The Antenna

President Lee Jae Myung said Thursday his frequent social network activity aims to hear more from people, while vowing to keep Cabinet meetings open to the public to win people's trust. Lee made the remarks in the first pre-filmed episode of his new YouTube talk show, "President's Y," launched Thursday as part of his efforts to communicate his policies and thoughts to the public. The president first addressed the controversy over his frequent social network activities amid concerns that they could expose him to the risk of social media blunders or disputes. Lee has often used his X account to speak directly to the public on social issues and policy matters, often uploading several posts in a single day. The president defended his social network use, likening it to going to public sites to meet people, and said that debating policy matters on social media could facilitate discussions necessary for policymaking. "I will utilize (social network) frequently. I will make even greater use of them," he said. Addressing his government's weekly Cabinet meetings, which are broadcast live except when

Cheong Wa Dae said Thursday it does not expect the results of the U.S. midterm elections to affect bilateral alliance, vowing to continue efforts to further develop the decadeslong alliance. "The Korea-U.S. alliance is one that has developed solidly over more than 70 years based on bipartisan U.S. support, and the results of certain elections are unlikely to affect the alliance," presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung told a press briefing following a meeting presided by President Lee Jae Myung. Kang said the Korean government would closely communicate and cooperate with both the U.S. administration and Congress to pursue the development of the alliance, while monitoring any changes in the political landscape. Kang, however, said the U.S. midterm elections were not discussed during Thursday's meeting. She added that Seoul will continue to pursue investment projects in the U.S. based on its agreement with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, noting the specifics of the investment would be reviewed under the principles of "national interests first," commercial reasonableness

K-pop girl group UNCHILD returned Thursday as “bug busters,” unveiling its second digital single, “TiNG TiNG,” with a playful mission to take on digital glitches. During a media showcase at NOL Theater Hapjeong in Seoul, five members — Yeeun, Tina, Ako, Evon, Haeun — introduced a release that turns their unconventional identity into a colorful superhero adventure. Taking a playful cue from “Ghostbusters,” the concept casts the members as offbeat heroes pairing house music with playful characters and choreography incorporating locking. “If our debut showcase was about introducing UNCHILD, this is about showing a new side of ourselves, so we feel nervous,” Yeeun said. The six-member group debuted in April under High Up Entertainment, becoming the agency’s first new girl group since STAYC. Its name draws on the prefix “un-,” expressing a refusal to fit established norms. That spirit initially took shape through neon colors, reworked school uniforms and a green frog symbol — a nod to the Korean folktale of the frog that does the opposite of whatever it is told and

A North Korean fishing boat was found in international waters north of eastern Ulleung Island and is currently being probed, South Korean military said Thursday. According to the military, the fishing boat was detected on Tuesday in international waters. But it did not provide further details, including how many crew were aboard or whether they wished to defect or return to the North.

An archive documenting the 2014 Sewol ferry sinking and ancient Korean cookbooks have been added to a regional list of the UNESCO Memory of the World program Thursday. The "Danwon High School 4.16 Archive: Records of Citizens' Memory and Healing Movements" was granted inscription at a general meeting of the UNESCO Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific held in Jakarta. The "Suunjapbang and Eumsikdimibang: Community Archives of Traditional Korean Culinary Knowledge," another submission by South Korea, also made the list. The Sewol archive comprises 235,220 pieces of records related to the maritime disaster on April 16, 2014, when the ferry sank en route to the southern resort island of Jeju, killing 304 passengers. Danwon High School in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, suffered one of the biggest casualties, with 250 of 325 students who were aboard the ferry for a school trip killed. In addition to documents, including a calendar for the month of April 2014 collected from a classroom at the school, the archive includes those detailing the recovery of bereaved family of victims and

KYIV, Ukraine — Russia and Ukraine traded damaging overnight airstrikes Thursday as talks were set to resume in Brussels to discuss postwar reconstruction of Ukraine and security guarantees after the conflict triggered by Moscow’s full-scale invasion nearly five years ago ends. The scale of the rebuilding task ahead was underscored by the latest Russian aerial barrage and ongoing efforts to hunt for people missing in piles of rubble left by a deadly airstrike in southern Ukraine on Monday. Ukraine hit back by firing hundreds of drones at Russian targets. The Russian defense ministry said that its forces shot down nearly 500 drones overnight. Rescue teams continued to search for more than 30 people believed trapped in the wreckage of a former school and nearby shelter that was hit by Russian guided bombs on Monday. The attack, which happened in Komyshuvakha near the front line in the Zaporizhzhia region, came as residents waited for humanitarian aid. It was one of the deadliest strikes there in the all-out war. Ukraine's national police force said that 42 bodies have been recovered and

A Seoul court Thursday rejected an injunction lawsuit by e-commerce firm Coupang filed against a fine of some 423 billion won ($315 million) levied by a state-run data protection agency over its massive data leak. The Seoul Administrative Court said there is no need to nullify the fine imposed by the Personal Information Protection Commission in June this year over privacy violations, including a massive data breach that affected more than 37 million users. It marked the largest fine ever imposed by the regulator on a single company, according to the commission. The punitive measures came more than six months after Coupang belatedly reported a large-scale data breach last November of personal information of users in South Korea, including their names, phone numbers and delivery details. Under the personal information protection law, companies that suffer personal information leaks can be fined up to 3 percent of their annual sales, although sales from businesses unrelated to the violation can be excluded. Coupang logged about 36 trillion won in annual sales on average in the past three ye

An appeals court said Thursday it will deliver its verdict in January next year on former President Yoon Suk Yeol's insurrection charges stemming from his martial law declaration. The sentencing hearing will be held Jan. 26, the bench overseeing his appeal at the Seoul High Court said. A district court sentenced Yoon to life in prison in February, after finding him guilty of leading an insurrection through the martial law bid on Dec. 3, 2024, with the stated aim of eradicating "anti-state forces." Earlier, special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team again sought the death penalty for Yoon. The team also sought life imprisonment for former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and a 30-year prison term for former Defense Intelligence Commander Noh Sang-won for their roles in the martial law bid. In his final statement Thursday, Yoon reiterated that his declaration of martial law itself does not constitute an insurrection, arguing that it was intended to warn the opposition party against what he described as its abuse of legislative power.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday met a senior North Korean ruling party official and his delegation in Beijing, and reiterated China's commitment to cementing bilateral relations, according to his party. Wang held the talks with Kim Song-nam, a member of the Political Bureau of the Workers' Party of Korea and a party secretary, according to a post on the official WeChat account of the International Department of the Communist Party of China's central committee. Kim's delegation arrived in Beijing on Tuesday as China and the North are seeking to reinforce their cooperation after bilateral relations apparently weakened amid deepening alignment between Moscow and Pyongyang over the war in Ukraine. During the meeting, Wang noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reached a series of "important consensuses" for better bilateral relations during Xi's visit to Pyongyang in June, stressing Beijing's willingness to "resolutely" implement those consensuses, according to the post. The top Chinese diplomat also voiced hopes for the bilateral ties to dev

Two Korean webtoons, "Itaewon Class" and "The Spooky Love Tale of Gongchan Seol," are set to be adapted into Thai television dramas, extending the international reach of Korean webtoon-based productions. "Itaewon Class," which has already been adapted for television in Korea, Japan and Taiwan, will expand into Thailand, while "The Spooky Love Tale of Gongchan Seol" will be reimagined as a horror romance series for local audiences. Kakao Entertainment said Thursday that both titles were included in the drama lineup unveiled Tuesday at GMMTVNEXT: GENERATION HAPPY, a production presentation hosted by Thai entertainment company GMMTV. The main cast members were also announced at the event. GMMTV operates across television dramas, films, variety shows and artist management. Its productions include "2gether The Series," which gained popularity internationally. The Thai remake of "Itaewon Class," based on a webtoon by creator Kwang Jin, is tentatively titled "ITAEWON CLASS THAI EDITION." The cast includes Sky Wongravee, Film Rachanun, who reiceved the Asia Star Award at the 2025 Seoul Internati

BEIJING — The midterm drubbing of Donald Trump's Republicans may strengthen China's hand in trade talks with Washington, but Beijing is unlikely to revel in the misfortunes of a US president whose successor could prove less accommodating. US voters angered by rising living costs, exacerbated by Trump's trade wars with China and other countries, turned on his party in Tuesday's vote, handing Democrats control of Congress. That political humbling should make Trump more wary of unsettling a fragile trade truce with Beijing, some political analysts said, giving China a potential advantage in negotiations set to resume later this month. Washington's divided political landscape also gives Beijing space to fortify itself and diversify its trade ties before a potentially less China-friendly US administration takes power, some Chinese and Western analysts added. "The Chinese are very realistic that a new president might be very different (from Trump)," said Shen Weizhong, a former Chinese Foreign Ministry official. "But if we can have two more years of stability, that's already a good thing for

Korea is notorious for its long and grueling work hours, the pressures of "hoesik" — a workplace dinner gathering that usually involves alcohol consumption — and the omnipresent crowds of uncaring people that always seem to go slightly too slow on the way to the subway escalators. While many of these aspects have improved over the years, the way home from work still remains an exhausting experience for many. For those who wish to spend their time after work productively, switching to the right state of mind during the commute — often with a relatable or cathartic song — is an essential step in retaining the energy to last into the evening hours. Here are seven song recommendations for different after-work moods. If you're getting ready for a date ... We recommend: "Friday" by IU (feat. Jang Yi-jeong) This song is perfect if you have a date coming up during the weekend and can’t wait to meet — especially if the relationship is still in the hesitant, uncertain early stages of lingering gazes and fluttering hearts. IU and Jang Yi-jeong, now known as EL CAPITXN, take on the roles

PARIS — Hundreds of thousands of protesters are expected to march through French cities and public workers to strike on Thursday, in a fresh test for President Emmanuel Macron after weeks of unrest that have rattled his government and dominated the agenda five months ahead of a presidential election. The mobilisation, called by trade unions including the left-wing CGT and backed by student groups, comes after demonstrations over living costs, public services and education triggered the worst civil unrest France has seen in years. "We need to turn up in big numbers on the streets today," CGT head Sophie Binet told LCI TV. Authorities have sought to lower tensions after riots and looting on October 17 caught security forces off guard, leaving damaged shops and public buildings across the country and fuelling criticism of Macron's handling of the crisis. French authorities will deploy around 70,000 police nationwide. The domestic intelligence service expects between 500,000 and 700,000 people to join demonstrations outside Paris. The Education Ministry said 17.5 percent of public primary s

KT&G posted record quarterly revenue and operating profit in the third quarter, driven by growth across its core businesses, while unveiling a four-year shareholder return plan worth 5 trillion won ($3.7 billion). The tobacco and consumer goods company said Thursday that consolidated revenue rose 4.3 percent from a year earlier to 1.91 trillion won, while operating profit increased 13.9 percent to 530.1 billion won. Both figures marked quarterly records. Its cigarette business generated record revenue of 1.31 trillion won, up 6 percent, and operating profit of 425.5 billion won, up 14.4 percent. Its operating margin improved 2.4 percentage points to 32.6 percent. The global cigarette business marked its 10th consecutive quarter of growth in sales volume, revenue and operating profit. Its next-generation products (NGP) business maintained its leading market share in Korea while improving its product mix. KGC, KT&G's health functional foods subsidiary, reported revenue of 372.2 billion won, up 3.4 percent, and operating profit of 80.1 billion won, up 12.2 percent. At its Capital Markets Day

A special counsel team on Thursday sought a one-year prison term for the head of the anti-graft agency on charges of dereliction of duty over a criminal complaint filed against one of his subordinates. Special counsel Lee Myeong-hyeon's team requested the sentence for Oh Dong-woon, chief prosecutor of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), during his trial's final hearing at the Seoul Central District Court. Oh is accused of attempting to bury an investigation into Song Chang-jin, a former senior CIO prosecutor, who had become subject to a criminal complaint filed by then opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) lawmakers in August 2024. Oh allegedly failed to transfer the complaint to the Supreme Prosecutors Office, as required by law, for 11 months. The special counsel team believes Oh knowingly tried to obstruct an investigation into Song. DPK lawmakers had filed the complaint against Song, accusing him of perjuring himself at the National Assembly over remarks about a high-profile investigation into the death of a young Marine in 2023.

Korean chip giant Samsung Electronics maintained its top position in the global DRAM market in the third quarter, followed by its domestic rival SK hynix, industry data showed Thursday. Samsung Electronics accounted for 38 percent of the global DRAM market by revenue in the July-September period, down slightly from 39 percent three months earlier, according to market tracker Counterpoint Research. SK hynix regained some of the market share it had lost earlier this year, with its share rising 3 percentage points from the previous quarter to 29 percent. U.S. chipmaker Micron Technology ranked third with a 21 percent share, followed by China's ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) at 9 percent. Counterpoint Research projected that CXMT's market share could decline further as supplies of premium fourth-generation high-bandwidth memory (HBM4) chips by Korean chipmakers begin in the fourth quarter.

Korean stocks plunged Thursday, as concerns over tighter U.S. regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) and data center development triggered a broad sell-off in semiconductor shares following sweeping Democratic victories in the midterm elections. The benchmark KOSPI opened at 5,580.09, down 1.82 percent from the previous close, according to the Korea Exchange. It remained in negative territory throughout the session, eventually closing at 5,383.80, down 5.28 percent. The decline was driven largely by a rout in Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, the country’s two semiconductor heavyweights, which together account for roughly half of KOSPI’s market capitalization. Their outsized weight left the index particularly vulnerable to a shift in sentiment toward the chip sector. SK hynix plunged 9.46 percent to 1.26 million won, while Samsung Electronics tumbled 7.57 percent to close at 201,500 won. The weakness in Korean chip stocks followed a sell-off in related U.S. shares overnight. Nvidia fell 3.17 percent, while chipmakers Micron and SanDisk lost 7 percent and 7.91 percent, respectivel

Samsung Electronics has recognized 10 researchers for their contributions to fundamental science and technological innovation, presenting awards for the first time since launching its technology research support program in 2013. The researchers were honored at Samsung Science & Technology Annual Forum 2026, held Thursday in southern Seoul. The event drew about 450 researchers and leaders from the scientific community. The 10 awardees were selected from 644 completed projects in basic science and materials and ICT, based on their research quality, potential for further development, professional growth and contributions to academia and industry. Four researchers were recognized in basic science, including Oh Sung-jin, a mathematics professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and Lee Hyun-woo, a physics professor at Pohang University of Science and Technology. Six others were selected in materials science and ICT, including Kim Bong-soo, a chemistry professor at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Choi Jang-wook, a biological engineering professor at Seoul National

A bill calling for a special counsel probe into allegations of fabricated indictments targeting President Lee Jae Myung and others was brought before a plenary session of the National Assembly on Thursday. The bill was introduced by Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik over objections from the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), setting the stage for a vote led by the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), which holds a majority in the Assembly. The PPP immediately launched a filibuster, but the DPK said it will end the tactic after 24 hours in accordance with relevant rules and put the bill to a vote Friday. The bill, which was first introduced by the DPK in April, calls for an independent counsel to investigate allegations the prosecution under former President Yoon Suk Yeol fabricated evidence or induced false testimonies to build cases against then opposition leader Lee and others. Under the bill's final version, the special prosecutor would be tasked with investigating the prosecution's indictments in 12 cases. Six of them involve the president, with the charges stemming from his ti

Coupang is using its lobbying network in Washington to portray Korea’s enforcement of domestic laws as discrimination against American businesses, according to a ruling party lawmaker, who said Seoul’s sanctions on the e-commerce firm are based on the firm’s obvious misconduct, not its nationality. "Claims that Korea is discriminating against an American company are not based on the facts, and they are a narrative created by Coupang's lobbying in the United States,” Rep. Min Byoung-dug from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) told The Korea Times during an interview on Thursday. "We must distinguish the position of Washington from the voice Coupang has bought through lobbying." He argued that allegations of anti-U.S. bias distort Korea’s enforcement record and risk turning a domestic competition law dispute into a bilateral trade issue. The second-term lawmaker urged the government to stand firm on the principle that companies operating in Korea must be subject to the same legal standards, regardless of where they are headquartered or listed. His comments offer a contrast

The government will seek to postpone cryptocurrency income taxation by another two years to 2029, Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il said Thursday, renewing debate over tax fairness and policy credibility after three previous postponements. Lee said more time is needed to secure overseas transaction data and refine the rules. But the reversal, just a month after the government reiterated its commitment to proceeding in January, has drawn criticism over policy predictability and possible political motivations. At a briefing, Lee said the government would work with the National Assembly to pursue the delay. The announcement came a day after ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Kim Min-seok formally requested another postponement. Under the legislation awaiting implementation, income from transferring or lending digital assets would be classified as miscellaneous income. Annual net profits above a 2.5 million won ($1,900) allowance would be taxed at 22 percent, including local income tax. Net profits would be calculated by deducting acquisition costs and related expenses from procee

Up to 1 million people are expected to gather in Seoul for the closing mass of the 2027 World Youth Day (WYD), marking a historic moment as the global Catholic youth festival is held for the first time in a country where Christians do not hold a majority in the population. The WYD Seoul 2027 event, running from Aug. 3 to 8, 2027, will bring an estimated 400,000 international pilgrims from around 190 countries together with 100,000 domestic participants, the organizing committee said, Thursday. Sharing its detailed roadmap for the international event, Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick of the Archdiocese of Seoul emphasized the deeper meaning of the gathering, pointing to the isolation faced by younger generations in the digital age. "We live in an era of disconnection," Chung, who also serves as head of the organizing committee, said at Myeongdong Cathedral in central Seoul. "While we can reach each other instantly through the screens in our hands, it has become much harder to truly know one another. Young people today face constant comparison and competition, and even how we judge a pers

A three-year prison term was finalized Thursday for a former chief of the Presidential Security Service (PSS) for blocking investigators from executing a warrant to detain former President Yoon Suk Yeol last year, according to legal sources. Last week, the Seoul High Court handed down the verdict. Both Park and prosecutors had seven days to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court, but neither side filed an appeal by the Wednesday deadline, resulting in the finalization of the sentence, the sources said. Park and other former PSS officials were indicted for obstructing investigators' attempts to execute an arrest warrant for Yoon at the presidential residence in January 2025 over his imposition of martial law. A lower court had sentenced Park to four years in prison in July. The appellate court reduced his term to three years last week, noting he did not actively participate in physical confrontations with investigators and that his resignation on Jan. 7, 2025, reflected a sense of accountability for the resulting confusion and conflict. Also finalized were a two-year prison term for Lee

President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday instructed officials to help build an economic virtuous cycle in which Korea's recent export growth can translate into a recovery in domestic demand, leading to the development of both large conglomerates and smaller firms. Lee issued the instruction at a meeting with his key aides amid strong economic indicators driven by brisk exports. His remarks came shortly after the Bank of Korea reported that the country posted an all-time high current account surplus of over $60 billion in September, buoyed by strong semiconductor exports. Earlier data also showed that Korea's exports jumped 93.7 percent from a year earlier to $115.3 billion in October, the second-highest monthly figure in the country's history following the $121.1 billion posted just a month before. "In order for the Korean economy to go beyond quantitative expansion into a qualitative leap forward, we need a major change in the manner of growth," the president said. "We need to build a national economic virtuous cycle in which export increases can lead to a recovery in domestic demand, and th

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun will visit Paris next week to attend the Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers' meeting, the foreign ministry said Thursday. This year's second G7 ministerial meeting, scheduled for Monday to Tuesday in Marseille, is expected to address key global challenges, including artificial intelligence (AI) and developments in the Middle East, following the G7 leaders' summit in June, according to the ministry. Korea will attend the meeting at the invitation of France, which holds the G7 presidency, following its participation in the first ministerial meeting in March. "The participation is aimed at strengthening our partnership with G7 members and enhancing our standing as a globally responsible country," ministry spokesperson Park Doo-soon told a press briefing. On the sidelines of the meeting, Cho plans to hold bilateral talks with his counterparts from other participating countries to discuss bilateral relations, substantive cooperation and regional issues, the ministry said.

WASHINGTON — U.S. First Lady Melania Trump will host officials from Moscow and Kyiv at the White House on Thursday, ahead of talks in Abu Dhabi aimed at ending the Ukraine war. The talks have revived hopes for peace, as Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine grinds through its fifth year, and a recent rapprochement between presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin has raised concerns the United States could turn its back on Kyiv. Moscow's adviser for international economic cooperation, Kirill Dmitriev, and human rights ombudsman Yana Lantratova plan to meet Melania Trump on Thursday "provided that all logistical arrangements work out", Russia's state-owned TASS news agency reported Wednesday, citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Ukraine's human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, announced he would also be meeting Melania Trump in Washington. "I am heading to Washington. Important meetings lie ahead. But while I am on the road, I want to ask you something: If you could convey a single message to U.S. First Lady Melania Trump, what would you say to her?" Lubinets wrote on Facebook o

North Korea is signaling that it is open to dialogue with the United States if such talks serve its interests, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Thursday, a day after the sister of the North's leader Kim Jong-un said dialogue with Washington remains among potential options for peace. Chung offered the assessment during a parliamentary interpellation session as Seoul seeks to resume diplomacy with Pyongyang to ease cross-border tension and improve inter-Korean relations. "(North Korea) is sending a signal that possibilities of dialogue remain open if talks serve its interests," the minister said. "Yesterday, (the North) said directly that it understands dialogue is necessary for peace." He pointed out the North has made clear a precondition for dialogue, under which what it regards as hostile policies toward it, including sanctions pressure, military drills and human rights issues, should be corrected or revised. Noting that Pyongyang is calling for "respect and consideration" if Seoul wants to see a turnaround in inter-Korean relations, Chung said, "I want to say exactly the sam

Seoul is assessing the fallout from the Democrats’ sweeping victory in the U.S. midterm elections, Tuesday, preparing for possible changes in trade, security and nuclear cooperation while seeking to keep existing agreements with Washington on track. "The government will analyze changes in the U.S. political landscape following the midterm elections and continue to communicate and cooperate closely with the U.S. administration and Congress," presidential chief spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said during a press briefing, Thursday. She also said the government "does not expect the outcome of any particular election to affect the Korea-U.S. alliance," noting the alliance has developed over more than 70 years with bipartisan support in the U.S. A separate Cheong Wa Dae official said the presidential office "has been continuously reviewing how to respond to shifts in the balance of power in the U.S. Senate and House." “Given the complexities of Korea-U.S. relations, Cheong Wa Dae and relevant ministries are closely monitoring developments,” the official said. Presidential chief of staff Lim Kw

A sixth labor union is being formed at Samsung Electronics, labor officials said Thursday, following reported internal divisions among existing union members. According to the tech giant's largest labor union, which has a membership largely comprising employees in the company's lucrative semiconductor division, an application to establish a union was filed with the labor ministry the previous day. The largest union said the proposed union is being pursued by former and current leaders of the second-largest union representing workers in the device experience division, which oversees its consumer electronics and mobile device businesses. A labor official, who asked not to be named, said internal disputes between the smaller union's former and current leadership had intensified, possibly prompting efforts to establish a separate group. The smaller union, however, denied the allegations, saying the planned launch of the sixth union has no connection to internal disputes. The proposed union is expected to focus on employees in the device experience division, although its organizational structu

Singer and producer Park Jin-young has personally pushed back against allegations that his religious group, Firstfruits, is a heretical or pseudo-religious organization. He suggested that such accusations amount to “persecution” and that the matter will eventually resolve itself according to God's will. In a lecture video posted Tuesday on the Firstfruits YouTube channel, Park said, “We are now beginning to hear people call us heretics and a cult, and are starting to face a great deal of persecution in earnest.” He added that “things will be resolved at the right time and in the right way.” “It is not something that can be resolved by debating doctrine or organizing people to go out and post comments,” he said, emphasizing that “God will take care of that resolution as well.” The lecture, titled “False Confidence vs. True Confidence,” runs for just over an hour and seven minutes. During the talk, Park also explained what led him to embrace religion. “For the first time, when I turned 40, things didn't go the way I wanted,” he said, reflecting on his past. “B

South Korea has decided to co-sponsor this year's U.N. General Assembly resolution on North Korean human rights, which calls for an end to human rights violations in the reclusive country while stressing the importance of dialogue with Pyongyang, the foreign ministry said Thursday. The resolution, proposed by the European Union (EU), is currently under review by the Third Committee of the U.N. General Assembly in New York and is expected to be adopted by the committee around Nov. 18-19. "As it is crucial to make practical improvements in the human rights of North Korean residents, the government has joined as a co-sponsor of this year's resolution as part of its efforts to continue international cooperation," the ministry said in a press release. At South Korea's suggestion, the resolution includes language stressing the importance of dialogue and engagement with Pyongyang, including inter-Korean talks, and calls for progress on humanitarian issues involving abductees, detainees, prisoners of war and separated families. South Korea has now co-sponsored a U.N. General Assembly resolution

Korea's key financial policymakers on Thursday vowed to closely monitor potential changes in U.S. policies on artificial intelligence (AI) and trade and their implications for the Korean economy. Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il discussed the issues with Bank of Korea (BOK) Gov. Shin Hyun-song, Financial Services Commission Chairman Lee Eog-weon and Financial Supervisory Service Gov. Lee Chan-jin after the U.S. Democratic Party secured a huge win in the midterm elections this week. During the meeting, the officials noted that despite gains in major stock markets in the United States and Europe, concerns over tighter regulation of the AI industry had led to declines in semiconductor shares. The participants exchanged views on possible changes in Washington's fiscal, trade and industrial policies following the election outcome and vowed to closely keep tabs on policy and the regulatory environment, as well as U.S. tariffs and developments in the Middle East war. "The officials agreed to step up efforts to promote stable growth of the Korean economy by addressing changes in the external envir

Nearly 20 years after winning hearts as a young crown prince in the hit Korean drama "Princess Hours," actor Ju Ji-hoon has returned to a royal role in Disney+'s "The Remarried Empress." But his transformation into an emperor is drawing mixed reactions, with some viewers questioning his on-screen appearance and styling while others praise his commanding performance. "The Remarried Empress," which premiered on Disney+ on Nov. 3, is based on the popular Korean web novel and webtoon of the same name. The adaptation had attracted considerable attention from fans of the original story even before its release. Following the premiere, Ju's appearance as Sovieshu, the emperor of the Eastern Empire, quickly became a talking point among viewers. Some expressed disappointment with how his complexion appeared on screen, saying he looked unusually tired. Others said his face appeared noticeably duller and more sallow than those of his fellow cast members. However, an actor's appearance on screen can be influenced by makeup, lighting and color grading, making it inappropriate to draw conclusions about

With the U.S. Democrats taking control of Congress in the midterm elections, the "blue wave" is expected to cool memory chip prices and demand, casting doubt on whether Samsung Electronics and SK hynix can sustain their record-breaking earnings streaks. In the New York trading session that ended Wednesday (local time), shares of CoreWeave and Nebius fell 9.9 percent and 6.7 percent, respectively. Both are neo cloud providers that rent out artificial intelligence (AI) computing capacity. Data center operators IREN and Hut 8 also plunged 11.2 percent and 23.2 percent, respectively. Memory chip and storage companies also suffered steep losses. SK hynix’s American depositary receipts declined 5.1 percent, while Sandisk fell 7.9 percent, Micron Technology 7 percent and Western Digital 6.8 percent. Chip designers Nvidia and Broadcom also dropped. The drops appear to reflect investors’ concerns that the election of Democratic governors in states such as Texas, Ohio and Georgia could turn growing local opposition to data center construction into tighter regulations and delays in project appr

The government has not begun discussing sanctions on North Korea over its alleged theft of a massive amount of cryptocurrency, a unification ministry official said Thursday. "As of now, the government has not fully grasped the exact circumstances of the hacking case, so a discussion on how to respond to it has not even begun," the official told reporters at the government complex in Seoul. "Internal sharing and discussion inside the government are needed, but we have not reached that stage," the official added. Last week, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said North Korea was responsible for the theft of more than $6 billion in cryptocurrency from Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange. Earlier this week, Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, rejected the accusation, calling it a "grave political provocation" against the North. North Korea has been blamed for cyber thefts before and has consistently denied any involvement. The foreign ministry said that it is internally reviewing various measures, including unilateral sanctions agai

At Atomy, employee autonomy extends beyond internal management to customer service, where frontline workers are encouraged to prioritize consumers even when their interests conflict with those of the company. For customer service staff, this means having the authority to approve returns and exchanges without sending each case through multiple layers of management. Atomy says representatives are expected to put customers first when their interests conflict with the company's. Empowering frontline employees to resolve complaints, rather than simply promising to seek approval, is intended to reduce delays. “Do not fight customers for the company. Fight the company for customers,” Park tells employees. At a press briefing in Incheon on Oct. 20, Park argued that honesty and concern for customers are key to a company's long-term survival. His expectations for employees' personal lives are equally clear. “I hope they will not sacrifice themselves for the company, but use the company to become happy,” he said. Compensation is central to that goal. Park described high salaries as the best

Korean direct marketing company Atomy ranked first in the small and medium-sized business category of Great Place to Work's (GPTW) 2026 Best Workplaces in Asia list, recognition that the company attributes to its management philosophy centered on employee trust and autonomy. The global network marketing company, which now operates in 27 countries, said it was the first Korean company to top the category, moving up from third place last year. The latest assessment covered its operations in Korea, China, the Philippines, Cambodia and Indonesia, up from three countries in the previous evaluation. The ranking is based on employees' assessments of their workplaces, covering trust in management, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie. According to Atomy, this year's regional assessment drew on more than 3.8 million employee survey responses from across Asia. The recognition follows Atomy's second-place finish in the 2026 Best Workplaces in Korea ranking in February, up from fifth place a year earlier. It marked the company's sixth consecutive appearance on the domestic list. At Atomy Park, t

Samsung Display is joining hands with six global monitor brands to promote its quantum dot organic light-emitting diode (QD-OLED) technology at internet cafes across China, seeking to expand its presence in the world's largest gaming market. The company said Thursday that it is working with AOC, ASUS, HKC, MSI, TitanArmy and ViewSonic to designate selected internet cafes, locally known as i-cafes, as official QD-OLED certified venues. The initiative marks the first collaboration of its kind between a display manufacturer and the i-cafe industry. Under the program, venues must have at least 30 QD-OLED monitors installed to qualify for certification. Samsung Display provides promotional materials, including certification signs, standing banners, keyboard and mouse pads and interior decorations. The company said it had designated 10 venues in major Chinese cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, as of October, and plans to expand the network to 60 by year-end. China's i-cafes are a major sales channel for gaming OLED monitors, accounting for approximately 30 to 40 percent of sales. They als

All companies listed on the benchmark KOSPI will face tougher disclosure requirements on boardroom changes and major corporate transactions under new rules designed to give shareholders greater oversight of corporate governance, financial authorities said Thursday. The changes, announced by the Financial Services Commission and the Korea Exchange, expand the information companies must provide in their annual corporate governance reports. The move comes after the reporting requirement was extended to all 826 KOSPI-listed companies this year. One focus is on preventing companies from circumventing the revised Commercial Act that is designed to give minority shareholders a greater say in board appointments. Under the law, listed companies with assets of at least 2 trillion won ($1.49 billion) must incorporate cumulative voting, which allows shareholders to pool their votes behind a particular director candidate, improving the chances of minority shareholders electing a representative to the board. Some companies, however, have sought to avoid the rule by shrinking their boards or changing d

Major economies, including the United States and Britain, already tax cryptocurrency investment gains, though rates and allowances vary depending on holding periods, income levels and the nature of transactions. In the United States, cryptocurrencies are treated as property. Profits from assets held for a year or less are taxed at ordinary federal income tax rates ranging from 10 to 37 percent, while gains on assets held longer qualify for federal long-term capital gains tax rates of 0, 15 or 20 percent, depending on income. State taxes and additional levies may apply. Britain imposes capital gains tax at 18 or 24 percent, depending on income, with an annual tax-free capital gains allowance of 3,000 pounds per person. Canada classifies trading profits as either capital gains or business income. For capital gains, only half the profit is included in taxable income. Japan generally treats cryptocurrency profits as miscellaneous income, combining them with other earnings and applying a maximum combined income and resident tax rate of about 55 percent. It is seeking to introduce a separate 2

Most government agencies told The Korea Times they do not use VirusTotal, the malware analysis platform where the personal information of the first couple was exposed for about five months, deepening questions over how the leak occurred. The paid platform had hosted sensitive personal information of 168 people aboard the presidential jet during President Lee Jae Myung’s trip to Europe in June. Those affected included not only the president and first lady but also high-ranking officials, including then-chief of staff for policy Kim Yong-beom, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac, current Prime Minister Han Seong-sook and several Cabinet members, as well as senior officials from Cheong Wa Dae and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, security personnel and reporters traveling with the presidential delegation. VirusTotal, a web service owned by Google, scans uploaded files and URLs simultaneously using more than 70 antivirus engines and security tools. Files submitted through its public interface are shared with participating security vendors and can be accessed by organizations that subscri

HONG KONG — Activist Joshua Wong, who became the global face of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement, was sentenced on Thursday to 10 years in jail on a charge of collusion with foreign entities under the city's national security law. Wong was among a group of young people whose protest efforts have effectively been outlawed by a sweeping national security law Beijing imposed on the Asian financial hub in 2020, after sometimes violent demonstrations. "The punishment must fit the gravity of the crime," High Court Judge William Tam told a packed courtroom while delivering the sentence. "It is also necessary for the court to express the community’s abhorrence of the defendant's scheme and acts with others to collude with foreign forces or external elements to endanger national security." Wong, now 30, was accused of conspiring with self-exiled activist Nathan Law and others to ask foreign countries, bodies, or individuals outside China to impose sanctions or blockades, or engage in other hostile activities against the government. He pleaded guilty to the charge in September, but has said h

American songwriters who earlier claimed that Korean superband BTS' chart-topping song "Swim" was copied from their own demo have withdrawn their claims in a U.S. lawsuit, a report showed Thursday. The attorneys for the accusers, who are three little-known songwriters, requested the judge to dismiss the lawsuit in its entirety in a court filing dated Wednesday (U.S. time), according to the Billboard. The move comes about four months after the songwriters — Steve Cooper, Jon Sandler and Greylyn Johnson — filed a lawsuit in July, claiming that "Swim" bears "substantial similarities" to their own song of the same name. The plaintiffs had named HYBE, HYBE America and BigHit Music as defendants, along with the song's credited writers, including former OneRepublic member Ryan Tedder. Neither BTS nor its members were listed as defendants, although RM is credited as one of the songwriters on the track. Hybe is the parent company of BigHit Music, while Hybe America is the American unit of Hybe. In response, BigHit Music had rejected the allegations as "one-sided" claims, maintaining that "Swim

Hoban Group's stake in Hanjin KAL has gained an estimated 918.6 billion won ($683 million) in market value since the beginning of this week, as the construction group's emergence as the holding company's largest shareholder has fueled speculation over a potential battle for control. The valuation gain follows Wednesday's disclosure that Hoban and related parties held 13,814,053 common shares, or 20.69 percent of Hanjin KAL, narrowly overtaking Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Won-tae and his cohort, whose combined stake stood at 20.58 percent. Hanjin KAL shares closed at 123,900 won last Friday before climbing to 190,400 won Thursday, a gain of 66,500 won, or approximately 53.7 percent. Applying the increase to Hoban's disclosed shareholding translates into an estimated valuation gain of 918.6 billion won. At Thursday's closing price, its stake was worth approximately 2.63 trillion won, up from 1.71 trillion won at Friday's close. Investor interest intensified after reports emerged Monday that Hoban had filed a business combination notification with the Fair Trade Commission. Cho has separatel

The British Chamber of Commerce in Korea (BCCK) and the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AustCham Korea) will jointly host a charity concert featuring John Walker and his band in Seoul on Friday to raise funds for people with disabilities and others in need. The concert will take place at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul’s bar OUL, starting at 6 p.m. Tickets are priced at 120,000 won and include admission, live entertainment, canapes and unlimited wine and beer. Additional donations can also be made before and during the concert. All proceeds from the event will be donated directly to the Myongdo Welfare Centre in Mokpo, South Jeolla Province. The center was founded and is managed by Sister Geraldine Ryan. Founded in 1992, the center has provided social welfare services, vocational training, residential care and rehabilitation programs for more than two decades, supporting people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups at different stages of life. Walker, executive chairman of Eastpoint Partners, will perform with his band, including a live performance of "Mokpo Sister," a song in

SHINee member Minho has surrendered his marathon finishing time and apologized after footage showed a fellow runner apparently pushing him during a race. Yet rather than turning against the K-pop star, many fans are praising his response and predicting that his famously competitive spirit will drive him to return stronger. Minho completed his first full marathon at the 2026 JTBC Seoul Marathon, held at Sangam World Cup Park in Seoul on Sunday. He finished the 42.195-kilometer course in three hours and 18 seconds, narrowly missing the coveted "sub-three" milestone of completing a marathon in under three hours. Despite falling just 18 seconds short of his goal, Minho celebrated the experience and expressed his determination to try again. He also thanked a fellow runner who had helped him maintain his pace throughout the race. "I was able to achieve a good time thanks to Jun-hyung, who served as my pacemaker," he said. However, controversy erupted after a video circulated online showing the pacemaker placing his hand on Minho's lower back and apparently pushing him forward during the race. So

WASHINGTON — As he takes stock of his Republican Party's midterm drubbing, President Donald Trump now faces the difficult question of what to do about his unpopular 8-month-old war against Iran. For weeks, Trump has threatened to return to a full-scale bombardment of Iran once the U.S. elections were in the rearview mirror if Tehran did not come to a settlement under terms acceptable to him. In his first comments on Wednesday after Democrats' resounding election victory — a wave powered in part by the American electorate's dissatisfaction with the war — Trump largely agreed with Vice President JD Vance, who publicly ruminated on the war being a catastrophe for Republicans. “It’s largely true because it drove gasoline up a little bit,” Trump said. Still, he doubled down on his decision to launch the conflict despite its big political cost. “At the same time, if I had to do it again, I'd do it again," he said. The strikes, and counterstrikes, have caused tens of billions of dollars of damage in the region. And the conflict has reached into the pocketbook of families around th

Korea will provide a $170 million development loan to Tanzania to build an artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technology training institute, marking the first AI-focused project financed through the country's official development assistance fund, the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank) said Thursday. The loan agreement was signed the previous day in Tanzania's Dar es Salaam by Lee Dong-hoon, a senior executive director of the state-run lender, and Natu E. Mwamba, Tanzania's deputy finance minister. The project is the first under the government's so-called "K-AI Package," a development cooperation initiative that combines infrastructure financing with support for AI technology in developing countries. It also marks the first AI-related project financed by the country's Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF), which provides long-term, low-interest loans to developing countries. The planned institute in Tanzania will be built on a 35,000-square-meter site, roughly the size of five soccer fields. It will train workers in physical AI — technologies that enable machines

Busan has earned international recognition for its food culture, winning the Best Culinary Destination title in the 2026 TripZilla Excellence Awards, marking its second consecutive year receiving an award from the Southeast Asian travel media outlet. Busan Metropolitan City said Thursday that TripZilla selected the southeastern port city for its diverse culinary offerings, including fresh seafood and regional specialties. The latest award follows Busan's selection as Best City Destination in the 2025 TripZilla Excellence Awards, giving the city back-to-back recognition in two different tourism categories. TripZilla, described by the city government as one of Southeast Asia's largest digital travel media networks, operates online platforms across Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia, reaching more than 20 million people monthly. The annual TripZilla Excellence Awards recognize tourism destinations and services across various categories, with Busan named the sole winner in this year's Best Culinary Destination category. The award highlights the city's combination of maritime a

A Hungarian calligraphy collective has brought its unique interpretations of Hangeul to Seoul, showcasing Korean lettering through a European artistic lens. Munbangsawu, a Hungarian calligraphy group formed by students of the Korean Cultural Center in Hungary, has been invited to participate in the 2026 Asian Calligraphy Festival VI, which opens Thursday at the Seoul Calligraphy Museum inside Seoul Arts Center. The exhibition runs through Nov. 14 and features 15 works by 12 Hungarian members, making Munbangsawu the only invited foreign group from outside Asia. The members are also traveling to Korea to attend the opening ceremony, explain their works and introduce visitors to their experiences studying Hangeul calligraphy. The group traces its beginnings to Korean calligraphy classes offered by the Korean Cultural Center in Hungary in 2013, where participants have continued learning the traditional art form over the years. The invitation followed visits to Hungary by Lee Sang-bae, vice chairman of the Korea Literary Painting Association, in 2025 and August 2026, when he encountered the st

Long known for its webtoon culture, Korea’s capital is transforming routine government announcements into emotionally driven digital comics — and its newest installment adds full animation and a soundtrack to connect with millions of readers. Seoul Metropolitan Government said Thursday that its first five policy webtoons have collectively recorded 5.67 million views and 80,000 comments, with each series surpassing 1 million views. The city released its sixth installment, “Seoul, 76 Years Later: Cadenza,” on KakaoPage at 10 a.m. Thursday, introducing its first moving webtoon, which combines animated sequences and background music with traditional comic panels. The story follows Eun-ho, a young man who abandons his dream of becoming a pianist after losing hearing in one ear in an accident, and Colin, a 92-year-old Korean War veteran who has preserved an unfinished musical score for 76 years. Carrying the sheet music left behind by Yoon-sik — a Korean soldier who saved his life during the war — Colin embarks on a journey through Seoul alongside Eun-ho to fulfill a decades-old pr

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook said Thursday she anticipates no big changes in relations with the United States after U.S. President Donald Trump's Republican Party suffered a crushing defeat in this week's midterm elections, adding the U.S. Democratic Party also considers the Korea-U.S. alliance important. "As both the Democratic and Republican parties have considered the alliance between the two countries important, I think there will not be very big changes in relations with Korea," Han said during a parliamentary budget committee meeting after a lawmaker asked her to assess the election results. She said the Democratic Party's victory was stronger than expected. "There are parts that we should analyze one by one in detail and other parts that require additional measures," Han said when asked about Seoul's diplomatic strategy toward Washington, adding that each relevant ministry is currently reviewing such issues. The presidential office reaffirmed its unwavering efforts to further develop the alliance, saying the decadeslong alliance will unlikely be affected by the outcome of an elec

This year’s Seoul Hanok Week drew approximately 85,000 visitors — a 15 percent increase from 2025 — highlighting the growing appeal of traditional Korean houses as everyday cultural spaces, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Thursday. Turnout for the annual festival has grown steadily, from about 35,000 in 2024 to 74,000 last year. The fourth edition of the festival ran for 10 days, from Oct. 2 to 11, in Bukchon, Seochon and other hanok neighborhoods across the capital. This year's theme was hanok in daily life. Some 180 participants, including the Swiss Embassy in Korea, local resident guides and artists, ran a record 82 programs, up 16 from last year. This year the city put more weight on hands-on programs than on sightseeing. A new exhibition drew about 17,000 visitors to six public hanok in Bukchon and Seochon that had been furnished with modern furniture and household items. About 900 people applied for guided tours of hanok that are normally closed to the public, or roughly four applicants per spot. The tours marked the 10th anniversary of the city’s certification progr

Three in four Seoul residents now drink the city’s tap water, which is sold under the brand name Arisu, and more of them are drinking it away from home, a city survey showed Thursday. In the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s annual survey, 75.5 percent of residents said they drank tap water this year. That was up from 75 percent last year and 69.6 percent in 2024, when the city started using its own measure. The figure adds the 53.9 percent who drink tap water at home to the 21.6 percent who drink it only outside the home. The city created the measure because standards for calculating tap water drinking rates vary by country and institution. Under the American Water Works Association’s criteria, Seoul’s rate was 78.2 percent, 13.2 percentage points above the U.S. figure of 65 percent in 2024. Paris counts people who drink tap water either alone or along with other water. By that method, Seoul’s rate was 82.5 percent, compared with 81 percent for the French capital in 2025. The city said the rise came mainly from more people drinking tap water outdoors. The share of residents who

The number of multicultural marriages in Korea edged down in 2025 from a year earlier, data showed Thursday, taking up 8.9 percent of all marriages. The country recorded 21,399 multicultural marriages last year, down 0.2 percent, or 51, from 21,450 in 2024, according to data from the Ministry of Data and Statistics. Marriages involving foreign wives accounted for 71.4 percent of multicultural marriages, followed by those with foreign husbands at 18.9 percent and those with naturalized citizens at 9.7 percent. The average age for first marriages was 37.1 years for husbands and 29.7 years for wives. Husbands were older than their wives in 75.2 percent of multicultural marriages. In 36.1 percent of all multicultural marriages, the husband was at least 10 years older than his wife. Vietnamese wives accounted for 25.3 percent of all multicultural marriages, followed by Chinese wives at 15.1 percent and Thai wives at 9.2 percent. The corresponding figures for husbands from the United States, China and Vietnam were 6.8 percent, 5.6 percent and 3.6 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, the number of di

The foreign ministry failed to raise the travel alert for Cambodia or take other necessary measures in a timely manner, even though it had been aware that job scams targeting Koreans were worsening in the Southeast Asian nation, the state audit agency said Thursday. Such crimes sparked public outrage last year after a Korean college student was tortured to death by a Chinese scam ring in Cambodia, shedding light on a series of similar cases where young Koreans were lured into the country with promises of high-paying jobs only to end up being kidnapped. According to the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI), the foreign ministry learned after December 2023 through information from overseas diplomatic missions and private firms that Koreans were falling victim to job scams and kidnapping in Cambodia, with the nature of the crimes becoming increasingly brutal. Korea's Embassy in Cambodia repeatedly suggested to the ministry in April and July 2024 that the travel alert for the country be raised, but the ministry did not do so, citing that the situation fell short of the criteria for a special

Bank of Korea (BOK) Gov. Shin Hyun-song will depart for the Swiss city of Basel this week to attend meetings with central bank governors from member nations of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), his office said Thursday. During his six-day visit starting Friday, Shin is scheduled to join fellow central bank chiefs from BIS members in discussions on recent developments in the global economy and financial markets through the Global Economy Meeting, the Meeting of Governors from Major Emerging Market Economies and the Meeting of Governors, according to the BOK. He will also attend meetings of the BIS Board of Directors and the Economic Consultative Committee as a BIS board member. Shin previously served as head of the monetary and economic department at the BIS before being appointed governor of the South Korean central bank by President Lee Jae Myung in March.

The Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA) and the police will form a special joint investigation team to look into remaining issues related to former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law bid in December 2024, officials of the agencies said Thursday. The two agencies are currently working out the details, such as staffing and office location, to launch the special investigation unit, according to their officials. The unit will handle all remaining cases related to the martial law bid, including those handed over by now-expired special prosecutor teams. The idea of creating a joint investigation body was first proposed in August by Kwon Chang-young, who led a broad special counsel investigation on allegations related to the martial law declaration. At that time, Kwon had stressed that a long-term joint investigation team would be necessary "as long as the capabilities and will of the insurrection forces remain as they were." Earlier investigations into the short-lived martial law declaration failed to cover all related issues. South Korea previously ran two rounds of special c

Despite political tensions and historical differences between their countries, two filmmakers from Korea and China believe stories of ordinary people helping one another can offer a path toward greater understanding. The directors, who won the top prizes at the China-Korea Artificial Intelligence (AI) Video Competition, drew inspiration from little-known acts of solidarity between Koreans and Chinese, using AI-generated films to bring those stories to life. The Chinese Embassy in Seoul hosted an AI short film competition, inviting young people from both countries to use AI to create videos highlighting stories of cultural exchange and friendship. One grand prize winner was selected from each country, with each receiving 15,000 yuan (3.08 million won) and a round-trip airline ticket to a destination served by China Southern Airlines. Chinese grand prize winner Liu Jiakai is an experienced filmmaker who has long sought to bring people from different countries and cultures together through his work. His inspiration for the winning film came from a story shared by Chinese President Xi Jinpin

Hanwha Aerospace has started building a factory in Poland to make guided missiles for its Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher, the company said Thursday. The plant takes its defense partnership with Poland beyond exports and into local production. The Korean defense firm held a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday in Gorzow Wielkopolski, western Poland, for a plant that will be run by Hanwha WB Advanced Systems, its joint venture with Polish defense company WB Group. It will be Hanwha Aerospace’s first guided missile production facility outside Korea. About 250 government and industry officials from both countries attended. The plant will sit on a site of about 1.16 million square meters and is set to be completed in 2028. It will produce the CGR-080, a missile with a range of about 80 kilometers, for the Homar-K, the Polish version of the truck-mounted Chunmoo. Once technology transfer, testing and certification are complete, the venture plans to begin initial production in late 2029 and full-scale production in 2030. The project is expected to create more than 200 jobs and to buy parts an

A two-day celebration of Korean culture has drawn approximately 26,000 visitors in Hong Kong, nearly tripling last year's attendance and bringing Korean companies, local creators and public institutions together under one roof. Korea Square 2026, organized by the Korean Cultural Center in Hong Kong, took place Saturday and Sunday at PMQ's Courtyard & Marketplace and QUBE performance venue, transforming the central Hong Kong cultural complex into a showcase for Korean food, beauty, music, entertainment and design. Now in its sixth year, the festival attracted roughly three times the 9,000 visitors recorded last year, reflecting growing local interest in Korean culture, according to the center. More than 50 Korean companies, Hong Kong-based brands, creators and public institutions participated, including Samsung, LG and mobile game developer Com2uS, alongside the Korea Tourism Organization, Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corp. and the Korea Creative Content Agency. Visitors explored booths featuring Korean food, traditional alcohol, beauty prod

Hyundai Motor and Kia have received international certification for the process they use to develop their own automotive semiconductors, the companies said Thursday. The carmakers held a ceremony Wednesday at Pangyo Tech One, their office complex in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, a tech hub just south of Seoul, to receive the certification from TUV Rheinland, a German testing and certification company. It confirms that their chip development process and functional safety management system comply with an international standard based on the rules of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Functional safety refers to designing electronic systems so that a vehicle stays safe even when a component fails. Since 2025, the two automakers have run their own standard process tailored to developing automotive system-on-chip products, semiconductors that integrate multiple functions on a single chip. TUV Rheinland reviewed the companies’ entire development framework, including process definitions, each team’s roles and responsibilities, standard deliverables, templates, guideline

KT launched an online consulting platform designed to help businesses move from artificial intelligence ambitions (AI) to practical implementation, offering tailored technology recommendations, industry strategies and access to experts. The telecommunications company said Thursday it had opened the KT AX Biz Portal, a specialized platform that brings together information and services for companies exploring AI transformation (AX). Although businesses increasingly recognize the need to adopt AI, many struggle to determine which technologies and solutions best fit their operations, KT said. The new portal aims to simplify that process, covering everything from strategy development and solution selection to implementation examples and professional consultations. Users can explore AX strategies and solutions by industry and business task, as well as guidance for different stages of adoption, including discovery, pilot projects, expansion and optimization. One of the platform's central features is an AX Solution Consultant, which assesses a company's digital transformation needs through six q

Tourists wandering through Myeong-dong can now enjoy street food and drinks without worrying about where to throw away their trash, thanks to an unusual initiative that turns local vendors into volunteer waste collectors. The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Tourism Organization have launched a promotional campaign encouraging visitors to hand empty drink cups and food packaging to participating street vendors, who will dispose of the waste on their behalf. A total of 346 street stalls in Myeong-dong are taking part in the Clean Myeong-dong campaign, which aims to improve tourist convenience while keeping one of Seoul's busiest shopping districts clean. The initiative grew out of complaints from visitors who struggled to find trash bins after buying food and beverages from street stalls. It was developed following a request from Seoul Namdaemun Police Station, with local vendors voluntarily joining the effort. To help international visitors identify participating businesses, organizers have distributed multilingual signs to all 346 stalls. The signs prominently display message

Nexen Tire is expanding its winter tire lineup with a new model designed specifically for icy roads, targeting drivers who face treacherous conditions during early-morning and nighttime travel. The company said Wednesday it had launched the Winguard ice3 in Korea, adding an ice-focused option to its existing winter tire offerings. The new tire has earned the Ice Grip marking, a certification awarded to products that meet braking performance standards on icy surfaces. It is designed to maintain flexibility and traction in low temperatures through a specialized rubber compound, while its wider tread profile increases contact with the road. The product is aimed particularly at motorists who frequently drive through areas prone to icy conditions or travel during hours when temperatures are low and roads are more likely to freeze. With the launch, Nexen Tire now offers three winter tire options: the Winguard ice3, Winguard Sport 2 and Winguard Sport 2 SUV. The Winguard Sport 2 models are designed primarily for drivers who travel on cleared urban roads and highways. The standard version combine

President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday welcomed East Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta's first visit to Korea, expressing hope for a stronger partnership between the two countries on the occasion of next year's 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Lee wrote the message on his X account, as Horta was scheduled to make an official visit to Korea from Thursday through Saturday, marking the first trip to Korea by an East Timorese leader since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 2002. Lee and Horta will hold a summit Friday to explore ways to enhance tangible cooperation in various fields, including diplomacy, security, intellectual property, climate change and human exchanges. "The Republic of Korea and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste have built a longstanding friendship founded on our shared values of peace and democracy," Lee said, referring to the two countries by their official names. "Our partnership has grown through cooperation in economic and social development, and today, our two countries stand as steadfast partners supporting each other on the internat

Hangzhou bank employee Xiao Na says she has no plan to buy anything during China’s ongoing Singles’ Day shopping festival, the world’s largest online retail promotion. “When I think about hunting around for things to buy just so I can use all kinds of coupons, the money I save is dwarfed by what I’ve lost in the stock market,” the 37-year-old said. “Stocks are falling, home values continue to slide, and my salary isn’t going up. Keeping more cash in my pocket is the best strategy.” Consumers across China are holding back on spending during the annual shopping extravaganza as a stock market slump and a prolonged decline in property values erode household wealth, with many families making debt reduction and deleveraging greater priorities. In the third quarter, the tech-focused ChiNext Index plunged nearly 28 percent — one of its steepest quarterly declines on record — while the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index posted more moderate losses amid a sharp unwinding in growth and technology stocks. Chinese consumption has remained subdued this year, with total retail sal

Korea, Singapore and New Zealand have discussed progress in negotiations and key outstanding issues related to their trilateral Green Economy Partnership Agreement (GEPA), the industry ministry said Thursday. Senior officials from the three countries held a videoconference ahead of the APEC Economic Leaders' Week, scheduled to begin next week in China, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources. Through the agreement, Seoul seeks to work with the two partners to jointly address the challenges posed by trade-related climate measures (TrCMs), including the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and help businesses maintain stable operations amid an increasingly volatile global trade environment, the ministry said. CBAM is an EU policy instrument designed to ensure that imported goods face a carbon price comparable to that imposed on products manufactured within the bloc. The three countries also plan to expand exchanges of policies and technologies in the aerospace and construction sectors to promote sustainable industrial growth. Negotiations on GEPA we

Hanwha Aerospace said Thursday it has broken ground on a guided rocket manufacturing plant in Poland as part of efforts to expand its defense production capabilities in Europe. The Korean defense company held a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday (local time) in Gorzow Wielkopolski, western Poland, alongside Hanwha WB Advanced Systems (HWBAS), its joint venture with Poland's WB Group. The plant, scheduled for completion in 2028, will mark Hanwha Aerospace's first guided weapons production facility in Europe. The facility will manufacture CGR-080 guided rockets for the HOMAR-K, the Polish version of Hanwha's Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher system (MLRS). The company plans to roll out the first batch in late 2029 before beginning full-scale production in 2030. HWBAS was established in September 2025, with Hanwha Aerospace holding a 51 percent stake and Poland's WB Electronics owning the remaining 49 percent. The joint venture has signed a contract with Poland's Armament Agency to produce and supply CGR-080 guided rockets, with Hanwha Aerospace set to transfer manufacturing technology to HWBAS

Korea's stock markets will start trading an hour later than usual on Nov. 19 due to the nationwide college entrance exam, the bourse operator said Thursday. Trading on the main KOSPI and secondary KOSDAQ stock markets will begin at 10 a.m. and close at 4:30 p.m., the Korea Exchange (KRX) said in a statement. On Nov. 19, an after-market trading session will also begin at 5 p.m., an hour later than usual, and close at 8 p.m., the KRX said. More than 551,000 high school seniors and graduates will take the one-day standardized College Scholastic Ability Test, according to the education ministry.

NEW YORK — A onetime West Point cadet drugged his then-girlfriend in her barracks room, administered abortion pills to her against her will and caused a miscarriage. Then he went on to study at two Ivy League universities, starting at one of them after he pleaded guilty to assault, according to court records and a new lawsuit. The man, Caleb Suh, graduated from Cornell University this year and was a public health graduate student at Columbia University as of Oct. 28, when the woman sued in a New York court. His current status at Columbia is unclear. The suit drew attention to a case that had played out quietly at West Point and in federal court, where Suh pleaded guilty this past June to the March 2022 assault on a cadet in the class below him. She was 19 and in her second year at the U.S. Military Academy, according to prosecutors. She wanted to have the baby. Suh didn't. Instead, he told the judge, he impersonated the woman to open an online pharmacy account, ordered abortion medications, got Xanax from a friend to use as a sedative, and duped his girlfriend into drinking what she t

Actor Jung Woo-sung has been cast as a powerful politician of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) in the upcoming Korean film "The Hit List," its production companies said Thursday. The film portrays cold-blooded politician Han Myeong-hoe (Jung), a key aide to King Sejo, who rises to power through his ruthless tactics but comes to face people seeking revenge after losing everything to him, according to Cheum Film and Studio Take. The film, which the production companies called "a hard-boiled, action-packed historical film," is based on a webtoon of the same name. Alongside Jung, its cast also includes actors Jung Sung-il, Baek Yun-shik, Wi Ha-joon and Choi Daniel. Kim Hong-seon, known for "Traffickers" (2012) and "Project Wolf Hunting" (2022), is the director. International crew members took part in the production, including Lars Cox, a cinematographer on HBO's "House of the Dragon," and Kieran Waite, a lighting director who worked on the epic "The Odyssey."

Korea's bourse operator on Thursday activated a sell-side sidecar for the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) as the stock index plunged. Program trading for the KOSPI-listed shares was suspended for five minutes at 10:16 a.m., according to the Korea Exchange (KRX). After opening 1.82 percent lower, the KOSPI surrendered 265.65 points, or 4.67 percent, to 5,418.15 as of 10:16 a.m. The index came under downward pressure following the Democratic Party's victory in the U.S. midterm elections, raising concerns over tighter regulations on artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. A sell-side sidecar is triggered when the KOSPI 200 Futures Index falls 5 percent or more for at least one minute.

More than 470,000 personal data records have been leaked from 37 companies across the financial sector over the past month, with the amount of funds stolen estimated at 1 billion won ($745,000), the financial regulator said Thursday. The Financial Services Commission (FSC) held a meeting with officials from financial trade associations and government agencies, including the Financial Supervisory Service and the Financial Security Institute, to review data protection systems and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities in the financial sector. Since Sept. 30, when the first data leak was detected, a total of 40 data leak incidents have been reported at 37 companies, including four commercial banks, five financial investment firms, three insurance firms and five savings banks, according to the FSC. The regulator said the leaked data did not include sensitive personal information that could be used for illegal financial transactions, such as customers' names, national identification numbers or bank account numbers. Funds held by some smaller brokerages, insurers and online financial busine

WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump backed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday, a day after Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in midterm elections that reflected voter anger over the Iran war. Asked whether he was considering replacing Hegseth, whom he has described as a champion of the war, Trump told reporters: "No, I think he's doing a very good job." The response contrasted with then-President George Bush, who fired Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld the morning after the 2006 midterm elections, when voter discontent over the Iraq war helped Democrats win control of Congress. But sources said Trump could still replace Hegseth as Republicans assess their losses. One Trump adviser said Hegseth "could be on the chopping block" because of the war. "Someone is going to get blamed for this and you know it's not going to be him (Trump)," the adviser said. Trump has described Hegseth as a key proponent of the unpopular conflict, saying on March 23: "Pete, I think you were the first one to speak up, and you said, 'Let's do it, because you can't let them have a nucl

NCT Dream is turning a decade together into a dance-floor celebration, bringing vintage disco rhythms and exuberant choreography to “Boogie Woogie,” the lead single from its upcoming sixth full-length album. The seven-member group under SM Entertainment will release “DREAM AFTER DREAM,” featuring 10 tracks across various genres, on global music platforms at 6 p.m. Monday. “Boogie Woogie” blends the nostalgic sound of 1970s disco funk with modern synthesizers in an upbeat dance track that celebrates the group's 10 years together. The song carries a message of gratitude toward those who have made everyday moments special, encouraging listeners to appreciate the present and enjoy life together. Member Jaemin also helped write the lyrics. Its choreography follows the track's buoyant rhythm, featuring energetic movements designed to evoke the atmosphere of a lively celebration. One signature move, dubbed the “Boogie Woogie” dance, features members swinging their fists from side to side during the chorus. The performance also includes a sequence in which members freely move to t

K-pop group Tomorrow X Together, better known as TXT, gave global fans a first taste of their upcoming album, teasing six new tracks that channel the raw friction, desires and restless intensity of young adulthood through a genre-spanning soundscape. The five-member group released the preview video for its ninth mini album, “PERFECT STORM,” on HYBE Labels' YouTube channel at midnight Wednesday. The preview features snippets of all six tracks, including lead single “Angel Bite,” alongside “Storm is...,” “Higher Love,” “Sweetest Escape,” “Touch the Sky” and “Hate It or Love It.” The album examines the struggles of Generation Z as its members move beyond teenage fantasies and uncertainty to confront adult realities, according to BigHit Music. Its title track, “Angel Bite,” blends playful, video game-inspired sounds with rough-edged yet wistful melodies in a style described as disco-plug. The song juxtaposes upbeat energy with emotional vulnerability, expressing the desire to stay beside someone despite youth's imperfect and painful realities. The other tracks

South Korea on Thursday rejected Russia's criticism of its joint military exercises with the United States, stressing that the drills are defensive in nature and aimed at promoting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. Seoul's foreign ministry issued the statement after a spokesperson at Russia's foreign ministry claimed Tuesday the South Korea-U.S. exercises are designed "to rehearse preemptive strikes" against North Korea, including with nuclear weapons, and urged Seoul "to respect Pyongyang's sovereign right" to ensure its own security. "The joint South Korea-U.S. military exercises are defensive in nature and are conducted annually to maintain a robust combined defense posture in response to North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile threats," Seoul's foreign ministry said in a statement sent to Yonhap News Agency. "They contribute to peace and stability not only on the Korean Peninsula but also in Northeast Asia," it added. Seoul and Washington conduct joint military exercises throughout the year, including regular large-scale exercises and field training drills. North Korea

Actors Shin Min-a and Lee Jin-uk will portray a couple who reunite after a breakup in an upcoming romance drama set to premiere in the first half of next year, its broadcaster said Thursday. Set in a restaurant that only opens Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, the series follows the love, forgiveness and growth of its lead characters, according to MBC. The Korean title of the series is "Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays." Shin portrays Eun-soo, who reunites with a boyfriend she broke up with 12 years ago, while Lee appears as the chef of the restaurant and Eun-soo's former boyfriend. The series also features Teo Yoo as Eun-soo's husband, a business executive. Joo Hyun, known for "The World of the Married," based on the BBC series "Doctor Foster," penned the upcoming drama, while director Jung Dong-yoon of the sports drama "Stove League" helmed the series.

Stray Kids has added another milestone in Japan, earning the group's third streaming platinum certification as the group prepares to launch three nights of concerts at Tokyo Dome on Friday. “Special,” the lead track of the group's third full-length album, “★★★★★ (5-STAR),” surpassed 100 million cumulative streams in Japan as of September 2026, earning platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan, according to JYP Entertainment. The achievement marks the group's third Japanese streaming platinum certification, following those awarded to “MANIAC,” from the mini album “ODDINARY,” and “CASE 143,” from “MAXIDENT.” The certification comes ahead of Stray Kids' Tokyo Dome concerts, scheduled for Friday through Sunday as part of its “RUN IT” world tour. The Nov. 7 performance, second of the three Tokyo shows, will also be broadcast live in cinemas worldwide in partnership with global event cinema distributor Trafalgar Releasing. The group's Japan tour has included a concert at Tokyo's National Stadium in August, where Stray Kids beca

Korean Air has won top honors in three categories at the 2026 USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice Awards, ranking first for Best Business & First Class, Best Inflight Food and Best Cabin Crew. The annual awards recognize excellence across various travel sectors. Nominees are selected by a panel of experts before being put to a public vote by USA Today readers. This marks the first time Korean Air has claimed the top spot in all three major airline categories. In the Best Business & First Class category, Korean Air was recognized for upgrades to its premium cabin facilities and amenities. Its Prestige (Business) Class features Prestige Suites 2.0, equipped with fully lie-flat seats and upgraded inflight entertainment systems. First Class passengers are offered loungewear and bedding developed in collaboration with luxury brands, while both premium cabins provide high-end amenity kits. The airline's inflight dining was recognized in the Best Inflight Food category. Its premium service features multi-course meals and a curated selection of beverages and wines. Across its network, the airline

SK Biopharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical arm of SK Group, said Thursday its operating profit rose 65.9 percent from a year earlier, boosted by robust U.S. sales of oral anti-seizure medication. The company reported an operating profit of 116.3 billion won in the July-September period, according to its regulatory filing. Sales increased 34.8 percent to 258.4 billion won. But net income was down 23.9 percent to 54.3 billion won. The sharp rise in operating profit came despite adjustments to the won-dollar exchange, helped by the robust growth of its seizure drug, Cenobamate, also known as Xcopri in the United States, the company said. The strengthening of the won also helped lower costs, it added. The sales generated in the U.S. from the oral prescription drug came to $156.8 million, up 29.9 percent on-year, the company said. The drug's aggregate sales as of end-September have reached 76 percent of the upper-end of its revenue guidance for the year of $580 million, according to the company. Lee Dong-hoon, the chief executive officer of SK Biopharm, said its efforts in the U.S. market have

South Korean stocks traded sharply lower late Thursday morning as investors were worried about the future of U.S. artificial intelligence (AI) policies after the midterm elections. After opening 1.82 percent lower, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) extended losses, dropping 185.77 points, or 3.27 percent, to 5,498.03 as of 11:20 a.m. Overnight on Wall Street, major stock indexes finished higher as investors welcomed the Democrats-led Congress. However, the election outcome raised concerns that the new House and Senate would tighten regulations on AI data centers. In Seoul, semiconductor shares traded in negative territory. Tech giant Samsung Electronics sank 5.05 percent, and SK hynix tumbled 6.52 percent. Hanmi Semiconductor, a leading chip equipment maker, plunged 7.58 percent, and Samsung Electro-Mechanics, the electronic component affiliate of Samsung Electronics, dived 10.04 percent. Leading oil refinery SK Innovation lost 5.9 percent, and defense giant Hanwha Aerospace fell 4.76 percent. The Korean won was trading at 1,342.15 won against the U.S. dollar as of 11:2

The government decided Thursday to expand the mission of its anti-piracy Cheonghae Unit closer to the Strait of Hormuz, extending its operating area from the Gulf of Aden to waters south of Oman and adding military assets to protect shipping routes. The move is sparking concerns that it could draw Korea into the war between Iran and the United States. The expansion proposal passed a vice ministerial meeting Thursday morning. After Cabinet and presidential approval, the motion will go to the National Assembly for final authorization. Under the proposal, the unit’s personnel ceiling would rise from 320 to 395, with the addition of a P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team and unmanned mine-clearing equipment. The additional 75 personnel would include 45 assigned to the P-8 aircraft and 30 to the EOD team. The new equipment would include unmanned surface and underwater vehicles and remotely operated underwater robots. The revised mandate would also add support for restoring freedom of navigation along international shipping routes to the unit’s existing an

France's national blood service suffered a cyberattack on its refrigeration systems, in an apparent escalation of attacks on European refrigerators and freezers. The French blood service EFS said the temperature thresholds were raised "to very high levels" in the attack, but no blood or blood products were ruined, thanks to alarm systems. Products stored in the affected rooms were moved to other sites. The EFS collects, tests, prepares and distributes products such as blood, plasma and platelets to more than 1,900 hospitals in France. It supports more than a million patients per year. The attack mirrors those on grocery stores in 12 countries recently that caused millions of euros in food loss. Some systems' temperatures were raised to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. On Monday, systems in Belgium, Estonia, Ireland, Finland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Sweden reported issues, and on Tuesday, retailers in Italy, Germany, Romania and Britain were targeted. Last month in France, hackers attacked the refrigeration systems at 700 supermarkets. On Wednesday, a branch of France's Crédit Mutuel Bank

WASHINGTON — Democrats’ takeover of Congress and growing Republican unease over Israel could trigger the biggest reassessment of US support for its closest Middle East ally in decades, after an election shaped in part by anger over the Iran war. Democrats won both the Senate and House in Tuesday’s midterms. Many winning candidates were progressives who campaigned against military aid to Israel and the US-Israeli war on Iran. Israel’s campaign in Gaza and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s embrace of President Donald Trump and other Republicans had already strained decades of bipartisan support for Israel. Democratic control could bring greater scrutiny of military aid and West Bank violence, along with hearings and challenges to Trump nominees, although the president’s veto limits the party’s ability to force major policy changes. One successful progressive was Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan, the first Muslim elected to the US Senate despite Republican attempts to win over Jewish voters who might have been uncomfortable with his faith and his criticism of Israel. There were als

Korean internet tech giant Kakao Corp. said Thursday its operating profit rose 15.5 percent from a year earlier, boosted by the stable growth of its flagship platform business. On a consolidated basis, the company reported an operating profit of 240.3 billion won ($179.2 million) in the July-September period, according to its regulatory filing. Sales remained unchanged at 2.08 trillion won, while net income was down 7.9 percent to 177.7 billion won. The company's flagship platform business saw sales grow 17 percent on-year to 1.24 trillion won. Notably, turnover of its commerce business rose 13 percent on-year to 2.3 trillion won, as more people used the KakaoTalk platform to purchase goods during the Chuseok holiday and as well as to buy items for themselves, the IT company explained. Kakao's ride-hailing and payment services, also included in its platform unit, generated 602.1 billion won in sales, up 21 percent on-year. But sales from its content business were down 6 percent on-year to 851.7 billion won due to a drop in new album releases and large concerts, as well as a decline in sale

Korea posted an all-time high current account surplus of over $60 billion in September on strong exports of semiconductors, central bank data showed Thursday. The current account surplus totaled $61.46 billion in September, up from $46.11 billion the previous month, according to the data from the Bank of Korea (BOK). It marked the largest monthly current account surplus ever, renewing the previous record of $49.73 billion set in June. Compared with the same month a year earlier, the figure surged from $14.22 billion. For the first nine months of the year, the current account surplus totaled a cumulative $340.66 billion, quadrupling from $83.89 billion recorded over the same period last year. The third-quarter current account surplus totaled $149.65 billion, already surpassing last year's annual total of $123.05 billion. The BOK expected this year's annual current account surplus to exceed its forecast of $450 billion. "The current account surplus is expected to reach the second-highest level on record in October," said a BOK official. "We expect another record high in December given year-en

North Korea has test-fired a new air defense missile system and conducted a strike drill with a long-range strategic cruise missile, state media reported Thursday, marking Pyongyang's fourth weapons test in a week. The North's report came after South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) detected the North firing multiple missiles toward the East Sea from the Sondok area in South Hamgyong Province early Wednesday. The Missile Administration's test of a new air defense missile system was aimed at confirming its technical capabilities, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). "The test-fire proved the technical specifications and reliability of the new material and intelligent multiple guided mode of the projectile, target identification and tracking capability of the air-defense missile system and its detection information processing device," it said. In addition, a firepower subunit of the long-range strategic cruise missile unit in the eastern area staged a strike drill on the same day, using a long-range strategic cruise missile against a virtual airport target, according to t

As Republicans suffered a landslide defeat and Texas elected its first Democratic governor in more than three decades, one of the biggest losers of the US midterms was not on the ballot: billionaire Elon Musk. The world's richest man spent nearly half a billion dollars to back Republican candidates and keep Texas red - a state home to his automaker Tesla, rocket-to-AI company SpaceX and a planned chipmaking venture between the two. Those bets unraveled as Democrats seized both chambers of Congress and Gina Hinojosa defeated Greg Abbott in the Texas governor's race, in a stinging rebuke to US President Donald Trump, a close Musk ally whom the billionaire helped elect. Musk, who urged his followers on X to vote Republican as recently as Tuesday, now faces a resurgent Democratic Party that he has spent years antagonizing. The GOP's largest donor even threatened retaliation last month on his social media platform after a report said Democrats were considering probes into his companies if they won midterms. Shares of SpaceX fell 5.5 percent, while Tesla was down 5.1 percent as both stocks lagg

The knowledge and skills associated with the production of "hanji," or traditional Korean paper, are likely to be added to UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage. In a document released Wednesday (France time), UNESCO said its deliberative body has categorized "traditional knowledge and skills associated with the production of hanji, traditional Korean paper, and related cultural practices in the Republic of Korea" as recommended for inscription. The Republic of Korea is South Korea's official name. "Hanji plays an important role in the daily life and cultural practices of the communities concerned, as it is widely used for writing, printing, crafts, household and ritual objects," it said. The tradition of hanji, paper made from the bark of mulberry trees, runs for about a thousand years, and the meticulous handcrafting skills of hanji masters have been passed down through generations. Currently, four artisans are recognized by the Korea Heritage Service as hanji-making masters. The process of making hanji not only involves the skills and knowledge of the hanji masters but brings t

Korea needs to diversify its current artificial intelligence (AI) strategy which is largely confined to developing advanced models, and expand its efforts to build AI-ready knowledge systems, infrastructure and a regulatory environment that supports practical applications, experts said during The Korea Times roundtable, “Beyond US-China AI race: Korea's strategic edge.” The participants called for greater efforts to build ontologies — structured knowledge systems that organize vast amounts of government data, institutional knowledge and the relationships between them into forms AI systems can understand and use. They also agreed to the necessity of creating a sandbox area where AI-powered technologies could be tested and deployed under a more flexible regulatory framework. Reform Party of Korea Rep. Lee Jun-seok stressed that the government’s AI strategy should focus on building national ontologies, not distributing free chatbots to the general public. “If the government's goal was to drive the nation's AI transformation, a key policy should have been to require each ministry

Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is expanding its reach from short online videos to feature-length films as another fully generated movie heads to local theaters. The shift comes as industry experts say that cinema is entering a transition period where AI tools are rapidly pushing moviemakers to figure out how and where to use the technology. At the same time, growing fears over creator rights have sparked heated debate across the industry. Previous AI releases have also shown that technical novelty on its own does not translate into box office success. "Raphael," a science fiction movie created entirely using generative AI, will open on Nov. 25. Set in a post-apocalyptic future, the movie follows Alexey, an android weapon built in the image of a dictator, who discovers his humanity after meeting an unregistered child and the last human bride. Co-directed by Yang Ik-june, Moon Shin-woo and Jung Joo-won, the movie is produced by Mateo AI Studio and MBC C&I AI Content Lab. The team used generative AI to build characters and backgrounds and create massive war scenes without tradition

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday acknowledged that the Iran war was the key factor in his party's sweeping midterm election losses, after Vice President JD Vance urged Republicans to be "honest" about the unpopular conflict's impact. Asked if he agreed with Vance's remark that the Iran was "the reason we lost," Trump, speaking to reporters at his White House ballroom construction site, said: "I think it's largely true because it drove the gasoline up a little bit short term." "But at the same time, if I had it to do again, I'd have to do it again. Because long term, it's the only answer. You can't let Iran have a nuclear weapon," he added

WASHINGTON — The production and sale of foie gras is set to become illegal in Washington after voters in the U.S. capital overwhelmingly backed a measure banning the controversial gourmet food item. The ban however could face possible delays or be overturned, with media reports saying foie gras producers and restaurants are likely to challenge it in court. Initiative 86, as the referendum is known, won 73 percent of the vote on Tuesday, according to provisional results. It bars the force-feeding of birds to enlarge their livers as well as the sale of any product resulting from the practice. Activists say that the production of foie gras is torturous to ducks and geese. Washington currently has no farms or facilities producing the classic French delicacy, but restaurants that serve it could face fines of $1,000 to $5,000 as well as a suspension of their operating license. Celebrity chef Jose Andres, who owns several restaurants in the capital, was among several high-profile critics of the effort. "So we are banning all meats?" Andres said in October. "Let's concentrate on things that matt

WASHINGTON — Democratic control of the U.S. Congress could make it harder for South Korea to acquire nuclear-powered submarines and limit President Donald Trump's ability to reach a deal with North Korea, even as he may seek another summit with leader Kim Jong-un, according to experts Wednesday. The assessments came after the Democratic Party scored a landslide victory in Tuesday's midterm elections, with the party poised to take control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, dealing a major political blow to Trump. Andrew Yeo, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said Democrats could be more reluctant than Republicans to support South Korea's efforts to acquire nuclear-powered submarines because of concerns about the spread of nuclear technology. "Democrats may hold on to non-proliferation norms more strongly than Republicans, which may create obstacles to Lee's path to acquire nuclear powered subs," Yeo said, referring to South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. Patrick Cronin, chair for Asia-Pacific security at the Hudson Institute, also warned that the submarine

NEW YORK — New York's attorney general on Wednesday named an ex-federal prosecutor who oversaw the criminal case against Sean "Diddy" Combs to lead an investigation into an alleged gang rape at Cornell University. The 2024 incident, as alleged in a graphic lawsuit filed last month, involved a female student being pressured to take ketamine, assaulted and raped by seven male students on campus. Cornell, an Ivy League institution in New York state, was widely accused of failing to properly punish the men involved, and the case sparked nationwide outrage. Attorney General Letitia James said that Jacqueline Kelly would lead a "fair and comprehensive investigation" into the alleged gang rape. "Jacqueline Kelly is a seasoned prosecutor who has overseen numerous cases from investigation through trial," James said. Kelly oversaw the 2025 conviction of Combs for prostitution-related crimes after a high-profile trial that detailed sexual marathons organized by the disgraced music producer. She thanked James for "entrusting me to lead this investigation with her office." "All New Yorkers deserve a f

WASHINGTON — Donald Trump is "still your president," the White House said Wednesday, a day after his Republican Party suffered sweeping losses in midterm elections seen as a referendum on his second term. The White House delivered the message in a post on X featuring a picture of a glaring Trump looming over the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office. "PSA: TRUMP IS STILL YOUR PRESIDENT," text superimposed on the image said, using the abbreviation for public service announcement. "Thank you for your attention to this matter," the post added, using a phrase Trump frequently employs in his social media messages. Opposition Democrats won control of both the House and the Senate on Tuesday, dealing a major blow to Trump and the Republican Party. The Democratic capture of Congress signals an end to Trump's stranglehold on US politics and gives Democrats the power to pass legislation, launch investigations into Trump's administration and thwart his appointments. The results reflected deep frustration over the cost of living, tariffs and Trump's war with Iran, which has sent prices soaring and compou

TEHRAN — Iran's supreme leader warned on Wednesday that the Middle East war would widen if the U.S. resumes its attacks, dismissing hopes of a policy shift in Washington after midterm elections dealt a blow to President Donald Trump. Trump has recently threatened to renew the war against Iran amid similar rhetoric from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but on Tuesday he suffered a resounding defeat in polls that will strip his Republicans of control over Congress. The results could constrain Trump's ability to enact his agenda, though the president retains the power to order new strikes. "Those who still harbour even the slightest hope that the behaviour of the hegemonic system might change through partisan or factional shifts, or who imagine that making concessions to the United States can dissuade it from hostility towards the Iranian nation, are seriously mistaken," Iranian supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei said in a written statement Wednesday. He also warned that if the United States did choose further military action, the scope of the war would widen, without elaborating. K

PARIS — World leaders voiced hopes for a reset with the United States on Wednesday after voters delivered a huge midterm election defeat to President Donald Trump and his Republican party. The Democrats seized control of both Senate and the House of Representatives, giving them the power to block legislation and hold up Trump's appointments. Germany German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said he hoped to see new initiatives to end the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine. "With their majority in both chambers of Congress, the Democratic Party will likely seek to shift the political course in the United States," Wadephul said. Through cooperation between the United States and Europe, "there may be a new opportunity to launch a fresh initiative" to resolve conflicts, he said. Spain Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Trump's defeat showed that the global far-right was on the wane. "It happened in Brazil. It just happened in the US. And it will soon happen in Spain," the socialist leader said, with elections looming later this month. The far-right wave is "no longer growing, it is unrave

WASHINGTON — Democrats are riding their sweep of Congress into a new era, eager to meet voter demands for change with plans to tackle high costs of living and confront President Donald Trump's final years in the White House. In a nationwide romp, Democrats ousted Republicans from coast to coast, with many surprising places in between, as voters rejected the president’s party for the promise of something different for the country. Their majorities will be padded by wide margins in both the House and the Senate. The results set up a divided government, with Congress poised to reassert itself as a coequal branch ready to challenge Trump and reverse course after two years of unified GOP control. “We hear you,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, who would make history as the first Black speaker of the House if his colleagues elect him to the job when the new Congress begins on Jan. 3, 2027. “We're going to work hard to deliver on the dramatic change that you deserve,” he said. The tally was decisive, at times bewildering, for the staggering scope of Democrati

BRUGES, Belgium — Hackers who cranked up fridge temperatures at supermarkets across Europe may have gained access through public internet-connected systems protected by default passwords or outdated software, a cybersecurity expert said. The second cyberattack in three weeks hit fridge systems at supermarket chains including Carrefour and Delhaize in Belgium, and ICA and Coop in Sweden, forcing retailers to discard spoiled food and raising concerns about food security. Three blood banks in France were also hit. Authorities have not publicly disclosed how the attackers gained access, and no perpetrator has been identified. Laurens Singier, an ethical hacker and researcher at Cyber 3 Lab, part of Howest University of Applied Sciences in Bruges, Belgium, said internet-connected systems which can be accessible remotely often have weak protections. "In this case, the weak point was mainly putting those devices on the public internet. They shouldn't even be there," he said, speaking from a lab full of servers and systems similar to those that could control supermarket store fridges. A common

NEW YORK — U.S. stocks are soaring Wednesday after President Donald Trump’s party lost its sole control of Washington in the midterm elections. Stocks generally do well in the months following any midterm U.S. election, regardless of who wins, and the S&P 500 jumped 1.8 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 1,524 points, or 2.9 percent, as of noon Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 2.1 percent higher. Stocks of solar-power companies, dollar stores and hospital owners helped lead the way as Wall Street tried to sort the winners from losers following the widespread losses for Republicans. Investors, meanwhile, see risks ahead for Trump’s social-media company, the artificial-intelligence industry and businesses owned by Elon Musk, who donated heavily to Republicans. The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil fell below $100 for the first time in nearly a month. Vice President JD Vance blamed the war with Iran, which caused a spike in oil prices, for Republicans’ midterm losses. Strategists along Wall Street had been urging investors not to get swept up in the elect

As concerns grow that artificial intelligence (AI) could replace humans in the workplace, the broadcasting industry is turning its attention to labor. A growing number of programs are exploring the subject, ranging from dramas set in workplaces and variety shows examining the realities of office workers to observational programs that put life without work front and center. Released on Netflix on Friday, the series “Dead-End Job” is a horror comedy about a young man named Hyuk-jun, who is sent into nightmarish workplaces after signing up with a bizarre employment agency that offers nothing but seemingly lucrative part-time jobs, starting at 50 times the standard hourly wage. Combining the familiar reality of part-time work with surreal mysteries and horror elements, the series offers an unconventional genre experience. Meanwhile, SBS’ documentary program “Rewriting the Formula for Success – Young Creators Are Heading to Work” explores young people who have chosen careers in technology amid the expansion of AI and the semiconductor boom, examining the role of education and ca

Korean television personality Lee Hye-sung has opened up about her painful experience of being bullied during her school years, drawing renewed attention to similar revelations by celebrities including actor Park Seo-joon, singer Sung Si-kyung and travel YouTuber KwakTube. On Friday, Lee discussed the bestselling self-help book "The Courage to Be Disliked" on her YouTube channel, Lee Hye-sung's 1% Book Club, offering advice to people struggling with school bullying and social exclusion. "If you think school is the only community where you belong, it can be incredibly painful when you're bullied or can't make friends," Lee said. "I've been through it myself." Reflecting on her middle school years, Lee said she had struggled to see beyond the difficult circumstances she faced at the time. "When I was younger, in middle school, I couldn't think that way. There wasn't an adult around who could tell me something like that, either," she said. "That's why the situation was so incredibly painful and difficult." Her candid account has brought renewed attention to other Korean celebrities who have

Russell Brand is facing years in prison after being found guilty of raping one of his fans and sexually assaulting three women during his showbiz career.

Files on suspects accused of criminal offences during a protest that blocked the proposed route of an Orange Order parade along the Garvaghy Road in Portadown will be sent to prosecutors to decide if they will face charges within days, the Chief Constable of the PSNI said.

The singer from Pontypridd told the audience just how serious his "bad case of the flu" was.

Two 16-year-old boys from Southampton are arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

A passenger on an Aer Lingus flight, which was diverted due to a security threat this morning, has described seeing French air force jets escort the plane to an air field in France.

Labour TD Alan Kelly has told the Dáil that the Government is in "very dangerous and potentially fatal" territory in relation to its handling of protected disclosures from within the gardaí.

About 20 million people enjoy fireworks at home every year, but some campaigners want quieter displays.

The Public Accounts Committee has heard that the Natural History Museum will not reopen until the 2030s, with €3.6 million spent on its refurbishment to date and no final budget in place.

The BBC's economics editor views one more interest rate as likely, but thinks that will be all.

Job, loans and savings are all affected by the rise in interest rates announced by the Bank of England.

Seven people were killed in Russian-controlled Ukraine's Luhansk region after two separate attacks on buses, Russian-installed governor Leonid Pasechnik said on MAX messenger.

Five of France's unions join a wave of strikes and protests in a national day of action.

Our Editorial Director reflects on the upcoming 12-day Apostolic Journey to Latin American of Pope Leo XIV, who served for many years as a missionary in Peru.

Read all

A 52-year-old grandfather, who is on dialysis, offered to end his treatment if his three-year-old non-verbal grandson could get speech therapy, the Dáil has heard.

Stephen Crean says his grapple with the attacker was "like Come Dancing, we were all over the place".

More than a third of tenants living in the South Dublin Co Council area spent over 40% of their disposable income on rent, according to the Central Statistics Office.

Three women made allegations about the men they were partnered with. Channel 4 has apologised and said the show's budget would be reinvested in "distinctive new programming".

The Minister for Communications Peter Burke has said he wants to resolve the funding issue at RTÉ by the end of the year.

Some of RTÉ's best-known radio programmes have recorded audience gains in the latest JNLR (Joint National Listenership Research) figures, while others have seen significant declines.

As Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru await Pope Leo XIV for his 6th Apostolic Journey, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin says the encounter with local communities “will be filled with memories, affection, and gratitude.”

Read all

Two new Ebola vaccine candidates will be added to a clinical trial in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as the country continues to battle a deadly outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo species of the virus.

A string of bomb threats have disrupted passenger flights across Europe in recent days, forcing diversions, emergency landings and security sweeps, though no explosives have been found so far.

Pope Leo XIV announces the theme for the 2027 World Day of the Sick, highlighting the role of Christian communities and civil society in caring for the sick, the elderly, and those who suffer.

Read all

Flag-waving protesters have marched through French cities and public workers have gone on strike, in a renewed challenge to President Emmanuel Macron.

The 2028 presidential contest is likely to expose the Democrats' divide over how to win back the White House.

Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin speaks to journalists on the sidelines of an event at the Pontifical Urbaniana University and comments on the US midterm elections and the China-Holy See Agreement.

Read all

Pope Leo XIV appoints Jesuit Fr. Avelino Chicoma Bundo Chico and Professor Claudia Leal Luna as Undersecretaries of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development

Read all

Gadi Eisenkot has emerged as the favourite to be tasked with trying to form an Israeli government as a religious party long aligned with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to recommend him.

Women who have already tried inserting the tablets are advised to stop and seek medical attention if needed.

The widow of ER creator Michael Crichton argues The Pitt is effectively a reboot of the 1990s series.

The royal family holds revered status in Thai society and is shielded from criticism by a defamation law that critics say is used to muzzle dissent.

The chef had stated that putting pineapple on pizza was "offensive to his culture".

A British man is being flown back to the UK for treatment after testing positive for Ebola in the DRC, the government has confirmed.

It will mark the third consecutive year that a Japanese prime minister has not attended a U.N. climate summit.

A new report has found responses to requests for help after leaving abusive partners made some women consider whether tolerating the abuse would have been preferable.

Emergency access for vehicles to the National Maternity Hospital will be maintained for the duration of the security operation around next week's EU Presidency meeting, the Master of the hospital has said.

A consultation will consider fines and other ways to clamp down on dangerous e-bike riders.

The network glitches started around 11:20 a.m., the Japanese mobile phone carrier said, adding that it is investigating the cause.

The gaming giant is maintaining its net profit forecast of ¥310 billion for the full year despite the quarterly drop.

Pope Leo XIV sends a video message to a conference in Rome exploring the face of the universal Church in China, and encourages Catholics to preserve unity in diversity, not uniformity.

Read all

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in memory of the Cardinals and Bishops who died over the past year, and invites the faithful to reflect on the mystery of death “without fear,” because praying for the deceased “is to celebrate life.”

Read all

The Nigerian political scene is dominated by a caste of competing kingmakers stretching all the way to the very top.

Easily the most anticipated Bollywood film of the year, Ramayana: Rise of a Legend is the first of two parts.

Italian, French and Bulgarian fighter jets were scrambled today as at least 14 European flights - including an Aer Lingus flight from Dublin - were hit by hoax bomb alerts for the third day this week.

Myanmar was put on the Financial Action Task Force blacklist in 2022 as the country was plunged into turmoil and civil war following a military coup.

Elton John has teamed up with CMAT for a new version of his festive hit single Step Into Christmas.

Polls show the election is too close to call as discontent around an ailing economy continues to swell.

Employers are adding AI skill requirements to established roles such as sales representatives, software engineers or assistants.

Unions have announced details of next week's planned public sector strike on Thursday 12 November.

Above-average temperatures are behind the slightly later season, as the bright yellows and crimsons of autumn are brought by colder weather.

For the current year, the firm says it expects net profit of ¥3.57 trillion, up from its previous projection in August of ¥3.25 trillion.

A Russian satellite had been "intentionally maneuvering dangerously close to a commercial satellite" in mid-October.

Country music superstar Garth Brooks has announced 10 concerts across five Irish cities for 2027.

The Tokyo-based company now expects ¥1.87 trillion in operating income for the year through March, raising its guidance by 15%.

Chinese equities are in a bear market, with more than $3 trillion of value wiped out as major indexes erased a year of gains.

The takeover was widely expected to bolster SoftBank's revenue and profit while it awaits a boost from OpenAI's public debut.

Members of an expert panel are expected to discuss issues such as the height threshold for child safety seat use and age-based guidelines.

A plan from New Zealand’s newest medical school to remove ethnicity as a priority factor has been dubbed regressive by GPs.

This year's buzzword nominees offer a glimpse into a year defined by technology, economic uncertainty and internet memes.

The Government should formally oppose proposals requiring the Attorney General for England and Wales to give consent for Troubles-related prosecutions, an Oireachtas committee said.

Three Vector workers are in hospital after an incident while carrying out maintenance at the facility.

Over 1.3 million devices were affected by the backdoor and botnet.

Police said motorists should expect delays.

Yukiko Mishima's latest film is a sensitive and imaginative portrait of an artist's life-changing reunion with an old friend.

It was thought the Stonehenge artefact was from north east Scotland but a new study disputes that.

While the ICJ can't enforce its decisions, a ruling that Myanmar committed genocide would put more international pressure on leader Min Aung Hlaing.

Michael Walter Daniel and Paul Louis Smit have been named as defendants, while two others have interim name suppression.

The Pulp Fiction director and Spinning Around singer caused a stir in a Welsh seaside town.

Metlink's website showed evening services replaced with buses due to "emergency maintenance".

About 50 pilot whales were found trapped amongst rocks of the Ngawi coastline on Thursday morning.

Losses from special fraud nationwide are on track to exceed last year's record high, the National Police Agency said.

The final piece in a £2bn rail project is late, with less than half of the trains tested.

Democrats will hold Congress but President Donald Trump still has the power to block their plans.

How did equipment used to keep food cold become a target for hackers - and what do we know about how they got in?

Government and EU targets aimed at moving away from diesel in the sector are not achievable at the present time, the Irish Road Haulage Association has said.

Pte. Liam Ramage, 27, of Red Deer, Alta., was one of dozens of service members hurt in an out-of-control grass fire at CFB Wainwright on Oct. 17.

Voters in dozens of American cities approved restrictions or outright bans on data centers during Tuesday's midterm elections.

A series of hoax ‌bomb threats hit European airlines on Thursday morning for the second time this week, with some of at least 25 affected flights making unplanned landings.

More than half a million people took part in marches across France in mid-October, with violence and looting disrupting demonstrations.

Emergency services are at the scene of a crash between a car and a van.

A funeral home owner near a Sydenham fire says onlookers put themselves and emergency services at risk.

The American PhD student was killed in Auckland in April last year.

Fearing sabotage, the Telecommunications Forum and its members refuse to divulge the planned location of towers across the country.

The sentencing marks the activist's second national security conviction, extending his incarceration just two months before he was due to be freed.

Residents say they're fed up with blowing sand from the site of a subdivision development in the middle of a quiet neighbourhood in Coldbrook, N.S.

The price of oil has dropped on the expectation that it might prompt an end to the US conflict in Iran.

From the Philippines to Pakistan and Nigeria, people are turning to solar and batteries to cut utility bills or just keep lights and machinery on.

Nick Smith says councillors overrode public support for redeveloping Civic House.

After more than a decade of waiting, the market takes the data point as just another number to crunch.

Toronto police applications to obtain search warrants obtained by CBC reveal that a tip from Dropbox led to the investigation into 45-year-old Dr. Dilan Dissanayake, who has since been charged with possessing and accessing child sexual abuse and exploitation material.

While the most significant impact on the global temperature typically comes in the months after an El Niño peak — which hasn't happened yet — some climate models are suggesting 2026 could edge out 2024 as the warmest year on record. Could El Niño be influencing this year's global temperature?

CBC News speaks to documentarian Habiba Nosheen about her new documentary, The Gymnasts of Fisherman Colony.

Academic libraries are fighting off swarms of data-scraping bots — that are slowing or crashing sites meant for students, researchers and the public — as AI companies continue hunting for content to feed their large language models.

The latest in the long-running series of crime simulators by Rockstar Games is predicted to be the biggest release in video game history.

Danielle Smith's MLAs approved a panel's controversial boundary plan over NDP protests.

Niagara police say they are investigating an act of vandalism Saturday in St. Catharines, Ont., as a "hate-motivated crime." B'nai Brith Canada says the incident is part of a disturbing trend of escalating antisemitism in Canada

CBC News has learned that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada quietly put permanent resident applications on hold for an unknown number of people who could now qualify for citizenship by descent.

As President Donald Trump and his fellow Republicans take stock after a devastating midterm election that saw the Democrats seize control of Congress, his wife Melania is preparing to host representatives who will almost certainly praise Washington's actions.

The cause of death "is still under investigation," said a spokesman for the 3rd Marine Division.

The vice-president's blunt assessment of Republican election defeat marked one of the sharpest breaks with a sitting president in recent memory.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had a detailed conversation with US envoys ahead of several scheduled meetings between Ukrainian and Russian officials next week.

Democrats vowed to use their resounding midterm victory to rein in US President Donald Trump, setting up two years of possible deadlock in Washington.

A psychiatrist tells an inquest the man who murdered Laisa Waka Tunidau had spells of dark and menacing anger.

Police confirmed three people reported being assaulted, though none are seriously injured.

The man was refused a certificate of good character on grounds the Law Society said included a Family Court case where a judge found he had physically and psychologically abused his wife.

While both parties fled the scene, they left the offending car behind at the scene.

The Environmental Protection Agency has warned that poor management of wastewater treatment plants by Uisce Éireann is harming the environment.

Police are working with the Civil Aviation Authority to recover the bodies and examine the crash scene.

The theologian died on Thursday morning, with a public memorial to be organised at St Andrew's Church.

A patient advocate says that's not good enough.

Laura Sides faced a dilemma of whether to find out if she would inherit her father's condition.

The trial was condemned as "unethical" and "neocolonial" because half of the babies would not be given the vaccine.

The charity says the need has never been greater - and funding has never been harder to find.

Is it symptom a health service at breaking point - or a positive way of involving the public?

The Democrats flipping governorships and Senate seats in Texas and Ohio turned the states dramatically blue on election night. Some political observers say these wins don't necessarily mean the states will stay that colour, but they do reveal a new political reality — that they'll be electoral battlegrounds in the 2028 presidential election.

Anti-social behaviour has increased for girls and remained broadly stable for boys over the past decade, according to a new study from the ESRI.

The Dublin City Development Company said it is examining the introduction of introducing private security in Dublin city centre.

The expansion of the free period products initiative to all eligible upper primary, post-primary and special schools from the 2027/28 school year, is expected to be announced.

RNZ revealed earlier today the ambulance service told police and Fire and Emergency it was shutting down the paramedic teams from December 20.

The Fijian prime minister has brushed off the severity of the impact of the El Niño weather conditions that are causing widespread drought across the country.

Media restrictions in Samoa have been criticised by 10 countries at the United Nations.

Even for countries where typhoons are a way of life, the last few months have brought unusually wild weather.

Prominent Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Thursday for his second conviction under a Beijing-imposed national security law, in a case that critics say reflects the crackdown on the city's once-thriving pro-democracy movement.

Dancing in the streets, popping champagne and high-fiving fans was all part of the celebration on Wednesday as the Golden State Valkyries parade made its way through Oakland and then across the bay in San Francisco.

Timorese artists have captured their history, language and culture in three new albums and a single released through the Wantok Musik Foundation.

The pair walked away from the crash after the plane had a problem during take-off, FENZ says.

Young people are left feeling bored and apathetic as they struggle to find jobs or training opportunities, a youth worker says.

While his party nursed a brutal hangover from their US midterms defeat, Trump was busy - showing off his new ballroom at the White House.

An Employment Court ruling has established that migrant workers can legally challenge unlawful recruitment fees paid overseas to secure jobs in New Zealand.

Ilies Nait El Cadi, a 22-year-old from Belgium, has paid $22,000 in reparation.

Rex Newman, president of the Agriculture and Horticulture Teachers Association, said he was happy with the result but it should never have been in question.

The Republic of Fiji Military Forces commander has taken a stand against keeping immunity provisions for past coup makers as Prime Minister Rabuka pushes constitutional change.

Alberta's governing United Conservatives have officially endorsed changes to provincial riding boundaries that the Opposition NDP says it believes are “rigged” to help the UCP win the next election.

Pte. Aidan Goulding from North Vancouverwas among four soldiers killed in the blaze that overwhelmed a live-fire training exercise at CFB Wainwright on Oct. 17.

"It's ultimately going to be self defeating," says a business development specialist made redundant because AI was taking over her role.

Fossil fuels in the rearview mirror, climate change is a global health emergency, and a teacher sparking curiosity

UN experts have contacted the Irish Government over the importance of having an independent data protection authority.

Members of the RTÉ leadership team appeared in front of the Oireachtas Committee on Media. Here are five takeaways.

Alexander MacDonald was named the new president of the Canadian Space Agency late Wednesday evening.

A Calgary woman who admitted to stealing thousands of dollars from elderly victims was handed a 12-month jail sentence plus a year of probation after the judge refused to allow her to back out of her guilty plea.

Trump has given conflicting messages about how he might deal with Democrats in Congress after his party's resounding defeat.

Why some are making their way back.

It's Guy Fawkes day and in the lead-up, Fire and Emergency has already seen a spate of fires caused by stray fireworks.

Parts of Ontario and Quebec have been experiencing record-setting temperatures this week, and people have been taking full advantage of it.

But an expert says businesses will have to embrace them if the age of superannuation is raised.

Footage of a crash in which two teenagers died after the e-scooter they were travelling on collided with a bus has been shown to a jury at Waterford Circuit Criminal Court.

CBC News has discovered a hacked database stolen from the Burnaby School District on a dark web site run by a prominent shadowy ransomware group believed to be operating out of Russia.

Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh has said that he is shocked and horrified by the very serious allegations that have emerged at Liberty Recycling.

Two people were taken to hospital with critical injuries, while another two were in moderate condition.

SERT paramedics were at the scene of the Linwood mosque shooting.

There was no ambiguity on the challenges faced in Prince Edward Island's health-care system from the health minister Wednesday.

Democrats made historic gains in the U.S. midterm elections, winning majority control of both the House and Senate by flipping deep-red seats in several states including Texas, South Carolina and Kansas. Andrew Chang breaks down shifts across key battlegrounds to explain how the 'bluenami' unfolded as traditional Republican strongholds fell.

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

A rickshaw driver has been charged over the death of a Co Down woman who suffered catastrophic injuries after a concert in Dublin in September.

Three years after his parents were murdered in their Auckland home, Ricky Kwok speaks for the first time about their deaths and why he believes the system failed them.

A retired military lieutenant-colonel accused of sexual assault in Winnipeg vehemently denied the allegations against her during testimony Wednesday, as her trial concluded with the prosecution urging a judge to convict her.

Tonga's 20-18 win over Samoa at the Rugby League World Cup has renewed discussion about the possibility of an annual series between the Pacific rivals.

Unmanaged menopause symptoms are not just impacting women, but costing the Canadian economy $3.5 billion and 540,000 lost workdays every year, according to the Menopause Foundation of Canada.

West Auckland man Shailesh Krishna Patel was returning from Mt Everest Base Camp when the helicopter he was in collided with another while landing.

After bruising midterm results, President Trump will want to show he can still shake the world, the BBC's international editor writes.

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says he is "very disappointed" and would pursue "another route" to get the Vuvale Union and Ocean of Peace Alliance bilateral agreements ratified.

They say their jobs are becoming increasingly difficult as they cope with bigger class sizes and a shortage of staff.

A new statue of a Canadian World War I flying ace was unveiled in Toronto Wednesday afternoon, the latest effort to breathe life into his memory, which his grandson said was nearly lost to time.

Americans woke up to a new political landscape as Democrats won control of the Senate and the House in US midterm elections, taking control of Congress for the rest of Donald Trump's presidency.

Detectives investigating the suspected murder of a Limerick woman who disappeared in Co Fermanagh have been granted an additional 36 hours to question a suspect.

The rate at which sea levels are rising around Ireland has increased more than fivefold since the beginning of this century, according to a major new scientific study.

Immigrant advocates say Canada regularly rejects study permits from Afghan women and girls, even when they have full scholarships, despite the fact that they face some of the strictest barriers to education in the world.

The World Health Organization has approved clinical trials for two new Ebola vaccines, as doctors fight to control an outbreak in Africa that has killed more than 5,300 people.

The Prince Edward Island Department of Agriculture says it has purchased 15 fields where potato wart was discovered.

The renowned American singer-songwriter and poet—a Nobel laureate in literature, currently touring Italy with a stop in Rome—was received this afternoon at the Apostolic Palace by Leo XIV. The Pontiff had previously quoted his lyrics in the preface to a book on disarmament.

Read all

One of NASA's premier space telescopes plunged to Earth on Wednesday, ending its 22-year investigation of gamma ray bursts and exploding stars.

Corporation tax rose sharply by 23.4% in the first ten months of this year as the State collected €23.9 billion, mainly from multinationals.

A 32-year-old man has been found not guilty of the murders of three members of his family but guilty of manslaughter by diminished responsibility by the unanimous verdicts of a Central Criminal Court jury.

The province held an early ceremony to mark Remembrance Day and Indigenous Veterans Day Wednesday as family, friends and fellow soldiers honoured one of the victims of the deadly Wainwright fire at a military service in Prince Albert, Sask.

The national chief who came under fire for her comments on Métis identity last week says she didn't want to "hurt anybody" but maintains there's a widespread issue of people falsely claiming to be Indigenous across Canada.

Innu Nation Grand Chief Jodie Ashini said Wednesday "something has to change" if Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham expects to improve the relationship with Innu people, and move ahead with natural resource developments on Innu land.

Jury deliberations in the trial of a man accused of murdering a woman in Co Tipperary two years ago have adjourned without a verdict and will resume on Friday morning.

Donald Trump just joined a rare presidential club of U.S. presidents to lose both the House and Senate in the midterms. CBC's Mike Crawley looks at the former presidents who also faced similar congressional busts.

CORRECTION (Nov. 4, 2026): In this video, there is a reference to Donald Trump being the third U.S. president to lose both the House and Senate in the midterms. In fact, he is the fourth.

Deb Haaland and Peggy Flanagan have made history in the U.S. midterm elections, becoming the first Native American woman elected governor and U.S. senator, respectively, marking a milestone for Indigenous political representation in the U.S.

U.S. Vice-President JD Vance blamed the Republican Party's decisive defeat in the midterm elections on the war that President Donald Trump launched against Iran.

Nuxalk Nation is recommending residents stay indoors by 8 p.m. PCT following a suspected grizzly bear attack that killed a mother and daughter near Bella Coola.

The Democrats surged to victory on midterm election night, taking back both the House and the Senate. As Republican strongholds crumbled, Washington correspondents Katie Simpson, Willy Lowry and Paul Hunter break down what this says about American voter sentiment, what the next two years of Donald Trump's presidency could look like and how Canada-U.S. relations may change.

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won will chair the board of HYAICO, the U.S.-based artificial intelligence (AI) investment arm of SK hynix, according to documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The filing, made public Wednesday local time, identified the company as HYAICO, formerly known by its tentative name AI, which SK hynix announced in January with plans to invest up to $10 billion. SK hynix earlier said the new arm would help "accelerate AI advancement in global markets" and "find new AI growth engines." The new arm will be launched by restructuring SK hynix's existing U.S. arm, SK hynix NAND Product Solutions, also known as Solidigm. The chipmaker will instead set up a separate subsidiary called Solidigm to retain the brand name. Other current and former SK Group executives, meanwhile, will join Chey on HYAICO's board, and SK hynix President Song Hyun-jong will serve as HYAICO's chief executive.

TEHRAN — Iran's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei said Wednesday that anyone expecting a shift in U.S. policy was "seriously mistaken," hours after midterm elections dealt a blow to President Donald Trump. "Those who still harbor even the slightest hope that the behavior of the hegemonic system might change through partisan or factional shifts, or who imagine that making concessions to the U.S. can dissuade it from hostility towards the Iranian nation, are seriously mistaken," Khamenei said in a written statement published on his website. Democrats seized control of the U.S. Congress in Tuesday's midterms, reflecting anger over living costs, tariffs and the U.S. war against Iran, which has sent fuel prices soaring. Khamenei's remarks come with diplomatic efforts underway to avert renewed fighting in the war, which broke out on February 28. U.S. and Israeli leaders have in recent days threatened to resume attacks against Iran. "Should such aggressions be repeated, the war's scope will become much wider," said Khamenei, who has yet to appear in public since he took power in March. Earlier, I

Opponents of data centers were among the biggest winners of the Democrats' landslide wins in the U.S. midterm elections, pointing to a shifting public mood on artificial intelligence (AI) and, investors said, a possible slowdown of the boom that has propelled U.S. economic growth and stock markets. The size and breadth of the Democratic wave were still coming into focus. But in gubernatorial races in Texas and Georgia, Democrats who campaigned in part on a moratorium on data center development won offices that the party had not held for decades. Their victories hand political heft to the backlash against the projects, which are at the heart of the AI boom but are loud, thirsty for water, hungry for electricity and increasingly unpopular with their neighbors, investors said. Investors say the results are likely to usher in tougher regulation and could ripple across financial markets where AI stocks were falling on Wednesday; big bets have already started to wobble due to concerns about spending and overcapacity. "In our view, the significance of these midterm elections is more like a refe

Dan Koh became the seventh Korean American elected to the U.S. Congress after winning a House seat in Massachusetts in Tuesday's U.S. midterm elections, while fellow Democrat and Korean American Marilyn Strickland secured her fourth House term. The AP called the race in Massachusetts' 6th congressional district for Koh over Republican Micah Quinney Jones. With 77 percent of the vote counted, Koh had secured 63.42 percent, comfortably ahead of Jones, who garnered 36.58 percent. A former White House official during former President Joe Biden's administration and Boston mayoral aide, Koh previously ran for Congress in another Massachusetts district in 2018 but lost in the Democratic primary. Koh, 41, whose father is Korean and mother is Lebanese, has family roots in South Korea's southern resort island of Jeju. His grandfather previously worked at the South Korean Embassy in Washington. "We need people who are focused on holding this administration accountable while also having an ambitious agenda to lower cost, ending the war in Iran, capping people's utility bills, making sure that we're

A consortium comprising CJ, Shinsegae and two other companies will sign a deal Thursday to acquire debt-laden South Korean newspaper publisher JoongAng Ilbo, the company said Wednesday. Under the deal, the DaouKiwoom-CJ consortium will purchase 520 billion won ($388 million) worth of new shares in JoongAng Ilbo, with Daou Technology, CJ, Shinsegae and Saramin contributing 36.5 percent, 35.7 percent, 14.1 percent and 13.7 percent, respectively. The agreement, set to be signed Thursday, would make the consortium JoongAng Ilbo's largest shareholder. In July, JoongAng Ilbo entered a debt workout program led by its main creditor, Hana Bank, and other lenders amid liquidity problems at its parent, JoongAng Group. JoongAng Ilbo said it will receive all proceeds from the share sale and use the funds to improve its financial health and address risks associated with its debt. The consortium said it plans to retain all current employees and provide a stable working environment without layoffs. JoongAng Ilbo also said the consortium pledged to guarantee press freedom and editorial independence. "We wil

In 2023, despite freezing inter-Korean relations and heightened cross-border tensions, North Korea proposed a joint UNESCO heritage listing for taekwondo — only for the South Korean government to sit on the offer and miss a crucial window, according to a key advocacy leader. Choi Jae-chun, head of the KOREA Taekwondo UNESCO Promotion Committee, revealed Wednesday that Pyongyang suggested a collaborative inscription modeled after the successful joint 2018 UNESCO registration of "ssireum," traditional Korean wrestling. However, the lack of response from the Yoon Suk Yeol administration allowed North Korea to press ahead with a standalone application that is nearing final approval next month, raising fears that Seoul is ceding historical leadership over its national martial art. "In 2023, North Korea reached out to me," Choi said. "Inter-Korean relations were extremely strained at the time, but Ri Yong-son, president of the North Korean-backed International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF), sent word suggesting that filing separate applications first and merging them into a joint listing late

Hoban Group has become the largest shareholder of Hanjin KAL, overtaking Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Won-tae and his related parties, according to a regulatory filing Wednesday, marking a significant shift in the ownership structure of the holding company behind Korean Air. Hanjin KAL disclosed that Hoban Group and related parties held a combined 13,814,053 common shares, totaling a 20.69 percent stake in Hanjin KAL, confirming the change in its largest shareholder position as of Wednesday. The disclosure follows growing speculation over whether Hoban's share had surpassed Cho's after the construction group recently purchased additional Hanjin KAL shares and reported it with the Fair Trade Commission. “However, as disclosed by Hanjin KAL’s recent report, Cho and his related parties could regain their position as Hanjin KAL’s largest shareholder once they complete the planned purchase of 325,000 shares by Jan. 1 next year,” an official from Korean Air said. As of Wednesday, Cho and his related parties secured a 20.58 percent stake in Hanjin KAL, which shifted their position to the f

A man stabbed and injured a doctor at a major hospital in western Seoul, police said Wednesday, adding that they are investigating the motive for the attack. The Seodaemun Police Station said it apprehended the man presumed to be in his 50s on suspicion of aggravated assault after he allegedly stabbed a psychiatry professor with a knife at Severance Hospital at around 4:30 p.m. The doctor sustained a wound measuring 5 centimeters and was taken to an emergency room for treatment. According to sources, the suspect was not a patient waiting for medical treatment at the hospital. Police are investigating the exact motive behind the suspect's attack.

Every two seconds, someone somewhere in the world buys a Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask. The small pink jar has become one of the best-known products of the K-beauty boom. How did a country that only a few generations ago had a handful of basic beauty creams become one of the world's top cosmetics exporters? Looking at Amorepacific R&I center's researcher, we explored story behind the lip mask, and the industry around it. The Lip Sleeping Mask is a favorite not only in Korea but also across North America and Europe. It has become a fixture at Sephora, where it ranks among the best-reviewed lip treatments. Shoppers in the U.S. and Canada have turned it into a cult favorite. One reason for that rise starts in Korea itself: Korean shoppers are known for reading ingredient lists, comparing reviews and switching brands quickly when something better comes along. Industry analysts point to these demanding consumers as a major driver of K-beauty's success. A product that wins them over has already passed a tough test before it goes abroad. That pressure also keeps companies moving quickly. New K-be

Koreans went from wearing short sleeves to pulling out padded winter jackets last month as temperatures swung dramatically between summer-like heat and early winter chills. The reason, meteorologists say, was a massive high-pressure system thousands of kilometers away over Russia's Ural Mountains. The atmospheric phenomenon, known as "Ural blocking," disrupted the usual flow of weather systems, allowing cold Arctic air to surge south toward the Korean Peninsula. Scientists say rapid warming in the Arctic may have helped intensify the disruption by weakening the jet stream that normally helps contain frigid air in northern latitudes. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) released its analysis of October's climate conditions on Wednesday, identifying extreme temperature variability as the month's defining characteristic. The difference between the warmest and coldest daily average temperatures nationwide reached 14 degrees Celsius, the fourth-largest October fluctuation on record. The average temperature stood at 22.1 degrees on Oct. 12 before plunging to 8.1 degrees on Oct. 28. Se

President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday voiced the need to revise what he described as the outdated Constitution, but said the revision should be led by the National Assembly through bipartisan efforts. Lee made the remarks at a lunch meeting at Cheong Wa Dae with the leadership of the Parliamentarian's Society, an association of former lawmakers, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said. "Given the contemporary environment, the current Constitution is somehow like a cloth that does not fit contemporary society," the president was quoted as saying. He voiced the need to revise the Constitution but noted a constitutional revision led by the president may not be welcomed by the public, according to Kang. The president also highlighted the "high barrier" posed by the required consent of two-thirds of lawmakers to revise the Constitution, stressing that the most desirable way would be for the National Assembly to revise the Constitution through a bipartisan agreement. The Korean Constitution has remained unchanged since its last revision in 1987. Lee has called for a shift from the current si

Hyundai Motor Group said Wednesday it will showcase its hydrogen technologies at a local industry expo this week as it seeks to expand cooperation with global companies. The group will present technologies for hydrogen production, hydrogen-powered mobility solutions for passenger and commercial vehicles and rail transport, as well as plans for developing a hydrogen ecosystem at the World Hydrogen Expo 2026, which runs through Friday in Goyang, northwest of Seoul, it said in a statement. The exhibits will include its proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis plant technology and a Waste-to-Hydrogen (W2H) model that produces hydrogen from waste, the group said. The group will also showcase a range of hydrogen-powered mobility solutions, including the 2027 NEXO SUV, commercial vehicles and rail applications. It will unveil a fuel cell system designed for greater durability in long-distance commercial transport, marking its first public presentation of the technology. For rail transport, the group will display a model of a hydrogen-powered locomotive and a flat-type fuel cell module t

Korea's average temperature reached 15.8 C last month, 1.5 C higher than the average for October, marking the fifth warmest October since 1973, the state weather agency said Wednesday. Korea saw unusually high temperatures from Oct. 10-13 as warm air moved in from the south, with Seoul's daily high reaching 30.1 C on Oct. 12, the highest October temperature since modern weather observation began in 1907, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). Such high temperatures pushed the month's average up to 15.8 C, compared with the average temperature of 14.3 C from 1991 to 2022. This marks the fifth-highest nationwide mean temperature recorded for October since 1973 when weather observation networks were expanded to the entire nation. Temperatures also fluctuated sharply throughout the month as cold and warm air masses alternately flowed over the peninsula, driven by smooth atmospheric flows moving from west to east in the mid-latitudes. The nationwide daily mean temperature dropped from 19.8 C on Oct. 18 to 9.8 C on Oct. 22. It rebounded to 16.9 C three days later before dr

ULSAN — “Chae-a, do you like drawing?” “Yes!” “You won an award for your drawing. What did you do with your picture at school?” “I showed it off.” “How did you feel when you showed it to everyone?” “Happy. Excited.” The eight-year-old's answers were brief, but her drawings were filled with endless stories. Jang Chae-a, 8, a second-grader at Samdong Elementary School in Ulsan, won the gold prize in the 8-10 age category at the 2026 International Youth Art Contest (IYAC), a global competition for children and teenagers. She met with the Hankook Ilbo on Oct. 29 in Ulsan. Chae-a, who is on the autism spectrum, has difficulty expressing her thoughts spontaneously through speech. But her mother, Lee Kyung-geum, 43, said this does not mean her daughter lacks the desire to communicate or the determination to do things well. “It's as though all the stories she cannot fully put into words pour onto the drawing paper,” Lee said with a smile. Chae-a's award-winning work, titled “My Wonderful World of Stories,” is filled with images of children in traditional Korean clothi

Seven banks and six securities firms were slapped with a combined 370 billion won ($276 million) in penalties by the financial regulator Wednesday over their mis-selling of equity-linked securities (ELS) products tracking Hong Kong's H Index. The amount is a sharp cut from the initial 1.4 trillion-won fine on the five lenders — KB Kookmin Bank, Shinhan Bank, Hana Bank, NH Nonghyup and SC Korea — which had already suffered massive losses as they had compensated customers over the mishap, according to the Financial Services Commission (FSC). Seoul's financial regulator finalized the penalty after ordering the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), the country's financial watchdog, to further review some legal issues. Earlier, the FSS had proposed a 600 billion-won penalty on the banks. The regulator imposed 361 billion won in penalties on the seven lenders. Banks and brokerages had sold a combined 19.3 trillion won worth of ELS products, tracking Hong Kong's H index since 2021, according to earlier data from the watchdog. KB Kookmin Bank sold the largest amount of HK-tied ELS products wort

“I accept the divorce. And I request approval to remarry.” Korean actors portray a palace romance set in an imaginary empire in an unspecified time and place, where love and betrayal intertwine with power and desire in the Disney+ original series “The Remarried Empress.” Released Tuesday, the series is based on a hit web novel turned webtoon. The series opens the door to live-action adaptations of Korean romantic fantasy works. Can the bold experiment push genre boundaries and expand storytelling horizons? In Korea, the romantic fantasy genre typically combines fantasy elements with an imaginary aristocratic society reminiscent of medieval Europe. This has made live-action adaptations particularly challenging. When KBS adapted the web novel “The First Night With the Duke” into a drama, it relocated the story to the Joseon era and gave its characters Korean names to make the setting more familiar to viewers. “The Remarried Empress,” however, takes a different approach, focusing on recreating the original fantasy world on screen. Moving the story to a specific period in Ko

A defunct NASA telescope is expected to fall back to Earth on Wednesday evening, but it is highly unlikely the observatory will crash near the Korean Peninsula, Korea's space agency said. The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, also known as the Swift telescope, is projected to reenter the Earth's atmosphere at around 8:46 p.m., the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) said, citing an analysis from the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI). The margin of error is two hours, it added. Launched in 2004, the 1.5-ton telescope had been operating for the past 22 years on its mission to observe high-energy gamma-ray bursts. The observatory, however, had been slowly falling out of orbit, and NASA in July attempted to send a private satellite to bump the telescope so it can regain some altitude, but the plan failed. Eventually, the telescope had reached the point of no return and was shut down on Oct. 20. KASA said it plans to continue monitoring the Swift telescope's movements with the KASI, adding that most of the telescope's body is expected to burn up in the atmosphere, but some co

Korea Zinc Inc. on Wednesday reported its third-quarter net income of 225.4 billion won ($167.9 million), a surge of 218.6 percent from a year earlier. Operating profit for the July-September period, however, stood at 141.7 billion won, down 48.2 percent from a year ago, the company that produces various metals and engages in renewable-related businesses said in a regulatory filing. Sales rose 46.3 percent to 6.08 trillion won. The earnings fell short of market expectations. The average estimate of net profit by analysts stood at 271.5 billion won, according to a survey by Yonhap Infomax, the financial data firm of Yonhap News Agency.

A parliamentary subcommittee on Wednesday approved a bill calling for a special counsel to investigate allegations of fabricated indictments under the previous administration, including those involving President Lee Jae Myung. The subcommittee of the National Assembly's legislation and judiciary committee, led by the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), passed the bill seeking an independent probe into allegations that prosecutors under the previous Yoon Suk Yeol administration had fabricated evidence to indict then opposition leader Lee. The proposed investigation covers multiple cases involving Lee, including alleged illegal remittances to North Korea and a development corruption scandal. Lawmakers from the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) walked out of the subcommittee meeting in protest, arguing that the bill was intended to cancel criminal indictments against Lee. "All clauses related to the cancellation of the indictments have been deleted," DPK Rep. Kim Eui-kyeom told reporters. The bill originally included provisions that would effectively allow the special counsel to c

The Democratic Party’s victory in the U.S. midterm elections could complicate Seoul’s push to regain wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington, with experts warning that the new congressional majority may seek tougher conditions for the transfer. Democrats secured control of both the House and Senate, putting Congress in a stronger position to scrutinize U.S. President Donald Trump’s security policies, including U.S. troop deployments and defense cooperation with Seoul. Shin Beom-chul, a senior research fellow at the Sejong Institute and former vice defense minister, warned that the Democratic victory could create new hurdles for Seoul’s OPCON ambitions. “If Democrats take control of Congress, they could impose tougher conditions on the OPCON transfer through the National Defense Authorization Act,” Shin said. Seoul seeks to retake OPCON by 2028, with the allies set to decide on the timeline at a security consultative meeting slated for early next year. The election outcome gives Democrats greater leverage over defense legislation. Any new restrictions on OPCON trans

Korea secured a record $2 billion in foreign investment pledges from seven global companies, primarily in semiconductors, advanced materials and energy industry, as the government seeks to position the country as a key investment destination amid growing demand for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and advanced manufacturing. The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) said the pledges were announced at its annual Invest Korea Summit 2026, a three-day investment promotion event jointly hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, which opened in Seoul on Wednesday. The event brought together 267 foreign investors and companies, along with around 2,000 business officials globally. The investment commitments mark the largest amount ever secured at the annual summit in its 22-year history, with about 97 percent of the pledged funds earmarked for regions outside the Seoul metropolitan area. "The record-high investment pledges demonstrate global companies' confidence in the Korean economy," KOTRA President and CEO Kang Kyung-sung said. "Korea, with its solid manuf

Democrats’ sweeping gains in the U.S. midterm elections, combined with growing public opposition to data centers and mounting financing demands on Big Tech companies, could slow the pace of artificial intelligence (AI) investment and weigh on Korean chipmakers, market watchers said Wednesday. Although the vote counting is still under way, Democrats are poised to win control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives in a historic “blue wave,” representing a major setback for U.S. President Donald Trump and his Republican Party. According to a report by the Bank of Korea’s New York Representative Office, the election outcome is unlikely to prompt major changes in the Trump administration’s overall policy direction, but could “have a limited impact on AI regulation and the pace of related investment.” “Even if Democrats control both chambers, they are unlikely to have the two-thirds majority needed to override a presidential veto. That limits what they can actually block or push through. So it’s difficult to expect the election results alone to have an immediate

Ruling party leader Kim Min-seok's decision to reverse his claim of collusion between party lawmakers and a religious sect has fueled internal divisions and backlash among the main opposition. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) had planned to announce the results of an internal investigation into allegations that followers of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a nonmainstream religious sect, joined the party to sway the outcome of the party leadership race, but a briefing planned for Tuesday to make such an announcement was canceled at the last minute. The party leader, Rep. Kim, instead apologized at a closed-door meeting of party lawmakers, saying the party found no evidence to support his earlier claim that the registration of the members were orchestrated between the church and lawmakers who were not aligned with President Lee Jae Myung. Kim first raised the allegations in July ahead of the party's Aug. 17 leadership election, claiming that an anti-Lee faction had secretly colluded with Shincheonji in a remark widely seen as targeting former leader Jung Chung-rae. The issue res

President Lee Jae Myung will launch a YouTube program aimed at explaining his state administration to the public and answering people's questions, a presidential official said Wednesday. The first 30-minute episode of the new program, "President's Y," will be aired Thursday night on the president's YouTube channel, and new episodes will be released every two to three weeks, according to Lee's press secretary, Seong Ghi-hong. During the pre-filmed program, Lee plans to "voice his frank opinions in the language of the people in a comfortable atmosphere and answer questions from the public," Seong told a press briefing. The new program is part of Lee's efforts to communicate better with the public and provide more sufficient explanations of his thoughts and policies, the presidential official added.

Korean stocks face growing policy uncertainty after Democrats regained control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives in the U.S. midterm elections, according to market analysts, Wednesday. They say obstacles to extending corporate tax cuts and the prospect of stricter oversight of Big Tech and artificial intelligence (AI) could fuel volatility in Korea’s tech-heavy stock market. However, sweeping policy changes remain unlikely given U.S. President Donald Trump’s veto power and ability to issue executive orders, the analysts said. Over the medium term, Korean stocks are expected to be driven more by returns on AI investment, semiconductor demand and foreign investor flows than by the election outcome itself. KOSPI closed slightly higher after a volatile session as investors assessed the implications of the Democrats’ victory. After rebounding 2.24 percent in the previous session, the benchmark opened at 5,786.13, up 137.34 points, or 2.43 percent, and climbed as high as 5,828.13, a gain of 3.17 percent. It then reversed course, falling as much as 4.02 percent to 5,421.

The Democrats’ victory in both the House and Senate in Tuesday's (local time) U.S. midterm elections has made a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un even less likely, analysts said Wednesday, though others argued that Trump’s tendency to shrug off political pressure means he may keep pursuing a meeting regardless. A Trump-Kim meeting had been floated as a possible diplomatic surprise around the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, scheduled for Nov. 18 and 19 in Shenzhen, China. The two leaders met three times during Trump’s first term from 2017 to 2021, but a fourth meeting was already in doubt before the elections, given Kim’s lukewarm response to renewed U.S. outreach. Some analysts said the prospect has also lost some of its appeal as a headline-grabbing event, with attention shifting to a possible U.S.-China-Russia summit in Shenzhen. Ahn Chan-il, director of the World Institute for North Korea Studies, said Democratic control of Congress could “force Trump to rethink his approach to Pyongyang and also make it harder f

Democratic gains in both chambers of the U.S. Congress in the midterm elections could expose Korea to fresh trade uncertainty, as experts warn that while such a shift would do little to curb U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff powers, it could complicate the implementation of Seoul's investment commitments and prompt him to intensify trade pressure. The $350 billion investment agreement between Seoul and Washington is unlikely to be overturned, as expanding U.S. manufacturing has bipartisan support. However, the political fallout from the Republican defeat could put pressure on Trump to demonstrate progress on his trade agenda, with Korea potentially facing renewed tariff threats, the experts said. "The tools used to exert tariff pressure are unlikely to change," said Jang Sang-sik, head of trade trend analysis at the Korea International Trade Association, referring to Section 232 and Section 301 of the U.S. trade law, which provide the administration with legal grounds to impose tariffs. "Congress has largely delegated these powers to the administration, allowing the executive branch

The Korean won is expected to strengthen against the U.S. dollar after Democrats swept both chambers of Congress in the U.S. midterm elections, as political tensions in Washington and a potential sell-off in U.S. equities could weigh on the dollar, experts said Wednesday. Democratic control of Congress is expected to complicate U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to advance his economic agenda, including tax cuts and expanded government spending, while giving lawmakers greater power to scrutinize his administration's policies. The prospect of a prolonged standoff between the White House and Congress could unsettle investors and undermine confidence in U.S. financial markets, said Shin Se-don, an economics professor at Sookmyung Women's University. "A fierce confrontation between Congress and the Trump administration will be inevitable. Trump's economic policy initiatives could face setbacks as Democrats step up opposition to the administration's policies, potentially slowing growth across the broader U.S. economy," Shin said. The political fallout could spill over into financial market

Sales of imported vehicles in Korea rose a sharp 29.3 percent in October from a year earlier, driven by robust demand for electric vehicles (EVs), industry data showed Wednesday. New registrations increased to 31,117 units last month from 24,064 a year earlier, according to the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association (KAIDA). The three top-selling imported cars were the Tesla Model Y Premium, Mercedes-Benz E200 and Tesla Model 3. The two Tesla models are manufactured in China for the Korean market, allowing the company to offer them at competitive prices. Tesla's sales more than doubled to 9,165 units last month from 4,350 a year earlier. However, its sales fell 25.9 percent from the previous month due to supply shortages, KAIDA said. The U.S. EV maker remained the best-selling imported passenger car brand in Korea for the ninth consecutive month, extending its run since February. Sales by BYD Korea, the local unit of China's BYD, surged 93.4 percent to 1,594 units from 824 a year earlier. The company began local operations in January last year, with sales first reported in

Police said Wednesday they have conducted a comprehensive review of about 44,000 cases involving relationship-based crime, such as stalking and domestic violence, and placed under custody 80 individuals identified as high-risk offenders. The 12-day review, which began Oct. 19, covered 44,540 cases, according to the Korean National Police Agency. They included 43,712 existing cases, such as those currently under investigation, individuals subject to high-risk monitoring, stalking reports that had previously been closed at the scene and cases involving ongoing safety measures. The police classified 5,068, or 32 percent, of the 15,840 cases currently under investigation as high-risk. Regarding high-risk offenders, police requested 376 arrest warrants, of which 80, or 21.3 percent, were issued by courts. They also requested 321 orders for the attachment of electronic monitoring devices, of which 104, or 32.4 percent, were approved by courts. In southeastern North Gyeongsang Province, police confirmed an additional offense after a man visited his wife in violation of a restraining order and

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump asked voters to pretend he was on the ballot in the midterm elections and handpicked Republican candidates in some of the country's most consequential Senate races. By Tuesday night, voters had rejected them. Trump-backed candidates in South Carolina, North Carolina and Texas all lost, while the president's preferred pick trailed in early results in Michigan. The defeats handed Democrats control of the chamber and exposed the limits of Trump's political power. Trump has spent more than a decade reshaping the Republican Party around his MAGA movement, dictating primary matchups and pushing aside conservative figures he felt were insufficiently loyal or not aligned with his vision. Trump repeatedly favored loyalists and ideological allies over more established Republicans with stronger statewide networks and proven electoral track records, betting that his endorsement could overcome their political liabilities. Tuesday's results revealed he was unable to persuade the broader electorate to back his choices. One of the most stunning repudiations came in

Korea needs to boost productivity in regions outside the capital area and make them more attractive places to live as it seeks to sustain economic growth and address demographic challenges, officials at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said Wednesday. Lamia Kamal-Chaoui, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities at the Paris-based institution, said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency that the OECD has seen "something very interesting" in Korea. Despite the concentration of people and economic activity in the capital region, the country's regional gaps in GDP per capita are among the smallest in the OECD, she said. "Indeed, you have the largest concentration of the capital region across the OECD," Kamal-Chaoui said. "(But the economic growth of Korea came with) a level of regional disparities in terms of GDP per capita that is the lowest among the lowest in the OECD." Kamal-Chaoui said the debate over regional disparities goes beyond economic growth to the question of whether such concentration in the capital region is "susta

HS Hyosung Vice Chairman Cho Hyun-sang has stepped up efforts to promote private-sector diplomacy as Korea marks the 30th anniversary of its membership in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Cho delivered congratulatory remarks at a dinner commemorating the anniversary, hosted by the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) in Seoul Tuesday. He attended as a Korean board member of Business at OECD (BIAC). The event brought together around 80 participants, including OECD Deputy Secretary-General Frantisek Ruzicka, diplomatic representatives from 26 countries and Korean business leaders. They reviewed Korea's economic achievements over the past three decades and discussed ways to expand global economic cooperation. "Korea has reached a point where it can stand firmly on its own as an OECD member, marking a true milestone of ‘irip,’" Cho said, referring to the Confucian concept of becoming self-reliant at the age of 30. He noted that the OECD's corporate governance standards had served as an important guide for the development and globalization of Korean compa

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook pledged Wednesday to root out price-fixing practices, saying the government has imposed more than 1.8 trillion won ($1.3 billion) in administrative fines this year alone on companies involved in collusion. Han made the remark in a post on X, saying stabilizing prices is an important responsibility of the government. "We will firmly safeguard the people's dining tables from price-fixing," she said. Noting the amount of administrative fines imposed this year for price-fixing of sugar, eggs, flour and starch sugars, Han said the penalties led to price drops of up to 26.5 percent for those items. "This means that companies had been placing a heavy burden on the people's dining tables," she said, promising to root out such collusion. "We will strengthen economic sanctions to ensure that no further profit can be gained through collusion."

Seoul's outdoor libraries have drawn more than 10 million visits since their launch in 2022, turning public squares and urban waterways into popular reading spaces and drawing growing attention from overseas media and library professionals. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday that this year's program attracted approximately 1.87 million visitors to three main locations — Seoul Plaza, Gwanghwamun Square and Cheonggye Stream — before closing for its winter break on Nov. 1. The cumulative figure of more than 10 million includes visitors to district-run and pop-up outdoor libraries since the initiative began. A satisfaction survey of 5,155 visitors found that 97 percent were satisfied with the program, while 97.4 percent said they intended to return and 97.8 percent said they would recommend it to others. The survey also found that 90.3 percent of respondents had actually read books during their visits, suggesting the spaces have become more than places to relax. International attention has also grown, with Bloomberg on Friday reporting about Korea's growing "text hip" readin

Song Seong-mi, an alumna of Jeonbuk National University’s Division of Biomedical Engineering, has been appointed assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Central Florida. Song enrolled in Jeonbuk National University in 2007, where she developed a strong foundation in engineering. In 2014, she began graduate studies in the university’s Department of Healthcare Engineering, gaining research experience in biomedical and rehabilitation engineering. She later earned a Ph.D. in motor neuroscience from Texas A&M University, further expanding her expertise. Jeonbuk National University said the appointment is significant as it marks an alumna’s transition from studying at the university at both undergraduate and graduate levels to pursuing an academic career at a U.S. university. It also demonstrates how interdisciplinary experience in engineering and health care can open up new career opportunities, serving as an inspiring example for students aspiring to become researchers in related fields. The university’s Division of Biomedical

State-run casino operator Grand Korea Leisure (GKL) has introduced a 24-hour artificial intelligence (AI) telephone service at its Gangnam Coex branch, offering automated support in four languages — Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese — to streamline customer inquiries. The state-run casino operator said the AI call bot is the first system of its kind introduced in the industry and is designed to handle routine inquiries around the clock. Customers calling the branch can listen to an introductory message before asking questions in Korean or one of the three foreign languages, with the system responding in the language used. The AI service provides information about the casino's location, operating hours, parking facilities and admission requirements. Calls involving reservation checks or more detailed consultations are transferred to the appropriate staff members. GKL said it built a database of frequently asked questions during a trial operation conducted from June through September, using common customer inquiries to develop the system's responses. The company said the introduction

BMW Korea unveiled its redesigned 7 Series luxury sedan, Wednesday, seeking to build on its growing presence in the higher-end market, as the flagship model gains ground rapidly against the long-dominant Mercedes-Benz Korea’s S-Class. The launch carries significance beyond the arrival of an updated model. The 7 Series has emerged as one of BMW Korea's key growth drivers, capitalizing on weakening demand for its archrival Mercedes-Benz S-Class in the large luxury sedan segment that BMW has traditionally struggled to dominate. The changing sales balance between the two models illustrates the shift. According to data from the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association (KAIDA), the S-Class recorded 1,839 sales in Korea during the first half of this year, 1,238 fewer than the 7 Series' 3,077. The BMW luxury sedan also topped sales of imported large sedans in Korea in both 2024 and 2025, displacing the S-Class from its long-held position as the segment leader and dealing a blow to Mercedes-Benz's core identity as a super luxury carmaker. Against this backdrop, BMW Korea is position

SK hynix is facing a growing dilemma over U.S. export controls on advanced semiconductor equipment for its NAND flash plant in China, as Washington's reluctance to approve equipment shipments slows the chipmaker's plans to generate revenue from the Chinese plant to finance new production facilities for its NAND flash unit Solidigm in the United States. Reuters reported on Wednesday that U.S. officials have held up approval for American chipmaking equipment needed by SK hynix to expand production in its NAND plant in Dalian, China. The Dalian plant is a key production hub for Solidigm, manufacturing NAND flash memory and enterprise solid-state drives used in smartphones and data centers. SK hynix is seeking to resume investment in its second Dalian plant to expand NAND production capacity. SK hynix had its Validated End User status expanded by the U.S. Commerce Department in 2023, effectively allowing it to bring American chipmaking equipment into its Chinese plants indefinitely. However, Washington revoked the status at the end of 2025 and replaced it with annual export licenses that al

As the first crisp autumn winds sweep across the East Sea, the port city of Pohang in North Gyeongsang Province begins producing "gwamegi" — Korea’s cherished winter delicacy of dried Pacific saury. But this season, a sharp slump in oceanic catches is turning the savory staple into a luxury commodity. Pohang launched a nationwide promotional blitz on Wednesday at the National Assembly in Seoul, introducing the 2026–2027 season. Celebrated for its rich, chewy texture and deeply savory flavor, gwamegi is traditionally crafted in the seaside town of Guryongpo by hanging cleaned saury on wooden racks, allowing the freezing night temperatures and icy coastal winds to slowly dry and cure the fish over several weeks. In Korean culinary culture, the delicacy holds a storied place as a nutrient-dense winter superfood. Packed with omega-3 fatty acids, the partially dried fish is prized for promoting cardiovascular health and circulation. It is typically served wrapped in fresh seaweed or perilla leaves, with spring onions and a dab of vinegar and chili sauce as condiments. However, this yea

Korea and the African Union (AU) have discussed ways to manage their joint cooperation fund and expand economic, healthcare and other forms of cooperation, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday. The discussions took place during the seventh round of policy consultations in Addis Ababa on Tuesday (local time), with Chung Kwang-yong, director-general for African and Middle Eastern affairs at the ministry, and Willy Nyamitwe, chairperson of the AU's Permanent Representatives Committee, leading their delegations, according to the ministry. Established in 2002, the 54-member AU aims to promote African integration, peace and security. During the meeting, the two sides discussed ways to manage the Korea-AU Cooperation Fund and expand substantive cooperation in trade, investment, healthcare, youth and women's empowerment, climate change and peace and security, among other fields. Korea shared updates on its cooperation projects with Africa and proposed expanding ties through high-level exchanges. The AU welcomed Seoul's continued commitment and pledged to support mutually beneficial cooperation

K-pop supergroup BTS' fifth full-length album "ARIRANG" has been certified "platinum" by a major Italian recording industry association, the group's agency said Wednesday. "ARIRANG" became the first album by a K-pop act to receive the certification from the Federation of the Italian Music Industry (FIMI) for achieving 50,000 sales units across physical copies, downloads and streams, according to BigHit Music. BTS earlier received FIMI's gold certification for several albums, including "Love Yourself: Answer," "Map of the Soul: Persona" and "Proof." "ARIRANG" has made history as the first album by a K-pop act to spend three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. Led by the lead single "Swim," the 14-track album marks the band's first release after a four-year hiatus prompted by its members' mandatory military service.

An appellate court on Wednesday upheld a lower court's conviction of former President Yoon Suk Yeol for making false statements during his 2022 presidential campaign. If the ruling becomes final, it could require the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) to repay 39.7 billion won ($30 million) in campaign reimbursements. The Seoul High Court upheld the lower court’s sentence of 18 months in prison, suspended for three years, over statements Yoon made before his election in March 2022. “By making false statements during the campaign, he infringed on voters’ right to make an informed decision and undermined the fairness of the election and the integrity of the electoral process,” judge Baek Seung-yeop said. The verdict leaves the party facing a substantial financial liability, although the repayment obligation depends on the conviction becoming final. Under the election law, presidential candidates who win or receive at least 15 percent of the vote qualify for full reimbursement of eligible campaign expenses. But the funds must be returned if a candidate receives a prison senten

SEJONG — Two new medical schools will be established at Sunchon National University in the southwestern city of Suncheon and Gyeongkuk National University in the southeastern city of Andong, the education ministry announced Wednesday. Starting in 2030, Sunchon and Gyeongkuk universities will admit 60 and 40 medical students annually, respectively. The decision came as part of a key government initiative to establish new medical colleges in regions without medical schools in an effort to improve access to medical services in provincial areas, strengthen public healthcare and address shortages of doctors in essential fields, such as pediatrics and surgery. A government task force comprising officials from the education and health ministries first selected North Gyeongsang and South Jeolla provinces as sites for the new medical schools after finding they suffer from poor access to medical services and need a foundation for training and retaining physicians. The government then requested the provincial governments to propose suitable universities to host the schools. While the North Gyeongs

Coupang Inc., the U.S.-based operator of Korea's largest e-commerce platform, accumulated 1.83 trillion won ($1.28 billion) in operating losses in the first nine months of this year, as a data breach and regulatory pressure weigh on profitability. According to results released Wednesday, Coupang posted an operating loss of 642.3 billion won in the third quarter, following losses of 835 billion won in the second quarter and 354.5 billion won in the first quarter. The third-quarter loss included 354 billion won in expenses related to a July fire at its Incheon fulfillment center. The company also continued to bear costs from customer compensation following last year's data breach. A 624.7 billion won Fair Trade Commission (FTC) fine weighed on second-quarter earnings. The accumulated losses have nearly erased the 1.9 trillion won in operating profits Coupang generated between 2023 and 2025. Despite the losses, third-quarter revenue reached a record 14.22 trillion won, while active customers increased 2 percent year-on-year to 25.2 million. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, deprecia

Hyundai Department Store on Wednesday reported its third-quarter net income of 30.7 billion won ($22.9 million), down 35.6 percent from a year earlier. Operating profit for the July-September period, on the other hand, stood at 94.6 billion won, up 30.1 percent from a year ago, the company, which operates high-end department stores, premium outlets, and online store and home interior brand Livart, said in a regulatory filing. Sales also rose 16 percent to 1.17 trillion won. The earnings failed to meet market expectations. The average estimate of net profit by analysts stood at 60.3 billion won, according to a survey by Yonhap Infomax, the financial data firm of Yonhap News Agency.

Going into Election Day, this midterm featured one of the most diverse slates of both Democratic and Republican candidates in recent years. Now it is shaping up to be a wave of historic leadership firsts across the country. Voters on Tuesday night elected the first Black female governor , the first Native American female governor , the first Native woman senator and the first openly gay male U.S. senator . Meanwhile, the first Muslim U.S. senator was still within the realm of possibility. Most are Democrats, but the GOP has also broken some new ground. While some of these candidates have avoided focusing on the inherent historic value of their race, gender, religion or sexual orientation, some voters' rights advocates are celebrating how the electorate has expanded. “These firsts show how our country is changing,” Alexis Anderson-Reed, president and CEO of State Voices, a network of advocates for civic engagement and equity in democracy, said via e-mail. “For years, people of color and LGBTQ+ communities have organized, knocked on doors, talked to voters, held conversations, and do

The Seoul Design Foundation will hold a forum next week on how personal taste and shifting consumer values can be turned into brands and businesses. Entrepreneurs and creators from space design, fashion, publishing and food will speak. The Seoul Design Learn Forum 2026 runs from 2 p.m. to 6:10 p.m. on Tuesday in the Design Hall of Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), the foundation said Wednesday. DDP is a landmark complex in central Seoul designed by the late architect Zaha Hadid. Seoul Design Learn is a training program for people who want to start design businesses, offering hands-on classes, mentoring and networking. It applies the ideas behind Seoul Learn, the city’s main education platform, to design. The first session, “Life at Reset,” will look at how people who buy based on their values are changing markets, spaces and everyday life. Yoo Jung-su will speak on how changing shopping habits affect the market. Yoo is CEO of Glow Seoul, a firm known for revitalizing areas such as Ikseon-dong in central Seoul. The second session, “Taste at Work,” will feature founders and marketer

SeAH Steel Holdings on Wednesday reported its third-quarter net income of 6.8 billion won ($5.1 million), down 58.2 percent from a year earlier. Operating profit for the July-September period was 93.3 billion won, up 134.4 percent from a year ago, the company said in a regulatory filing. Sales rose 32.3 percent to 1.22 trillion won.

Off the rugged, wave-swept coast of Taean, a treacherous marine graveyard known historically as the "Racecourse of the Sea" has yielded two newly discovered Goryeo Dynasty shipwrecks, offering an unprecedented window into 13th-century statecraft, commerce and seafaring. The National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage said Wednesday that underwater archaeologists have fully identified the wreckage of the Mado No. 5 ship and spotted the traces of a brand-new wreck, Mado No. 6, nearby. Together, the finds illuminate the sophisticated tax-grain shipping networks that once fed the Goryeo capital of Gaegyeong. The excavation of the Mado No. 5 vessel recovered 54 artifacts, including bronze vessels, rope, anchors and bundles of preserved rice straw. Most crucially, archaeologists unearthed 26 inscribed wooden tags, or "mokgan," that meticulously document the cargo's journey, according to the institute. Deciphering the texts revealed that the cargo was collected in December 1207 — the dead of winter, when freezing gales typically kept sailors ashore. Experts deduce that Mado No.

Exactly a century after the creation of Korean braille, Korea has certified its first cohort of 20 officially licensed braille instructors — a major step toward expanding educational accessibility for the visually impaired. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Wednesday that the milestone fulfills a core mandate of the nation’s landmark Braille Act, passed a decade ago to formalize and elevate braille literacy across the country. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the National Institute of Korean Language said the 20 teachers received second-grade braille teacher licenses. The license is a national qualification created when the Braille Act was revised, and the change took effect last year. The announcement fell on Hangeul Braille Day, which was marked Wednesday. The day marks the release of Korean braille on Nov. 4, 1926. Bak Du-seong, who taught blind students in Seoul, developed the six-dot system while Korea was under Japanese colonial rule. He called it Hunmaengjeongeum, a name that echoes Hunminjeongeum. That 15th-century document proclaimed Hangeul, t

Seoul’s car-free festival on Jamsu Bridge drew a record 2.38 million visitors this year, the city said Wednesday. That brings attendance over five years to 7.68 million as the bridge gets ready to become a pedestrian-only crossing. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said this year’s Car-free Jamsu Bridge Ttubeok-ttubeok Festival ended on Oct. 25. “Ttubeok-ttubeok” is a Korean word for the sound of footsteps. Jamsu Bridge opened in 1976. It sits just above the Han River’s surface, under the upper deck of Banpo Bridge, making it the bridge closest to the water. Cars have been kept off it on festival Sundays since 2022. This year’s festival ran on 15 Sundays from April to June and from September to October, drawing an average of 159,000 visitors a day. Attendance was about 1.4 times last year’s and about 2.1 times that of 2022. Food trucks, a handicraft market and a farmers’ market sold about 2.58 billion won ($1.8 million) worth of goods. That is a record, about 1.7 times the previous high set in 2024. Food truck operators donated 53.27 million won of their earnings. The busi

The science ministry and U.S. chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) held the first steering committee meeting of their artificial intelligence (AI) chip partnership on Wednesday. AMD also hosted its flagship AI event in Korea for the first time. The meeting was held at the Westin Seoul Parnas hotel during AMD Advancing AI World Tour Seoul 2026, the Ministry of Science and ICT said. The two sides set up the committee to check, on a regular basis, how the memorandum of understanding (MOU) they signed in July is being carried out. Lee Do-gyu, head of the ministry’s Office of ICT Policy, met with Keith Strier, AMD’s senior vice president for global AI markets. They reviewed progress on the deal’s key tasks. One is building AI computing infrastructure that combines different kinds of chips: AMD’s processors and graphics chips together with Korean-made neural processing units, which are chips designed specifically for AI work. Other tasks include an AMD AI research center in Korea, support for universities and training for AI talent. The two also discussed concrete plans and timelin

Seoul residents and visitors will have a rare opportunity to cross one of the city's busiest vehicular bridges on foot at sunrise this month, as the capital expands a popular weekend fitness initiative designed to encourage a more relaxed lifestyle. The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Wednesday that it will host its "Swieom-Swieom Morning" event on Jamsil Bridge from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on two upcoming Sundays, Nov. 8 and Nov. 22. The program takes its name from the Korean descriptive phrase "swieom-swieom," an expression that loosely translates to "taking it easy," "taking frequent breaks," or "moving at a gentle, unhurried pace." In a fast-paced metropolis famous for its high-stress palli-palli ("hurry-hurry") culture, the event aims to offer urbanites a slow-paced weekend routine. Participants will embark on a 5-kilometer round-trip course starting at the southern end of the bridge, which spans the iconic Han River to connect Songpa and Gwangjin districts in eastern Seoul. Designed as a noncompetitive outing rather than a race, the course features no timed records or rankings. A

A hotel manager in Busan has been referred to prosecutors on fraud charges after allegedly tricking a guest into canceling a reservation for a BTS concert weekend, then reselling rooms at up to seven times their normal rates. The Busan Metropolitan Police Agency's Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Unit said Wednesday that it had referred the manager, a person in their 50s, to prosecutors without detention. According to police, the manager allegedly contacted a guest in mid-May who had booked a hotel room at the regular rate in mid-January to attend BTS concerts scheduled for June 12 and 13 in Busan. The manager, who was responsible for handling reservations and cancellations, allegedly falsely told the guest that the hotel had been overbooked. "We have dozens of overbooked reservations right now, so there's nothing we can do. Please cancel your reservation through the booking website," the manager allegedly told the guest. However, a police investigation, including a search and seizure operation and interviews with people involved, found that rooms were still available for

Seoul plans to tighten oversight of downtown marathons through a joint consultative body with police and other government agencies, responding to mounting complaints about road closures, traffic congestion, noise and litter. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday it will work with city police authorities to review race schedules, routes, traffic diversions and safety management plans for 2027. Detailed arrangements will be announced in December. Organizers preparing next year’s events were asked to refrain from recruiting participants until consultations on safety plans and traffic restrictions are complete. “While we recognize the contribution marathons make to the health of many residents, the disruption caused by downtown races has recently become a growing concern for others,” said Cho Sung-ho, director general of the city’s tourism and sports bureau. “We ask event organizers to take the initiative and work with us to address the issue.” The latest such disruption occurred on Sunday, when marathons prompted extensive road closures from Gwanghwamun to Olympic Par

Korean beauty company APR said Wednesday that its skin care brand Medicube is now being sold at all Shoppers Drug Mart stores, which is Canada’s largest drugstore chain. The move widens Medicube’s reach in North America. The launch was completed last month at all of the chain’s roughly 1,300 stores across Canada, including those in Toronto and Vancouver. Shoppers Drug Mart is a key subsidiary of Loblaw, one of Canada’s largest retailers. It began as a small pharmacy in 1920 and now sells medicine, cosmetics, skin care and household goods. Medicube offers 13 products at the chain. They include popular items already sold in North America, such as its Zero Pore Pad, PDRN Pink Peptide Ampoule, PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask and Deep Vita C Capsule Cream. PDRN, or polydeoxyribonucleotide, is an ingredient taken from fish DNA, usually salmon, and has become popular in Korean skin care. APR said it plans to add more products depending on local sales and market conditions. The brand is also doing well online. As of the first week of November, six Medicube products, including the Zero Pore

Hyundai Motor Group's massive investment in the United States is unlikely to shield the automaker from Washington's shifting trade policies, even after Democrats secured control of both chambers of Congress in Tuesday's (local time) midterm elections, a trade expert said Wednesday. The Democratic takeover of the House of Representatives and Senate is expected to strengthen congressional scrutiny of U.S. President Donald Trump's trade agenda, but is unlikely to fundamentally reverse Washington's push to revive domestic manufacturing, according to Shin Won-kyu, head of the global economic research team at the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI). The automaker remains particularly vulnerable to changes in U.S. tariff and trade policies because of its growing investment in local factories and supply chains, which could limit its flexibility in responding to future policy shifts, the expert said. "The biggest risk is weakened bargaining power after the investment is made," Shin said in a written interview with The Korea Times. "Plants cannot easily be moved once built, while tariff rates o

Step out of the winter chill and into a glowing tropical sanctuary as Seoul Botanic Park opens its massive glass greenhouse for rare nighttime visits. Running across 10 select evenings from Nov. 13 to Dec. 27 at 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., the Night Botanic Journey transforms the indoor botanical garden — located in Gangseo District's Magok area in western Seoul — into an after-hours retreat featuring soft illumination, lush greenery and live musical performances ranging from jazz to classical concerts. The opening weekend, Nov. 13-14, will feature Jazz Libre and a musical gala under the theme "Greenhouse at Night, Two Sensibilities Meet." Pearl Haze and Mood Lamp Acoustic will perform Nov. 27 and 28, followed by vocalist duo Jang Ji-woong and Baek Seung-cheol and Ensemble Arang on Dec. 11 and 12. Christmas performances from Dec. 24-26 will feature guitarist Kim Seong-jin, flutist Jeon Sae-mi, Yuel and Groove Us, while a classical ensemble featuring Park Yong-eun, Kim Young-min and Kang Hyun-gyu will close the program on Dec. 27. Families can also join Moonlight Plant Detectives, an interactiv

Seoul and Basel are looking to turn architectural dialogue into practical cooperation, bringing emerging Korean architects together with Swiss counterparts to exchange ideas on how cities can preserve their identities while adapting to changing social needs. Seoul's Deputy Mayor for Administrative Affairs Kim Seong-bo met with Conradin Cramer, head of the government of Basel-Stadt, in Basel on Nov. 3 to discuss cooperation in urban planning and architecture. The meeting followed an agreement on exchanges in urban architecture signed by Seoul and Basel-Stadt last year, with both sides reviewing their 2026 architect exchange program and exploring potential cooperation for the sixth Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism in 2027. Later that day, Kim attended a public forum at kHaus in Basel, where he delivered welcoming remarks as architects from the two cities presented their work and discussed shared urban challenges. The Korean participants were architects Jeong Sang-kyung, Baek Han-yeol and Hong Jeong-hee, while Basel was represented by Magdalena Stadler and Miriam Stierle. Moderate

Seoul Guarantee Insurance (SGI) said Wednesday that it has decided on a quarterly dividend of 573 won ($0.42) in cash per common share. The dividend per share is set at approximately 1.3 percent of the stock price, with the total dividend payout amount of about 40 billion won. The record date for the dividend is Nov. 18 and the payment date is scheduled for Dec. 2. Following a dividend payout of 30 billion won in the previous quarter, SGI confirmed a quarterly cash dividend for the second consecutive quarter. In August, the company unveiled its "corporate value enhancement plan and implementation status for 2026," setting a target of over 200 billion won in shareholder returns for this year — representing a shareholder return ratio of at least 50 percent — and became the first in the industry to implement quarterly dividends. Both the dividend and the dividend per share have increased slightly compared to the previous quarter. Quarterly dividends are expected to provide shareholders with faster access to cash, creating more opportunities generating returns, including expanded chances

Samsung Electronics ranked first across all TV screen-size categories, from models measuring 70 inches or larger to compact 32-inch sets, in Consumer Reports' rankings, industry sources said Wednesday. The U.S. consumer testing organization evaluated 358 television models in its 2026 report, released last month, assessing key features such as resolution, support for streaming services and voice recognition, they said. Samsung's QD-OLED TV, the QN65S95H, topped the overall best-TV category with a score of 91 points. Consumer Reports described the model as "one of the best TVs consumers can buy today," praising its picture quality and improved brightness compared with its predecessor. The publication also highlighted the TV's support for refresh rates of up to 165 hertz and its 4.2.2-channel Dolby Atmos sound system, saying the model delivers strong performance in both picture and audio quality. Its predecessor, the QN65S95F, also received positive reviews for offering strong picture quality, HDR performance and audio at a reasonable price.

A Sejong University professor has published a study in an international astronomy journal exploring how the astronomical environments of exoplanets could influence the scientific development of potential intelligent life. The study by Zee Woong-bae, a professor at the university’s School of Liberal Studies, was published last month in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society under the title “Alien Skies: Visibility of Planetary Retrograde Motion from Rocky Habitable-Zone Worlds.” The university said the study goes beyond existing research into conditions that could support extraterrestrial life, focusing instead on astronomical environments that could enable intelligent life on exoplanets to develop science and technology. Until now, the search for extraterrestrial life has concentrated on environmental conditions that could support life, such as planetary temperatures and the possibility of liquid water. In astronomy, this concept is known as “habitability.” Zee proposed a new concept called “developmentability,” expanding on the established concept of habitabilit

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Tuesday he would accept the results of US midterm elections -- but quickly sought to shift the blame for the historic rout to his fellow Republicans. Time and again on the campaign trail the 80-year-old told Republicans to "pretend I'm on the ballot." That may have been exactly the problem, as voters put Democrats in control of the House and Senate. But Trump has never been one to take the blame, and in his first reaction to the election results Tuesday he insisted that the Republican Party would have won in a "landslide" if he had actually been running. "I wasn't on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE! Thank you for your attention to this matter," Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform. Dismissing speculation about whether he would repeat his refusal to accept his 2020 presidential election loss to Joe Biden, Trump later took a conciliatory tone with the New York Times. "I am absolutely willing to accept those results," he told The New York Times. "We'll work with the Democrats, and we'll, you know, look forward

Actress Seo Yea-ji is set to return to the big screen after five years with the upcoming film "Geumwoldo," marking another step in her acting comeback following controversies surrounding her personal life. According to her agency, B.Wave Entertainment, on Wednesday, Seo has been cast as Kim Ji-hoo in "Geumwoldo," a mystery thriller inspired by an actual case of cannibalism recorded in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty. Set on a remote Korean island within an isolated community, the film will explore an unusual genre concept described as a "Korean-style vampire" story. It will be directed by Baek Dong-hoon, known for the film "Le Grand Chef 2: Kimchi Battle." Seo will play Kim Ji-hoo, a woman who travels to the remote island of Geumwoldo after receiving a message from her mother. Once there, she becomes entangled in a series of mysterious incidents and begins searching for the truth. The role is expected to place Seo at the center of the film's suspense as her character confronts unpredictable events and struggles against her fate. The project also marks another milestone in Seo's gradual r

British and Korean policymakers, lawmakers and artificial intelligence (AI) experts will gather in Seoul on Thursday to examine how their countries can strengthen AI competitiveness and cooperate on national strategies as governments confront the policy challenges posed by rapidly advancing technology. GR Korea and the British Chamber of Commerce in Korea will co-host a breakfast briefing titled "Breakfast & Politics: The National AI Strategy with BCCK" on Thursday at Conrad Seoul. Participants will include British Ambassador to Korea Colin Crooks, National Assembly member Rep. Lee Jeong-heon of the Democratic Party of Korea, and a British parliamentary delegation led by Alicia Kearns. The forum will also bring together Moon Ju-yun, executive director of GR Korea; Hong Sung-eun, a professor at Sungkyunkwan University's School of Global AI Convergence; and Lee Won-tae, chairman of the Special Committee on Security at the National AI Strategy Committee. Rep. Lee will deliver a keynote address outlining Korea's national AI strategy, major policy priorities and the respective roles of the go

The Navy has launched maritime maneuver drills in waters off the country's eastern, western and southern coasts in a bid to hone its operational capabilities against various maritime threats, the armed service said Wednesday. The Republic of Korea Navy Task Fleet Command is taking part in the drills, which kicked off Sunday for a six-day run, involving nearly a dozen warships and other aircraft, according to the Navy. Deployed assets include the Navy's 8,200-ton Jeongjo the Great destroyer, the ROKS Yulgok Yi I destroyer, auxiliary ships, frigates, and patrol aircraft. During the drills, the Navy will train under simulated attack scenarios involving air defense combat, antisubmarine warfare and antisurface warfare, and conduct drills to detect and track ballistic missile launches. The command also took part in maritime drills in southern waters off Jeju Island early Wednesday, involving the Marado amphibious assault ship and other amphibious ships deployed as part of a joint training mission the previous day. The command is a core unit of the military's three-pronged deterrence structure

As Korea emerges as a popular destination for international students, global education organization Institute for the International Education of Students (IES) Global is looking to expand two-way student exchanges and internship opportunities, connecting more international students with Korea while opening new pathways for Korean students to gain experience abroad. In an interview with The Korea Times in September, IES Global President and CEO Gregory Hess emphasized that Korea is rapidly gaining ground as a study abroad destination for American students, attracting growing interest not only for its cultural appeal but also for its technological prowess and world-class universities. "Korea is one of the hot countries," he said. "Students are attracted not only to its culture, its entrepreneurial culture, the prominence of its products, but also the great universities that are here." While K-pop and Korean dramas often serve as an entry point for international students, Hess said Korea's appeal extends well beyond popular culture to its strengths in advanced technology and higher educati

Korean biopharmaceutical group HLB is getting a second shot at U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its flagship liver cancer therapy. The FDA has officially accepted a resubmitted application from HLB’s California-based drug development arm, Elevar Therapeutics, to evaluate a combination treatment for advanced liver cancer, setting a target decision date of April 9. Elevar said the FDA had accepted for substantive review its resubmitted new drug application for rivoceranib, an oral VEGF-targeting tyrosine kinase inhibitor, combined with camrelizumab, an anti-PD-1 antibody, as a first-line treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma. The FDA classified the application as a Class 2 resubmission, setting April 9 as its target decision date under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act. The review covers two applications submitted separately by Elevar and China's Hengrui Pharma, which resubmitted the biologics license application for camrelizumab. The FDA plans to review the applications together to determine whether the combination therapy can be approved. The resubmissions are suppo

Korean literature will take center stage in Shanghai this month as a weeklong program brings acclaimed poets, novelists and children's book creators together with Chinese readers for conversations, readings and book discussions. The Korean Cultural Center in Shanghai will host K-Literature Week from Nov. 6-13 at Arirang Hall on its third floor, presenting programs spanning poetry, fiction, essays and children's poetry. The program opens Nov. 6 and 7 with meetings with poet Na Tae-joo, titled "Happy Today, Like a Wildflower," featuring readings and discussions about his literary world and creative process. Na, widely known for his lyrical poetry and readership in China, will meet local audiences and present copies of his collection "You Are a Star" to Chinese students learning Korean, offering an opportunity to explore the emotional nuances of his work and the beauty of the Korean language. Zhang Yiwei, a Fudan University professor and writer, will moderate the discussions. On Nov. 10, novelists Kang Hwa-gil and Kim Cho-yeop will join Chinese translator Chunxi for an exchange titled "How D

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) on Wednesday formally proposed that the government postpone the implementation of taxation on cryptocurrencies, set to take effect next year. The party's supreme council decided to make such a proposal in a meeting, considering the need to give businesses and investors time to adjust to the new taxation scheme, according to DPK leader Kim Min-seok. "We agreed that it would be better to first enact the Digital Asset Basic Act to build an overall framework and allow time for companies and investors to adapt after a comprehensive review of taxation principles, domestic industry conditions and fairness among users," Rep. Kim said. Korea first introduced a taxation scheme on cryptocurrencies in 2020, but its implementation has been repeatedly postponed, with the taxation now set to take effect Jan. 1. If the latest proposal is accepted, it would mark the fourth delay. Under the scheme, annual cryptocurrency gains exceeding 2.5 million won ($1,880) will be subject to a 22 percent tax, including the local income tax.

SK Telecom (SKT), Korea's top mobile service carrier, said Wednesday its third-quarter operating profit surged 1,041.3 percent from a year earlier, while its net profit shifted to the black during the same period. Operating income for the July-September period was 552.3 billion won ($411.4 million), while sales rose 13.1 percent on-year to 4.49 trillion won. Net profit was 411.8 billion won, shifting from a loss of 166.7 billion won the previous year. SK Telecom said the steady growth of its main mobile service business, as well as the rise of new ventures involving artificial intelligence (AI), helped improve its performance during the three-month period. Sales from its AI data centers rose 6.2 percent on-year, while those from other AI-related businesses were up 27.3 percent from a year earlier, the company said. The wireless carrier founded two new wholly owned subsidiaries — SK Hyper and SK Horizon — in July and August, respectively, to oversee its AI data center business. SK Hyper is constructing AI data centers in the southern region of Ulsan and Seoul, of which combined capacit

WASHINGTON — Democrats seized control of both the Senate and House on Tuesday, scoring sweeping victories in Republican strongholds for the first time in generations as tens of millions of voters delivered a scathing rebuke to President Donald Trump. Voters in conservative bastions who had propelled the president to his second term in office just two years ago swung dramatically toward Democrats, fueled by deep frustration over the unpopular war with Iran, anxiety over the high cost of living and anger at Trump's stewardship of the country. Kansas elected its first Democratic senator since the Great Depression nearly a century ago. In South Carolina, a state that Trump carried by nearly 18 points in 2024, Democrats turned aside his hand-picked Senate candidate. And in Texas, the biggest Republican state, Democrats ended a decades-long losing streak in seismic fashion, winning a Senate seat and ousting three-term Governor Greg Abbott. The results will usher in a new era of divided government in Washington, following two years in which the Republican-controlled Congress rarely exercised

Former Korean supermodel Kim Ja-yeon has announced her marriage at 45 to senior Samsung executive Young Sohn, sharing the story of how their relationship blossomed from an academic connection into romance. Kim announced the news on social media on Sunday, posting wedding photos alongside a message to her followers. "Everyone, I'm married! I'm happy to share this wonderful news with all of you who have always supported me," she said. Her husband is Young Sohn, a Samsung Electronics adviser and chairman of the board of Harman International, the automotive technology and audio company owned by Samsung. The couple held an intimate wedding ceremony in Switzerland. In the photos, Kim wears a wedding gown while Sohn appears in a tuxedo, with the newlyweds smiling affectionately at each other. Kim also introduced her husband's professional background, saying he previously served as president and chief strategy officer of Samsung Electronics and currently chairs Samsung's Semiconductor Advisory Board and Harman International's board of directors. He is also the founder of a Silicon Valley venture

Investigators raided the National Election Commission (NEC) headquarters Wednesday over allegations of preferential treatment in choosing a ballot printer maker and suspected tampering of official voting logs, a special counsel team said. Thirty-two personnel, including two prosecutors, were mobilized to search a division of the NEC at its headquarters in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul, and the office and factory of the manufacturer of early voting ballot-issuing machines, according to the team led by special counsel Lee Tae-han. Separately, 44 personnel, including an assistant special counsel, were sent to search the NEC headquarters and the Seoul election commission following the discovery of falsified or altered voting logs from at least 40 polling stations set up for June's nationwide local elections, the team said. In the first case, the team said it found evidence suggesting that the election watchdog gave preferential treatment to the company, whose identity was withheld, by providing it with advance information on a tender to select a manufacturer of ballot printers. The NEC is al

Gaon Cable, a subsidiary of LS Cable & System, is gaining a competitive edge in the United States as Washington tightens tariffs on steel, aluminum and copper-related products, with its local manufacturing base helping it reduce tariff exposure and navigate supply chain uncertainties. The company is expanding its U.S. production capacity while broadening its business from artificial intelligence (AI) data centers to power transmission networks and power plants, positioning itself to tap growing demand for electricity infrastructure. Gaon Cable operates LSCUS, its U.S. production subsidiary, in Tarboro, North Carolina. It supplies power cables and bus ducts to global technology giants and AI cloud service providers, strengthening its foothold in the North American market. The company plans to invest approximately $50 million to add two production lines at its Tarboro facility, doubling its cable production capacity by 2027. Further expansion is under consideration depending on new orders and customers' investment plans. LSCUS' revenue is projected to rise from approximately 440 billion wo

The AI investment race between China and the US is closer than headline figures suggest, even though the technology is expected to make a greater contribution to economic growth in America, according to a Chinese think tank. The findings come as artificial intelligence becomes a focal point of technological competition between Beijing and Washington, with investment levels, computing power and the commercial applications of AI all under greater scrutiny. According to a report released recently by a research team affiliated with China Finance 40 Forum, in terms of capital expenditure by major technology firms - a common metric for gauging AI investment - China will spend about one-eighth as much as the United States this year. But the report argued that comparison gave an incomplete picture. China's total domestic AI-related spending was projected to reach about US$220 billion this year, comprising $160 billion in capital expenditure and US$60 billion in model training and inference, it estimated. With US spending projected to reach US$840 billion, that put China's investment at about one

Actor Song Joong-ki has drawn attention after photos of a family outing with his wife, Katy Louise Saunders, and their two children spread across Chinese social media, with fans particularly surprised by how much his 3-year-old son has grown. Photos and witnes accounts of the family of four recently circulated on Chinese social media platforms, showing Song enjoying a casual outing with Saunders, their son and their daughter, who is approaching her second birthday. The family was spotted in an underground pedestrian passage leading to Banpo Hangang Park in Seoul. In the photos, Song is dressed casually and wearing a cap as he pushes a stroller. What particularly caught fans' attention was the couple's firstborn son, who has grown considerably and now appears to reach nearly his father's waist. According to eyewitness accounts, the boy displayed a cheerful, outgoing personality, smiling and greeting people around him. The couple's younger daughter reportedly sat quietly in the stroller, which Song pushed himself throughout the outing. Chinese social media users also pointed out the boy's re

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited the Nampho Shipyard and called for a rapid buildup of naval combat power to counter "hostile acts of the enemies," state media said Wednesday. Kim made the remarks during an on-site inspection at the shipyard Monday, where he was briefed on the shipyard's ongoing upgrades and inspected a new warship under construction, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. "It is vital and important requirement of the times to rapidly bolster up the surface and underwater combat power for defending the national sovereignty in the sea under various threats," Kim said. "The recent geopolitical environment and hostile acts of the enemies in the region" prove the need for "the most developed and powerful warship," he added. The report said Kim expressed "great satisfaction" with the new warship, which he said "is incomparably huge and browbeating than the destroyer built last year." While the report did not provide the ship's specifications, it said the vessel is "designed to carry out its complex operational mission in consideration of the present-day war

North Korea fired multiple missiles toward the East Sea on Wednesday, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said, just days after it fired nearly a dozen short-range ballistic missiles. The missiles were launched from the Sondok area in South Hamgyong Province early Wednesday, the JCS said, adding that further analysis of specifications was under way in coordination with the United States. "Our military is monitoring the North's various movements under a robust South Korea-U.S. combined defense posture, and maintains the capabilities and readiness to respond overwhelmingly to any provocations," the JCS said in a notice to the press. The missiles are believed to have flown less than 300 kilometers, with authorities analyzing specifications of the launched missiles while leaving open the possibility that it involved a close-range ballistic missile. "It appears to be the Hwasong-11 Ra surface-to-surface tactical ballistic missile," Shin Jong-woo, secretary-general of the Seoul-based Korea Defense and Security Forum, told Yonhap News Agency. If confirmed, it would mark the third time the North has

A senior North Korean ruling party official has arrived in China, the North's state media confirmed Wednesday, a visit that underscores deepening cooperation between Pyongyang and Beijing. Kim Song-nam, a member of the Political Bureau of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and a party secretary, embarked on a trip to China on Tuesday, leading a party delegation, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). His visit came at the invitation of China's Communist Party's Central Committee. The delegation's arrival came just 10 days after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made a surprise visit to the Chinese border city of Dandong — an indication that the two countries are stepping up efforts to reinforce high-level exchanges and traditional ties. North Korea and China have been deepening their cooperation after bilateral relations had chilled amid Pyongyang's closer ties with Russia over the Ukraine war. Upon arrival at a Chinese airport, Kim and his delegation were greeted by Deputy Head Sun Haiyan and other officials of the International Liaison Department of the Chinese party and No

Korea has called for stronger cooperation among Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) members to build stable energy supply chains amid the region's vulnerability to crises in the Middle East, the foreign ministry said Wednesday. Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina made the call during the 37th APEC Ministerial Meeting held via videoconference the previous day, according to the ministry. Co-chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, the meeting brought together foreign and trade ministers from the 21 APEC member economies to discuss ways to foster cooperation for an Asia-Pacific community and advance regional economic integration. Kim stressed the need for closer cooperation among APEC members to strengthen regional energy resilience and diversify energy supplies. On artificial intelligence (AI), Kim called for stronger cooperation based on the APEC AI Initiative, launched under Korea's leadership at last year's APEC summit in Gyeongju. Kim said Korea would support regional AI development and adoption by establishing innovation platforms, including

Korea and Poland have discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in defense, energy, batteries and infrastructure, as the two countries seek to build on agreements reached at their leaders' summit in April, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday. The seventh round of their joint economic committee took place in Warsaw on Tuesday (local time), co-chaired by Park Jong-han, deputy minister for economic affairs, and Michal Baranowski, Poland's deputy minister of economic development and technology, according to the ministry. During the meeting, the two sides reviewed progress in implementing agreements reached at the summit between President Lee Jae Myung and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in April and discussed ways to expand cooperation across key sectors. Park and Baranowski agreed to explore ways to expand defense cooperation, building on Poland's purchases of Korean K2 tanks, K9 howitzers and Chunmoo rocket launchers. They also discussed cooperation in battery and energy supply chains, infrastructure projects, including a new airport link, and such advanced technologies as space and d

Pope Leo XIV has encouraged young Catholics to bring their "questions and wounds" to World Youth Day 2027, saying he looks forward to meeting them at the international gathering set to be held in Seoul next year. "Bring to Christ your questions and your wounds but also the wounds that tear apart your societies and set your countries against one another," the pope said in a message released by the Holy See on Tuesday (Vatican time), which was also published in Korean. "Do not wait until you are perfect before opening yourselves to him. He comes to meet you just as you are. ... Allow yourselves to be united and transformed by his love," he said, highlighting the theme of World Youth Day. "Take courage! I have overcome the world." The pope noted that the young generation may feel anxious about the future or stressed about appearing perfect, especially under the influence of social media and technology. He emphasized that technology cannot replace authentic human closeness but can only imitate empathy. The pope, who is set to visit Korea to preside over the event scheduled from Aug. 3-8, note

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua — King Charles III called the transatlantic slave trade a “shameful chapter of history” during a speech Tuesday at the official opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua. Charles spoke just days after British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he is open to making a formal apology and proposed leading a program of debt restructuring to help the Commonwealth’s poorest countries, although he has rejected calls for the U.K. to pay reparations. Charles said that the transatlantic slave trade “still casts a shadow over these islands and other members of our Commonwealth" but did not apologize. “That shameful chapter of history is one that fills my heart with horror and my soul with the most profound personal sorrow, and yet, history also teaches us that evil not need have the last word, but character and courage can combine to overcome the most monstrous injustice,” he said. He noted that the Royal Navy played “a leading role” in ending the slave trade and that he is finding ways to address the wrongs through improving access to e

An appeals court was set to rule Wednesday on former President Yoon Suk Yeol's election law violation case in a ruling that could force the main opposition party to cough up nearly $30 million in election expenses, if finalized. The Seoul High Court was scheduled to hold the hearing at 2 p.m., which will be televised live, over allegations that Yoon made false statements during his presidential campaign as a candidate for the PPP before his March 2022 election. A district court sentenced Yoon to an 18-month prison term, suspended for three years, in July after finding him guilty of the charges. If the sentence is finalized through appeals, Yoon's election will be nullified and the People Power Party will be forced to return its reimbursed election expenses of 39.7 billion won ($29.5 million). Under the election law, the state fully reimburses political parties for campaign spending if their candidate wins at least 15 percent of the vote. Parties, however, must return all reimbursed funds if the candidate receives a finalized prison sentence or a fine of at least 1 million won for election

Senior officials of South Korea and Switzerland have discussed bilateral cooperation and the situation on the Korean Peninsula following the Swiss foreign minister's recent visit to North Korea, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday. Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Chung Eui-hae held the seventh round of bilateral policy consultations with Markus Leitner, Switzerland's assistant state secretary, in Seoul on Tuesday and exchanged views on major regional issues, including the situation on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, according to the ministry. Chung called for Switzerland's continued interest and cooperation on Korean Peninsula issues, while praising the country's contributions to peace and stability on the peninsula over the past seven decades through its role in the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC). The NNSC is an independent body tasked with monitoring the implementation of the Armistice Agreement that halted the 1950-53 Korean War. Switzerland has maintained diplomatic relations with North Korea since 1974. Chung also called for expanding exc

Korean stocks turned lower late Wednesday morning due to losses in tech shares with results from the U.S. midterm elections in focus. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) lost 94.22 points, or 1.67 percent, to 5,554.57 as of 11:20 a.m. The index opened 2.43 percent higher, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street, but shifted to negative territory around 10:11 a.m. Ahead of the results from the U.S. midterm elections, U.S. media projected Democrats would win control of the House, but the Senate remains uncertain. In Seoul, top-cap Samsung Electronics fell 1.82 percent and chip giant SK hynix declined 3.22 percent. Kia, the second-largest carmaker, retreated 3.21 percent, and leading battery maker LG Energy Solution sank 4.51 percent. However, No. 1 mobile carrier SK Telecom advanced 2.15 percent, and major banking group KB Financial Group rose 0.13 percent. The Korean won was trading at 1,337.95 won against the U.S. dollar as of 11:20 a.m., up 7.15 won from the previous session's close.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has repeatedly encouraged voters to pretend he's on the ballot this Election Day. He's not, of course. But there is reason to believe that Tuesday's midterms, above all, will be a referendum on his performance over the last two years. History, polling and early voting numbers suggest it could be a difficult night for Trump's Republican Party, though the political map, not to mention a fresh round of gerrymandering, could limit Democratic gains. Voters are in the mood for change, according to the AP Voter Poll, which found that roughly three-quarters of voters say they feel “angry” or “dissatisfied” with the way things are going in the country today. Most appear to blame the Trump administration for high costs. About 6 in 10 say higher than usual prices are “more because of Trump’s policies” rather than “more because of factors outside Trump’s control.” Additionally, about 70 percent of voters want Congress to provide more checks and balances on the presidency. Democrats are looking to win majorities in the House and Senate, which

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Washington would end its annual $3.8 billion in aid to Israel, on the day of midterm elections in which support for Israel has been a contentious issue. "We give Israel $4 billion a year, and we made a deal months ago that we're stopping," Trump said during a phone interview with Fox News. Trump said Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was "fine" with the decision to end the aid. Under the deal, Israel receives financial assistance for the purchase of around $3.8 billion in weapons a year. "Now we'll help Israel if they need it," Trump said. "Israel is a very thriving country. They don't need it." The announcement came as Americans voted in crucial midterm elections that will determine control of Congress for the last two years of Trump's presidency, and soon after parliamentary elections in Israel that did not produce a clear winner. Since its founding in 1948, Israel has received more than $300 billion, adjusted for inflation, in U.S. economic and military assistance, according to the Council on Foreign Relations, f

North Korea said Wednesday that dialogue with the United States remains an option for peace, but that it would not be necessary for its own interest while again stressing the U.S.' accusation of its involvement in a major cryptocurrency theft as a sign of Washington's hostility toward Pyongyang. Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, made the remarks, saying the continued "hostile signal" by Washington was compelling the regime to reconsider the "true nature" of the U.S. "The choice for peace includes dialogue of course, but this is not surely equated with national interests for us," Kim said in a statement carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The remarks came a day after she rejected the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) findings that the regime was behind the theft of more than US$6 billion in cryptocurrency from Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange. She earlier called the accusation a "grave political provocation" against the North. "The so-called 'cryptocurrency hacking case by the DPRK' is no more

As the United States and China race to dominate artificial intelligence (AI), Korea should focus on making itself indispensable to the two superpowers rather than simply trying to catch up in the development of cutting-edge technologies, experts said during The Korea Times roundtable “Beyond US-China AI race: Korea's strategic edge." They suggested that Korea could secure a unique position in the global AI landscape by leveraging its manufacturing capabilities, industrial know-how and advanced semiconductor supply chain, as well as building AI infrastructure that would deepen its strategic importance to the U.S. and its allies. Lee Do-kyung, founder and CEO of Bone AI, proposed developing Korea into a “forward-deployed industrial base” for the U.S. and its allies, combining American technologies with Korea's manufacturing capabilities to produce, deploy and maintain AI-powered systems in the Indo-Pacific region. “Even if a single motor breaks down, a drone cannot operate, and sourcing new parts from the U.S. mainland can take three to four months by sea,” Lee said. “The U.S.

Companies seeking to expand into global markets like North America and Europe should consider applying for OU certification, a kosher label approved by the Orthodox Union, according to an associate of the oldest Orthodox Jewish organization in the United States. Steve Hong, certification sales agent for the New York City-based group operating OU Kosher worldwide, said that to get mainstream distribution in the U.S., Canada and Europe, Korean food firms should seek to certify their products with OU, the most widespread kosher certification label in those regions. He said over 1.3 million kosher products manufactured at 15,000 plants in 105 countries have been certified with OU. That is over 70 percent of all kosher products being distributed worldwide. Hong said the majority of kosher food products at Costco and Walmart stores in the U.S. are OU-labeled. According to OU Kosher, 71 percent of kosher products at 190 Ralph’s Supermarkets stores in California and 66 percent of kosher products at Stop & Shop stores in the northeastern U.S. have been certified by OU Kosher, while the remaind

With artificial intelligence (AI) emerging as a fiercely contested front in the intensifying rivalry between the United States and China, Korea faces a growing dilemma. The country is caught between Washington's dominance in frontier AI technologies and China's growing presence in the consumer market with open-weight and open-source models. To explore how Korea should navigate this geopolitical landscape, The Korea Times hosted a roundtable titled “Beyond U.S.-China AI race: Korea’s strategic edge,” which included the country’s leading experts. Participants included Kim Sung-han, former national security adviser and Korea University professor emeritus; Reform Party of Korea Rep. Lee Jun-seok; Lim Jong-in, former presidential cybersecurity adviser and Soongsil University AI committee chair; and Bone AI CEO Lee Do-kyung. Korea Times President-Publisher Oh Young-jin moderated the discussion. Kim stressed that Korea should distinguish between consumer AI and technologies used for national security, calling for high-level consultations between Cheong Wa Dae and the White House to defi

In Korea, cafes are no longer just places to grab a cup of coffee. They are increasingly becoming cultural venues where visitors can discover local brands, browse curated products and exhibitions and sample menus developed in collaboration with local businesses. The shift extends beyond cafes, with retail spaces doubling as venues for exhibitions, performances and pop-up events. For Urbanplay CEO Hong Joo-seok, every space has a story of its own. He believes the value of a physical space lies not simply in its design, but in the experiences it offers and the stories it tells visitors. "It is important to carefully plan what kind of content visitors will experience and what services can keep them connected to a brand even after the experience ends," Hong said in a recent interview with The Korea Times. "We are not a company that simply designs the physical structure of a space. We plan the content inside it and design the user experience," he added. Founded in 2013, Urbanplay connects brands and local creators with audiences through physical spaces. Rather than designing buildings or interi

For years after graduating from college, Park, an office worker in her early 30s, barely set foot in a bookstore. Having spent so much of her academic life buried in texts, she thought her days of reading for pleasure were behind her. Then came October 2024, when Han Kang, author of the International Booker Prize-winning novel “The Vegetarian,” became the first Asian woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. “I remember going to Kyobo’s Gwanghwamun branch and being overwhelmed by the crowds of people trying to get their hands on Han's books,” she said. “That’s when I realized reading didn’t have to feel like an obligation. It could be something you enjoy for its own sake and share with other people.” The experience was made all the more appealing by the growing array of literary accessories — from fabric book covers and book pouches to bookmarks, paperweights and decorative book rings — that added an aesthetic dimension to the hobby. Since then, visiting bookstores has become a regular pastime for Park. Her most recent visit, a week ago, was to pick up “Autobiog

NEW YORK — When polls close in the U.S. midterm elections on Tuesday night, Noah Poser will be glued to his phone tracking dozens of large wagers he placed on prediction markets. Poser, 28, who works in financial technology and has written about betting strategies in such markets, plans to track every change in the vote count from a friend's watch party in New York City. He said he has wagers with a total value in the six figures on the line, betting on a strong showing by Democrats, and entered the bets a few months ago when odds were at a much better price. If he wins, he estimates profits of as much as $30,000. "It's a numbers game; you have to strip your emotions out of it," said Poser, the author of a self-published book about his betting strategies, including prediction markets. Poser built a proprietary quantitative model for trading these markets. He will not be alone on Tuesday evening. Across the United States, people are betting on this year's midterm races at record levels for U.S. election betting. Prediction markets rose to prominence in 2024 when they bucked traditional o

U.S. officials have held up approval for American chipmaking equipment needed by SK hynix to expand production in China, complicating the Korean chipmaker's plans for new memory-chip plants in New York, according to people familiar with the matter. SK hynix is seeking U.S. export licenses to equip its Dalian plant, arguing that increased production there would help fund its planned U.S. expansion. But the Commerce Department has yet to approve the new licenses, the people said. Its Solidigm unit plans to invest about $45 billion and build two NAND plants in Marcy, New York, two people said, with investment potentially reaching about $100 billion over time. NAND is memory that retains data even when power is turned off and is used for storage in data centers. Trump administration faces policy dilemma The negotiations raise questions about how far the Trump administration is willing to bend national security guardrails established to keep U.S. technology from aiding China's military, in order to bring foreign investment and chipmaking onshore. "Ultimately, none of this is going to go forward

PARIS/DETROIT — Hackers used a bogus job interview and software hidden in an advertisement to compromise the computers of two Binance software engineers before using a third's computer to drain $6.3 billion worth of crypto in last week's record heist, the exchange said on Tuesday. In its initial report on how hackers pulled off what could be the largest-ever financial theft, Binance detailed a multi-stage hacking endeavour that began in June and set off a series of security breaches culminating in the theft on Thursday. Even as Binance scrambled to lock down its system and freeze withdrawals after detecting the attack late on Thursday, the hackers were still making off with crypto from the exchange nearly four hours after the first theft, Binance said. The FBI has blamed a North Korean hacking group, a claim North Korea has rejected. Binance has said it is repaying all customers whose funds were stolen. The attack has raised questions about how hackers breached the world's largest crypto exchange after years of North Korea-linked attacks, which have grown in ambition and frequency, and

LONDON — Mysterious cyberattacks on European supermarket fridges have sent officials around the continent scrambling to figure out the cold, hard facts. Supermarkets in a number of European countries reported this week that their fridges and freezers warmed up after they were remotely taken over, resulting in tons of spoiled food at a total cost of millions of dollars (euros). One Swedish supermarket said its fridges and freezers had been hacked and set to 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit). It's a repeat of an earlier incident that struck refrigeration systems in hundreds of supermarkets and independent stores across France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Here's a closer look: What happened and who was affected Supermarkets in at least half a dozen European countries, including Sweden, Belgium, Luxembourg, Ireland, Italy and Estonia, reported problems on Monday. It wasn't just big chains. The owner of a butcher shop in Athens told private Greek Skai TV Tuesday that someone hacked into the temperature control of a refrigeration unit, raising the temperature to 150 degrees Celsius (3

WASHINGTON — Americans voted Tuesday in midterm elections to decide whether President Donald Trump's Republicans retain control of Congress or spend the final two years of his term confronting Democratic majorities. High living costs, the war with Iran and Trump's poor approval ratings have helped Democrats expand the electoral map, with unusually tight contests even in Republican strongholds. But polling errors, redrawn districts and record campaign spending make the outcome uncertain. The arithmetic Republicans hold a 53-47 Senate majority. Democrats need a net gain of four seats to take the upper chamber of Congress, as a 50-50 tie would leave Republicans in charge through Vice President JD Vance's tie-breaking vote. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are contested. It is currently made up of 218 Republicans and one Republican-aligned independent, 214 Democrats, and two vacancies. Democrats need at least 218 seats in the lower chamber to clinch a majority in the new session. Senate: eight battlegrounds North Carolina: The state's Democratic ex-governor Roy Cooper faces Republ

WASHINGTON — State officials who run U.S. elections are braced for possible intervention by President Donald Trump's administration in Tuesday's midterms -- fearing federal authorities could disrupt voting, challenge ballot counts or try to block unfavorable results. Trump, whose Republicans face an uphill battle to keep control of Congress, has repeatedly questioned the integrity of U.S. elections and urged his party to "nationalize" voting in at least 15 places. The White House says it is protecting election security, and many of the feared scenarios remain hypothetical. The U.S. Constitution gives the president no direct role in running elections, and courts have so far rebuffed the administration's main legal challenges. Here are the key potential flashpoints: Who gets to vote The Justice Department has sued 30 states and the District of Columbia to obtain their voter registration lists, saying it needs them to find non-citizens. It has lost more than two dozen of those cases. It has also demanded that ballots be set aside from about 20,000 people in California and more than 400 in Wa

ILULISSAT, Greenland — Greenlandic lawmakers on Tuesday voted to approve an agreement between the Arctic island, Denmark and the United States to strengthen security in the Arctic and North Atlantic after months of pressure by U.S. President Donald Trump seeking to control the semiautonomous territory of a NATO ally. The trilateral deal paves the way for more U.S. bases in Greenland and eases tensions over Trump's repeated calls for the vast island to become part of the United States. The agreement's goal is to bolster the U.S. military presence on Greenland but keep the self-governing island under Danish control. It would still apply if Greenland eventually chooses independence. Greenlandic lawmakers voted 16-0 for the agreement, with seven abstentions. Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen signed the agreement in September on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York. Danish lawmakers are set to debate it later this month. The deal will “enter into force” once the “necessary parliamentary processes of th

DUBAI — Iran and the United States are still far from a deal to end their war, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Tuesday, while mediator Qatar stepped up efforts to bridge differences and avert a renewed escalation after the U.S. midterm elections. Overnight, the United States carried out "defensive" strikes on Iran's Qeshm island targeting surface-to-air missiles used against U.S. assets, a U.S. official said. Another official said the strikes appeared limited and did not signal a return to major combat operations. U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday renewed threats of possible military action, telling Fox News Channel: "I'm not looking to ... kill lots of people. If we have to, we'll have to." Qatar has intensified mediation efforts amid fears the conflict launched by the United States and Israel in February could flare up again after Tuesday's midterms. "Mediators are working hard to narrow gaps between Tehran and Washington," the senior Iranian official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Qatari mediators travelled to Tehran on Monday night for talks on a version o

WASHINGTON — South Korea's Hanwha Group has appointed a new president of its Philadelphia shipyard in the United States, as the conglomerate seeks to expand its U.S. naval shipbuilding operations, according to the company. Kim Hyuk has been named president of Hanwha Philly Shipyard, effective Monday, succeeding David Kim, who helped oversee Hanwha's acquisition of the facility in 2024 and a near doubling of its workforce since then, the shipyard said in a press release. The new president brings more than 25 years of experience in commercial and naval shipbuilding, including senior positions at Hanwha Ocean Co. and its predecessor, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering. The appointment comes as Hanwha Defense USA (HDUSA), a subsidiary of South Korean defense giant Hanwha Aerospace Co., takes majority ownership of the Philadelphia shipyard as part of efforts to transform the facility into a dual-use shipyard capable of building both commercial and military vessels. Kim will report directly to Tom Anderson, president of U.S. shipbuilding at HDUSA, who oversees the company's shipbuildin

WASHINGTON — The United States on Tuesday reiterated concerns over North Korea's use of cybercrime to finance its weapons programs, following a denial from the North Korean leader's sister Kim Yo-jong of allegations that Pyongyang was behind a multibillion-dollar theft from cryptocurrency exchange Binance. On Tuesday (Korean time), the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un flatly dismissed the findings of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) accusing Pyongyang for a crypto theft of over $6 billion from Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, calling it a "grave political provocation" against the North. The FBI linked the theft to a North Korean hacking group it calls TraderTraitor, a name previously tied to other cryptocurrency heists. "The issue of DPRK cybercrime is a global problem that touches companies and jurisdictions around the world, including the United States," a U.S. State Department spokesman told Yonhap News Agency, referring to North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, when asked about the department's p

WASHINGTON — Voters struggling with high prices and angry over an unpopular war with Iran will decide Tuesday whether to drastically shift power in Washington in midterm elections that will serve as a referendum on President Donald Trump's second term. Democrats were cautiously optimistic as they watched Republicans spend the campaign's final stretch pumping tens of millions of dollars into states and districts that Trump won handily two years ago. They're betting that discontent over Trump’s failure to deliver on his promise to tackle rising costs and perceptions that he has focused more on gilding the nation’s capital than their pain at the pump will depress Republican turnout and drive their own voters to the polls. Republicans held out hope their money advantage would help stem the tide, but they were bracing to lose control of the U.S. House and fighting to hang onto the U.S. Senate — an outcome that seemed unlikely earlier this year, given a map widely seen as favoring their party. Margins are tight in both chambers; one or two seats could tip the balance. Democrats need a

WASHINGTON — The first polls were closing on Tuesday as voters, fed up over high prices and angry over the direction of the country, cast their ballots in midterm elections that will serve as a referendum on President Donald Trump’s second term. The elections could drastically shift power in Washington. Democrats were cautiously optimistic as they watched Republicans spend the campaign’s final stretch pumping tens of millions of dollars into states and districts that Trump won handily two years ago. They're betting that discontent over Trump’s failure to tackle rising costs, the Iran war, and perceptions that he's focused more on gilding the nation’s capital than their pain at the pump will depress Republican turnout and drive their own voters to the polls. Republicans held out hope their money advantage would help stem the tide, but they were bracing to lose control of the U.S. House and fighting to hang onto the U.S. Senate — an outcome that seemed unlikely earlier this year, given a map widely seen as favoring their party. Margins are tight in both chambers; one or two se

Captain Q, the legendary liquor brand, has made a comeback after 11 years, sparking a nationwide craze. For middle-aged and older consumers who enjoyed it in the past, the relaunch evokes nostalgia. For younger generations who never got to try it, the brand has become an object of curiosity, fueled by notorious hangover tales that have evolved into entertaining internet memes. The product is now so hard to find that it is reportedly changing hands on the secondhand market for several times its retail price. Captain Q was first launched in 1980 by Lotte Chilsung Beverage, then known as Lotte Liquor, and is considered one of the original mass-market Korean liquors. Such products were developed at a time when liquor imports were restricted. They were essentially imitation spirits made by blending neutral alcohol (ethanol) with coloring, flavoring and small amounts of liquor concentrates to mimic the taste and aroma of imported spirits. Captain Q was one such product, containing a small amount of rum concentrate. Its affordable price made it particularly popular among college students and

The Central Criminal Court has heard that Scarlett Faulkner who died after she was severely assaulted at Birdhill in Tipperary last March was terrified of the 41-year-old woman who is now on trial for her murder.

The cereal giant has changed the recipes for Rice Krispies and Coco Pops, sparking a backlash online.

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak says in the 2026 federal budget she wants to see sustained funding for First Nations services and infrastructure and the resources First Nations need to file specific claims.

Ryan James Roach, 35, has been extradited to the U.S. after being indicted on charges related to the hacking of university supercomputers to mine cryptocurrency.

Democrats secured some big wins - and a few historic firsts - earning congratulations from President Trump.

Some consumers in the U.K. are in an uproar after cereal-maker Kellogg's recently changed its recipe there for Rice Krispies, replacing the whole rice grains in the family-favourite breakfast with rice flour.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh's bid to make a personal statement to the Dáil over his chairmanship of a charity at the centre of a money laundering investigation has not been approved, Sinn Féin has said.

Black voters in Georgia on Tuesday said, “Not today, Satan,” according to professor Carol Anderson, professor of African American studies at Emory University. Despite the Trump administration’s efforts to disenfranchise Black voters in the South this election cycle and the Supreme Court’s gutting of the Voting Rights Act, she says there was “massive turnout” that propelled Democrats to victory. Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms defeated billionaire Republican healthcare executive Rick Jackson, becoming the first Black woman ever elected governor in the United States. Incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff also handily won his bid for reelection.

The billionaire's political action committee (Pac) contributed $47m (£35m) to Ken Paxton's campaign.

Late night host Jimmy Kimmel had some choice words for U.S. President Donald Trump last night as a “blue tsunami” stormed the country during the U.S. elections, quipping in the monologue of ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live! that Trump was "already running out of dipping sauce containers to throw at the television set."

Texas Democrats have shattered more than three decades of Republican dominance in the state, winning races for U.S. Senate, governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and even railroad commissioner. They are also poised to possibly take control of the Texas House of Representatives for the first time since 2003. The Republican governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, lost his bid for a fourth term to Democratic state Representative Gina Hinojosa, who defeated him by nearly 700,000 votes. She will be Texas’s first Latina governor. And James Talarico will be the first Democrat to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate since 1993.

“We’re celebrating these wonderful candidates who won office, and we’re also starting to think about what it means to hold power,” says Mike Siegel, a city council member from Austin, Texas, who founded Ground Game Texas, a statewide voter turnout organization. “We need to start thinking very quickly about how we will protect public education, how we will stop data centers and the encroachment of AI on our society, how we will protect public schools, how we stop collaboration with ICE.”

As Republicans suffered a landslide defeat and Texas elected its first Democratic governor in more than three decades, one of the biggest losers of the U.S. midterms was not on the ballot: billionaire Elon Musk.

The jury in trial of a man accused of murdering a 21-year-old woman in Co Antrim has been told that he dismembered her body and hid the parts in bins in an attempt to avoid detection.

The jury in trial of a man accused of murdering a 21-year-old woman in Co Antrim has been told that he dismembered her body and hid the parts in bins in an attempt to avoid detection.

In a stunning repudiation of President Trump, Democrats regained control of both chambers of Congress in Tuesday’s midterm elections, flipping seven Senate seats: Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, Maine, North Carolina and South Carolina. Meanwhile, progressive Democrat Dr. Abdul El-Sayed defeated former Republican Congressmember Mike Rogers for an open Senate seat in Michigan with over 52% of the vote. El-Sayed campaigned on a platform of Medicare for All, tackling economic inequality and getting big money out of politics — as well as ending military aid to Israel. He is the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate. El-Sayed faced vitriolic, Islamaphobic attacks by top Republicans throughout the campaign.

“Last night wasn’t just about Dr. Abdulrahman being a Muslim, winning and going to the United States Senate,” says Palestinian American organizer and author Linda Sarsour, who has been campaigning for El-Sayed. “It demonstrated that progressives can win in states like Michigan” and that “we can win on standing up for the human rights of the Palestinian people.”

The first person who was attacked also says he asked hospital staff "am I going to die today?".

The federal government announced on Wednesday that China will extend its soon-to-expire tariff-free treatment for some Canadian agricultural and seafood products for another two years.

Voters Deliver Stunning Rebuke of Trump with Democrats Regaining Control of Congress, Historic Night in Texas as Democrats Win Senate Seat and Governorship, Progressive Michigan Democrat Dr. Abdul El-Sayed Elected First Muslim Senator, Democrat Annie Andrews Wins South Carolina Senate Seat in a Stunning Upset, Mississippi’s Senate Race Remains Too Close to Call, Democrat Troy Jackson Unseats Five-Term GOP Senator Susan Collins, New Hampshire Democrat Chris Pappas Becomes First Openly Gay Senator, Adam Hamilton Becomes First Kansas Democrat Elected to the Senate Since 1932, Democrat Amy Acton Defeats Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio Governor’s Race, Democrat Deb Haaland Becomes First Native American Female Governor in U.S. History, Midterm Elections Result in Several Historic Firsts, The Democratic Socialists of America Score Big Wins in Congress, Voters Approve Ballot Measures Expanding Reproductive Rights, Trump Announces U.S. to Stop Providing Israel $4 Billion in Annual Military Aid, DOJ Tells Alaska Democrats They May Be Targets of Federal Probe over Alleged “Spoiler” Candidate, Trump Administration Presses for Long-Term U.S. Military Occupation of Venezuela

Three men died when a train derailed near Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire following heavy rain in 2020.

Pope Leo XIV holds an audience with Chilean President José Antonio Kast Rist, who meets afterwards with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher to discuss “several matters of common interest at the regional and international levels.”

Read all

From angry voters to an unpopular president, here is why Americans in traditional Republican areas turned to Democrats.

A senior Democrat says his party will work to end U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs on allies, including Canada, when it takes control of Congress next year.

Follow developments as senior representatives from RTÉ are appearing before the Oireachtas Committee on Media.

Eighty per cent of gamblers in Ireland have at least one online account with most people having more than one, according to new research by the Economic and Social Research Institute commissioned by the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland.

The Laudato Sì Platform’s fifth annual report highlights growing participation, initiatives led by religious congregations and Catholic communities worldwide, and new tools to strengthen the Church’s commitment to integral ecology.

Read all

"We endorse this message," Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf says, as Donald Trump acknowledges the conflict's role in the Republican Party's defeat.

Gordon Brothers will meet Jonathan Reynolds on Wednesday as the investment firm faces scrutiny over Poundland.

The death toll from a Russian bombing of an aid distribution point in Ukraine's southeastern Zaporizhzhia region on Monday has risen to 37, with dozens missing.

The UN’s peacekeeping chief warned on Wednesday that the withdrawal of “Blue Helmets” from Lebanon and Western Sahara risks leaving a dangerous security vacuum, while the Security Council remains divided over what, if anything, should replace them.

Gunfire hit and damaged multiple tents at a displacement site in Gaza’s northern Rafah region on Tuesday, reportedly causing injuries and forcing a humanitarian partner to leave the area, the UN aid coordination office (OCHA) has said.

Many children born in Syria since the war began in 2011 have no legal identity because nationality passes only through fathers – many of whom are dead or missing – a member of the independent UN commission investigating rights violations in the country said on Wednesday.

One in four adolescents worldwide reported not getting at least 60 minutes of physical activity on any day in the previous week, according to new global estimates released by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday.

Although global warming is set to exceed 1.5°C, financing to help communities adapt to climate change falls far short of needs, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said in a report published on Wednesday.

The world has more tools than ever to tackle climate change, yet millions remain unable to benefit from them. As clean energy technologies advance faster than ever, the challenge facing countries at COP31 is no longer just finding solutions – but making sure everyone can afford them.

When war shut the Strait of Hormuz in February, oil prices soared everywhere. But the pain at the pump has been far from equal, and the world’s developing economies are paying the heaviest price, according to a new report from UNCTAD, the UN trade and development agency.

More than half of Afghanistan’s children who should be in primary school remain outside formal learning and millions of girls can only dream of going to university.

All five boys who were injured had been invited to attend the supervised party on Saturday night.

The makers of the popular times table game say they are bringing in curfews and limits to screen time.

MUFG Emut will be the first bank affiliated with a major Japanese financial group not to issue cash cards.

The family of Detective Garda Colm Horkan have said they have no faith in an investigation into the suitability of the gun holster that he was wearing at the time of his murder.

Fiosrú, the Office of the Police Ombudsman, has said it has opened an investigation into the gun holster belonging to Detective Garda Colm Horkan.

He was stylist to the stars in the 1960s and 1970s before creating a global range of hair products.

Holly Alex, who was groomed as a teenager, has urged the government to make good on their pledge to deliver an inquiry "at pace".

See the maps and charts that show how America voted in the US midterm elections.

During his Wednesday General Audience, Pope Leo asks for prayers for his imminent Apostolic Journey to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, and recalls two upcoming beatification celebrations as well as the liturgical memorial of St. Charles Borromeo, a saint who he said teaches us how to be led by Christ in our daily lives.

Read all

The system will combine AI with 3D spatial data from accident sites and footage from security cameras, reducing the need for on-site inspections.

During the Wednesday General Audience, Pope Leo XIV focuses on how Christians can engage in economic and political life in order to build peace, as he continues his reflection on the 1965 Pastoral Constitution 'Gaudium et Spes.'

Read all

Meeting with Church foundations that assist Eastern Christians, Pope Leo XIV calls for dialogue between culture and history in search for an “unarmed and disarming peace.”

Read all

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has joked about Republicans' defeat in US midterm elections after spending hundreds of millions of dollars to help the party.

Analysis - American voters reacted decisively today to reject the way things are being done.

Officials in Tokyo are worried that adding a new partner at this stage could further delay the aircraft's planned 2035 introduction date.

Rich countries are falling about $277 billion US short ‌of the $305 billion needed each year to help developing nations adapt to climate change, even as extreme weather events become more frequent and severe, a UN report said on Wednesday.

Kimi Onoda, minister in charge of policies related to foreign nationals, said demand for a special visa category is expected to eventually decline.

Former prime minister Stephen Harper says he offered Mark Carney, then the governor of the Bank of Canada, a role in his Conservative government in 2012 — though not as finance minister. Not right away, at least.

At the Estadio Centenario, workers are putting up the stage for a prayer vigil. In the Old City, hymns are being rehearsed for Vespers. As Montevideo prepares to welcome Pope Leo XIV, organizers hope his visit will speak to people across a city shaped by Uruguay’s secular tradition.

Read all

Directed by Milcho Manchevski, the film took the Tokyo Grand Prix, earning top honors among 15 entries in the Competition section.

Iranian officials celebrated U.S. voters' rebuke of the Republican Party and President Donald Trump in the midterm elections, as the region waited to see how the results could affect the Iran war.

The US midterm vote has ushered in a wave of historic leadership firsts across the country.

Tuesday's results revealed the U.S. president was unable to persuade the broader electorate to back his choices.

Democrats are preparing a legislative offensive against US President Donald Trump after their sweeping midterm victory handed them control of both chambers of Congress and the power to challenge his policies, investigate his administration and block his nominees.

The progressive favourite defeated Republican Mike Rogers for Michigan's open Senate seat, giving the Democratic Party's left wing a breakthrough victory in one of the nation's most important swing states.

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan's US Senate race over Republican Mike Rogers, US networks reported, making him the first Muslim elected to the upper chamber of Congress.

Multiple sheds were found on fire when emergency services arrived.

Regarding how the tax cut might affect their consumer behavior, 49.7% of people surveyed said they would not change their spending plans.

Yuichiro Tamaki indicated the DPP's decision to back the legislation would depend on if the ruling coalition accepts its alternative proposal.

Two Senate races that a year ago were thought to be battlegrounds turned out to be slam-dunks for the Democrats.

A look back on developments after an 'epic' blue wave helped Democrats take Congress in an overwhelming rebuke to Donald Trump.

Democrat James Talarico said "we defeated Goliath" after winning a US Senate seat in Texas, dealing a historic blow to Republicans.

Even voters in areas that have repeatedly backed US President Donald Trump are no longer on board with the Republican Party, writes Jackie Fox.

The brass lock, found in the sand near Port Talbot, forms part of a 1583 shipwreck treasure hoard.

A few hours before the 5pm Wednesday deadline he made another social media post, adding audio of Crazy by Gnarls Barkley.

They are in a serious condition.

Bachelor of Health graduate Fatima Alsaeed has lost count of the jobs she has applied for since graduating in May.

Google launched a new online shopping tool in Canada on Wednesday, allowing complete purchases via chat with its AI agent.

Nearly 30 years after the original, Nintendo has remade The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. It’s an unquestionable fan favourite that’s shinier, but retains the soul of a game that isn’t made like this anymore.

Democrat Gina Hinojosa unseated incumbent Texas Governor Greg Abbott in US midterms elections, media projections showed, in a stunning triumph for her party in the Lone Star State.

US President Donald Trump, faced with sweeping Democratic victories in midterm elections, has said his Republican Party would have won in a "landslide" if he had been running.

The tech-heavy Nikkei 225 declined as much as 4.8%, with chip and AI-related shares slumping more than 13% and among the worst performers.

The union wants the government to step in to help bargaining with its employer.

New Zealand has highly productive soils, but a global report warns erosion, compaction and freshwater contamination risks are putting the whenua under pressure.

Democrat Adam Hamilton won a US Senate seat in Kansas, according to US media projections, unseating Republican incumbent Roger Marshall.

It marks the first time Hiroshima returned the remains of an atomic bomb victim whose name had been found to be recorded incorrectly in its registry.

A national chief's remarks on Métis identity have reopened bitter divisions and put unresolved identity disputes back into the spotlight.

Teens struggling to find work face losing Jobseeker support, with their parents’ income now tested.

The party flipped Senate seats in Republican bastions and racked up wins in competitive House races.

The powerful sister of North Korea's leader issued a familiar ultimatum to Trump, telling him to drop his country's "hostile policy."

It is business as usual for the wardens who wander the streets to wake up rough sleepers each morning.

Tokyo did not issue an alert about any North Korean missile launches, as it usually does with those that could pose a threat to Japan.

The recent death of the self-proclaimed King of Papaala, Noah Musingku, has prompted discussion over whether this famous, reclusive Bougainvillean was a visionary or a conman.

Rain could also intensify in areas from the Kanto region to around Shizuoka Prefecture on Thursday.

A psychologist says the teen, accused of murdering 15yo Kaea Karauria, was exposed to alcohol and drugs in the womb.

US President Donald Trump has confirmed that the United States launched strikes on Iran, as Iran warned no one would benefit from a return to war.

Shalty Heta will go on trial in the High Court at Auckland in October next year.

Canada wants to split its planned purchase of 12 German submarines, committing to eight up front while leaving the remaining four for a future decision. Sources tell CBC News the proposal is intended to preserve financial flexibility but could jeopardize some of the $86 billion in economic benefits promised by Germany.

Every year, amid our current running boom, more and more people vie for the chance to lace up their sneakers and push themselves 42.2 kilometres to cross that finish line. But every year, young and seemingly healthy people also die trying.

The last boundary panel's chair urged the new panel not to alter ridings in southern Alberta. They did.

The incoming mayor of Clarington, Ont., will take office alongside a councillor who has been criminally charged with uttering threats against him, raising questions about how council will navigate the matter.

Canada does not need to shut down its industries or take a catastrophic financial hit to effectively fight climate change, one of the country's leading climate scientists testified during a landmark trial in a Vancouver courtroom this week.

Cape Verde football captain Ryan Mendes' lawyer says police have told him that his client had been cleared.

The plan envisages an Aotearoa where children are put first in all policy and decision making.

The coal train was heading towards Christchurch when the last wagon derailed about 10pm on Tuesday

Papua New Guinea police had earlier dismissed speculation that the 32kg object was "merely a dummy".

Built around 1855, the former Fitzroy Hotel on Wakefield Street is considered the city's oldest brick building.

Democrats have seized control of the US Congress, capturing the Senate and House of Representatives in a rejection of Donald Trump's presidency.

The popular card program, with a total distribution of around 26 million, has been hindered by verbal abuse toward employees and illegal parking.

Labour foreign affairs spokesperson Vanushi Walters believes New Zealand has plenty of work to do at home and abroad to reap the trade benefits.

Firefighters have controlled a blaze that engulfed a large building and sent out plumes of smoke near central Christchurch.

A psychiatrist says there was no consequence for the breaches, with the team instead weighing his overall progress.

Two people died in the crash.

Wainuiomata Primary School says the incident happened while students were travelling to Te Papa Museum but there are no serious injuries.

The food delivery industry saw a surge in new entrants during COVID-19, but the sector has now largely consolidated around three players.

Justices acted with remarkable speed to shut down his attempt to intervene in California's ballot count on the eve of Tuesday's midterm elections.

It's all on in Christchurch's biggest electorate.

Speaking to BBC's Newscast, the foreign secretary says Britain cannot sweep its past "under the carpet".

Workers said OpenAI's controls were so lax that outsiders could obtain sensitive information about the AI lab's technology with relative ease.

Former inmates have told researchers they felt like they were being thrown in the deep end on leaving prison.

A leading Arab-Israeli party has said it will recommend that opposition bloc leader Gadi Eisenkot form the next government following last week's election.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has called on parties to accept that "not every commitment and promise can be fulfilled" after the general election delivered no majority for either main bloc.

Goshi Hosono called on the central government to support local governments while stressing the need to improve conditions at evacuation centers.

The suspects are accused of illegally tapping phones of the president, journalists, politicians, business people and more from 2025 to this year.

A rapid response unit and an ambulance were called to Stanley Point Road.

Americans went to the polls in midterm elections that will determine who controls Congress for the final two years of US President Donald Trump's term.

Instead, the document uses the terms "automation" and "digital enablement" about a dozen times.

No explosives were found, despite extensive searches on the ground after the planes all took off and landed safely in different European cities.

Summing up the case, Justice Simon Mount warned jurors not to lump the four teens together.

The media personality and businesswoman says she's worked on her acting for series two of All's Fair.

The very first Toroa egg of the season was laid in front of the Royal Cam, before a global audience.

Two men have been charged after allegedly breaking into power boxes at a Massey telecommunications site.

The campaign, Focus on Safety, outlines seven reforms believed to better the system.

Graduates are spending more time managing AI, but are they missing out on other work experience?

The aim is to detect hard-to-diagnose abdominal cancers, including liver, ovarian and pancreatic cancer, much sooner.

Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke is seeking to put a maximum compensation cap on the amount that people can claim in minor injury cases.

Trade unions and Government representatives have held further talks with an independent body in a bid to resolve the public sector pay dispute, with the meetings concluding this evening and further discussions possible in the coming days.

Dublin will experience significant disruption for four days next week as the largest policing operation in the history of the State takes place as part of Ireland's EU Presidency.

Dublin will experience significant disruption for four days next week as the largest policing operation in the history of the State takes place as part of Ireland's EU Presidency.

The Climate Change Advisory Council has strongly criticised the Government's failure to provide dedicated funding to restore Ireland's damaged natural environment.

There was significant demand for Merchant Quay Ireland's dedicated women's service last year, according to its latest annual review.

An Oireachtas committee has heard that the RTÉ sports department were "actually not happy" with the appointment of broadcaster Ger Gilroy because of comments he made about RTÉ Sport in the past.

There was significant demand for Merchant Quay Ireland's dedicated women's service last year, according to its latest annual review.

An Oireachtas committee has heard that "significant work remains" in terms of reform of RTÉ.

Republican candidates have performed strongly in preliminary midterm election results in American territories, despite the expected anti-Trump swing on the mainland.

Anabel Lyon, director of the University of British Columbia's school of creative writing, said she believed the unfounded accusations of a former student who accused bestselling author Steven Galloway of sexual assault.

A 27-year vision for a Pacific-led health centre in the Hutt Valley has become a reality.

US President Donald Trump has said he had made a deal with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Washington would stop $4 billion in annual funding to Israel after this year.

The growing cost of flooding must be confronted in a cost-of-living election, a local government senior official says.

It was the second consecutive auction where prices rose and followed a 2.5 percent rise

George Speight, a highly polarising and disruptive figure in Fiji's politics, has won gold at the Oceanian Regional Powerlifting & Bench Press Championships in Suva.

Democrats need four seats to win the House, but redistricting and several highly competitive races could complicate matters.

Spain's transport minister, Oscar Puente, has announced his resignation over last week's deadly train crash, the country's second this year, hours after laying out the government's emergency aid package for victims and new safety measures.

The Regional District of East Kootenay, which includes B.C. communities like Cranbrook and Kimberley, now observes the same time as Fort Walton Beach and Crestview in Florida.

The number of people on hospital trolleys during morning counts has increased by at least 12% since last year, Cabinet has been told.

Ian Griffin says the Swift Observatory has helped humans understand the biggest explosions in the universe.

Kāpiti College retired traditional head boy and girl titles in 2022 to support gender diversity and select leaders on merit rather than quotas.

Hockey fans in Winnipeg say they're fed up with having to pay for additional subscriptions to watch their favourite teams play.

Frankie has lived on the streets since he was just 11, one of many clients of a youth charity reporting a 95 percent increase in those desperate for help.

Google faced a setback today when an adviser to Europe's highest court backed a complaint by publishers against its Gemini chatbot's use of their copyrighted articles to respond to queries from internet users.

An Indian national was also killed in the incident during which two choppers collided as they prepared to land.

Police cut two dozen jobs in their file management unit last month, with more than 60 positions disestablished, created or shifted.

Patrick O'Donovan was involved in "consultations" over who would be selected to assume his portfolio, a spokesman for the Tánaiste has said.

A feasibility study found Hawkes Bay growers they should avoid a McCain-style large scale model again.

B.C.'s privacy watchdog has launched an investigation into whether the provincial Crime Stoppers society took adequate steps to protect personal information following a massive data breach that exposed more than 1.5 million anonymous crime tips across Canada.

Twenty-nine known orders have been issued so far, with most of them in Wellington.

An ASB survey shows net investor confidence across the country rose 14 percentage points to 15 percent in the quarter.

Democrats have an unexpected opportunity to seize control of the US Senate, with key races across several battleground states.

A group of senior Israeli ex-military officials helped Palestinian farmers to harvest olives, in a gesture of solidarity amid an upsurge in militant settler violence targeting Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

The case stemmed from a March 2025 protection order issued under British Columbia's Intimate Images Protection Act that X delete the intimate image shared on its platform.

Scientists at Stanford University in California stumbled on a promising discovery when two coral fragments in the lab — one bleached and one healthy — tipped over in a tank and touched. Weeks later, the bleached coral was completely restored. They talk to us about that surprising discovery.

A retired military lieutenant-colonel is on trial for sexual assault in Winnipeg, after a reservist accused her of groping and threatening him at a work function over three years ago.

A formal petition signed by members of the P.E.I. Progressive Conservative Party is calling for a vote on Premier Rob Lantz's leadership.

As Canada looks ahead at six December byelections and the United States rolls through midterms, Elections Canada is sounding the alarm that artificial intelligence is challenging how voters can get accurate information during elections.

More than three years after Canada's auditor general issued an "urgent call to action" to improve Nunavut's troubled child and family services, another follow-up report says little has been done to fix things, and the urgency remains.

Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada and the U.S. have made progress on reaching a trade deal, but stressed more work is needed before any agreement is finalized.

The Taoiseach has updated his party tonight on plans for a new initiative to debate future constitutional arrangements on the island of Ireland.

A murder trial has heard that an 80-year-old man suffered blunt force trauma injuries to his face which caused an accelerated fall backwards.

Police officers killed three dogs involved in a "horrific incident" on Monday that left a young woman with life-threatening injuries in the northern community of Pelican Narrows, more than 400 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon.

A 43-year-old bus driver has gone on trial charged with dangerous driving causing the deaths of two teenagers who were travelling on an e-scooter in Waterford over two years ago.

An 89-year-old woman who was murdered in her home in Co Tipperary two years ago, "caught her killer", a jury at the Central Criminal Court has heard.

Police say the thieves are "exploiting known vulnerabilities" but the company managing Subaru in NZ says it doesn't know what those are.

Universities will be compelled to stay neutral and allow freedom of expression if the Alberta legislature passes a new bill introduced by the United Conservative government on Tuesday.

A woman tells Prime Time of her anger after her brain tumour went undiagnosed despite repeated scans

In an internal union memo, Yves Francoeur, the president of the Fraternité des policiers et policières de Montréal — also known as the Montreal police brotherhood — said the manner in which the Montreal police force dismissed the officers raises "fundamental questions of law."

A famous man has lost his bid for an injunction in the UK against two media organisations to prevent the publication of allegations including sexual misconduct against him, but cannot yet be named as he can take his case to the Court of Appeal.

People affected by the Troubles have been "betrayed" and "forgotten" by successive governments, Northern Ireland's victims' commissioner has said.

Investigators have found part of the tail of the jet that crashed in South Florida over the weekend more than a kilometre from the crater caused when the aircraft made impact.

Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín said he has received a summons from the PSNI over his role at the Garvaghy Road protest in Portadown last month.

CBC News received information from the courts that was inaccurate.

The Government's employment permits online portal remains offline following a suspected data breach.

Two Ryanair flights originating from Dublin have been searched following potential bomb threats today.

Family members have identified the two victims of a suspected fatal grizzly bear attack near Bella Coola, B.C., as Jennifer Balcarras, 48, and her daughter Selah Reed, 20.

No special care bed is available for a boy who vomited up almost 40 bags of crack cocaine he was concealing from gardaí, the High Court has heard.

WASHINGTON — The final day of voting in this year’s midterm elections arrived Tuesday against a backdrop of uncertainty after a year in which President Donald Trump has tried to interfere in how states run their elections and sown doubts about the outcome should Republicans lose. Millions of Americans already have cast their ballots, with early voting turnout on pace to eclipse that of the last midterm elections . In contrast to the president’s continued rhetoric about election cheating , voting so far has unfolded with relatively few problems. Trump has spent months trying to use the power of the presidency to put his thumb on the scale of this year’s elections , which will determine whether his party keeps control of Congress. His Justice and Homeland Security departments have been involved in a massive hunt for voters who are not U.S. citizens , at one point engaging in a made-for-the-cameras predawn operation that led to more than two dozen arrests in California . The Department of Justice was planning its largest-ever effort to monitor Election Day polling places, countered

WASHINGTON — Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers are testing two sharply different theories for winning one of the nation’s premier swing states Tuesday in a white-knuckle contest that may determine control of the Senate. El-Sayed is aiming to prove that an unapologetically progressive agenda centered on universal healthcare can win a general election in a state President Donald Trump carried two years ago. The former Wayne County health director narrowly defeated establishment-backed Rep. Haley Stevens in an expensive and bruising Democratic primary. Michigan’s diverse electorate has created a complicated political battleground, with both nominees seeking statewide support while navigating divisions among the state’s large Jewish, Muslim and Black communities. Bitter disputes over U.S. support for Israel and accusations of antisemitism overshadowed the race, culminating in Stevens' shocking endorsement of Rogers in the final days of the race. For Rogers, the race is a second chance after he lost Michigan’s 2024 Senate election by fewer than 20,000 votes. This ti

K-pop giant HYBE reported record third-quarter revenue and operating profit Tuesday, propelled by BTS' ongoing world tour, putting it on track to become the first K-pop agency to surpass 4 trillion won ($2.98 billion) in annual revenue. According to its regulatory filing, the company's preliminary revenue for the July–September period jumped 109.8 percent year-on-year to 1.53 trillion won on a consolidated basis. Operating profit swung to 188.5 billion won from an operating loss of 42.2 billion won a year earlier, while net profit also returned to the black at 11.3 billion won. HYBE said both revenue and operating profit marked the highest quarterly figures in its history. "The previous quarterly records of 1.45 trillion won in revenue and 170.9 billion won in operating profit were set in the second quarter of this year, when BTS kicked off its 'Arirang' world tour, and those figures have now been surpassed in just one quarter," it explained. The operating profit also topped the market consensus of 166 billion won compiled by Yonhap Infomax by 13.6 percent. Concert sales led the growth,

Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Gen. Jin Yong-sung on Tuesday visited the soldiers injured in an explosion caused by land mines planted by North Korea inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and offered his sympathy, officials said. Jin met with the soldiers wounded from the Sept. 21 mine blast and their family members at the Armed Forces Capital Hospital in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, according to the JCS. During the visit, he pledged to ensure that the soldiers can focus solely on their recovery, saying he would never forget their sacrifices for the nation. Last month, the South Korean military concluded that the mine blast was caused by resin antipersonnel mines deliberately planted south of the Military Demarcation Line by Pyongyang. The blast injured three South Korean soldiers, two of them seriously. Jin also visited the Army Aviation Command in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, where he inspected the operational readiness of a KUH-1M military medical evacuation helicopter that was deployed at the time of the DMZ mine blast. The JCS chief urged troops to maintain a high level of readines

Korea and Turkey agreed to deepen cooperation on nuclear power plants during a bilateral summit in Seoul on Tuesday, signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to support Korean firms’ participation in Turkey’s planned Sinop project. President Lee Jae Myung and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also agreed to expand joint arms production, explore joint entry into third-country markets, boost trade and investment, broaden future growth cooperation and coordinate for Korean Peninsula peace and international stability. “With this MOU, we will be able to proactively help Korean companies participate in new Turkish nuclear power plant projects,” Lee said at a joint press announcement after the summit at Cheong Wa Dae, referring to the agreement on nuclear project financing cooperation. The MOU between the Export-Import Bank of Korea and Turkey’s nuclear energy corporation provides for project information exchanges, financing feasibility assessments and identification of potential funding opportunities. It builds on a nuclear energy cooperation MOU signed during Lee’s state v

K-pop girl group RESCENE returned Tuesday with its fourth mini album, “PULSE,” hoping to build on a breakout year that saw its songs climb back up the charts and earn six music show wins. The five-member group — Woni, Liv, Minami, May and Zena — introduced the five-track release during a showcase at Blue Square in Seoul, ahead of its scheduled release at 6 p.m. The album arrives nearly a year after the group’s third EP, “Lip Bomb,” released Nov. 25 last year, and four months after its remake single, “Pretty Girl.” Liv said the months had passed quickly, with members buoyed by listeners’ support. “We worked hard together to repay everyone who waited for us,” she said. “We’ll show you RESCENE that has grown stronger and more mature.” “’PULSE’ signals that our hearts have begun beating strongly again and captures the pounding heartbeat of seeing a scene we’ve long imagined unfold before our eyes,” Woni said, describing the album. Lead single “With” follows someone who runs toward a person they have long dreamed of meeting. Moving from a lyrical open

A court on Tuesday canceled a bail granted to Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja after she left a designated hospital without permission, legal sources said. The Seoul High Court decided to revoke the bail of 83-year-old Han, who was sentenced to a two-year prison term for bribing the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol and other corruption charges, as she was found to have visited a Unification Church compound, according to the sources. Han was found guilty of giving a luxury necklace and a Chanel bag to Yoon's wife, former first lady Kim Keon Hee, while requesting favors for the church through an intermediary in July 2022. Han was also convicted of colluding with former church officials to give 100 million won ($74,500) to Rep. Kweon Seong-dong of the People Power Party in January 2022.

Rapper Yang Hong-won has deleted all photos of his wedding to model Won Hyun-joo from his social media account, drawing renewed attention to the couple's relationship after he faced cheating allegations just five days into their marriage. As of Tuesday, posts containing photos from Yang and Won's wedding could no longer be found on his social media account. Yang had previously deleted a caption accompanying the wedding photos that read, "Hyun-joo, I love you. I still feel like I'm walking into a motel in Cheonho-dong." He has now removed the posts themselves. However, a photo posted in September showing Won preparing for a wedding photo shoot remains on his account. Yang and Won had been in a long-term relationship and welcomed a daughter in 2024. The couple, who also operated a YouTube channel featuring their family life, held their wedding on Oct. 18. Just five days later, allegations surfaced that Yang had accompanied another woman to a motel, sparking speculation that he had cheated on his wife. Yang's agency, AP Alchemy, acknowledged that he had accompanied the woman to the motel but

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) said Tuesday it will seek the parliamentary passage of a special counsel bill this week to investigate allegations of "fabricated indictments", including those involving President Lee Jae Myung, after adopting the measure as its official party line. The proposed bill seeks an independent probe into allegations that the prosecution under the previous Yoon Suk Yeol administration had fabricated evidence to indict then opposition leader Lee in multiple cases, including those involving alleged illegal remittances to North Korea and a development corruption scandal. "We adopted the special counsel bill on fabricated indictments as our official party line," DPK floor spokesperson Kim Sung-hoi told reporters after a general meeting of its lawmakers. "We plan to hold consultations to introduce the bill at a plenary session on Nov. 5." The bill, combined with Lee's prosecution reform, had fueled opposition accusations that Lee was trying to have his own indictments cancelled after a number of trials he faced were suspended following his election and ina

Around 100 high-tech companies in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, semiconductors and robotics will gather in Seoul next week to recruit young job seekers, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday. The 2026 Seoul Job Fair will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 9 at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in central Seoul. The city is hosting the event together with the Korea Industrial Technology Association and the Korea Student Aid Foundation. Sixty companies, including pharmaceutical firm Huons and surgical robot maker Meere Company, plan to hire about 400 people. Another 40 or so companies are taking part in a youth AI talent festival held alongside the fair. Job seekers can have one-on-one interviews and consultations with company recruiters on site. A QR code-based system lets them check their place in line and browse other companies’ openings while they wait. AI-based services will recommend companies that match applicants’ preferred jobs and working conditions. An AI “culture fit” test will help them find workplaces suited to their personalities and values. Visitors can als

For decades, Zainichi Koreans have lived on the margins of Japanese society while facing severe discrimination and social prejudice. The group includes ethnic Koreans living in Japan who trace their roots to the 1910-45 Japanese colonial period. Director Lee Il-ha's new documentary "Horoomon" brings this complex legacy to life through the fierce legal victory and rough journey of Shin Suk-ok, a prominent third-generation activist. Born in Tokyo in 1959, Shin overcame extreme poverty and prejudice to build a career as a successful corporate trainer and entrepreneur. In the 1990s, she emerged as one of the most outspoken voices for human rights in Japan, defending not only ethnic Koreans and survivors of wartime sex slavery, but also marginalized groups including refugees, people with disabilities and Indigenous minorities like the Ainu and Okinawans. She gained widespread public recognition for her sharp wit and uncompromising logic when challenging right-wing commentators on Japanese television debate shows. The movie's title refers to horumonyaki, a Japanese grilled organ meat dish wide

LX Semicon has named Na Joon-ho, executive vice president and head of strategy and marketing, as its next CEO as part of its regular executive reshuffle for 2027, the company said Tuesday. At a board meeting earlier in the day, the company approved Na's appointment and the promotion of one new executive. Na joined LX Semicon in 2001 after working at LG Semiconductor. Since then, he has held various positions, including head of driver IC development, the large-display development group and the TV and IT business division. He has played a key role in developing display system semiconductors and expanding the company's business, with his technical expertise contributing to overall revenue growth. Since 2024, Na has led the strategy and marketing division, overseeing marketing, sales, procurement and supply chain management for the company's display system semiconductor business and newer growth areas, including microcontroller units (MCUs) and thermal management substrates. LX Semicon expects Na to strengthen its position in core markets, identify new growth opportunities and improve risk ma

"I don't have the energy to actually go to a temple. So I just sit here for a little while before leaving." A virtual Buddhist temple created with artificial intelligence (AI) by a 26-year-old Korean job seeker has become an unexpected online hit, drawing more than 1 million visitors less than a week after its launch. Called "Sansa," the digital space lets users control a child-monk avatar that can put its palms together in prayer or perform Buddhist bows. Visitors can also use their mouse to roll prayer beads or strike a moktak, a wooden percussion instrument used in Korean Buddhist rituals. Sansa was launched on Oct. 26 by Park Jin-won, 26, who is looking for a job after graduating from university with a degree in English literature. "There are days when I feel like it would be nice to go to a temple, but actually going requires you to make an effort," Park said. That thought inspired the creation of an AI-powered Buddhist temple that people could enter through their phones. Since the launch, Park has been sharing Sansa's visitor numbers and updates to the virtual temple on social media.

South Korea, which led the global spread and modernization of taekwondo, is facing criticism over its delayed UNESCO listing effort, letting North Korea take the lead for the sport's early registration on the Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Although North Korea's listing does not block South Korea's move for its separate listing of the martial art, criticism is rising over Seoul's belated attempt to seek a co-listing with Pyongyang, which has remained unresponsive. According to a social media post on Monday by Huh Min, head of the Korea Heritage Service (KHS), North Korea’s application — titled "Taekwon-Do, traditional martial art in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea" — is expected to receive a recommendation for inscription following an evaluation by UNESCO experts. While an evaluation body's recommendation is technically an advisory step, such assessments almost always lead to inscription. The final decision will be made during the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, scheduled to take place in Xiamen, China, Nov. 30 to Dec

POSCO Future M said Tuesday that it had signed a letter of intent with Hyundai Motor Group to explore investment and business cooperation in its artificial graphite anode material project in Vietnam, aiming to strengthen the global battery supply chain. Under the agreement, Hyundai Motor Group will consider an equity investment of around 100 billion won ($74.6 million) in the project and seek preferential purchasing rights for the materials. The partnership builds on a memorandum of understanding signed by the two groups in April last year to expand cooperation in steel and secondary battery materials amid changes in global trade conditions and industrial trends. The agreement is expected to give POSCO Future M a stronger footing for expanding its overseas production base and accelerate construction of its planned Vietnam plant. Hyundai Motor Group, meanwhile, aims to secure a stable supply of battery materials for its global operations. The two companies also plan to cooperate on developing artificial graphite anode materials tailored to electric vehicle (EV) performance requirements an

A military court on Tuesday acquitted Rep. Boo Seung-chan of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) of charges of leaking military secrets while he served as the defense ministry's spokesperson. The Central District Military Court handed down the acquittal for Rep. Boo, who was indicted in July 2023 on charges of violating the Military Secret Protection Act. Boo is accused of exposing details of an undisclosed dialogue in his book that former Defense Minister Seo Wook and then U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had during their annual security talks in December 2021. At that time, he was serving as spokesperson of Seoul's defense ministry under the administration of former liberal President Moon Jae-in. On Tuesday, the court said there was not enough evidence to prove that if the military secrets linked to this case were leaked, it would pose an "evident" threat to national security. The military prosecution earlier requested that the court sentence him to five years in prison. Boo has claimed he did not leak military secrets in his book, arguing that his indictment was retaliation fo

LG Energy Solution reported record quarterly sales and a 25.7 percent rise in operating profit for the third quarter, driven by growing North American energy storage system (ESS) shipments and stronger electric vehicle (EV) battery sales, the company said on Tuesday. Sales rose 59 percent from a year earlier to 9.64 trillion won ($7.2 billion), while operating profit reached 756 billion won. Sales increased 27.6 percent from the previous quarter, and the operating profit margin stood at 7.8 percent. The company said sales included 417 billion won in North American production incentives, reflecting higher shipments of batteries for ESS in the region. Beyond ESS, sales benefited from increased shipments of high-voltage, mid-nickel pouch batteries for EVs and steady deliveries of 21- and 46-series cylindrical batteries. Operating profits were also supported by better factory utilization in Europe and easing fixed cost burdens as North American ESS production stabilized. “Third-quarter sales increased 28 percent from the previous quarter, driven by a significant rise in ESS shipments and v

Korea will hold a separate memorial ceremony next week for Korean victims of wartime forced labor at the Sado mine complex in Japan, amid Japan's continued failure to acknowledge the coercive nature of the mobilization of Korean workers, Seoul's foreign ministry said Tuesday. The ceremony will take place in Sado, Niigata Prefecture, on Nov. 13, with Korean Ambassador to Japan Lee Hyuk, who will represent the government, and nine family members of the victims expected to attend, foreign ministry spokesperson Park Doo-soon told a regular press briefing. Following the ceremony, participants will visit the site of a dormitory for Korean workers to lay flowers and pay tribute at other major sites associated with Korean workers, Park added. It will mark the third consecutive year that Korea has held a separate ceremony from Japan's, following disagreements over how to address the forced labor of Korean workers. The Japanese government held its own memorial ceremony in September, with a director general-level official from its foreign ministry representing the government, but made no mention of

President Lee Jae Myung’s repeated questioning of benefits for multicultural families has raised a question beyond policy fairness: Is he trying to broaden his appeal by challenging his own liberal base? Political analysts and other experts contacted by The Korea Times offered differing interpretations. Some viewed his remarks at official meetings and on social media as a deliberate effort to reclaim the political center. Others were less certain there was any coherent strategy. In the latest such remarks at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, Lee said the government had a duty to support socially and economically disadvantaged people, but stressed that such assistance must also reflect the principles of fairness and reasonableness. “Even benefits that seem small or trivial can undermine public trust in the system if they continue without a reasonable basis,” he said. “This could not only undermine the foundations of sustainable policy but also give those seeking to incite hatred against vulnerable people a pretext for doing so.” Political commentator Lee Jong-hoon interpreted the remar

Jung District in central Seoul will hold a pet festival on Saturday featuring a dog sports competition, agility demonstrations and free health consultations for pets, the district office said Tuesday. The 2026 Jung District Happy Together Pet Festival will run from noon to 4 p.m. on the soccer field at Sohn Kee-chung Sports Park. The park is named after the Korean runner who won the marathon competition at the 1936 Berlin Olympics while Korea was under Japanese colonial rule. As of Sept. 10, 183 pets were registered in the district: 9,753 dogs and 430 cats. Separate household data shows about three in 10 district residents live with a pet. The festival will open with a “happy walk,” in which owners walk their pets around the park and pick up litter. A “dog olympics” follows, involving a 20-meter sprint and an obedience contest. The official opening ceremony begins at 2 p.m. Korea’s national dog sports team will demonstrate their agility on a timed obstacle course. There will also be a Frisbee-catching competition and children will get to try dog sports with the animals. A quiz o

Investigators raided the National Election Commission (NEC) headquarters for the second day Tuesday over suspicions that the election watchdog illegally paid commissioners monthly allowances even after the state auditor noted that such payments lacked a legal basis. Sixty-five personnel, including four prosecutors, have been mobilized to search 18 NEC offices, including the offices of the chairperson and the secretary general, in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul, since Monday, according to the independent counsel team led by special prosecutor Lee Tae-han. The home of a former secretary general was also searched, officials said. The independent counsel team has been investigating suspicions of irregularities involving the NEC after the team was launched in early September to look mainly into what led to the unprecedented ballot shortages in June's nationwide local elections and who is responsible. Among the suspicions are allegations that the NEC illegally handed out monthly allowances to commissioners under the label of supporting their "fair election promotion activity," The amount paid t

Financial holding company chiefs seeking a third consecutive term would need approval from at least 75 percent of voting rights represented at a shareholders' meeting under a proposed reform plan aimed at tightening oversight of financial companies, according to government sources, Tuesday. The Financial Services Commission (FSC) briefed lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea on the proposal on Monday. The plan aims to gradually tighten approval requirements for financial group chiefs seeking reappointment. For an initial appointment, at least two-thirds of the nomination committee members would have to approve the candidate. The candidate would then need a majority of votes at the shareholders' meeting, and those votes must represent at least 25 percent of all shares issued by the company. The requirements would become stricter to secure a second term. At least three-quarters of the nomination committee members would have to back the candidate's reappointment, while shareholder approval would require at least two-thirds of voting rights represented at the meeting and suppor

Korea is weighing tax incentives for domestically produced electric vehicles (EVs) as Chinese rivals rapidly gain market share, fueling calls from automakers and lawmakers across party lines for government support to protect local production and jobs. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il said the government would announce measures to strengthen the EV industry's competitiveness this month, following talks with Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun on Monday. Whether EVs should qualify for domestic production tax credits is expected to be a key focus of parliamentary debate over the government's tax reform plan. Chinese-made passenger EVs accounted for 43.5 percent of new registrations in Korea from January to September, up 8.4 percentage points from a year earlier, according to the Korea Automobile and Mobility Association and the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association. Registrations more than doubled to about 112,400 vehicles from 51,500 year-on-year. Meanwhile, the share of domestically produced passenger EVs fell 6.2 percentage points to

Hanjin KAL's position as Korean Air's largest shareholder remains unsettled, as Korean Air cannot confirm whether Hoban Group has overtaken Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Won-tae, citing a lack of information on the scale of Hoban's latest share purchases in Hanjin KAL, the nation’s flag carrier said Tuesday. “It has yet to be confirmed over whether Hoban’s stake in Hanjin KAL surpassed that of Cho, so Hanjin KAL will provide an update regarding specific details over the stake structure in a month in a regulatory filing,” a Korean Air official said. Hanjin KAL is the parent firm of Korean Air. Hoban Group recently purchased additional shares in Hanjin KAL, prompting it to file a business combination report with the Fair Trade Commission after determining that its combined holdings had surpassed those of Cho and related parties. However, the exact size of Hoban's latest purchases has not been disclosed, preventing confirmation of whether it has officially taken the top shareholder spot in Hanjin KAL. Following a report on Hoban’s filing to the watchdog on Monday, Cho signed an agreem

Wood becomes more than something to build with at a new exhibition in Seoul, where children can follow its grain, explore its textures and scents, assemble wooden letters and turn traditional woodworking techniques into games. The Seoul Museum of Craft Art opened "Secrets of Wood," an interactive exhibition developed in collaboration with woodworking artist Somokjang Semi, on Tuesday at the Children's Museum on the third floor of its Education Building. The exhibition runs through Sept. 19, 2027, and features seven interactive installations designed to introduce children to the physical properties and creative possibilities of wood. The exhibition is organized around three themes: discovering the senses, discovering structures and discovering possibilities. The first section invites children to explore the colors, patterns, textures and scents of different types of wood through installations including an acupressure bench and a rotating maze inspired by underground tree roots. The second section focuses on construction and design, allowing children to assemble wooden pieces into Korean le

Seoul is inviting international visitors to do more than watch K-pop and sample Korean food, offering a week of hands-on experiences that bring them closer to the culture driving global interest in Korea. The Seoul Metropolitan Government will hold 2026 Seoul Travel Week from Nov. 14 to 20, with programs spanning K-pop, beauty, food and traditional crafts at major attractions, including Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), Bukchon and Yongsan. Unlike last year's large-scale events, which included parades, media facades and fan activities organized in collaboration with Netflix Korea, this year's program places greater emphasis on direct participation. The opening weekend will feature promotional booths at Gocheok Sky Dome on Nov. 14 and 15, coinciding with the 2026 Melon Music Awards. Visitors can try augmented reality experiences featuring Seoul filming locations, take pictures at artificial intelligence-powered photo booths and participate in tourism quizzes. The hands-on programs begin Nov. 16 with traditional ornament and hand-mirror making workshops at Bukchon Traditional Crafts Experienc

Seoul is looking beyond its famous landmarks to brighten overlooked corners of the city, betting that better nighttime attractions can draw visitors into neighborhood streets and give local businesses a boost. The Seoul Metropolitan Government has selected 10 locations for its 2026 Seoul Starlight Attractions project, which will transform underused parks, streams, walking paths and historic districts into destinations for evening recreation and sightseeing. The initiative aims to do more than install decorative lighting, encouraging visitors to stay longer, enjoy cultural activities and spend money at nearby restaurants, cafes and traditional markets. Among the selected sites is Heukseok Waterfront Trail in Dongjak District, where the area beneath an Olympic Expressway bridge will be redesigned with media art, landscape lighting, accessible walking paths, a running track and riverside seating overlooking the Han River and Nodeul Island. In western Seoul’s Seodaemun District, the local government will transform the Baramsan hill area of Changcheon Neighborhood Park into a night-view gar

The United Nations has released a letter that South Korea sent to the president of the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) to decry land mine blasts in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in September and urge North Korea to apologize for the incident that left three South Korean soldiers injured. South Korean Ambassador to the U.N. Cha Ji-hoon sent the letter to the president on Oct. 22, also defending Seoul's border operations inside the DMZ separating the two Koreas, including warning shots, as "legitimate" and "defensive" measures to prevent North Korean troops from crossing the Military Demarcation Line (MDL). Cha said the letter was intended to bring the UNSC's attention to the Sept. 21 explosions, but he stopped short of demanding that the council convene a meeting over the incident or release a press statement, or that its president issue a statement. Pyongyang has denied responsibility for the blast. "The Government of the Republic of Korea strongly urges the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to immediately cease such escalatory actions, offer an apology and take responsible measures, in

President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday ordered a review of plans to establish a government-wide cybersecurity agency to coordinate responses to increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks, as intelligence authorities conducted security checks across public institutions. Lee told a Cabinet meeting that cyberattacks now pose serious risks not only to people’s daily lives but also to the economy and national security. “We need to discuss establishing a government-wide response body covering both the public and private sectors,” Lee said. He urged officials to consider a powerful “cybersecurity czar” body capable of coordinating security functions now spread across different agencies. The president said advances in artificial intelligence (AI) were making cyberattacks more sophisticated and widespread, exposing the limits of a system focused on routine inspections and responding only after breaches occur. Citing a recent attack on cryptocurrency exchange Binance, Lee urged authorities to detect signs of cyberattacks early, share warnings and respond before damage spreads. He also called fo

Brunello Cucinelli, the 73-year-old founder of Italian luxury fashion brand Brunello Cucinelli, is facing criticism over repeated physical contact with Asian actresses at public events, months after drawing controversy for putting his arm around Korean actress Kim You-jung's waist. The latest incident involved popular Chinese actress Liu Tao, 48, at a promotional event for the brand in Shanghai on Oct. 22, according to Hong Kong 01 and Taiwan's TVBS on Sunday. While posing for photographs with Liu, who was wearing a sleeveless dress, Cucinelli repeatedly held the inside of her arm. He was also seen placing his hand near the center of her chest, prompting criticism that the physical contact was unnecessary and potentially uncomfortable for the actress. Chinese-language media said Liu appeared to turn her body sideways and draw her shoulders inward several times, seemingly attempting to create some distance between herself and Cucinelli. Despite this, Cucinelli continued making physical contact with her, according to the reports. Liu maintained a smile throughout the photo session but was

The Seoul Institute — the official municipal policy think tank affiliated with the Seoul Metropolitan Government — and 19 other major urban research bodies from around the world adopted a joint initiative to address pressing global city challenges. The initiative was finalized during the 10th general assembly of the Megacity Think Tank Alliance (MeTTA), held Oct. 22–23 in Beijing. The Seoul Institute, which serves as the permanent secretariat for MeTTA, co-organized the assembly alongside the Beijing Municipal Institute of City Planning and Design (BMICPD). The meeting culminated in the adoption of the Beijing Initiative, a framework defining the alliance’s future role and vision across six strategic priorities: preparing for future urban challenges through joint research, building climate resilience and a just transition, creating people-centered cities, leveraging data and artificial intelligence (AI) for the public good, bridging science with policy and strengthening alliance ties. Following the assembly, participants presented 20 policy and research case studies across three

Political pressure has recently mounted against films and TV dramas dealing with modern Korean history. The film "The Assassin(s)" has faced accusations of distorting history for raising questions about the assasination of first lady Yuk Young-soo, while the popular SBS medical drama "Doctor X: Mafia in White" has been attacked for addressing the May 18 Democratic Uprising. Experts attribute the backlash to a combination of weakening generational consensus over historical facts and their significance, and political calculations by forces seeking to exploit the gap as an opportunity to expand their support base. They also warn that these divisive and unproductive disputes could develop into a "culture war," potentially undermining creative freedom and social cohesion. On Oct. 24, a petition calling for the suspension of "Dr. X" was filed on the National Assembly's National Consent Petition website. It appeared shortly after the drama's sixth episode showed its protagonist, Dr. Kye Su-jeong (Kim Ji-won), meeting a victim who lost his older brother to military helicopter fire during the M

The government is pushing to expand the definition of stalking to include tracking victims' locations and monitoring their social media activity, among other actions, as part of efforts to swiftly separate perpetrators from victims, the justice ministry said Tuesday. The ministry said an amendment to the Act on Punishment of Crime of Stalking was proposed Oct. 26 to make nine types of controlling behavior within a relationship criminal offenses. The nine types of behavior are forcing victims to maintain a relationship, tracking their whereabouts, notifying them that they are being monitored, exercising digital control over them, interfering with their social relationships, controlling their access to or use of private information, creating threats or instilling fear, threatening their pets and isolating them from others. Under current law, these acts are not recognized as distinct forms of stalking, limiting law enforcement's ability to intervene unless they involve physical assault or bodily injury. If the amendment takes effect, authorities will be able to protect victims before situat

As autumn deepens in Seoul, the Han River will become an open-air concert hall Saturday, with four musical acts bringing classical, jazz and popular music to Yeouido for a free evening performance against the city's illuminated skyline. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday it will host Autumn Night on the Han River, Filled With Music at Yeouido Mulbit Stage in Yeouido Hangang Park, beginning 5 p.m. this Saturday. The approximately two-hour program will feature four acts: singer Choi Seung-yeol and Kim Chang-ki of the band Zoo, jazz duo Park Jeong-in and Lee Gyu-ri, vibraphone player Yoon Hyun-sang and string quartet Ensemble Allegri. Choi gained attention as a runner-up on the second season of the television program "Hidden Singer," where he performed songs by the late singer Kim Kwang-seok. Kim Chang-ki, a singer and songwriter who performed with Kim Kwang-seok in Zoo, wrote popular songs including "On the Street" and "I'll Love You." Park and Lee will offer jazz performances, while Yoon will move between classical, jazz and pop through vibraphone arrangements. Ensemble Allegri,

A vibrant celebration of language, art and cross-cultural friendship concluded in Seoul as 163 exceptional students from 24 countries completed an unforgettable journey through Korea. Hosted by the King Sejong Institute Foundation, the second session of the 2026 Invitational Training Program for Outstanding Learners ran from Oct. 27 to Nov. 1, marking the largest gathering in the program’s history. Operating 273 institutes across 89 countries, the foundation continues to pave the way for global citizens to connect, share, and communicate through a shared love for Korea. Unlike previous years, the 2026 program expanded its scope beyond top language students to include learners who have demonstrated extraordinary passion and talent in Korean cultural arts. To accommodate the record number of participants, the foundation doubled the program's operations into two separate sessions throughout October. Over six days, participants engaged in a rich tapestry of Korean life. They explored iconic landmarks including Gwangjang Market, Myeong-dong and Dongdaemun Design Plaza, while immersing thems

HONG KONG — Investments by some companies from Asian economies in the United States are set to keep climbing amid a global supply-chain shake-up, Citi's international chief said, with spending expected to build in stages. "These companies have a lot of capacity to invest. I think that investments from the South Koreans, Taiwanese, and Japanese firms is likely to continue," said Ernesto Torres Cantu, who heads Citi's global business outside of North America, across more than 180 countries and jurisdictions. There is a lot of investment from global companies into the United States, with "double-digit growth in the inbound business into North America", Cantu told Reuters in Hong Kong. Citi and JPMorgan are financing Japanese projects tied to Tokyo's $550 billion U.S. investment pledge, while the White House recently unveiled the initial tranche of Seoul's $350 billion strategic package. Investments in U.S.-bound projects tend to compound over time, Cantu said, comparing a company's capital expenditure to a multi-stage manufacturing ramp-up, from buying land to building a factory and runni

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young on Tuesday called for inter-Korea cooperation to control animal diseases that wild animals could carry across the border. "There is a need for phased cooperation in animal quarantines to control diseases, such as African Swine Fever (ASF), foot-and-mouth disease and bird flu," Chung told a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Lee Jae Myung earlier in the day. "We are preparing for it," Chung added. "It is one of the reasons why inter-Korean ties should improve." His remarks came during a discussion on improving animal quarantines and the risk of undomesticated animals, such as wild boars, crossing the border from the North and spreading diseases in the South. Chung cited North Korea's first ASF outbreak at a farm in Jagang Province in May 2019. According to South Korea's agriculture ministry, 77 pigs died and 22 were culled.

Actor Shin Min-a said Tuesday she tried to portray Empress Navier in the upcoming Disney+ series "The Remarried Empress" as a strong and unwavering character but also as a human being who finds new love. Based on the web novel of the same name, the Korean fantasy romance epic follows Navier and her husband, Sovieshu (Ju Ji-hoon), as their seemingly peaceful marriage is unsettled by the appearance of Rashta (Lee Se-young), a former runaway slave. Rather than succumbing to her fate and vying with Rashta to reclaim her husband's love, Navier seeks to choose her own course of life, with the help of Heinrey (Lee Jong-suk), a mysterious prince who can transform into a bird named Queen. "Although the emotional transition had to be subtle, given the weight of Navier's character as an empress, I was determined to show the humane side of her as a woman who finds new love and makes new choices," Shin said at a press conference held in Seoul ahead of the series' release later Tuesday. "I felt I had to balance that very well for audiences to relate to Navier and support her ... there was a lot of pre

Police said Tuesday they have busted a criminal ring suspected of manufacturing billions of won worth of methamphetamine using cold medicine. The group allegedly bought large quantities of cold medicine to extract pseudoephedrine, a chemical used to illegally make methamphetamine, and produced 1.36 kilograms of the drug between April 2025 and June this year, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. The amount is estimated to be worth 4.2 billion won ($3.1 million) and can be taken simultaneously by 40,000 people. Police have referred 13 suspects involved in the scheme, including the group's five members, to the prosecution on drug-related charges. The group had used an abandoned apartment to begin producing the drug in April last year before investigators were tipped off about the scheme in December. Police began apprehending the suspects in June after an undercover investigation. Investigators found that a traditional Korean medicine pharmacist and five other suspects helped the group manufacture the drugs. The pharmacist was found to have sold the group 10,610 bottles of cold m

LG Chem, Korea's leading chemical company, said Tuesday it has amended an exclusive license agreement with the U.S.-based Rhythm Pharmaceuticals for the development and commercialization of an obesity treatment. The amendment covers Bivamelagon, an investigational oral small-molecule melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) agonist, increasing the total contract value from $305 million to $855 million, the company said in a press release. LG Chem has already received $100 million from Rhythm, with an additional $350 million in upfront payments scheduled through 2029, it said. "MC4R agonism has been shown to achieve a profound impact on patients living with hyperphagia and severe obesity associated with rare MC4R pathway diseases," Rhythm Chief Executive Officer (CEO) David Meeker said in a separate press release. "Our commitment to this program reflects our confidence in bivamelagon's potential to deliver meaningful benefits for patients and create substantial long-term value for shareholders." LG Chem aims to accelerate patient access to an innovative treatment for rare obesity-related disorders b

Korean artificial intelligence (AI) startup Upstage said Tuesday that its large language model Solar Pro 4 is now fully available on the government’s shared AI platform. Civil servants can now use a domestically developed AI model for daily work inside the government’s closed administrative network. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Ministry of Science and ICT run the platform. Through it, they provide AI models, data and development tools to central government agencies and local governments. Solar Pro 4 is offered through FabriX, an AI agent platform from Samsung SDS, the IT services affiliate of Samsung Group. The model runs on network infrastructure that passed a security review by the National Intelligence Service, Korea’s spy agency. Internal government data remains within the network. The platform centrally manages the graphics processing units (GPUs), the high-performance chips needed to run AI models. This means agencies can use the model through a chat interface or an application programming interface without buying or leasing their own GPU servers. The mode

Korea’s cryptocurrency industry is on alert following a $6.3 billion hack at Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. As signs emerge that the stolen assets are being laundered, domestic exchanges are seeking regulatory changes that would allow them to promptly halt withdrawals following hacks at other platforms, financial authorities and industry officials said Tuesday. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) attributed the theft to North Korea in a statement released Saturday, saying the attackers stole about $6.3 billion in cryptocurrency from Binance on Thursday. Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis said the North Korean hackers appeared to have entered a second stage of laundering the proceeds. Funds were being moved out of temporary holding wallets and transferred to blockchain networks such as Solana. The firm also detected efforts to convert 970,522 Solana tokens, valued at approximately 129 billion won ($96.3 million), into bitcoin. The transfers across networks and subsequent conversion into bitcoin are believed to be aimed at making the funds harder t

CJ ONE, a lifestyle membership program run by CJ OliveNetworks, is holding its November Wonder Week promotion with discounts at CJ CheilJedang’s online mall and the convenience store chain emart24, the company said Tuesday. CJ ONE is the loyalty program of CJ Group, one of Korea’s largest conglomerates. Members earn and spend points across the group’s businesses and its partner brands. The promotion runs until Nov. 10. It offers coupons for CJ The Market, the official online store of food giant CJ CheilJedang, and is tied to the store’s monthly sale event. Members who sign up in the CJ ONE app by Thursday for a notice that the promotion has opened will get a random reward. It is either a CJ The Market credit coupon worth 1,000 won, 3,000 won or 10,000 won, or CJ ONE points. From Nov. 6 -10, members will get a 20 percent discount coupon, worth up to 14,000 won ($10.50), for purchases of 70,000 won or more at CJ The Market. To receive it, members must agree to terms for a personalized service shared among partner companies. Members who use the coupon and earn CJ ONE points will get

SK Telecom has been named a 2027 LEAD company by the UN Global Compact (UNGC) Network Korea in recognition of its sustainability leadership, the mobile carrier said Tuesday. The company received the designation at the 2026 Korea Leaders Summit, which the network hosted at Grand Hyatt Seoul. The UN Global Compact is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, launched by the United Nations in 2000. It encourages companies to build principles on human rights, labor, the environment and anti-corruption into their operations. Each year, the Korean network chooses about 10 companies and institutions as LEAD participants from its roughly 360 members. The selections recognize contributions to spreading sustainability management and developing the country’s ESG ecosystem. ESG stands for environmental, social and governance, the standards used to measure a company’s sustainability and ethical practices. SK Telecom co-chairs the network’s environment working group. In that role, it shared its experience handling major ESG issues and its know-how in building ESG management syst

As we look back on the third quarter of this year, our H2 2026 Global Market Outlook “Navigating shifting sands” has proven to be more than just a metaphor. It has been the defining characteristic of the investment landscape. Economic data released of late has indeed been highly volatile. The U.S. nonfarm payrolls missed estimates in June, only to surprise significantly to the upside in August. This whipsawing data completely reshaped market expectations, swinging the narrative from anticipated Fed rate cuts to renewed rate hikes. With volatility spiking and two months left in the year, the ability to maintain a diversified portfolio is no longer just a defensive strategy; it is the primary driver of long-term resilience. Below, we explore how defensive diversification can be implemented across gold, equities and bonds to tackle the macro headwinds. Case for gold despite higher policy rates Gold prices behaved differently in the third quarter of 2026 compared with the earlier half of the year. Despite the Fed resuming rate hikes in September and the U.S. 10-year government bond yield

WASHINGTON — The United States has conducted defensive strikes on some Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz, a U.S. official said Monday, on the eve of crucial midterm elections. Iranian state television reported that explosions were heard on Qeshm Island. The official, who wasn’t authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said that “Iranians using surface to air missiles against U.S. assets” had been targeted. The strikes appeared to be limited as opposed to a return to full hostilities but followed President Donald Trump previously saying the U.S. would not launch new strikes on Iran before Tuesday's midterms. The unpopular war and the resulting impact on U.S. gasoline prices and other parts of the economy have been a vulnerability for Republicans as they try to keep control of Congress. The region is on edge about the prospects of the U.S. resuming full-scale operations against Iran, and the new strikes, which were reported earlier by The Wall Street Journal, are certain to raise fresh concerns. Backchannel negotiations also are playing out as Isra

Dongwha Electrolyte is joining a major national research initiative to develop sodium-ion batteries, as Korea seeks to advance alternatives to lithium-based energy storage and strengthen its position in the next generation of battery technology. The company, an affiliate of Dongwha Enterprise, said Tuesday that it would participate in the Market-Leading Next-Generation Secondary Battery Innovation Strategic Research Group, known as K-BIC, under the government's Global TOP Strategic Research Group support program. The initiative has a total budget of 130 billion won ($95 million) and brings together major players from industry, academia, research institutions and government to overcome technical barriers, secure foundational technologies and build a collaborative research platform. Dongwha Electrolyte is currently the only electrolyte manufacturer among the participating institutions, according to the company. The company will join the second phase of a project aimed at developing low-cost, long-life, nonlithium secondary batteries, targeting sodium-ion technology with production costs be

Korean Air will require all passengers traveling to the United States to submit an Ebola-related declaration confirming they have not visited or stayed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo within the previous 21 days, as part of new U.S. health measures. The airline said Monday the requirement will take effect for flights departing at or after 1:59 p.m. Wednesday, following an administrative order issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to prevent the spread of Ebola from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The measure applies to all U.S.-bound routes and covers U.S. citizens, residents, airline crew members, visitors and passengers transiting through the United States en route to other countries. Travelers who have visited Congo during the past 21 days will not be allowed to board U.S.-bound flights. Even passengers who only changed planes at an airport in the country without leaving the airport will be considered to have traveled to Congo and face entry restrictions. Passengers must complete and submit one declaration per person before checking in on their departu

A relentless wave of cyberattacks on Korean banks, telecom operators, businesses and government agencies has exposed growing risks to the country's digital economy, highlighting the need for stronger cybersecurity. The scale and frequency of the breaches have raised concerns that cyber threats could extend beyond personal data theft to disrupt financial services, business operations and industrial supply chains. The latest series of security breaches has brought those concerns to the highest levels of government. Most recently, police have launched a preliminary investigation into the online leak of personal information belonging to 168 individuals who traveled aboard the presidential aircraft during a trip to Europe in June, including President Lee Jae Myung, the first lady and Cabinet ministers. Following the incident, the foreign ministry said it is taking steps to reissue the passports of the president and first lady. The leak has raised fresh questions about how government agencies handle sensitive information, prompting broader scrutiny of cybersecurity practices. On Tuesday, the Nat

Korea's spy agency has asked 2,100 public institutions to conduct emergency cybersecurity inspections following a series of cyberattacks on financial firms that resulted in customer data breaches, government sources said Tuesday. The National Intelligence Service (NIS) has called on the central government agencies and local governments to carry out their own security checks based on a checklist, the sources said. Separately, the NIS plans to conduct its own vulnerability assessments of critical information and communications infrastructure in the public sector under its jurisdiction, the sources said. The assessments are expected to be completed by mid-November. Local financial institutions, including banks, savings banks and insurance companies, were hit by a series of cyberattacks last month, exposing about 100,000 cases of personal information across the industry, including email addresses, names and phone numbers. The NIS has called for particular attention to be paid to the management of potential cyberattack entry points, the operation of security monitoring systems and the applica

Congolese professionals and academics in Korea have elected a new leadership team, seeking to strengthen ties within their diaspora community and expand cooperation with Korean institutions. The Dynamic of the Congolese Elite in Korea, known in French as Dynamique de l'Élite Congolaise en Corée du Sud, held an extraordinary and elective general assembly, bringing together members of the Congolese academic and professional community. The meeting opened under the leadership of Eloi Fataki, vice president of the General Assembly, followed by a presentation by professor Merlec Mpyana, who reviewed the organization's history and its mission to unite and empower Congolese intellectuals and professionals in Korea. Reagan Ingoma, the outgoing president of the Executive Bureau, presented the organization's 2025-2026 activity report, outlining achievements, challenges and key developments during his tenure. Members also welcomed new participants before proceeding to the election of the next executive committee. Frigeant Bahuma was elected president, with Tyno Bashizim named vice president. Chon M

A special exhibition honoring the late German journalist Jürgen Hinzpeter (1937-2016) will open in Gwangju on Thursday, marking the 10th anniversary of his passing. Titled "Records Live On — The Blue-Eyed Witness, Hinzpeter's Legacy," the exhibition will run through March 28, 2027, at the former South Jeolla Provincial Office. The event is co-hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's Restoration Project Team and the May 18 Memorial Foundation. Hinzpeter is widely remembered in Korea and abroad as the real-life foreign correspondent portrayed in the hit 2017 feature film "A Taxi Driver." In May 1980, Korea's military dictatorship unleashed a violent crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in the southwestern city — an uprising now remembered as the Gwangju Massacre. As martial law authorities surrounded the city, cut off communications and enforced a strict media blackout while troops killed hundreds of innocent citizens, Hinzpeter risked his life to sneak past military checkpoints into the blockaded city. His haunting video footage and photography provided the global

Ten Korean webtoons, including “Omniscient Reader” and “Return of the Mount Hua Sect,” have won main prizes at this year’s World Webtoon Awards, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Tuesday. Webtoons are digital comics made to be read by scrolling down on a smartphone. The format began in Korea in the early 2000s and has since spread around the world. The other winners are “The S-Classes That I Raised,” “Debut or Die,” “The Greatest Estate Developer,” “Cry, or Better Yet, Beg,” “Killer Pietro,” “Real Man,” “Jakdu” and “On the Way to Meet Mom.” Each winner will receive a trophy and 10 million won ($7,500). The ministry and the Korea Creative Content Agency, a state-run body that promotes Korea’s cultural content industries, launched the awards in 2024. The goal is to honor creators and strengthen Korea’s standing as the birthplace of the webtoon. This is the awards’ third year. The winners were chosen from 20 finalists. Expert evaluations and online reader votes each counted for half of the final score. An 11-member panel of crea

President Lee Jae Myung was set to hold a summit with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday to discuss ways to deepen cooperation between their countries, as well as security issues. Erdogan arrived in South Korea on Monday for a three-day state visit, marking his first trip to the country since 2018. Lee and the Turkish leader last met in Ankara in July on the occasion of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit hosted by Turkey. Tuesday's summit is expected to explore ways to boost bilateral cooperation in various sectors, including trade, investment, the defense industry, nuclear power plants and other future industries. The leaders are also expected to exchange views on the situations on the Korean Peninsula and in the Middle East, Seoul's presidential office said earlier. The summit will be followed by a signing ceremony for memorandums of understanding, a joint press announcement and an official dinner, according to Cheong Wa Dae. Lee's spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said the summit would help further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries ah

Youngone Group and the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) jointly hosted a welcome dinner for Bangladesh's finance minister and a Korea-Bangladesh economic cooperation meeting in Seoul, Monday, the two organizations said Tuesday. The event was attended by Bangladesh's Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury; Prime Minister's Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Rehan Asif Asad; Prime Minister's Special Assistant for Investment and Capital Market Tanvir Shahriar Ghani; and Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, secretary of the Economic Relations Division under the Ministry of Finance. Toufiq Islam Shatil, Bangladesh's ambassador to Korea, and Qingfeng Zhang, director of the Asian Development Bank's Bangladesh Resident Mission, were also present. Korean participants included Youngone Group Chairman Sung Ki-hak, who heads the Korea-Bangladesh Economic Cooperation Committee, and Vice Chairperson Sung Rae-eun, along with FKI Executive Vice Chairman Kim Chang-beom, Export-Import Bank of Korea President Hwang Ki-yeon, OCI Holdings Chairman Lee Woo-hyun, Hanjin Preside

For more than a decade, EL CAPITXN's music has reached listeners through other people's voices, from "Daechwita" by Agust D, the solo moniker of BTS' Suga, to IU's "eight." On his first full-length album, the producer, who lost his singing voice only a few years into his idol career, finally tells his own story, with other singers lending their voices. "WHO KILLED EL?," out Nov. 6, traces the loss of his voice and the life that followed across 12 tracks spanning rock, orchestral music, gospel, classical and pop. It drops through U.S. independent label EMPIRE. Born Jang Yi-jeong, EL CAPITXN first drew attention on the second season of MBC's audition show "Star Audition" before debuting as the main vocalist of boy band HISTORY in 2013. After losing his singing voice to an illness whose cause was never clearly identified, he stepped away from the stage and turned to producing and songwriting. He went on to build a catalog of more than 100 songs, including BTS' "Telepathy" and "Take Two" and PSY's "That That" featuring Suga, and has worked with major K-pop acts such as BTS' Jung Kook, TOMOR

Kwangwoon University unveiled plans to establish itself as a leading institution in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics by nurturing talent and expanding access to education in the two fields as the era of physical AI takes shape. The university held a ceremony on Thursday to unveil its AI and robotics education strategy, drawing some 400 attendees, including lawmakers, local government officials, university presidents, education and research representatives, students and local residents. The event also aimed to strengthen partnerships ahead of the 2027 World Robofest Championship, an international youth robotics competition the university is set to host next year. "We aim to nurture talent who will drive advances in robotics worldwide and build a future where robots serve people," Kwangwoon University President Yoon Do-young said. The event featured congratulatory remarks from former National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, Reps. Kim Yong-tae and Kim Nam-joon, Nowon District Mayor Seo Joon-oh, Korea Military Academy Superintendent Park Hoo-sung, Genesis BBQ Group Chairman Yoon Hong

Korea’s Navy and Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) launched the Seo Hui (SS-088), the nation’s second 3,600-ton Dosan Ahn Changho-class Batch-II diesel-electric attack submarine, during a ceremony at Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje Okpo Shipyard on Tuesday. The vessel is named after Seo Hui (942–998), a prominent diplomat and statesman of the Goryeo Dynasty renowned for using strategic negotiation to fend off a massive invasion by the Khitan-led Liao Empire in 993, securing vital territory along the northwestern border without shedding blood. Navigating regional security threats around the peninsula, Korea designated his name to symbolize military foresight, national crisis resolution and maritime sovereignty defense. The ceremony was attended by around 200 officials, including National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik. Following naval tradition, Cho’s wife, Cho Mi-seon, cut the launching ribbon attached to the vessel, symbolizing new life breathed into the newly built warship, followed by a ceremonial champagne bottle break against the hull. Measuring 89 meters in length,

Nine Korean picture books have been selected for the 2026 Korea Picture Book Award, with the government pledging export support to help winning authors reach readers worldwide. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Tuesday that nine works were chosen from 506 entries for the fourth annual awards, established in 2023 to promote the development of Korean picture books and expand their presence in overseas markets. The awards ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday at Ferrum Tower in central Seoul. The two grand prizes went to Jeon Mi-hwa's "To the Fish in the Sea, to the Birds in the Sky, to the Animals in the Forest, and to Humans" in fiction and Kim Ji-won's "Raising Earthworms" in nonfiction. Each grand prize winner will receive 15 million won ($10,350) and the Culture Minister's Award. The six special awards recognize works by Baek Hee-na, for "Gumeongcheong"; Kim Bok-hee and Lee Myung-ae for "The Most Wonderful Bird"; Jin Eun-young and Lee Suzy for "Today Is My Birthday"; Nam Ki-rim for "All the Goodbyes in the World"; So Yoon-kyung for "Kosirong Haenyeo Table"; and Kim Hyo

T.O.P and Nana have made an unexpected appearance together at a fan-organized birthday cafe, just one day after the former BIGBANG member apologized to longtime supporters following the closure of a fansite that had backed him for nearly 20 years. A video showing the couple visiting the cafe in Seoul's Gangnam District was posted Monday on the venue's social media account. The cafe was decorated by fans to celebrate T.O.P's birthday on Wednesday. The appearance drew particular attention as T.O.P and Nana publicly confirmed their relationship only last month. In the video, T.O.P, whose real name is Choi Seung-hyun, wears a black jacket, white mask and cap as he looks around the fan-decorated space. Nana, wearing a gray jacket, cap and mask, stays by his side while touring the cafe and appears to film T.O.P on her phone. The timing of the visit has attracted further attention because it comes immediately after T.O.P addressed a controversy involving some of his longtime fans. On Saturday, T.O.P posted a lengthy apology on social media directed at the operators and followers of Choi Seung Hyu

Kim Dae-hwan, a professor at Kookmin University’s School of Electrical Engineering, has been included in the 2026 World’s Top 2% Scientists list compiled by Stanford University and Elsevier. The list recognizes the top 2 percent of researchers in their respective fields based on a comprehensive analysis of research impact, including citation metrics and publication output, drawing on data from Elsevier’s Scopus database. Kookmin University said Kim has focused on the physical characterization of semiconductor devices based on indium gallium zinc oxide, a material used in next-generation memory and display technologies. He has published 484 papers in international journals and major academic conferences proceedings, garnering 7,926 citations, according to Scopus data as of October. “I am honored to be recognized among the World’s Top 2% of Scientists, and I owe this achievement to the faculty members and students, research collaborators and industry partners who have worked alongside me,” Kim said. He added, “I believe that research into the fundamental principles of semicond

A cafe operated by the father of BTS member Jimin has announced that it will close in one year, prompting disappointment among fans and renewed speculation over previously alleged disputes surrounding the business. ZM-illennial, the cafe run by Jimin’s father in Busan, recently posted a notice on its official channel titled "D-365." "We sincerely thank everyone who has visited ZM-illennial, cherished it and continued to show us unwavering interest and love," the cafe said. "We will do our best until the very last moment so that ZM-illennial will remain a good memory for a long time." The unexpected announcement drew emotional responses from fans, particularly those who had hoped to visit the cafe. "I haven't had a chance to visit yet, so this is disappointing," one fan said. Others said, "This is so heartbreaking," and "I don't know what happened, but I wish they could keep it open." The announcement has also revived online speculation about difficulties surrounding the cafe's operation. An overseas content creator previously claimed that Jimin's father had been under considerable stress

Domestic sales of Samsung Electronics Co.'s latest Galaxy Z foldable smartphone have increased following the launch of Apple Inc.'s first foldable iPhone, industry sources said Tuesday. Sales of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 in Korea rose about 20 percent in the week after the iPhone Duo's launch from the previous week, according to telecommunications industry sources. The increase is believed to reflect consumer recognition of Samsung's hinge technology and product durability, as well as the user experience offered by its artificial intelligence (AI) features, they said. The Galaxy Z8 series previously set a record for presales of Samsung smartphones in Korea, with 1.44 million units sold during its presale period in July.

Korea and Bulgaria have reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation on a new nuclear power plant project in Bulgaria and discussed ways to expand bilateral economic ties at a joint committee meeting, Seoul's foreign ministry said Tuesday. The third meeting of the Korea-Bulgaria Joint Economic Committee was held in Sofia on Monday (local time), co-chaired by Park Jong-han, deputy minister for economic affairs, and Krasimir Yakimov, the Bulgarian deputy economic minister, according to the ministry. The meeting marked the first gathering of the committee in seven years, following the previous session in Seoul in September 2019. The inaugural meeting was held in Sofia in September 2015. During the latest talks, the two sides reviewed the progress of bilateral economic cooperation and discussed ways to expand collaboration in trade and investment, defense, nuclear energy and various other fields. They agreed that the successful implementation of Bulgaria's Kozloduy nuclear power plant project would mark an important milestone in bilateral economic cooperation and pledged to work closely to ens

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump's second term has been a wild ride, but his last two years in power could be wilder still if Republicans lose control of Congress in Tuesday's U.S. midterm elections. From renewed military action against Iran to election challenges and fightbacks against Democratic investigations, Trump's post-midterms playbook could involve disruption on all fronts. Analysts warn that Trump as a "lame duck" president could be the most vengeful Trump of all. "I'm skeptical that President Trump will go quiet into that good night," Peter Loge, director of George Washington University's School of Media and Public Affairs, told AFP. "There is nothing in history that says he will say 'I've been beaten, my time is over.' Every time Trump has been backed into a corner, he has shouted more and come out fighting." Vetoes and vengeance Trump has always viewed himself as a fighter. He has been clear he will take the same approach if Democrats win one or both chambers of Congress. "If we didn't win, I veto everything" in any Democratic legislative agenda, Trump told the New Yo

A potential lame-duck phase may not deter U.S. President Donald Trump from pursuing more "transactional" or "risky" foreign policy moves after the midterm elections, Chinese experts warn, while casting doubt on expectations of a powerful Democratic wave. Amid a season of high-stakes contests that could reshape global politics, the U.S. vote on Tuesday stands out. The election, which will determine who takes control of the U.S. Congress, could result in Trump and his fellow Republicans no longer holding all the levers of power over the next two years. Multiple models and ratings project that Democrats are on track to flip the House of Representatives, although forecasts differ on what the net seat gain will be. There have also been signs in recent months that the party's once narrow path to sweeping both chambers has widened, even though most of the Senate seats regarded as toss-ups are in traditionally red states, meaning the Democrats must win in Republican territory. Observers in China agree that the U.S. midterms on November 3 are likely to usher in a divided government. They expect tha

North Korea on Tuesday criticized Japan's push to acquire "preemptive attack" capabilities and last month's regular military drills between Washington and Tokyo, warning that such moves would invite a "vicious cycle" of escalating regional tensions. In an article carried by the official Korean Central News Agency, a military commentator took issue with Tokyo's deployment of a Type 25 longer-range anti-ship missile launcher during the bilateral Keen Sword exercise that took place across Japan from Oct. 19-29. The Type 25 missile system with a range of more than 1,000 kilometers is part of Tokyo's efforts to bolster its "counterstrike" capabilities against potential enemy attacks. "Japan, a defeated nation accelerating its transformation into a warfighting state after throwing off the veil of 'pacifist state,' persists in its moves to acquire the capability for making a preemptive attack," the commentator said. "Its latest example is the participation of the type 25 surface-to-ship guided missile launcher of the Ground Self-Defence Forces in the largest-ever joint military drill Keen Sword

The New York State Department of Health said on Monday that a child in Lewis County had died in connection with an ongoing measles outbreak, marking the state's first known measles-associated death in more than 30 years. Last month, Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a State Disaster Emergency in response to the measles outbreak across areas of New York and neighboring states. "The Department has offered resources to Lewis County to assist with community outreach and support local vaccination efforts — both in response to this case, and as part of our ongoing efforts to support counties that are facing this ongoing measles outbreak," the state department said. The death comes as the U.S. experiences its worst measles resurgence in decades. Hochul told Reuters in October that the state would seek federal assistance to help contain the outbreak, but did not confirm whether it had submitted a formal request for a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Epidemic Intelligence Service, or Epi-Aid, response. As of October 24, New York had reported 178 measles cases this year, including 170 cases ou

President Lee Jae Myung and first lady Kim Hea Kyung are having new passports issued after their passport and other personal information were leaked, the foreign ministry said, Tuesday. The government and the police are investigating how the data was exposed, although they believe it was a leak, not an external cyberattack. “The foreign ministry is swiftly taking measures to ensure the smooth reissuance of passports for all affected individuals, including the president and first lady,” ministry spokesperson Park Doo-soon said during a briefing. The measures came after it was known that sensitive personal information of 168 people who were aboard the presidential jet for Lee’s trip to Europe in June had been uploaded on a security-related paid website. The leak affected not only the presidential couple but also ranking officials, including then-chief of staff for policy Kim Yong-beom, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac, current Prime Minister Han Seong-sook and several Cabinet members, as well as senior officials from Cheong Wa Dae and the foreign ministry, security personnel and

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration asked the US Supreme Court on Monday to force California to set aside the mail-in ballots of more than 20,000 people it claims may not be American citizens. The move, one day ahead of crucial midterm elections, comes after lower courts last week -- and again on Monday -- rejected the demand by the Department of Justice (DOJ), with one judge calling it brazen pre-election "interference." Solicitor General D. John Sauer, in an emergency filing with the Supreme Court, said that "once California commingles the challenged ballots with lawful ones, there is no way to get the challenged ballots back." "The only way to preserve the district court's ability to grant relief to the United States after a full merits proceeding, therefore, is to segregate the challenged ballots now," Sauer said. The California ballot case appears to be another attempt by the administration to cast doubt on the results of Tuesday's vote, in which President Donald Trump's Republican Party is at risk of losing control of Congress. Trump -- who has never acknowledged his own electio

Consumer prices are expected to rise into the high 2 percent range in November due to an upward trend in core inflation, the central bank said Tuesday. "Consumer prices rose at a slower pace in October as shipments of agricultural products improved, but prices of private services and durable goods remained elevated," Deputy Gov. Lee Ji-ho said during a meeting to review inflation trends. "In November, inflation is expected to remain in the high 2 percent range, affected by global oil prices and a continued upward trend in core inflation." Earlier in the day, government data showed that the country's consumer prices rose 2.8 percent last month from a year earlier, slowing from 2.9 percent in September and 3.1 percent in August. Prices of agricultural, livestock and fishery products fell 1.7 percent over the same period, while petroleum product prices advanced 14.9 percent on-year. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, stood at 2.8 percent on-year in October. The BOK expected inflation to remain elevated due to both cost-push and demand-pull pressures amid lingering

Starting BYD Korea's Sealion 6 DM-i plug-in hybrid SUV, the first thing that stood out was the exceptional quietness of its cabin. Driving through city streets and along highways, the SUV felt more like a mid-size luxury sedan than a family-oriented SUV. In the name Sealion 6 DM-i, DM-i stands for “Dual Mode-intelligent,” BYD’s proprietary plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) technology, which powers the vehicle's long-range drive. Its cabin remained remarkably quiet at low speeds, when the electric motor does most of the work. Minor vibrations were barely noticeable, while the suspension softened the impact of speed bumps and uneven pavement. The result was a relaxed, composed ride that made long-distance driving less tiring. On a roughly 100-kilometer round trip between Seoul and Paju, Gyeonggi Province, the SUV proved remarkably easy on the driver, with minimal fatigue and impressive fuel efficiency that exceeded expectations. The Sealion 6 DM-i is not built to deliver the explosive acceleration or sharp handling of a performance electric vehicle (EV). Its appeal lies elsewher

Police on Tuesday released the identity and mug shots of a suspect accused of setting fires at two patent firms in southern Seoul last month and leaving 26 people injured. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency posted the photos of Lee Myung-soo, 77, on its website following a decision by a review committee. Lee is suspected of committing arson in two buildings in Seoul's southern ward of Gangnam on Oct. 20, He was taken into custody shortly after the fires and was referred to the prosecution last week on charges of arson and attempted murder. Investigators believe the suspect planned the arson and was likely aware of people inside the offices. Lee has claimed that he was scammed by the patent firms and only wanted to scare people, not hurt them. Korea releases the identities and mug shots of those suspected of committing serious crimes when there is substantial evidence that they committed the offenses.

Foreign visitors' card spending in Seoul jumped nearly 58 percent from a year earlier in the first nine months of 2026, driven by a record number of visitors, city government data showed Tuesday. Foreigners spent 8.84 trillion won ($6.57 billion) using credit and debit cards in Seoul from January to September, up 57.7 percent from the same period last year, according to the data. The figure has already surpassed the annual total of 7.94 trillion won for 2025. By sector, shopping accounted for the largest share at 46 percent, followed by medical and wellness services at 23.8 percent. Food and beverages took up 13.3 percent, while accommodation accounted for 10.4 percent. By district, Gangnam Ward led spending with 29.6 percent of the total, followed by Jung Ward at 27.7 percent and Mapo Ward at 7.1 percent. Spending expanded in most areas across the city, with foreigners' card spending more than doubling in the Gangdong, Guro, Dongdaemun and Seongdong wards. While foreign spending in 10 major tourist spots, including Myeongdong, Gangnam and Seongsu, grew 57.2 percent on-year to 5.32 trilli

Korean stocks traded more than 2 percent lower late Tuesday morning, led by tech losses amid lingering woes about the excessive pace of artificial intelligence (AI) spending. Opening 2.46 percent lower, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 145.02 points, or 2.48 percent, to 5,714.06 as of 11:20 a.m. Overnight on Wall Street, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite and the S&P 500 closed 1.07 percent and 0.51 percent lower, respectively, ahead of the U.S. midterm elections slated for Tuesday. Investor sentiment was dampened by concerns that massive spending on AI infrastructure is undermining tech firms' near-term profitability. In Seoul, tech shares led the decline. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics sank 2.95 percent, and its chipmaking rival SK hynix slid 3.8 percent. Hanmi Semiconductor, a leading chip equipment maker, fell 4.17 percent, and SK Square, the parent of SK hynix, tumbled 4 percent. Steel giant POSCO Holdings slumped 5.3 percent, and leading oil refinery SK Innovation plunged 7.76 percent. The Korean won was trading at 1,341 won against the U.S. dollar as of

KYIV, Ukraine — Russia bombed an aid distribution center and neighboring shelter in southern Ukraine on Monday, killing 26 people, Ukrainian officials said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a post on X that strikes first targeted a school building used to distribute humanitarian aid and then took aim at a nearby shelter. “This is further proof that Russia wants no de-escalation,” Zelenskyy said. The attacks in the village of Komyshuvakha, in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, occurred as a limited ceasefire expired Monday in Kherson, a different region in the country's south. The limited ceasefire agreement had allowed humanitarian aid and evacuation missions into front-line areas in Russian-occupied territory. “There was a moment when the next steps could have shown that progress toward peace was possible,” Zelenskyy said. “With these killings, Russia is sending an entirely opposite signal: Russia is counting on more killings.” Zelenskyy later said in an address to the nation that Ukraine was expecting Russia to escalate its attacks at a time when the country

Two shows from K-pop supergroup BTS' upcoming tour in Taiwan and Jakarta will be livestreamed at movie theaters in more than 80 countries and regions, the group's agency said Tuesday. The live viewings will feature the group's second-day show in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on Nov. 21 and its third-day show in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Dec. 29, BigHit Music said in a notice posted on K-pop fan community platform Weverse. The Kaohsiung and Jakarta concerts will be shown on about 3,300 and 2,800 large screens worldwide, respectively. In South Korea, audiences can watch them at three major cinema chains — CGV, Lotte Cinema and Megabox. BigHit Music said screening times will be adjusted for different time zones, meaning viewers in some regions will watch delayed broadcasts one to two days later. The shows are part of the Asian leg of the group's "ARIRANG" tour, set to kick off in Kaohsiung on Nov. 19. The septet will hold a total of 15 performances across five cities that also include Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. The group completed its South American tour in Sao Paulo late last month, selling o

Korea's consumer prices rose 2.8 percent in October from a year earlier, data showed Tuesday, as agricultural product prices continued to decline despite energy costs remaining elevated. According to data from the Ministry of Data and Statistics, consumer price growth eased to 2.8 percent in October from 2.9 percent in September and 3.1 percent in August. The data ministry said petroleum products' prices advanced 14.9 percent year-on-year in October, contributing 0.56 percentage point to the month's year-on-year inflation rate. It was the sharpest growth since 15.5 percent posted in July. In detail, diesel prices jumped 19.7 percent year-on-year in October, while gasoline prices increased a sharp 11.6 percent. Korea relies heavily on imports to meet its energy needs. The report showed that prices of industrial products overall rose 4.4 percent year-on-year in October due to higher global energy prices, with those of mobile phones and computers climbing 10.8 percent and 26.2 percent, respectively. Prices of imported automobiles, on the other hand, fell 3.9 percent over the same period. In ad

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump stood silently Monday while triumphant music played as he held up a poster showing an image of the algae-clogged pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial. It was the final moment of his last big speech before Election Day, far away from the campaign trail where Republicans were trying to make their case to voters to hang onto control of Congress. The president's decision to spend the day before the pivotal midterms showing off his renovations in the nation's capital instead of barnstorming around the country was a puzzling way to pitch America on keeping his party in power. “It starts just with the setting being bizarre and being very self-focused,” said Doug Heye, a Republican strategist. “And then you had the pictures and the posters on the easels and all of that — none of which help a single undecided voter in the last day of the elections move to the Republican Party.” Heye, a former communications director at the Republican National Committee, said Trump’s Reflecting Pool speech was the “last thing” Republican candidates needed

Glass Lewis has advised shareholders to support the appointment of Lee Jae-keun as chairman of KB Financial Group, according to a voting recommendations report exclusively obtained by The Korea Times on Tuesday. The world’s second-largest proxy advisory firm said it had identified “no substantial issues for shareholder concern” regarding the proposed appointment. The report also flagged several ongoing issues facing the group, including allegations of collusion over loan terms and subsequent investigations by the Fair Trade Commission, as well as the Financial Supervisory Service’s investigation into the potential mis-selling of Hong Kong-linked equity-linked securities. While noting it had found no clear evidence linking the board to these matters that would warrant specific action at the upcoming shareholders’ meeting, Glass Lewis added that the ongoing legal proceedings and discussions would continue to be monitored. Such issues “may indicate weak internal controls or inadequate oversight of the Group, which could lead to undermining shareholder value, and therefore warran

Small modular reactors (SMRs) have emerged as an important, carbon-free energy source in the era of artificial intelligence (AI), where the explosive growth of data centers requires an unprecedented amount of stable power. In response to such shifts in energy demands, Korea is set to introduce a preliminary review system designed to streamline the commercial development and deployment of SMRs starting later this month. The system will allow SMR developers to undergo safety and design verifications before formal licensing. It has already been adopted in countries such as the United States and Canada. With less than a month to go ahead of the system's launch, around ten companies — both from home and abroad — have expressed their intent to apply, with some considering making a submission immediately after the system takes effect, the head of the country's nuclear watchdog said. "There are a few SMR developers saying they will apply as soon as the preliminary review system is launched," Choi Won-ho, the head of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC), said in an interview wit

North Korea has tested a "dispersal warhead" for a strategic cruise missile, state media reported Tuesday, following its recent test of a cluster bomb for ballistic missiles. The Missile Administration conducted the tests Monday to assess the power of such a warhead and the missile's "vertical strike" capability, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). "The Warhead Institute of the Missile Administration said it confirmed that the middle-sized dispersal warhead tipped on the cruise missile is capable of turning into ashes a target area of 5 to 6 hectares with its highest-density power," it said. The Cruise Missile System Institute said it perfected the missile's vertical strike capability by improving its terminal maneuverability, adjusted for the targeted area's natural and geographical characteristics. "The necessity of developing a variety of weapon systems is urgent than ever before. It is because our armed forces should defend the security of the country and deter all sorts of threats," the director of the missile administration was quoted as saying. The tests, the direct

WASHINGTON — The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has formally terminated a patent infringement investigation involving Samsung Electronics Co. and several major American technology companies following a settlement between the Korean chipmaker and U.S. chip firm Netlist Inc., according to a federal notice published Monday. The investigation centered on certain dynamic random access memory (DRAM) devices, products containing them and related components, according to the USITC notice published in the U.S. Federal Register. The case was launched in July following a complaint from Netlist, which alleged that certain memory products infringed its patents. Other companies named as respondents in the case included Google, Nvidia Corp., Broadcom Inc. and Super Micro Computer Inc. The notice said Netlist and Samsung, including its two U.S. subsidiaries, jointly requested the termination of the investigation on Aug. 18 based on a settlement agreement between the companies. In their August settlement, Samsung signed a five-year agreement with Netlist to access the American company's pa

WASHINGTON — The White House on Monday highlighted U.S. President Donald Trump's trade agreement with Korea and a Alaska natural gas project involving Seoul among his fulfilled campaign promises, as it touted his achievements on the eve of the U.S. midterm elections. In a press release highlighting policies promised and delivered during Trump's second term, the White House listed 127 campaign pledges it said the president had fulfilled. Among them, the administration cited Korea as one of the major U.S. trading partners with which Trump had secured new or improved trade agreements by using tariffs as leverage. It said the agreements covered countries accounting for more than half of global gross domestic product (GDP), including Korea, Japan, China, the European Union and Britain. The White House also highlighted what it described as a $54 billion agreement with Korea and Taiwan to develop a "long-stalled natural gas pipeline in Alaska." The statement was the latest from the Trump administration claiming that Korea is committed to the Alaska natural gas project. Seoul has maintained tha

North Korea on Tuesday flatly dismissed the outcome of a U.S. investigation that blamed Pyongyang for a massive cryptocurrency theft from Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, calling it a "grave political provocation" against the North. Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, made the remarks, referring to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) announcement Saturday that the regime is responsible for the theft of more than US$6 billion in cryptocurrency from Binance. The FBI linked the theft to a North Korean hacking group it calls TraderTraitor, a name previously tied to other cryptocurrency heists. "The FBI is trying to brand the DPRK as a 'cyber criminal state', claiming that it obtained information that a hacking organization 'supported' by the DPRK was involved in the incident," Kim said in a statement carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). DPRK is short for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). "It is a grave political provocation against the DPRK that the U.S.

The Times Higher Education (THE) Innovation & Impact Summit 2026 will take place at Korea University in Seoul from Nov. 17 to 19, bringing together global university leaders and industry experts to explore ways to turn academic research into commercially viable technologies and businesses. Under the theme "Universities, industry and investors: Connecting research with commercialisation," the three-day summit will examine strategies for strengthening cooperation between academia and industry, attracting investment and fostering innovation. The event comes as universities worldwide face growing pressure to demonstrate the economic and social impact of their research amid rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and intensifying global competition for technological leadership. The event is expected to draw more than 300 participants from over 150 institutions and organizations worldwide, including university leaders, researchers, investors and industry experts. More than 80 speakers will take part in keynote speeches, panel discussions and workshops focused on translating academic bre

Nobody expected September and October to be this much fun, at least for K-pop. Over the same two months, one K-pop heavyweight confessed his belief that the genre had run its course, while another stormed back onto the scene with a shiny, wildly ambitious new project. That's K-pop for you — just when you think you know which way the ball is bouncing, it ricochets somewhere else entirely. In between, BLACKPINK members dropped solo singles back-to-back, three of the industry’s biggest names faced off on the same Monday, and a brand-new girl group topped Melon a day after its debut. As always, these verdicts are just one critic's opinion, not a ruling. Please feel free to disagree, loudly if you must. Kwon Eun-bi, “DEJAVU” (digital single) released Sept. 3 Verdict: Nearly there Kwon Eun-bi's first release since switching agencies is a lovely gift for fans. It peels back the piercing high notes and flashy performances that usually steal the spotlight, letting you hear how softly she murmurs through each line and how pretty her tone really is. The problem is that K-pop has far, far too ma

BUCHEON, Gyeonggi Province — Park Hye-ran, 47, a mother of a 6-year-old son, often finds it unsettling to walk around her neighborhood in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, a city known for its many online streaming creators airing outlandish broadcasts. “I’m worried about being filmed, and the broadcasting makes me uncomfortable. As early as the afternoon, many people are streaming around the food alley near Bucheon Station,” Park said, adding that it can’t be good for children to see. Last year, Bucheon made headlines for streamers who vied for viewer donations with attention-grabbing stunts such as dancing shirtless, singing loudly in public and mocking police officers called to the scene. Things turned violent when a YouTuber in her 30s was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after stabbing a man in his 30s with a weapon during his livestream. In response, the city announced a crackdown on streamers in September 2025, citing broadcasts that seriously damaged its brand image and harmed merchants and residents. It applied crime prevention strategies using environmental design

WASHINGTON — As Republicans and Democrats were making their final pitch to voters on the eve of Election Day, President Donald Trump opted to forgo the campaign trail and planned a speech at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, drawing attention to an expensive, problem-plagued repair job in a place far away from most of the people his party wants to persuade. It was an unusual place to make a closing argument for Republicans to keep control of Congress. But it conforms with the way the president has devoted considerable time, attention and money in his second term on beautifying his Washington surroundings. Democrats, for their part, were spending the last 24 hours before Election Day making their case in areas where Republicans have long dominated, while trying to contain the fallout from a messy intraparty split in Michigan. Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed was brushing aside concerns that his prospects could be hurt after his former primary opponent threw her support behind his Republican opponent Mike Rogers. In addition to giving the speech on Monday afternoon, Trump

Sex crimes in the traditional Korean music community persist, fueled by the enormous influence teachers wield over students’ future careers and the close-knit, insular nature of the industry. Following the Hankook Ilbo’s in-depth coverage of sexual exploitation in the traditional music scene, victims continued to come forward with accounts of widespread sexual harassment and assault. Court rulings also revealed disturbing details of the crimes. An analysis by the Hankook Ilbo of court rulings from 2010 to 2026 involving sexual offenses committed by traditional music instructors who abused their positions of authority over students found that seven of the 11 cases involved underage victims. In four of those cases, the victims were younger than 13. Cases involving adult victims also revealed how perpetrators exploited their control over students’ future careers to subject them to repeated abuse. Even as they suffered, victims found it difficult to speak out, and some eventually left the traditional music community altogether. The crimes typically took place in lesson rooms or class

WASHINGTON — A group representing nearly all major automakers on Monday urged U.S. lawmakers to pass a permanent ban on Chinese vehicles when they return next week for a quick session after the midterm congressional elections. In September, the Senate sponsors of the bipartisan effort to ban Chinese vehicles agreed to delay an effort to fast-track the bill until November despite overwhelming support. "We need to protect the U.S. market from a flood of Chinese imports that carry surveillance risk and disadvantage current manufacturers that have made generational investments in American communities," said John Bozzella, who heads the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents General Motors, Toyota, Volkswagen and other major automakers. Some congressional aides and auto lobbyists think if Democrats win control of Congress there may not be enough time to approve the Chinese vehicle ban before this session ends in December. Bozzella cited major Chinese gains in the European market. "Given the obvious national security risk and China’s pattern of unfair behavior, Congress should

On Tuesday night, newsrooms across the U.S. will call winners in one of the country's most closely contested midterm election cycles in recent years, long before all the votes are counted. Most television networks and digital outlets rely on two providers for vote counts: the Associated Press or election-data firm Decision Desk HQ. Some news outlets such as the Wall Street Journal and MS NOW will rely on the AP for race calls, while others like Fox News and CBS News will make their own projections based on the AP vote count, exit polls, early-vote totals and their own statistical modeling. The first calls will start soon after polls begin to close in the United States, first with Indiana and Kentucky at 6 p.m. ET (2300 GMT), and shortly after in Georgia, South Carolina, Vermont and Virginia at 7 p.m. (0000 GMT on November 4). In certain races there may be an instant call if much of the voting has already taken place. Low public trust complicates race calls for news outlets. While more than 60 percent of Americans have some confidence in news organizations to report accurate election resu

PARIS — Cyberattacks affecting supermarket refrigeration systems in several European countries on Monday highlighted the risks associated with connecting industrial equipment to the internet. After a previous attack in France in October, several chains in Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Sweden experienced stark rises in fridge and freezer temperatures on Monday, forcing them to throw away spoilt produce. Real world effects Industrial equipment such as refrigeration systems, once operated largely offline, is now commonly connected to the internet so it can be monitored and managed remotely, cybersecurity specialists including Antoine Hautin, secretary-general of the Almond cybersecurity consultancy, told AFP. That connectivity can also provide an avenue for attackers to interfere with physical systems through digital networks. In France, the attackers targeted the fridge regulation system made by the Danish firm Danfoss, which is used by many shops. "Most of the time, that's done through a web interface. You connect to it with a password and you then ha

SEATTLE — With the Trump administration stepping up its crackdown on noncitizen voting ahead of Tuesday's midterm elections, some Korean green card holders are worried that receiving election ballots they never requested could land them in immigration trouble. Across online forums and social media discussions, including Korean American communities, legal residents have shared accounts of receiving ballots or voter-registration materials despite not being U.S. citizens. "I'm a green card holder, but ballots come to my house every time," one user wrote. Another said she and her husband, both lawful permanent residents, had received jury summonses, and that her husband had also received election-related mail. The accounts have prompted discussions about how noncitizens end up receiving election materials and whether mistakes involving voter registration could jeopardize their current legal status or future citizenship applications. Some users expressed concern that they may have been registered without realizing it, while others questioned how permanent residents could be unaware that only

NEW YORK — The U.S. stock market is rising Monday and recovering some of last week's sell-off that was led by the tech and AI industries. The S&P 500 climbed 0.3 percent, coming off its third straight losing week, and pulled within 2.8 percent of its all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 494 points, or 1 percent, as of 12:50 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.4 percent higher. Stocks got a lift from sharp drops for oil prices, which headed back down in their latest yo-yo move on uncertainty about when the war with Iran will allow the global industry to return to normal. The price for a barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, fell 7.5 percent to $104.92. The price for the most actively traded contract in the Brent market has been veering between roughly $70 and $120 per barrel since just before the war began, and it’s been quick to reverse direction. So have stocks in the artificial-intelligence industry, which have been shaky for months amid criticism that they surged too high and are in a bubble. Worries are growing that all the hundreds of

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's administration appealed to the Supreme Court on Monday in its push to sideline thousands of disputed California mail ballots the day before the pivotal midterm elections. The emergency appeal came after an appeals court rejected the request to set aside some 20,000 ballots from people the federal government suspects may not be citizens. The federal government says those ballots should not be counted until the voters’ status can be verified. California officials say the list is highly unreliable and likely includes many people who are U.S. citizens. The Republican Trump administration has prioritized identifying noncitizen voters this year, despite them being rare. A district court judge forcefully denied the Justice Department's request and warned that the demand could disenfranchise citizens in the Nov. 3 midterm elections to determine control of Congress. The Justice Department asked the high court for a “limited injunction” that would direct California to “stop commingling suspected illegal ballots with legal ones” while the case contin

TEHRAN — Iran on Monday said "intensive" exchanges were underway with Washington and offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz under strict conditions, as efforts escalated to avert a return to war. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said indirect talks were taking place via mediators. China also urged a return to negotiations, while Iran's security chief discussed the conflict with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Oil prices, sent rocketing by Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz energy corridor, dropped more than six percent on Monday on optimism over the eight-month-old conflict. "Given the sensitivity and gravity of the current situation, consultations and deliberations are very intensive," Araghchi said in a video interview with the official IRNA news agency. "Qatar and Pakistan are playing a very active mediating role in these negotiations." The Axios news outlet reported that U.S. Vice President JD Vance had sent a letter to Iranian national security chief Mohsen Rezaei about possible new talks, marking the highest-level move in months. The redoubled diplomatic push comes ahead of

SINGAPORE/PARIS — Binance's customers have withdrawn a net $4.72 billion from the world's biggest cryptocurrency exchange since it reopened, after hackers stole around $6.3 billion of crypto from the platform in what could be the largest financial heist in history. The exchange froze withdrawals for about 48 hours after the hack, which which the FBI said was carried out by North Korea, then started allowing customers to withdraw again on Sunday morning. The theft has underlined the vulnerability of digital assets to attacks and raised questions about the impact on Binance, which has vowed to repay customers in full, and on the wider market. Binance said the net outflows amounted to around 3% of assets on the platform, a relatively modest figure that analysts said suggested customer confidence had largely held up. The majority of the withdrawals from the platform were in the form of Tether's USDT stablecoin, Binance added. The outflow compares with about $7 billion withdrawn from Circle's USDC stablecoin over a week after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank in 2023. Binance itself proce

STOCKHOLM/BRUSSELS/LONDON — A hacking attack on European supermarkets spread across the continent on Monday, hitting fridges and freezers from Sweden to Belgium and forcing stores to throw away food in an incident that echoed a similar attack in France last month. The attack, which raised temperatures in refrigerator and freezer units at dozens of stores, hit supermarket groups Ahold Delhaize and Colruyt in Belgium and Luxembourg, as well as Swedish grocers ICA and Coop. Furniture-to-meatballs retailer IKEA also saw at least one store affected. "Everything is destroyed," Engla Ingwall, sales manager at an ICA franchise store in Stockholm, told Reuters during a visit to the store on Monday, adding the attack occurred at 2 a.m. (0100 GMT) but was only noticed hours later. "There has been a cyberattack and all our freezers reached 50 degrees (Celsius)." A spokesperson for privately held ICA said the company was aware that a "limited number of stores were affected by an incident overnight, which impacted their refrigeration and freezer systems". The latest incidents follow an attack in Fran

Personal information of President Lee Jae Myung and presidential staff has been leaked, a local broadcaster reported Monday, with the presidential office saying it had already taken measures in response. According to KBS, the personal information of 168 people, including Lee, staff from Cheong Wa Dae and the foreign ministry, along with reporters covering the presidential office, was posted on a website in a file titled "List of passengers (Republic of Korea-Belgium)." The Republic of Korea is the official name of South Korea. The list appeared related to passengers who traveled aboard the presidential plane during Lee's trip to Belgium, Italy and France in June. KBS reported that the file was available for download and was even posted on June 2 ahead of Lee's trip. The information included Korean and English names, affiliations, positions, dates of birth, passport numbers and their expiration dates. "We were aware of the contents of the report in advance and took measures in response," the presidential office said, adding that other organizations, including the foreign ministry, would als

A tale as old as time, a tune as old as song: An early fan favourite was eliminated Monday on a Disney-themed episode of Dancing with the Stars. Guest-judged by Cynthia Erivo, the night featured numbers inspired by Beauty and the Beast, Hamilton, The Little Mermaid, Tangled and Hercules.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said on Tuesday that it had charged George Madgwick with 35 offences.

A jury in the trial of a woman and teenage girl accused of murdering Scarlett Faulkner has been told she was "hunted down".

Five teenage boys, aged 16 and 17, were found with stab wounds at the party on Saturday night.

A translator of the African language 'Hausa' has given evidence in the trial of a man accused of murdering a pensioner in Co Tipperary two years ago.

The unnamed man asked for an injunction to stop his identity being reported in connection with allegations against him.

Ahead of Pope Leo XIV’s Apostolic Journey to three Latin American countries, the Vatican releases statistics of the Catholic Church in Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, where the Church remains active in parishes, education, and charitable outreach.

Read all

The slang word has become popular among members of Generations Z and Alpha - both online and in everyday conversation.

Pope Leo XIV releases his prayer intention for the month of November, and invites Catholics to pray "for the proper use of wealth," so that we may recognize that true wealth lies not in accumulating or possessing, but in giving with love.

Read all

Ahead of the Holy Father's Apostolic Journey to Latin America, the Holy See Press Office offered journalists a briefing on Tuesday, November 3, on the papal journey which will see Pope Leo visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, where the Holy Father served for decades as a missionary and Bishop.

Read all

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Tuesday her government will assemble a legal team to make the argument that new electoral boundaries proposed by an advisory panel achieve effective representation, should the Opposition NDP advance a legal challenge.

In a letter to the Bishops of France, Pope Leo XIV expresses appreciation for his Apostolic Journey and urges the Church to support young people and victims of abuse.

Read all

The Ombudsman for Children has said up to 7,000 children may have missed their nine-to-12 month check up with a public health nurse in 2025.

Tianna Patterson, 17, witness the boy being attacked before he fell unconscious into the bonfire in Strabane.

In 2024, Donald Trump won the presidency with the support of 44% of Hispanic voters, suggesting that a major realignment in party preferences might be underway. But just two years later, it appears much of that support has eroded. Sixty-one percent of Hispanic voters say they will now support Democrats in the midterms, including 11% who previously had voted for President Trump.

We get a bird’s-eye view of what to expect from the Latino vote from Marisa Franco, the co-founder and director of the advocacy organization Mijente. While ICE brutality will be at the front of voters’ minds, she says, Democrats cannot continue to take Latino voters for granted. “The vast majority of Latinos are working-class. Quite simply, they voted for Trump because they were looking at issues of economy, cost, inflation,” explains Franco. “And at the end of the day, these same issues have worsened under Trump’s administration, under Republican control. So people, I think, are looking for someone who’s going to explain what’s happening and propose solutions and be dogged about finding them.”

Adam Robinson, Helen Sharp, and their two children - Emma, four, and Charlie, two - died after the plane nosedived.

New York City is preparing to send two DSA members, presumptive election night winners Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez, to Capitol Hill. DSA-backed candidates made historic gains in this year’s Democratic primaries, with at least five expected to join current DSA members Rashida Tlaib and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in the House. But can socialism really make headway in the halls of Congress? Democracy Now! fellows Amba Guerguerian and Diego Ramos report.

“Our task is going to be winning our colleagues over to our position and finding common ground,” Valdez tells Democracy Now! “Some of the most popular policies in our country’s history have been socialist policies,” says Avila Chevalier. “They have been the things that working people have organized for and won.”

As President Donald Trump continues to cast doubt on the integrity of U.S. elections, signaling his intentions to challenge results unfavorable to Republicans, we go to Washington, D.C., where a federal judge ruled Monday night that the Department of Justice can deploy election monitors to polling sites across the country, as long as they are not law enforcement officers with the power to make arrests. “In some respects, this is a victory for voters. Every voter in our country deserves to be able to cast a ballot today, free from intimidation,” says Kristen Clarke of the NAACP, which sued to challenge the DOJ’s plans to deploy ICE agents and other armed officers to the polls.

The NAACP was also part of a coalition that intervened when the Trump administration attempted to force California to set aside about 20,000 mail-in ballots that it alleged were sent incorrectly to noncitizens. “This was a baseless, error-prone, shoddy 11th-hour attempt to hijack the election in California, plain and simple, and it’s now been rejected by four courts,” Clarke says. The administration’s attacks on voters “are not bearing fruit,” she adds. “We anticipate and are ready for anything that they may throw our way.”

Tonya Azevedo says she lost $155,000 and her family of four can no longer live in their Amherstburg, Ont., home of 20 years after a contractor who told them he was licensed did work that turned out to be unsafe. Police have now laid fraud and other charges.

As voters in the United States head to the polls, we take a look at what’s on the ballot with Chris Melody Fields Figueredo of the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center. “This is a consequential election, and voters are going to be able to vote on democracy itself, whether they can participate in elections, how congressional districts are drawn, whether they will have autonomy of their own bodies,” says Fields Figueredo, who previews some of the over 145 ballot initiatives being considered across the country, including California’s billionaire wealth tax and measures concerning reproductive, voting and LGBTQ+ rights.

Follow our live coverage from the United States as voters go to the polls in pivotal midterm elections.

Australia's highest court has begun hearing constitutional challenges to the nation's world-first legislation banning children younger than 16 from popular social media platforms.

Supermarkets in countries including Ireland, Sweden and Belgium reported fridges being hiked in temperature on Monday.

WSJ: U.S. Carries Out Strikes Around Strait of Hormuz on Eve of Midterm Elections, SCOTUS Rejects Trump Admin’s Attempt to Force California to Set Aside 20,000 Mail-In Ballots, Federal Judge Denies Attempt by NAACP to Block DOJ from Deploying Election Monitors, Michigan Democratic Senate Nominee Dr. El-Sayed Raises $2.4 Million in One Day, Aide to Georgia GOP Senate Candidate Mike Collins Posted Online Slurs and Calls to Violence, Elon Musk Spent Record-Shattering $474 Million on Midterm Elections, Former Head of Chicago FBI Sues DOJ, Alleging Politically Driven Prosecutions, New York Records First Measles Death in Over 3 Decades, Houthis Advance on Aden as Fighting Worsens Yemen’s Hunger Crisis, Displaced Palestinians Return to Hebron as Israel Ends 10-Day Siege, Russian Strike on Humanitarian Aid Center in Ukraine Leaves Dozens Injured or Dead, Bangladeshi Garment Workers’ Strike Demands End to Poverty Wages

A company is aiming to create a society where everyone, including those with visual impairments, can enjoy getting around and exploring freely.

The home secretary sets out plans to change requirements for permanent settlement in the UK.

A jury has been sworn in to hear the trial of Brandon Rainey before Belfast Crown Court.

Just over five months after the remains of a newborn baby were found in a wooded area near Halifax, neither the Crown nor police can say whether a cause of death has been determined.

The earthquake — measured at a 3.4 magnitude — struck at 7:04 a.m. CST. Its epicentre was about nine kilometres east-northeast of Esterhazy, according to the NRC's Earthquake Canada website.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's daughter, Vivienne, has officially dropped her father's last name, making her the fourth child of the former celebrity couple to do so.

The food deal, ahead of a UK-EU summit later this month, is the most significant part of the so-called Brexit reset agreed so far.

Intensifying drone attacks on civilian infrastructure across Sudan are disrupting electricity, water and fuel supplies, putting lives at risk and hampering the delivery of humanitarian aid, the UN’s top official in the country has warned.

Safa is 14. Her mother died earlier this year. She has no brothers or sisters. And a few weeks ago, as the crisis took hold, her father married her to an elderly man, afraid that if he were killed in the hostilities, no one would be left to protect her.

Gender equality and diversity are good for business – but while increasing numbers of women are reaching top spots in the corporate world, more initiatives are needed to keep momentum going.

Ukraine has sustained almost 2,000 attacks on education since the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, with some 270 this year alone, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday, a day after a strike at a school being used to distribute aid.

A school in Myanmar has been hit in an airstrike, with three children reported killed and five others injured, according to UN Children’s Fund UNICEF.

A Haitian gang leader wanted by the United States has asked the UN to mediate, as El Salvador sends more than 2,000 troops into the country to search for four of its soldiers who went missing after a gang ambush.

The closure comes following a "regular review of rides and attractions", Alton Towers says.

The regulator says it supports lenders offering early compensation offers, as long as they are fair.

Students have blockaded dozens of secondary schools across France to maintain pressure on the government over education reforms as trade unions prepared for a nationwide strike later this week.

The High Court has found that new regulations brought in by Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan to govern the payment of legal aid in criminal cases are "grossly unfair" and "demonstrably illogical".

US officials described the attacks on Qeshm Island as limited and defensive, according to CBS, the BBC's US partner.

The HSE is spending an increasing amount of money on overtime for staff, new figures show.

In his message for the 2026 World Youth Day, celebrated in dioceses across the world on the Solemnity of Christ the King, Pope Leo XIV encourages young people to allow Christ into their lives and the divisions that afflict their communities.

Read all

Britons have become less engaged with the jobs they do and are less willing to put in extra effort, a report has found.

Such efforts are expected to help secure agricultural labor and broaden the ranks of people with continuing ties to the regions.

Annual consumer price inflation is estimated to have risen to 4% in October from 3.8% in September after a jump in energy prices, a flash estimate from the Central Statistics Office shows today.

The home secretary says the full cost of dropping plans to extend the wait for settlement will be laid out in future.

MI5 chief Sir Ken McCallum welcomed the court's decision and says its judgment "underlines MI5's serious failures in this case".

The BBC's North America correspondent considers three different scenarios, and what they would mean for the country.

It's been a dramatic campaign - but how much have you picked up along the way? Take our quiz.

All eyes are on a handful of Senate races that will decide control of the prized upper chamber. Here's a quick guide.

US voters will head to the polls on Tuesday in a ballot that could have a major impact on Donald Trump’s presidency.

Gardaí are investigating a report that small metal pins were found in sweets collected by children during trick-or-treating in the Ballybofey and Stranorlar areas in Co Donegal.

Utility bills in Russia have risen more than 50% since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022 and more than 13% this year alone.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he made a deal with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Washington would stop $4 billion US in annual funding to Israel after this year, but will still sell weapons to its close Middle East ally.

Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh has asked to give a personal statement to the Dáil over the Liberty Recycling controversy.

The midterms will shape Congress for the last years of his presidency, writes Sarah Smith, but they are also a test of what politics may look like without him.

The plane was found in a remote search area, south of Castor Peak.

An Indian tourist was killed and another tourist from New Zealand was brought to hospital after two helicopters collided and crashed while attempting to land in Nepal's Everest region.

Police have dismantled a sprawling tent camp in Madrid which had spearheaded protests over Spain's housing crisis for more than a month and prompted early elections, police and activists said.

Britain and the European Union are reported to have reached a draft agreement on the trade in food and agriculture.

Ayu Yoneda, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's youngest astronaut, is mission-ready for her first flight.

Macklemore has said he is "overwhelmed with gratitude and awe" after finishing his Free Palestine Tour.

At least seven flights and a cruise ship in Europe received bomb threats on Tuesday, causing disruption at airports although no devices were discovered.

Lower crop yields could further stoke food inflation, with some prices already climbing and annual retail food inflation hitting 7.74% in September.

The plan would allow them to mutually provide information on each other's nationals arrested or detained in their own countries.

Once polls close, it is possible the results will not be projected for several hours, days or even weeks

The men and women who rummage through commercial bins to take clothes and other items.

Russia has confirmed that US-mediated Russia-Ukraine talks to end more than four years of war will take place in Abu Dhabi next week.

Hillmorton Hospital patient Zakariye Mohamed Hussein stabbed Laisa Waka Tunidau to death in June 2022.

Workers from the Korean Peninsula were among victims of a 1942 flooding at the Chosei coal mine in the city of Ube in Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Unabating attacks show how the escalating maritime war between Russia and Ukraine is expanding into a major challenge for NATO.

Canadians Paul Anka and David Foster are among the performers to receive this year's Kennedy Center honours, though the Dec. 7 ceremony will not be held at the historic Washington, D.C., venue as a result of the legal battles that have emerged in Donald Trump's second term as president.

Polls show that Democrats could take control of the House of Representatives, posing a threat to the Trump administration.

Calgary-based Sumerian Oil and Gas is planning legal action against the Alberta Energy Regulator following months of enforcement issues. The company now alleges that its assets on Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, in central Alberta, were not secured as required before the deadly fire on Oct. 17.

A professor and researcher at the University of Waterloo has received the highest recognition in Canada for scientific excellence. Linda Nazar is a distinguished University Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Waterloo and has been studying battery materials for over three decades.

So far, the multitrillion-dollar spending splurge on artificial intelligence has propelled stock markets to record highs.

The pact gives duty-free access to the world's largest economy for more than 1,800 products and has boosted trade between the U.S. and the region.

PSNI detectives investigating the disappearance of Carrie Mullane (Noonan) have launched a murder investigation and arrested a man on suspicion of murder.

The pop star on new music, The Traitors, and what really went down at James Acaster's banishment.

Abdul El-Sayed, who is seeking a must-win US Senate seat for the Democrats, fired up a packed crowd of supporters in Detroit with a cry of "give it up for public health".

Rescuers in southern Ukraine continued an intense search Tuesday for survivors at a bombed-out aid facility and shelter where at least 31 people were killed and dozens were still missing.

Beth Jenkins' cancer was initially missed after told she was "too young" to have the disease.

One person died at the scene, police have confirmed.

Researchers have detected signals from the smallest distances ever probed.

The government and ruling coalition are reportedly considering nearly doubling defense spending over the next five years.

"We are being left in the middle while our landowners and communities deal with the consequences," says Ngāti Porou.

"One of our MPI inspectors rugby-tackled one of them and the other one just sat down and accepted it," says one of the SPCA inspectors who wrangled the wayward sheep.

Kai Pavlovic’s aunt Helen Kok says the family is "absolutely devastated by the tragic news of Kai’s passing".

President Tomoko Akane used an annual report to warn that sanctions imposed by Washington threaten international justice and the rule of law.

A woman out trick-or-treating with her children on Halloween says she was disturbed to see a man wearing a full Nazi uniform on a residential street in Cole Harbour, N.S.

Trudy Burrows says many campers have beaten addictions while living in the supportive community.

Among recipients of the honors, set to be awarded at ceremonies including the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, 400 are women, accounting for 10.4%.

She was found on semi-rural farmland.

There had been a total of 37 cases reported in Auckland over the past three weeks.

Mourners at the funeral of Irish Olympian and European champion Ciara Mageean have been told she was a bright light in the darkness.

While Taiwan already has the know-how to make high-tech sea drones, the island is keen to work with foreign firms whose systems are battle-tested.

Iran and the United States remain far from a deal to end the war, a senior Iranian official has said.

A mother from Pelican Narrows opened a coffee shop in Prince Albert, Sask., last year and named it after her late son, who died three years ago.

A $40 million US collection of rare and high-performance motorcycles seized from Canadian alleged drug lord Ryan Wedding will go up for auction next week in Mexico. The 61 bikes include models from Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, MV Agusta, Suzuki and Yamaha. Some were previously used in professional racing, according to the FBI.

When Russian President Vladimir Putin recently declared that inflicting a "strategic defeat" on Russia is "unrealistic," it may have sounded like standard wartime bravado. But he might also be thinking ahead to a diplomatic endgame in Ukraine.

Public Safety Canada is maintaining its longstanding advice for Canadians to be prepared to go at least three days without running water or electricity, following recent calls in the U.K. and other countries for their residents to do the same.

Bruce Power, the private company that operates the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station, faces two federal Fisheries Act charges after millions of Lake Huron fish died over a period of two months in 2025.

Prime Minister Mark Carney's oft-stated determination to keep his government focused on what Canadians can control could be tested today, as he meets with leaders from the 55 other member countries of the Commonwealth in Antigua. Here are five things to watch for.

Inflation is expected to remain above 3 percent for the coming year across the Tasman.

North Korea denied FBI's allegations it was behind the theft of $6 billion from cryptocurrency platform Binance.

The capital and business alliance will focus on media and content production when it is established in January next year.

"I think there is a political question as to where that balance is set, and whether there needs to be greater environmental protection than proposed," says the Russel McVeagh lawyer.

Some of the company's operations, ranging from theme parks, TV network and a movie studio, will be affected disproportionately.

The government announced the names of the eight awardees, including Nobel laureate Kenso Soai and Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto, last month.

Polls have opened on the US east coast as Americans are set to deliver their verdict on Donald Trump's second presidency in midterm elections.

Tangihanga for Porirua Deputy Mayor Kylie Wihapi begins on Thursday, with her funeral to be held on Saturday.

Some experts argue such a clause is needed for swift initial responses to disasters, while others worry it could lead to concentrated authority.

Tracy Peters was forced to navigate cycle trails, strong winds and uneven gravel paths in a 30-kilometre ordeal.

Marine Drive in Eastbourne has been closed in both directions after the incident.

Spanish authorities have identified all 69 people killed in a high-speed train collision in central Spain last week.

An investigation by Watchdog analysed 25 items bought from Amazon, Etsy, Temu, eBay and OnBuy.

Meanwhile, Democrats sought to contain a rift in Michigan's closely fought U.S. Senate race.

Fewer than one in five people with multiple body systems impacted experience sustained improvement within three years of infection, a study found.

Parents say they are scared to send their children to school after two separate incidents last month.

The hospital went into lockdown for a short period of time until the arrests were made outside the building.

The fire was underneath and alongside an overbridge, in a large area of trees and scrub.

Reactions to Sunday night's record-breaking Rugby League World Cup game have shone a light on the pride Pasifika have for their nations and culture.

Weather conditions are a "major" focus of an investigation into a plane crash in Florida that killed nine people, US transportation investigators said.

Polling stations opened at 7am local time, with counting expected after voting ends at 7pm (10pm NZDT).

British Columbia police say the charges marked a "significant milestone following more than a year of investigation".

At least three people have been hurt in an accident in Auckland's East Tamaki.

The National Advocacy Service has called on the Government and the HSE to develop a new national deinstitutionalisation delivery plan.

Supporters of migrants will protest outside Leinster House today as the Justice Committee meets for the first time to consider proposed changes to citizenship.

Trade unions and Government representatives have held separate meetings today with an independent body in a bid to resolve the ongoing row over public sector pay.

Providers who accept contributions from ineligible investors under the Government's new personal investment accounts are set to face financial penalties.

Only 12 properties were available to rent within any of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Scheme limits in September, according to a new report.

Non-Irish citizens now make up one-in-five people in employment in the State, according to the ESRI.

Milksolids rose 4.5 percent, with artificial breeding at a three-decade high and beef-on-dairy sales up 25 percent.

Numbers of move-on orders have been released by police, with most being issued for drunk, disruptive or disorderly behaviour.

Greenpeace and OraTaiao are among signatories asking the WHO to evaluate nitrate as a chemical contaminant.

Vasa Fia Collins says she will continue their tradition of making a family event out of going to vote so her children understand the importance of democracy.

The Labour candidate is fighting to win back the Auckland bellwether seat of Maungakiekie that she lost by more than 4000 votes in 2023.

Police say one person has been found dead and a shelter-in-place order that was issued late Monday has been lifted after officers responded to a dangerous weapons call at a University of Toronto dormitory in Mississauga.

The IPCA has found an officer acted in self-defence when he fired 14 shots at a wanted man reversing towards him near Rotorua.

Meanwhile, Christopher Luxon urges voters to "stick to the plan", and Chris Hipkins says the media "have lost their minds" over polls.

The investor group includes the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System, the Investment Management Corp. of Ontario and the Public Sector Pension Investment Board.

No evidence was found to substantiate any of the concerns raised, the Independent Police Conduct Authority says.

The property has attracted a steady stream of visitors from China for more than three decades since the tragic death of the poet and his wife in 1993.

Party heads in the Israeli opposition camp, led by Gadi Eisenkot, will meet tomorrow after they all endorsed him for prime minister, while incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu has called for a broad coalition government under his leadership.

Questions are being raised about whether New Zealand schools have the capacity to accommodate an influx of visiting students.

Prime Minister Matthew Wale's GREAT coalition is preparing to undertake a major constitutional reform initiative, including introducing "anti-defection measures".

Powerswitch head Paul Fuge says hot water controls have the potential to benefit households significantly, if they're used well.

And what it could all mean for New Zealand.

A report by Backbone Collective details how abusive legal guardians are preventing their tamariki from accessing therapy and healthcare

Amir Zuccolo is the new mayor of Prince Edward Island's capital city, and will be the first woman to sit in the chair since the 1970s.

A group of people were socialising at a West Auckland home overnight when two unknown men approached the house.

The move has prompted calls for greater public consultation and scrutiny of potential environmental impacts.

A private Learjet bound for the Bahamas crashed in Florida's Palm Beach County minutes after the crew reported turbulence and icy conditions — killing all nine people on board. Andrew Chang breaks down cockpit audio, flight data and aviation expert analysis to begin to explain the final moments before the crash.

Photo credits at 08:09 and 08:10 are Eduin Cruz/Reuters and Vanessa Lara/Reuters

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

After his inauguration ceremony, Vancouver Mayor Pete Fry held a press conference with all 10 councillors, with representatives from each party — COPE, OneCity, ABC Vancouver, and Fry’s own Green Party, none of which has a majority on council — speaking of their desire to work together.

Stewart appeared dressed as a homeless person, holding a sign that read "I AM HUNGRY HELP ME!!" In the post's caption, she promoted her candle collection.

Former President of Ireland Mary Robinson has been elected to lead an international organisation that is helping developing countries attract billions of dollars in investment to build cleaner, more sustainable economies and tackle climate change.

A year after a controversial ostrich cull in B.C.'s Interior, the owners of Universal Ostrich Farms have filed a lawsuit accusing the federal government of animal cruelty, under-compensation and preventing the launch of a lucrative commercial enterprise.

Experts in European Union policy say Canada should try solidifying gains with the EU in legal frameworks, particularly as talk of becoming an EU "associate member" continues to cause confusion.

David, who is 82, says he's repeatedly sought updates from Southland Hospital about his operation but has been met with unanswered emails and voicemail messages.

New Zealand has helped establish a new detector dog facility in Tonga, to curb the illegal drug trade around the Pacific.

Dr. William Lizardo, a Canadian dentist detained by U.S. federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minnesota during a green card interview, is back home after being ordered released by a federal judge.

What is actually happening when we leave Bluetooth switched on all day? And should we follow advice that it's best to turn it off when you're not using it?

RCMP say an SUV travelling on Highway 335 collided with a truck driving on Highway 35, killing the driver of the SUV.

Dozens of shops across European countries have been hit by a cyber-attack affecting their fridges.

The literary agent for Steven Galloway said it would have been "impossible" to sell any new work by his client in the years after a former student made unproven allegations of rape and sexual assault against the author a decade ago.

After facing searing criticism this spring, the Liberal government's hot-button lawful access legislation — which would make it easier for Canadian police and intelligence officials to tap private communications — now begins its time before a Senate committee.

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has announced she has resigned from the DUP over its handling of the fallout from the Drumcree parading dispute, and is to sit as an independent unionist in the House of Commons.

At 73, Mary Onwá:ri Tekahawá:khwen McDonald from Akwesasne Mohawk Territory is the first graduate of McGill University’s Ad Hoc PhD program in Indigenous Language Revitalization.

Tyler King, 39, has been arrested and charged with sexually exploiting three players. The complainants, all under 18 at the time, were junior A players from Saskatchewan and Alberta.

In states like Arizona, some undecided voters have grown to dislike both major political parties. Rather than withdrawing altogether, these 'double haters' remain politically engaged and their votes could swing the U.S. midterms.

A former school principal convicted of stealing thousands of euro from his school and failing to report a child welfare concern to Tusla has been struck off the register of teachers.

A man who is accused of suffocating and strangling an 89-year-old woman in her home in Co Tipperary two years ago, was instructed by gardaí to leave the house six months before her death.

An advisory panel issued a report on Alberta’s electoral boundaries Monday, restoring rural ridings removed from the map by a prior commission while extending the boundaries of some Calgary ridings into surrounding rural communities.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic version of the world's only twice-a-year shot to prevent HIV — a big step toward making the drug available inexpensively and more quickly in 120 low- and middle-income countries.

Several First Nations in B.C. are challenging the federal government in court and seeking to overturn its decision to designate the Pacific Link pipeline project as a project of national interest.

Exceeding 1.5C of global warming will have "irreversible" consequences for glaciers, sea ice and the Earth's frozen regions, two UN reports have warned, calling for urgent action.

Met Éireann has issued a Status Yellow warning for fog for eight counties overnight, with difficult travel conditions expected.

The 59-year-old victim is a commanding officer and was supervising young cadets selling Remembrance Day poppies on Sunday. Police said the 12-year-old and another boy approached them and 'blew a loud air horn directly into [the young cadets'] ears' and an altercation ensued.

Snapchat parent Snap Inc. has reached a settlement during a trial over claims brought by two teenagers who say the company designed the platform to be addictive, causing their depression, anxiety and eating disorders, attorneys for the plaintiffs said on Monday.

Montreal police Chief Fady Dagher has announced the administrative dismissal of seven employees in connection with allegations of discriminatory and racist behaviour, as well as derogatory acts.

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass at the Verano Cemetery in Rome on the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, and recalls that our bond with the dead is not broken but transformed in our faith in Christ.

Read all

A person in Washington state has died from complications of the bird flu, the first such U.S. death in a year.

Former Irish rugby international Brendan Mullin has pleaded not guilty to stealing a high-end fragrance from Brown Thomas on Dublin's Grafton Street.

From a gruelling triathlon to a provincial college cross-country title, three athletes — Mika Matoush, Kurtis Gull and Nathan Rabbitskin — from Eeyou Istchee are turning long-distance grit into personal triumphs across Quebec.

Minister Peter Burke will take over responsibility for Minister Patrick O'Donovan's portfolio during his recovery from illness.

TOKYO — Japan on Monday launched a new national agency focused on disaster management to improve the country's preparedness if there's a megaquake along the Pacific coast or in Tokyo, or an eruption of Mount Fuji. More than 350 workers at the National Disaster Management Agency will oversee preparedness, emergency response and reconstruction efforts. The agency was not created in anticipation of any specific calamity, but to address concerns about whether the nation is prepared for a crisis on the scale of the 2011 quake and tsunami in northern Japan, which killed nearly 20,000 people, and the subsequent Fukushima nuclear disaster. Japan, which lies along the Pacific "Ring of Fire,” is one of the most disaster-prone countries but it has never had an agency dedicated to the task. “As the command center of disaster response, we will do everything to strengthen our preparedness to protect people's lives and properties ... and aim to become the world's most prepared,” Reconstruction Minister Goshi Hosono said. He will manage the agency headed by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi

Korea's top court has upheld the country's antitrust watchdog's decision to impose an 18.6 billion won ($13.8 million) fine on U.S. chipmaker Broadcom Inc. for unfair business practices against Samsung Electronics, sources said Monday. According to the sources, the Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a lower court ruling against Broadcom in a lawsuit the U.S. company filed against the Fair Trade Commission (FTC). In 2023, the FTC fined Broadcom for using its superior position to force Samsung to sign a long-term agreement in 2020. According to the watchdog, Broadcom compelled Samsung to purchase at least $760 million worth of its smartphone parts annually from 2021 to 2023 and required the South Korean tech giant to compensate for any shortfall if its purchases fell below that amount. Broadcom filed a lawsuit challenging the FTC's decision in November 2023. In May, however, the Seoul High Court ruled against Broadcom, finding the fine justified. An FTC decision, when challenged, is reviewed by the Seoul High Court, whose ruling can be appealed to the Supreme Court.

Korea and India held the inaugural meeting of their economic security dialogue in Seoul on Monday to discuss ways to maintain the momentum of their cooperation in stabilizing supply chains and advancing cooperation in advanced technologies, Seoul's presidential office said. Monday's meeting was held as a follow-up to the Korean and Indian leaders' summit in April, during which they agreed to launch the dialogue to enhance supply chain resilience and advance cooperation in cutting-edge technologies. Song Ki-ho, vice chief of Cheong Wa Dae's National Security Office, represented Korea at the dialogue, while India was represented by Pavan Kapoor, deputy national security adviser of India, according to the presidential office. During the meeting, the two sides explored ways to maintain the momentum of their cooperation in stabilizing supply chains, advance cooperation in the advanced technology sector and jointly respond to shifts in the global economic security environment, Cheong Wa Dae said. The two countries also discussed ways to develop and implement partnerships in shipbuilding, shipp

Korea's finance minister met with the head of Hyundai Motor Group to discuss ways to develop the country's electric vehicle (EV) industry, along with government tax incentives for the sector, sources said Monday. Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il met with Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung for around 20 minutes ahead of a roundtable held on the day at the company's research center in Hwaseong, south of Seoul, according to the sources. During the meeting, the two also exchanged views on applying tax cuts for EVs produced in the country, the sources said. The finance ministry said Lee was also briefed by Hyundai Motor Group on its plans to develop next-generation EVs and autonomous vehicles. The roundtable, attended by representatives from other automakers, was part of the government's efforts to gather industry views on EVs and autonomous driving technology. "EVs are the next battleground for the country to revive its growth potential," Lee said during the roundtable, stressing that the country needs to secure technologies in line with those of advanced nations within two or thr

Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI) said Monday it has delivered the first two FA-50 light combat aircraft to Malaysia under a 2023 contract to supply 18 jets to the Southeast Asian country. The two FA-50M aircraft departed from KAI's headquarters in Sacheon, about 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Thursday and arrived at Malaysia's Kuantan Air Base on Sunday. The aircraft will be formally handed over to the Royal Malaysian Air Force after completing final acceptance tests. The delivery marks the first shipment under the 2023 deal, aimed at replacing Malaysia's aging Hawk 108 and 208 advanced trainer and light combat aircraft as part of the country's military modernization program.

Seoul Plaza will turn into an evening marketplace Friday, offering shoppers a chance to discover products from 47 small businesses, enjoy live performances and receive discounts as the city looks to bring more spending into the nighttime economy. The Seoul Metropolitan Government will hold its 2026 Small Business Day celebration from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, extending operating hours by two hours from last year to accommodate office workers and other visitors unable to attend during the day. The event marks Small Business Day, observed annually on Nov. 5, and carries the theme "Better everyday lives created by small shops, Seoul as a city of quality living." Participating businesses will offer products ranging from meal kits, premium teas and baked goods to handmade soaps, accessories, leather goods and traditional crafts. Fifteen businesses that have benefited from Seoul's startup and market development support programs will also participate, giving them an opportunity to introduce their products to new customers. Shoppers can receive a 10 percent discount by purchasing the event-exclus

K-pop group RIIZE is turning to literature to tell a deeper story, pairing its new single "Insomnia" with fiction and illustration in an experiment that puts emotion and storytelling ahead of performance. The six-member group released "Insomnia" on Oct. 26, offering an acoustic pop track steeped in the mood of a chilly autumn night. The song marks a departure from the dynamic sound and performance-driven presentation often associated with RIIZE, bringing the members' vocals to the forefront instead. Its lyrics explore thoughts of another person that become increasingly vivid as the night deepens, along with the complicated emotions that grow from them. Against the backdrop of a sleepless night, the members sing about a more complex and introspective emotional state. The shift extends to the music video. Rather than centering on choreography, it adopts a dramatized, cinematic format in which each member experiences insomnia and emotional distress in a different way following a particular incident. Individual side stories expand on the characters and fill in parts of the narrative that the

Seoul has designated 19 hotels and accommodations as “medical-friendly” lodgings tailored for international patients and their families, part of an effort to capture a growing global market traveling to Korea for health care, the city government said Monday. According to the Korea Health Industry Development Institute, about 1.76 million foreign patients were treated at medical institutions in Seoul in 2025, a record high. That is 3.7 times the roughly 470,000 in 2023. Seoul accounted for 87.2 percent of the roughly 2.01 million foreign patients treated nationwide last year. The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Tourism Organization chose the 19 facilities from 40 applicants in the program’s first year. The selection involved document reviews, on-site inspections and expert evaluations. Unlike regular tourists, foreign patients often need long stays that follow their treatment schedules, rooms for family members or caregivers, and places to recover after surgery or other procedures. Some have trouble getting around after treatment. The facilities were judged on how easy i

Korea’s southern port city of Busan will host its massive annual fireworks display Saturday along Gwangalli Beach, illuminating the landmark Gwangan Bridge across the bay, city officials said Monday. The hourlong show starts at 7 p.m. Fireworks will be launched from three spots, Gwangalli Beach, Igidae Park and Dongbaek Island, to give the show more depth. The program will open with a 15-minute show by China’s Sunny Fireworks. It will be followed by a 30-minute show by Korea’s Hanwha Corp. on the theme “Busan’s dream,” featuring 25-inch shells, waterfall-style “Niagara” fireworks and multimedia lighting on the bridge. A five-minute “curtain call” display will then offer thanks citizens and festival staff. Before the fireworks show, the Black Eagles, the Korean Air Force’s aerobatic team, will put on an air show at 4 p.m., alongside beach events and busking by local indie bands. The city will offer some 17,000 paid seats. About 3,000 more seats than last year have been added, all set aside for foreign tourists and sold through overseas travel agencies and online trav

Visitors to Unhyeon Palace in central Seoul can step into the shoes of 19th-century royal investigators this month, searching for secret clues across moonlit courtyards to solve a fictional mystery involving a stolen royal seal. The Seoul Metropolitan Government will host "Moonlit Secret Mission: Find the Missing Royal Seal" on select evenings from Wednesday to Nov. 29. The interactive program transforms the historic royal residence located in Seoul's central Jongno District into an immersive stage for storytelling, puzzle-solving and traditional Korean arts. The experience is set during the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910). A sacred royal seal entrusted to the father of King Gojong mysteriously disappears overnight. Participants play secret agents recruited by the father, navigating the palace grounds at dusk to question historical characters, solve riddles and gather evidence. The two-hour program guides small groups through three key areas of the palace complex. The investigation begins at the outer walls, where visitors interview a servant and play a traditional hoop-rolling game to unl

LS Cable & System and its affiliate LS Marine Solution have signed a deal with the developer of a 504-megawatt offshore wind farm off Korea’s west coast to supply and install its subsea cables, the companies said Monday. The two companies signed a capacity reservation agreement (CRA) with Taean Wind Power. A CRA reserves cable production capacity and installation vessel schedules before a final contract is signed. The agreement follows the developer’s selection of the two companies as preferred bidders in 2024. They are now reviewing cable specifications and the scope of installation work through engineering and site surveys. They plan to agree on the contract value and other details and sign a final contract within the year. The Taean offshore wind project is being jointly developed by state-run Korea Western Power, Singapore-based renewable energy company Vena Energy and Danish renewable energy investor Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners. The wind farm will be built off Taean County in South Chungcheong Province, about 150 kilometers southwest of Seoul, and is scheduled for comple

KOSPI rose more than 2 percent Monday, as institutional buying helped stocks rebound from early losses, shrugging off lingering concerns over the profitability of artificial intelligence (AI) investments. The benchmark closed at 5,859.08, up 2.24 percent. It opened 1.62 percent lower before reversing course as institutional investors stepped up purchases. Institutional investors bought a net 1.36 trillion won ($1.01 billion) of shares, while foreign and retail investors net sold 43.09 billion won and 1.41 trillion won, respectively. SK hynix gained 3.81 percent to close at 1,472,000 won, while Samsung Electronics climbed 1.78 percent to 229,000 won. SK Square, which announced plans to return at least 4.3 trillion won to shareholders out of more than 6.2 trillion won expected from SK hynix's cash dividends, also gained 5.91 percent to close at 950,000 won. The rebound came despite a rout in U.S. semiconductor shares on Friday (local time), when Intel plunged 28 percent and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index tumbled 7.2 percent. Lee Kyoung-min, an analyst at Daishin Securities, said much

HYBE, the music agency behind K-pop group BTS, disclosed a cyberattack that exposed personal information of current and former employees and business partners, including resident registration numbers, credit card numbers and medical records. In an apology posted on its website, Oct. 18, the company said an internal security inspection detected unauthorized access through an outside vendor’s document preview software linked to its electronic approval system. Further investigation found similar access to its expense management system. According to the apology, the breaches occurred Sept. 12-13 and Oct. 3-5. Compromised information also included passport numbers, bank account details, addresses and phone numbers. The company did not disclose how many people were affected. “We deeply apologize for the concern caused by the personal information leak,” HYBE said in the notice. The company also said it blocked the attackers’ internet addresses and access routes, reported the incident to the Korea Internet and Security Agency and the Personal Information Protection Commission, and was no

When Park, a 56-year-old homemaker living in an apartment complex in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, heard that GS Engineering & Construction (GS E&C) had recently detected unauthorized access to a system containing residents’ personal information, the news struck a nerve. “Sure, I’ve had my personal information exposed in the Coupang and SK Telecom data breaches, among many others. Over time, I found myself becoming less concerned. Everyone seemed to be getting hit, and it felt like I was just another number in a database,” she said. This time, however, it felt much closer to home, quite literally. “The information involved could reveal details about my own household. Our apartment complex, like many newer developments, relies on smart home services for everyday tasks. We use an app to track package deliveries and vehicle entry and exit, another to access the building, and I hear the sports center is introducing facial recognition for entry. If that kind of information gets exposed, it feels like someone might actually be able to track my every move.” Her concerns point to a growi

Kia said Monday its vehicle sales rose 10.3 percent from a year earlier in October, driven by strong overseas demand for its sport utility vehicle (SUV) models. Kia sold a total of 291,219 vehicles last month, up from 264,017 units a year earlier, the company said in a press release. The figure includes sales of military vehicles. Robust demand for the Sportage, Sorento and Seltos SUVs boosted the monthly sales, the carmaker said. Domestic sales rose 27.5 percent on-year to 51,007 units, while overseas sales climbed 7.2 percent to 239,308 units, it said. Military vehicle sales gained 12.9 percent on-year to 904 units. Looking ahead, Kia said it will seek to maintain sales growth in the fourth quarter by launching gasoline-hybrid models in the United States and electrified cars in Europe.

Household loans by major banks again rebounded in October from a month earlier despite tight borrowing regulations and higher rates, data showed Monday. Outstanding household loans at five major lenders — KB Kookmin Bank, Shinhan Bank, Hana Bank, Woori Bank and NH Nonghyup Bank — stood at 783.6 trillion won ($584 billion) as of end-October, up 2.77 trillion won from the previous month, according to data compiled by the banks. The rebound came a month after such loans fell for the first time in six months. The rise in household loans by banks was mainly attributed to a rise in both mortgage and credit loans. Mortgage loans rose for the seventh consecutive month in October, gaining 1.7 trillion won to 623.99 trillion won at the end of last month, according to the data. Credit loans also advanced 669 billion won to 108.89 trillion won over the cited period, following the previous month's 1.34 trillion-won fall. The Bank of Korea (BOK) kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged last month at 3 percent after two consecutive rate hikes to give the central bank time to assess economic conditi

South Korea has officially recognized three fishing crewmen abducted by North Korea decades ago, Seoul's unification ministry said Monday, bringing the total number of government-recognized abductees since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War to 519. The ministry added Jo Gi-won, Kim Yang-hun and Kim Dong-ho, who were forcibly taken to the North while aboard their fishing boat, the Daeyeong, near the South Korean border island of Yeonpyeong in 1973, to the list of post-war abductees eligible for "consolation" payments under a relevant law. It decided to provide 81 million won ($60,290) in consolation money to Jo's family members, while it is seeking to find the family members of the other abductees. The Daeyeong had not been counted among the boats whose sailors were abducted by the North until Kim Byeong-do, one of its crewmembers, returned to South Korea in 2003, according to an association of post-war abductees' family members. After the Armistice Agreement was signed to halt the Korean War in 1953, 3,838 South Koreans were taken to the North against their will. Of them, 3,319 have retur

WASHINGTON — Democrats teed up final get-out-the-vote rallies Monday on the eve of midterm elections where they expect to win at least partial control of Congress and impose political constraints on President Donald Trump for the first time in two years. Rallies -- including by star Democratic Senate candidates James Talarico in Texas and Adam Hamilton in Kansas -- were capping a campaign of breathtaking tension and bitterness. For his closing argument, Trump chose a speech in Washington at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool -- a landmark that has become synonymous with the 80-year-old president's obsessive, controversial drive to redevelop the US capital. "We're going to win," he said on Sunday. Polls, however, show that Democrats are near certain to take the majority from Republicans in the House of Representatives and have a real shot at winning the currently Republican Senate. Even winning just the House would mean Democrats have voting power over the federal budget and would lead powerful committees able to investigate alleged corruption under Trump, the Epstein files and other e

Korea’s most beloved veteran actors are leaving behind a deep sense of loss among audiences who grew up watching them on television and in movie theaters. The deaths of Lee Soon-jae, Ahn Sung-ki and Choi Bool-am within less than a year have marked the loss of three towering figures who helped shape Korea’s popular culture for decades. Each made a different contribution to the entertainment industry, but all became household names whose presence extended far beyond their performances. In Korea, they are often called “the nation’s favorite actors,” a term reserved for performers who have earned the affection and respect of generations of audiences. Their popularity went beyond fame. Through the characters they portrayed and the stories they brought into Korean homes, they became familiar companions in the everyday lives of millions. Choi Bool-am: Father figure for many Koreans Choi, widely remembered as Korea’s ideal on-screen father, died at a hospital in western Seoul on Oct. 29. He was 87. For generations of viewers, Choi was more than an actor playing a father. He came to em

Korea will hold an annual consultation session with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) this week to discuss the country's overall economic situation and policies, the finance ministry said Monday. An IMF delegation, led by mission chief Corinne Delechat, is scheduled to have meetings with government ministries, including the finance, budget and industry ministries, the Bank of Korea (BOK) and other public and private institutions, according to the Ministry of Finance and Economy. The IMF team plans to hold a press conference on Nov. 17 to explain the results of the annual session after a separate meeting with Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il, it added. The IMF earlier revised up its growth forecast for Korea's economy to 3.3 percent for this year by 0.7 percentage point from its July projection amid the global semiconductor supercycle.

DL E&C is set to build a 727-unit apartment complex in Naepo New Town, a planned administrative city in South Chungcheong Province, amid ongoing development of the area's residential, educational and industrial infrastructure. The project, named e-Pyeonhansesang Naepo Edu Platz, will comprise nine buildings, rising up to 25 floors above two basement levels, with units ranging from 84 to 119 square meters. Of the total units, 605 will be 84-square-meter apartments offered through a public-private housing program, while the remaining 122 will be privately sold 119-square-meter units. The complex, scheduled for occupancy in August 2028, is located near the center of Naepo New Town, with elementary, middle and high schools within walking distance. Nearby amenities include the town's central commercial district, medical facilities, banks and government offices, including the South Chungcheong provincial government, police station and education office. The town's largest green space, Hongye Park, is also accessible on foot. Several local bus routes run through the area, with an intercity bus te

The chief of Samsung Electro-Mechanics on Monday highlighted business opportunities in the artificial intelligence (AI) era, saying the market has significant room for growth as the industry expands. "The current AI industry is just January 1," Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Chang Duck-hyun said at a ceremony marking the 53rd anniversary of the company's founding, suggesting that the industry remains in its earliest stages despite concerns over its long-term profitability. The electronic components unit of Samsung Electronics has been among the beneficiaries of the AI boom, signing a series of long-term supply agreements this year alone to provide multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) and package substrates for AI servers. "With the expansion of AI servers and data centers driving a sharp increase in demand for key components and technological sophistication, unprecedented growth opportunities are emerging across our core businesses, including MLCCs and package substrates," he said. The company has signed a total of eight long-term supply agreements announced this year worth a combined ov

Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il met with U.S. Ambassador to Korea Michelle Steel on Monday to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation, the finance ministry said. During the meeting held at the government complex in Seoul, Lee said the Korea-U.S. alliance has expanded beyond security to encompass economic areas, including advanced industries, energy and supply chains, over the past 70 years, according to the Ministry of Finance and Economy. He expressed hope that Steel, who was born in Seoul, would help build bridges between the two countries and expand bilateral economic cooperation, drawing on her deep understanding of both countries. Lee also asked Steel to play a role in enhancing communication to resolve bilateral trade issues. The two sides shared the view that the allies should expand economic cooperation in a way that further strengthens the Seoul-Washington alliance, the ministry added.

Daewoo Engineering & Construction (E&C) said Monday it has asked the government to mediate a dispute with Korea's state-run nuclear power operator over a major nuclear reactor project in the Czech Republic. The company, which leads a construction consortium for the project, made the request to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources after receiving formal notice Friday that Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) Co. had ended contract negotiations. "We have requested the ministry's mediation to resume contract negotiations and normalize the project as soon as possible," Daewoo E&C said in a statement. The Dukovany project, valued at about 25 trillion won ($17.5 billion), involves the construction of two 1,000-megawatt APR1000 nuclear reactors, a Korean-designed model, in the Czech Republic. Daewoo E&C said KHNP unilaterally ended the negotiations after rejecting its revised proposal submitted Thursday, citing the company's failure to adequately reflect rising construction costs. The builder argued it was unreasonable to require a construction contractor, which is not responsible for rea

The government and local authorities nationwide are launching a formal review of benefits for multicultural families after President Lee Jae Myung raised concerns that some programs unfairly disadvantage other households. The Ministry of Justice sent an official request to local governments late last month, asking them to provide details of their support policies for such families. Based on the findings, the government is expected to review whether any of the programs amount to what the president described as “reverse discrimination” against other households. According to city officials, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has begun examining all 26 of its multicultural family support programs for potential fairness concerns. “The mayor spoke about this, and we first need to establish which programs the relevant departments are running and how exactly they operate,” an official told The Korea Times on Monday. “That is where things stand at the moment.” Among the programs under review is the city’s subsidized postpartum care initiative, which places mothers from multicultural

Growing concerns over the sustainability of the global artificial intelligence (AI) investment boom are translating into mounting financing pressures on major tech companies, raising fears that a slowdown in AI spending could deal an outsized blow to Korea's semiconductor-dependent economy. Tech giants such as Google, Meta and Amazon are heavily relying on debt to finance their massive capital expenditures, as borrowing costs continue to rise. This also adds pressure to the fundraising plans of AI developers such as OpenAI and Anthropic. This could eventually slow the pace of AI investment and weigh on memory chip prices, potentially sending shock waves through Korea's broader economy, which heavily relies on corporate tax revenue from Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. Google's parent company Alphabet disclosed on Wednesday that its capital expenditures amounted to 121.4 percent of the cash generated from operating activities, meaning the company spent more on investments, mostly in AI infrastructure, than it generated from its operations. Its free cash flow (FCF) remained negative for t

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) on Monday welcomed President Lee Jae Myung's budget speech, while the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) criticized him for failing to address North Korea's threats and economic concerns. PPP lawmakers also staged a rally at the National Assembly ahead of Lee's speech on next year's budget proposal, condemning what they called a budget that disregards national debt and destroys the country's future. "President Lee came, said only what he wanted to say and left," PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok wrote on Facebook. "He made no mention of real estate, the stock market or farmland, nor did he mention North Korea, the South Korea-U.S. alliance, public safety or judicial issues," Rep. Jang said. While Lee pledged to secure key military capabilities needed for the early transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) from the United States, he did not directly mention the alliance or inter-Korean ties in his speech. PPP chief spokesperson Park Sung-hoon also called the speech "the height of fiscal recklessness" and a declaration seeking to "drain the na

Samsung SDS has begun construction of an artificial intelligence (AI) data center in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, marking the first step in Samsung Group's 60 trillion won ($44.6 billion) investment plan for the Yeongnam region. The company said Monday that the facility will be built on a 46,000-square-meter site in Gongdan-dong, with an initial power capacity of 60 megawatts, which can be expanded to 120 MW to meet growing demand for AI computing infrastructure. Construction began after Gumi City approved the project in late August, with completion targeted for the end of 2028. The project is part of Samsung's plan, announced in July, to turn the Yeongnam region into a global hub for physical AI innovation. The investment roadmap covers humanoid robots and AI data centers in Gumi, all-solid-state batteries in Ulsan, advanced packaging substrates and multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) for AI servers in Busan and high-value-added vessels in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province. Samsung SDS said the facility will provide critical infrastructure for AI-driven manufacturing and robotics a

Subscriptions to services such as Netflix and YouTube Premium cost an average of 65 percent less when bought through unofficial resellers, but buyers risk losing their accounts, their money and their personal data, a cybersecurity firm said Monday. Netherlands-based Surfshark compared official prices for 10 popular subscription services, including Netflix, Spotify, YouTube Premium and Duolingo, with prices on resale platforms. Resold subscriptions averaged about 6,200 won ($4.60) a month, compared with about 17,600 won through official channels. That is a saving of about 11,400 won a month, or more than 130,000 won a year. Resellers typically sell shared accounts or access to them, often at prices far below official rates. The study found that eight of the 10 services required a minimum 12-month commitment on resale platforms, and the other two required at least six months. Buyers who lose access before the term ends may have to rely on the reseller for help or a refund. Some platforms also asked for more personal information than needed. One asked for a buyer’s name, address, postal c

A major natural disaster in North Korea could create an opening for engagement with the isolated regime through humanitarian aid, according to a Japanese disaster expert who once coordinated with North Korean officials at the United Nations. He noted that the U.N. had discussed such an approach and that disasters have helped thaw relations elsewhere. “In the event of a major disaster in North Korea, neighboring countries — including China, South Korea, Russia and Japan — could potentially provide humanitarian assistance,” Yuichi Ono, professor at Tohoku University and deputy director of International Research Institute of Disaster Science (IRIDeS), said during a meeting with South Korean reporters visiting Japan as part of a South Korea-Japan journalists’ exchange program on Oct. 23, according to the joint press corps. He said the idea has been raised within the U.N. itself. “We actually discussed within the U.N. whether a major disaster might serve as a catalyst for the country to open its doors,” he said. “Statistically speaking, it’s only a matter of time before Nor

Korea has officially launched its sixth national supercomputer, named "Hangang" after the iconic Han River flowing through Seoul, to propel cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) and scientific research. The Ministry of Science and ICT and the state-run Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI) marked the launch Monday at KISTI headquarters in Daejeon, the nation’s primary scientific and research hub located about 140 kilometers south of Seoul. The ceremony brought together roughly 200 leaders from across industry, academia and government research institutions. Constructed at a cost of 382.5 billion won ($276 million), Hangang replaces Nurion, the fifth-generation supercomputer deployed in 2018. Nurion ranked 11th globally at launch and supported 1,730 research projects over its eight-year lifespan. Those efforts produced 1,520 peer-reviewed papers, including 70 published in top-tier international journals such as Nature, Science and Cell. While Hangang continues running the same heavy computational simulations handled by its predecessor, such as vehicle crash t

The chief of LG Electronics said on Monday that "caregiving" could become the next frontier for artificial intelligence (AI)-powered services. In a post on his LinkedIn account, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lyu Jae-cheol outlined the company's vision for AI-powered homes, saying they should go beyond simply adding AI features to connected devices. "This is the direction envisioned by LG Electronics' 'Zero-Labor Home' vision, which aims to free people from household chores," Lyu said. The Korean home appliance maker has been spearheading efforts to transform the way people manage their homes through its AI-powered appliance lineup, ranging from refrigerators to air purifiers. Rather than simply adding AI functions to connected devices, the goal should be to fundamentally change the way homes operate, he said. Lyu emphasized, however, that AI-powered homes should reduce the burden of repetitive household chores while leaving important decisions in the hands of users.

A court will open a retrial next week for an Uzbek national who was sentenced to life in prison 16 years ago for killing and robbing a taxi driver in 2009, legal sources said Monday. According to the sources, the first hearing of the retrial for Bozorov Akmal, 37, will begin at 11 a.m. on Nov. 12 at the Changwon District Court in Changwon, about 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul. The Supreme Court finalized Akmal's life imprisonment in 2010 on charges of robbing and killing a 50-something taxi driver in Changwon in March 2009. After his first request for a retrial was rejected in 2015, he filed a second petition in January last year through Park Jun-young, a defense attorney known for handling retrial cases. Park pointed out numerous flaws in the original investigation, including forensic opinions on the victim's neck wounds, taxi routes, records from the National Forensic Service, phone logs and testimony regarding the weapon. He also raised allegations of physical assault and coercion by investigators. On Oct. 15, the court decided to reopen Akmal's case and suspended his prison senten

Japan's stock market rally and retail investing boom are attracting Korean financial firms seeking overseas growth, as mounting pressure on smaller brokerages creates acquisition opportunities, industry officials said Monday. Viva Republica, the operator of Korean fintech platform Toss, plans to acquire Cheer Securities through its Singapore-based subsidiary, Toss Global, in a deal valued at 4 billion yen ($25.35 million). It would mark Toss' first overseas acquisition. Cheer Securities, established in 2019 by Tokai Tokyo Financial Holdings, specializes in mobile trading, allowing customers to invest in stocks and exchange-traded funds in increments of 100 yen through its app. It also handles security token offerings. Mirae Asset Securities also signed an agreement Thursday to acquire Sanko Securities, a unit of Okasan Securities Group, through its U.S. subsidiary. Mirae Asset plans to inject 12 billion yen into its U.S. subsidiary, allocating about 5 billion yen toward the acquisition and the remainder to expanding its business in Japan after the transaction closes. Hanwha Investment &

Incheon International Airport’s latest check-in disruption has exposed its vulnerability to failures at external network providers, prompting calls for stronger contingency systems. The outage began around 4:30 a.m. Friday, when connectivity problems hit the global network of U.S.-based aviation communications provider ARINC, disrupting check-in operations at 13 airlines across both terminals. It delayed 38 flights and left around 1,200 passengers waiting at the airport, according to Incheon International Airport Corp. (IIAC). By the afternoon, ticketing operations at China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and Air China had nearly ground to a halt, forcing them to switch to manual procedures. The latest network fiasco clearly shows a structural vulnerability in airport operations. International airports and airlines rely on global IT providers to exchange passenger and reservation information, coordinate check-in procedures and issue boarding passes. Such platforms allow carriers to operate across multiple airports without building entirely separate systems at each location. Ho

IVE's Jang Won-young drew attention with an elegant all-black look that highlighted her striking proportions at a luxury jewelry event in Seoul. Jang attended a preview exhibition for an Italian luxury jewelry brand at SONGEUN in Cheongdam-dong, southern Seoul, on Oct. 28. For the event, she wore long off-the-shoulder dress, creating a sophisticated yet romantic look. Voluminous ruffles along the neckline added dimension to the otherwise monochromatic ensemble. The dress's off-the-shoulder and backless silhouette accentuated Jang's shoulders and long, statuesque proportions, giving the K-pop star an almost Barbie-like appearance. She paired the dress with a delicate chain necklace that caught the light along her neckline and gold bangles on both wrists, adding a luxurious finish to the look. Black pointed-toe stiletto heels further elongated the silhouette, while Jang wore her hair in a high updo with loose strands framing her face for a polished yet soft finish. Jang has long drawn attention for her fashion both on and off stage, and the latest appearance offered another example of the IV

Jongno, the historic heart of downtown Seoul, will recreate a 600-year-old marketplace along Cheonggye Stream this Saturday during its annual Yukuijeon Festival — a celebration named after the "Six Licensed Stores" that held exclusive royal monopolies during the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910). The 2026 festival will run from 1 to 8 p.m. on Nov. 7 around Jangtonggyo Bridge, bringing together local merchants, food vendors, traditional games and live performances under the theme "Unjong-ga, Street Where People Gather Like Clouds." Unjong-ga was one of Joseon-era Seoul's principal commercial streets, centered around what is now Jongno intersection, where government-authorized merchants and independent traders gathered to sell their goods. The festival takes its name from Yukuijeon, the six major categories of government-authorized shops that once dominated the district's commerce: silk, cotton fabric, hemp fabric, paper, miscellaneous textiles and seafood. Organized by the Jongno-Cheonggye Tourist Special Zone Council, this year's event will feature sales booths operated by merchants from th

Incheon International Airport, Korea’s main international gateway, has begun using artificial intelligence (AI) to spot signs of trouble in its baggage handling system (BHS) before equipment breaks down, its operator said Monday. Incheon International Airport Corp. said its BHS Smart Monitoring System has been running in the baggage handling system at the airport’s Terminal 2 since Oct. 26. BHS is a network of conveyors and sorting machines that moves checked luggage between check-in counters, aircraft and arrival halls. The system tracks key equipment in real time, including baggage sorters, the motors that drive the conveyors and the baggage carousels in arrival halls. Sensors collect data from the equipment, and machine-learning software analyzes it to find parts that are likely to fail. Results are shown on a three-level color scale, with green for normal, yellow for caution and red for danger, along with the likely cause of each problem. Maintenance crews can then replace parts or take other steps before a fault occurs. Under the old approach, crews mostly made repairs after par

Visitors to Deoksu Palace will have a chance to become royal chefs, using artificial intelligence (AI) to create elaborate banquet dishes inspired by the dining traditions of the Korean Empire. The Korea Heritage Service's Deoksu Palace Management Office, in collaboration with Davero Art, will open “Imperial Banquet of the Korean Empire, Prepared With AI” on Tuesday at Dondeokjeon Hall in central Seoul, with the exhibition running through March 28, 2027. The interactive exhibition combines historical research into royal Western-style banquets with generative AI, allowing visitors to select ingredients and design their own imperial menus. More than 60 artifacts and exhibition items related to royal banquets will also be displayed, including chandeliers decorated with the imperial plum blossom emblem, iron cooking utensils and matching tableware. At the center of the experience are 30 ingredient models, including lamb, pheasant, salmon, truffles and caviar. Visitors select ingredients and place them on a banquet table, where sensors identify their choices and generative AI produces imag

Everland, Korea’s largest theme park, said Monday that visitors can enjoy peak fall foliage, newly unveiled baby animals and seasonal shows this month. Autumn leaves across the park are expected to peak this week, according to Samsung C&T’s resort division, which operates the park in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, about 40 kilometers south of Seoul. Members of Garden Pass, the park’s garden subscription service, can now join a guided program at the Secret Ginkgo Forest near Everland. The company says it is Korea’s largest ginkgo grove, with some 30,000 trees that have grown over more than half a century on about 150,000 square meters of land. Participants can walk the forest with a guide and meditate in hammocks. Visitors can also see the foliage from rides such as Thunder Falls, a rapids ride, and Monimo Rush, which lifts riders 56 meters above the ground. At Panda World, Shubao, a 5-month-old giant panda cub, has been on public display since Oct. 30. Born in June, Shubao is the fourth cub born to the park’s pandas Aibao and Lebao, after Fubao and twins Ruibao and Huibao. The cub

Lee Ji-yeon, an office worker in her 30s, traveled solo to Japan's Kyoto in early October. She had considered destinations such as Canada and Australia, but ultimately opted for a shorter trip closer to home. "It was difficult for me to take a long day off work, and considering the cost of airfare, I thought it would make more sense to take a short trip to a nearby country," she said. A Seoul resident in her 60s surnamed Park is planning a trip to Hong Kong with friends in December. "Long-distance travel has become physically demanding for me, so I ruled out destinations in Europe and North America. Traveling to other Asian countries is more convenient," Park said. Their choices reflect a broader shift in Koreans' overseas travel habits. Japan and China are attracting a growing share of Korean travelers, while Europe and North America are losing ground, according to data released Monday. An analysis by BC Card of Koreans' overseas travel spending found that Asia accounted for 74.3 percent of their overseas travel spending in the first half of this year, from 60.4 percent in the same period

Kim Se-woong, a former Kakao executive overseeing AI synergy initiatives, has been appointed to lead a government task force developing artificial intelligence (AI) services for the public. According to the Ministry of Science and ICT on Monday, it has appointed Kakao’s former vice president as head of the National AI Service Innovation Task Force. Kim brings extensive experience in AI services, spanning technology development, service commercialization and infrastructure development, as well as organizational management. He founded and ran a tech startup, MightyWorks, in 2009 before joining Kakao, where he held senior roles in AI-related business and technology initiatives. The ministry said his experience in both AI services and organizational management would help the task force establish itself quickly and deliver services at a faster pace. "AI innovation that people can experience firsthand goes beyond introducing new technologies. It starts with actually solving the inconveniences people face in their everyday lives," Kim said. "Drawing on my experience in AI technology and servic

Korea and Japan are seeking to tighten customs cooperation on drug smuggling, counterfeit products and cross-border online shopping, as officials look to protect businesses and strengthen border security. Korea Customs Service Commissioner Lee Jong-wook met with Mitsuhiro Teraoka, director-general of Japan's Customs and Tariff Bureau, in Tokyo last week to discuss three areas of cooperation, the customs agency said Monday. The meeting followed the 34th Korea-Japan Customs Chiefs' Meeting in Seoul in April and was arranged separately to address pressing bilateral issues following Lee's appointment. One priority is protecting Korean and Japanese brands, including K-beauty products, from counterfeit goods. Korea proposed closer enforcement cooperation between the two countries' customs authorities and asked Japan to help Korean companies use its system for requesting customs authorities to block imports and exports of goods suspected of infringing intellectual property rights. The officials also discussed establishing a system to exchange intelligence on drug seizures and smuggling attempts,

Koreans living abroad will no longer need to fly back to Korea to update their driving credentials, as overseas embassies and consulates begin processing Class 1 driver’s license renewals and issuing international driving permits, the government said Monday. The service begins Monday at 188 diplomatic missions, according to the Overseas Koreans Agency, the Korean National Police Agency and the Korea Road Traffic Authority (KoROAD). Korea has two ordinary license classes. A Class 1 license covers larger vehicles, such as trucks of up to 12 tons. A Class 2 license is mainly for passenger cars. Diplomatic missions have handled driver’s license paperwork since 2013. Until now, they could only renew Class 2 licenses and reissue lost or damaged ones, because Class 1 renewals require an aptitude test that includes an eye exam. Under the new system, Class 1 licenses will be renewed in Korea if the applicant has a domestic health checkup or physical exam on record from the past two years. The license is then sent to the mission for pickup. Applicants with no such record cannot get a license t

Foreign residents and tourists in Seoul can now text their questions in English to the capital’s central municipal helpline, city officials announced Monday. The 120 Dasan Call Foundation, an agency operated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, will launch the English mobile messaging service at 9 a.m. Tuesday, expanding on its existing foreign-language telephone hotlines. The text-based consultation service operates on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Users can text inquiries directly to 02-120 from a mobile phone to receive real-time guidance on daily life and city infrastructure, ranging from public transit routes to municipal water service updates. While the helpline service itself is free, standard text-messaging fees apply according to the user’s mobile plan provider. Outside regular operating hours, foreign residents can access alternative support networks, such as the government-backed Danuri Call Center, which assists multicultural families and international residents. Established in September 2007 during Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon’s first term in office, the 120 Dasan Call Cen

MONTREAL/DUBUQUE — US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that his administration has the "concept" of a new trade deal with Canada while Prime Minister Mark Carney said the two leaders had a good conversation on the future of trade between their countries. "I spoke to him again yesterday, and we have the concept of a deal that's going to be great for our farmers, great for our country, and we'll be fine for that," Trump told reporters in Dubuque, Iowa. Carney earlier on Sunday posted on social media that their exchange "builds on recent constructive discussions on the outlines of a mutually beneficial trade deal" that would create jobs, improve affordability, and fully respect Canada’s languages, culture, and sovereignty. "Our teams will now be working in the coming weeks to deliver that outcome," Carney wrote on X. Canada and the United States have slapped billions of dollars in tariffs on each other in recent months. The imposition of tariffs on Canada has emerged as an issue in some northern US border states like Michigan and Maine before US midterm elections on Tuesday. Trump s

Eight in 10 Korean judges have experienced court cases in which false or nonexistent legal precedents generated by artificial intelligence (AI) were cited, a recent survey by the Supreme Court released Monday showed. The top court published the outcome of the survey conducted on 360 judges from Oct. 6-16 as it sought to examine increasingly worrisome cases of "AI hallucination" — a term referring to a situation where AI models present false information as if they were true. In the survey, about 80 percent of the judges in charge of civil, family and administrative cases said that they had experienced cases in which nonexistent or false precedents were cited. Of those, 196 judges, or 80.7 percent, said they had seen the citations of nonexistent legal precedents in court cases, while 159 judges, or 65.4 percent, said have they encountered cases involving the citations of false precedents. The survey also showed that 41 judges, or 16.9 percent, encountered cases in which false or non-existent laws and regulations were cited, while 10 judges, or 4.1 percent, said they have seen citations o

Online shopping sales in Korea rose 4.1 percent in September from a year earlier on stronger demand for automobiles and related products, government data showed Monday. The value of online shopping transactions came to 24.97 trillion won ($18.7 billion) in September, up 975.8 billion won from a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics. The latest findings showed spending on automobiles and related products jumped 30.9 percent on-year to 1.27 trillion won. Money spent on food delivery services also moved up 4 percent to 3.78 trillion won, while spending on cosmetic products increased a sharp 12.2 percent to 1.29 trillion won. Purchases made through smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices rose 5.4 percent from a year earlier to 19.08 trillion won in September. They accounted for 76.4 percent of total sales, up 1 percentage point from a year earlier.

Vice foreign ministers of South Korea and Japan were set to hold talks Monday, officials said, with the talks expected to focus on North Korea and other regional issues, as well as preparations for a summit between their leaders. First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo was scheduled to meet with his Japanese counterpart, Takehiro Funakoshi, in Karuizawa, Japan's Nagano Prefecture, later in the day for the 17th bilateral strategic dialogue, according to South Korean foreign ministry officials. "The meeting is expected to cover a range of issues, including bilateral relations, as well as regional and global affairs," a ministry official said. The upcoming dialogue would focus on coordinating the timing and venue of the next summit between President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Following a summit in the southeastern South Korean city of Andong in May, Takaichi mentioned a regional hot spring town in Japan as a possible venue for their next meeting. The two governments have since been coordinating the timing and location. Seoul and Tokyo have reaffirmed their co

Samsung Electronics Co. retained its position as the world's largest smartphone vendor in the third quarter, supported by steady sales of its entry-level and midrange Galaxy A series, despite a sharp contraction in the overall market, industry data showed Monday. The Korean tech giant shipped 57.8 million smartphones in the July-September period, down 5 percent from a year earlier, accounting for 22.7 percent of global shipments, according to data compiled by industry tracker Omdia. Samsung's performance was relatively resilient compared with a 20 percent plunge in global smartphone shipments over the same period. Omdia attributed Samsung's performance to solid sales of its Galaxy A series, saying the company responded to market demand with a diversified product lineup. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 series, launched in August, also helped strengthen Samsung's position in the premium segment. Apple Inc. ranked second, shipping 56.5 million smartphones, unchanged from a year earlier, with a market share of around 22.2 percent.

Krafton, the Korean video game publisher behind the global hit PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, is taking its artificial intelligence (AI) research beyond virtual worlds, unveiling a new robotics system designed to help machines understand human intentions, respond to social cues and work alongside people. Ludo Robotics, Krafton's robotics research subsidiary, introduced Ludi 0.2 on Friday at the 2026 Bay Area Robotics Symposium, held at the University of California, Berkeley. The presentation was led by Lee Kang-wook, Krafton's chief AI officer and chief technology officer of Ludo Robotics. The new system builds on Ludi 0.1, introduced in August, with improvements aimed at making robots more responsive to changing situations and more capable of interacting naturally with humans. Ludo Robotics focuses on what it calls social intelligence: the ability of robots to understand people's intentions, adapt to changing environments and cooperate naturally. Ludi 0.2 enhances several capabilities, including recognizing human gestures and feedback, maintaining context during changing tasks, connecting movement

KT and Samsung Electronics are using baseball crowds as a testing ground for artificial intelligence (AI) technology designed to keep mobile networks running smoothly when thousands of fans simultaneously connect to their phones. Korea's second-largest mobile carrier said Monday that the companies had verified their AI-powered autonomous wireless network operation technology at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, using a digital twin platform called AI Cell Twin. The platform creates a virtual replica of a wireless network, allowing engineers to simulate changes in mobile usage patterns and data traffic and test different network management strategies before applying them to actual infrastructure. The companies jointly developed autonomous network technology that uses AI to identify optimal operating strategies, verify them in the simulated environment and then apply them to real-world networks. Unlike conventional automation systems that rely on preset rules or individual performance indicators, the new technology analyzes multiple factors, including user distribution, usage patter

BLACKPINK's Jennie brought an iconic Y2K movie character back to life for Halloween — and even won the approval of the actress who originally played her. Jennie shared a series of photos on social media Sunday with the caption, "sukiiiiiiiii," revealing her transformation into Suki, Devon Aoki's fan-favorite character from the 2003 film "2 Fast 2 Furious." The K-pop star wore the costume while attending Kendall Jenner's birthday and Halloween party at a bar in Los Angeles. Jennie recreated Suki's unmistakable Y2K look with a purple crop top, hot pink miniskirt, long straight hair and an elaborate statement belt. She completed the homage by posing in front of a red sports car, echoing the car-centered aesthetic of the "Fast & Furious" franchise. Her take on the character quickly drew attention online, but one reaction stood out above the rest. Aoki herself appeared in the comments under Jennie's post, writing, "Awww love this!!!" Suki, played by the actress and model, became one of the most recognizable female characters from the early years of the "Fast & Furious" franchise. Her colorful

Actor Lee Dong-gun has addressed rumors that his cafe on Jeju Island "failed," shutting down just a year and a half after opening, saying the decision was driven by the difficulty of traveling back and forth from Seoul. On the Nov. 1 episode of SBS variety show "My Little Old Boy," Lee visited spatial designer Ryu Jeong-su's studio with actors Im Won-hee and Cho Jin-se. The group was surprised to see that Ryu’s home even had a swimming pool. When asked whether he actually used it, Ryu said, "I'm basically the cleaning staff. Even if I clean all day, it never ends." Lee could relate. "The first thing I did when I went to work at my cafe on Jeju Island was clean the pond," Lee said. Im then brought up the fate of Lee's cafe directly. "I heard rumors that your Jeju cafe went under. What happened?" he asked. Lee denied that the closure meant the business had simply failed, saying he is now preparing to relocate the cafe to Seoul. "We operated on Jeju Island for almost a year and six months," Lee said. "But honestly, traveling back and forth between Seoul and Jeju was much harder than I expecte

People from multicultural families and migrant rights advocates are pushing back against President Lee Jae Myung’s recent suggestion that certain support policies could amount to “reverse discrimination,” warning that his remarks risk deepening social divisions and reinforcing prejudice. While acknowledging that Lee may have intended to address fairness in welfare provisions and labor shortages in rural areas, they say his language risks portraying migrants as undeserving beneficiaries. Speaking to The Korea Times, they urged the president to exercise greater care, adding that his words carry particular weight in shaping public attitudes toward migrant communities. At a Cabinet meeting on Oct. 27, Lee said bringing in foreign workers “does not greatly benefit the national economy,” arguing that they “send all their wages back to their home countries.” In subsequent social media posts, he questioned whether government policies should “go beyond” protecting multicultural families from disadvantages to granting them better treatment, citing priority access to public postp

Twice a year, a cavernous basement warehouse in Seoul’s Seongsu-dong opens its doors to bibliophiles looking for something beyond the usual bookstore experience. Its shelves are packed with English-language books at discount prices, and visitors are invited not only to browse and buy, but also to exchange books and meet fellow readers. The Welcome to Our Warehouse (WOW) Family Sale, organized by English-language book distributor dbBOOKS, returns this Saturday and Sunday with its familiar mix of warehouse bargains and community events. This year's program includes a book talk with award-winning Korean novelist You-jeong Jeong, author of "Bonobo," which was recently published in English translation, as well as a book swap. For dbBOOKS, the sale has turned into something more than just a way to move books off warehouse shelves. The company operates as a wholesaler, importer, distributor and retailer, supplying books to major Korean online and physical retailers. Its catalogue ranges from popular fiction to children's books, encyclopedias and nonfiction. With around 35 employees, it maint

SK Square Co., the parent company of SK hynix Inc., said Monday it plans to return at least 4.3 trillion won ($3.2 billion) to shareholders from dividend income generated by its stake in the world's second-largest memory chipmaker. The planned shareholder payout comes as SK Square expects to receive more than 6.2 trillion won from SK hynix's cash dividend payments, based on the chipmaker's planned dividend pool of more than 30 trillion won for 2026. The company plans to return at least 4.3 trillion won of the expected dividend income to shareholders. It also pledged to return at least 60 percent of its ordinary dividend income to shareholders through 2028, as well as 100 percent of any special dividend income related to investment gains from Japan's Kioxia Corp. SK hynix is a major investor in Kioxia, a Japanese NAND flash memory manufacturer, through a Korean-U.S.-Japanese consortium led by Bain Capital. Details of the shareholder return plan will be finalized through the relevant procedures after the company's financial statements for the 2026 fiscal year are confirmed, SK Square said. T

A special counsel team said Monday it raided the National Election Commission (NEC) over allegations its commissioners were paid 905.8 million won ($677,000) in improper stipends. Special counsel Lee Tae-han's team said a 65-member team, including four prosecutors, were sent to the NEC headquarters in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul, to search the offices of the NEC chair and secretary general. The election watchdog is suspected of having unlawfully paid monthly stipends to its nine commissioners in the name of assisting "free and fair elections." The allowances were given even after the Board of Audit and Inspection and the National Assembly pointed out the absence of grounds for their payment, including by diverting funds allocated for other purposes, according to the special counsel team. In total, the stipends amounted to 905.8 million won, starting at 171.5 million won in 2020. The annual total exceeded the threshold of 100 million won per year set under a law for punishing acts causing losses to the state treasury. Lee's team was launched in September to investigate ballot shortages o

Lotte Mall West Lake Hanoi has reached 1 trillion won ($720 million) in cumulative sales, setting a milestone for an overseas shopping complex operated by the Korean retail giant just three years after its launch. The achievement underscores the success of parent company, Lotte Shopping, which has aggressively expanded its overseas footprint by tailoring tenant mixes and entertainment offerings to local consumers. The Hanoi complex reached 100 billion won in sales just 122 days after opening in January 2024, passed 600 billion won last year and continued growing at an average quarterly rate of 20 percent before crossing the 1 trillion won threshold last month. Cumulative visitor numbers have exceeded 41 million, with more than 50,000 daily average visitors, making the complex one of Hanoi's major shopping and leisure destinations. Located in Tay Ho District, one of Hanoi's affluent neighborhoods, the complex combines shopping, culture and entertainment across a sprawling retail and leisure development. At its opening, 52 of its roughly 230 stores were brands making their Hanoi debuts, whi

Hanwha Corp., the parent company of Korea’s energy and defense conglomerate Hanwha Group, has developed the nation’s first machine-guided smart drilling system. The technology enhances construction precision without requiring contractors to replace their existing drilling rigs. Its industrial explosives and mining affiliate, Hanwha Corp. Global Division, hosted a live demonstration of the system Thursday at a Samho Development construction site in Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province, alongside researchers from the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology and Korea National University of Transportation. The event marked the completion of six months of field testing under a research project led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the civil engineering institute to establish construction cost standards for smart construction equipment. About 40 officials from public institutions and the construction industry attended, including representatives of the ministry, the Gadeokdo New Airport Construction Authority, the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Integrated New A

An Army staff sergeant was found unconscious with an unspecified injury at a front-line unit in the eastern border county of Cheorwon on Monday and later pronounced dead, military officials said. Authorities were looking into the exact cause of the incident.

BTS drew about 853,000 fans to 14 sold-out concerts in five South American cities, its agency said Monday. The seven-member group wrapped up the South American leg of its "ARIRANG" world tour with three shows at Estadio do Morumbi in Sao Paulo, Brazil last week, according to BigHit Music, a label under HYBE. The leg began Oct. 2 in Bogota, Colombia, and went on to Lima, Santiago and Buenos Aires. The tour takes its name from the group’s fifth studio album, “ARIRANG” which is named after Korea’s best-known traditional folk song. The setlist mixed new tracks with hits such as “Fake Love,” “Idol,” “Butter” and “Dynamite.” Members also spoke to the crowds in local languages. “South America was one of the schedules we looked forward to most, since we rarely get to see fans here,” BTS said. “We were so moved that we feel we should come back soon to repay you.” The tour marked BTS’ first concerts as a full group in Colombia and Argentina, and its first visit to Peru since its 2013 debut. The group returned to Chile after nine years and to Brazil after seven. Arg

Estonian Ambassador Tanel Sepp delivers a speech during a ceremony marking the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and Estonia in Seoul, Friday. Highlighting the two countries' shared drive for innovation, the ambassador noted that bilateral cooperation holds great potential, as Estonia's startup mindset and digital expertise, combined with Korea's industrial strength and technological capabilities, could create significant opportunities. Kyun Jong-ho, the Korean foreign ministry's deputy minister for climate change, said in his congratulatory remarks that Estonia's acquisition of K9 self-propelled howitzers in 2018 and a large-scale battery energy storage project launched in March are prime examples of bilateral cooperation contributing to the green energy transition and stronger security. Korea Times photo by Kim Bo-kyoung

Actors Son Suk-ku and Park Bo-young have been cast as a mysterious couple who must kiss every day to survive in an upcoming fantasy romantic comedy film, its distributor said Monday. Titled "Kiss for Tomorrow," the film follows married couple Ji-kyung (Son) and Oh-seong (Park), who are unexpectedly separated during a cruise trip and set out on a quest to reunite, according to NEW. The film combines time loop and adventure elements, it added. Director Kang Hyeong-cheol, known for the films "Sunny" (2011), "Tazza: The Hidden Card" (2014) and "Swing Kids" (2018), helms the film. Kang also directed "Scandal Makers" (2008), starring Park.

South Korea has replaced its military drone operations command with a smaller agency focused on developing drone capabilities and speeding up procurement, shifting operational responsibilities to individual service branches. The Ministry of National Defense held a ceremony Monday in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, to mark the launch of the Defense Drone Agency, which officially began operations Sunday. The restructuring reduces the staff from about 280 at the former headquarters to 100 at the new agency, while increasing the proportion of personnel at the field-grade officer level or above from 17 percent to more than 50 percent. The new organization will focus on planning drone requirements, testing technology and helping the military acquire equipment more quickly. Unlike the former Drone Operations Command, which conducted missions using its own units, the new agency will not command combat operations. Its operational units and assets are being transferred to the Army, Air Force and Marine Corps. Under the previous arrangement, the services primarily used drones for surveillance and recon

The Korean Air Force will take part in a U.S.-led multinational space war game for the first time this week, a tabletop exercise designed to strengthen joint operational capabilities in the space domain, officials said Monday. The Air Force is scheduled to participate in the war game, dubbed Partner to Win, from Monday through Friday (local time) in Florida, alongside the Netherlands, Sweden, Poland, Brazil and the United States, according to the armed service. Partner to Win, newly launched by the U.S. Space Force this year, aims to enhance operational readiness in joint space missions and strengthen coordination with partner countries in relevant policy and strategy-setting. The war game will proceed in the form of a tabletop exercise, where each delegation from participating nations will discuss cooperation and response measures to handle simulated, complex crises in space. Through the participation, the Korean Air Force will seek to expand the extent of cooperation in the space sector with allies and gain a foothold in leading multinational joint space missions in the future.

The Korea Exchange (KRX) on Monday unveiled a plan to shorten a cycle for stock settlement, in what could be a major overhaul to improve efficiency for the equity market. Since 1972, Korea has adopted a stock settlement system that allows investors to settle their transactions two business days after their trades. Under the envisioned plan, investors would be allowed to settle their transactions one business day afterward, the KRX said in a statement. Relevant authorities plan to complete building infrastructure to shorten the cycle for stock settlement by October 2027, it said. If things go smoothly, the shorter settlement system is likely to be implemented fully in 2028. The plan is aimed at "advancing the settlement cycle by one day and reducing settlement risks in the securities market," the KRX stressed. It added the change will enable "investors who sold stocks to receive the proceeds the following day" while reducing risks and workload by promoting industry automation and standardization, it said.

A funeral service for Choi Bool-am was held Monday, with his family and fellow actors paying their respects to the iconic actor, known for portraying paternal figures in popular television dramas. Choi, whose real name was Choi Young-han, died Thursday while receiving treatment at a hospital in western Seoul. He was 87. His longtime wife, Kim Min-ja, also an actor, was seen in tears, following the funeral service held privately at Asan Medical Center in southeastern Seoul. Kim was accompanied by actor Kim Hye-soo, who had stayed alongside Choi's bereaved family since the first day of the funeral service. The funeral service was followed by a funeral Mass at a cathedral in western Seoul, presided over by Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, the former archbishop of Seoul. The Mass was attended by guests, including Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young, actor and former Culture Minister Yoo In-chon, and actors Song Il-kook and Shin Hyun-joon, as well as members of the public and the church. Yeom described the late actor as "the nation's father and a beloved actor" who comforted people and brought hope i

The government will seek to exempt the mandatory CCTV monitoring requirement for non-walk-in energy storage systems (ESS) equipped with enhanced safety measures, as part of deregulation aimed at reducing unnecessary burdens on companies, officials said Monday. It was one of the measures that the Regulatory Rationalization Committee announced it will pursue in coming months in an effort to improve the competitiveness of the local secondary battery industry amid intensifying market competition driven by low-cost Chinese lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. The committee plans to complete the review of the proposed deregulation by the end of this year and revise related regulations next year so that non-walk-in ESS units are exempt from internal CCTV installation requirements if they are equipped with enhanced safety features, such as advanced battery management systems (BMS). Other deregulation measures for secondary battery firms include allowing power conversion systems (PCS) to be installed in the same container as batteries following safety verification, and waiving repeated permit

President Lee Jae Myung highlighted the need for a proposed 162 trillion won ($120.5 billion) fund to be created to secure momentum for growth and ensure stable fiscal management, during his speech at the National Assembly on Monday. The "future-oriented fund," backed by windfall tax revenue from the semiconductor boom, is part of next year’s record-high 820.9 trillion won budget, for which he sought parliamentary approval. Lee said the new fund would focus on four priorities — support for young people, future growth engines, regional economies, and education and skills development. He outlined related spending plans, including 21.3 trillion won for artificial intelligence (AI) and three megaprojects, along with 13.8 trillion won for 10 next-generation strategic technology fields, while pledging expanded welfare support to ensure the benefits of growth reach more people. “The new fund to respond to future challenges will provide a platform for strategic investment to boost the economy’s growth potential, and also a mechanism to keep public finances stable as tax revenue fluctuate

LG CNS has completed the construction of a 30-megawatt (MW) hyperscale artificial intelligence (AI) data center in Jakarta, becoming the first Korean company to build an AI data center overseas for a local client. The company said Monday that it had secured customers for the facility's full capacity before completing construction. The project was commissioned last year by KMG, a joint venture between Indonesia's Sinar Mas Group and Korea Investment Real Asset Management. It marks LG CNS' expansion into overseas markets, leveraging its data center design, build and operate (DBO) capabilities. The data center was designed to support high-performance computing powered by next-generation graphics processing units (GPUs). To manage the heat generated by AI servers, LG CNS adopted a hybrid cooling structure combining air and liquid cooling. The first phase uses air cooling, with liquid-cooling technology to be introduced in subsequent phases to support high-density AI server environments. LG CNS also installed a power system capable of handling more than 300 kilowatts per rack, about 60 times

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday that the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or the Quad, was not an "anti-China" coalition, as the grouping's top diplomats finalized preparations for the leaders' summit in the Philippines next month. Rubio's statement comes just weeks before U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Shenzhen, China. "It is not an anti-China or anti-anybody coalition," Rubio said at a press conference on the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G20) foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta. "It's not a format that exists to be against any country. To the extent we express concern about things in the Quad, it's concern about behaviors. It's concern about activities," Rubio added. "Now, those activities or behaviors are coming repetitively from one country. That's going to be obvious to everybody." The Chinese embassy in Washington said that Beijing opposes "forming exclusive groupings or engaging in bloc confrontation." "Cooperation between countries should be conducive to regional peace, stability and prosperity, and not target a

President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating came to 36.9 percent last week, a poll showed Monday, rising slightly from a week earlier on the back of diplomatic achievements and economic policies but remaining below 40 percent for the 10th consecutive week. In the poll conducted on 2,515 adults nationwide from last Monday to Friday by Realmeter, positive assessments of Lee's job performance rose 1.6 percentage points from the previous week. His disapproval rating fell 2.2 percentage points to 60.1 percent in the latest survey. Realmeter said the increase appears to have been driven by diplomatic achievements from the recent Korea-Germany summit and positive economic indicators, including a current account surplus and the government's plans to expand the housing supply in the greater Seoul area. Lee's approval rating has stayed below 40 percent in Realmeter surveys since slipping to 38.9 percent from 40.2 percent in the fourth week of August. In a separate survey of 1,005 adults conducted Thursday and Friday, support for the ruling Democratic Party of Korea rose 2.3 percentage points to 38.3

Seoul stocks reversed course to trade higher late Monday morning as investors went bargain hunting for tech heavyweights. After opening over 1 percent lower, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) was up 93.16 points, or 1.63 percent, to 5,823.9 as of 11:20 a.m. On Friday, the index dipped over 3 percent amid persistent woes over the profitability of artificial intelligence (AI) investment. On Friday (U.S. time), the S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq both closed down over 1 percent, as disappointing quarterly results from big tech companies fueled concerns over investments in AI . Chip giant Intel led the overall decline, plunging over 28 percent, while Google's parent company Alphabet dipped 1.4 percent. Despite the AI-related cash burn woes, Korea's semiconductor exports remained strong, with outbound shipments for the sector skyrocketing 259 percent on-year in October, data from the trade ministry showed. Chip giants Samsung Electronics and SK hynix added 0.89 percent and 2.47 percent, respectively. AI investment firm SK Square strengthened 2.79 percent, bio firm Celltri

WEST PALM BEACH — A business jet carrying nine people nose-dived into a South Florida neighborhood Sunday and erupted into a giant fireball that appeared to just miss homes before crashing near a busy roadway. Everyone on board was killed, the nation's transportation secretary said. Video recorded by people inside their cars captured the terrifying moment the Bahamas-bound aircraft plunged from the sky, before striking near the roadway and exploding. Flames flickered around chunks of pavement lining the crater as people milled about, expressing shock that it landed only feet from homes and inches from passing vehicles. Thick black smoke engulfed the crash site. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy posted on X that the Learjet 60 crashed in Palm Beach County at 12:50 p.m. and called it a “horrific tragedy.” The Federal Aviation Administration is sending a team to support the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation, he said. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said there were no immediate reports of anyone on the ground injured or killed. “It was a cataclysmic plane crash,” D

KHERSON, Ukraine — Civilians in Ukraine’s southeastern Kherson region prepared Sunday for the end of a localized ceasefire that has marked the most significant truce between Kyiv and Moscow since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began nearly five years ago. The White House said that U.S. first lady Melania Trump helped to broker the limited truce , which began early Tuesday and is expected to end Sunday evening. The pause in hostilities allowed besieged residents in the front-line city of Oleshky to be evacuated in a rare joint operation that ended Saturday. “The ceasefire across Oleshky and the surrounding Kherson region has provided residents with the freedom to move, access to food, clean water, medicine, plus a renewed sense of dignity without the constant threat of attack," Trump said on social media. "Let Oleshky become the starting point for lasting peace.” An estimated 2,000 civilians were in Oleshky when the temporary truce took hold. They were offered the choice of evacuating to territory controlled by Ukraine or Russia, or remaining in the city with replenish

President Lee Jae Myung was set to address the National Assembly on Monday, a rare event where he is widely expected to call for bipartisan support for the passage of the 2027 budget bill. The government submitted the budget bill to the National Assembly in September, proposing 820.9 trillion won ($614.5 billion) in total government spending next year, up more than 10 percent from this year, amid expectations of increased tax revenue stemming from a semiconductor boom. During the speech, the president is expected to highlight the need for aggressive spending on stabilizing people's livelihoods, nurturing future growth engine industries and promoting balanced regional development while calling for parliamentary support for the budget's passage. Under the largest-ever budget bill, the government plans to establish the 160 trillion-won Future Fund aimed at supporting younger generations, promoting economic growth engines and boosting regional development.

North Korea on Monday denounced a recent South Korea-U.S. combined military exercise that integrates South Korea's conventional military capabilities with U.S. nuclear capabilities, saying strengthening the North's nuclear capabilities is "immutable" against such a backdrop. In a statement carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim Jong-sik, first vice department director of the Workers' Party of Korea's Central Committee, claimed the drill, named Iron Mace, was "the most hideous nuclear war rehearsal aimed at using nuclear weapons against the DPRK." DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the North's official name. Iron Mace, he said, only proves "how just the DPRK is in its efforts for ceaselessly bolstering up its nuclear forces capable of thoroughly coping with such nuclear threats." South Korea and the U.S. conducted the tabletop exercise at the Joint Chiefs of Staff headquarters in Seoul from Sept. 29 to Oct. 2 to deter North Korean threats. Kim also denounced other allied drills, including Hoguk and Freedom Flag, as well as Keen Sword,

Before K-pop boy band TWS began work on its new single album, each of the six members sat down for a one-on-one interview with their agency about what frightened them most and who helped them back on their feet. Those answers, the members say, became the backbone of the upcoming record. "TO US," which drops Monday at 6 p.m. with the lead track "Call My Name," arrives just over a week after the group wrapped its first Asia tour, and finds the members looking back on the trial and error of their early years while turning their attention to "42," the group's official fandom. Introduced in January 2024 as Pledis Entertainment's first boy group since Seventeen, TWS — Shinyu, Dohoon, Youngjae, Hanjin, Jihoon and Kyungmin — debuted with "plot twist," a breakout hit that made the group one of the most sought-after rookies of the year. The group calls its sound "boyhood pop," a label it uses for songs about the experience of growing up. "This album is precious to us," Jihoon said during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in eastern Seoul on Wednesday. "It started with interviews with

Korea will launch an emergency management system to keep its nuclear power plant project in the Czech Republic on track following the breakdown of contract negotiations with a construction consortium, the industry ministry said Monday. Under the system, the government plans to draw up measures to keep the Czech project on track and prevent a recurrence of similar setbacks, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources. The move comes after Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP), the country's state-run nuclear power operator, ended negotiations last week with a Korean consortium comprising Daewoo Engineering & Construction Co. and Doosan Enerbility Co. on a construction contract for the Dukovany nuclear power plant project, after failing to agree on key terms. The ministry is set to hold its first meeting on Monday to discuss follow-up measures. KHNP said it would formally conclude the negotiations and begin preparations for a new tender to select a construction contractor. The company aims to sign a contract with a new consortium by July 2027 to allow construction to begin i

The government is moving to tighten enforcement against foreign delivery riders working illegally and the delivery company systems that let them slip through, amid a nearly 17-fold surge in the number of violators caught. Last week, the Ministry of Justice said it held talks with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the National Police Agency and the Korea Coast Guard on a joint government response to illegal delivery work by foreign nationals. To root out the practice, the justice ministry plans to step up joint crackdowns with the police agency and expand cooperation in investigating related offenses, such as organized illegal hiring and brokering by delivery agencies, unlicensed driving and the unauthorized use of accounts registered under other people’s names. The justice ministry also plans to work with relevant agencies to build an identity verification system for riders, improve systems for managing and inspecting delivery agencies and encourage the industry to prevent illegal practices. The transport ministry is set to receiv

Both Ukraine and Russia say their air raid alert apps were cyber-attacked - Joe Tidy explains what we know so far.

Labour's ruling National Executive Committee sets out where it is cutting ties with the Greens.

The temperature of freezers in several shops across Europe reportedly rose to as high as 50C.

A proposed gold mining megaproject that would span three sites on Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore is poised to undergo a federal impact assessment — much to the chagrin of the company behind it.

Police say Kai Pavlovic was killed before he was reported missing on Sept. 26, 2025.

The murdered student's family say they feel "manipulated" and "failed" by Hampshire Police.

Police said they were located safe late Monday night.

A 24-year-old man who described himself as a 'Salafi Jihadi', stabbed a garda and set the Black Forge pub on fire last year in two terrorist attacks has been jailed for six and a half years.

Brand's defence barrister told jurors that Brand "had an immense amount of sex", but that "none of it was unlawful".

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected a push for California to set aside thousands of mail ballots from people U.S. President Donald Trump's administration claims are non-citizens, a decision that comes on the eve of the final day of voting in the pivotal midterm elections.

The Bishops of Nigeria are calling for free and peaceful elections, with three days of prayer and fasting being observed throughout Nigeria ahead of the vote.

Read all

Vanity Fair recently published an excerpt from longtime investigative reporter Matthew Cole’s new book, Princes and Thieves: Jared Kushner and Mohamed bin Zayed’s Secret Plot to Remake the Middle East.

The excerpt alleged that during President Trump’s first term, Saudi and Emirati leaders secretly put at least $2 billion into bank accounts and gave access to Kushner. At the time, Jared Kushner was serving as senior adviser to President Trump, his father-in-law. He is now Trump’s special envoy. Kushner’s lawyers responded by demanding that Vanity Fair retract the article and threatening legal action against the book publisher, Simon & Schuster.

Jared Kushner denied the report, saying, “The allegations made by this author are completely insane, categorically false, and never happened. We denied every one of these claims on the record, yet the author failed to provide a single shred of evidence to substantiate any of them.” His lawyers say no such bank accounts existed and that the allegations are unsupported by the verifiable evidence.

In an extended interview with Democracy Now!, author Matthew Cole stood by his reporting. “This book is a result of more than 50 sources. There was an enormous amount of fact-checking and legal vetting that went into this book,” says Cole. “There’s plenty of information and reporting in the book that lets us establish and understand that there was … an unholy alliance between Jared Kushner and the leader of the UAE, the leader of Saudi Arabia and, at the time, Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel.”

On Friday, Congressmember Jamie Raskin, the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, called on Kushner to recuse himself from Middle East and Ukraine negotiations and to produce a “comprehensive list of bank accounts or other financial instruments” that he had access to during his time in government.

Police responded to fears about Anthony Williams on a train the day before the attack, jurors hear.

The trio of commissioners has delivered its final report on the treatment and experiences of Innu youth in the child protection system. It's still unclear when the report — a document that will help shape the future of child protection in Labrador — will be made public.

Democratic Congressmember Stevens Endorses MAGA Republican Rogers in Michigan’s Senate Election, Federal Judge Orders Trump Admin to Halt Pressure Campaign Against Election Officials, Federal Judge Rejects DOJ’s Lawsuit Seeking to Block Certification of Alaska’s Senate Election If GOP Loses, Federal Appeals Panel Refuses DOJ’s Request for California to Segregate Ballots Supposedly from Noncitizens, GOP Senator Marshall Releases New Ad About His Medical Practice after Democratic Attacks, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy Hospitalized After Stroke, Federal Judge Dismisses Trump’s $10 Billion Lawsuit Against Wall Street Journal over Epstein Reporting, Federal Court Refuses to Dismiss NAACP Lawsuit Against Elon Musk’s SpaceX, Thousands Rally in Tel Aviv Demanding Opposition Form a Jewish-Arab Coalition to Oust Netanyahu, Israeli Strikes Kill Eight Palestinians in Gaza, Tens of Thousands of People Protest Across Germany, 320,000 People Participate in France’s Third Weekend of Protests, Anti-Government Protests Continue to Roil India, Calling for Resignation of Chief Election Commissioner, U.K. Bars Swedish Climate Scholar and Palestinian Rights Advocate Andreas Malm from Entering the Country, Houston Grand Jury Indicts ICE Agent for Running Over Immigrant Construction Worker, AP: Trump Admin Plans to Deport Afghan Immigrants Via Pakistan

Central Bank Governor Gabriel Makhlouf said Ireland's Philip Lane, who is chief economist of the European Central Bank, would be a "fantastic" replacement for Christine Lagarde.

The incident comes after a very similar cyberattack last month that sent fridge temperatures in some French supermarkets way up. While no one has claimed responsibility for either attack, they have heightened ​concerns among European authorities about hybrid threats to infrastructure, especially in the food system.

Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust apologises for care it says "fell short of the standards" expected.

Neither government has confirmed who was responsible for the cyberattacks on Sunday evening.

Fianna Fáil TD Malcolm Byrne has appeared at Dublin District Court charged with drink driving.

Three boys aged 16 and two aged 17 were taken to hospital with serious injuries on Saturday night.

A decade-long dispute in Poland over one of its top courts has come to a head, with the country's prime minister and president at loggerheads, and protests outside the Constitutional Tribunal in Warsaw flaring this weekend. Here's why.

The last remaining objector to a proposed ring road in Galway city has withdrawn a High Court challenge questioning elements of the planned route.

The humanitarian crisis in Yemen is worsening, particularly in the southwestern city of Taiz, which is being encircled by paramilitary Iran-backed Houthi forces.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is providing emergency food assistance to more than 400 people who were able to leave the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, in Ukraine’s Kherson region, during a brief local ceasefire.

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) called on Monday for greater protection for civilians caught in conflict in northern Ethiopia following deadly drone strikes this past weekend.

Global impunity for journalist killings has risen for the first time in more than a decade, while the growing use of drones is an emerging threat for reporters in conflict zones, according to the latest report from UN cultural organization UNESCO.

Net withdrawals from the platform reached $4.7 billion by Monday morning in London, according to a Binance spokesperson.

Researchers are calling for a ban on low-cost lottery scratchcards to reduce gambling-related harm.

More than 300 young Catholics, both Hebrew- and Arabic-speaking, gathered over the weekend to celebrate hope and unity at an event organized by the St James Vicariate – a community of Hebrew-speaking Catholics belonging to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

Read all

A business jet that crashed in South Florida with nine people aboard, including a family with two young children, likely started breaking apart before it slammed into the ground and erupted in a fireball, a federal investigator said Monday.

From fridges and heating systems to security cameras and alarms, a range of devices once largely mechanical can now be monitored and controlled remotely, creating opportunities for cybercriminals.

Goshi Hosono, who became the first chief of the agency, noted that there are limits to what the government can do in the event of a massive disaster.

Issues with the refrigeration systems at 13 SuperValu stores across Ireland have now been fully resolved after a suspected cyber attack affected them.

Ahead of Pope Leo XIV’s Apostolic Journey to Latin America, Guzmán Carriquiry, former Uruguayan Ambassador to the Holy See, reflected on the journey’s potential to renew faith, reconnect Uruguay with its Catholic roots, and promote unity.

Read all

North Korea maintains a thousands-strong hacker army, but the top unit known as "TraderTraitor" may only have a dozen or so members, experts say.

Adventurer Karl Bushby has made his final stop in his home city of Hull this morning following a 28-year walk from South America.

French student protests resumed on a much smaller scale than in past weeks as pupils returned from a two-week break, ⁠with young people trying to blockade some secondary schools.

Archbishop Jorge Eduardo Scheinig describes the atmosphere in Luján, the spiritual heart of Argentina, where Pope Leo XIV will visit on 11 November during his Apostolic Journey to Latin America.

Read all

A unit of the paper manufacturer has established a large-scale harvesting system for the medicinal plant in Hokkaido to create stable supply.

The veteran lifestyle guru has deleted a photo of herself wearing torn clothes and dirt on her face.

The BBC's Maddie Gerber explains what's on the ballot in the 2026 midterm elections in the United States.

Martha Stewart has admitted she "screwed up" after dressing as a homeless person for Halloween.

In air traffic audio, a crew member can be heard shouting: "We are going to crash into the ground."

Following an act of vandalism committed on 1 November in northern Israel against a Maronite prayer hall in Nahariya, the Maronite Archeparchy of Haifa firmly asserts that "such acts can neither be justified nor tolerated" and calls on the authorities to conduct an investigation.

Read all

Seven staff who recently resigned have been invited back under new management.

Under new legislation published today, community mental health services, including Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), will come under formal regulatory oversight for the first time.

Concerns from staff, parents, carers or the child themselves will trigger an immediate escalation of care.

Such policies typically cover the cost of tracing the source of data breaches and compensation, but not ransom paid to cyberattackers.

Bowel Cancer Ireland has renewed its calls for better prevention and screenings following the death of Irish Olympian and European champion runner Ciara Mageean who had stage four bowel cancer.

Private consumption accounts for about half of Japan's economy, making its strength a key consideration for the central bank.

CEO Masatoshi Kumagai formally acknowledged failings at the firm's first public briefing since it became embroiled in a massive data breach scandal.

The package containing the stolen watch had been sent from Aichi Prefecture and included a handwritten apology.

Standing at the historical crossroads where Catholic missionaries first set out to evangelize Asia, the Church in Macau has marked four and a half centuries of sacred heritage while confronting the demands of the digital age.

Read all

Afghanistan's Taliban authorities voiced concern over reported plans by Washington to deport scores of Afghan immigrants to Pakistan with the aim of their eventual return to their home country.

The agency must be made "capable of accumulating and passing on knowledge and experience" of disaster management, the former prime minister said.

The exchange froze transactions following the incident which has been linked to a North Korean group.

The review was commissioned amidst criticism that the council was being "too tough" on forestry companies.

Ryanair is reviewing all its costs due to higher fuel prices and may require staff to take temporary pay freezes, the low-cost airline said today after reporting a 15% decline in net profit for the six months to the end of September.

The party's popularity is prompting debate over how to balance an anti-establishment identity with the need to appear as a credible partner to allies.

Another Japanese citizen is believed to be one of the remaining unidentified victims in the collision that killed 69 people.

A string of AI results have shaken academia, setting off soul-searching, most notably among mathematicians, over the future of their profession.

Japanese government bonds have rallied alongside other so-called safe-haven assets in recent weeks as technology-sector jitters unsettled investors.

While snowmaking machines are becoming a necessity, even artificial snow melts in high temperatures, leading to fewer days of operation per season.

The 15-meter-tall solid towers stretch along 12 kilometers of riverbank near the Indian border, at the site of the future Gelephu Mindfulness City.

A Canadian was among those killed last week in a high-speed train collision in Toledo, Global Affairs Canada has confirmed.

Russia bombed an aid distribution centre and neighbouring shelter in southern Ukraine, killing 26 people, Ukraine's emergency services agency said.

Laisa Waka Tunidau was stabbed to death by Zakariye Mohamed Hussein outside her Sockburn home in June 2022.

The artificial intelligence app also helps government officials better understand the intent behind lawmakers' questions in advance.

A woman who waited in pain for years for endometriosis surgery praises high-tech bid to end delays.

A senior police officer says e-bikes and associated crimes are "blighting" communities across the UK.

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said the U.S. and Israel would "finish the job" in Iran.

MBIE has received five reports about Millie Moon nappies, with the complaints referring to a "rash/blisters forming" after using them.

The largest property development in Europe by a Japanese company is just a stone's throw from the Harry Potter train station.

Samira's 16-year-old daughter Sevda was shot dead as they took part in mass protests in January.

The independent review into how Ireland handled the Covid-19 pandemic has said it is on track to deliver its final report by the end of the year.

Nov. 2, 2026, marks the CBC's 90th anniversary. To celebrate the occasion, Canada's public broadcaster is taking a trip down memory lane, while also looking ahead.

It will accept cards for New Year's Day delivery from Dec. 20 to 27, a later deadline than in previous years.

Russia bombed an aid distribution centre and neighbouring shelter in southern Ukraine on Monday, killing 26 people, Ukraine's emergency services agency said.

The move will take capacity at the Chennai plant, which started operations in November last year, to 3 million units a year.

Once every four years, Nezu Shrine celebrates a special version of its annual festival.

The 2022 sinking of a tourist boat off Hokkaido left 20 passengers and crew members dead and six others unaccounted for.

If adopted, defense buildup spending for the five years from April 2027 would be nearly twice that in the current five-year plan.

He faced two charges of criminal nuisance.

Unemployment rates are currently at an 11-year high.

Analysts say the openings reflect a push by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to portray a growing prosperity across the country.

President Lee Jae Myung pledged to use the technology to turn the military into a "smart, elite force."

In its heyday, the golf course was played on by Lydia Ko and hosted the World Cup of Golf and two New Zealand Opens.

Auckland's Diwali Festival brings together thousands to celebrate Indian culture while performers raise issues ranging from racism to politics on stage.

Democrats have sought to contain a rift in Michigan's US Senate race after one of their own crossed party lines to endorse the Republican.

By allowing others to see she needs support due to having hearing loss, the teacher says she can show the importance of being able to ask for help.

Councils say some websites are offering LIMs for up to five times what the councils charge for a standard report.

Fed up with what she calls a violation of her backyard privacy, an East York woman is going public with her campaign to have new garden suites limited to just one storey.

Political strategists of both U.S. parties believe it’s almost certain the Democrats will take control of the House of Representatives from the Republicans in Tuesday's midterms. The likelihood of the Democrats flipping the Senate, however, is another story.

The U.S. economy is booming. But as they prepare to vote in Tuesday's midterm elections, American consumers have never been more pessimistic. Economists blame tariffs and the war with Iran.

Hudson Williams answered a range of questions from autistic and neurodivergent interviewers in Season 2 of The Assembly. Here are five things we learned about the Heated Rivalry star.

Prime Minister Mark Carney's second budget — set to be unveiled on Thursday — will include new affordability measures, business tax incentives and investments in infrastructure, defence and culture, according to a senior government source.

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s push for closer diplomatic co-operation between middle powers heads to a new venue this week, as he departs later Monday for the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, hosted this year by Antigua and Barbuda.

Snow removal companies in Ottawa say they're contending with higher fuel costs as they gear up for the winter season, and some say that could mean bigger bills for their customers.

Distinguished Professor Graham Hingangaroa Smith has spent his career advocating for Māori education systems.

Pasifika people in Aotearoa are saying this election is about the basics - getting kai on the table, petrol in the car, and access to affordable health services.

One teenager has already pleaded guilty to Whorall’s murder, but four others are still on trial.

The 34-year-old man is safe, police say.

King Charles III will deliver a speech to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting on Tuesday as he concludes his nine-day Caribbean tour.

A renewed appeal has been made over four men and a woman secretly murdered and buried by paramilitaries in Northern Ireland who remain missing.

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has given in to public pressure and made a complete U-turn from his position on tabling the controversial Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2026 this week.

Investors are being advised to "stick to their knitting" and choose a fund that is right for them in the long term.

Bulgaria's President Iliana Iotova, who favours dialogue with the Kremlin and opposes military aid to Ukraine, has won a presidential runoff vote.

More police can be expected around the Balclutha site over the next few days.

Wētā Workshop's team of weavers, modellers and sculptors spent 18 months working out how to make Alexander Skarsgård the perfect wicker husband.

Prime Minister La'auli joined a pro-Israel parade in Apia over the weekend, where he broke down in tears, linking his support for Israel to his Christian faith.

Weather conditions are a "major" focus of an investigation into a weekend private plane crash that killed nine people, US transportation investigators have said.

Polls have been predicting a Democratic surge, but last-minute deciders and sampling issues mean there's no guarantee.

Police said the person was not apprehended and initial reports show no cables were damaged.

Contacts between Iran and the United States to end their eight-month war are continuing, Tehran has said, after days of Iranian talks with Qatari mediators ended with altered proposals but no breakthrough.

His body was spotted in the water at Saint Leonards Beach.

The planned strike will coincide with the first of two meetings of European leaders due to take place as part of Ireland's EU Presidency.

A plan to revive town centres by turning empty shopfronts into new local businesses is being proposed by Minister of State for Retail Alan Dillon.

A researcher at the University of Canterbury studies micro-robots, about the size of one-hundredth of a human hair, to look at interactions between cells.

New affordability checks mean you could be blocked from using Buy Now Pay Later but here are ways to avoid it.

The decision follows months of turmoil at the medical centre with staff saying they were leaving over safety concerns.

Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka's coalition government is falling apart ahead of the crucial third reading of a major bill to change the country's 2013 Constitution.

The family of a Sri Lankan woman who has been stuck in the Cook Islands for three years because Australia and New Zealand refuses to let her transit warns her "mental state is not good".

It comes after the government shelved a system that would have supported "timely multi-agency responses" to family violence.

Some bigger cities have been losing people, and Wellington is back to the size it was in 2017.

Farmers can be fined up to a million dollars for serious environmental offending under tougher penalties introduced last year.

The BBC's Clive Myrie found voters in the state were asking themselves whether they were better off than two years ago.

‘Toast man’ Mike Kesslar tells The National why he gives out burnt toast to children trick or treating at his house in Swift Current, Saskatchewan on Halloween.

These are the days when we take time to remember those who have gone before us.

Olawande Braimoh died after she was hit by a bus driven by a 72-year-old man who later admitted a charge of careless driving causing death.

A group of Year 13 students at Wellington High School told RNZ they feel like they have to leave the city they love to survive long-term.

Across the South Island, voters have singled out fuel, food and the future as the big issues on their mind at the ballot box and people at the top of the south are no different.

Invercargill councillors says they are being penalised because the government is blaming local councils for wastage of ratepayer money.

Far from being a symptom of poor organisation, mess can help families function and make life run more smoothly, a new New Zealand study finds.

A man has been charged in connection with an incident in which a man died and another was injured following a stabbing at an IPAS centre in Co Kerry.

Auckland's Diwali Festival brought a joyful mishmash of modern and contemporary Indian music, food, dance, art and culture to the CBD over the weekend.

And a review has also found officers could have possibly prevented the murders if they had acted on information sooner.

More than a dozen employees walked out of a Winnipeg restaurant this week after enduring what they describe as disrespectful and humiliating treatment while on the job.

Fibremaxxing, sleepmaxxing, proteinmaxxing, looksmaxxing, mummymaxxing, lifemaxxing, pheromone maxxing - can we just get back to adequate?

Samoa scored four tries to Tonga's three but the difference was Tonga's Isaiya Katoa, who kicked all conversions and a penalty to seal the deal.

One doctor has taken to seeing patients in a caravan fitted out as a mobile clinic in his spare time.

NZ Police say the new technology will save time in investigative and judicial processes, but some barristers are not so sure.

What sets heartland New Zealand apart is how tightknit it can be and its incredible nature - a sanctuary amid the rise of polarisation and anger.

SASNOC now oversee the high-performance rugby programme in Samoa.

Pacific scholars and security experts are warning that growing military competition between the United States and China must not come at the expense of the people.

President Catherine Connolly has led tributes to Irish Olympian and European champion runner Ciara Mageean.

Pope Leo XIV welcomes the evacuation of hundreds of civilians from the Russian-occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky under a rare six-day ceasefire brokered with the help of U.S. First Lady Melania Trump. Meanwhile, uncertainty remains for those still living in the devastated town.

Read all

A business jet carrying nine people nosedived into a South Florida neighbourhood on Sunday and erupted into a giant fireball that appeared to just miss homes before crashing near a busy roadway. All passengers on board were killed, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said.

What happens when the abuse becomes so relentless that high-profile women start asking themselves: Is this worth it?

British Columbia's incoming premier says his "preference" is to see teleworking public servants return to the office environment.

France has launched an attempted murder probe after petrol bombs were thrown at security forces during Paris protests, as footage of an officer in flames sparked outrage.

Archbishop Lizardo Estrada Herrera, who succeeds Archbishop of Cusco, Richard Daniel Alarcón Urrutia, who died on October, 30 speaks to Vatican News about the exemplary ministry of his predecessor and the joy and excitement brewing in Peru for Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming visit.

Read all

Former Fianna Fáil minister and MEP Gerard Collins has died aged 88.

The number of non-Irish citizens in emergency accommodation has significantly increased, the Minister for Housing has said.

Two Air Force KT-1 training aircraft collided mid-air while attempting to land at an air base in Sacheon in September, but the accident did not result in any injuries to the pilots, officials said Sunday. One of the training aircraft was attempting to land near Sacheon Air Base in the namesake city, some 300 kilometers south of Seoul, on the morning of Sept. 1 when its wing collided with the fuselage of another aircraft. Both aircraft belong to the Air Force's 3rd Flying Training Wing. The two aircraft subsequently made emergency landings safely, with no injuries reported among the pilots, Air Force officials said. Both aircraft reportedly suffered damage. After determining that the pilots involved were negligent, the Air Force has referred them to a disciplinary committee.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and East Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta will separately visit South Korea this week to hold summits with President Lee Jae Myung, a presidential spokesperson said Sunday. Erdogan is set to visit to South Korea from Monday through Wednesday on a state visit that will include a summit with Lee on Tuesday, presidential spokesperson Kang Yun-hung said. It marks Erdogan's first trip to South Korea since 2018, as well as the second meeting between the South Korean and Turkish leaders since Lee visited Turkey last November to attend a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Ankara. During Tuesday's summit, the leaders are expected to discuss ways to boost bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, the defense industry, nuclear power plants and other future industries, while sharing views on the situations on the Korean Peninsula and in the Middle East. Kang said the upcoming trip by Erdogan is expected to help further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries ahead of their 70th anniversary next year of establishing d

Hana Financial Group said Sunday it participated in the 2026 Autism Race the day before to promote public understanding of autism and foster a culture of respect and inclusion. The group has officially sponsored the annual running campaign, organized by the Autism Society of Korea, for seven consecutive years since 2020. About 100 participants, including Hana Financial Group Vice Chairman Lee Eun-hyung, employees and their families, voluntarily joined Saturday’s event, running alongside participants with autism. All registration fees paid by the group’s employees will be donated to the association to support people with autism. The campaign aims to encourage people to view differences not as barriers or grounds for discrimination, but as diversity that enriches society. “It is meaningful to join efforts to broaden understanding and respect for people with autism and build an inclusive society,” Lee said. “We will continue providing sincere attention and support so that people with autism and other members of society can grow together as respected members of our communities.” Han

Two relatives from a family separated by the 1950-53 Korean War met for the first time in a third country in September, marking a rare reunion amid frozen inter-Korean relations. Tensions remain high on the divided Korean Peninsula as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ruled out talks with South Korea and defined inter-Korean ties as those between "two states hostile to each other." The meeting came five months after South Korea's Unification Ministry received a request from a North Korean member of a separated family seeking help to find a maternal uncle in South Korea. The request was relayed to the ministry by a North Korean defector living in the South. The ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, located the uncle in its database of separated families, only to learn that he had died 30 years earlier. After trying to contact the uncle's adult children using information in the database, a ministry official made contact with a 65-year-old cousin living in Gyeonggi Province near Seoul. The South Korean cousin readily agreed to contact the North Korean relative, saying the cousin's

Hanwha Life Insurance, Hyundai Steel and Lotte Shopping are among 151 companies publicly flagged by the Korea Exchange for their persistently low valuations. The bourse operator revealed the list Sunday in an unprecedented move aimed at pushing listed firms to improve their corporate value. The initiative targets companies that have consistently traded at low price-to-book ratios (PBRs) while doing little to return capital to shareholders. Whether the public disclosure will spur them to take concrete steps to boost their valuations and help narrow the so-called "Korea discount" remains to be seen. The list comprises 96 KOSPI-listed companies and 55 on the Kosdaq that ranked in the bottom 25 percent and 10 percent, respectively, of their markets in terms of PBR over the past three years. PBR measures a company's market capitalization relative to its net assets, showing how much investors are willing to pay for each unit of book value. A ratio below 1 means the company is valued at less than its net assets, potentially reflecting concerns about its growth prospects or how efficiently it d

North Korea’s recent economic growth in the 3 percent range was a “temporary war windfall” from the Russia-Ukraine war that would potentially lead to reduced domestic consumption, according to an analysis released by a think tank run by South Korea's spy agency on Sunday. In a research paper titled “Is North Korea’s economy really booming?” released Thursday by the Institute for National Security Strategy (INSS), a South Korean state-run think tank affiliated with the National Intelligence Service (NIS), senior research fellow Lim Soo-ho wrote, “What North Korea is enjoying right now is not genuine growth in its domestic economy, but rather a predatory expansion — a temporary windfall in regime finances built on war profits and inflation tax.” “North Korea’s recent economic growth has been heavily driven by a unilateral surge in heavy industry and construction … Those facilities and manufactured munitions yield almost no tangible benefit for public livelihood,” he added. Citing Bank of Korea estimates, showing North Korea’s real gross domestic product grew by

Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong visited the company’s semiconductor advanced packaging technology laboratory in Japan, Sunday, pledging to continue expanding its research workforce there and develop the lab into a global R&D hub for next-generation packaging technologies. According to Samsung Electronics, Lee visited Advanced Package Lab (APL) in Yokohama and discussed with researchers the latest developments in technologies for advanced packaging materials and processes, as well as ways to strengthen cooperation with Japan's materials, parts and equipment industries. Lee stressed the importance of securing advanced packaging technologies, as they are emerging as critical for artificial intelligence (AI) processor chips. APL was established in 2023 and held its official opening ceremony in September this year. Starting in 2024, Samsung Electronics has been investing 40 billion yen ($254 million) over five years to establish its research infrastructure in Japan and strengthen its competitiveness in advanced packaging technologies. APL specializes in developing and va

Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) has recommended that shareholders vote in favor of appointing Lee Jae-keun as chairman of KB Financial Group. In its voting recommendations report obtained by The Korea Times, Sunday, the world's largest proxy advisory firm said "a vote for this resolution is warranted given the absence of any known issues concerning the nominee and the company's board dynamics." ISS also noted that KB Financial Group maintains good disclosure practices regarding committee meetings, voluntarily providing attendance records to help shareholders better assess directors' effectiveness and contributions. Most companies in Korea follow a disclosure template provided by the Korea Exchange that does not require companies to disclose committee meeting attendance records. As a result, it is common for companies to omit such information from regulatory filings, ISS added. The recommendation comes ahead of KB Financial Group's extraordinary shareholders' meeting on Nov. 20, when shareholders will vote on Lee's appointment as group chairman. If appointed, Lee will lead the gr

The $6.36 billion cryptocurrency heist targeting Binance has exposed a troubling reality for the digital asset industry: North Korea is increasingly exploiting security vulnerabilities to bankroll Pyongyang's military ambitions. The stolen amount is equivalent to 22 percent of North Korea's 2025 gross domestic product, making the attack the largest cryptocurrency theft on record and one of the biggest financial crimes in history. Analysts warned Sunday that it is unlikely to be the last. "We're dealing with sophisticated adversaries who may have substantial resources, years of patience and objectives that extend well beyond financial gain," said Michael O'Loughlin, managing partner of Argonautic Global and board member of Blockchain Ireland. Proceeds from cryptocurrency theft have become an increasingly important source of funding for cash-strapped North Korea, alongside an estimated $22 billion in foreign income generated since 2022 through its support for Russia's war in Ukraine. The stolen funds could help finance its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, as well as efforts to modern

CJ Olive Young has expanded its Olive Better wellness retail platform to five locations, adding branches tailored to office workers and tourists as it seeks to make wellness products part of consumers’ everyday routines. The expansion comes nine months after the first store opened in Seoul’s Gwanghwamun area in January. The company added stores at Starfield Coex Mall in southern Seoul and in Seongsu in eastern Seoul both last month, adapting product selections and experiences to each neighborhood’s customers. The Coex store focuses on “office wellness,” targeting workers seeking convenient ways to maintain healthy habits during busy schedules. Healthy snacks and protein products occupy the front of the store, helping shoppers quickly find items suited to their needs. A Daily Routine Bar offers products for individual purchase, allowing customers to try wellness items during commutes or lunch breaks. The Seongsu store, which opened Friday, is the chain’s largest and emphasizes experiences for trend-conscious shoppers and foreign tourists. It includes Better Bar, a food and beve

President Lee Jae Myung’s overseas trips have again drawn attention to Korea’s shifting political standards, adding to a familiar cycle of disputes over presidential golf and the presidential plane whenever power passes between conservative and liberal administrations. The controversies center on taxpayer money and the public's attitudes toward presidential privilege, with governing parties defending certain activities as necessary for diplomacy or official duties and the opposition calling them wasteful or excessive — arguments that often switch sides under successive administrations. In the latest controversy, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac on Friday defended the frequency of Lee’s overseas trips accompanied by first lady Kim Hea Kyung. “Korea’s international standing requires its president to attend regular multilateral gatherings and bilateral visits,” Wi said. “Spouses also accompany leaders as an established diplomatic practice.” Wi’s defense followed an Oct. 1 analysis by Rep. Lee Jin-sook of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP). It counted 14 tri

The delay of U.S. visa issuance for a ruling party lawmaker has become a topic of debate between rival parties over whether it is a sign of growing friction in the Korea-U.S. alliance. The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) called the incident a clear sign of eroded trust within the alliance. "It is a symbolic moment that clearly exposes the widening rift in the Korea-U.S. alliance and the total breakdown of trust between the two countries,” Rep. Park Sung-hoon, senior spokesperson for the PPP, said in a statement Saturday. “It is an unprecedented diplomatic embarrassment and a national disgrace that the chairman of Korea's parliamentary defense committee was required to submit an English translation of a past National Security Act conviction and a criminal record check to the U.S., our ally, before finally receiving entry permission,” Park wrote. Park's statement came after Rep. Jin Sung-joon of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), the chairman of the Assembly's National Defense Committee, announced that his visa was issued belatedly, a day before the committee's plan

A miniature keyboard presented by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to Samsung Group executives is drawing attention, as the device is designed not for conventional typing but specifically for vibe coding using OpenAI's Codex. The gift is being seen as a glimpse into what Altman described to the executives as OpenAI's vision for the future of computer interaction. According to OpenAI and Samsung, Altman visited a Samsung Group training center in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Saturday and engaged in a fireside chat with more than 50 presidents of Samsung Electronics and other affiliates. During the event, Altman presented the Samsung executives with Codex Micro keyboards, designed to be used with Codex. Altman said the keyboard reflects the idea that people may no longer need a full keyboard in a world where they can interact with computers through voice commands and artificial intelligence (AI), adding that the device could also help users work with Codex more quickly. The Codex Micro Keyboard is a miniature keyboard released as the first hardware product under the OpenAI brand. Developed in collaborati

KB Kookmin Bank has secured the lead arranger role in a 12.6 trillion won ($9.45 billion) project to build artificial intelligence (AI) computing infrastructure in Korea, the lender said Sunday. Led by Brookfield, one of the world’s largest alternative asset managers, the project involves acquiring major high-performance computing equipment, including graphics processing units (GPUs), and supplying the infrastructure to Naver Cloud. The deal marks the largest syndicated loan arrangement in Korea’s history. Such loans allow multiple financial institutions to jointly finance a large-scale project. It is also the country’s first GPU financing deal — a departure from conventional project financing, which has typically centered on assets like real estate or power plants. Rather than relying on immediate returns, the structure uses anticipated long-term revenue from supplying AI computing capacity to support the project's substantial upfront investment needs. Of the 12.6 trillion won in total costs, roughly 10.7 trillion won will be raised through loans. As lead arranger, KB Kookmin Ba

Binance, the world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange, said it would resume withdrawals in phases after covering 95 percent of the $6.3 billion in tokens stolen from its platform in the world's largest digital heist, which the FBI has tied to North Korea. Binance said phase would start between 0600 and 0900 GMT on Sunday and include bitcoin, ether, BNB, Solana, XRP, dogecoin and other tokens. The remaining 5 percent of stolen tokens consists of assets that are less liquid and may take longer to source in the required amounts, Binance posted on X late on Saturday. The FBI said on Saturday the North Korean state-sponsored unit known as TraderTraitor was responsible for the attack. Pyongyang has for years denied using state-linked cyber units for espionage, financial theft and revenue. Its mission in Geneva and embassy in China did not respond to requests for comment. Members of the unit were observed by law enforcement converting stolen assets into the cryptocurrency ethereum, the FBI said in a statement, adding that it expects "further laundering" of the assets through the use of related

HD Hyundai Robotics is working with Palantir Technologies to integrate artificial intelligence (AI), simulation and human engineers’ expertise into robot programming, aiming to cut programming costs by more than half. According to HD Hyundai Robotics on Sunday, Ahn Sung-hwan, the company's chief technology officer and vice president, outlined the collaboration during a keynote address at Palantir’s recent Sovereignty Bootcamp in New York. He presented his company’s strategy for applying physical AI and its vision for the technology. The collaboration focused on changing how human engineers can solve problems on factory floors. Under the two companies’ collaboration, AI agents analyze existing robot programs and propose improvements. The engineers can then refine what the AI comes up with using their practical experiences. Traditionally, skilled engineers have had to observe robots on-site and repeatedly adjust work sequences, movement paths and speeds. This reliance on individual experience has made the process difficult to standardize. HD Hyundai Robotics said the two companies

A research team at Sejong University has found that stocks attracting greater attention from retail investors tend to generate lower returns in subsequent periods. The university said the findings were published last month in the prestigious Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions & Money. The team was led by Lee Eun-mi, a professor at the university’s College of Business and Economics, and included doctoral students Yang Pujian and Yang Liu. The paper, titled “The Retreat of Arbitrage Capital: Attention Level and Nonlinear Order Flow Dynamics,” lists Yang Pujian as the first author, Lee as the corresponding author and Yang Liu as a co-author. The research team examined how retail investor attention affects institutional trading behavior and stock market returns. The researchers analyzed data from China’s A-share market spanning 2012 to 2024 and measured investor attention using the Search Volume Index (SVI) provided by Baidu, China’s leading search engine. The analysis found that stocks attracting greater investor attention tend to generate relatively lower retu

The Korea Times is pleased to announce the winners of its 57th Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards, one of the longest-running honors dedicated to Korean literary translation. The Grand Prize in fiction, awarded by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, went to Breanna Hundley of the United States for her translation of novelist Cho Ye-eun’s “How to Get Your Deposit Back.” The Commendation Award for fiction was given to Jude Vandervort of the U.S. for his translation of Jeong Ji-a’s novel “Bead by Bead.” Two Commendation Awards in poetry went to Noh Hye-yeon for her translation of poems by Lee Su-myeong, including “To Unfold a Bird,” and to Park Se-yeon for her translation of poems by An Hee-yeon, including “There Was a Fire.” No Grand Prize was awarded in poetry this year, as the jury found the poetry submissions less strong overall than those in fiction and judged that two commendations would more fairly recognize the promise shown by translators. The Kevin O’Rourke Prize was awarded to Ku Bon-seung of the U.S. for his translation of Danyao’s “Gir

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has held a series of bilateral talks with his counterparts from the European Union (EU), Britain, India and Mexico on the sidelines of a Group of 20 (G20) meeting in the United States, his office said Sunday. Cho met Kaja Kallas, the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, during the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta on Saturday, and called for strengthening their security partnership in cyber and space. The two sides also exchanged views on the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and in Ukraine, according to Seoul's foreign ministry. During talks with his British counterpart, Ed Miliband, the same day, Cho called for deeper bilateral defense and artificial intelligence cooperation. They also agreed to cooperate closely, considering that Britain and South Korea will chair the G20 in 2027 and 2028, respectively. Cho also met Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and reviewed progress in implementing agreements reached during President Lee Jae Myung's state visit to India in April. He held talks with his Mexi

How many years does it take a neighborhood to recover from tragedy? Four years ago, central Seoul's multicultural Itaewon neighborhood suffered an unspeakable accident, when over 150 people were crushed to death in a crowded alley. In the two years following the disaster, there was an atmosphere of cautious commemoration under the watchful eye of a heavy police presence, as people worked through their trauma — and also feared judgment for being too celebratory. The area may never be the same again, but Halloween 2026 seemed a step closer back to business as usual. Halloween decorations were popping up through the neighborhood over the past few weeks, and hardcore Christians were out protesting the holiday and its perceived queerness. But it was not until Friday that the crowds really started showing up. On Saturday, the main road through Itaewon was closed off to road traffic — a precautioun that should have been taken four years ago — handing the street over to tens of thousands of pedestrians celebrating the holiday. Making room in the streets helped significantly to reduce the p

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has explained Seoul's position on a recent land mine blast in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) at a Group of 20 (G20) meeting and highlighted the need for inter-Korean dialogue, his office said Sunday. South Korea has blamed the North for the Sept. 21 mine blast inside the DMZ separating the two Koreas that injured three South Korean soldiers, and has called for military talks to ease tensions. Pyongyang, however, has denied responsibility, vowing to take military action along the border if needed. During the two-day G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta, Cho explained Seoul's stance on the explosion, noting that communication between the two Koreas is more important than ever to ease tensions, according to the ministry. He also noted that deepening military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow has serious implications for security on the Korean Peninsula and in the region, it said, as the two sides have forged closer ties through the deployment of North Korean troops to support Russia's war against Ukraine. Cho asked for support from G20 members for Seoul's

Hanwha Group has won its first contract to build a warship for the United States Navy after its acquisition of Philadelphia-based Philly Shipyard in December 2024, marking a tangible step forward in the Korea-U.S. shipbuilding cooperation initiative known as Make American Shipbuilding Great Again (MASGA). Hanwha Group said Sunday that Hanwha Defense USA has signed a $269 million (357.5 billion won) contract with TOTE Services to build a landing ship medium (LSM). TOTE Services is a vessel construction manager entrusted by the U.S. Navy with overseeing shipbuilding contracts and managing vessel construction. The construction of the LSM is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of next year, and the contract also includes options for three additional vessels. The LSM is an expeditionary landing vessel designed to support the U.S. Navy's operations in contested coastal areas, including the Indo-Pacific region. It is tasked with transporting and deploying Marine Corps personnel, equipment and supplies to coastal areas. The U.S. Navy aims to secure 35 LSMs. The vessel measures 100 meters in

Unionized workers at South Korean steelmaker POSCO will vote this week on a tentative wage agreement reached with management, the union said Sunday. The two sides have held 30 rounds of negotiations since June, while the union staged two partial strikes in September to demand higher wages and bonuses. Last week, the union said it would launch an "indefinite" strike from Nov. 2 unless the company presented an acceptable wage offer. On Friday, the union reached a tentative agreement on the company's latest offer, which includes a 2.6 percent increase in base pay, a one-off payment of 6 million won ($4,500) and improved benefits. Union members are scheduled to vote on the deal on Saturday. The union had initially demanded a 7.1 percent increase in base pay, a performance bonus equivalent to 600 percent of base pay, 50 company shares per worker and a holiday bonus equivalent to 200 percent of base pay. In addition to higher wages, the union cited staffing shortages and aging facilities as factors that could heighten the risk of workplace accidents. Management's previous offer included a 2.5 pe

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Saturday said that the United States has knocked out much of Iran's military but it still has to "take care of" one or two targets including a suspected nuclear site known as Pickaxe Mountain. "We've knocked out their nuclear. We still have to take care of, I would say one or two sites, but we can do that in 10 minutes," Trump told reporters at his Florida residence. "You probably could look at Pickaxe Mountain, and you have to take care of that. We can do that all very quickly," he added.

A targeted shooting inside a Spirit Halloween store in Northern California left a pregnant woman dead and six other people wounded, police said. Gunfire rang out at about 8:30 p.m. Friday inside the store, which sells Halloween costumes and decor, at the Solano Town Center in Fairfield, the city police department said Saturday in a statement on Facebook. The shooting “stemmed from a targeted incident involving one suspect,” police said. The woman who died was identified by police as Constance Hages, 31, and family members told authorities she was pregnant. Three male victims ages 16, 19 and 32 were in critical condition, and a 23-year-old man was hospitalized in critical but stable condition. Two other men, ages 19 and 43, were treated for gunshot wounds and released from the hospital. No arrests have been made. Authorities said they were reviewing video and other evidence “to identify the individual responsible for this heinous act of violence.” The department said no additional information would be released at this time. “We recognize the concern and uncertainty this incident has

PARIS — Hundreds of thousands of protesters inspired by frustrated high school students took to the streets across France on Saturday in a third consecutive weekend of demonstrations over living costs and education. Youth-led protests were also held elsewhere in Europe , including in Germany and Portugal. France's protests were overwhelmingly peaceful, with whimsical Halloween costumes lightening the mood, but gatherings in Paris and other cities ended in clouds of tear gas and scattered fires set by small groups on the margins. About 70,000 police and gendarmes were deployed across the country after French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez warned of a “very high risk” of disorder, especially after dark on Halloween. Paris marches were rerouted to the capital’s edge to protect stores, government buildings and touristed areas in the city center. France's government estimated that 320,000 people protested nationwide Saturday, fewer than in previous protests but still a significant turnout. Mass protests on Oct. 17 that deteriorated into some of France's worst rioting in years drew 5

South Korea's exports jumped 93.7 percent to a record $115.3 billion in October from a year earlier, driven largely by a sharp increase in semiconductor shipments, data showed Sunday. Strong global demand for semiconductors, coupled with continued investments by major technology companies in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, boosted overall exports, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources said in a press release. Imports rose 36 percent from a year earlier to $72.78 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $42.5 billion. Cumulative exports for the January-October period exceeded $900 billion for the first time, with the ministry projecting that the country's annual exports could reach $1 trillion as early as November if the current trend continues. By sector, semiconductor exports, a key pillar of Asia's fourth-largest economy, skyrocketed 259 percent from a year earlier to $56.4 billion in October, the release said. Exports of petroleum products jumped 80 percent to $6.92 billion, while those of petrochemical products rose 27.5 percent to $4 billion. Cosmetics exports sho

MANAMA — Syria's top diplomat on Saturday said Damascus was considering whether to join the NATO-style Mecca defense alliance that binds Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Saudi Arabia, under heavy fire from Yemen's Houthis, is a key backer of Syria's government that came to power after the fall of former strongman Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. "Discussions are currently underway to evaluate Syria's entry into the Mecca alliance," Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said at the Manama Dialogue conference in Bahrain. Saudi Arabia has been rallying support against escalating Houthi attacks, including a major strike that closed Riyadh's international airport for two weeks this month. In August, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed the defense pact in Mecca, Islam's holiest city, that states an attack on one country is to be considered an attack on all three. Pakistan and Turkey have not announced any attacks on the Iran-backed Houthis. Earlier this month, French President Emmanuel Macron made a surprise visit to Riyadh and said France had sent troops to help shield a key Saudi oil te

A federal immigration officer charged with aggravated assault after he ran over a Mexican man with his car in Houston will turn himself in on Monday, according to his attorney. Mario Alberto Morales, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, struck Miguel Parra Hernandez, a 48-year-old construction worker, with his unmarked SUV on Oct. 10, as he chased Parra Hernandez through a parking lot. A grand jury indicted Morales on Friday on a felony charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Morales is planning to turn himself in at a courthouse sometime on Monday, David Lindenmuth, his attorney, told The Associated Press. Lindenmuth previously told the AP that the incident was “clearly just an accident” and that local officials had “invented a crime out of thin air.” Parra Hernandez broke his leg and is recovering at a rehabilitation facility while in federal custody, Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare told reporters on Friday. ICE has said Parra Hernandez ran in front of Morales’ car. Previously released surveillance camera video shows Morales’ vehicle driv

FRANKFURT/BERLIN — Hooded rioters looted stores in Frankfurt late on Saturday after tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across Germany's biggest cities to demand better education and lower living costs. The protests followed a wave of Gen Z-led demonstrations across Europe this year. In Serbia, student-led activism helped unseat the country's longtime leader at the ballot box, while protests in France have descended into rioting and looting. The German protests organized by the campaign group "Gen Z regelt" — "Gen Z takes charge" in German — took place in 34 cities including Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich. The group says it opposes compulsory military service and wants greater investment in education as many young Germans struggle with rising costs. In Frankfurt, Germany's financial hub, at least two stores were looted as protests turned violent, with several more damaged and police trying to get the situation under control, according to a Reuters witness. "Violent disturbances are continuing," Frankfurt police said on X. "In the city centre, windows have been smas

U.S. President Donald Trump has said the United States would talk to North Korea if it is found to be behind the theft of more than $6 billion from Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange. Trump made the remarks at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday after the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said North Korea was responsible for the theft of virtual assets from Binance on or about Oct. 29. "I'm not concerned. We're learning about it," he said. "We don't know if it's North Korea, but if it is, we'll talk to North Korea about it." In a cyber alert, the FBI identified the North Korean cyber operation as "TraderTraitor," a name previously associated with cryptocurrency thefts carried out by North Korean hackers. The agency said it had observed the hackers converting stolen assets primarily into Ethereum, a major cryptocurrency, in cooperation with the U.S. Secret Service and the Internal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigation division. The FBI warned that the hackers were expected to further launder the stolen assets through decentralized finance

North Korea has tested a cluster bomb that can be mounted on tactical ballistic missiles and vowed to field various types of cluster warheads by the end of the year, its state media said Sunday. The North's Missile Administration conducted the test on Saturday to assess the combat adaptability and power of a cluster-bomb warhead to be mounted on tactical ballistic missiles, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. The research institutes under the Missile Administration "confirmed that Standard Type 2 cluster-bomb warhead is capable of turning into ashes a target area of 12 to 13 hectares with its highest-density power," according to the KCNA. The general director of the Missile Administration was quoted as stating that the cluster bomb warheads are classified into four categories depending on their purposes. "Within this year we will enable units to select and use all those types according to operational aims and specific features of targets," the director said. A cluster bomb releases dozens to hundreds of submunitions, allowing it to strike multiple targets over a wide area. South Ko

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump remains open to talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un if Pyongyang is willing to discuss issues of concern to Washington and its allies, but no meeting has been scheduled, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Saturday. Rubio made the remarks during a press conference following a Group of 20 (G20) foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta. "I think the president's perspective is, if North Korea and Kim Jong-un is prepared to talk with the United States about issues that are of concern to us and of concern to our allies, like South Korea, he would be open to doing it," Rubio said. "Nothing has been scheduled. I do not have anything to announce in regards to that today," he added. His remarks came amid persistent speculations over the possibility of renewed diplomacy between Trump and Kim, who held three meetings during Trump's first presidential term. The comments also followed trilateral talks among Rubio and his South Korean and Japanese counterparts in Atlanta on Friday, during which the three top diplomats reaffirmed their commitment to th

Korea is shopping for real estate on the moon, and its newly established space agency has its eye on some of the lunar surface’s most forbidding neighborhoods. At a recent academic symposium, the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) revealed a shortlist of prospective landing sites for two robotic missions scheduled for 2032. The agency is weighing 20 candidate zones for its flagship lunar lander and nine for a precursor soft-landing demonstration craft, signaling a decisive shift toward boots-on-the-surface ambitions for a nation long playing catch-up in deep-space exploration. Rather than sticking strictly to the lunar south pole — a crowded target for NASA’s Artemis program and rival missions seeking water ice — Korean scientists are eyeing a broader, strategically varied grid. The candidate list spans ancient impact basins, jagged basaltic plains, and deep pit craters that could house underground lava tubes. Among the standout targets for the early 2032 verification probe is Lacus Mortis, or the "Lake of Death," a pitted plain that scientists suspect holds collapsed lava tub

Driven by the global rise of K-pop and K-dramas, interest in learning the Korean language, including Hangeul or the Korean alphabet, has exploded across the United States in recent years. This growing enthusiasm has reached far beyond the Korean American community to include non-native speakers, adoptees and multicultural families. Standing at the center of this trend is Soojin Cho, a veteran educator who has spent nearly three decades teaching Hangeul to younger generations and expanding Korean language education in America. In recognition of her lifelong dedication, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism awarded Cho the Cultural Merit Medal during the 580th Hangeul Day national celebration in Seoul, Oct. 9. The Korean government commended her for developing vital Korean language curricula for students overseas and leading regional education networks. Receiving one of the highest honors for Hangeul advancement was a deeply rewarding moment for Cho, who served as the 12th and 13th president of the National Association for Korean Schools, Mid-Atlantic Chapter from 2022 to 2026. Under

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met separately with his German and Polish counterparts on the sidelines of a Group of 20 (G20) meeting in Atlanta to discuss ways to enhance bilateral cooperation, his office said Saturday. Cho met with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Friday (U.S. time), expressing hope for deeper ties with the European nation in a wide range of areas, including defense, the economy and cutting-edge industries, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In response, Wadephul thanked Seoul's foreign ministry for successfully preparing for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's recent visit to Korea and expressed hope for expanded cooperation in bilateral trade and investment. Cho also met with his Polish counterpart, Radoslaw Sikorski, and called for continued discussions on cooperation in areas such as defense and batteries as a follow-up to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's visit to Korea in April, the ministry said. Sikorski also requested Korea's attention and support for Warsaw's efforts to join the G20, with Cho proposing continued consultations on the matter.

"You have to go to your families and say, 'I am a student now, I have to study, so let's share the housework.'" Kim Sang-hyun, vice principal of Ilsung Women's Middle and High School, offered advice and encouragement to the students gathered in front of the platform on March 3 at Sinchon Methodist Church in western Seoul, at the school's entrance ceremony for the 2026 academic year. The women about to become middle and high school students did not dress or look like other students. They wore hanbok, traditional Korean clothing, instead of uniforms, and not one of them looked like typical teenagers worn down by a nagging parent. Among them was 77-year-old Lee Bok-gae, who was entering middle school that morning — an adult learner, one of the women who lost their chance at school due to financial difficulties and gender inequality in education. Born the eldest of seven children, studying became an elusive dream, as she had to work while caring for her younger siblings. That same day, her granddaughter became a middle school student, too. On her way to a different school, the girl waved

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Comedian Shin Bong-sun, who has drawn attention for her slimmer figure, turned down even a tempting snack to stay on track with her diet. Shin recently posted a photo of a black plastic bag on social media, writing, “Hotteok my older sister bought me from Namdaemun. I won't eat it.” She also shared a full-body photo taken at a gym, saying she was playing tennis and attending a personal training session. Shin previously revealed that she had lost 11 kilograms in just 100 days. She has since continued to exercise regularly and manage her diet. Hotteok: A calorie bomb with sugar and oil Hotteok is a snack made by filling wheat flour dough with a sweet filling and cooking it in oil. The carbohydrates in the dough, combined with sugar and oil, make the snack high in calories. Its calorie content varies depending on its size, filling ingredients and the amount of oil used during cooking. According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's food nutrition database, hotteok containing nuts has 314 kilocalories per 100 grams. Eating a 150-gram hotteok

Jersey Airport said it was "experiencing disruption.... affecting inbound flights as a result of further drone activity".

Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed's former opponent in the U.S. Senate primary, Haley Stevens, stunned party officials Sunday by endorsing Republican Mike Rogers after Democratic tensions boiled over days before the election that could determine the balance of power on Capitol Hill.

A US judge has dismissed President Donald Trump's defamation case over a report that he sent a birthday letter to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Hampshire Police believes an unknown group gained entry to the party at an address in Chandler's Ford.

The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, confirms he has received a letter from U.S. Vice President JD Vance but has not yet responded.

Read all

Marta Shahbazi was an "inspiring, talented and passionate scientist", says the laboratory where she worked.

More than 4,000 people have been arrested for supporting the group since it was proscribed in July 2025.

A medical oncologist based in Brandon is leaving the role in November, saying his repeated calls for support have been ignored by the province.

The UN remains committed to supporting a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution in Western Sahara that provides for the self-determination of its people, Secretary-General António Guterres said on Sunday, as the UN peacekeeping mission there began to wind down.

At the halfway mark to 2030, countries meeting in Armenia have agreed a roadmap to accelerate action for nature, after a global review found the world off track to meet its biodiversity targets.

In Mexico’s armed forces, an order from a superior is meant to be obeyed without question. For many women in uniform, investigative journalist Zorayda Gallegos found, that can include an order to step into an officer’s bedroom.

The protests in cities across Germany - including Berlin, Hamburg and Frankfurt - came on the same day hundreds of thousands also protested in France.

Prime Minister Mark Carney says he's had a "good conversation" with U.S. President Donald Trump on the future of Canada-U.S. trade, further adding their chat "builds on our recent constructive discussions" over the outlines of a possible trade deal.

October was the worst on record for hospital overcrowding, with 12,672 patients treated in corridors, on chairs or trolleys, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.

A child is in critical condition after a two-car collision in Co Armagh yesterday afternoon.

The Ukrainian army regained the city in November of that year, but Russia has continued to fire drones and rockets from across the Dnipro River.

Pope Leo XVI upholds a humanitarian ceasefire in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky and appeals for cooperation and dialogue for peace.

Read all

In his Angelus message on the Solemnity of All Saints, Pope Leo XIV recalled the countless saints who have dedicated their life to Christ and emphasized how we are all called to be holy and make choices of love that transcend evil.

Read all

The Chancellor has suggested that younger workers might not receive the same minimum wage as others before the next election.

The longest truce of the Ukraine war, limited to the eastern Kherson region, has ended after Russia refused the offer of an extension, Ukrainian officials said.

In her first major intervention since leaving the Treasury, Rachel Reeves says Brexit has made the UK "poorer, weaker and less secure".

Four teens, aged 15 to 19 years, died in a crash in Puslinch, a rural area southeast of Guelph, early Saturday, according to Ontario Provincial Police.

An analysis of the mammoth Wonder Valley data centre suggests it would release the equivalent of 23 atom bombs of heat waste into the boreal forest of northwestern Alberta every day. A Utah State University physicist who conducted the review for the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation said the project demands a full environmental impact assessment.

German ministers threatened tough penalties for looters and rioters who damaged stores and injured more than 100 police officers in Frankfurt overnight, while still praising public forces for preventing larger-scale violence.

A member of the public pulled the man from the water and CPR was attempted, but the man was pronounced dead on the beach

Space vapes are vape pods containing the drug etomidate, a dissociative anaesthetic drug similar to ketamine.

"Surimi" prices are soaring amid tight supplies, putting processed fish product-makers under pressure ahead of the peak demand season in winter.

Cassiopeia and Galaxy, an attractive pair of feline siblings, are very much attached to each other and want to be adopted together.

Celebrities have been embracing the scariest day of the year by dressing up as sport stars, dismembered limbs and unsold concert tickets.

The Trump administration has pressed a criminal investigation in to Alaska's pivotal US Senate race and said it may take its fight over postal ballots in California to the Supreme Court.

Two piles of cars, stacked on top of each other, were on fire when crews arrived at the scene.

Foreign leaders are understandably shy of offering opinions on the U.S. elections, whether they share Trump's playbook or not.

The once-thriving city near Naples, Pompeii was buried by a volcanic eruption in AD 79, preserving buildings, objects and graffiti under meters of ash.

Festivities begin in October and lead up to Nov. 1 and 2, when the souls of deceased loved ones are believed to temporarily return to earth to reunite with their families.

A Dublin city councillor has criticised anti-social behaviour in Cherry Orchard last night and said a small minority of people "terrorised the community".

Eleanor Aldred-Owen died after surgery because an abnormal scan was not flagged.

While nitrogen gas is harmless, the production of fertilizers used to feed the world converts it into reactive nitrogen, and that comes with a cost.

Thousands gathered in the heart of delhi, calling for the chief election commissioner to step down.

Who bears responsibility for what happened on 7 October 2023 was the defining question of the Israeli election - what followed in Gaza hardly registered, writes Edmund Heaphy.

A focus on towing and fines instead of clamping for illegal parking is in operation in Dublin from today.

Serbia's Student List movement won an emphatic election victory last weekend, but what comes next for the country's incoming government, which has yet to decide who will lead it?

Hato Hone St John is trialling a Palmerston North base for its two Levin extended care paramedics.

New Zealand police are urging rugby league fans to consider others, and their own safety, when showing support for their teams.

Tonga and Samoa flags are flying and families are coming together as fans gear up for the eagerly awaited Rugby League World Cup showdown.

The state's $500m Senate race may be the most closely watched in the US midterms, and is about far more than control of Congress.

Virginia Hicks is this year's national Silver Cross Mother, an annual tradition by the Royal Canadian Legion recognizing the mother of a fallen Canadian Armed Forces member each Remembrance Day. Every year she visits CFB Petawawa in the Ottawa Valley, where her daughter Sapper Mariebeth Short was killed during a training exercise in 2002.

The supermodel and TV host provided a gory new shock at her New York event.

Police say hundreds of vehicles backing Samoa and Tonga caused noise and blocked intersections, with infringements issued.

As the season opening looms for southwestern Nova Scotia's lobster zone, fishermen face mounting uncertainty from skyrocketing fuel prices among other concerns.

People in the entire British Empire went to bed on Sept. 2, 1752, and woke up on Sept. 14, 1752.

Average wait times for children needing Ministry of Education support for their disabililties rose across the board last year.

Crews from Tauranga City, Mount Maunganui and Greerton were called to Totara Street around 11.30am on Sunday.

Pyongyang claimed the warhead is "capable of turning into ashes a target area of 12 to 13 hectares."

Young men are increasingly turned off by U.S. President Donald Trump, and right-leaning podcasters are distancing themselves, too — a trend that experts say could swing House and potential Senate seats in next week's midterms.

As much as Prince Harry may signal his desire to reconcile with the Royal Family, making it happen could be a challenge.

Starting on Nov. 8, filmgoers will be able to watch Quebec-made movies for just $3 in over a dozen independent cinemas on the second Sunday of each month, for the next year. The goal behind the initiative is to bring more eyes and support to Quebec on the big screen.

Nine burn-care specialists from Hamilton Health Sciences have travelled to Edmonton to help treat military personnel severely injured in the deadly fire at a Canadian Forces base in Wainwright, Alta.

The devastating summer floods that hit north Niagara helped propel Canada's total insured damage from natural disasters over the summer to one of the worst on record, new data shows.

Attending a concert is no longer just a night out: with the rise of the music residency and select-city tours, artists are saving on travel costs, while fans have to shell out for what's being sold being as the trip of a lifetime.

The federal government has effectively shelved a bill meant to phase out the captivity and import and export of elephants and great apes in Canada. Some animal advocates suspect it has to do with the government's current preoccupation with the tariff war and other economic issues.

Police and Hato Hone St John were called to the incident at Ardmore Airport just after 1pm on Sunday.

The rare high-level meeting between the two countries came amid strained ties over Ukraine and a long-running territorial dispute.

Large flags extending from vehicle windows can obstruct visibility and increase the risk of crashes, police warn.

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Kalvin Montoya Cardona, 21, of Camp Hansen was arrested early Saturday despite a U.S. military-imposed curfew.

President Donald Trump said that the United States has knocked out much of Iran's military but it still has to "take care of" one or two targets.

The city-state has the highest per-capita air conditioner ownership rate in Southeast Asia, with about 99% of private residences equipped with cooling units.

Nov. 3 marks the first U.S. federal election with millions of voters relying on AI for political information, a trend that may play a key role ahead of the polls.

The event will bring together two strands of Indian political agitation that had largely operated separately.

The National Disaster Management Agency, which opens Monday, will serve as an operational control tower to boost the nation's disaster preparedness.

The chipmaker's outlook suggests the unprecedented price spikes of the past year or so are starting to level off.

Binance said it had resumed withdrawals after more than $6 billion in virtual assets were stolen from the cryptocurrency exchange in a major hack the FBI said North Korea was responsible for.

The amount of debt held by data centres is measured in the tens of billions of pounds.

GMO Internet Group CEO Masatoshi Kumagai and other executives will hold a news conference in Tokyo on Monday to address a series of unauthorized access incidents, the company said Saturday.

The China Coast Guard is trying to exert a fictional jurisdiction in the area, seen as a critical supply route in the event of a blockade or conflict.