchange of views on major issues concerning China-U.S. relations and world peace and development." Beijing would "work with the U.S. to enrich the substance of the relationship of constructive strategic stability between China and the U.S., strengthen dialogue and cooperation, (and) properly manage differences," he added. Washington had already made clear that the leaders of the world's two biggest economies were due to meet this week, in what is expected to be a bid to ease tensions over trade, technology and broader strategic issues. Trump will personally welcome Xi at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday before their meetings the following day, a U.S. official confirmed. The U.S. leader was welcomed by China's vice president when he landed in Beijing for his state visit in May. "I'll be discussin

The Korean remake of "The Intern" claimed the top spot at the local box office, becoming the first domestic film in 50 days to reach No. 1 by dethroning a long-running foreign hit. Released 11 years after the original, the remake drew immediate attention, offering a welcome sense of familiarity to returning fans while appealing to new viewers with its warm emotional tone. However, adapting a polished and widely loved classic carries the weight of high expectations, inviting more measured reviews as inevitable comparisons emerge. Released on Sept. 16, the film held the top position for two consecutive days, ending the weekslong run of "The Odyssey." Early audience response has been positive, generating a 95 percent score on the CGV Golden Egg Index and a 9.0 audience rating at Lotte Cinema. The story explores the office life that unfolds when Gi-ho, an intern with 37 years of professional experience, joins a fashion startup led by Seon-woo, a CEO who rapidly emerged as a breakout entrepreneur just three years after launching. The film was directed by Kim Do-young, known for "Kim Ji-young

Workers from Korea’s agricultural, livestock, fishery and forestry industries on Monday jointly launched an emergency committee to oppose the government’s potential entry into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). They argued that joining the trade pact would increase imports into Korea, threatening their market share and livelihoods. The launch of the CPTPP Task Force came as the government has yet to announce whether it will join the pact, which has been ratified by 12 countries, including Japan, Canada, Australia, Mexico and Vietnam. In June, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources denied a local media report that the government had decided to join the pact, saying it would “carefully consider joining the CPTPP, taking into account stakeholders’ views as well as domestic and external conditions.” Early last month, Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan said the government would review the possibility of joining the pact. Later that month, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said at a meeting of ministers of in

A Seoul court on Monday sentenced five former military commanders to heavy prison terms after finding them guilty of playing key roles in an insurrection under former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed 2024 martial law bid. The Seoul Central District Court handed out an 18-year prison term for Yeo In-hyung, former commander of the Defense Counterintelligence Command, and a 15-year term for Lee Jin-woo, former chief of the Capital Defense Command. It also gave a 12-year term for Moon Sang-ho, former commander of the Defense Intelligence Command, a 10-year term for former Army Chief of Staff Park An-su, who served as the martial law commander, and a nine-year term for Kwak Jong-keun, former commander of the Army Special Warfare Command. The court found the defendants guilty of multiple charges, including sending troops to the National Assembly and the National Election Commission and organizing and operating arrest teams for politicians after Yoon's martial law declaration on Dec. 3, 2024. Special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team had sought 30-year terms for Yeo and Lee, a 25-year term for Park, a

North Korea on Monday denounced a recent report by a U.S.-led multilateral sanctions monitoring team as illegal, accusing it of distorting normal activities as illicit ones and insisting that its overseas labor program constitutes legitimate economic ties with other countries. In a report released last week, the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) said Pyongyang continues to deploy workers abroad in violation of U.N. sanctions, with around 100,000 workers in at least 17 countries, mostly in China and Russia. It also said some North Korean workers were involved in manufacturing military drones at Russian factories. "The MSMT ... vividly revealed its true colors as a plot-breeding organization which distorts normal as abnormal and brands legal as illegal," a North Korean foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). "The DPRK's relations of exchange and cooperation with other countries cannot be subject to interference or investigation of a third party in any case as they are the exercise of legitimate rights under bi

HiteJinro is bringing its snack trucks to fire stations across the country to provide meals, snacks and encouragement to firefighters working through fire and disaster response efforts. According to the company, it began the second half of this year’s program with a visit to Gwangjin District’s fire station in Seoul Sept. 2 and plans to visit four more stations in Daegu, North Gyeongsang Province, Busan and South Gyeongsang Province until the end of next month. The annual program brings snack trucks to fire stations providing meals, snacks and beverages to firefighters. “We prepared the second-half program to provide some encouragement to firefighters working in extreme heat and at disaster sites,” a company official said. “We will continue supporting firefighters for their efforts to protect public safety.” HiteJinro has been running the program annually since 2020, after signing a memorandum of understanding with the National Fire Agency (NFA) in 2018 to improve support for firefighters and raise public awareness of safety. This year, the company plans to visit a total of 17

More than six out of 10 middle-aged Koreans identified the national pension as their primary safety net for life after retirement, according to figures released by the Ministry of Data and Statistics, Monday. The figure rose to 61 percent from 51.7 percent a decade ago, showing that people in the age group are becoming more dependent on the state-run pension program rather than private pensions or other means of post-retirement support. The data was based on analysis of 10 years of responses from people aged 40 to 64 collected through the ministry’s annual survey. According to the data, awareness of post-career financial security grew between 2015 and 2025 among this demographic, driven by a rapidly aging population. In 2015, 75.8 percent of the age group said they were actively building or already have a retirement cushion, and the ratio rose to 81.9 percent in 2025. But a large portion of the cushion was from the national pension, as reliance on the state pension grew by almost 10 percentage points, while alternative means experienced a decline as reliance on private pension services

Former professional golfer Pak Se-ri has revealed her luxurious new home, along with scenes from an extravagant housewarming party and a fireworks display viewed from the rooftop of 63 Building in Seoul. On Saturday's episode of MBC's "The Manager," Pak's new home was unveiled following her recent move to a townhouse. The home drew attention with its marble floors, spacious living room, private movie theater and a state-of-the-art second-floor terrace equipped with a pergola. Pak was also shown busily preparing food for her housewarming party. She bought eight boxes of fruits, along with a wide selection of cheeses, showing off her reputation as a big spender and earning her the nickname "Rich Unnie," or "Rich Big Sis." The appetizer for the home party was a generous serving of braised beef ribs. Comedian Lee Young-ja was stunned by the amount, saying, "If you put a price on that amount of food, it would be 5 million won ($3,500)." Pak had also prepared the highest grade of premium Korean beef. After the lavish housewarming, Pak and her managers headed to the rooftop of 63 Building to wa

Gangnam District in southern Seoul has unveiled new smart LED streetlights along a 3-kilometer stretch connecting Seonjeongneung Station and Bongeunsa Station, transforming an ordinary evening stroll into an illuminated journey through the area's rich royal and Buddhist heritage, local officials said Monday. The "Seonjeongneung-Bongeunsa Historical and Cultural Street of Light" runs along both sides of a 1.5-kilometer one-way route on Bongeunsa-ro. It began operating Sept. 14, with 107 LED landscape lights and 59 image projectors installed along the sidewalks. Seonjeongneung, a UNESCO World Heritage site, holds the tombs of Joseon Dynasty King Seongjong, his consort Queen Jeonghyeon and King Jungjong. Nearby Bongeunsa is a centuries-old Buddhist temple that historically served as a royal mortuary temple tied to the dynasty's tombs. Rather than simply replacing aging streetlights, the district said it designed the lighting to reflect the historical character of both sites while improving pedestrian safety. The street lamps feature a Seonjeongneung symbol the district developed in-house, c

The government said Monday it aims to supply 1.19 million public sale and rental homes through 2030, mostly in the Seoul metropolitan area, as part of its effort to expand housing support. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport unveiled the housing stabilization plan, which focuses on providing tailored housing support for low-income households, young people and newlyweds amid rising home prices in the greater Seoul area. Under the plan, the government aims to supply an average of about 240,000 homes annually, totaling 1.19 million units through 2030. About 77 percent will be concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area, where housing demand remains particularly high. The planned supply is equivalent to about 13.6 percent of the country's 8.71 million rental housing units as of 2024. The homes will be supplied through various programs, including new construction on public land, purchases of privately built homes for conversion into public rental housing and programs utilizing existing private-sector housing. The ministry said the measures are aimed at expanding affordable housi

KB Kookmin Bank and SAP Korea are joining forces to weave banking services directly into corporate software, betting that businesses will increasingly handle payments and cash management without leaving their enterprise systems. SAP Korea said Monday that it signed a memorandum of understanding with KB Kookmin Bank on Friday to develop software-as-a-service (SaaS) products and next-generation corporate banking services. The partnership will focus on three areas, including developing new SaaS products based on SAP Business Technology Platform by integrating third-party solutions and offering them under white-label arrangements. The companies also plan to connect enterprise resource planning systems with banking services so corporate customers can access financial services without separate procedures, an approach known as “invisible banking.” They will also pursue joint go-to-market strategies, using their infrastructure and sales networks to identify corporate customers and expand their services. SAP Korea and KB Kookmin Bank said they intend to build an embedded finance ecosystem that

The government will expand its fleet of 3,000-ton-class patrol vessels to 17 from the current 11 by 2030 in the West Sea as it moves to strengthen maritime sovereignty in key areas and step up efforts to counter illegal foreign fishing vessels, the Ministry of Planning and Budget said Monday. The ministry said the budget proposal for the Coast Guard for next year, which includes the fleet expansion, stands at 2.23 trillion won ($1.6 billion), representing a 6.7 percent increase from this year’s 2.09 trillion won. The buildup is designed to bolster the Coast Guard’s ability to conduct longer-range and longer-duration patrols in the wider waters of the West Sea and other areas with unsettled maritime boundaries, including the Korea-China Provisional Measures Zone. The government has traditionally focused on replacing aging vessels when adding large patrol ships, but the latest plan puts greater emphasis on expanding operational capabilities to safeguard maritime security and national sovereignty. Under the plan, 51.2 billion won has been set aside in next year’s budget to launch cons

The benchmark KOSPI reclaimed the 7,000 mark on Monday for the first time in seven sessions, lifted by a sharp rise in Samsung Electronics shares after Korea reported record semiconductor exports in September. According to the Korea Exchange, the main index opened at 6,938.34, up 0.64 percent from the previous close, and remained in positive territory throughout the day. It closed at 7,007.72, up 1.65 percent. The Korea Customs Service said exports totaled $71.4 billion from Sept. 1 through 20, up 78.3 percent from a year earlier. Particularly, chip exports more than tripled to $34.12 billion, a 259.4 percent increase that marked a new monthly record. Institutional investors led the buying, scooping up a net 1.49 trillion won ($1.08 billion) in shares. Retail investors and foreign investors, by contrast, were net sellers of 2.98 trillion won and 160.2 billion won, respectively. Samsung Electronics led the rally, climbing as much as 5.36 percent intraday before ultimately closing at 274,000 won, up 4.98 percent. SK hynix also advanced, albeit much more modestly, ending at 1.87 million won

Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics captured the top billing across half of eight home appliance categories in a new analysis of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated product recommendations, while specialized niche brands claimed the lead in the remaining four segments. AIBIX lab said Monday that it analyzed responses from ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Claude to measure the AI Brand Competitiveness Index (AIBIX) across 182 brands. Samsung and LG led categories including washing machines, dryers, air purifiers and cordless vacuum cleaners, while Coway, Roborock, Sony and Minix topped rental water purifiers, robot vacuum cleaners, wireless earphones and headphones, and food waste processors, respectively. LG scored 82.6 points in washing machines, 14 points ahead of Samsung, and 74.5 points in dryers, 6.4 points ahead of Samsung. Samsung narrowly led LG in air purifiers, 72.3 points to 70.8, while the two companies tied at 69.5 points in cordless vacuum cleaners. Coway scored 82.2 points in rental water purifiers, while Roborock scored 79.2 points in robot vacuum cleaners, leading Ec

A South Korean military helicopter mistakenly crossed the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) during wildfire operations in a border area earlier this year, a lawmaker said Monday, citing the outcome of an audit. The Army Surion helicopter mistakenly entered the buffer zone on March 23 in the border county of Yeoncheon, some 60 kilometers north of Seoul, according to audit results submitted to Rep. Kang Sun-young of the main opposition People Power Party. The helicopter, carrying two pilots, was deployed to put out wildfires at the 5th Infantry Division, but it mistakenly entered the nearby 25th Infantry Division inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), according to the audit by the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The Surion chopper entered the DMZ without approval from the U.N. Command, which oversees operations inside the heavily fortified area. It reportedly crossed to the northern side of the MDL and continued firefighting operations there for a while. The Army's Ground Operations Command and front-line corps in charge of flight control were not aware of the MDL crossing at the time. They were

Tech firm RLWRLD and supply chain giant CJ Logistics are joining forces to build smarter warehouse robots capable of handling the messy realities of modern logistics, with plans to eventually export their physical artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to overseas markets. RLWRLD said Monday that it signed a memorandum of understanding with CJ Logistics to jointly develop logistics-focused Robotics Foundation Model (RFM) technology and pursue commercialization from Korean operations to global markets. Under the agreement, the companies will select logistics processes for initial RFM deployment and conduct proof-of-concept tests to verify core robotic movements in real working environments. They plan to expand the range of applications and improve technical performance based on those tests, with a longer-term goal of commercializing Logistics as a Service, or LaaS. CJ Logistics has been expanding the use of physical AI in logistics operations, including deploying AI humanoid robots in actual workflows, according to RLWRLD. Logistics facilities present a particularly demanding environmen

Korean tobacco and consumer goods company KT&G was named the grand prize winner at the 2026 Korea IR Awards, securing the top accolade presented by the Korea Exchange’s investor relations service, the company said Monday. The award, presented as the Korea Exchange chairman's prize, was handed out Friday at KRX Market Square in Seoul's Yeouido financial district. Yoon Young-chan, head of KT&G's strategic planning division, accepted the award from Korea Exchange Chairman Chung Eun-bo. The Korea IR Service has handed out the awards since 2001 to companies recognized for active, efficient investor relations work that supports capital-market development through shareholder-focused management. KT&G was cited for an "open IR culture" in which executives present strategy directly to investors — on global business expansion, shareholder returns and growth investment — and fold investor feedback into management decisions, along with regular investor conferences, non-deal road shows and meetings with major domestic and international institutional investors. The company raised its interim divi

Audi has officially crossed the 300,000-vehicle sales mark in Korea, cementing its position as one of the country's most popular foreign luxury automakers. The German brand said Monday that cumulative registrations reached the milestone, making Audi only the third imported carmaker to achieve the feat in the Korean market. To mark the achievement, Audi Korea is launching a customer-appreciation program, called thAnk Q, with its nationwide dealer network, offering benefits and brand experiences as a way to thank its customers, the company said. Audi Korea attributed the growth partly to customer-engagement programs it has run this year, including Audi Open House, where customers can test-drive various models and services; Audi Venture, an outdoor lifestyle program; and Audi Summer Tour, a driving and lifestyle experience event. "Reaching 300,000 cumulative registrations here is a meaningful achievement made possible by the trust and support of the customers who have chosen Audi," Audi Korea President Steve Cloete said. "We will continue to strengthen customer satisfaction and long-term tru

The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) does not take Washington’s threat to bar Chairman Ju Biung-ghi from entering the United States seriously, brushing off escalating U.S. pressure over the watchdog’s regulatory crackdown on U.S.-listed Coupang, the head of the authority said Monday. “We will not be swayed by this, but will continue law enforcement in a nondiscriminatory manner,” Ju told reporters during a press conference in Sejong, referring to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee’s recent moves targeting alleged discrimination against U.S. companies. Ju’s comments come as the Coupang dispute has grown into a bigger source of tension in Korea-U.S. economic relations. The U.S. committee issued a report in July accusing Korean authorities of discriminatory treatment of Coupang, arguing that the company had been subjected to excessive investigations and penalties. A U.S. lawmaker subsequently introduced legislation that would restrict U.S. entry to foreign officials accused of using government authority to discriminate against American companies, explicitly citing the Coupang case a

As generative artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes how music is written and produced, Korea is stepping up efforts to set clear ground rules for the digital era. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Monday that it will co-host a major forum Tuesday to address emerging copyright and licensing challenges surrounding AI-assisted music. The discussion, set to take place at the National Assembly, is organized with the office of Rep. Kim Jae-won and the K-Music Rights Organizations Coexistence Committee — a coalition of six industry groups, including the Korea Music Copyright Association and the Korea Popmusic Industry Association, that represent songwriters, labels, performers and producers. Organizers billed it as the first public forum bringing together creators, industry, legal experts and policymakers to discuss how copyright-trust organizations — nonprofit bodies that collect and distribute royalties on behalf of rights holders — should register, collect fees for and distribute payments involving AI-generated or AI-assisted music. Under the theme "The Current State of

Hyundai Engineering & Construction (E&C) has begun construction on Korea's first data center built exclusively for artificial intelligence (AI) workloads, the company said Monday, aiming to finish the project in a record 16.5 months. Hyundai E&C signed the main contract with AI Factory Pohang PFV, the project's special-purpose vehicle, and has started installing precast concrete — factory-made concrete components assembled on site, rather than poured in place — for the facility in Pohang's Gwangmyeong general industrial complex. Construction began in June, with operations targeted for the second half of 2027. The 40-megawatt facility will run on Nvidia graphics processing units (GPUs) and use liquid cooling, a system that circulates coolant directly to chips rather than relying on airflow, to handle the intense heat generated by AI servers — a first for a Korean data center, the company said. It is designed to run at roughly 10 times the power density of a typical cloud data center to accommodate Nvidia's upcoming "Vera Rubin" AI chips, with a power usage effectiveness rating —

Korean steelmakers are cautiously hopeful that voluntary production cuts by about 45 Chinese mills could ease the oversupply and price pressure that have squeezed their margins, although the impact will depend on how deeply and consistently output is reduced. “Reducing inventories and cutting production is certainly welcome and positive for the Korean steel industry,” an industry official said. “If China were to make a drastic cut of 200 million or 300 million tons, I think it would have a very positive effect on steelmakers around the world, including those in Korea.” The China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) recently called on about 45 steelmakers, including China Baowu Group, Ansteel Group, HBIS Group and Shougang Group, to adjust production and inventories based on actual orders and profitability rather than maintaining full production despite weak demand. The move comes as weak property and construction demand has left Chinese mills with high inventories and deteriorating profitability. China’s crude steel output fell 3 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2026, whil

Korea is taking its traditional attire to the world's most competitive runways, launching a major push to establish hanbok as a viable player in the international luxury fashion market. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Monday that it will host its inaugural overseas promotion for modern hanbok from Sept. 22 through Oct. 6, targeting industry buyers, press and fashion tastemakers across Milan and Paris. Organized alongside the Korea Craft and Design Foundation, the initiative aims to convert global curiosity about Korean culture into commercial success for local designers. Five rising domestic labels — Leesle, Mooroot, Ondata, Shin Seoul and Happly — were selected to represent the country. Each brand is known for reinterpreting the sweeping silhouettes, intricate tie closures and vivid colors of historical Korean garments into contemporary, wearable streetstyle and eveningwear. The strategic timing places the showcase squarely within Milan Fashion Week, running Sept. 22-28. Participating brands will present their collections at the Studio Zeta Showroom in Milan, along

Seoul is turning Yeouido Park into a massive track for fitness enthusiasts next month, launching the 2026 Seoul Runners Festival on Oct. 24. The city government said Monday that the event, to be hosted at the park's Culture Plaza, will feature open races, community events and family activities designed to showcase the capital's vibrant outdoor culture. The festival, tied to the city's monthly Night Run Project series, centers on the Seoul Plus 10K, a 10-kilometer run from Culture Plaza across the Seogang Bridge and back. Organizers said the course emphasizes personal pace and the satisfaction of finishing over competitive times, and may still change before the event. Proceeds from the run, sponsored by Hanwha Financial PLUS, will fund donations supporting promising young track and field athletes. Also on the schedule is a "crew battle," in which four-member mixed teams run the same 10-kilometer course and are ranked by their combined times — a format aimed at running clubs that train together regularly. A new Kids Run for children and families will prioritize a safe, fun finish over c

Korea Zinc, the world's largest refined zinc smelter, said on Monday that its $7.4 billion U.S. manufacturing project has cleared an environmental impact assessment. The approval is expected to accelerate the company's plan to build a critical metals refinery in Clarksville, Tennessee, under the project name "Project Crucible," the company said in a press release. The facility is scheduled to begin test operations in 2029 and commercial production of 11 core minerals, 12 nonferrous metals and semiconductor-grade sulfuric acid the following year. Project Crucible is the first "FAST-41" project approved by the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council since Korea Zinc signed a memorandum of understanding with the state of Tennessee in May, the company said. "With Project Crucible now designated as a FAST-41 project, we are accelerating critical infrastructure development and improving government efficiency to move this project forward without unnecessary delays," Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said. In April, Korea Zinc said it had completed the acquisition of a local zinc smelter and other

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Monday that it is time to "turn the clock forward" on the Korean Peninsula for peace, calling for renewed efforts to revive dialogue with North Korea. Chung made the remarks during a meeting in Seoul with Stephen Biegun, who served as U.S. deputy secretary of state and special representative for North Korea during the first Donald Trump administration. "Over the past seven years, North Korea's nuclear capabilities have advanced, while the historic Singapore agreement between the United States and North Korea has regressed, and inter-Korean relations have been completely severed by hostility and confrontation," Chung said. "Now, I believe it is time to turn the clock forward again," he said, adding that political decisions by Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un could help move the process forward. Trump has expressed interest in reengaging with the North Korean leader this year, fueling speculation that he could revive the personal diplomacy that led to three meetings with Kim during his first term. The first meeting between Trump and Kim to

Deep inside a hazardous zone once marked for landmine detection on Mount Geumseong in Naju, around 280 kilometers south of Seoul, archaeologists have uncovered what is now confirmed to be the oldest surviving gunpowder weapon in Korea. The National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage said Monday that a three-year study has authenticated the artifact, known as the "Hwangja Hwatong" or Yellow-Character Hand Cannon. Measuring just under 25 centimeters long and weighing roughly 1 kilogram, the bronze handheld firearm offers unprecedented insight into early East Asian military technology. "This is an extraordinary discovery with immense academic, historical and cultural value," Cho Mi-soon, director of the National Naju Research Institute of Cultural Heritage, said during a press briefing at the National Palace Museum of Korea. "It comes from a crucial transitional period between the late Goryeo and early Joseon dynasties, when physical artifacts of firearms are exceptionally rare." A detailed reading of a 28-character inscription etched onto the barrel revealed the weapon’s exact speci

Korea is expanding its roster of government-certified medical tourism facilitators to 112 agencies starting Oct. 1, seeking to channel a record-breaking surge in foreign patient visits into regional economies beyond the capital. The Ministry of Justice said Monday that it added 22 institutions to its "Outstanding Facilitator for Foreign Patients" program, reflecting a concerted effort to broaden the economic benefits of K-medical tourism across the country. The policy shift comes after foreign patient visits to Korea topped 2 million for the first time in 2025, according to the Industrial Research Institute. Those 2.01 million medical tourists generated an estimated 22.8 trillion won ($17 billion) in total economic impact. On average, medical visitors spent 6.73 million won per trip, compared to 2.57 million won spent by conventional tourists. Under the expanded program, 89 medical facilities and 23 private agencies hold the official seal of approval. While 90 of these entities remain in the greater Seoul area, the government boosted nonmetropolitan representation from 14 to 22 by revis

WASHINGTON — Communism, President Donald Trump says, is the greatest threat the U.S. has ever faced. This summer, citing similarly grave concerns, he took the rare step of delivering a primetime address to the nation , accusing China of “sinister election meddling” in 2020 and reviving his yearslong push to dispute his loss in that year's election. Even as Trump seeks to decry Democrats as communists ahead of November's midterm elections, he is rolling out the red carpet this week for Chinese President Xi Jinping , the leader of the world’s most powerful communist country. The state visit comes as the president himself has increasingly directed his administration to take large stakes in private companies to try to stimulate the economy — something even some Republicans decry as corporate socialism. The contradictions between Trump's words and actions risk muddying Republican attack lines on Democrats. “I do think that we’re not offering a clear contrast," said Marc Short, who was chief of staff to former Vice President Mike Pence and worked in Trump's White House in his firs

President Lee Jae Myung on Monday pledged to be more thoughtful and humble in governing the country, reaffirming his efforts to improve the quality of people's lives. "I will think more deeply about what is most needed for the public in this era and fine-tune governance with a humbler attitude," Lee said during a meeting with his key aides at Cheong Wa Dae. "I am once again reflecting on the intention of the voters who elected the administration," the president said. The pledge came as Lee's approval ratings declined to their lowest levels in recent weeks amid controversies over ministerial nominations and other issues. "I feel heavily responsible as the person in charge of state governance for the opinion that improvements in economic indicators are not fully translating into tangible changes in people's livelihoods," he said. The presidential office and the government will join hands to make tangible improvements in people's livelihoods, the president said, adding that he will also stick to his initial vision of pursuing reforms. Meanwhile, the president said he has not decided whether t

HanmiGlobal, a global construction project management company, said Monday it is providing project management services for SK hynix's high-bandwidth memory (HBM) advanced packaging plant under construction in West Lafayette, Indiana. SK hynix held a groundbreaking ceremony Aug. 27 at Purdue University’s Holloway Gymnasium in West Lafayette for the facility, which will be the company’s first artificial intelligence memory production base in the United States. The project represents an investment of more than $4 billion. Construction began in March, with the cleanroom scheduled for completion in October 2028. HanmiGlobal has been involved in the project since the pre-construction stage in August 2024 and will oversee construction project management through completion of the cleanroom in 2028. Its responsibilities include design management, schedule and cost control, quality and safety management and risk management. The company also coordinates SK hynix’s Korean and U.S. partners involved in the project. As Korean high-tech companies expand their operations in the U.S., demand is grow

A parliamentary committee on Monday adopted a confirmation hearing report for Land Minister nominee Hong Jee-sun, paving the way for his appointment. The report was adopted by bipartisan consensus at a meeting of the land, infrastructure and transport committee, though the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) marked him as unfit. PPP Rep. Yoo Ui-dong, the committee chair, said the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's positive assessment of Hong was based on his experience and expertise as a former official of the Gyeonggi provincial government and as second vice land minister. The PPP's assessment, however, was based on perceptions it would be difficult for him to pursue policies with principle due to his close relationship with President Lee Jae Myung and the apparent failure of some of his past projects, Yoo said. Hong underwent a confirmation hearing last week following his nomination by Lee in late August. He vowed to mobilize all public and private sector resources to promptly supply housing in areas in high demand.

Korea Investors Service (KIS) is developing new criteria to assess the credit risks of digital financial products as tokenized securities and stablecoins become more integrated into the mainstream financial system. The Moody's affiliate said Monday that digital financial products can carry risks that differ from those of conventional products, even when they have the same credit rating. "While automation and instant settlement can reduce costs, reliance on the platforms, smart contracts and on-chain settlement that enable them can also create new channels through which disruptions and losses spread," Chung Hyuk-jin, head of KIS' credit standards group, said at a media briefing. Chung said credit assessments of digital financial products should incorporate technological risks alongside traditional measures such as an issuer's repayment capacity, the credit quality of underlying assets, collateral and repayment priority. KIS groups those risks into four categories: platform risk, smart-contract risk, external risk and risks related to the representation of legal rights. Stablecoins have bec

For many in Korea, the end of a major holiday means back to business — literally. In the days immediately following a major festive break, job seekers across the country launch into an intense hunt for their next career move, according to data released Monday by the hiring platform JobKorea, operated by Worxphere. Looking at resume postings and job applications around the last two years of Chuseok and Seollal — Korea's autumn harvest and Lunar New Year holidays, both multiday breaks when many workers return to hometowns — JobKorea found new resume registrations consistently spike on the first Monday after each holiday. The sharpest jump came after Chuseok 2024, when resume postings on Sept. 23 that year more than doubled the average weekday rate, and ran about 3.7 times the average daily rate during the holiday itself. Similar patterns followed: resume postings rose 46 percent above the weekday average on Feb. 3, 2025, the Monday after that year's Seollal; 20 percent after Chuseok 2025; and 29 percent after Seollal 2026. Job applications followed the same pattern, peaking on the fi

DUBAI— Iran would use new weapons and target locations not previously attacked if the United States launched a new offensive against it, Revolutionary Guards spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi said on Monday, according to the Fars news agency. "If a new aggression occurs, we will certainly change the weaponry and the geography of the war," Mohebbi said, adding that Tehran was prepared for a prolonged conflict.

More than 1,300 members of the Korean diaspora are set to converge in Incheon’s Songdo district next week for a five-day program bringing together political, business, cultural and community events. The Overseas Koreans Agency said Monday that World Korean Week will begin Sunday and run through Oct. 1 at Songdo Convensia, ahead of Oct. 5 World Korean Day. The program links the World Korean Association Leaders Conference, World Korean Business Convention, Future Leaders’ Conference and Korean Festival in one week. Participants include Korean community leaders and professionals working in business, culture, science and education, with organizers seeking to connect generations and industries while creating opportunities for dialogue with residents in Korea. The World Korean Association Leaders Conference will open Sunday and run through Tuesday, bringing community leaders from around the world together to discuss regional issues and share operating practices. For the first time, a private-sector steering committee representing the overseas Korean community will oversee planning and opera

The University of Seoul has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with George Washington University (GWU) to establish an academic and credit-transfer partnership for students seeking admission to graduate business programs. The University of Seoul said the MOU was signed by the two institutions at George Washington University on Sept. 15 as part of efforts to strengthen academic cooperation. The agreement will enable University of Seoul students to apply for GWU’s Preferred International Partnership program for international graduate students through academic and curricular collaboration between the two universities. Under the partnership, eligible University of Seoul students can take graduate-level courses at the university before enrolling in a graduate program at GWU. If they earn a grade of B or higher in those courses, up to six credits can be transferred toward their GWU graduate program. Students who enter a GWU graduate program through the credit-transfer arrangement can complete their master’s program at GWU and receive a degree upon fulfilling all graduation requireme

LG Energy Solution has completed the establishment of its energy storage system (ESS) production network in North America, accelerating its push to capture growing demand in the rapidly expanding ESS market. Following the opening ceremony for LG Energy Solution Michigan-Lansing on Aug. 18, the plant is now ramping up operations. The Lansing plant serves as a combined manufacturing hub for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries for ESS applications and nickel cobalt manganese batteries for electric vehicles (EVs), with an annual battery cell production capacity of more than 35 gigawatt-hours. The plant began producing pouch-type LFP batteries for ESS applications this year and plans to begin mass production of prismatic LFP batteries next year, marking LG Energy Solution's first prismatic battery production in North America. The company has also secured orders to supply EV batteries to Toyota. LG Energy Solution Michigan operates two production sites in the state, in Holland and Lansing. LG Energy Solution Michigan President Choi Dae-sik said that operating two plants in different locatio

The Bank of Korea (BOK) said Monday it has launched a pilot program for a 24-hour offshore won settlement network in line with Korea's efforts to lower barriers for foreign investors. The central bank said the system, dubbed the BOK Won International Wire Network, began trial operations at 9 a.m. in cooperation with four local banks — Kookmin Bank, Woori Bank, Hana Bank and Shinhan Bank. The BOK said full implementation is scheduled for January, with overseas banks set to join the network after its official launch. The network will operate for 24 hours, from 9 a.m. each business day to 9 a.m. the following day, and will close on weekends and public holidays. It will enable offshore investors to freely trade the Korean won with other foreign investors using accounts opened at Registered Foreign Institutions for KRW Business (RFI-K) in their home countries. "The network is expected to improve foreigners' access to won settlement infrastructure, eventually enhancing the currency's international standing," the BOK said.

How many kilograms a K-pop singer loses is a frequent talking point. As thin physiques become the standard of beauty and appearance-based target weights become widespread, an obsession with weight loss continues to affect not only celebrities but the younger generation. In a recent video posted on RESCENE member Woni's Youtube channel, fellow members Minami and Liv revealed how much weight they lost ahead of their debut. Looking back on wardrobe fittings and high-intensity training, Minami said she cried nearly every day. She also disclosed that she suffered severe psychological strain from the massive weight loss. Minami later addressed the video on a fan platform. "Honestly, an idol's diet talk is so fun, isn't it? If I were in your shoes, I think I'd find it entertaining too," she said, but added that while the subject is "presented lightheartedly," it was a "highly traumatic and stressful" ordeal for her. She added that while there is pressure to maintain one's appearance and weight as an idol, no one should ever be harassed over their looks. She emphasized that inner character matter

Three military officers were injured Monday in an unidentified explosion during a search operation at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said. The explosion occurred south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) in the western sector of the DMZ earlier in the day, according to the JCS. The military did not specify, but the accident is suspected to be a landmine explosion. It was not immediately known whether the landmine that went off was planted by North Korean troops or by the South Korean military. Two of the injured officers were transported via an emergency helicopter to a hospital and are being treated for their injuries. Other soldiers involved in the operation, including another officer who sustained injuries, will also be escorted to the hospital for a medical checkup. Authorities said they plan to investigate the cause of the explosion. The military is looking into the chance that an unidentified landmine went off during a DMZ route clearance operation or the possibility that North Korean landmines, swept by the recent torrentia

Peugeot’s signature 308 Hybrid hatchback stands out with its impressive fuel efficiency and remarkably agile performance, offering a distinctive alternative in the compact hybrid segment. Powered by a 1.2-liter gasoline engine paired with a 48-volt battery system, the 308 Hybrid hatchback is capable of operating in electric mode for roughly half of typical city driving conditions. The vehicle delivers an official fuel economy rating of 15.2 kilometers per liter, boasting its efficiency-focused engineering. During a round-trip drive of approximately 400 kilometers between Seoul and Daejeon, the vehicle demonstrated exceptional real-world efficiency, with the fuel tank remaining more than half full upon completion of the journey. Some may question whether a 1.2-liter gasoline engine can provide sufficient performance. However, the moment the gas pedal is pressed, the electric motor intervenes instantly, delivering brisk and responsive acceleration that exceeds expectations. Depending on the battery’s state of charge, the 308 Hybrid can travel short distances using only the electric mot

Starbucks Korea has launched a customer-participation campaign to donate up to 1 million cups of coffee to people and communities in need. Under the “My Star Coffee” campaign, for every cup of Today’s Coffee purchased at Starbucks stores nationwide on Mondays, beginning Sept. 28, the company will donate an equivalent amount of coffee. The campaign is based on the idea of giving a cup of coffee to a personal “star” — someone who has offered quiet support and encouragement. For every cup of brewed coffee purchased by a customer, Starbucks will donate one additional cup of coffee to people and communities in need, allowing customers and the company to jointly build up the donations. The accumulated cups of “My Star Coffee” will be delivered to people serving local communities, welfare facilities, disaster and emergency sites, farms and other places in need. Starbucks said the initiative is intended to allow customers to take part in sharing activities through everyday coffee purchases, while extending support to people who contribute to their communities. The company’s mobi

Thai Ambassador to Korea Tanee Sangrat, sixth from left, poses with participants during the first Loy Krathong Myeongdong with Hana Bank event in Seoul, Saturday. The cultural gathering, celebrating Thailand's traditional festival of lights, was held to promote Thai culture and showcased performances, cuisine, music and tourism. Courtesy of Royal Thai Embassy in Seoul

Kookmin University has joined forces with German research institutes and a Volkswagen Group Korea-affiliated nonprofit organization to nurture global talent in future automotive software, the university said. On Sept. 3, Kookmin University, together with Ajou University, Inha University and Chungbuk National University, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Niedersachsisches Forschungszentrum Fahrzeugtechnik (NFF) and the Institute of Automotive Engineering (IAE), both affiliated with TU Braunschweig, Germany’s oldest technical university, to launch the Automotive Future Talent Fostering Program. The Volkswagen Group WE: Foundation was also a signatory to the MOU. The signing ceremony was attended by Kookmin University President Jeong Seung-ryul; Till Scheer, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group Korea and chairman of the Volkswagen Group WE: Foundation; and Roman Henze, director of the IAE. The partnership aims to cultivate future mobility talent with international research experience and interdisciplinary practical skills. The initiative comes amid rapid changes across t

Veteran actress Yoon Mi-ra has opened up about what she says were once widespread “sponsor” offers in Korea’s entertainment industry, recalling that she repeatedly received proposals from men offering financial support — and that two men once even showed up outside her home. Yoon shared the stories in a video uploaded Thursday to her YouTube channel, titled “I went out for sashimi and ended up falling for someone.” In Korea, the term “sponsor” has sometimes been used in the entertainment industry to describe arrangements in which wealthy or influential individuals provide money, expensive gifts or other support to celebrities in exchange for an intimate relationship. Yoon recalled receiving such an offer at a time when mobile phones were not yet common and families relied on landlines at home. “Back then, there were no cellphones, and we had a white telephone at home,” Yoon said. “One day, my mother answered the phone, and someone said there was a person who wanted to ‘support’ me. My mother said, ‘Is my daughter a gisaeng?’ and hung up.” A gisaeng was a pr

INSPIRE Entertainment Resort in Incheon will host its inaugural Sunset Wine & Beer Festival on Oct. 9 and 10, transforming the venue into a lively autumn haven for foodies, culture seekers and families. Running from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. both days at the outdoor grounds of Brasserie 1783, the event is designed to highlight the resort’s expanding culinary portfolio while offering a premium seasonal getaway. The festival seamlessly brings together international beverage selections, signature restaurant offerings and live entertainment. The festival grounds will be divided into three core zones — Wine, Beer and Food — blending gourmet dining, live music, and interactive activities into a complete weekend escape. In the Wine Zone, 10 domestic importers will feature approximately 260 labels originating from 11 countries. Participating booths will offer tastings of six to 10 varieties, spanning champagnes, sparkling options, whites and reds, as well as low- and non-alcoholic choices. The Beer Zone will feature 20 varieties across international, domestic classic and craft labels, including sel

Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik offered to resign, Monday, taking responsibility for a string of bungled Cabinet nominations that has fueled criticism of President Lee Jae Myung’s personnel vetting system. If Lee accepts Kang’s resignation, two of Cheong Wa Dae’s top three secretary-level posts — chief of staff, policy chief and national security adviser — would be vacant at the same time, after former policy chief Kim Yong-beom stepped down earlier this month amid criticism over controversial financial products and tax policies. Kang's absence would deal another blow to the president as he has played key roles in diplomacy and economy as Lee's closest aide. Kang conveyed his intention to step down to Lee earlier in the day, senior presidential secretary for public relations Sung Ki-hong said during a briefing. A Cheong Wa Dae official said that during Friday's press conference, the president had said multiple times that his own shortcomings had contributed to negative public views of his administration. "As chief of staff, Kang tendered his resignation to take overal

About one in five international students who died in Korea over the past six years took their own lives, fueling calls for stronger mental health support as their numbers in the country continue to grow. According to data the Ministry of Education submitted to Rep. Kim Moon-soo on Monday after surveying some 350 universities nationwide, 84 international students at Korean universities died between 2021 and this year. Accidents, including traffic accidents, caused the most deaths at 34 cases, followed by illness at 23, suicide at 15, undetermined causes at seven and other causes at five. The annual number of international student deaths was 12 in 2021, 16 in 2022, seven in 2023, 13 in 2024 and 21 in 2025, with 15 recorded so far this year. Suicides fell from four in 2021 to one in 2022, then dropped to zero in 2023 before rising to five in 2024, three in 2025 and two so far this year. International students often face difficulties adjusting to life in Korea, including language barriers, unfamiliar culture and academic stress. In 2024 at Chonnam National University, the death of an African g

A research team at the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) has developed a new cathode technology that could help batteries store more energy without increasing their size or weight, the institute said Monday. The team, led by senior researchers Moon San and Suk Jung-don, developed a new dry thick cathode technology that improves the movement of lithium ions inside electrodes. The research was featured as the cover article of the international academic journal Exploration in August, with post-master's researcher Eun Hye-ji as the first author. The technology uses graphitic carbon nitride as an additive in dry cathodes for the first time, helping the electrolyte penetrate deeper into the electrode and reducing the energy required for lithium ions to enter the cathode material. One way to produce high-energy-density batteries is to make electrodes thicker, as this allows more active material to be packed into the same area. However, as electrodes become thicker, lithium ions have more difficulty moving through them, preventing the battery from fully utilizing the energ

The Korean economy became more dependent on trade in 2024 amid a strong recovery in the chip industry, central bank data showed Monday. The country's overall industrial transactions moved up 4.6 percent from a year earlier to 7,113.6 trillion won ($5.13 trillion) in 2024, according to the industrial input-output analysis report by the Bank of Korea (BOK). Domestic output accounted for 85 percent of total industrial transactions in 2024, down 0.1 percentage point from a year earlier, while imports came to 15 percent, up 0.1 percentage point over the period. Of the total, external transactions involving both exports and imports accounted for 31.1 percent, up 1.5 percentage points from a year earlier, led by increased outbound shipments. "In 2024, the semiconductor industry recovered from the previous year's slump and posted a strong rebound, significantly affecting the overall structure of the economy," a BOK official said.

State-run Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) said Monday it will keep electricity rates unchanged in the fourth quarter despite higher raw material prices and its financial difficulties. The adjusted fuel cost, a key component of electricity rates, will remain at the maximum level of 5 won per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for the October-December period, KEPCO said. KEPCO has kept the adjusted fuel cost at 5 won per kWh for 18 consecutive quarters since the third quarter of 2022. The adjusted fuel cost is set before each quarter within a range of plus or minus 5 won per kWh, based on energy prices, including coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG), over the previous three months. KEPCO said rates were due to rise by 7.3 won per kWh in the fourth quarter under the fuel cost adjustment formula. The decision to freeze rates is expected to further weigh on the company's finances. The company's financial difficulties began after it continued to supply electricity at prices below production costs as global energy prices surged between 2021 and 2023 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. KEPCO and its power

From ancient gilt-bronze ornaments to Nam June Paik’s video sculpture, a new British Museum exhibition will trace 2,000 years of Korean creativity through more than 180 works from Korea’s national collection. “Korea: 2,000 Years of Creativity” opens Oct. 1 at the British Museum’s Joseph Hotung Great Court Gallery and runs through Jan. 31, 2027. Jointly organized by the National Museum of Korea, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea and the British Museum, it is the final stop of an overseas tour built around works donated to the nation by the family of late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee in 2021. The exhibition follows presentations at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, D.C., and the Art Institute of Chicago. It brings together 164 objects from the National Museum of Korea and 15 modern and contemporary works from MMCA, alongside works in the British Museum collection. Arranged chronologically in four sections, the exhibition moves from early Iron Age archaeological objects and Buddhist art to Goryeo celadon, Joseon-era paintings a

North Korea on Monday urged its people to complete the rice harvest at the right time as part of a broader push to meet targets under its five-year national economic plan. The Rodong Sinmun, the country's most widely read state newspaper, devoted its front page to articles and a commentary on the harvest. Describing the agriculture industry as "the first sector that shows the results of the year's business," the paper said a successful harvest would "inspire the people with confidence and optimism and reinvigorate the nation's economy." "There is no task more important or urgent than the fall harvest," it said, urging people to throw themselves into the effort. The paper also struck an upbeat note on this year's harvest, crediting growing mechanization in the field. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un announced the country's new five-year economic plan during a key party congress in February, stressing agricultural mechanization to increase crop output.

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook said Monday the government will make seamless preparations to realize the country's "Global AI Hub" initiative, including selecting the best location for the envisioned hub through fair and transparent procedures. In May, Korea unveiled its vision to launch the Global AI Hub in the country in an effort to bring together the artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities of global organizations to address challenges, such as disease control and climate change. The envisioned hub seeks to promote cross-border cooperation in the AI sector with nine global organizations and five multilateral development banks and is expected to serve as a platform to provide AI-based solutions to pending issues under the vision of "AI for All, AI to Solve Global Challenges." "The time has come for us to take action beyond declaration," Han said during the first meeting of the preparation committee. "The government will make seamless preparations to launch the Global AI Hub by swiftly establishing a dedicated support system and selecting the optimal location through fair and transpar

The 13th Latin American Festival was held with the participation of 15 Central and South American countries' embassies on Saturday at the Baram Madang plaza area of Seongbuk District Office in northeastern Seoul. Launched in 2011 and marking its 13th edition this year, the festival was organized by Seongbuk District Office. About 22 booths offered sales and hands-on experiences, inviting visitors to enjoy Latin American foods such as arepas, empanadas, tacos and pupusas — as well as traditional hats, musical instruments, accessories and local specialties. A variety of cultural performances, including traditional Mexican Jalisco dance, Argentine tango, Ecuadorian traditional and popular music, Salvadoran traditional dance, Peruvian Latin music and Colombian traditional dance also provided entertainment during the festival. Angie Shakira Martinez Tejera, ambassador of the Dominican Republic to Korea, said the event offered an opportunity to introduce different sides of her country. The embassy brought her country's music, dance, food, crafts and baseball culture to Seoul as part of the

TWICE's Nayeon showed just how dramatically styling can change an overall impression, stepping out in two contrasting minidress looks just eight days apart. On Sept. 10, Nayeon attended an event marking the launch of a new fragrance product in Seoul's Seongdong District, where she embraced a bright, playful look in a white strapless minidress. She paired the dress with light blue shoes and wore her hair tied up, with bangs across her forehead and softly waved strands framing her face. The combination highlighted the cheerful, youthful image for which the K-pop star is well known. Eight days later, however, Nayeon appeared with a noticeably different vibe. At a flagship store opening photocall at Loca Cheongdam in Seoul's Gangnam District on Friday, she opted for a brown halter-neck mini dress that created a more sophisticated look. The dress featured gathered detailing around the neckline and a fitted silhouette, while her long, straight hair and white heels added to the polished styling. Although both outfits were minidresses, the different colors, silhouettes and hairstyles created strik

Long after the final credits roll, the emotional pull of a beloved television show can leave viewers yearning to step into its world. A new exhibition in the heart of Seoul is turning that impulse into a blueprint for exploration, inviting fans to translate their screen time into real-world adventures across Korea. The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has partnered with production studio Studio Dragon to host an interactive showcase called Scenes to Destinations. Open through Nov. 19 at HiKR Ground — the KTO's multistory tourism innovation hall in downtown Seoul known for its immersive tech and K-content zones — the exhibition aims to convert international fandom into actual foot traffic by mapping famous television moments directly onto physical geography. The event features iconic dialogue, original soundtracks, props and location guides from over 40 hit series, including global phenomena like "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God," "Crash Landing on You," "Mr. Sunshine," "Hotel Del Luna," "Vincenzo," "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha," "Queen of Tears" and "The Tyrant’s Chef." Rather than se

Jeonbuk National University has partnered with 15 defense companies and related organizations to offer a career-linked industry-academia cooperation program covering education, scholarships, field training and employment. The university said Friday that its Department of Advanced Defense Technology and Industry hosted a workshop titled “Customized Talent Development and Recruitment-Linked Cooperation Program for the Defense Industry” at Shilla Stay Jeonju on Thursday. The workshop was attended by university officials and representatives from defense companies and related organizations that signed a memorandum of understanding with the university in June. A university official noted that the workshop was organized to translate the memorandum of understanding on the cooperation program, signed June 26, into tangible outcomes in education and recruitment. Fifteen defense companies and related organizations are participating in the partnership. The participants included Hyundai Rotem, Korea Aerospace Industries, LIG Defense & Aerospace, HS Hyosung Advanced Materials, Danam Systems, DN Sol

Fin.K.L, one of the late 1990s' most influential K-pop acts, is set to resume full-group activities for the first time in 21 years, the group's agency said Monday. Gemstone E&M announced that all four original members — Lee Hyo-ri, Ock Joo-hyun, Lee Jin and Sung Yu-ri — have reunited under the Fin.K.L name and that preparations are underway for group activities. "This time, it is a new start for activities as Fin.K.L beyond a one-off reunion," the agency said in a news release. The quartet last performed together as a full group in 2005 with the digital single "Forever Fin.K.L." Although the members briefly reunited in 2019 for the JTBC variety show "Camping Club," releasing a new song tied to the show, that effort was viewed as a project linked to the program rather than a resumption of full group activities. Debuting in 1998, Fin.K.L helped define the early K-pop girl group era with hits including "Blue Rain," "To My Boyfriend" and "Eternal Love."

President Lee Jae Myung left Monday on a two-nation trip that will take him to New York for the annual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and to Mexico for a state visit. Lee is set to address the U.N. session Tuesday (U.S. time), highlighting his commitment to establishing permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula, his aides said earlier. During his three-day visit to New York for the UNGA, the president will seek to hold meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump and other heads of state through various venues, according to the officials. He is also scheduled to meet with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and seek the United Nations' cooperation in efforts to ensure peace on the Korean Peninsula. Lee will head to Mexico on Wednesday for a three-day state visit, during which he will hold summit talks with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to discuss ways to expand bilateral trade and investment. In Mexico City, Lee will also meet with Korean residents in the country and attend a business forum. Lee will depart Mexico on Saturday to return home the following day.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held separate talks with his Panamanian and Bahraini counterparts in New York and discussed ways to enhance practical cooperation and regional issues, Seoul's foreign ministry said Monday. Cho is in New York to attend the high-level segment of the U.N. General Assembly, scheduled for Tuesday through Saturday, and will hold a series of bilateral meetings with foreign counterparts on the sidelines. During talks with Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Eduardo Martinez-Acha on Sunday, Cho expressed hope that Korean companies would expand their involvement in Panama's major infrastructure projects, according to the ministry. The two sides agreed to continue close cooperation at multilateral forums, including the United Nations, following their joint work as nonpermanent members of the U.N. Security Council last year, it added. During the meeting with Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, the two sides discussed the situation in the Middle East and agreed to continue cooperating at the U.N. and other international forums to promote regional peace

Singer and actor Suzy, long known in South Korea for her soft, youthful image, has sparked divided reactions online after stepping out with a dramatically different slicked-back hairstyle. Suzy attended an event for a skin care brand in Seoul's Seongdong District on Friday, wearing a crisp white shirt paired with understated jewelry. But it was her hair that drew the most attention. Instead of the softer hairstyles she is usually seen with, Suzy wore her hair completely swept back from her face. The style fully exposed her facial contours and highlighted her small face and defined features. Suzy has been celebrated for her looks since early in her career and became widely known in Korea as the "nation's first love," a nickname that took hold following her appearance in the hit 2012 romance film "Architecture 101." Her latest transformation, however, prompted unusually mixed reactions online. "She looks beautiful no matter what she does," one commenter said. Others said, "She even pulls off slicked-back hair," "Everything suits her" and "I'm tired of even saying how pretty she is." Some, how

Kim Sung-wan, a journalist-turned-political commentator, has been appointed as the new presidential spokesperson, the presidential office said Monday. Kim — a former reporter with Media Today and later a radio host and political analyst —officially assumed his duties as presidential spokesperson on Monday, according to Cheong Wa Dae. "I have often had my words passed along to others, but knowing that I am now speaking directly to the media makes me feel a heavy sense of responsibility … As President Lee Jae Myung has said, I will do my best to communicate more with the public with humility," Kim told reporters. The post has remained vacant since April, when former presidential spokesperson Rep. Jeon Eun-su stepped down to prepare for the June 3 local elections. Kim's appointment adds to the current two spokespersons — Kang Yu-jung and Ahn Gwi-ryeong.

BERLIN— German Chancellor Friedrich Merz starts the week more damaged than ever after his centre-right CDU party suffered two bruising regional election defeats at the hands of far-right and far-left parties. Just 16 months in office, Merz has seen his approval ratings plummet while his party has suffered a string of regional election losses against the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which also leads nationwide polls. Fighting speculation that his CDU/CSU bloc may try to oust him, 70-year-old Merz took the unusual step of addressing the nation on TV on Sunday, just minutes after the first exit polls were announced. Merz admitted that his CDU had suffered a "disaster" in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania state -- and that was before the CDU dropped below five percent there in the ongoing count, meaning it got kicked out of parliament altogether. While the AfD came first there, the centre-left SPD party looks set to continue governing the state by forming a coalition with left-wing allies. After the CDU was also soundly defeated by a far-left Die Linke in Berlin, Merz c

Samsung Electronics held a groundbreaking ceremony for a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) production line in the southwestern city of Gwangju on Monday. The company plans to invest approximately 240 billion won ($173 million) to build a 21,500-square-meter HVAC production line at its Gwangju operations site. The new production line, scheduled to begin operations in 2028, will manufacture HVAC products from FlaktGroup Holding GmbH, a Germany-based ventilation company that Samsung Electronics acquired last year. "The launch of the new FlaktGroup production line will serve as another milestone in advancing our HVAC business, a key growth driver for the company," Roh Tae-moon, co-chief executive officer of Samsung Electronics and head of its device experience (DX) division, said at the ceremony. Samsung said the new production line will strengthen its global production capabilities for advanced cooling equipment and centralized HVAC solutions as demand for cooling and HVAC solutions for artificial intelligence (AI) data centers continues to grow rapidly.

ISLAMABAD— Pakistani teenager Zara Shah was targeted by a stranger while playing a computer game, drawn into a conversation that would expose her to terrifying online sexual exploitation. Zara, whose name has been changed by AFP for safety reasons, is one of an estimated 1.5 million children in Pakistan who experienced online sexual abuse in one year, according to a report published by the UN children's agency this month. "We started chatting while playing an online game, and he began acting like a friend. Later, he wanted to meet and, after, started asking me for nudes," 17-year-old Shah said. "When I refused, he threatened to find my family online and tell them that we had been talking," she added. According to the UNICEF report, around 85 percent of perpetrators were known to the victims, aged between 12 and 17. "The abuse may start with a friendly conversation, a gaming interaction, a promise of gifts, money or romance," Daniel Kardefelt, lead author of the global UNICEF report, told AFP. "Perpetrators may spend months building trust using information that they find on social media,"

Coming off their first-ever grand prize at a major music awards ceremony, K-pop girl group NMIXX is poised to turn the global music stage into its personal canvas with the release of its sixth EP, “Strange Muse,” arriving Oct. 19 at 6 p.m. The six-member group enters this next chapter backed by undeniable momentum, capitalizing on the career milestone with an atmospheric, dreamy comeback tailored for the autumn season. JYP Entertainment said Monday that the six-track mini album marks an artistic leap forward for the ensemble. Beyond its anticipated lead single, “Birthday Wish” and energetic group tracks like “Kerosene” and “RudE TaLK,” the project represents a milestone for NMIXX: its first album to feature dedicated subunit songs. Vocal standouts Lily and Haewon team up for the haunting “Sing to the Moon,” Sullyoon and Bae join forces on “Hot ’n Unbothered,” while Jiwoo and Kyujin deliver the high-octane track “WHIP.” More than just a showcase of dynamic pairing, “Strange Muse” places creative authority directly into the hands of the performers themselv

The government and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) agreed Monday to take a lenient approach to minor violations identified in an ongoing national farmland survey while cracking down on clear acts of land speculation. The country launched the comprehensive nationwide survey earlier this year in an effort to determine actual ownership of farmland and prevent it from being used as a speculative asset. The move, however, has faced criticism from the main opposition People Power Party, which has argued the survey has caused anxiety among farmers and could infringe on their property rights. "If the purpose of speculation is clear, (we) will take corrective action under the law and principles," Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryung said in a policy meeting with DPK officials. "For minor or routine violations identified in the field, (we) will provide guidance or take alternative measures, such as making improvements to the system." The minister said the government would focus on ways to restore the intended purpose of farmland rather than immediately taking action against violations. Rep.

Senior diplomats of South Korea, the United States and Japan held telephone consultations Monday to share information and discuss responses following North Korea's latest ballistic missile launches, Seoul's foreign ministry said. On Sunday, Pyongyang fired two short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, marking the country's 14th ballistic missile launch of the year and the first in eight days, according to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). Baek Yong-jin, director general for Korean Peninsula policy at the ministry, spoke with David Wilezol, deputy assistant secretary for Northeast Asia at the U.S. State Department, and Takashi Ariyoshi, a senior official at Japan's foreign ministry, according to the ministry. "The three officials shared relevant information and discussed future responses," the ministry said in a release. "The foreign affairs authorities of the three countries operate a channel for promptly sharing information and assessments whenever North Korea launches ballistic missiles," it added. Sunday's launches appeared to have been in response to multinationa

President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating rose for the first time in 10 weeks last week, helped by his clarification of key political issues during a press conference, a pollster said Monday. In a poll conducted on 2,507 adults nationwide from last Monday to Friday, positive assessments of Lee's job performance rose by 1 percentage point from the previous week to 34.8 percent, while negative assessments rose 0.1 percentage point to 63.4 percent, Realmeter said. It marked the first time in 10 weeks that Lee's approval rating rose following a 48.9 percent rating on July 13. There was a gradual increase throughout the week from 32.9 percent Tuesday and 32.1 percent Wednesday to 35.3 percent Thursday and 37.2 percent Friday, the day he held the press conference. "At the start of the week, his approval rating continued to decline due to controversy over personnel vetting and the repercussion of the confirmation hearings," the pollster said. Lee's approval rating was beset by controversy surrounding the qualifications of Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won and Gender Equality Minister nomin

AUSTIN, Texas — A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and wounded a man Sunday afternoon in Austin, Texas, local authorities said, and anti-ICE protesters quickly gathered at the scene. The man was in serious but stable condition at a hospital after being shot once in the torso on the capital city's north side, Austin officials said at a news conference. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, did not participate in the news conference and didn’t respond to repeated requests for details. City police officers were not involved in the operation or the shooting, which occurred after a traffic stop, Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said while briefing reporters along with the city's mayor and other officials. Austin's mayor says he wants his police force involved in shooting investigation Mayor Kirk Watson, a Democrat, said he wants the city's police department to have a role in the investigation so it can provide “clear, third-party eyes” in the process. Watson said he does not think it would be appropriate for ICE to conduct an investigation on its o

NEW YORK — U.S. and Chinese officials focused on trade issues and AI during successful talks in New York on Sunday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. Speaking to reporters after his meeting with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng ended, Bessent said the two sides agreed to meet again. He gave no further details. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the meeting would lay the groundwork for a successful summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday.

Seoul stocks were trading higher late Monday morning as gains in major chipmakers lifted the broader market, offsetting concerns over Middle East tensions and elevated oil prices. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 106.65 points, or 1.55 percent, to 7,000.88 as of 11:20 a.m. U.S. semiconductor shares rallied Friday, providing a positive cue for major Korean chipmakers. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index jumped 2.78 percent, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.39 percent and the S&P 500 edged up 0.17 percent. Elevated crude oil prices remained a concern amid persistent inflationary and geopolitical risks in the Middle East. Brent crude traded at around US$104.68 a barrel. Market heavyweights were mixed. Top market cap Samsung Electronics jumped 4.21 percent, and chip giant SK hynix gained 0.78 percent. In contrast, leading automaker Hyundai Motor fell 1.1 percent, while battery maker LG Energy Solution shed 3.16 percent. The Korean won was quoted at 1,386.0 won against the U.S. dollar as of 11:12 a.m., down 0.5 won from the close of the previous stock trading ses

Korea's exports surged 78 percent from a year earlier in the first 20 days of September, customs data showed Monday, driven by strong shipments of semiconductors. Outbound shipments reached $71.4 billion in the Sept. 1-20 period, soaring from $40 billion posted in the same period in 2025, according to the data from the Korea Customs Service. It marked the highest volume for the 20-day tally, with the previous record standing at $61.7 billion posted in June this year. Imports went up 26.7 percent on-year to $48.4 billion over the cited period, resulting in a trade surplus of $23 billion. By product, exports of chips shot up 259 percent to reach $34.12 billion. Exports of petroleum products and cars went up 47.8 percent and 9.3 percent, respectively, to $4 billion and $3.73 billion. Other major winners included steel products and ships, whose exports increased 8 percent and 63 percent, respectively. Exports of mobile devices, on the other hand, shed 0.4 percent to $1.24 billion. By destination, exports to China more than doubled to $16.6 billion, with those to the United States also surging 11

The Korean remake of the Hollywood hit "The Intern" (2015) debuted at No. 1 on the weekend box-office chart in South Korea, snapping a weekslong chart-topping run by Christopher Nolan's epic "The Odyssey," data showed Monday. The Korean film, which opened Wednesday, added 275,186 admissions over the weekend, bringing its total admissions to 403,906 as of Sunday, according to the data released by the Korean Film Council, which compiles admissions from Friday through Sunday for its weekend chart. Starring Choi Min-sik (Ki-ho) and Han So-hee (Sun-woo), who take on the roles played by Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway in the original film, respectively, the remake captures the unlikely bond between a young woman entrepreneur and an elderly intern at her fashion startup. "The Odyssey" remained a major box-office hit, drawing 256,793 admissions over the weekend, bringing its total admissions to 11.2 million. Other Hollywood films also performed strongly, with the horror film "Obsession" adding 131,467 admissions. Its total admissions reached 701,713. The horror blockbuster "Resident Evil: Night

North Korean state media remained silent early Monday morning on the country's latest missile launches. The Korean Central News Agency made no mention of Sunday's launch of two short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, fired hours apart. North Korea has typically reported its missile tests the following day, though that pattern has grown inconsistent in recent months. Three missile launches last month were not reported at all, while a Sept. 12 launch, which came a day after South Korea, the United States and Japan wrapped up a trilateral military exercise, was reported two days later. North Korea on Sunday launched two missiles from the Wonsan area, roughly three hours apart — the first around 3:00 p.m. and the second at roughly 5:50 p.m. — South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said. The first flew about 450 km, while the second traveled more than 600 km, according to the JCS. The launches came ahead of the U.N. General Assembly's high-level general debate, slated to open Tuesday (U.S. time), and the upcoming summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese Presiden

DUBAI/WASHINGTON — Iran and the United States exchanged new threats on Sunday, with President Donald Trump warning Iran would fail economically or face its leadership being wiped out if it didn't make a deal, and the Iranian military saying it would retaliate harshly to any fresh attack. The conflict has looked stalemated for months, with no sign either side was ready for concessions even as it has deepened a global energy crisis, cratered swathes of Iran's economy and spilled over into new regional escalations. In a phone call with a Fox News reporter, Trump said Iran's leaders should make a deal, rot economically or be wiped out, the reporter said. However, with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian expected in New York this week for the United Nations General Assembly, Trump said he would be open to meeting him, the Fox reporter added. Trump has repeatedly made vague threats of major military escalations during the conflict that began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on February 28, without carrying them out. Earlier, Iran's military central command said any new attack would trigger sustai

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump's two days attending the United Nations General Assembly will include a series of bilateral meetings and events with notable political figures such as the leaders of Ukraine and the United Kingdom, and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Nearly 130 heads of state are meeting in New York as the post-World War II order comes under strain and with the UN itself struggling to remain relevant while weathering attacks from Trump, who has long expressed disdain for the institution and has slashed U.S. funding for many of its agencies. Trump is expected to arrive in New York on Monday afternoon for "political events" at Trump Tower that evening, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz told reporters on Friday. On Tuesday morning, Trump will address the U.N. General Assembly. "The president will highlight how he has and his administration have confronted complex problems head-on around the world," Waltz said. "He will touch on the importance of ensuring that Iran never has a nuclear weapon." Iran conflict looms over meetings Hanging over Trump's meetings will b

High-dividend stocks are drawing renewed attention as Korea enters the year-end payout season with the KOSPI confined to a narrow range, analysts said Sunday. According to financial data provider FnGuide, Korea District Heating Corp. is expected to offer the highest dividend yield this year among listed companies covered by at least three brokerages. The company is projected to pay 6,520 won ($4.69) per share this year, up 363 won from 6,157 won a year earlier, translating into an estimated dividend yield of 8.69 percent. Dividend yield is calculated by dividing the dividend per share by the share price. AJ Networks, a rental service group, ranked next, with an estimated dividend of 343 won per share and a dividend yield of 8.33 percent. Brokerage stocks also featured prominently, buoyed by a strong first-half market rally and a sharp improvement in earnings. NH Investment & Securities is expected to pay a dividend of 2,031 won per share, up 731 won from a year earlier, giving a dividend yield of 7.99 percent. Samsung Securities is forecast to raise its dividend by 2,867 won to 6,867 won p

The strengthening Korean won is emerging as a fresh earnings risk for chipmakers, display firms and other electronics companies that rely heavily on dollar-denominated transactions, prompting brokerages to cut earnings estimates for the third quarter. According to data from the Bank of Korea, Sunday, the Korean currency traded at 1,480 won against the dollar on July 16, before strengthening to 1,413 won on Aug. 17 and 1,382 won on Sept. 17. This represents a 6.6 percent narrowing in the dollar-won exchange rate over the two-month period. The change in the dollar-won exchange rate accelerated particularly from August, with the Korean currency gaining value to 1,336 won per dollar on Sept. 9. This prompted brokerages that had based their earnings forecasts at 1,450 won per dollar to begin cutting their estimates, causing the third-quarter earnings consensus for major companies such as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix to drop. According to market tracker FnGuide, brokerages’ consensus on Samsung Electronics’ third-quarter operating profit stood at 122.35 trillion won ($88.27 billion) o

An artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted song's entry into Melon's Top 100 chart has exposed a regulatory vacuum over AI music in Korea, just weeks after the country's largest music copyright collective withdrew its first attempt to allow the registration of such works. "Forest of the Heart," released in May by YouTube creator Joseon HipHop, peaked at No. 89 on the Top 100 chart and No. 99 on the daily chart for Melon, one of the country's top streaming platforms, according to Yonhap News Agency. The creator wrote the lyrics and produced the melody and vocals using Suno, a generative music AI service. The track became popular by word of mouth, especially among listeners in their 40s. The song has since dropped out of both charts, but its run showed that AI-assisted music can already reach mainstream listeners here, well before rules on authorship and royalties are in place. In March, the Board of Audit and Inspection said 29 composers had submitted more than 200 songs each to the Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA) in 2024, and roughly 5,200 of those songs showed signs of generativ

The global popularity of Korean food has reached a point where convenience store meal boxes, known as “dosirak,” have become part of a new market trend where signature Korean flavors and traditional recipes have become a hit with international visitors and popular in new markets. Min Jung-hwan, who plans and oversees dosirak production for GS25 at GS Retail’s Merchandise Headquarters, is seeing the shift firsthand. Rather than creating separate products for foreign customers, the retailer is increasingly offering the same dosirak that appeal to Korean consumers, reflecting growing interest in authentic Korean flavors. “We don’t make dosirak that are specially for foreigners because many of them like what Koreans enjoy. Even at GS25 stores in Vietnam and Mongolia, visitors are interested in authentic Korean-style dosirak. We try to meet such expectations so that they can feel they are inside a Korean convenience store,” Min said in an interview with The Korea Times. “To serve the rising number of foreigners coming to Korea, we are boosting a pipeline for those with banchan

The men's basketball final game between South Korea and Japan takes place during the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at the Aichi International Arena in Japan, Sept. 20. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Thousands of flights across the U.S. were snarled on Monday, with incoming flights halted for hours at major East Coast airports, before the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration resolved a ‌telecommunications problem late in the afternoon.

While the Prime Minister's Office shared no details of what was discussed, a Kensington Palace spokesperson said the heir to the throne and Canada's future head of state "discussed the enduring strength of the U.K.-Canada relationship."

Between 700 and 1,000 children from schools and parishes in Rome will gather in the Vatican Gardens with Pope Leo to start the “One Million Children Praying the Rosary” initiative promoted by Aid to the Church in Need.

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Sarah Jones has been described as “a one-woman global village” for her remarkable one-person, multi-character shows. The Tony- and Obie Award-winning writer and performer is best known for her Broadway hit Bridge and Tunnel. She is back in New York with her latest solo performance, America, Who Hurt You?, which is being presented by the National Black Theatre and the Theatre for a New Audience at Polonsky Shakespeare Center in Brooklyn.

America, Who Hurt You? “starts with our history of genocide as a country, our history of enslaving African people, our history of indentured servitude,” says Jones. “This show … is about restoring the history that has intentionally been erased.”

Two men deported from the United States to Equatorial Guinea were arrested by local police forces and transferred to a prison earlier this month, in apparent retaliation for speaking out about conditions they faced in the Central African country. Samson Birhane, who is from Eritrea, and Ahmed Soliman, a gay asylum seeker from Egypt, were both deported by the Trump administration despite U.S. immigration courts granting them protections.

On September 11, police forces arrived at Hotel Bamy in the city of Malabo, where more than two dozen people have been confined after their deportation from the United States to Equatorial Guinea, a country they have no ties to, as part of President Trump’s secretive “third-country” agreements. Birhane and Soliman say they were arrested and taken to prison for speaking out about the inhumane conditions endured by U.S. deportees at the hotel and threats by armed forces. While confined at the hotel, U.S. deportees have decried denial of medical care and legal assistance, and abuses they’ve described as psychological torture.

“Starting in November 2025, … the United States started this horrendous policy of sending immigrants not from Equatorial Guinea to Equatorial Guinea, a country that the U.S. knows very, very well that is a human rights violator,” says human rights lawyer Tutu Alicante. “The State Department reports that the U.S. has been putting out for the last three decades are consistent about the fact that Equatorial Guinea uses torture, uses incommunicado detentions, and often extrajudicial killings of people that it keeps in prison.”

Axel Rudakubana is accused of grievous bodily harm and two other assaults of prison officers while serving a life sentence.

Data centres in Europe will be rated on energy and water consumption under an EU proposal put forward today to pre-empt possible public discontent as the bloc pushes to boost its computing capacity.

Pope Leo pays a visit to the Dicastery for Culture and Education on Monday, meeting with employees and staff and encouraging them in their daily commitment and service to the Church and the world.

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A United Nations special rapporteur has published a damning report on the U.S. military campaign of missile strikes on boats allegedly transporting drugs, characterizing them as "serial extrajudicial killings."

Visitors stopping to take pictures of the 68m medieval embroidery were holding up others, prompting the rule change.

News organizations CNN, MS NOW and Politico are suing the Trump administration over the banning of their reporters from the White House on Friday. Their credentials were confiscated or deactivated when they attempted to enter White House grounds over the weekend. Trump’s decision is “sending the message that if you write stories that are critical of the president, you’re going to lose your access,” says Katie Fallow, a deputy litigation director at Columbia University’s Knight First Amendment Institute, where she focuses on threats to freedom of speech and of the press. “The real victims of this war on the press are members of the public, which are entitled to know about what their government is doing.”

Fallow says the White House press briefing room is a “public forum” and that “the courts have said repeatedly the government is not allowed to kick people out of that forum based on their viewpoint.”

The BBC's Catherine Burns spoke to some young mental health ambassadors who called for an increase in mental health support.

A report says the attacks, of which there have been at least 68, were not self-defence.

The Turf is a regular feature on the Welcome to Wrexham Disney documentary series.

Gary Anderson remains at large a week after he absconded while attending his father's funeral in Derry.

In a world facing rising conflicts, violence and divisions that are causing great suffering for millions of people, the UN chief on Monday called on world leaders and citizens to invest more in peace.

The world's first scientific body on artificial intelligence (AI) called on Monday for safeguards to be adapted as current firewalls are “unravelling”.

Temporarily exceeding the 1.5°C global warming goal set in Paris is widely considered inevitable. The challenge now is to keep that overshoot as small and short as possible by cutting emissions faster, unlocking finance and strengthening international cooperation.

Along the coast of Tanzania, in East Africa, the Indian Ocean is pushing saltwater ever farther inland, shrinking coconut harvests, driving fish away and leaving some residents wondering how much longer they can stay.

UN Human Rights Council-appointed experts on Monday laid out a grim picture of the human cost of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with a spotlight on civilians facing a third wartime winter as well as the intimidation of Russians who have fled abroad.

An Ebola vaccine trial is underway in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), involving frontline health workers and others involved in the response.

The UN has condemned continued cross‑border attacks by Houthi forces against Saudi Arabia, including an attempted strike on the capital Riyadh, as fighting inside Yemen drives one of the country’s fastest displacement surges in years.

Iran Warns U.S. Against Launching a Major New Attack, Yemen’s Iran-Backed Houthis Launch Attack on Saudi Arabia’s Capital Riyadh, Trump Bans CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, Trump Says Planned Triumphal Arch Near Arlington Cemetery Will Double as Military Complex, Hundreds of Protesters Rally Outside Kennedy Center to Oppose Trump’s Takeover, Israeli Airstrikes Kill at Least Three Palestinians in Gaza, Israeli President Pardons Soldier Who Killed Wounded Palestinian Attacker, Ed Sheeran Addresses Gaza for First Time After Dropping Macklemore from Tour, U.S. Military Attacks Alleged Drug Boat in the Caribbean, Killing Four, Power Grid Collapses in Cuba Again, Leaving Millions Without Power, CNN: AI Agent Provides U.S. Military with False Intel Report on Chinese Ship in the Middle East, ICE Agent Shoots and Injures Venezuelan DoorDash Driver in Austin, TX, Appeals Court Rejects Fast-Track Deportations to Third Countries, Trump Admin Starts Border Wall Construction in Texas’s Big Bend Region, NAACP Sues to Block Armed Federal Agents at Polling Places, Ukrainian Drones Attack Moscow as Russians Cast Ballots for Kremlin-Approved Candidates, Far-Right Party Surges to First Place in German State Election as Left Party Wins in Berlin

Regulators, companies and multinational entities have for years tried to coordinate efforts to take such products off shelves and websites.

Airlines in the UK have demanded urgent action after another air traffic control issue caused widespread delays, including to 140 Ryanair flights.

Further charges are to be brought against two men accused of raping a woman in the car park of Ceannt Railway Station in Galway last month.

Pope Leo XIV asks that the development of artificial intelligence be guided by wisdom and charity, so that technological progress may serve human dignity and strengthen the bonds of the human family.

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The Irish Penal Reform Trust has said advanced anti-drone netting needs to be rolled out across all Irish prisons to stop drugs getting in.

The United Nations Children's Fund says 98% of schools in Gaza were either destroyed or damaged during the war.

Santa Monica police say they're investigated the death Presley Gerber, son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber as a suspected overdose. Gerber died in Los Angeles on Sunday, a family representative said. He was 27.

Amnesty International accused M23 rebels in eastern Congo of carrying out abuses and unlawful killings of miners while trafficking critical minerals to neighbouring Rwanda in what it said could amount to war crimes.

The 54th Irish Hot Air Ballooning Championships are taking place in Boyle, Co Roscommon, this week and hundreds of spectators have gathered to catch a glimpse.

Nunavut's land claims organization is exploring options to take over responsibility for the territory's child welfare system, which some argue is a sign that NTI is aiming to move toward Inuit self-government.

The corporation said it had included "the ones that still work today and not the ones that don't."

The Holy See Press Office releases the programme, logos and mottos for Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming Apostolic Journey to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, which will take place from 6 to 17 November.

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A rise in bus miles with council funding might be starting to reverse the reduction in services.

US television networks have staged an extraordinary revolt when they effectively boycotted coverage of President Donald Trump in protest at his decision to ban three leading outlets from the White House.

MS NOW, CNN and Politico have said they are suing the Trump Administration to protect their First Amendment rights after President Donald Trump's announcement that he would ban the news outlets from the White House.

Dublin actor Andrew Scott's new film Elsinore has won the International People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Gaza health officials said Israeli fire killed three people, including a woman and a child, and injured several others across the Palestinian territory.

Stronger regulation is needed to protect children from online abuse, exploitation and unsafe platforms, the Online Safety Coordinator with the Children's Rights Alliance has urged.

Sir Ed Davey pledged to spend £600m a year on maternity services if the Lib Dems were in government.

Pope Leo XIV has said that Artificial Intelligence should strengthen human bonds, peace efforts and dignity for all.

Fighting on Yemen's west coast has prompted thousands of people to flee by boat across the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Forestry slash is so normal on the beaches that some children have never known the sandy shores in their rōhe without it.

Support for survivors of rape and sexual assault during court trials is a postcode lottery, according to Rape Crisis Ireland.

The 12-year-old girl's father wants answers about government agencies' response to his daughter's living conditions at the time of her death.

CNN, MS NOW and Politico sued U.S. President Donald Trump and other members of his administration on Monday for banning them from the White House grounds, saying it violated their rights to free speech and a free press under the First Amendment.

Tech giant Google has been fined €403m by the Data Protection Commission (DPC) over the processing of location data.

Pope Leo XIV encourages Capuchin Poor Clare nuns in Italy to provide lifelong formation for professed religious and to spread the Gospel in the world through prayer and hospitable welcome.

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The visit to Washington comes as a one-year trade truce winds down.

How to find out how much state pension you're likely to receive - and what you can do about it now.

The 90-year-old second-generation Japanese woman was separated from her father after World War II.

Funding will allow victims to view proceedings remotely and give evidence from a separate room via video link, the government says.