The Antenna

WASHINGTON — Following Tuesday's report on consumer price inflation, the U.S. Labor Department released a separate report on Thursday showing producer prices in the United States shot up by much more than expected in the month of September. The Labor Department said its producer price index for final demand jumped by 1.3 percent in September after rising by an upwardly revised 0.5 percent in August. Economists had expected producer prices to climb by 0.5 percent compared to the 0.4 percent increase originally reported for the previous month. The report also said the annual rate of growth by producer prices surged to 6.3 percent in September from an upwardly revised 5.6 percent in August. The annual rate of growth was expected to hold steady at the 5.4 percent originally reported for the previous month.

President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday dismissed speculation that he would seek a constitutional revision to allow himself to serve another term, pledging to press ahead with reforms. "Though my methods and approaches have become more pragmatic and cautious, my goals have not changed," Lee wrote on X in response to a post expressing disappointment over concerns about a constitutional revision and the possibility that reforms could be weakened. Lee stressed that a constitutional revision requires the support of at least 200 lawmakers, including opposition lawmakers, and cannot be pursued at his discretion. "There is no need to be concerned about conspiracy theories about constitutional revision for reelection or political realignment," he said, adding that a parliamentary or semi-presidential system was not his preferred direction for constitutional reform. Lee has repeatedly denied any intention to seek reelection through a constitutional revision amid opposition accusations that he may push for a constitutional reform to extend his time in office. Lee also reaffirmed his commitment to refor

President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday dismissed criticism that the government wasted taxpayer money by importing eggs from Brazil at high cost, calling the allegations politically motivated falsehoods. Opposition lawmakers have accused the government of wasting 80 billion won ($59.51 million) in taxpayer money on the imports, pointing to the per-egg cost rising to 1,464 won from an initial purchase price of 178 won after airfreight, tariffs and other expenses were included. "Egg prices in Korea surged this summer, while supplies were insufficient ... so we conducted a trial import of a small quantity of eggs from Brazil to secure an additional source of supply, despite the high transportation costs," Lee said in a post on X. Lee said importing more expensive goods from overseas and supplying them domestically at lower prices is a common government measure to manage consumer prices when supply shortages drive up the cost of basic necessities. While acknowledging that airfreight and other associated expenses increased the final import cost, Lee stressed that the eggs accounted for just 0.8 p

Korean and U.S. business leaders on Thursday called for faster regulatory approvals, tax and financial support, and visa reforms to ensure the successful implementation of major Korean investment projects in the United States. The call came in a joint declaration issued at a plenary meeting of the U.S.-Korea and Korea-U.S. Business Council, hosted by the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), and attended by about 60 political and business leaders and experts from the two countries. Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump announced details of Seoul's planned $200 billion investment in the U.S., part of a broader $350 billion commitment agreed to by the two countries last year in exchange for lower U.S. tariffs on Korean goods. In the joint declaration, the business circles called for measures to reduce trade uncertainty and reform regulations, urging the two governments to introduce fast-track approval procedures and provide tax and financial incentives for companies participating in strategic investment projects. They also called for improvements to visa systems and the establis

Iranian director Majid Majidi's "Midday Meal" won the Best Film Award, a grand prize at the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) on Thursday, securing a direct entry for consideration at the upcoming Academy Awards. The top honor was announced during the closing ceremony at the Busan Cinema Center outdoor theater in Busan. Hosted solely by actor Yim Si-wan, the event wrapped up a 10-day festival run that began on Oct. 6. Jury President Zhang Yimou praised "Midday Meal" as the ideal film and noted that all seven jury members agreed unanimously on the selection. Starting this year, the grand prize winner under the Busan Award competition section automatically gains qualification to submit for the Best International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards. The Best Film Award also comes with a cash prize of 50 million won ($37,180). Receiving the award, Majidi expressed his gratitude to the festival. He said it was an honor to receive such a huge prize on his first visit to Busan, adding that the energy came from the love of his late mother. "This award means everything to my jo

President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday called on a U.S. business council to actively explore new investment and business opportunities in Korea for mutually complementary cooperation between the two nations, the presidential office said. Lee made the remarks during a meeting with Evan G. Greenberg, chair of the U.S.-Korea Business Council (USKBC) and CEO of Chubb Group, at Cheong Wa Dae, according to presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung. "Korea and the United States are developing into a future-oriented comprehensive strategic alliance encompassing the economy and advanced technologies, based on a robust security alliance," Lee said, expressing hope that Korea could also contribute to the development of U.S. industries. Stressing the need for active investment in both directions for "mutually complementary cooperation," Lee called on the USKBC to "actively explore new investment and business opportunities in Korea so that U.S. companies can expand their investment here alongside Korean companies' investments in the U.S." Lee also highlighted Korea's focus on investing in human resources a

President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday formally appointed the inaugural chief of the newly established Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA), which is in charge of major investigations under the interior ministry. Lee approved the appointment after a parliamentary committee adopted a confirmation hearing report for longtime prosecutor Kim Ji-yong, 38 days after Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung recommended him for the post Sept. 7. Earlier in the day, the National Assembly's public administration and security committee adopted the confirmation hearing report, a day after holding Kim's confirmation hearing. The report included both favorable and unfavorable opinions on Kim's suitability for the post. Kim's nomination had drawn opposition from some lawmakers, including members of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), who argued that his appointment could set back prosecution reform, citing his background as a prosecutor under the former Yoon Suk Yeol administration. The Lee administration had ordered additional vetting, and the presidential office later said the allegations against him

South Korea will continue supporting Ukraine “as a responsible member of the international community” despite a diplomatic dispute over the disclosure of two North Korean prisoners of war being repatriated to the South, a foreign ministry official said Thursday. The official said Seoul will treat its assistance to Ukraine separately from the dispute, while continuing bilateral consultations to resolve outstanding issues. The remarks came after South Korean Ambassador to Ukraine Park Ki-chang was recalled to Seoul on Saturday, following a spat over Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s public disclosure of the transfer during his U.N. General Assembly speech on Sept. 23. The ambassador’s recall was one of several options Seoul considered after the disclosure, which it says breached a confidentiality arrangement intended to protect the soldiers and their families in North Korea. President Lee Jae Myung has demanded that Kyiv acknowledge the agreement and publicly apologize, warning of “additional measures” if it refuses. Kyiv has denied such an understanding existed. Meanwhi

The presidential office was set to hold a pan-government meeting Thursday to discuss response measures following a series of high-profile crimes, including a recent stabbing spree targeting random victims. The meeting, which comes at the instruction of President Lee Jae Myung, will bring together officials from the justice, gender equality, health and education ministries, as well as the police, to discuss crime responses, according to Cheong Wa Dae. Lee has stressed the need for government measures to prevent violent crimes as crimes targeting random victims and interpersonal crimes targeting family members and intimate partners have emerged as a social challenge, the presidential office said. Thursday's meeting will discuss crime response measures, prioritizing the protection of victims, the monitoring of electric anklets and assistance for crime victims, it added. Earlier this week, a 59-year-old man went on a stabbing spree at a shopping complex in Incheon, just west of Seoul, injuring eight people. A man in his 20s was arrested last week after stabbing his mother-in-law to death and

Wild temperature swings are expected to continue through the winter, with what could be the strongest El Niño on record forecast to peak toward the end of the year, raising the likelihood of a “roller-coaster winter” marked by mild spells interrupted by sudden cold snaps. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), morning lows on Wednesday plunged by around 10 degrees Celsius from the previous day, reaching 9 degrees in Seoul and 3 degrees in Daegwallyeong, Gangwon Province. Temperatures are expected to gradually rise above the seasonal average over the weekend before plunging again, with lows reaching 3 degrees by the middle of next week, pointing to continued sharp fluctuations. The erratic weather is typical of autumn, when migratory high- and low-pressure systems pass through the Korean Peninsula in succession. Cold winds blowing down from the north are battling warm, humid southerly winds originating over the western Pacific, where sea temperatures are higher than normal, causing weather conditions to fluctuate sharply. Such unpredictable conditions are expect

BANGKOK — Korea has agreed with Japan to extend their $10 billion currency swap arrangement, set to expire next month, by another three years, the finance ministry said Thursday, as the two countries seek to further bolster bilateral economic ties. Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il reached the agreement with his Japanese counterpart, Satsuki Katayama, during a meeting in Bangkok on the sidelines of the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group. The two countries' three-year, $10 billion currency swap deal, signed in December 2023, was due to expire in November. Under the latest agreement, the currency swap arrangement, which involves the U.S. greenback, will run through November 2029, with its size unchanged. A currency swap is a tool designed to guard against financial turmoil by allowing a country facing a liquidity crunch to borrow foreign currency in exchange for its own currency. During the meeting, the officials concurred that the foreign exchange authorities of both countries currently maintain ample liquidity, describing the currency swa

North Korea on Thursday called Japan's push for nuclear-powered submarines a "stepping stone" toward nuclear weapons. An international security analyst, Pak Ju-won, made the claim in an article carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). "It is the true intention of the Japanese neo-militarist force to formalize the possession of nuclear-powered submarines and secure a stepping-stone to the possession of nuclear weapons in the long-run," Pak said. Citing recent comments by Japanese officials, Pak claimed that Japan has the "sinister intention to create public opinion" in favor of writing the nuclear-related issue into its key security documents, which are due for revision by the end of the year. Late last month, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the government was keeping open the possibility of revising its three nonnuclear principles and acquiring nuclear-powered submarines. Japan, he said, should debate nuclear weapons and nuclear-powered submarines "without taboos." Pak said Japan has discarded "the veil of 'exclusive defense'" referring to its postwar policy of li

DAEGU — A district court sentenced a man to a 45-year prison term Thursday for murdering his mother-in-law and abandoning her body in the southeastern city of Daegu. The Daegu District Court handed down the sentence to Cho Jae-bok, 26, for murdering the 54-year-old victim in March at his home in the city located some 250 kilometers southeast of Seoul. He was also convicted of throwing away the victim's body in a suitcase. The court noted that the victim had faced repeated violence that left her unable to even speak by the time of her murder. Prosecutors had sought a life sentence for Cho, who was also charged with abusing, monitoring and financially controlling his wife and mother-in-law.

Retail investors’ losses and unease are deepening as the KOSPI tumbled more than 7 percent Thursday, following a decline of over 5 percent just two days earlier. The slide, led by chip giants Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, has turned paper profits into losses. Many investors now feel they have missed their chance to sell and are struggling to decide whether to cut their losses or hold on in the hope of a rebound, as frustration mounts and confidence in Korean equities fades. "I don’t know where the market is headed anymore. I’ve stopped trying to lower my average purchase price by buying more shares," one investor wrote on an online stock forum. Those who bought stocks with borrowed money also face growing concerns about repaying their loans. Outstanding margin loans used to buy stocks topped 34 trillion won ($25 billion) for the first time in three months since July. The balance stood at 34.25 trillion won as of Tuesday, according to the Korea Financial Investment Association. Buying stocks with funds borrowed from brokerages can boost returns in a rising market, but it also exp

PESHAWAR, Pakistan — The roof of a private school collapsed in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar on Thursday, killing at least 34 children and a teacher and injuring more than 50 other people in the deadliest incident of its kind in the country, authorities and a hospital official said. The children killed or injured at Al-Khair school were between 6 and 12 years old, while the oldest was 14, Lady Reading Hospital spokesman Mohammad Asim said. Some of the injured were in critical condition, he said. The hospital declared an emergency as medical staff treated the wounded. Hours after the collapse in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, rescue officials said that everyone trapped beneath the rubble had been pulled out and crews were clearing the debris. Mahwish Zaman, an injured teacher speaking from a hospital bed, said that the three-story school had an estimated 1,200 students enrolled in nursery through fifth grade. She told The Associated Press that she was in her classroom when the roof collapsed and felt as if the sky had fallen. She regained consciousn

Korean stocks plunged 7.57 percent and shed nearly 400 trillion won ($297.7 billion) in market capitalization Thursday, amid concerns over the sustainability of artificial intelligence (AI) spending and the outlook for the semiconductor sector. The benchmark KOSPI closed at 5,554.22, down 7.57 percent. A sell-side sidecar was triggered at 9:07 a.m., marking the 27th activation this year, followed by a Level 1 circuit breaker at 12:38 p.m. A sell-side sidecar is triggered when the most actively traded KOSPI 200 future falls at least 5 percent from the previous session for one minute. A Level 1 circuit breaker kicks in when the benchmark index drops at least 8 percent from the previous close for one minute. Foreign investors dumped 3.6 trillion won worth of shares, extending their net selling streak to eight consecutive trading sessions. Institutional and retail investors made net purchases of 1.69 trillion won and 1.29 trillion won, respectively, stepping in to scoop up shares at bargain prices. Heavy selling weighed on market heavyweights. Samsung Electronics fell 9.48 percent to close a

Korean steelmaker POSCO and shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean are teaming up to build a demonstration liquified natural gas (LNG) carrier equipped with high-manganese steel cargo tanks, aiming to strengthen Korea’s technological competitiveness in a market long dominated by foreign technology. LNG fuel tanks store the fuel used to power LNG-fueled vessels, while cargo tanks on LNG carriers are large storage systems that hold the LNG itself for transportation overseas. According to POSCO, the two companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at the shipbuilder’s Geoje shipyard to develop the demonstration vessel. The signing ceremony was attended by senior executives from both sides, including POSCO President Lee Hee-geun and Hanwha Ocean CEO Kim Hee-cheul. The partnership comes amid expectations of rising LNG demand as countries seek lower-carbon energy sources, fueling demand for LNG carriers. Korean shipbuilders, however, remain dependent on foreign technology for cargo tanks, a key component of the vessels. Under the MOU, the companies will develop cargo tanks using POSCO’s high-m

A special counsel team said Thursday it has filed for a new arrest warrant for jailed former first lady Kim Keon Hee as her detention period is set to expire later this month. Special counsel Min Joong-ki's team submitted the request to the Supreme Court, citing the need to keep Kim, the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, in custody before her detention expires Oct. 31. Kim, who has been in detention since August last year, awaits final rulings by the top court on two sentences delivered by appellate court benches: a four-year prison sentence on corruption charges, and a five-year prison sentence on bribery and other charges. A final ruling for the first case is unlikely to be delivered before her detention period expires, with the court scheduling a deliberation session for next Thursday. "As the expiration of defendant Kim Keon Hee's detention period nears, there is a need to keep her in custody, so we have submitted an application to issue an arrest warrant," the team said.

A recent hacking incident involving commercial refrigerators at supermarkets in France is highlighting the importance of cybersecurity for connected equipment among Korean businesses, as companies increasingly rely on interconnected and centrally controlled systems for their operations. Industry officials said Thursday that the attack compromised supermarket refrigeration systems, but the underlying issue is the growing reliance of commercial equipment on network connectivity. They stressed the need to strengthen security across both hardware and software to ensure that no loopholes emerge anywhere in the system. The incident affected hundreds of supermarkets in France, where hackers reportedly gained remote access to centralized refrigeration control systems and manipulated temperatures, forcing retailers to discard spoiled food. Danish manufacturer Danfoss, which supplied the affected systems, attributed the incident to outdated equipment that had not received security updates. Retail chains, including supermarkets, use commercial refrigeration equipment. In Korea, major electronics c

The South Korean military said Thursday it would stick to an existing agreement on conditions for wartime operational control (OPCON) transfer from Washington to Seoul, despite a warning from the top U.S. commander in Korea that evolving security threats require new standards. It showed discomfort over U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson’s remarks on the need to change standards and conditions for the transition because “the transfer would never be possible” under the existing standards. The military said it has not decided whether to accept any new conditions proposed by the U.S. “The principle that OPCON will be transferred once the conditions mutually agreed upon by South Korea and the United States are met remains unchanged,” ministry spokesperson Chung Binna said at a briefing. Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul said Thursday that Seoul had already conveyed its concerns to the U.S. side over Bronson’s remarks. “We have already conveyed our position on that matter,” Kang said during a National Assembly audit, responding to a question from Rep. Son Sol

Hanwha Systems' laser air defense weapon Cheongwang successfully intercepted three out of three target drones in a live-fire demonstration, highlighting the company's efforts to expand its presence in the global air defense market. The company said Thursday that Cheongwang, also known as the Laser Air Defense Weapon Block-I, and a vehicle-mounted high-energy laser cannon intercepted the drones during the Army’s Army TIGER+ integrated combat exercise in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province, on Wednesday. About 500 people attended the exercise, including the Army chief of staff, military officials, academics and industry experts. Cheongwang and the 30-kilowatt-class vehicle-mounted laser cannon achieved a 100 percent interception rate against the three drones. Small, low-cost unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have emerged as growing battlefield threats, serving both reconnaissance and surveillance purposes and as attack weapons. Laser weapons are gaining attention as next-generation air defense systems capable of countering drone swarms while addressing some limitations of conventional missile-b

Shinhan Financial Group is seeking to bolster its nonbank operations by acquiring Lotte Insurance, but analysts cautioned Thursday that a meaningful contribution to group earnings may take time, as the insurer could require substantial additional capital to strengthen its financial position. Concerns over the cost of the deal weighed on Shinhan shares, which plunged 4.31 percent Wednesday following Tuesday’s announcement and fell a further 0.84 percent Thursday. The group agreed Tuesday to purchase a 77.04 percent stake in Lotte Insurance from private equity firm JKL Partners for 693.3 billion won ($514.6 million). After securing regulatory approval, it plans to acquire the remaining shares and eventually merge the insurer with its existing subsidiary, Shinhan EZ General Insurance. Lotte Insurance has 14 trillion won in assets and 3.34 million customers, giving Shinhan a substantially larger foothold in non-life insurance. The financial group aims to raise annual profit from the business to at least 120 billion won within three years. But market analysts warned that the insurer’s wea

President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday pledged to maintain his policy priorities of improving people's livelihoods, pursuing reforms and promoting national unity, a day before he is set to mark his 500th day in office. "Tomorrow marks the 500th day since the launch of our 'Government of Popular Sovereignty,'" Lee said at a meeting with key aides. "Without being swayed by any external influence or resistance, (the government) will unwaveringly follow the path toward improving people's livelihoods and pursuing practical reforms and inclusive national unity," he said. The president also pointed out that the national economy is achieving unprecedented success, but people's livelihoods remain grim, pledging to help spread the benefits of growth to people's everyday lives. "Our economy is registering remarkable outcomes in various fields. If this trend continues, we will likely become the sixth country with a (per capita) national income of $40,000 this year among nations with a population of over 50 million," the president noted. "Difficulties in people's everyday lives, however, do not seem to h

Gangneung aims to show that the future of mobility extends beyond big cities, bringing self-driving vehicles, smart traffic systems and global transport leaders to a tourism hub where visitor traffic overlaps with residents’ daily travel needs. The 32nd ITS World Congress will open on Monday for a five-day run at Gangneung Olympic Park and adjacent venues in Gangwon Province. Jointly hosted by Gangneung City and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the gathering is expected to draw about 60,000 visitors from around 90 countries, according to organizers. Under this year’s theme, “Beyond Mobility, Connected World,” the event will bring together policymakers, researchers and business representatives for high-level meetings, academic sessions, exhibitions and demonstrations of advanced transport technologies. Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) integrate information and communications technologies into roads, vehicles, traffic signals and control centers to improve transport efficiency and safety. Examples include real-time traffic information and priority signal

CAIRO — Iran-backed Houthi rebels hit the headquarters of the Saudi state-owned oil company Aramco in an overnight strike, two regional officials said Wednesday, damaging the offices of the firm’s chief executive and other top officials. The strike, in the eastern Saudi Arabian city of Dhahran, was the latest demonstration of the Houthis' ability to attack high-profile targets. There were no casualties in the attack, which the officials said damaged the building's top three floors. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the matter with the media. The Houthis had warned earlier they were targeting Dhahran with a ballistic missile. Late Wednesday evening, Houthi-run broadcaster al-Masirah reported strikes on the capital Sanaa, blaming Saudi Arabia. The Saudi coalition has not commented on the strikes. The sight of smoke rising from some of Saudi Arabia’s most sensitive facilities in recent days has rattled the region and global markets while increasing questions for U.S. President Donald Trump, who has said he's evaluating whether the U.S. s

Director Jang Hang-jun — who recently joined the elite "10-million-viewer club" with his blockbuster hit "The King's Warden" — is making his return with "The Great Hang-jun," an SBS audition-concept talk show centered around him. The cheeky audition talk show, where he pitches "unrefusable offers" to top-tier actors, is officially kicking off. Jang, who sparked a nationwide sensation this year after "The King's Warden" surpassed 16.93 million moviegoers, playfully joked about hosting a show named after himself. "Just because my name is in the title doesn't mean I feel a heavy burden. My mindset is more like, 'Well, it’ll work out somehow,'" he cracked during a press conference held at the Showking K-Pop Center in Seoul Thursday. "Besides, the production crew is sharp, quick-witted and went to great universities." He added with a laugh, "I would’ve been overwhelmed doing this alone, but having Kim Poong and Song Eun-i by my side made it really fun. And to be clear, I didn't direct this — it’s producer Lee Dong-won’s work." "The Great Hang-jun" is a stealth audition show follo

The Financial Services Commission’s (FSC) planned relocation to the administrative city of Sejong next year is raising concerns across the financial industry about potential disruptions to communication with regulators and the resulting operational inefficiencies, industry officials said Thursday. Industry officials are particularly concerned that the move could make it harder for banks and securities firms, most of which are headquartered in Seoul, to consult financial authorities on regulatory matters. The country's top financial regulator, currently based in Seoul, plans to move to Sejong, about 110 kilometers to the south, in the second half of 2027. The move is part of a broader government plan to relocate 44 central government agencies and affiliated bodies from the Seoul metropolitan area to Sejong between 2027 and 2031, aiming to decentralize functions concentrated in the capital area and promote regional growth. Banks are weighing how to adapt, with some expecting to rely more heavily on remote communication. "We expect to establish ways to respond, including expanding the use

A parliamentary committee on Thursday adopted a confirmation hearing report for Kim Ji-yong, nominee to lead the newly established Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA), amid opposition from some lawmakers. The parliamentary public administration and security committee approved the report, a day after his confirmation hearing. Kim's nomination has drawn opposition from some hard-line lawmakers within the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the minor Rebuilding Korea Party, who have questioned his political neutrality and qualifications to lead the SCIA. They have argued the nominee had previously opposed prosecution reform and had close ties to former President Yoon Suk Yeol. Earlier in the day, the Rebuilding Korea Party adopted the decision to oppose Kim's appointment as its official party line, warning that his appointment could undermine prosecution reform. In an interview with local radio station CBS, presidential secretary for public relations Seong Ghi-hong said Kim had sufficiently addressed the concerns during his confirmation hearing. The SCIA was launched on Oct. 2 as

In the fluorescent-lit aisles of Korea’s ubiquitous convenience stores, the humble "gimbap," or seaweed rice roll, has long served as a lifeline for cash-strapped students, busy office workers and night-shift commuters. Priced between 2,800 and 3,600 won ($2 to $3), these tightly wrapped cylinders of rice, seaweed and various fillings offer an unbeatable combination of speed and affordability. Yet as inflation drives more diners away from traditional restaurants and toward budget-friendly grab-and-go counters, a recent consumer watchdog report reveals that convenience comes with hidden nutritional compromises. According to a comprehensive quality and safety evaluation released Thursday by the Korea Consumer Agency, popular convenience store gimbap lines — spanning major chains like GS25, CU, 7Eleven and Emart24 — meet strict food safety standards but present a striking dietary imbalance. While laboratory testing confirmed that all 12 evaluated products are entirely free of harmful heavy metals, microbiological contaminants and excessive preservatives, the findings highlight a persi

The head of the Ministry of Government Legislation said Thursday that the president is not necessarily required to appoint a Supreme Court justice just as suggested by the chief of the top court. President Lee Jae Myung and Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae have been locked in a standoff after Lee rejected a justice candidate suggested by Cho. Lee asked the chief justice to make a new recommendation on the grounds that the candidate was proposed without sufficient prior consultation. Cho refused to budge, arguing Lee's demand lacks constitutional grounds and could be construed as undermining the judiciary's independence. Under the Constitution, Supreme Court justices are appointed by the president on the recommendation by the chief justice and with the consent of the National Assembly. Legal scholars remain divided on how to interpret these constitutional provisions. On Thursday, Government Legislation Minister Cho Won-cheol sided with Lee. "The president is not bound by the recommendation and is therefore not obligated to appoint the recommended candidate," the minister said during

Korea and Japan should work to build stronger bilateral ties while remembering their shared history, the leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea said Thursday. Rep. Kim Min-seok made the remarks during a meeting with Japanese Ambassador to Korea Koichi Mizushima at the National Assembly, noting the resumption of shuttle diplomacy between the two countries. "The essence of relations between the two countries is not forgetting the past while also placing importance on the present and building the future," Kim said. "We are realizing the ideal vision laid out and envisioned in the 1998 Kim Dae-jung-Obuchi Declaration," he said, referring to the joint declaration signed by then Korean President Kim Dae-jung and then Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi that called for overcoming the past and building new relations. Kim expressed hope the two countries will further expand cooperation in politics, the economy, culture and other areas. In response, Mizushima pledged to continue efforts to develop the "stable, future-oriented relations" between the two countries.

A manufacturing company owner accused of severely injuring a migrant worker by firing high-pressure air from an industrial air gun into his body has been sentenced to three years in prison. Judge Koo Na-young of the Suwon District Court on Thursday sentenced the owner of a metal-cleaning company, a man in his 60s identified only as A, to three years in prison on charges of aggravated bodily injury and violations of the Labor Standards Act. The court dismissed the case against A's wife, identified as B, who had been charged with intimidation. A was indicted on charges of placing the nozzle of an industrial air gun against the anal area of C, a Thai man in his 40s, and blasting high-pressure air for about seven seconds at his factory in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, on Feb. 20. C suffered injuries including a traumatic rectal perforation measuring more than 10 centimeters and underwent surgery. A was also accused of threatening C, who needed emergency surgery, by saying, "Illegal immigrant, police," suggesting that he would report C to police for his undocumented immigration status unless h

In the scorched summer of 1950, as North Korean forces pushed deep down the Korean Peninsula, a 20-year-old soldier took his final stand on a rugged mountain ridge in Gunwi, a county located just north of the southeastern city of Daegu. A native of Miryang and the eldest of nine siblings, Pfc. Cho Cha-sang had enlisted just weeks earlier, stepping forward to defend a fledgling democracy in what would become known as the fierce Gunwi-Uihung Battle. He fell on Aug. 14, swallowed by the chaos of a retreating front line, his body left behind on Mount Maebong. For his family, the sudden loss marked the start of decades of quiet grief. Cho’s mother carried the sorrow to her final days, imparting a solemn deathbed charge to her youngest daughter, Cho Ok-ran: find her eldest brother’s remains and lay him to rest in a national cemetery. That 76-year-old promise was finally fulfilled Thursday during a poignant homecoming ceremony held at the younger Cho’s home in Gimhae. “When they told me they had found my brother’s remains, my heart trembled so hard I couldn’t sleep,” said Cho Ok-r

QUVASOY, Uzbekistan — Hansae Mobility, a Korean automotive parts manufacturer supplying global carmakers, has expanded its overseas production capacity with the completion of a new plant in Quvasoy, in Uzbekistan's Fergana Region. Hansae Yes24 Group's automotive parts subsidiary held a completion ceremony for the plant Tuesday (local time) in a free economic zone in Quvasoy. The facility is operated by Hansae Mobility Turan, an Uzbekistan subsidiary wholly owned by Hansae Mobility. The ceremony was attended by Hansae Mobility CEO and Hansae Vice Chairman Kim Ik-whan, Mirzohid Murodilovich, deputy governor of Fergana Region, and other officials and representatives from Korea and Uzbekistan. The plant is expected to enable Hansae Mobility to supply its products more quickly to clients in Uzbekistan and expand its customer base in neighboring countries across the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Before the plant opened, Hansae Mobility had to export the parts from Korea. The new facility adds to the company's existing manufacturing bases in Daegu, the U.S. state of Michigan and t

Willow House, the historical former headquarters of Korean pharmaceutical pioneer Yuhan Corp., has won the Presidential Award — the grand prize at this year’s Korea Space Culture Awards, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced Thursday. Originally constructed in 1962 in Daebang-dong, southern Seoul, the red-brick facility served as Yuhan’s headquarters for 35 years. Ahead of the company’s upcoming centennial, the historic structure was meticulously renovated and reopened to the public as a multipurpose cultural venue where corporate history seamlessly intersects with the daily lives of neighborhood residents. Its name honors the company’s signature emblem, the willow tree — a symbol of deep roots and resilience gifted to founder Dr. Yoo Il-han decades ago. “The overwhelming presence of the site, the history embodied in its red bricks and the sincerity of a public space aimed at citizens moved us deeply,” a member of the judging panel noted, praising the project for establishing “a new standard for public spaces created by private companies.” Established

A quick bite at a neighborhood eatery or a purchase from a local shop could score music fans a front-row spot at Seoul Plaza, where a two-day festival is turning everyday consumer spending into concert tickets as part of efforts to give small businesses a boost. Seoul Global Art Night with Receipt Concert, sponsored by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and organized by Seoul Shinmun Daily, will run Friday and Saturday at 6 p.m. on a specially built stage at Seoul Plaza. Visitors who present receipts totaling at least 30,000 won (about $22) from small businesses in Seoul during October can access a designated seating area near the stage, with multiple receipts accepted and verification limited to once per person each day. Admission remains free for visitors without qualifying receipts, although seating areas will differ depending on verification. The festival aims to encourage spending at restaurants, cafes and shops around City Hall before and after performances, while giving visitors a chance to discover Korean music and dance. Friday’s program will feature traditional Korean music per

The status of about 1,500 cases referred by the Korea Customs Service (KCS) to prosecutors remains unclear following a major overhaul of the criminal justice system that replaced the prosecution service with two new agencies, an opposition lawmaker said Thursday. The uncertainty has raised concerns about disruptions to drug investigations, as narcotics offenses account for most of the cases. Data the KCS provided to Rep. Lee Jong-wook of the main opposition People Power Party showed that customs officers with special investigative powers referred 1,582 cases to prosecutors in the first eight months of this year. The breakdown included 1,123 drug cases, 237 customs cases and 139 foreign exchange cases. The customs agency, however, has been unable to establish how those cases have been handled since the prosecution service was abolished on Oct. 2 and its duties were divided between two new agencies responsible for prosecutions and serious crime investigations. “The restructured Prosecution Service was expected to return previously referred cases to customs, request further investigation o

More than 600 accidents involving pets have been reported in Korea since 2023, suggesting the need to allocate government budget to address the problem, a lawmaker said Thursday, citing official data. As of August from the start of 2023, 601 pet-related accidents have been reported, resulting in 603 casualties, including three deaths and 14 serious injuries, Rep. Yoon Joon-byeong of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea said, quoting data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Almost all, or 599, of the cases were dog bites, while one involved a collision between a cyclist and a dog without a leash. Yoon said that despite the large number of casualties, the ministry had not set aside a budget to prevent or respond to such accidents as the overseeing authority. He demanded the government allocate a budget and devise effective safety rules.

A special counsel team said Thursday that 30 local election commissions falsely entered voter turnout data during the June 3 local elections. Special counsel Lee Tae-han's team said its investigation has found false alterations to voter turnout figures by the local commissions after reviewing turnout records and questioning over 70 election workers. While the final voter turnout figures for the elections were entered correctly, the commissions are accused of altering figures as voting took place. The team sent investigators to the National Election Commission in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul, as well as six local offices across the country, including in Busan's Nam Ward, to seize evidence related to the allegations. Separately, the special counsel team also searched the local election commission in Busan and nine other locations to secure evidence linked to allegations of preferential treatment in contracts for election supply storage. The team has uncovered signs the local election commissions in Busan as well as South Gyeongsang and North Gyeongsang provinces have signed exclusive stora

The People Power Party (PPP) on Thursday strongly denounced the government's decision to relocate 44 ministries and agencies, including the foreign and defense ministries, to the central administrative city of Sejong by 2031. The main opposition party warned that moving the key ministries responsible for foreign affairs and national defense to Sejong would be a self-destructive decision that could undermine national security. Rep. Joo Ho-young, a six-term lawmaker and former vice speaker of the National Assembly, said relocating the defense ministry without thorough national security measures could be seen as effectively abandoning the defense of the capital. "In Korea, a divided nation still under an armistice, the ability of wartime leadership to communicate and make decisions swiftly during an emergency determines the very fate of the nation," Joo said in a news conference at the National Assembly. He also noted that Seoul is home to embassies from 118 countries, warning that relocating the foreign ministry could force them to either bear the costs of moving alongside the ministry or

Travelers visiting Korea this fall will have a front-row seat to the country’s theatrical stage, complete with discounted tickets and immersive hands-on experiences alongside local performers through Nov. 30. Dubbed “Korea in Motion,” the initiative brings together the Korea Tourism Organization, the Ministry of Culture and the Korea Performing Arts Tourism Association in a coordinated push to elevate live performances from a casual evening out to a cornerstone of the Korean travel experience. During the campaign period, the agency will run special promotions with online travel agencies targeting major inbound markets, including China, Japan, Taiwan, the United States, Hong Kong and Singapore. The lineup includes nonverbal performances, which tell stories through movement, sound and music without dialogue, as well as shows with dialogue that foreign audiences can follow using artificial intelligence-powered smart glasses that display subtitles. For the first time, the agency has also partnered with production companies to offer experience programs. After “Painters,” a show in w

Major Korean companies including Samsung, SK and Doosan are considering participating in the acquisition of a stake in U.S. nuclear power company Westinghouse, according to industry sources. If private companies join nuclear cooperation between Korea and the United States, which has so far been led largely by state-run companies such as Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), the move is expected to give Korean companies greater momentum in entering the U.S. nuclear power market. Government and industry sources said Wednesday that the government has been surveying nuclear power-related companies about their interest in investing in Westinghouse since announcing its investment plans in the United States. Companies interested in participating recently gathered at a meeting hosted by KEPCO to discuss potential investment options, according to the sources. Samsung C&T, SK Group, Hyundai Engineering & Construction and Doosan Enerbility were among the companies that attended the meeting. Securing a stake in Westinghouse is one of the key issues in investment

Taihan Cable & Solution, a leading power cable and energy infrastructure manufacturer, said Thursday that its U.S. subsidiary has won a turnkey extra-high-voltage grid project in the United States, capitalizing on surging power demand from artificial intelligence (AI) and data centers. Under the deal, the subsidiary, T.E.USA, will oversee local engineering, construction and other work, while the Korean headquarters will produce and supply key materials such as extra-high-voltage cables and joints. In a turnkey contract, a single company handles a project from design through construction and hands it over ready for operation. The headquarters and the U.S. unit signed a material supply contract worth about 120 billion won ($89 million), which the company disclosed in a regulatory filing Thursday. Taihan did not reveal the total value of the turnkey project or the client, citing a nondisclosure agreement. The order follows another extra-high-voltage turnkey project worth about 100 billion won that the company won in the U.S. in January. Taihan said it has won all 500-kilovolt high-voltage a

CJ OliveNetworks, the digital and technology unit of CJ Group, is branching into the travel industry with a new global membership service that enables foreign visitors in Korea to earn rewards and redeem points at participating merchants, leveraging the country's tourism boom to drive new growth. The company said Thursday that its lifestyle membership platform, CJ ONE, had introduced CJ ONE Global, allowing international visitors to sign up using only email verification, without requiring a Korean phone number or domestic identification. The launch comes as interest in Korean food, shopping and culture spreads alongside the global popularity of Korean entertainment. According to the Korea Tourism Organization, about 12.8 million foreign tourists visited Korea from January through July, up 21.3 percent from the same period last year. Once registered, members receive a mobile barcode through the CJ ONE app that they can use to earn and redeem points at participating stores, as well as access new-member and birthday benefits. The service connects visitors with businesses spanning tourism, re

Korean data center chipmaker FADU has unveiled what it calls the world’s first file-semantic solid-state drive (SSD), a storage technology designed to help artificial intelligence (AI) systems access data faster while reducing computing overhead and power consumption. The company introduced its file-semantic SSD, or FS-SSD, at the 2026 Open Compute Project Global Summit in San Jose, California, which ran from Monday to Thursday under the theme “Scaling Innovation for the AI Era.” Unlike conventional SSDs, which manage data through block addresses, FADU’s FS-SSD is designed to recognize and manage files directly, shifting tasks traditionally handled by a server’s central processing unit and operating system into the storage device itself. The technology uses FADU’s sixth-generation SSD controller, equipped with firmware that handles file searches, access permissions and file-to-address translation within the drive. By embedding file requests in standard Non-Volatile Memory Express commands, the system allows accelerators such as graphics processing units and data processing un

Seoul is bringing the flavors, festivals and hidden destinations of seven regions across Korea to a rooftop overlooking Deoksu Palace’s stone-wall road, offering city dwellers a chance to plan their next autumn getaway without leaving the capital. The Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Tourism Organization will host Local Trip Fall Picnic from Oct. 21-25 at the Regional Tourism Antenna Shop in central Seoul, with activities running daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. “This event is an opportunity to experience the unique charm of local regions right in the heart of Seoul and discover new travel destinations,” said Cho Seong-ho, director general of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Tourism and Sports Bureau. “We will strengthen tourism cooperation to ensure that journeys beginning in Seoul lead to actual visits to regional areas and help vitalize local economies.” The five-day event will feature tourism information, regional food and locally made products from Gyeonggi Province, Gangwon Province, South Chungcheong Province, North Gyeongsang Province, Andong, North Jeolla Prov

Sejong University hosted an international higher education forum at its Seoul campus on Oct. 1 to discuss ways to improve education for international students and support their career development. The 8th International Student Future Higher Education Korea 2026 Fall was organized in collaboration with Stuvisor, a global study-abroad platform, and Careertus, which supports international students’ employment and entrepreneurship. The university said the event consisted of a career fair for international students and a higher education forum for representatives of universities and other institutions. The event has served as a networking platform where international students can explore employment, further study and entrepreneurship opportunities, while university and institutional representatives discuss ways to improve education and support systems for international students. This year’s event took on added significance as the number of international students in Korea surpassed 300,000, highlighting the need to move beyond enrollment growth and focus on educational quality and talent d

Korea's bourse operator on Thursday activated a circuit breaker for the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) on an extended sell-off in tech shares. Trading of KOSPI-listed shares was halted for 20 minutes from 12:38 p.m., as the index plunged more than 8 percent from the previous session's close. The benchmark index came under heavy selling pressure as investors sold off semiconductor shares on skepticism about the sustainability of artificial intelligence (AI) trade and hotter-than-expected inflation data in the United States. It marked the ninth time this year that the KRX has activated a circuit breaker.

Korea's money supply continued to rise in August from a month earlier, driven by increases in short-term deposits and money trusts, central bank data showed Thursday. The country's M2, a key gauge of the money supply, stood at an average of 4,266.8 trillion won ($3.18 trillion) in August, up 0.9 percent, or 39.1 trillion won, from a month earlier, according to preliminary data from the Bank of Korea (BOK). The figure has risen steadily since November. M2 is a measure of the money supply that includes cash, demand deposits and other easily convertible financial instruments. The BOK said short-term deposits and money trusts with maturities of less than two years increased in August. By sector, liquidity held by nonfinancial corporations increased by 33.9 trillion won, while liquidity held by households and nonprofit organizations rose by 0.3 trillion won, the data showed. Liquidity held by financial institutions also moved up by 1 trillion won.

Household loans extended by banks increased by the smallest in seven months in September amid tightened lending regulations and higher interest rates, central bank data showed Thursday. Outstanding household loans extended by banks stood at 1,198.9 trillion won ($895.5 billion) last month, up 0.6 trillion won from a month earlier, slowing from the previous month's 3.5 trillion-won rise, according to data from the Bank of Korea (BOK). The September gain marks the smallest since March this year when such loans rose by 0.5 trillion won. Outstanding mortgage loans increased by 2.9 trillion won on-month in September to 955.5 trillion won. Other household loans, in contrast, fell by 2.3 trillion won to 242.6 trillion won. The central bank raised the benchmark interest rate to 3 percent over two straight meetings in July and August, marking the first back-to-back rate hikes since January 2023, when the central bank raised the rate at seven consecutive meetings starting in April 2022. Meanwhile, household loans by all financial institutions fell by 2.2 trillion won in September from a month earlie

Sung Chang-hoon, president and CEO of the Korea Minting, Security Printing & ID Card Operating Corp. (KOMSCO), and Woo Jin-goo, its head of public relations, have co-authored a book exploring how the state-run company is adapting to a world increasingly moving away from cash. “Stories of Currency That Change the World: A Journey of Turning Crisis into Opportunity” traces KOMSCO’s efforts to expand beyond printing banknotes and minting coins into digital identification, payment platforms and other services built around security and trust. For the two authors, the challenge was to identify what remains valuable about an organization when demand for its traditional products declines. The book presents trust as the foundation of KOMSCO’s business, linking its expertise in securing physical currency and identification documents to its emerging digital services. Mobile identification is one example. Security technology developed through decades of producing banknotes and ID cards now helps people verify their identities using smartphones. The authors also examine the difficulties accom

DANDONG, China — A big new bridge linking China and North Korea opened on Thursday, 12 years after its completion, deepening economic ties between the Asian giant and its isolated nuclear-armed neighbour. China is North Korea's largest trading partner and a vital source of diplomatic, economic and political support for the reclusive nuclear state, although ties have not always been smooth. Hundreds of people gathered on Thursday on the Chinese side for the opening of the 3,026-metre (9,927-feet) New Yalu River vehicle bridge. Trucks bearing the nations' flags began moving in both directions late morning, AFP reporters at the scene said, some of the North Korean vehicles decorated with flowers. "It's great," one woman who came to watch told AFP in the quiet northern border town of Dandong, which is dotted with a mish-mash of Chinese and Korean shops and restaurants. "It's already been over 10 years. It's certainly going to be good for business," she said, without wishing to be named, accompanied by her friend and her dog. The opening came a day after North Korea test-fired two types of cr

The prime minister's office denied a news report Thursday that some government members have raised complaints that it is difficult for them to object to what the president says during Cabinet meetings as the sessions are broadcast live. The Hankook Ilbo daily carried the report that about 10 ministers raised such complaints during a dinner meeting with Prime Minister Han Seong-sook earlier this month and asked for the live broadcasting of Cabinet meetings to be curtailed to allow for healthy policy debates. The prime minister's office denied the report, saying, "The government is live-broadcasting Cabinet meeting discussions for the first time in history, and this is aimed at transparently making the running of state affairs public and actively reflecting the opinions of the people in government policy." "Regarding the agenda discussed at Cabinet meetings, members of the Cabinet are freely expressing their views and the president is actively accepting them," it added.

Seoul is inviting visitors to experience the capital on their own terms through a new campaign that showcases how the city's architecture, history and cultural landmarks can be enjoyed by everyone, including travelers with accessibility needs. The initiative brings together two internationally acclaimed artists who offer distinct perspectives on navigating the city. The Seoul Tourism Organization is releasing two videos under the campaign “Own Your Way, Find Your Seoul,” featuring Japanese wheelchair dancer Kenta Kambara and British contemporary artist Ryan Gander. The campaign promotes universal tourism, an approach aimed at making travel convenient and enjoyable for people with disabilities, older adults, pregnant women, families with infants and their companions. The first video, “Inspiration,” released Thursday, follows Kambara, who visited Korea to participate in the 2026 Korea International Accessible Dance Festival, known as KIADA 2026. His itinerary includes Dongdaemun Design Plaza, an architectural landmark known as DDP; Oil Tank Culture Park, a former petroleum storage

Temperatures will drop on Thursday morning compared to Wednesday, with a significant daily temperature gap. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), morning lows on Thursday will range between 3 to 13 degrees Celsius, which is approximately 2 degrees lower than Wednesday. Most regions will see morning temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius, with temperatures hovering around 5 degrees Celsius in parts of Gangwon Province and inland areas of the southern regions. Frost is expected in these areas as well as some parts of North Chungcheong Province, while ice may form in some mountain areas in Gangwon. The KMA noted that there will be wide daily temperature swings. Daytime highs will be 20 to 24 degrees Celsius, higher than Wednesday. Seoul’s temperatures will range from 10 to 21 degrees Celsius, from 13 to 21 in Incheon, 7 to 23 in Daejeon and Daegu, 8 to 24 in Gwangju, 10 to 24 in Ulsan and 12 to 23 in Busan. Temperatures will be higher on Friday, with morning lows between 7 and 15 and daytime highs between 22 and 26. Northern parts of Gyeonggi and Gangwon Province should

Korea opened its first national museum dedicated to sports on Thursday, bringing together thousands of artifacts documenting historic victories, Olympic milestones and moments that have shaped the country’s sporting identity. The National Sports Museum, located in Olympic Park in southern Seoul’s Songpa District, was established by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation to collect, preserve and showcase Korea’s sporting heritage. The museum houses about 70,000 sports-related artifacts and records, offering visitors a chance to revisit achievements that have inspired athletes and spectators across generations. Among its featured items are the gold medal won by marathon runner Suh Yun-bok at the 1947 Boston Marathon, soccer shoes belonging to Korean soccer pioneer Kim Yong-sik, the competition uniform worn by Yang Jung-mo, Korea’s first Olympic gold medalist, and the Olympic torch from the 1988 Seoul Games. The collection also includes the hoop used in the opening ceremony of the 1988 Olympics, recalling one of the event’s most memor

Fingerprint examiners from 42 countries tested their skills in an online competition co-hosted by the Korean National Police Agency and Interpol, the international police cooperation body, the agency said Thursday. Long before artificial intelligence and algorithms transformed modern crime-fighting, police work relied on a far simpler, time-tested tool: human eyes searching for minute patterns etched onto skin. Last month, that fundamental forensic art took center stage as 279 latent print specialists worldwide stepped away from their automated software to go head-to-head in a high-stakes test of pure human observation. The third annual International Fingerprint Examination Competition, held online on Sept. 17, offered no assistance from computer matching databases. For two grueling hours, contestants were faced with 20 complex fingerprint puzzles, tasked with matching obscure, incomplete latent prints against a field of 50 possible candidates. To mirror the unforgiving reality of real-world casework — where a single misidentification can lead to a wrongful arrest — the scoring syst

YANGPYEONG, Gyeonggi Province — Reconnaissance drones swept across the sky, searching for enemy positions. Their live footage reached a command post, where an artificial intelligence (AI)-based decision-support system recommended weapons for an attack. Once a battalion commander gave the order, a 120-millimeter self-propelled mortar fired, followed by explosive-laden drones diving toward their targets. The sequence was part of the Army’s Army TIGER+ integrated combat exercise at the Yangpyeong General Training Ground, Wednesday, offering a close-up look at how Korea plans to fight with soldiers, drones and robots working together. The demonstration covered reconnaissance, strikes, minefield clearance, counter-drone defense, an armored advance and resupply — with unmanned equipment sent into dangerous areas before troops moved in. The first to appear were short-range reconnaissance drones. Several flew simultaneously, transmitting images to the command post. One drone fitted with a rifle demonstrated how the same aircraft could both locate and attack a target. They were followed by b

A constellation of five Korean microsatellites successfully captured and transmitted its first images to a ground station within a day of launch aboard the country's homegrown Nuri space rocket last week, the space agency said Thursday. The five New-space Earth Observation Satellite Constellation for National Safety (NEONSAT) microsatellites transmitted their first images just 14 hours and 29 minutes after liftoff from the Naro Space Center in the southwestern coastal town of Goheung on Oct. 7, according to the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA). The early acquisition of imagery confirmed the normal operation of the satellites and their optical payloads, marking a milestone in Korea's efforts to establish its first domestically developed microsatellite constellation. The satellites are maintaining stable communications with ground stations, with their power generation and attitude control systems operating normally, KASA said. Following additional payload checks, KASA and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) will begin initial operations. The five satellites

Ravi Gupta, a professor at Kookmin University’s College of Transdisciplinary Studies, has been included in the 2026 World’s Top 2% Scientists list for the third consecutive year. Compiled by Stanford University and Elsevier, the list identifies leading researchers in each academic field based on citation indicators derived from Elsevier’s Scopus database. Gupta studies plant physiology, biochemistry and functional genomics, focusing on how plants respond to environmental stress and regulate plant immunity, according to Kookmin University. He uses mass spectrometry-based proteomics to study proteins and post-translational modifications involved in plant defense against pathogens and responses to environmental stress. He has published more than 190 papers, which have collectively received over 5,500 citations. “I am honored to have been included in the World’s Top 2% Scientists list for the third consecutive year,” Gupta said. “This achievement reflects the contributions of the researchers and students I have worked with and motivates me to continue studying plant immunity and

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said Thursday the city government plans to press ahead with its supply plan for the housing market, noting that construction has already begun for 15,000 units this year. The municipality plans to break ground on 310,000 housing units by 2031 through redevelopment and reconstruction projects amid recent supply shortages that have contributed to sharp price hikes. "Under the principle that sufficient and continued supply is the starting point of reducing housing concerns, we have sped up improvement projects through rapid integrated planning," Oh said during a parliamentary audit of the city government. "Going forward, we will continue to ease on-site difficulties and unfair regulations so that housing can be supplied continuously without stopping." He also pledged to actively respond to shortages in the rental housing market by broadening the foundation for private supply. Later in the session, Oh reiterated his opposition to the central government's proposal to use parts of Yongsan Park in central Seoul for housing development. Oh argued that the government's plan t

President Lee Jae Myung was set to meet Thursday with the chair of the U.S.-Korea Business Council (USKBC) to discuss economic cooperation between the two countries and trade relations, officials said. During the meeting with Evan G. Greenberg, chair of USKBC and CEO of Chubb Group, scheduled for Thursday afternoon, Lee plans to hear the outcome of a joint plenary meeting of the U.S.-Korea and Korea-U.S. Business Councils held in Seoul the same day. The plenary meeting brought together the USKBC and its Korean counterpart, which is operated by the Federation of Korean Industries. The USKBC is a major business advocacy organization representing top U.S. companies engaged with Korea. During the meeting, Lee also plans to call for the USKBC to play a role in expanding economic cooperation between Seoul and Washington, Cheong Wa Dae said.

The music video for “Hooligan,” a track from BTS’ fifth studio album “ARIRANG,” surpassed 100 million YouTube views at around 6:40 a.m. Wednesday, according to the group’s agency, BigHit Music, a label under HYBE. It is the third music video from the album to reach the milestone, following those for lead single “Swim” and “2.0.” The album, named after a traditional Korean folk song widely regarded as the country’s unofficial national anthem, was released March 20. The “Hooligan” video was unveiled April 8 on the HYBE LABELS YouTube channel. The video contrasts a moss-covered gray space with vivid red sets. The seven members, in black outerwear and sporting tooth gems, perform a hard-hitting synchronized dance with a large group of backup dancers. “Hooligan” serves as the opening number of the group’s “ARIRANG” world tour. The alternative hip-hop track reflects on BTS’ journey of carving out its own path around the world. Its intro layers the sound of clashing blades over sweeping strings, and the song pairs a blade-based rhythm with deep 808 bass, a

The South Korean military will launch an annual outdoor defense field exercise next week, along with some joint field drills with the United States that were pushed back as the allies scaled back their combined summertime exercise, officials said Thursday. The Hoguk exercise will begin Monday for a five-day run, aimed at bolstering joint operational capabilities and the readiness posture of the armed forces across the land, maritime and air domains, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). This year's drills will involve a similar number of troops to the 2025 exercise and incorporate the operation of opposing forces and simulated combat training to better reflect realistic threats, the JCS said. The drills will be conducted alongside computer-simulated command post exercises and various strategy discussions as part of efforts to maintain a "robust" readiness posture, it added. The U.S. Forces Korea will also participate in the drills to enhance interoperability with South Korean troops, a JCS official said. Launched in 1996, the Hoguk exercise is aimed at enhancing the interoperabili

Korea's bourse operator on Thursday activated a sell-side sidecar for the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) as the stock index dropped. Program trading for the KOSPI-listed shares was suspended for five minutes at 9:08 a.m, according to the Korea Exchange (KRX). After opening 5.59 percent lower, the KOSPI lost 303.39 points, or 5.05 percent, to 5,705.42 as of 9:11 a.m. Investors sold off semiconductor shares, including Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, as persisting skepticism over artificial intelligence (AI)-trade continued, amid renewed concerns over the pace of inflation in the United States. A sell-side sidecar is triggered when the KOSPI 200 Futures Index falls 5 percent or more for at least one minute.

Seoul stocks were trading sharply lower late Thursday morning as concerns over artificial intelligence (AI) trade and U.S. inflation data sparked a sell-off of major tech shares. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 404.21 points, or 6.73 percent, to 5,604.6 as of 11:20 a.m. In early trading, the benchmark index had fallen over 5 percent, triggering the country's bourse operator to temporary suspend trading for five minutes. Overnight, U.S. stocks closed lower as concerns over the sustainability of AI spending and September consumer price data dampened investor sentiment. The U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) for September rose 0.6 percent from a month earlier, the fastest level seen since April, according to official data released Wednesday (U.S. time). In Seoul, most market top caps were trading lower. Chip titans Samsung Electronics and SK hynix tumbled 7.87 percent and 9.87 percent, respectively. Industry leader Hyundai Motor fell 5.1 percent, financial firm KB Financial slid 1.13 percent and defense giant Hanwha Aerospace dipped 1.54 percent. Among the few winners

A2O Lite, the first girl group produced by former SM Entertainment chief Lee Soo-man, reached No. 1 on Korea's largest music streaming platform shortly after releasing its debut single, before falling to sixth place hours later, data showed Thursday. The group's debut digital single, "Neon," had topped Melon's Top 100 chart by 11 p.m. on Wednesday, 29 hours after its release at 6 p.m. the previous day, according to music industry experts. It is unusual for a rookie group to top the chart within less than two days of a song's release, although it dropped to sixth place the following morning. As of 10 a.m. Thursday, Soyeon's "I'm Gonna Toesa (feat. Kian84)" returned to No. 1. A2O Lite is a nine-member group launched by A2O Entertainment, the company founded by Lee after he left SM Entertainment. Lee simultaneously introduced A2O Lite and 15-member boy group A2O Soul at a media showcase in Goyang, near Seoul, on Monday. He returned to the domestic K-pop market after a three-year non-compete agreement expired earlier this year. He agreed to the restriction when he sold his stake in SM Entert

LONDON — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday that Ukraine counts on its partnership with the United States despite agreeing he felt betrayed by President Donald Trump over an "energy ceasefire" and Russian diesel deal. In London — where he received a highly symbolic show of support from the British government — Zelenskyy also called on U.S. tech billionaire Elon Musk to restore the Starlink system used on the battlefield, which Kyiv says has been slowed down. After meeting King Charles III, Zelenskyy told U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham in Downing Street that Ukraine had endured "massive attacks today and it is a pity we had also some difficulties," a reference to strained ties with Washington. Ukraine has accused the U.S. of helping Russia by failing to warn it of incoming missile strikes and hobbling its military response through changes to the Starlink system it uses on the battlefield. "We count on (our) partnership with the United States," Zelenskyy told Burnham during remarks captured on camera before a closed-door bilateral meeting. "We just want to be very honest,

NEW YORK — The new White House press secretary is facing mounting questions about her background and resume as she transitions into her role as the public face of the Trump administration. Katie Zacharia has long described herself as a lawyer as she has worked to establish herself as a commentator for conservative outlets like Fox News and Newsmax. But so far, she and the White House have offered no evidence that she passed the bar exam in any state or in China, where she worked for a large law firm years ago. The questions add to the confusion surrounding President Donald Trump's decision to hire Zacharia, who had worked for his social media company for only a few months when he announced her appointment and whose debut at the podium on Tuesday has been widely panned. Afterward, the president was asked by reporters where Zacharia had passed the bar exam, following a report by the independent outlet Popular Information that she did not appear to be licensed in any state. Trump stepped aside to allow Zacharia to answer. “When I moved to China," she responded over the sound of Marine On

North Korea said Thursday it test-fired two types of strategic cruise missile in the East Sea the previous day, in what may be the first launch from a 3,000-ton-class submarine it unveiled in 2023. "The test-fire aimed to examine the current mobilized posture of the underwater combat systems and contributed to getting the Navy skilled in performing its strategic missions and showcasing high reliability, trustworthiness and ability of the war deterrents of the DPRK," the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. DPRK stands for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The test was overseen by Kim Jong-sik, a member of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea, Jang Chang-ha, director-general of the Missile Administration and the Navy's underwater weapon system engineers, the report said. Experts said the missiles appeared to be launched from what the North called its first tactical nuclear attack submarine, Hero Kim Kun Ok. North Korea unveiled the vessel in September 2023 and described it as one of the "core underwater offensive me

SEATTLE — Alaska Airlines is looking to expand its presence in Asia as its Incheon-Seattle route gains traction, with Korea emerging as a key market in the U.S. carrier’s expanding international network. The airline recorded load factors of 82 percent in June, 84 percent in July and 79 percent in August on the route, marking a strong start in its first full year of operations. The figures exceeded expectations for a new route, which typically takes about three years to mature as the airline adjusts schedules and connections to meet passenger demand. "Those are really good, strong load factors for the first year of a new route," Shane Tackett, president and chief financial officer of Alaska Airlines, said in an interview with The Korea Times on Sept. 29. He added that one month ranked among Alaska's best-performing international routes financially before fuel prices increased significantly. The airline sees further opportunities to attract passengers from Korea, where its brand remains relatively unfamiliar. Tackett said Alaska Airlines aims to raise awareness of its services and enco

Hyundai Motor’s weakening auto profitability is raising questions about the sustainability of its costly investments in robotics and autonomous driving, as the technologies remain years away from generating significant earnings. The company is betting on Boston Dynamics’ Atlas humanoid robot, its own software-defined vehicle (SDV) and autonomous driving capabilities as three core pillars for its future mobility. Yet those businesses are far from generating tangible earnings, leaving Hyundai increasingly dependent on its conventional auto business which faces mounting earnings pressure from labor disputes at home, tariffs from the United States and intensifying competition from Chinese automakers in Europe. The timing gap between its weakening core business and future growth engines is becoming harder for investors to overlook. Hyundai’s shares have fallen around 60 percent from their June 1 peak of 783,000 won ($587) to less than 320,000 won on Monday, reflecting fading enthusiasm for its robotics ambitions and growing doubts over its earnings outlook. The pressure continues to be

Best known for turning sheet masks into a beauty routine staple, L&P Cosmetic’s Mediheal is building its next stage of growth around a broader portfolio of skin care solutions, ranging from toners to serums, cleansers, creams and sun care products. The expansion reflects Mediheal’s evolution from a mask-focused label into a comprehensive skin care brand designed to address consumers’ needs across every step of their daily routines. Drawing on the recognition it has built through sheet masks, the brand is extending its ingredient expertise and research capabilities into products that can be used before, after and alongside masks. That strategy was on display in Japan in August when Mediheal introduced its new Derma Skin Care Series, featuring toners, serums and serum masks. The series used three ingredients closely associated with the brand: tea tree, madecassoside and polydeoxyribonucleotide, better known as PDRN, an ingredient now gaining attention in the skin care market. The series' launch marked another major transformation for the brand since its entry into Japan with its mas

U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson said Wednesday that "conditions have changed" while stressing the requirements in the transfer of a conditions-based wartime operation control (OPCON) from the United States to South Korea. "Because the conditions have changed, because we've changed our plan, we have new standards which we have to uphold," Brunson said while sharing his thoughts on the topic of OPCON transfer during the annual Indo-Pacific Summit hosted by the Gold Institute for International Strategy in Washington. The general cited North Korea's missile launches carried out earlier this week as evidence of such change. "A cursory glance of a newspaper would tell you that the conditions have most assuredly changed." On Monday, North Korea test-fired tactical ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, part of efforts to upgrade a key component of its weapons systems, with the country's state media calling it a "big success." Brunson's comments come amid a perceived gap between Seoul and Washington over the timing of OPCON transfer. Seoul seeks to retake wartime OPCON fro

NEW YORK — U.S. stocks dropped to their worst day since July on Wednesday following the latest signal that inflation is getting worse. The S&P 500 sank 1.1 percent for a fifth loss in the six days since setting its all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 48 points, or 0.1 percent, and the Nasdaq composite slid 1.9 percent as stocks in the artificial-intelligence industry led the way lower. Stocks felt pressure from rising yields in the bond market, where worries grew after a report said U.S. consumers had to pay prices for fuel, food and other costs of living last month that were 3.7 percent higher overall than a year earlier. That means inflation accelerated from its 3.4 percent rate in August and was worse than the 3.6 percent that economists expected. Inflation has remained more painful than anyone would like since the economy catapulted out of the crevasse created by the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s accelerated recently in part because of jumps in fuel prices caused by the war with Iran, and the price for a barrel of Brent crude added 0.4 percent Wednesday to $106.06. Tha

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Korea will invest $50 billion in a massive liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Alaska as part of an investment agreement with Washington, despite uncertainty over Seoul's participation. "This 50 Billion Dollar Infrastructure Investment from The Republic of Korea is part of their Trade and Investment Deal with me," Trump wrote on Truth Social, while describing his visit to Alaska for a campaign rally on Tuesday. The remarks were the latest from the Trump administration claiming that Korea is committed to the Alaska LNG project. Seoul has maintained that its participation remains subject to a commercial viability review. Trump also said that Taiwan has agreed to invest $4.4 billion in equity into the project, calling it the "greatest project in Alaska history." White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia also said Tuesday that $54 billion was tied to the Alaska LNG project as part of a Korean energy investment package. "President Trump also unveiled a Korea energy investment package of up to $200 billion in the United States.

The Migrant Indie Art Festival is back for its 15th year, but this time it's being held under a new name. Organized by the Asian Media Culture Factory, it started in 2012 as the Seoul Migrant Art Festival. This year's festival will be held in two venues from this Saturday to Oct. 25 in Seoul’s Yeongdeungpo and Seodaemun districts, featuring events including music and screenings of films made by migrants living in Korea. Founded in late 2011, the Asian Media Culture Factory is a nonprofit cultural and arts organization led by migrants. The organizers told The Korea Times that their mission is to support migrant-led artistic practices and build a cultural and artistic platform for people who arrived from overseas. “We believe that everyone should have the right to engage in the arts, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, religion or visa status," they said. “We hope to create a space where migrant artists and cultural practitioners, who often have limited cultural and artistic networks and few opportunities to present their work in Korean society, can showcase their work and gain rec

Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff knew in 2024 that a student had reported being gang raped at a fraternity house, but never followed up to learn what had happened to her or whether any of the accused students had been punished. In an interview with The New York Times published Tuesday, a day before Cornell’s Faculty Senate was set to begin debating a no-confidence resolution in his administration, Kotlikoff acknowledged that he did not know until recently that the woman had dropped out of Cornell or that students had been expelled or suspended over the incident. Kotlikoff publicly addressed what he called “deeply disturbing” allegations involving drug use and sexual violence at the Chi Phi fraternity house in a November 2024 message to the Cornell community, saying criminal and university investigations were underway. He subsequently convened a presidential task force to examine how Cornell handles sexual assault, but said this week that he never followed up to learn the outcomes of the criminal or Title IX investigations into the woman’s allegations. Case has drawn

Hotter-than-expected inflation data sent Wall Street tumbling on Wednesday, with worries about more interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve pummeling shares of Oracle, CoreWeave and other AI stocks sensitive to higher borrowing costs. Increased bets that the Fed will have to further hike rates to tame inflation dealt a sharp blow to some of the market's biggest gainers of 2026. Oracle lost 7.3 percent, while AI-infrastructure firms CoreWeave and Nebius tumbled 15 percent and 10 percent, respectively. Dell dropped 12 percent and Hewlett Packard Enterprise lost 7.6 percent after Barclays downgraded the AI server makers to "equal-weight" from "overweight." The Philadelphia SE Semiconductor index dropped almost 4 percent, down for a sixth straight session and on track for its longest losing streak since May 2025. US consumer prices accelerated in September as the cost of gasoline surged and price pressures broadened beyond energy, data from the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics showed. Interest rate traders are pricing in a 37 percent chance that the Fed will raise rates at i

NEW YORK — Oil prices rose on Wednesday after the Houthis attacked Saudi Aramco's headquarters and Iran said it was deploying new tactics to target ships and keep oil prices high. Brent crude futures were up 87 cents, or 0.82 percent, at $106.56 a barrel by 1:25 p.m. ET (1725 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude gained $1.46, or 1.55 percent, to $95.60, touching a three-week high. Attacks on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz and strikes between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-allied Houthis are driving up oil prices, said Phil Flynn, senior analyst with the Price Futures Group. "We're seeing a lot of fear trade today," he added. Iranian officials declined to provide details of the new strategy to target ships, but one said Iran had started using different offensive tactics about 10 days ago. Gulf oil flows excluding Iran surged in September to more than 81 percent of prewar levels, data showed, led by a recovery in Saudi exports. Iranian exports fell to zero owing to a U.S. blockade. "More crude reaching international markets does not necessarily mean more oil is being produced," Saxo

North Korea could strengthen its military drone capabilities by gaining technical expertise through workers deployed to a major Russian drone production facility, potentially posing a new security threat to South Korea and U.S. forces in the region, a U.S. think tank report showed Wednesday. The report, jointly published by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the George W. Bush Institute, examined the security implications of North Korea's involvement in Russia's drone manufacturing industry, as well as the roles of China and Iran in supporting Moscow's war against Ukraine. According to a separate report issued by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) in September, Russia hosted an estimated 15,000 to 30,000 North Korean workers as of the end of 2025, some of whom were involved in manufacturing military drones. The report also said Moscow had established a student visa scheme to disguise North Korean workers as students. "North Korean labor also transfers technical know-how. Technicians sent to Alabuga will return to Pyongyang with invaluable lesson

NEW YORK — U.S. prosecutors have agreed to drop charges against a former CIA analyst accused of working as an agent of the South Korean government in exchange for designer handbags, high-priced dinners and other luxury goods. Sue Mi Terry, who had also served on the White House National Security Council, was charged in 2024 for failing to register as a foreign agent and disclosing U.S. government information to South Korean intelligence. A court filing Tuesday showed the Justice Department has struck a deferred prosecution agreement with Terry, who denied the accusations and was due to go on trial later this year. It means Terry, previously a senior fellow for Korea studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, will not face jail time provided she complies with several rules for the next 12 months. They include restrictions on leaving the United States, and a ban on communicating with the South Korean intelligence service. Terry is a naturalized U.S. citizen who was born in South Korea's capital, Seoul, and raised in Virginia and Hawaii. She was employed by the U.S. government from 2001 t

NEW YORK — New York City lawmakers plan to ban horse-drawn carriages from Central Park, ending their more than 150-year run as an iconic, old-timey tourist attraction, following decades of opposition from animal welfare activists and the death of a teenage tourist last spring. The City Council is expected to approve a bill next week that would end the rides by 2028. Three consecutive mayors had called for an end to the carriage rides because of safety concerns, only to have lawmakers yank back the reins. A spokesperson for Julie Menin, the council speaker, confirmed the incoming vote and said the proposal had enough support to pass. Mayor Zohran Mamdani's office said he had reached a deal with the speaker on the legislation. “The horse carriage industry is coming to an end in New York City,” Mamdani said in a social media post. Teen's death reignited debate over carriage rides The latest push for a ban started in June, when 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan, visiting the city from India, died after jumping from a runaway horse carriage during a ride with family members. His death, which a

President Donald Trump's new press secretary stepped to the podium, the eyes of a packed room of journalists — and many in their audiences — upon her. She smiled broadly at the sea of faces both probing and friendly. With that, Katie Zacharia went live and became the official voice of the world's most powerful person. Fourteen minutes and just three questioners later, she was done. In the aftermath, it was clear that the former Newsmax commentator accomplished at least one thing: She put the “brief” back in briefing. In her debut Tuesday, Zacharia looked downward and often read directly from a script. She paused and grinned when she uttered the words “Department of War.” She stumbled on a question about her background and mixed up the words “husband” and “president.” The few questions she took were nonconfrontational and from media outlets that have been sympathetic to the Republican president. In short: She made no memorable impression — or at least, to hear some tell it, not the one she likely wanted. This would not be an easy job under any circumstances. Trump m

WASHINGTON — For the first time in more than a quarter-century, Americans have a new option when shopping for sunscreen: a skin-protecting chemical that’s long been a go-to option in Europe and other parts of the world. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved bemotrizinol — sometimes called BEMT — in June. The first sunscreens containing it are now hitting U.S. store shelves, including formulas from Neutrogena and other manufacturers. Dermatologists say the chemical fills an important market gap by offering broad protection, like the most well-established sunscreen ingredients, but without their cosmetic downsides, including white streaking. BEMT has decades of safety data behind it, including studies showing it has minimal absorption into the skin. That’s been a concern with some older sun-blocking chemicals. “It’s not a brand-new ingredient that you’re going to be the first person to try,” said Dr. Jennifer Stein, a dermatologist at NYU Langone Health. Here’s what to know: New ingredient offers broad protection without streaks To be effective, sunscreens must pr

A Federal Reserve interest-rate decision later this month may be a closer call than previously thought after Labor Department data showed consumer prices were up 3.7 percent last month from a year earlier, well above the Fed's 2 percent target and moving in the wrong direction. Higher gasoline prices from the Middle East war were a main driver. Excluding volatile food and energy prices, the core Consumer Price Index (CPI) was up 2.6 percent, more than the 2.5 percent economists polled by Reuters had projected. The Fed lifted the policy rate in September to a target range of 3.75 percent-4.00 percent to bring down too-high inflation, and officials have said they are looking closely for signs of broadening price pressures that could keep inflation high even if gas prices fall, necessitating more policy tightening. Wednesday's data contained plenty of such signs. "The surprise was not concentrated in any one item, like it was with wireless in the August report, but instead reflected a number of components showing strength, i.e., it was broad-based," wrote Omair Sharif, founder of Inflation

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Yemen's Houthis said Wednesday they had targeted facilities belonging to Saudi Aramco, after Saudi officials reported a strike on a building in an area housing the energy giant's operations centre. Powerful explosions also rattled the Saudi capital, as the coalition fighting the Houthis said it had intercepted a missile fired by the Iran-backed group towards Riyadh. The world's top crude oil exporter has in recent days come under sustained attack, including a strike on Riyadh's international airport that was the deadliest in years, as the war with the Houthis dramatically escalates. It has hit back with strikes against the group's stronghold in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, which for years has been under their grip. Yahya Saree, Houthi military spokesman, said their forces had conducted "a high-quality military operation targeting Aramco in Dhahran," as well as strikes targeting Riyadh airport and a refinery in the capital. He added the attacks were carried out with missiles and drones, and that operations "will continue in the coming days, targeting Saudi enemy airpo

VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo's recovery from surgery is progressing as expected and he has begun walking in his hospital room and eating normally, the Vatican said on Wednesday, after doctors announced the 71-year-old pontiff was being treated for lung cancer. World leaders, Catholics across the globe and senior cardinals at the Vatican have offered prayers for Leo after he had part of his right lung removed in an operation on Tuesday. Blood tests and a chest X-ray carried out on Wednesday showed normal post-operative results, the Vatican said, adding that the pontiff had undergone respiratory physiotherapy. The cancer diagnosis for a pope known to be relatively young and energetic and who was elected only in May 2025 caused shock and raised questions about the future shape of his papacy as he deals with the illness. Leo normally follows a very busy schedule. He is due to make a tour of Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17 and the Vatican press office said on Wednesday that "nothing has changed" regarding the planned trip. However, Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori said on Wedne

“Knowing that many people don’t even know where Estonia is — that is an important task for us.” Paavo Järvi, 63, one of the world’s busiest conductors, is passionate about introducing his homeland, Estonia, to the world. He is music director of the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich and artistic director of the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen. Beginning with the 2028-29 season, he will also serve as principal conductor and artistic adviser of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Despite conducting some of the world’s leading orchestras, Järvi has a special attachment to the Estonian Festival Orchestra (EFO), which he founded. Ahead of the ensemble’s concerts at Art Center Incheon on Oct. 18 and Seoul Arts Center on Oct. 20, he spoke to the Hankook Ilbo in a recent video interview. Reaching him in Paris, where he was staying for performances with the Orchestre National de France, Järvi said, “Anyone who comes from a somewhat smaller culture and becomes international is, in a way, an ambassador for that culture. I’m not just introducing Estonian music; through music, I’m in

Pianist Hayato Sumino, who will give a recital at Lotte Concert Hall on Oct. 29, holds a master’s degree in engineering from the University of Tokyo. He advanced to the semifinal round of the 2021 Chopin International Piano Competition while still an engineering student at the university. During the competition, he livestreamed his practice sessions and interacted with viewers using YouTube’s live chat. His second-round performance drew as many as 45,000 viewers. At the time, the classical music world largely regarded him as an eccentric who happened to enjoy playing the piano. Sumino was a top student who attended Kaisei Junior and Senior High School, one of Japan’s most prestigious schools. From an early age, he was immersed in music video games. Even while preparing for university entrance exams, he competed in gaming tournaments. While a student at the University of Tokyo, he researched music information processing at the Institute for Research and Coordination in Acoustics/Music in Paris. In a crowded field, his unconventional activities initially seemed like a gimmick desi

The culture secretary says the deal could affect free expression in the media and the variety of Britain's news landscape.

The economy grew by 0.1% in August, defying analysts' expectations of a slight contraction.

The 51-year-old faces three counts of rape, three charges of sexual assault and one of indecent assault.

The monarch and Queen Camilla officially open the Senedd's seventh term.

Jeffrey Donaldson was convicted of 18 counts of sex abuse, including one of rape, which he committed against two women when they were children.

Pope Leo XIV has recovered well from surgery to remove a cancerous nodule from his lung, and he resumed working from hospital today, his doctors and the Vatican reported.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee has said she was "shocked" that Sally Rooney's books are being removed from UK shops, and will raise the matter with her British counterpart.

Reservoir levels continue to drop after a hot summer and less September rain than normal.

William Chapman climbed two fences to enter a tiger's pen at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, an inquest hears.

The umbrella body for labor unions across the country aims to solidify the trend of wage increases by setting high pay increase targets.

Rescue officials fear more people are buried under the debris in the north-western city of Peshawar.

At least 35 people were killed in the Pakistani city of Peshawar on Thursday when the roof of a private school collapsed. More than 50 others were injured.

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As Jeffrey Donaldson was jailed for rape and sexual assault, his two victims spoke of the impact of his crimes.

Ukraine's president says a pause on striking energy sites is over following fresh Russian attacks.

On his third day in the hospital, Pope Leo XIV's doctors say his chest X-ray in the morning shows "good recovery of the lung that underwent surgery."

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Countries must accelerate efforts to prevent lead exposure, which is estimated to cause more than 3.5 million deaths globally each year and affects hundreds of millions of children, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday.

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has been accused of "burying its head in the sand" over the proposed National Children's Science Centre.

Twenty-two communication students from five Catholic universities explore how artificial intelligence can serve people and communities while safeguarding human dignity in a six-day programme in Yogyakarta.

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A college student has secured a temporary restraining order against another woman over online threats made because they shared a mutual former boyfriend.

According to Panasonic, a defect in the automatic detergent dispenser unit may cause detergent and softener to leak and stick to the internal wiring.

The move forms part of the BBC's wider strategy to reach digitally-native new and younger audiences.

It is the "backbone of military communications in Ukraine" that provides vital high-speed internet to forces across the country.

Fires burning for months in Indonesia have sent smoke across the region, and East Timor began a three-day school closure prompted by the haze.

The alarm was raised after the men's fishing boat failed to return as planned to Lewis on Tuesday.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are making several public appearances in Nottingham.

Rescue workers spent hours pulling children from the rubble of the privately run Al-Khair Education Center.

The Tokyo-based company is said to be seeking a market value of about ¥50 billion ($317 million) in the potential IPO.

The episcopal ordination of Bishop Ignatius Ding Zuyao takes place in Haimen, in China’s Jiangsu Province, following his appointment by Pope Leo XIV under the Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China.

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Rival Seven & I Holdings also secured a profit increase in the first half of the business year through next February.

During the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the UN addresses the need for disarmament to build peace. In a separate committee, he emphasises the importance of eradicating hunger to tackle the world's greatest challenge: poverty.

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Scottish athlete, Archie Goodburn, who was diagnosed with three inoperable brain tumours two years ago, met Andy Burnham after an appeal for more investment into brain cancer research.

Jeffrey Donaldson "deserves every day of the lengthy prison service he has to serve", the Democratic Unionist Party has said.

Drug-related intimidation is taking place in every county in Ireland, with over one thousand incidents reported in a two-year period.

Uisce Éireann CEO Niall Gleeson has defended a €118,000 increase in his overall salary to €391,953 - saying he and the utility are providing value for money to the public.

Tributes have been paid in the Dáil to medical and emergency staff following the deaths of four people in an arson attack in Waterford.

Under the project, two new plants are set to be built in the state of New York with funding of up to $21 billion.

Reform says all of those people filmed by ITV are under investigation having resigned or been suspended.

An organic and health food café in south Dublin with an active cockroach infestation was among 12 restaurants and businesses issued with closure orders by the FSAI.

Lula's supporters hope the measure will boost his popularity ahead of a presidential run-off in 10 days.

The White House was facing mounting questions over new press secretary Katie Zacharia's legal credentials, after a faltering first day in the job when she gave an inconclusive answer about where she had passed the bar exam.

The EU Court of Justice has ruled the passenger cap at Dublin Airport may be taken into account when allocating airline slots and could result in an airline losing an allocation it has previously used.

Established on October 16, 1981, by Pope John Paul II himself, the non-profit organization stands as a living testament to the legacy of the Polish Pontiff. Its president, Monsignor Ptasznik, says: “We want to keep the memory of Saint John Paul II increasingly alive and, at the same time, bring his legacy into the present, making it relevant to today’s world and to the world of tomorrow.”

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St John says one person is in a critical condition following the incident.

The home secretary said she would not hesitate to impose measures on other countries "refusing to co-operate".

The Supreme Court of Canada plans to hear arguments Thursday from a coalition challenging the constitutionality of legislation that smooths the way for major changes at Ontario Place. The Crown and Ontario's attorney general are urging the court to dismiss the case.

Katie Zacharia does not appear to be registered to the legal bar in any state where she has lived.

The results apparently reflected critical views against the decision to retain scandal-hit farm minister Kazuo Yana in the Cabinet.

The tech-stock rout started in the United States after a higher-than-expected inflation reading.

In addition to wearable GPS devices, an agency panel is considering mandatory counseling for those considered to be high-risk stalkers.

In a small village in Northern Kazakhstan in Central Asia, a school founded by a German priest is nurturing intercultural understanding, interreligious dialogue and technological skills, offering young people the confidence to shape their own future.

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NZ's apple sector makes good on a free trade agreement commitment to help Indian growers expand domestic apple production.

Doctors who are members of the Irish Medical Organisation are starting a 'work to rule today', over delays in agreeing a new public sector pay deal.

The controversy also reflects concerns about the prime minister's management style, close advisers and approach to last month's Cabinet reshuffle.

An internal HSE audit has identified a "sustained and escalating failure" to meet a statutory six-month time frame to complete a crucial disability assessment for children.

Five former dancers who worked at a Wellington strip club have won their case, after arguing they were treated as employees despite being employed as contractors.

Two official Garda accounts on the X social media platform have been hacked.

According to Tokyo Metropolitan Government projections, demand for cremations will begin to outstrip existing capacity in the next decade.

One in six children are living with the damage being caused by their parents drinking, according to a new report.

A senior government source, who was not authorized to publicly disclose details ahead of the announcement, said Ottawa is putting $5 million toward deploying a fleet of buoys to help measure wind speeds and ocean conditions.

Ukraine has resumed ‌its attacks on Russian refineries with a strike at an installation in the Ryazan region, the regional governor said Thursday, after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy voiced his anger at a "dangerous" withdrawal of U.S. intelligence.

Romania said seven people were missing after a fire broke out on a vessel flying the San Marino flag, the latest incident in the Black Sea, which has seen a series of drone attacks.

Police in the UK have been ordered to reinvestigate a complaint over the arrest of Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan after a watchdog found failings in its handling of the case.

Fire and Emergency crews responded and quickly extinguished the fire on Thursday night.

The Holy See Press Office says Pope Leo XIV had a good second night in Rome's Gemelli Hospital, and got up and had breakfast, in their latest update since he underwent a successful lung operation on Tuesday.

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Twenty-two new affordable studio spaces for artists have opened on O'Connell Street in Dublin.

The Waitākere ranges local board has voted to reopen the camp that is on a flood plain.

Health NZ said 20 cycles of chemotherapy were delayed over the past four months due to a lack of staff, but noted that delays never exceeded a week.

Carmel College's principal said nearby schools had been contacted and asked students not to retaliate or it could further escalate the situation.

The Taoiseach has denied that the Irish draft seven-year EU budget will make it more difficult to secure the agreement of member states by the end of the Irish EU presidency.

Colossal Biosciences plans to perform gene-editing to bring dodo traits into the cells of its closest living relative, the Nicobar pigeon.

A section of State Highway 1 west of Balclutha has been closed after a crash this afternoon.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Thursday said the details of the accusations against the Hokkaido Shimbun reporter remained unclear.

The Afia Birago’s puddle frogs are a recently identified species from a single Ghanaian forest.

BBC Verify has identified 254 incidents from the past three years the Israeli military said it is reviewing after being accused of harm.

Peptides are being sold on a grey market in Ireland, based on the fact they are not licensed medicines and are advertised by suppliers as not for human consumption

From today insurers are required by law to disregard a previous cancer diagnosis when assessing applications for mortgage protection insurance.

Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has been jailed for 15 years for the rape and sexual assault of a schoolgirl and the sexual assault of a second young girl.

Several university professors are calling out errors in New Brunswick's new 12-year anglophone education plan that include crediting two sources that don't seem to exist. Experts believe AI played a role. The province acknowledges it did but in a limited way.

The roof of a private school collapsed in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar on Thursday, killing at least 28 children and a teacher and injuring more than 50 other people, authorities and a hospital official said.

"These decisions are not made lightly and are based on clinical need," Dr Greg Williams said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country would resume hitting Russian oil refineries.

Warm air will bring unseasonable warmth to the south and east of the UK on Thursday but chillier conditions are set to spread to all areas by the weekend.

Council says that shows its attempts to take action against irresponsible owners are working.

Dozens of fans flooded social media with complaints that Ticketmaster failed to label Backstreet Boys presale tickets appropriately, leaving some fans with seats with obstructed views. Live Nation now says fans whose seats are impacted "will be proactively relocated to comparable full-view locations."

For more than 50 years, humanity has used "leap seconds" to keep our clocks aligned with the rotation of the Earth. On Thursday, an international time-keeping body in France is expected to do away with leap seconds and let the clocks slip until they're out of alignment by a full hour — meaning it could be centuries, or even millennia, before another tweak is needed.

Alex Gibney's nearly four-hour, fire-and-brimstone documentary Musk — on tech oligarch, worlds-richest-man Elon Musk — is not uplifting. Instead, it is one of the most depressing and terrifying pieces of public media since An Inconvenient Truth alerted a mostly unaware public to its imminent annihilation by climate change.

In Unreliable Boyfriend, one-time finance minister and deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland digs into how her political relationship with Justin Trudeau went from a warm face-to-face invite into public service to a cold Zoom call where he booted her from the finance role years later.

For nearly a year, U.S. President Donald Trump has been trying to persuade voters not to get riled up over rising prices, but polls suggest voters aren't buying his sales pitch, with respondents giving him low marks on the cost of living and disapproving of how he's handled inflation.

Hundreds of ambiguous drones have been increasingly spotted over sensitive sites in NATO countries. It has the hallmarks of a deliberate campaign to stoke fear and uncertainty.

Starlink and the military-grade version known as Starshield have been integral to Ukraine's war effort against Russia. But earlier this week, according to Ukrainian officials, the military lost some access to the system.

Muji will be expanding in Europe, the Americas, India and the Middle East, Ryohin Keikaku's president said.

The bridge was completed in 2014 but its opening was delayed due to a lack of connecting roads and customs facilities on the North Korean side.

A team in Japan has found that a cognitive decline from continually eating high-calorie food is due to abnormalities in the synapses.

The world's largest manufacturer of precision motors has been mired in turmoil since last year, with probes revealing widespread fraud.

Supporters say it would recognise Māori identity, history and the dual heritage of Aotearoa New Zealand.

An association for staff who work with international students say New Zealand needed to be more picky and invest more in caring for students while they were here.

Starting this month, staff affiliated with NHK have been knocking on doors where contracts haven't been signed or there are unpaid subscription fees.

Despite assistance from Cook Islands Immigration, neither New Zealand nor Australia have approved a transit visa for her return home.

Senior military officers observed the tests conducted Wednesday in the sea off North Korea's east coast, Korean Central News Agency reported.

The trademark owners of the MMT identity say they never demanded royalties for on-field use of the name.

Electoral groups are working hard to educate older migrants who have been eligible to vote for some time but have never cast a ballot.

Following the change, the entire country of Saudi Arabia is under Level 2 or higher in the Foreign Ministry's four-tier travel alert scale.

Hundreds of thousands of Mongolian children suffer from untreated dental problems due to a combination of unhealthy food and a lack of dental care.

An average of 138 people have been killed in encounters with the animals each year in Sri Lanka since 2019

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has said the two systems are separate, though in many cases they share the same underlying satellite technology.

NZDF helicopter crew in the area for training joined the search, winched the teen to safety and reunited him with his family.

Banks are competing to adopt the technology, which can accomplish tasks with minimal human supervision, while also grappling with the challenges.

At Turkish-Japanese Science and Technology University, about 100 Turkish students will study artificial intelligence, earthquakes and other fields.

Commerce Commission chairperson says it would only step in if it made a beneficial difference to people, and it didn’t want to see the agency’s revenue get ’way out of line’ with costs.

State Highway 3 through Awakino Gorge is down to one lane.

On day two of Craig Routery's trial, the Crown presented text messages between the complainant and Routery, which included explicit photos and messages. When questioned, Routery said he "would not involve [himself] with something that was underage."

The Tech Users Association is concerned political leaders continue to reset the nation's technological direction every three years.

Higher defence spending was just one among the big choices ahead that political leaders were not talking much, one professor says.

The Tertiary Education Commission says it's necessary because there are not enough student nursing placement spots available.

The actor has been charged with reckless driving and driving with excess breath alcohol causing injury.

Firearms discharges drop by more than half in the past six years in the force area.

Wales scores poorly on international test results but it is not clear a new curriculum will help.

Are protein supplements recommended for pre-teens and teenagers or is a big, juicy steak just as good?

But the company’s name, and the initial safety evaluation, remains under wraps.

The religious leader posted a livestream video of police handing him the summons in person earlier this morning on social media.

Democrats and Republicans alike are coming out against data centre development, amid growing backlash across the US.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said it is important for both sides in the public sector pay stand off to get into negotiations and that he believed there was a negotiated pathway to a resolution.

Universities are to tell an Oireachtas committee that they are at capacity and teetering on a cliff-edge unless the Government addresses a funding gap in higher education.

However, a recent industry raised concerns about the underfunding of photonic and quantum industries in New Zealand, which is growing at a lower rate than the global average.

A former client, turned support worker, says upgrades to the Salvation Army facility will better support people rebuilding their lives.

Lindsay Mattick tells The National about the moment her great-grandfather, Canadian WWI vet, Lt. Harry Colebourn inspired A.A. Milne’s beloved Winnie-the-Pooh stories — first published 100 years ago today.

The Fijian government has partnered with New Zealand's intelligence agency to reform its national security system following recent US allegations of Chinese infiltration.

Earth Sciences New Zealand is predicting elevated cyclone activity for parts of the Pacific in the coming cyclone season.

Foodbanks in South Auckland warn that the high demand they are seeing from Pasifika families is just the tip of the iceberg.

Sally Rooney has been a vocal supporter of pro-Palestinian causes and groups, including Palestine Action.

A grand jury in Washington state has indicted an alleged co-conspirator in the Tumbler Ridge, B.C., mass shooting. The indictment of 30-year-old James Bryant for conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country means there is probable cause for prosecutors to pursue the case.

An Otago University consumer lifestyles survey has found 27 percent of respondents could be described as "financial strugglers".

It wasn't only party heavyweights going head-to-head on the campaign trail last night.

The department has apologised to a number of women who raised allegations of sexual harassment against a former staffer.

The new White House press secretary is facing mounting questions about her background and resume as she transitions into her role as the public face of the Trump administration.

Gardaí are assessing the contents and credibility of a threatening email sent to a number of schools today.

A Costco megastore in Christchurch is a step closer with the government giving the US-based company the go-ahead to lodge a fast-track application.

Misinformation has spread online about who is able to vote in the Alberta referendum. The CBC's fact-check team debunks claims about non-residents voting.

A new MRI machine has just been opened for use in Saskatoon. The facility where it's held is the only 100 per cent Indigenous-owned imaging clinic in Canada, shared between three Saskatchewan First Nations.

This week Behind The Story is on location at the International AI Summit in Dublin - one of the largest gatherings of the AI sector in Europe this year.

New data shows the 10-year growth rate of prices around the country, as well as how far they are from their post-Covid peaks.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has rejected criticism from international aid organisations over the Irish Government's cuts to the draft seven-year EU budget.

In the past three months Immigration New Zealand declined 70 percent of applications from Bangladesh and 39 percent from India - nearly double the normal rates.

Real estate developer Sacha Singh tells a Toronto court he gave self-described "Crypto King" Aiden Pleterski more than $4.5 million to trade in foreign exchange and cryptocurrency. That’s more than any of the 11 investors who’ve been called so far as Crown witnesses at Pleterski’s fraud trial. Most say they never got any money back.

The Vatican holds a press conference for the conclusion of the ecclesial encounter “Ten Years After Amoris laetitia: Proclaiming the Gospel with Families Today,” convened by Pope Leo XIV to mark the tenth anniversary of the Apostolic Exhortation.

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A Rotorua kura is challenging a decision by its neighbour Rotorua Airport to block plans to expand school buildings and questioning why it is facing barriers to development after decades...

Police are investigating a woman's report that she was sexually assaulted during a fraternity party near the University of Chicago campus, an allegation that comes at a time of heightened awareness of sexual violence on college campuses.

As Jonathan Swift's best-known work, Gulliver's Travels, celebrates its 300th anniversary at the end of the month, its enduring appeal continues to resonate with schoolchildren and scholars alike.

Airlines add 48,000 extra seats on additional services over the peak tourism season, including Chinese New Year.

Pacific travel agents are warning Kiwi travellers to stay alert in the coming months amid warnings of heightened cyclone activity in the region.

Nuclear power is safe and should be considered as an alternative energy source, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands leader says.

A beluga whale and dolphin that died within weeks of being transferred out of Marineland had been experiencing a list of health complications and organ abnormalities that could've developed prior to the transfer, Oceanogràfic València said in a news release on Oct. 14.

Ottawa is considering a range of legal options against Stelco's American owner after the company rejected the government's demand to halt planned layoffs at the Hamilton steelmaker, Federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said Wednesday.

U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra says American officials are "closely watching" Canadian politicians for signs of election interference ahead of the pivotal midterms next month.

A major oil well blowout in the African country of Niger has been releasing methane into the atmosphere over the past 18 days.

At the conclusion of the meeting to mark the 10th anniversary of Amoris laetitia, Pope Leo XIV says he will review the fruits of their work and emphasizes his hope that families will always be active participants in the life and mission of local Churches.

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As Pope Leo XIV recovers from lung surgery in hospital, a group of students from his hometown of Chicago are sending him get-well cards and Chicago White Sox blanket.

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The family of a man mauled to death by a tiger at a U.K. wildlife park on Saturday is pleading with people to stop sharing footage of the attack online, calling it "deeply offensive" and painful. The statement from the family of 24-year-old William Chapman came after U.S. President Donald Trump shared a clip of the fatal attack on his Truth Social platform Tuesday.

New Zealanders are considerably more cautious about money and the economic outlook than five years ago, a survey has found.

LALEILEI marks the first time a song written entirely in Gagana Samoa has won New Zealand's most prestigious songwriting award.

Pope Leo's recovery from surgery is progressing as expected and he has begun walking in his hospital room and eating normally, the Vatican said on Wednesday, ‌after doctors announced the 71-year-old pontiff was being treated for lung cancer.

Lawyer Thomas Giuffra, who is representing Jane Doe in her civil lawsuit, said the incident is part of escalating threats against the woman, who is identified only as Jane Doe in court documents but has faced concerted efforts to publish her identity online.

Katie Zacharia made her debut as the new White House press secretary on Tuesday, answering only a handful of questions from journalists and failing to impress some observers — including some who had held the job before her.

A balloon release ceremony took place to commemorate four people who died after an incendiary device set fire to their home in the Birchwood estate on Tuesday.

The son of the man who was murdered in a firebomb attack in Waterford, along with his wife and two of his children, said they were killed because of someone else's €20,000 drugs debt.

Andrew Chang breaks down audio of 911 dispatch calls following the failed execution of Christa Pike, revealing how confusion among first responders and Tennessee prison officials delayed emergency care.

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

Around 100 jobs are to be lost at Daktronics in Ennistymon, Co Clare, with the US multi-national confirming it will close its Irish manufacturing operations over the coming 12 months.

The first memorial services for crew members of the Hamilton-based air ambulance lost off the coast of Nantucket, Mass. earlier this month will begin Friday, as the investigation into the downed aircraft continues.

The federal government is putting up about $6 million to hire as many as 90 internationally trained doctors by 2029 to work in Manitoba, primarily in rural and remote communities, provincial and federal health ministers said Wednesday.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is recalling several organic cheese products under the Farm Boy, L'Ancêtre, and Life Smart brands due to possible Listeria contamination.

The federal government will announce plans to help fund new infrastructure, equipment and recruitment efforts by unions and other organizations to train workers as part of a major funding announcement expected on Thursday.

The President of the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland has accused a Dublin hotel of antisemitism after he said they cancelled 70 rooms reserved for delegates attending an antisemitism conference in the capital.

When Chantal Lee McLaren's violently abusive boyfriend told her to go buy supplies to clean up the scene of a gruesome, brutal murder, she did it.

The RCMP, Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, Newfoundland Power and City of St. John's are some organizations who say their phones lines were affected by the widespread Bell outage.

Kenya's Health Ministry confirmed the country's second Ebola case Wednesday, saying a relative of the man who died two days after arriving from Congo had tested positive while in quarantine.

Delta police say the cause of the vehicle crash at Tsawwassen Mills mall on Sept. 30 remains under investigation.

Faber has confirmed it will stop supplying Sally Rooney's books in the UK, but says copies already held by retailers will not be removed from sale.

Italian photographer Federico Veronesi's "heartbreakingly poignant" photo of a mother elephant carrying her dead calf has won this year's top Wildlife Photographer of the Year award. See a selection of the other winning photos here.

The Food Safety Authority (FSAI) has announced a recall of a number of smoked salmon products.

The Holy See Press Office says the Pope underwent the blood tests and chest X-ray scheduled after surgery on Wednesday morning, which confirm that his postoperative recovery is progressing normally.

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Living with the double burden as a Black man with sickle cell disease has made me feel overlooked by health-care professionals at times. What does it take to not be ignored?

ASML said on Wednesday customers were already looking to place orders for its advanced chipmaking tools for 2029 and 2030, easing concerns that the artificial intelligence investment boom was losing momentum. The upbeat outlook from the Dutch company, the biggest maker of tools used to make AI chips and advanced semiconductors, signals that chipmakers are continuing to expand well into the future, easing concerns among investors that the surge in AI-related spending could be nearing a peak. Demand for the company's machines has been fuelled by the AI boom, with customers including TSMC — which manufactures chips for Nvidia — as well as Samsung, Intel and others investing heavily to increase chip production. Shares in ASML, Europe's largest firm by market valuation at some €586 billion, were up 2 percent on Wednesday, having risen almost 70 percent so far this year. "There were concerns that the AI trade was running out of steam," said Gordon Kerr, European macro strategist at KBRA, adding ASML's results showed "demand for chips remains strong, and infrastructure spending is likely

Korea's central bank chief met with his counterparts from China and Japan in Thailand on Wednesday to exchange views on recent economic and financial developments, the Bank of Korea (BOK) said. BOK Gov. Shin Hyun-song exchanged views on economic and financial conditions in the three countries with People's Bank of China Gov. Pan Gongsheng and Bank of Japan Gov. Ueda Kazuo during the 15th Tripartite Governors' meeting in Bangkok. The meeting provided a platform for the three central bank chiefs to share assessments of economic conditions and financial market developments amid evolving global economic uncertainties. The three Asian countries have been hosting the event on a rotation basis since 2009 to strengthen communication and cooperation. This year's annual gathering was hosted by the BOK.

Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il departed for Bangkok on Wednesday to take part in the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group, along with a G20 finance ministerial gathering, his office said. Lee left Incheon International Airport and plans to participate in various multilateral meetings with major countries this week to discuss the latest global economic issues, according to the Ministry of Finance and Economy. The visit marks Lee's first participation in such gatherings as finance minister since taking office last month. During the visit, Lee is set to participate in the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting on Thursday, where participants will discuss key issues ahead of the G20 summit slated for December. The policymaker will also attend a meeting of Group of Seven (G7) finance ministers at their invitation and actively contribute to discussions on the global economy, reflecting Korea's growing international standing, the ministry said. The Korean official will seek to bolster Seoul's ties with the financial authorities

Seoul Design Week 2026 opened Wednesday, turning Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) and neighborhoods across the city into a showcase for design innovation, from life-saving devices to lifestyle products and student-industry collaborations. DDP will serve as the hub for the 12-day program linking 150 design destinations across five districts of the capital through exhibitions, a fair, a conference and neighborhood walks. The event runs through Oct. 25 under the theme “The Design Recipe,” hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Design Foundation. “This year’s Seoul Design Week will showcase the potential of Seoul’s brands and K-design to expand globally,” said Cha Kang-hee, CEO of the Seoul Design Foundation. The DDP Design Fair, the festival’s flagship program, features 79 lifestyle brands and a special pavilion of 20 young designers across four distinctively themed spaces: the Market of the Warm Gourmet, the Market of the Cheerful Companion, the Market of the Quiet Dreamer and the Market of the Attentive Homemaker. Rather than following a fixed category path,

Eight months after its debut, rookie boy band DAILY:DIRECTION is taking the idea behind its name — that everyday choices add up to a direction in life — and pointing it at a bigger question of which road leads to love. The six-member ODDWAVE act, made up of EN KIM, Kim Joo-hyoung, Lim Ji-hwan, E-VAN, Lee Won-woo and Jang Yoon-seok, dropped its first EP, "WHICH WAY," on Wednesday, presenting listeners with a record built around the question of where to go next on a journey together. The all-Korean group debuted in February with the single "FIRST:DELIVERY." The members met the press at a performance hall in Jung District, central Seoul, hours before the album's release, to talk about the making of the record. "While preparing, we thought a lot about how to show the six of us, each with a different charm, and how best to bring out a refreshing side," Lee said. The members stressed that the album traces the path toward love. EN KIM turned the question back to reporters, asking whether any particular love came to mind for them, before describing the record as one that "asks questions about

Seoul Metro Line 9 will run more express trains during the morning rush and pilot four express bus routes connecting outlying districts with the city center starting Nov. 16, city officials said Wednesday. Line 9, which cuts through key commercial and financial districts, remains one of Seoul’s most notoriously overcrowded transit corridors. During peak morning hours, its express trains routinely carry up to 192.5 percent of their rated passenger capacity. Korea measures subway congestion relative to a train’s total design threshold, including standing commuters, meaning 100 percent represents a fully loaded train. To alleviate the problem, the city will alter the operational ratio of express to all-stop trains based on commuter demand for the first time since the line opened. From 5:40 a.m. to 7 a.m., eastbound service will run two express trains for every all-stop train, replacing the current one-to-one alternating schedule. Additionally, the municipal government is moving peak hour schedules earlier. Morning express service will begin at 5:40 am instead of 6:30 am, while evening

The chief of the Bank of Korea (BOK) on Wednesday stressed the importance of keeping inflation under control, saying the global artificial intelligence (AI) investment boom and the prolonged Middle East conflict are combining to push up consumer prices. "Korea sits at the intersection of two of the most important trends right now. One is AI and the big investment boom, and the other one is the war in the Middle East," BOK Gov. Shin Hyun-song said during a CNN Global Perspectives session livestreamed online on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund-World Bank Group (IMF-WBG) annual meetings in Bangkok, Thailand. "In terms of activity, they pull in opposite directions. But the AI economy is swamping the negative effect of the war in the Middle East. But in terms of inflation, and this is relevant for the central bank, they are actually combining to raise inflation," he said. Korea is at the forefront of the global AI boom, as demand for AI computing infrastructure has fueled demand for memory chips, driving exports and profits at the country's two major chipmakers, Samsung Elect

Foreign embassies in Seoul are quietly monitoring the Korean government’s plan to relocate the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Sejong, about 110 kilometers south of the capital, with some expressing concern over the “inconvenience” the move would create for diplomatic activities. Of a total of 44 ministries and agencies subject to relocation, 27 will relocate in two phases in the first and second halves of next year, while another 17 agencies, comprising 6,934 employees, will move in stages by 2031, after new office buildings are constructed. The foreign ministry is among those 17, along with the ministries of unification and national defense. With more than 110 foreign embassies and international organizations and representatives based in Seoul, the announcement has created uncertainty, particularly as no detailed relocation plan has been announced. Most embassies appear to be quietly assessing the situation. One European representative based in Seoul said it was still "too early" to evaluate the impact, adding they may discuss the matter internally as well as with their headquart

The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) on Wednesday called for a thorough investigation after followers of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a nonmainstream religious sect, were found to have joined the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). The DPK confirmed the findings following an internal investigation but did not provide further details, including how many Shincheonji members had joined the party. "We strongly urge the newly established Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA) or the police to swiftly investigate whether (Shincheonji) members joined the Democratic Party of Korea, applying the same standards," PPP floor leader Jeong Jeom-sig said, referring to an earlier police raid of the PPP's headquarters over allegations of Shincheonji followers being forced to join the party. "Investigators even carried out a search and seizure of our party's membership records in connection with the mass recruitment of Shincheonji members," he added. A joint prosecution-police investigation team has determined that at least 56,472 church members were forced to join the PPP, with the chu

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul visited an air base in the southwestern city of Gwangju on Wednesday to inspect the readiness of a key Air Force unit as the government plans to relocate the base to support a major semiconductor cluster project, his office said. Kang toured the Gwangju Air Base, home to the Air Force's 1st Fighter Wing, in the namesake city, about 270 kilometers south of Seoul, in a bid to urge troops to cooperate in completing the country's key strategic policy while maintaining a robust readiness posture. The Gwangju Air Base has been picked as the site for the envisioned chip cluster in the Honam region and is expected to be moved to nearby Muan County. "The military should coordinate closely with the defense ministry to follow through on the temporary rearrangement (of the 1st Fighter Wing) and the relocation of the Gwangju Air Base while maintaining a robust aerial defense posture," Kang said. The government plans to temporarily relocate three squadrons of the 1st Fighter Wing to three air bases, located in Yecheon, Seosan and Chungju, respectively, to minimize disru

Director Yeon Sang-ho said his latest low-budget psychological thriller "Paradise Lost" explores human identity, the double-edged nature of filling a loss and a story written by his mother. The director explained that the movie uses artificial intelligence (AI) technology to examine human existence and emotional boundaries, rather than simply warning about its dangers. "Trying to replace what you've lost always has two sides," Yeon told The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul on Wednesday, recalling how he often discussed existential literature, such as Albert Camus' "The Stranger," during his college years. "The main character So-young's choices may or may not be emotionally understandable to viewers by the end, but I think that gap creates a necessary story in today's AI-driven world." The film centers on So-young (Kim Hyun-joo), a mother trapped in grief nine years after her son Sun-woo went missing along with 12 other children on a school bus. To endure her pain, she interacts daily with a virtual version of her child through an augmented reality program. However, she collapses when a grow

The Korean foreign ministry on Wednesday condemned recent deadly attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on civilian facilities in Saudi Arabia, calling for an immediate halt to such acts. The attacks included two consecutive strikes on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh last week, further escalating tensions in the Middle East. The first, on Saturday (local time), killed 13 people and injured more than 300, while a second attack the following day killed one person and wounded 11, according to foreign media reports. "We strongly condemn the recent attacks by the Houthi rebels targeting civilian facilities, including the international airport in Riyadh," the ministry said in a statement. "We reiterate that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are absolutely unacceptable and once again urge an immediate halt to these hostile acts," it added. The ministry stressed that peace and stability in the Middle East are important to the international community, including Korea, in terms of global supply chains and energy security. It also expressed its sincere condolences to the victims

A sex toy company CEO and a conservatively raised marketer with strict traditional values are set to clash in Tving's upcoming original series "Make Me Tingle." The romantic comedy centers on the hilarious and heartwarming growth of two people with opposing views on intimacy: a woman who refuses to have sex without love, and a man who is perfectly fine having sex without it. Nam Ji-hyun stars as Gong Yeon-su, an eldest daughter raised in a strictly traditional Korean head family. Despite her conservative upbringing, she works as a sharp, trend-conscious advertising marketer. Kim Jae-young plays Dokgo Dal, the CEO of an adult toy startup who values both emotional connection and physical chemistry. When asked how the production team approached adult toys without falling into sensationalism or alienating audiences, director Kim Ye-ji emphasized tone control. "While sex toys are becoming more mainstream these days, we made a point not to try too hard to be 'cool' about it," Kim explained during a press conference at the Stanford Hotel Seoul in Mapo District, Wednesday. "Instead of leaning in

About 100 small businesses in Seoul have raised a combined 850 million won ($632,000) through a city-backed crowdfunding campaign, helping local entrepreneurs bring their products directly to online consumers, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday. The campaign, called Botaem Sanghoe — which translates to "Helping Hand Shop" — attracted around 15,000 backer pledges. Organized alongside the Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation, the initiative ran from Aug. 3 to Sept. 18 on Wadiz, Korea’s leading reward-based crowdfunding platform, giving promising small vendors hands-on experience in digital marketing and online sales. Participants included 50 companies from the city’s comprehensive support program for small businesses. The campaign used a preorder model, in which products are made only after customers order them. This lowers upfront production costs and inventory risk, and lets businesses test demand and gather customer feedback before entering new online markets. An alpaca coat by fashion brand Around X raised about 126 million won ($93,800), the most of any product, wit

Busan will hold a two-day festival at a Buddhist temple, combining temple food, concerts and meditation, the city government said Wednesday. The southern port city and the Busan Tourism Organization will host the “Gaeulen Jeollo Festa” at Hongbeop Temple in Geumjeong District on Oct. 30 and 31, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. each day. The title is a Korean pun, with the word “jeollo” meaning both “to the temple” and “naturally.” The event aims to turn the temple from a place for sightseeing into a space where visitors eat, watch performances and meditate. Shuttle buses will run between Nopo Station on Busan Subway Line 1 and the temple starting at 2 p.m. The city said Buddhist temples have become tourism draws as global interest in Korean culture grows. Temple stays and meditation programs fit the trend of wellness travel, and young Koreans have been embracing Buddhist-themed merchandise, fashion and meditation. Temple food, which uses no meat and focuses on seasonal ingredients, is also gaining popularity. “This event turns temples into spaces for staying and experiencing, offe

The number of financial firms affected by suspected artificial intelligence (AI) agent-driven cyberattacks has risen to 16, more than double the seven initially reported, financial regulators said Wednesday. About 100,000 records containing personal information, including resident registration numbers, were exposed. The tally could rise as companies continue checking their systems for signs of intrusion. Regulators also found security deficiencies at 130 of the 555 financial firms reviewed, including failures to apply the latest security patches. The Financial Services Commission (FSC) disclosed the findings at an emergency response meeting. It said the breaches, reported since the beginning of this month, have affected banks, savings banks, credit finance companies, electronic payment providers and cryptocurrency businesses. The affected firms include four banks — Shinhan, KB Kookmin, BNK Busan and Hana — and four savings banks — Yegaram, Welcome, DB and OK. Hyundai Capital and KDB Capital are among the affected credit finance companies. Others on the list include online investment

NEW DELHI — An Indian court ordered that two leaders of the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) be detained in jail for five days, the party and police said on Wednesday, a day after they scaled barricades to enter a historic site popular for protests and chanted slogans demanding the election chief's resignation. The detentions risk triggering fresh protests by youth supporters at a time when opposition groups and student bodies are holding almost daily demonstrations to demand commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over voter list revisions that critics say favour Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Election Commission has denied favouring any party and said wrongly deleted voters can re-enrol, while the BJP has accused rivals of trying to undermine democracy by wrongly questioning legitimate electoral processes. CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were among about a dozen people who jumped barricades on Tuesday to enter the grounds of the Jantar Mantar open air observatory in Delhi's central business district. Police said this week that the sit

Kim Ji-yong, a former prosecutor nominated to lead the newly-established Serious Crimes Investigative Agency (SCIA), pledged political neutrality at his parliamentary confirmation hearing on Wednesday, defending his suitability for the post while criticizing practices that have undermined public trust in the prosecution. Speaking before the National Assembly, Kim said he had worked without political bias and did not consider himself unfit to become the inaugural chief of the organization, which will hold investigative authority over seven serious crime categories, including corruption as well as national security violations and cybercrime. His remarks came as he sought to counter allegations that he was a close ally of Yoon Suk Yeol, a former prosecutor-turned-president. Kim said that under his watch, the SCIA would not allow politically motivated investigations, amid skepticism among ruling party politicians about his political neutrality. “I take pride in having handled cases according to my convictions (as a former prosecutor), without favoring any political side,” Kim said. Kim r

For two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces in January 2025 while fighting for Russia, their recent arrival in South Korea, where they requested to go, offers freedom and the prospect of a new life. But for their families left behind in the North, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s public disclosure of the transfer may have heightened potentially life-threatening risks, experts said Wednesday. They say the relatives may already have become vulnerable when the soldiers' capture was made public in January 2025, but the Kim Jong-un regime's retaliation against them could be harsher after Zelenskyy disclosed the soldiers' transfer to South Korea during his U.N. General Assembly speech on Sept. 23. Forced relocation, loss of official positions and tighter surveillance are among the possible consequences cited by the experts, although the families’ whereabouts and any punishments remain unconfirmed. “North Korea probably had already banished the families to remote mountainous areas and stripped those in official positions of their posts,” said Ahn Chan-il, a North

Seven years ago, a badly injured loggerhead sea turtle washed ashore on the coast of Jeju Island, entangled in abandoned fishing gear and suffering from severe trauma to its flippers, shoulder and esophagus. Following an extraordinary long-term medical saga that involved seven major surgeries, the fully recovered marine creature will finally be released back into the wild Thursday. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said Wednesday that the endangered turtle will be returned to the Pacific Ocean from Gwangchigi Beach in Seogwipo, Jeju Island. The location was chosen for its gentle sandy slope and close proximity to where the animal was originally found stranded in August 2019. The rescue and painstaking rehabilitation were led by Aqua Planet Jeju, a government-designated emergency response facility for marine wildlife. When caretakers first brought the turtle in, it was severely anemic and displayed deep tissue lacerations. Over the years, veterinary teams performed repeated procedures to seal open wounds, extract remaining debris and clear recurring deep-seated infections. To overcome

Seoul Design Week 2026 opened Wednesday at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), a landmark exhibition complex in central Seoul, showcasing designs that tackle social and environmental problems. The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Design Foundation held the opening ceremony along with an awards ceremony for the Seoul Design Award 2026. Running under the theme “The Design Recipe,” the event continues through Oct. 25 at the plaza and across the city. About 250 people, including Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, designers and industry officials from Korea and abroad, attended the ceremony. Now in its seventh year, the Seoul Design Award honors designs that solve everyday social problems and bring sustainable change. This year’s award drew a record 1,204 projects from 91 countries, about 16 times the number entered in its first year. A jury of 36 design experts from 20 countries judged the entries, including Samsung Electronics Chief Design Officer Mauro Porcini and Andrea Cancellato, director of the ADI Design Museum in Milan. The top 10 finalists presented their projects on stage, and the

Navigating municipal waste regulations can be a daunting task for newcomers to any country, often resulting in accidental illegal dumping due to language barriers. To address this challenge, central Seoul’s Jongno District is rolling out intuitive recycling guides in multiple languages accompanied by easy-to-understand illustrations. Beginning Oct. 26, the district office will distribute two new types of public awareness materials: a comprehensive waste separation guide available in Korean, English and Chinese, alongside a visual poster clarifying commonly confused items. The initiative comes as Jongno District’s foreign population steadily climbs toward 15,000 residents. Local authorities recognized that language hurdles and complex disposal schedules were major contributors to improper waste sorting and illegal dumping in residential alleys. To ensure precision, the guides underwent rigorous reviews by environmental and resource circulation experts, while the foreign-language editions received dual inspections from native speakers and professional translation agencies, according to

An appellate court on Wednesday overturned the acquittal of Park Jong-joon, former chief of the Presidential Security Service (PSS), who was indicted for deleting secure phone data involving former President Yoon Suk Yeol and others following Yoon's martial law declaration in 2024. The Seoul High Court sentenced Park to one year in prison for destroying evidence by deleting data from secure phones, reversing a lower court's ruling that found him not guilty of the charges. Park was indicted in December last year on charges of arbitrarily deleting data from secure phones used by Yoon, former National Intelligence Service official Hong Jang-won and former Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency chief Kim Bong-sik through a remote logout function following the December 2024 martial law declaration. Special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team had demanded a three-year prison term for Park. The appellate court said it could not rule out Park's intent to destroy evidence when he deleted secure phone data belonging to Yoon, Hong and Kim. Park has been held in detention in a separate case after being sentenced to

The KOSPI erased an intraday rebound of more than 2 percent Wednesday to close lower for a sixth consecutive session, barely holding above 6,000 after plunging more than 5 percent the previous day. The secondary Kosdaq also fell 1.57 percent, reflecting weak investor sentiment across the domestic stock market. The KOSPI closed at 6,008.81, down 26.54 points, or 0.44 percent. It opened 26.73 points, or 0.44 percent, higher at 6,062.08 and climbed as much as 2.57 percent to 6,190.65 before losing momentum and turning lower. Foreign investors remained net sellers for a seventh consecutive session. Among the two semiconductor heavyweights, Samsung Electronics rose 0.65 percent, while SK hynix fell 1.66 percent. The Kosdaq closed at 823.88, down 13.15 points, or 1.57 percent. It opened 1.13 points, or 0.14 percent, lower at 835.90 and fluctuated between gains and losses during the session. Overnight, Wall Street’s three main indexes ended lower, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average losing 0.35 percent, the S&P 500 slipping 0.02 percent and the Nasdaq Composite shedding 0.15 percent. Some chip

A parliamentary committee on Wednesday passed a resolution led by the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) to condemn North Korea over recent land mine explosions near the inter-Korean border that left three South Korean soldiers injured. The National Assembly's defense committee adopted the resolution, calling the incident a "provocation" that violated the Armistice Agreement that halted the 1950-53 Korean War. In the resolution, lawmakers also called on the government to provide treatment and support measures for the injured soldiers, while working closely with the United Nations Command to present facts regarding the incident to the international community. Lawmakers of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) walked out of the meeting in protest as the resolution was put to a vote. With its passage by the defense committee, the resolution can now be referred to the assembly plenary session for a vote. For weeks, the DPK and the PPP had been at odds over what to include in the resolution, particularly whether to explicitly describe the blasts as an act of provocation by the Nort

President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday called for restructuring Korea's social system to reflect rapid changes in demographics, stressing the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) provides an opportunity to redesign the industrial, employment, education and other sectors. The president made the call during a meeting of the presidential committee on population strategy, attended by government ministers and dozens of citizens and aimed at helping design the country's population policies. Korea has been grappling with a fast aging population, with people aged 65 and older already accounting for more than 21 percent of the total population, making the country a "super aged society," where over 20 percent of its population are aged 65 years or more. Lee called for policies to facilitate "qualitative," as well as "quantitative," population growth, saying the country needs "a major turnaround" in its population policies. "This means, Korea's entire social and economic systems should be redesigned from scratch in accordance with population changes," the president said, citing labor, welfare, e

Former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris predicted Wednesday that the Democrats will win both the House of Representatives and Senate in November’s midterm elections, while using a Seoul appearance to deliver a pointed critique of U.S. President Donald Trump’s handling of the South Korea-U.S. alliance and his overtures toward North Korea. Speaking at the 2026 Asan Memorial Lecture, Harris said the electoral map is shifting in Democrats’ favor. “We are facing a lot of obstacles, but the Democrats are going to win. I believe certainly the House and ... each day presents a new reason to think that of winning the Senate as well,” she said, noting that the number of competitive House seats that could flip from Republican to Democrat had grown from 40 to 46 in recent days. When asked about a potential 2028 presidential run, she sidestepped the question. “(The year) 2028, from my perspective, doesn’t matter if we don’t win 2026,” she said. The remarks came as Trump faces declining approval ratings following the outbreak of the U.S.-Iran war in late February, with congressional

The dispute between Seoul and Kyiv over the disclosed transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war (POW) to South Korea began with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's announcement of the move to world leaders on Sept. 23. "Recently, we sent two North Korean prisoners of war to the Republic of Korea," he said during his U.N. General Assembly speech in New York, referring to the official name of South Korea. President Lee Jae Myung wrote on social media the following day: "The Ukrainian side's decision to disclose the information in violation of a confidentiality agreement is deeply regrettable." He said the two sides had agreed to keep the transfer a secret because it is a "highly sensitive matter with significant implications for diplomacy, national security and the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Yet Dmytro Lytvyn, communications adviser to Zelenskyy, in a statement on Facebook denied any such agreement existed. In a Sept. 27 statement, Sung Ki-hong, South Korea's senior presidential secretary for public communication, criticized the Ukrainian government's handling of the issu

Korea plans to invest 410 billion won ($306.4 million) next year to develop five major tourism regions centered on regional airports, seeking to draw more international tourists to venture beyond the Seoul metropolitan area. Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il said Wednesday that the government aims to attract a combined 5 million international arrivals by 2029 to the five regions, selected last month around airports in Busan, Daegu, Cheongju in North Chungcheong Province, Yangyang in Gangwon Province and Muan in South Jeolla Province. The government hopes to turn these airports into gateways for travel beyond the capital and boost regional economies. Lee outlined the plan at a task force meeting on developing the service sector. Korea has welcomed a record 15.05 million international tourists as of Aug. 31 this year, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. More are beginning to enter through regional gateways; arrivals via regional airports and seaports accounted for 27.8 percent of the total, marking the highest share. To build on that trend, the government will use 410 bi

Visitors take photos of mockups of zHBM and zNAND-O, 3D architecture for advanced DRAM and NAND memory chips, at Samsung Electronics' booth for the SEDEX 2026 semiconductor exhibition at Coex in southern Seoul, Wednesday. Along with Samsung Electronics, SK hynix and 300 other companies in the semiconductor supply chain are participating in the exhibition, which runs through Friday. Yonhap

LIG Defense & Aerospace (LIG D&A) has partnered with U.S. defense technology company Firehawk to develop a propulsion system for its Poniard guided rocket, as the Korean defense company seeks to expand its presence in the U.S. market. The two companies signed a teaming agreement Tuesday (local time) in Washington, D.C., to jointly develop propulsion technology for the 2.75-inch guided rocket system, known as "Bigung" in Korean. Under the agreement, the companies will work together on propulsion system development, with plans to expand the partnership into mass production, further technical cooperation and joint marketing targeting the U.S. government. Firehawk specializes in advanced energetics and propulsion technologies. The company has developed a thermoplastic manufacturing platform designed to overcome material and production limitations associated with conventional rocket propulsion manufacturing. Its technology can be applied across the production process, from propellant and rocket motors to complete munitions. The partnership is expected to support LIG D&A's efforts to localize

A POSCO Future M employee introduces an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered integrated materials management system during the company's AI Festival event in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, Tuesday. The company said Wednesday that the event was held to share employees' achievements in using AI, with the company planning to select outstanding projects and apply them to actual operations by the first half of next year. The battery materials firm is introducing AI agents and AI-based factories across its operations, targeting a 30 percent improvement in manufacturing productivity and a 50 percent reduction in product development time by the first half of 2028.

A parent demands full marks for a written English answer, citing an email from a professor at an American university. In another case, a private academy challenged an English test score, and the dispute later led to a lawsuit over partial credit. These incidents, described in a casebook recently released by the National Secondary School Teachers’ Union, show the challenges facing discussions about introducing written-response and essay questions into Korea’s College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), potentially aided by artificial intelligence (AI) grading. The casebook accompanied a survey of 2,427 middle and high school teachers conducted from Sept. 7-30. Middle and high school teachers nationwide say persistent grading complaints have pushed them to set questions with fixed answers. They warn that expanding essay-based assessments could worsen disputes and increase their workload. Several teachers described a tension between encouraging diverse, well-reasoned answers and creating grading criteria precise enough to withstand complaints. One English teacher reported that a dispute inv

A Seoul district court on Wednesday sentenced independent lawmaker Kang Sun-woo to 2 1/2 years in prison on charges of receiving money in exchange for an election nomination. The Seoul Central District Court handed down the sentence for Kang, formerly a member of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), also ordering her to forfeit 100 million won ($75,000). Prosecutors had sought a four-year prison term for Kang, accusing her of accepting 100 million won from former Seoul city councilor Kim Kyung in January 2022 in exchange for a DPK nomination ahead of the local elections that year. Kang served as a member of the DPK's nomination committee for Seoul city councilors at the time. Kim was selected as a DPK nominee and was elected in the 2022 local elections. The court sentenced Kim to one year in prison and a former aide to Rep. Kang to an eight-month prison term, suspended for two years, for arranging the meeting between Kang and Kim. The court ordered for Kang and Kim to be immediately placed under custody, citing concerns of flight and possible destruction of evidence. The two were b

SK hynix projected Wednesday that the performance scale of artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure will grow roughly 20-fold by 2030, driven by rapidly rising demand for AI inference. Ahn Hyun, head of development at the Korean chip giant, made the projection during his keynote speech at the 2026 Semiconductor Exhibition (SEDEX), which opened earlier in the day for a three-day run in southern Seoul. Ahn said the AI inference market is expanding simultaneously in three areas — task complexity, the amount of information processed at a time, and the volume of inference requests. The interaction of the three factors is rapidly increasing demand for AI infrastructure, he said. As demand for AI inference surges, memory is becoming increasingly important for storing and transferring large volumes of data. In particular, the growing capacity requirements of key-value (KV) caches, which store and reuse information previously processed by AI models, are requiring data to be distributed across different types of memory, including high-bandwidth memory (HBM), dynamic random-access memory (DRAM)

The KOSPI will likely hit fresh all-time highs over the next six to 12 months, as Korean stocks have been oversold amid broader investor concerns about artificial intelligence (AI), veteran Wall Street analyst Dan Ives said Wednesday. "Memory is the heart and lungs of the AI revolution," Ives, a partner and senior managing director at Yorkville Ives, said during a press conference in Seoul. "It just creates an opportunity to own these stocks when irrationality hits the market, which I think is what's happening right now here in Korea." Ives, who has 25 years of experience as a Wall Street technology analyst, said the foreign investor sell-off in shares of Samsung Electronics and SK hynix is nearing an end. Foreign investors were net sellers of 199.1 trillion won ($148.9 billion) worth of KOSPI-listed shares this year through Monday, with Samsung Electronics and SK hynix accounting for 173.2 trillion won, or 87 percent of the total, according to the Korea Exchange. He said there is a significant disconnect between the companies' fundamentals and their share prices, as the memory chip mark

Korea is bringing together archivists and cultural experts from 16 Asia-Pacific nations in Jakarta, Indonesia for an international workshop focused on preserving historical records and preparing them for global recognition under UNESCO’s documentary heritage program. The 2026 UNESCO Memory of the World International Capacity-Training Workshop, running from Tuesday to Friday, is hosted by the Korea’s Heritage Service and Korean National Commission for UNESCO at the National Archives of Indonesia. Launched in 2009, the annual program provides practical training for countries seeking to identify significant documentary heritage and prepare nominations for UNESCO’s Memory of the World register, with particular attention to nations underrepresented on the international list. Over 17 years, 18 documentary heritage items from participating countries have been added to the register, while 11 others have entered regional registers, organizers said. This year’s workshop is the largest yet, drawing participants from Timor-Leste, Laos, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Sri Lanka, Uzbek

Korea is bringing its traditional paper conservation expertise to Vietnam for the first time, training museum specialists in techniques designed to preserve fragile historical documents and books. The National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage’s Cultural Heritage Conservation Science Center is conducting the training program from Oct. 14 to 22 at the National Museum of History in Hanoi, targeting 14 conservation professionals from the Vietnamese institution. The program, organized in connection with the Korea Heritage Service’s official development assistance initiatives, focuses on conserving paper-based cultural heritage through practical, hands-on instruction. Since 2013, the center has conducted 15 training sessions at 11 institutions across seven Asian countries, including Mongolia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan and Indonesia, training a total of 279 participants. Vietnam is the latest country to participate in the initiative, which aims to strengthen conservation expertise in countries with limited infrastructure for protecting and managing cultural her

Hanwha Group said Wednesday it has appointed an independent director as chair of the board at Hanwha Corp., the group's holding company, adding that other listed Hanwha affiliates will also appoint independent directors as board chairs. During a board meeting, the holding company appointed Kwon Ik-hwan as the new chairman of the board, replacing Kim Woo-seok, who is the company’s construction division CEO. Kwon is a former prosecutor who served as head of the Ministry of Justice's Planning and Coordination Office and chief prosecutor of the Daejeon and Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Offices. Since joining Hanwha Corp.'s board in 2022, Kwon has chaired the internal transactions committee and been a member of the audit committee and environmental, social and corporate governance committee. Hanwha Corp. said Kwon is expected to lead the board's decision-making transparently based on expertise in law and capital markets. The group said defense electronics unit Hanwha Systems and shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean will also appoint independent directors as chairs of their respective boards. Bot

Seoul will introduce online group reservations for its Hangang Bus ferry service starting Monday, allowing companies, schools and other organizations to book rides in advance instead of relying on tickets distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at docks. The pilot service, operated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, will initially cover Magok and Jamsil docks on weekdays, with the first reserved trips available Tuesday. Bookings will open at 10 a.m. Monday through Naver Map and Naver Place, where users can select a dock, travel date, route, departure time and passenger count before entering their details and paying the fare. Each departure will accept reservations for groups of 10 to 30 people, with bookings and refunds available until 11:59 p.m. the day before travel. Fares are 3,000 won ($2.20) for adults, 1,800 won for teenagers and 1,100 won for children. Passengers with reservations must arrive at their selected dock at least 30 minutes before departure to verify their booking, complete boarding registration and follow instructions from safety personnel. The new system aims

Songpa District in southeastern Seoul — home to the city’s iconic Olympic Park — will host its 26th annual cultural festival starting Wednesday, blending ancient heritage with modern K-pop and contemporary Korean culture. The event takes place at the park’s 88 Lawn Plaza. The festival, which is happening at Olympic Park's 88 Lawn Plaza, will open Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. with a welcome drone show featuring 900 drones, alongside media art and contemporary dance performances. The opening program will include “O Fortuna” performed by the Songpa District Symphony Orchestra, along with performances by tenors Yoon Jung-soo, Jin Sung-won and Lee Dong-myung. K-pop and hip-hop performers Davichi and Loco will take the stage later that evening, followed by another large-scale drone display. The next day will focus on community participation, opening with the musical gala “Standing by the River,” which reinterprets the Baekjae period (18 B.C.-660 A.D.) legend of Domi Ferry. Residents from across the district will then perform in the Hanmaeum Eoull Madang program, showcasing talents cultiva

As autumn settles over the capital, Seoul’s riverside will come alive with music on Oct. 24, when the annual Seoul Music Festival takes over Nodeul Island. Featuring a diverse lineup of rock, folk and ballads, the one-day event offers free concerts and immersive musical experiences against the backdrop of the Han River. Organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the 2026 festival will feature its main concert from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. under the theme “Good music stories told by Seoul,” bringing together artists from different generations and musical traditions. The lineup includes Paul Kim, Kwon Jin-ah, Oksang Dalbit, Kim Chang-wan Band, Chudahye Chagis and Nerd Connection, with GLL scheduled to perform before the main program. Launched in 2019, the festival has become a signature music event offering residents and visitors free access to live performances and cultural activities. Beyond the concert, visitors can explore record exhibitions and listening stations organized in collaboration with the Korean Music Awards, as well as busking performances, music talk shows, photo booths

Actors Ha Jung-woo and Cha Jung-won are set to tie the knot in December. An official from Ha's agency, Workhouse Company, told Xportsnews on Wednesday that the two will marry on Dec. 13 at "an undisclosed location in Seoul." The wedding will be held privately, according to the official. Ha and Cha first met in 2020 and maintained a low-profile relationship for about six years, initially as colleagues in the entertainment industry and later as a couple. Their relationship became public earlier this year after reports emerged that they were dating. The pair subsequently confirmed their relationship, ending years of keeping their romance largely out of the public eye. The wedding announcement comes with a touch of irony. When marriage rumors surfaced in July, the couple had drawn a line under speculation that a wedding was imminent. They are now set to make it official just five months later. Ha, born in 1978, made his film debut in "Madeleine" in 2002 and has since become one of Korea's best-known film actors. His major works include "The Chaser," "Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time," "The

Seoul is holding a 12-day event from Wednesday to Oct. 25 to promote long-running local restaurants and shops and the neighborhoods around them, the city government said. Oraegage Week 2026 has added 15 shops this year from four districts in northeastern Seoul: Gwangjin, Dongdaemun, Seongdong and Jungnang. The additions bring the total number of recognized stores across the city to 150. Oraegage, a Korean pun roughly translating to “old shops that will last longer,” is a program the city has run since 2017. It selects shops specializing in food, traditional crafts and culture with connections to Seoul’s history, and promotes their stories to create tourist attractions. “Oraegage are precious tourism assets that have preserved local character while passing down Seoul’s flavors and stories over many years,” said Cho Sung-ho, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Tourism and Sports Bureau. “We hope this Oraegage Week serves as an opportunity for citizens and tourists to rediscover the charm of Seoul’s historic eateries and alleyways while breathing new life into loc

Sung Jung-yong, a veteran bartender educator known in Korea’s drinks industry as a mentor to generations of bartenders, has been inducted into Keepers of the Quaich, one of Scotch whisky’s most prestigious international honorary organizations. Diageo Korea said Wednesday that Sung received the distinction in recognition of his contributions to the Scotch whisky industry and efforts to broaden understanding of whisky culture. Founded in 1988, Keepers of the Quaich is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting Scotch whisky’s heritage and standing, with members active in more than 100 countries. Membership is reserved for individuals who have demonstrated sustained expertise and made significant contributions to the industry, with candidates nominated and selected through a rigorous review process. Sung began his career as a bartender at The Shilla Seoul and started training other bartenders in 2008, building a reputation as an influential educator in Korea’s hospitality industry. Since 2014, he has served as Diageo Korea’s brand ambassador and head of the Diag

LG CNS, the information technology services affiliate of LG Group, signed a memorandum of understanding with Japanese telecom company KDDI to work together on artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation projects across the Asia-Pacific region, the Korean company said Wednesday. KDDI is one of Japan’s three major telecom operators. It provides consumer mobile and internet services as well as business IT services such as AI, cloud and network infrastructure. It runs business operations at 19 sites in 15 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The partnership combines LG CNS’ AI and digital transformation expertise with KDDI’s telecom infrastructure and global network to find new business opportunities in AI, smart cities, telecommunications and integrated IT system management. The two companies will explore developing agentic AI services — AI systems that can carry out tasks on their own — tailored to local businesses in KDDI’s regional markets. The services will be based on AgenticWorks, LG CNS’ agentic AI platform. They will also consider working together on autom

Netflix generated more than 1 trillion won ($730 million) in revenue in Korea last year, but sent 81 percent of that sum to its U.S. parent company, leaving its Korean operation with an operating profit of just 20.3 billion won, according to an analysis of its financial statements. Rep. Han Jun-ho of the Democratic Party of Korea, a member of the National Assembly’s Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, analyzed the audit report of Netflix Services Korea and found that the company’s domestic revenue rose to 1.0542 trillion won in 2025, up from 631.7 billion won in 2021. The figures highlight a widening contrast between Netflix’s growth and the financial struggles of domestic streaming platforms, with Tving reporting an operating loss of 69.8 billion won last year and Wavve losing 12.2 billion won. Netflix also dominated paid streaming subscriptions, with a usage rate of 46.7 percent, compared with 13 percent for Tving, according to the Korea Media and Communications Commission’s 2025 survey on broadcast media use. Of Netflix Korea’s 1.05 trillion won in reven

Rose of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK will perform at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's annual Art+Film Gala next month in Los Angeles, the museum announced. The singer is the musical guest of this year's edition honoring artist Vija Celmins and filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, the museum said on its website Tuesday (U.S. time). Co-chaired by LACMA trustee Eva Chow and actor Leonardo DiCaprio, the gala will take place Nov. 7. Gucci is returning as the presenting sponsor, with Audi providing transportation and additional support. "The LACMA Art+Film Gala celebrates creative icons and the connections between all forms of creativity, all around the world," Chow said in a statement. "As a global pop superstar, Rose will amplify the spirit of the evening with her incomparable talent and style." Proceeds from the annual fundraiser support the initiative to make film more central to the museum's curatorial programming and its broader mission, including exhibitions, acquisitions and educational programming.

A special counsel team on Wednesday raided the National Election Commission (NEC) over suspicions of bid rigging involving around 5 billion won ($3.7 million) worth of election supplies. Special counsel Lee Tae-han's team said it sent investigators to the NEC's office and four other locations, including election supplies companies, to search for and seize evidence in connection with the allegations. Lee's team said it has found signs of alleged collusion between the NEC and the companies regarding polling station supplies for the presidential election last year and the local elections in June. The special counsel team launched last month to investigate ballot shortages reported across the country during the June 3 local elections in addition to other allegations of misconduct by the election watchdog.

The 2026 Korean Dream Hangang Festival brought the message of Korean unification to the banks of the Han River on National Foundation Day, seeking to engage the public through music, performances and citizen participation. Held at Ttukseom Hangang Park in Seoul on Oct. 3, the festival carried the theme “From one beginning to one future,” tracing Korea’s shared origins and history of division while looking toward peace and unification. The event was hosted by the Korean Dream Hangang Festival organizing committee with support from the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Organizers said this year’s event was designed to mark National Foundation Day by reflecting on the origins and future of the Korean people. The festival drew on the traditional principle of "Hongik Ingan," broadly translated as “benefiting all humanity,” while seeking to present unification through culture and public participation rather than political discussion alone. The festival followed last year’s event, held at the same venue as part of celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from

Calls for South Korea to take the lead in shaping the unification agenda, rather than focusing on managing the division of the Korean Peninsula, took center stage at the International Forum on One Korea 2026, Oct. 2. The forum drew some 400 scholars, policymakers and civil society leaders to the Fairmont Ambassador Seoul hotel in Yeouido, including 140 Korean Peninsula experts from 20 countries. Launched in 2016, the annual event was co-hosted by the Global Peace Foundation, which holds special consultative status with the United Nations, and Action for Korea United, a civic coalition advocating unification. Speakers called for a strategic shift toward pursuing a free and unified Korea, arguing that unification could address North Korea’s nuclear and human rights issues while opening new economic opportunities. Hyunjin Preston Moon, chairman of the Global Peace Foundation (GPF), said North Korea’s abandonment of its long-standing unification policy has given South Korea an opening to take the lead on the issue. In his keynote address, Moon urged the government to adopt the Korean Drea

Global Peace Foundation (GPF) leaders and experts emphasized that South Korea should take the lead in shaping the unification agenda, calling for younger generations to view unification as an opportunity rather than an economic burden. Hyunjin Preston Moon, chairman of GPF, said North Korea’s abandonment of its long-standing goal of unification has created a rare opportunity for South Korea to take the initiative. “North Korea today looks at South Korea as their enemy and has abandoned the unification agenda,” he said. “That creates a tremendous opportunity for South Korea to claim the entirety of the unification agenda.” He stressed that unification should be driven by Koreans themselves, with South Korea setting the direction rather than leaving the issue to surrounding powers. “The unification process has to be Korean-led,” he said, adding that a clear commitment from South Koreans could help build broader international support for unification. Moon said changing how younger Koreans view unification is crucial, as many see it as an added financial burden amid existing con

Seoul is bringing printing out of the workshop and into the public square Thursday, inviting visitors to explore centuries-old techniques, experiment with modern printing technology and discover how an industry often taken for granted continues to evolve. The 17th Seoul Printing Awards and Printing Culture Festival will open at 10:30 a.m. at Cheonggye Plaza under the theme “Printing connects the world,” the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday. This year’s Seoul Printing Awards attracted a record 277 entries, with the grand prize going to FORTUNE ART SERIES by Taeyoung Plus. The winning work reinterprets traditional Korean folk paintings using shredded banknotes, combining printed textures and colors with acrylic, laser cutting and an emphasis on resource recycling. Four entries received gold prizes, including a four-piece Hypnotic Paradise diary set by Eco de Soul, a handmade calendar and notebook collection using rice-straw paper by Seongbo Paper, a work titled “Horse,” inspired by Korean folk symbolism, by Art Printing Co., and packaging for Daewon Pharmaceutical’s

The organizer of the CES technology trade show on Wednesday highlighted Korean companies' innovation in cutting-edge technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), ahead of next year's event. "There are several things Korea does that are so important to CES," Kinsey Fabrizio, president and CEO of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), said during a press conference in Seoul, pointing to the "tremendous amount of innovation" in AI across the country. The 2027 CES will be held in Las Vegas from Jan. 6-9. Another area where Korea stands out is its startup innovation culture, Fabrizio said, noting that startups accounted for about half of the roughly 800 Korean companies that participated in this year's event. "We saw Korea's presence at CES 2026," Melissa Harrison, a CTA vice president, said. She added that a range of Korean companies, including Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, SK hynix, Hyundai Mobis and Kia, are planning to attend next year's show. The press conference came as an increasing number of Korean companies, including those affiliated with SK Group, have withdraw

Employees at a government-funded research institute responsible for national cybersecurity have been disciplined after they were caught playing video games together during work hours. According to data obtained by Rep. Hwang Jung-a of the Democratic Party of Korea, a member of the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, from the National Security Research Institute (NSR), an affiliate of the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), five employees at the institute's Cyber Security Training Center were disciplined after an investigation found that they had spent as many as 90 hours connected to Battle.net, the online gaming service used for StarCraft, during work hours. StarCraft is a strategy game developed by U.S. video game company Blizzard Entertainment. The five employees repeatedly accessed the game server on their work computers between September and December 2024 when their supervisor was away on vacation or business trips. One employee was connected for as long as eight hours and 53 minutes in a single day. Another was co

Actors Han Ji-min and Koo Kyo-hwan have been cast as a married couple contemplating divorce in an upcoming disaster comedy film, its distributor said Wednesday. With the working title "The Typhoon," the comedy follows Jae-yi (Han) and Jin-mo (Koo), as they encounter a mega typhoon during a trip for a relative's wedding, according to CJ ENM. In the film, Jin-mo appears as a graduate of a prestigious university who is now an average office worker, while Jae-yi appears as a stay-at-home mom aspiring to become a YouTuber, and is a talented former employee of a publishing house. The cast also includes Oh Jung-se, Han Sun-hwa and Kim Eung-soo. The film is directed by Lee Jeong-ho, who helmed "Broken" (2014) and "The Beast" (2019). Shooting began earlier this month, and the film is set for release next year.

President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday appointed the head of the National Tax Service (NTS) as his new chief of staff, his office said. Outgoing chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik announced the appointment of Lim Kwang-hyun as his successor, weeks after he offered to resign amid Lee's falling approval ratings and controversy over the qualifications of two Cabinet nominees, who ultimately withdrew. "(Lim) is a former economic official-turned-politician with both abundant administrative experience and political acumen," Kang told a press briefing at Cheong Wa Dae. "With experience across the National Assembly and government, he is the right person to more broadly incorporate the people's voices into the running of state affairs and speed up state achievements through cooperation between the ruling party, government and Cheong Wa Dae," he said. Lim served in various posts at the NTS before being elected a lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea by proportional representation in 2024. He gave up his parliamentary seat upon taking office as NTS chief in 2025. Standing alongside Kang, Lim told

Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK) officially launched its Vietnam subsidiary in Hanoi, aiming to expand financial support for Korean companies operating in the country and serve as a bridge for financial cooperation between the two countries, the state-run lender said Wednesday. The launch ceremony, held in Hanoi on Tuesday, came after the lender completed the establishment process following final approval from the State Bank of Vietnam in April. The subsidiary began operations on Sept. 25. The subsidiary is Vietnam's 10th foreign-owned bank, according to IBK. IBK Vietnam Bank plans to build on the operating experience of IBK's branches in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as the state-run lender's more than six decades of expertise in policy financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The bank will expand its network around major industrial complexes to better serve Korean businesses operating in Vietnam and provide financing to support productive investment and economic cooperation between the two countries. "IBK Vietnam Bank's official launch marks a new chapter in our loca

LG Electronics has built an alliance with Apple in the home artificial intelligence (AI) sector, unveiling a range of internet of things (IoT) devices that will be integrated into Apple's ecosystem. The two companies’ partnership is now extending into the home appliance sector, evolving from component supplies and service integration to jointly developing finished products. For LG Electronics, the collaboration provides access to Apple’s global ecosystem, while Apple can leverage LG’s expertise in home appliances to strengthen its presence in the smart home market. LG Electronics and Apple jointly held a new product showcase in Manhattan, New York, Tuesday (local time), unveiling seven IoT devices. LG Electronics North America CEO Kwack Do-yeong, LG Electronics Home Appliance Solution Platform Business Center Head Jung Ki-hyun and Apple Vice President of Hardware Engineering Matthew Costello attended the event. Dubbed as smart home accessories, the devices include indoor and outdoor cameras, a video doorbell, a smart lock, a smart thermostat and a temperature sensor. They were co-

Korea has launched an ambitious national search for candidate sites to construct next-generation multipurpose indoor stadiums, aiming to address a chronic shortage of premier venues capable of hosting international sporting events and global K-pop concerts year-round. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Wednesday that it will accept bids from regional local governments and public institutions through Dec. 8. The government plans to select two candidate sites by the end of December — one for a large-scale dome capable of seating at least 40,000 spectators and accommodating over 50,000 people for concerts, and another for a medium-scale venue designed for 20,000 to 40,000 seats. The multibillion-won initiative, targeted for completion in 2034, reflects the government’s broader policy agenda to expand public access to sports and culture while establishing iconic, world-class landmarks to draw international tourists and stimulate regional economies. The drive comes as Korea’s cultural and entertainment industries grapple with an acute lack of covered, mega-capacity arenas

The U.S. Justice Department has agreed to forgo prosecution of a former CIA analyst and White House National Security Council official who was accused of working as an unregistered agent for South Korea in exchange for luxury goods and other gifts. Under a deferred prosecution deal reached with foreign policy specialist Sue Mi Terry, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York said it would suspend criminal charges in the grand jury indictment returned against her in July 2024. Provided that Terry abides by several conditions stipulated in the deal, including restrictions on her travel and contacts with the government of South Korea, the case against her would be dropped altogether after 12 months of compliance. Terms of the agreement were laid out in a four-page deferred prosecution notice filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan on Tuesday. It gave Terry no explanation for why the Justice Department was essentially giving up its high-profile intelligence case except to say it had determined "that the interests of the United States and your own interest will be bes

A bridge between North Korea and China will officially open to traffic this week after sitting idle for more than a decade following its construction, according to a Chinese news report on Wednesday. The New Yalu River Bridge, which connects the North Korean city of Sinuiju and Dandong in China, will open Thursday, according to China's Xinhua News Agency. There will be an opening ceremony on that day, the report said. The construction of the four-lane motor bridge began in October 2011 and wrapped up in October 2014, but it stood unused for years because North Korea did not finish the buildings and infrastructure on its side. Vehicles have recently been spotted crossing the 3,024-meter bridge, raising the possibility of a test run. The bridge, which is expected to boost trade and personnel exchanges between the two countries, opens after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged at their June summit in Pyongyang to raise their ties to a strategic level and enhance exchanges. It would supplement the existing Friendship Bridge, which opened in 1943 and has long

Students from the Department of Smart City Architectural Engineering at Chungnam National University donated all proceeds from the sale of locally themed merchandise at a regional festival to the university’s development fund. The university said five students met with university president Kim Jeong-kyoum on Tuesday and donated 728,000 won ($544) to the fund. The students — Shim Byeol, Park Ji-bin, Oh Yun-seo, Lee Yeon and Jang Seo-hee — were accompanied by their faculty advisers Kim Gyu-young and Lim Seung-cheol. As part of the Living Lab Capstone course, the students designed and sold merchandise at a regional festival as members of a team called “Oncheon Osungi.” Their products combined the appeal of Yuseong Hot Springs with Daejeon’s identity as a science city. The students ran an interactive booth at the 2026 Midsummer Night’s Yuseong Music Festa, held Aug. 7-9. They showcased keycaps inspired by Yuseong Hot Springs and the local specialty Pongdang Bread, as well as merchandise featuring the university mascot, Chacha. The university said the students designed and produce

South Korea and the United States are in talks to set the date for their high-level defense dialogue after the U.S. midterms, informed sources said Wednesday, a move that would mark a delay of the annual talks typically held in early November. According to the sources, the allies have reached a mutual "understanding" to push back the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) largely due to the U.S. midterm elections slated for Nov. 3. Washington is due to host this year's SCM. The apparent delay, however, comes amid a perceived gap between Seoul and Washington over the timing of the U.S.' handover of wartime operational control (OPCON) to South Korea. Seoul seeks to retake wartime OPCON from Washington before the Lee Jae Myung administration's five-year term ends in 2030, or even as early as next year. Washington has expressed reservations about rushing the transition out of political considerations. "The U.S. side has raised the need for rescheduling considering the midterm elections and other factors," a source said. Another source said that both sides "are aligned on delaying the schedule." T

Firefighters on Wednesday extinguished a blaze at a chemical manufacturing company in the southeastern city of Ulsan that forced thousands to evacuate, officials said, with no casualties reported. The fire at the company facility in Ulsan, about 310 kilometers southeast of Seoul, was fully extinguished at 1:50 p.m. about four hours after it began at 9:41 a.m., according to the Ulsan Fire Headquarters. No casualties have so far been reported from the blaze, which forced 12 company workers and about 7,000 workers at a nearby construction site to evacuate to safe locations. The fire is believed to have erupted as toluene, a flammable material, was being transferred to drum containers. The blaze then spread to storage tanks containing various hazardous materials, including acetone and ethanol. Fire authorities mobilized 201 personnel and 49 pieces of equipment to combat the blaze. Police and fire authorities plan to investigate the exact cause of the blaze.

BUSAN — A group of Taiwanese women burst into laughter and applause as a Korean man sitting next to them at a street food stall in Nampo-dong, Busan, poured soju into beer glasses to make poktanju, a Korean cocktail often called a bomb drink. The women had been watching him prepare the drink while enjoying the lively street lined with food stalls on the night of Oct. 7. When he offered them a round, their surprise quickly turned into excitement. “This is our second visit,” one of the women said. “The first time, we felt strange, so we did not try food or drink before. Today, we decided to try. The man made us poktanju and it is so nice. We will never forget this.” The Korean man, who was drinking with his friends, said he had noticed the women looking curiously at their table. “They kept looking at us, so I made some for them,” he said. “I hope they have a great time in Busan and take home lots of good memories.” The exchange offered a glimpse of what draws overseas visitors to the southeastern Korean city. Beyond its beaches and scenic views, the port city offers opport

A landmark exhibition featuring more than 40 iconic Korean television dramas has opened in Seoul, offering international audiences an immersive look into the storytelling and real-world settings behind the country’s biggest cultural exports. Co-organized by Studio Dragon, the production company behind "Crash Landing on You" and other popular works, and the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), "K-Drama Exhibition: Scenes to Destinations" has attracted visitors touring around Seoul. Running at HiKR Ground near Cheonggyecheon Stream through Nov. 19, the exhibition features five thematic zones: Script, Scene, Sound, Prop, and Location. Interactive journey into narrative, emotion On entry, visitors step into a recreation of the hotel reception desk from the 2019 drama "Hotel Del Luna." In the Script Zone, guests become screenwriters and complete unfinished scripts or collect printed cards featuring memorable lines. International K-drama fans at the exhibition emphasized the emotional connection that draws them to Korean series. "The first Korean drama I ever watched was 'Healer,'" said Ester, 49

The suspect in this week's stabbing spree in Incheon has cited frustration over his treatment at a hospital as the motive for his crime, police said Wednesday. The 59-year-old man gave the account to investigators during questioning, one day after he attacked random people at a shopping complex in the city west of Seoul, injuring eight, including one who remains unconscious. "I did not target any specific person, and I chose people who looked weaker than me, but I had no intention to kill," the suspect was quoted as saying during questioning at Incheon's Namdong Police Station. According to police, the man received treatment for athlete's foot at a local hospital but was unhappy that his symptoms did not improve and began to stage a one-man protest in front of the facility in August. The hospital reported him to the police for carrying a weapon during the protests, and he was booked last month before undergoing questioning last week. "I was unhappy with the hospital and unhappy that I was investigated by the police because the hospital reported me," he was quoted as telling investigators.

Min Hee-jin, former CEO of HYBE subsidiary Ador, has been referred to prosecutors on suspicion of defamation and obstruction of business over her claims that HYBE girl group Illit copied NewJeans, a girl group she had nurtured. The Yongsan Police Station in Seoul confirmed Tuesday that it had sent the case to prosecutors on Oct. 1, believing Min spread false plagiarism claims to disparage HYBE and Illit's label, Belift Lab. Two former Ador vice presidents were also referred on the same allegations. Min first raised the allegations in April 2024, claiming Illit had copied NewJeans' debut strategy, choreography and visual concept. Belift Lab filed a criminal complaint against her the following month. Courts evaluating the disputes have so far declined to recognize the plagiarism claims. In March 2025, ruling on Ador's injunction request to confirm its status as NewJeans' agency, a court said it was difficult to view Illit's concept as a copy of NewJeans. In October 2025, a court upholding NewJeans' exclusive contracts with Ador found some similarities in the groups' internal documents and p

National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik has met with Greek lawmakers in Athens to discuss ways to step up bilateral cooperation in defense and high-tech industries, his office said Wednesday. Cho made the remarks during a luncheon meeting Tuesday (local time), outlining the Korean government's economic strategy on artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, culture, defense, energy and manufacturing. "We firmly believe that South Korea and Greece can cooperate closely in these areas and achieve mutually beneficial development through deeper cooperation," he said. Cho expressed hope that Korean companies could help strengthen Greece's naval capabilities through closer cooperation in shipbuilding and defense. Ioannis Plakiotakis, first vice speaker of the Greek parliament, said the two countries have maintained strong economic cooperation in shipping and shipbuilding, noting that their bilateral ties have expanded into other areas, including tourism and culture. He also stressed the importance of establishing direct flights between Seoul and Athens to boost tourism. Representatives from Kor

BANGKOK — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) lowered its forecasts for Korea's government debt to gross domestic product (GDP) ratio through 2031, citing its strong economic growth and prospects for improved revenue conditions, the budget ministry said Wednesday. The Washington-based organization said in the IMF Fiscal Monitor report that Seoul's government gross debt-to-GDP ratio would reach 46.1 percent this year, projecting it will remain in the mid-40 percent to low-50 percent range through 2031. The 2026 projection marks a decrease of 8.3 percentage points from the April edition. The IMF also expected the ratio will reach 51.3 percent in 2031, down 11.8 percentage points from its April forecast. The projected ratio for this year represents around 37 percent of the Group of Seven average of 123.6 percent and 43 percent of the average of 107.6 percent for 38 advanced economies. The Ministry of Planning and Budget said the IMF's latest assessment reflects Korea's efforts to create a virtuous cycle in which expansionary fiscal policy supports economic growth, which in turn generates

"Dracula," a collaboration single between Australian act Tame Impala and BLACKPINK's Jennie, has rebounded to No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 main singles chart. The track climbed six spots from the previous week, extending its run in the top 10 to 20 consecutive weeks, according to the latest chart released Tuesday (U.S. time). Originally released as a solo track by Tame Impala in October last year, "Dracula" gained renewed traction after a remix featuring Jennie was released in February, going viral on short-form video platforms and climbing up the rankings. The song peaked at No. 5 on the Hot 100. Elsewhere on the Hot 100, K-pop girl group Katseye's "Animal" ranked No. 32, down two spots from the previous week. On the Billboard 200, the main albums chart, boy group Stray Kids' "This & That" ranked No. 29. The original soundtrack for the Netflix hit animation "KPop Demon Hunters" and Katseye's "Wild" placed No. 37 and No. 39, respectively. K-pop supergroup BTS' fifth full-length album, "ARIRANG," ranked 43th, staying on the chart for a 29th consecutive week. Boy group Enhypen's "The Sin:

Singer-songwriter Hebron, the solo folk project of MGFF vocalist Byun Ha-eun, has opened the doors to “House of Green,” his first full-length album released Sept. 15. A collection of songs written over the course of a decade, the 13-track album traces the artist’s experiences of the world after “stepping out of his house” — comprising stories of love, separation and longing. It features the 2024 single “Anchor,” alongside long-unreleased fan favorites such as “Greeting” and “Honestly.” He also released a physical edition Oct. 6, featuring additional tracks including “Window” and “Home,” bringing the total to 20 songs. “The overarching themes of this record simply couldn’t be captured in anything less than a full-length format,” he told The Korea Times. “I believe these tracks could only truly become the ‘House of Green’ when gathered together.” “House of Green,” a theme that Hebron had been eager to explore for a long time, “is actually the name of our family’s group chat.” It was taken from a scene in a film his mother watched when

Everland, Korea’s largest theme park, said Wednesday that three baby capybaras were born at its zoo last month, and they will meet visitors starting Thursday. The triplets were born Sept. 28 to Dotom, a male, and Dutum, a female. Both parents were born in 2024. Everland is run by the resort division of Samsung C&T and is located in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. Each baby weighed about 1 kilogram at birth. Two weeks later, all three are healthy and nursing under the care of the park’s veterinarians and zookeepers. Native to rivers and wetlands in South America, capybaras are the world’s largest living rodents and live about 10 years on average. After a pregnancy of about four to five months, females give birth to several young at a time. Newborns are well developed. They are born with fur and open eyes, and they can walk right away. Known for their round ears, blunt noses and relaxed manner, capybaras are among the most popular animals at Korean zoos. Photos and videos of them calmly sitting alongside ducks, turtles and monkeys have spread widely online. At Everland’s zoo, capybaras

Korean director July Jung, whose works have been invited to the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, has received a French cultural order, the French Embassy in Korea said Wednesday. Jung was awarded the Chevalier of France's Order of Arts and Letters in a French Night ceremony held in the southeastern city of Busan last week, according to the embassy. The Chevalier is one of three grades that comprise the Order of Arts and Letters, alongside the Commandeur and the Officier. Jung, who made her directorial feature debut through "A Girl at My Door" (2014), has also helmed "Next Sohee" (2022) and "Dora" (2026). All three features were screened at Cannes. Her latest feature, "Dora," is a film co-produced by Korea, France and Luxembourg. Jung said she was initially unsure whether she was eligible to receive the honor, but she then remembered the support she received from the French audiences she had met across the French cities of Paris, Cannes and Strasbourg. "Thanks to their encouragement, I once again realized the power of cinema, in which the lives portrayed in a film could become our own stor

Global girl group KATSEYE made headlines Wednesday with the digital release of its new single “Unloveu.” Co-written by group member Lara, the track was previously available exclusively as a hidden bonus track on the physical limited-edition release of their third EP, "WILD." Lyrically, “Unloveu” captures the delicate, quiet moment of finally letting go of someone after a breakup. It traces the gradual emotional shifting when a once-overwhelming connection softly fades into the distance. Musically, the track marks a captivating departure from the high-energy, dance-driven anthems that define the rest of "WILD." Instead, it leans into restrained, intimate vocals and intricately layered harmonies, anchored by a hypnotic title phrase repeated like a soulful chant throughout. Lara crafted the song alongside acclaimed hitmaker Ross Golan — who has written for Maroon 5 and Justin Bieber — and Grammy-winning songwriter Amy Allen, best known for her chart-topping work with Sabrina Carpenter. Accompanying the drop, a sleek black-and-white visualizer was unveiled on the HYBE LABELS YouT

Seven years have passed since the death of Sulli, an actor and former member of K-pop girl group f(x) whose real name was Choi Jin-ri. Having debuted as a child actor before building a career as both a singer and actor, Sulli was widely loved by the public. Years after her death, she continues to be remembered through her work and records of her life. Sulli was found dead at her home in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, on Oct. 14, 2019. She was 25. Her manager found her and called the police after going to her home when he was unable to reach her following a phone conversation with her the previous day. Police investigated the circumstances of her death, including conducting an autopsy, and found no evidence of foul play. Sulli had reportedly taken part in an advertisement shoot until the day before her death and was scheduled to film a television program on the day she died. The sudden news sent shock waves through the entertainment industry and prompted an outpouring of tributes from the public. Born in 1994, Sulli began her acting career in the 2005 SBS drama "Ballad of Seodong." In 2009

The Melon Music Awards (MMA) is turning up the volume for its 18th edition, bringing 26 K-pop acts to Seoul for a two-night celebration of chart-topping hits, reunions and rising stars in November. MMA2026 will take place Nov. 14 and 15 at Gocheok Sky Dome, with KakaoBank serving as title sponsor, Melon announced Wednesday, completing a lineup that spans established groups and emerging performers. The final 11 additions include I.O.I, aespa, IVE, Dragon Pony, KiiiKiii, CORTIS, IDID, hrtz.wav, AEN, TUIDE and HANA, joining 15 acts announced earlier. The first night, Nov. 14, will feature 14 acts, including I.O.I, returning to the stage after a reunion that comes about nine years after the group's previous activities, alongside aespa and Japanese girl group HANA. Other performers scheduled for the opening night include NCT DREAM, ATEEZ, YENA, RIIZE, TWS, RESCENE, Hearts2Hearts, Dragon Pony, IDID, AEN and TUIDE. The second night, Nov. 15, will feature 12 acts, including IVE, KiiiKiii, CORTIS and hrtz.wav, alongside NCT 127, PLAVE, 82MAJOR, NCT WISH, ILLIT, ALPHA DRIVE ONE, LNGSHOT and AND2BLE

K-pop powerhouse BABYMONSTER is back to capture hearts once again. The sensational girl group is set to drop a brand-new digital single, “DESERVE,” on Oct. 23, making a swift comeback just four months after their last release, agency YG Entertainment officially said Wednesday. “DESERVE” marks the group’s fifth heavily promoted track of an exceptionally busy and successful year. BABYMONSTER has dominated the airwaves throughout 2026, starting with its third EP, "CHOOM" — the Korean word for dance — alongside popular releases like “SUGAR HONEY ICE TEA” (released June 8), “I LIKE IT” and “MOON.” To kick off the countdown, YG unveiled an intriguing teaser poster across its official social media channels. Drenched in a moody black-and-white aesthetic, the image features the title “DESERVE” rendered in soft, blurred typography against a textured background resembling torn paper. This distinctly vintage, raw visual direction offers a dramatic contrast to the dreamy, ethereal tone of their earlier teasers, instantly sparking fan speculation about the new concept. Ad

When Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Yoo Mi-young was assigned to Udo Island, it was not the well-known tourist destination off Jeju but a much smaller island off Ganghwa in Incheon, near the inter-Korean maritime border. The scenery immediately caught her eye, but so did the significance of serving at one of Korea’s front-line military outposts. It is during nighttime guard duty, with the coastline quiet around her, that Yoo feels the weight of that responsibility. “When I look out over the coast in the stillness of the night, I feel a strong sense of responsibility for guarding the country’s front line,” Yoo said in an interview with The Korea Times. Yoo serves as deputy platoon leader of the Marine Corps’ Udo Guard Unit, part of the Yeonpyeong Unit, where her duties include coastal security operations, training and equipment inspections. Commissioned in July 2023, Yoo said she joined the Marines to challenge herself and serve her country. She was drawn to the demanding training and the chance to push her limits alongside fellow Marines, despite her family’s initial concerns about h

UNITED NATIONS — Human rights groups sharply criticized Tuesday's uncontested election of 15 members of the United Nations’ premier human rights body, saying it resulted in countries with poor rights records winning seats. Positions on the 47-nation Human Rights Council are allocated to the U.N.’s regional groups to ensure geographical representation. And for the second year in a row, all regional groups put forward the exact number of candidates for available seats for the three-year term. This meant that in Tuesday’s election in the 193-member General Assembly there were no competitive races. “This uncompetitive vote makes a mockery of the word ‘election,’” said Louis Charbonneau, U.N. director at Human Rights Watch. “No one should have a seat on this crucial body handed to them on a silver platter.” He called on U.N. member nations to “insist on competitive slates so they can reject candidates with poor human rights records.” In Tuesday’s vote, the Africa group’s Zambia, Ghana, Nigeria and Burundi were elected. The Asia-Pacific group’s Kuwait, Nepal, Jord

K-pop supergroup BTS' fifth studio album, "ARIRANG," has surpassed 5 billion streams on Spotify, the group's label, BigHit Music, said Wednesday. This marks the most streams among albums released this year, registering 2 billion more than the runner-up, Olivia Rodrigo's third studio album, "You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love." The streaming figures for "ARIRANG" outpaced the latest albums from global pop stars Bruno Mars and Harry Styles, which collected about 1 billion and 2 billion streams, respectively. "Swim," the lead track off "ARIRANG," is approaching 1 billion streams, while all 14 tracks on the album have surpassed 200 million streams. Notably, "No. 29," which features only the mysterious tolling of the Sacred Bell of King Seongdeok of the ancient Korean kingdom of Silla (57 B.C.-A.D. 935), has also reached 200 million streams. "ARIRANG" has attracted major attention for being the first full-group project from the global K-pop sensation in nearly four years, released after all its members completed their mandatory military service and reunited. It surpassed 110 million st

Hyundai Motor India inaugurated a new smart manufacturing plant in Talegaon, Pune, Maharashtra, on Wednesday, marking 30 years of operations in India as Hyundai Motor Group expands investment to strengthen the country’s role in its global production and export network. The facility will initially have an annual production capacity of 170,000 vehicles, with plans to increase it to 320,000 by 2030. The opening comes as the group plans to invest $15.5 billion in India from 2026 through 2032 to expand manufacturing, research and development, supplier networks and future mobility businesses. “India remains one of Hyundai's most important and strategic markets globally. The inauguration of the Pune plant reflects our long-term commitment to India's growth and our confidence in its bright future,” Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun said. The plant's opening was marked in a ceremony by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, alongside Korean Ambassador to India Lee Seong-ho, state deputy chief ministers and senior Hyundai executives. The Pune facility will produce the H

North Korea on Wednesday stressed the need to keep developing its nuclear arsenal for self-defense, in an editorial timed for the 100th anniversary of the founding of an organization considered the root of the Workers' Party of Korea. The front-page editorial in the Rodong Sinmun, the most widely read daily in the country, praised the spirit of "independence and anti-imperialism" at the center of the Down-with-Imperialism Union, formed by North Korean founder Kim Il-sung on Oct. 17, 1926. It called for "the strongest self-defensive capabilities" as the path to "complete and absolute sovereignty," and for bolstering the country's nuclear arsenal. "We accomplished the historic work of building our national nuclear forces in a short time and beyond all precedent," the editorial said. "By enshrining the policy of strengthening them in the constitution, we have ensured no one can bargain over our absolute strength any longer and secured a legal guarantee for its continued advancement," it said. North Korea stipulated the policy of strengthening its nuclear force in the constitution in Septembe

Korean stocks rebounded from the previous session's trough late Wednesday morning by rising more than 1 percent driven by gains in tech shares amid eased rate-hike woes. After opening 0.44 percent higher, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) extended gains, adding 68.86 points, or 1.14 percent, to 6,104.21 as of 11:20 a.m. The index tumbled 5.46 percent the previous day, dragged down by losses in technology shares amid renewed concerns over big artificial intelligence (AI) firms' heavy capital spending. Earlier in the morning, New York Fed President John Williams said in an interview with Bloomberg that he saw no need for further monetary tightening next year. Also, the market is awaiting U.S. consumer price index data later in the day, expecting clues on the Federal Reserve's interest-rate outlook. Overnight, U.S. stocks closed lower, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average declining 0.35 percent, and the Nasdaq falling 0.15 percent. In Seoul, market heavyweights traded in positive territory. Tech giant Samsung Electronics rose 2.16 percent and SK hynix gained 1.52 percent

WASHINGTON — An engineer at OpenAI has been charged with secretly installing a recording device inside a conference room in what officials said Tuesday was an effort to capture sensitive conversations about the company's technology . The employee, identified as a 35-year-old Saudi national named Abdulrahman Alfozan, was arrested Friday, a week after the ChatGPT maker discovered an audio recording device hidden inside a company conference room, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court in San Francisco. The complaint did not identify the company, but the company confirmed in a separate statement that it had discovered a “sophisticated recording device that was hidden inside one of our offices," reported the finding to the FBI and fired the employee. “We used our models to understand the device and where it had come from, identifying that a specific employee had planted it a few days earlier. We referred the matter to the FBI, and we’re grateful to the agents and prosecutors who moved quickly to make an arrest. The FBI’s investigation is ongoing and we will contin

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — A Wyoming microbiology graduate student from China has been arrested on accusations she poisoned the tea of a fellow student who had pending patents and with whom she didn’t get along, then tried to flee the country after police questioned her. Aili Wang, 32, was arrested Oct. 6 at Los Angeles International Airport, where prosecutors allege she sought to return to China. With her were laptops, electronic storage devices and documents now in the possession of police, who allege Wang was seen on surveillance video rummaging through the desk of the victim who specialized in research similar to what she once did in China. Wang remained jailed without bail Tuesday in Los Angeles. She allegedly bought a chemical, acrylamide, over eBay, and it was first detected when the alleged victim’s wife and others tested water from the coffee maker he used to brew tea. U.S. officials for years have accused China of stealing intellectual property from American universities. Wang had no attorney listed in court documents. The AP tried to reach her via email and LinkedIn messages.

The Korean medical drama "Doctor X: Mafia in White" debuted at No. 1 on Netflix's non-English TV series chart, the streaming platform said Wednesday. The SBS drama, starring Kim Ji-won, accumulated 4.6 million views during the latest tracking week ending Sunday, according to Netflix. It reached the top 10 in 36 countries and topped the chart in seven of them, including South Korea, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand. The series, based on the Japanese series "Doctor-X: Surgeon Michiko Daimon," portrays Kim as a genius surgeon who challenges corruption in her hospital. Elsewhere on the chart, the Netflix original series "Take Charge of My Heart" ranked third with 3 million views in the same period. It landed on the top 10 in 44 countries in its first week of release. Based on a web fiction of the same title, the romantic comedy follows a corporate heir with a failing artificial heart and a screenwriter who has the power to electrically charge him as they enter a three-month relationship. It features Kim Young-kwang and Chae Soo-bin.

MIAMI — The Trump administration is cutting the time refugees have to contest the termination of their status, a move critics say could put tens of thousands of people who fled persecution and wars in their home countries on a path to deportation. The new policy, which goes into effect Wednesday, reduces from 30 to 10 the number of days refugees have to challenge the revocation of their status. It is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to restrict and transform a program that has served for decades as a pathway for refugees. The goal of the new policy, according to the document, is to “mitigate potential risks” associated with people who were admitted as refugees but were not eligible for refugee status. The policy does not say exactly how many people could be affected, but it specifically refers to refugees admitted during President Joe Biden’s administration , when it says there was an “alarming erosion of the integrity” of the refugee program. Refugee advocates dispute that claim. The Trump administration is already reviewing the cases of at least 185,000

For most of his career, Son Ho-young of legendary K-pop boy band g.o.d, believed that enough effort could fix anything, and that belief led him to spend eight hours a day on vocal practice for many years. Two decades into his solo career, the veteran idol has arrived at a gentler conclusion: Some things don't give way no matter how hard you push, and sometimes taking the long way around is how they finally work out. That idea runs through "Go Around," the digital single he drops Wednesday to mark the 20th anniversary of his solo debut and his first solo track in about five years. The 46-year-old will follow it with "HORIZON," his first solo concert in five years, on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at KBS Arena in Gangseo District, western Seoul. Son rose to fame as one of the five members of g.o.d, which debuted in 1999 under JYP Entertainment founder Park Jin-young with "To Mother," a song about a boy growing up poor while his mother quietly sacrificed for him. The group won over the nation with a string of hits including "Love and Remember" (1999), "Lies" (2000) and "Road" (2001), earning g.o.d th

RIYADH — An administrative building belonging to Saudi Arabia's state-owned oil company Saudi Aramco in the eastern city of Dhahran was attacked, causing a limited fire, the Energy Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday as fighting between Yemen's Iran-allied Houthis and the kingdom intensified. Authorities responded to the incident late on Tuesday and took necessary measures, the ministry said, adding that there were no injuries or deaths. A company source told Reuters earlier that a ballistic missile hit the Aramco headquarters complex in Dhahran. The source said an office tower in the complex was struck and that its top three floors were damaged. The source and two other people with knowledge of the matter said the building was on fire. The complex hosts a major operations centre for Aramco, which oversees a vast network of onshore and offshore oil rigs, pipelines, refineries and export terminals. The Houthis have for a week been firing ballistic missiles and drones at key Saudi sites in retaliation for the kingdom's backing of government forces in Yemen's reignited civil war. Ri

WASHINGTON — Hanwha Defense USA (HDUSA) and the U.S. Army have officially designated the American version of Hanwha's K9 self-propelled howitzer as the XM1776 Mobile Tactical Cannon (MTC), the company has announced. According to HDUSA, a U.S. subsidiary of South Korean defense giant Hanwha Aerospace Co., the company held a naming ceremony for the XM1776 at the Association of the U.S. Army's (AUSA) 2026 Annual Meeting and Exposition on Tuesday in Washington. In August, HDUSA was selected to provide prototypes based on a wheeled variant of the best-selling K9 Thunder self-propelled artillery system for the MTC program, which aims to develop a highly mobile 155-millimeter artillery system to replace the Army's aging M777 towed howitzers. HDUSA also announced that the U.S. Army has ordered a total of nine prototype XM1776 systems, with an option for nine additional units. The XM1776 is a wheeled artillery system designed to support the U.S. Army's modernization efforts, including improvements in mobility and long-range precision fires capabilities. "The XM1776 Mobile Tactical Cannon represe

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Justice Department said Tuesday it has clamped down on North Korean remote IT worker schemes that affected more than 70 American companies and generated millions of dollars in revenue allegedly linked to the North Korean regime. The department announced a series of recent coordinated law enforcement actions in Ohio and Texas, including an indictment, two arrests and the seizure of 187 computers used by North Korean IT workers to obtain fraudulent employment at U.S. companies. "North Korea's rogue regime uses its pervasive IT worker schemes to raise revenue for various illicit purposes, including the development of weapons that could ultimately target the United States or its allies," Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Eisenberg said in a department release. According to the department, North Korean IT workers used stolen or fabricated identities and virtual private networks to secure remote jobs at American companies. They relied on U.S.-based facilitators who hosted company-issued laptops and transferred earnings to North Korean-controlled acc

PAJU, Gyeonggi Province — Nine chairs stand in a loose circle, but none offers a proper place to sit. Some lack legs or backrests, while others have lost their seats. For artist Ahn Kyu-chul, these broken objects capture the contradictions of life and shared conditions of loss on both sides of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). He dismantled eight intact chairs and created the last chair from the discarded pieces, leaving all nine unable to fulfill their purpose, holding on even though they are seemingly on the edge of collapse. “I thought the absurd, irrational situation of breaking perfectly good chairs to make a ninth broken one resembled the DMZ,” Ahn said during a press walk-through, Monday. “It also conveys that people on both sides of the DMZ live in a state of incompleteness.” “Nine Chairs” offers a starting point for “DMZ Open Exhibition: Staging,” which opened Monday at Camp Greaves and Imjingak Pyeonghwa Nuri in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. Jointly hosted by Gyeonggi Province and the city of Paju, the exhibition presents 26 works by 14 Korean and international artist

Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun marks six years at the helm on Wednesday, spearheading the automaker’s transformation into a global top-three auto player by sales and steering it into a key future mobility player focusing on robotics, autonomous driving and artificial intelligence (AI). The next phase of his leadership, however, will hinge on whether the group can turn its physical AI ambitions into profitable businesses. Chung is also tasked with addressing mounting pressure on its core automotive operations and labor relations. Since taking the top post in 2020, Chung has overseen Hyundai Motor and Kia’s rise to the world’s third-largest automotive group by vehicle sales, behind Toyota and Volkswagen. The group maintained that ranking for four consecutive years through 2025. Hyundai Motor and Kia’s combined annual sales also surpassed the symbolic mark of 300 trillion won ($223 billion) for the first time last year. The expansion reflects a strategy that combined electrification with a stronger focus on high-margin vehicles, including SUVs and Genesis luxury m

In July 2025, Choi Min-kyeong brought an unusual suit against someone few would have tried to lodge a case against: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. It was the first time a North Korean defector filed a lawsuit against Kim, seeking damages for the torture and sexual violence she suffered in North Korea. "People around me said filing the lawsuit made no sense," Choi, 55, president of the Imprisonment Victims' Family Association, said in an interview with The Korea Times. "At first, a police officer who took my complaint thought it was ridiculous and dismissed it." However, in August, the Seoul Central District Court sided with Choi in her damages suit against Kim, awarding the full 50 million won ($37,210) she had sought. "I was happy and proud when I heard the ruling. I risked my life filing this lawsuit because I couldn't get my eldest daughter out. The 50 million won is just symbolic, calculated from court fees and legal costs, since even 500 billion won wouldn't satisfy my anger," Choi said, adding that the ruling established a legal basis to arrest Kim if he ever enters South Korea.

Nam Woo-hyun, the vocalist of boy band INFINITE, could easily have marked his 10th year as a soloist by returning to the ballads that launched his solo career. Instead, the title track of his new album casts him as a devil, a character he traces back to the hardest stretch of his life. “2X8,” his second full-length album, drops Wednesday, and its title fits several milestones into three characters. Two plus eight makes 10, for his years as a soloist. Two times eight makes 16, matching both the number of tracks and the years since INFINITE debuted in 2010, and the two numbers together form his birthday, Feb. 8. Nam co-wrote the lyrics and music for every track on the album, which took about a year to complete and moves from an orchestral intro through pop rock and R&B before closing on a ballad. “The tracks span a lot of genres, and they’re the result of 10 years of making music,” Nam said in an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Gangnam District, Seoul, Tuesday. “This album gathers everything from the past decade in one place.” Nam debuted in 2010 as the main vocal

WASHINGTON — North Korea is gaining experience in deploying troops and sustaining military operations over long distances through its involvement in Russia's war against Ukraine, the commander of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said Tuesday. U.S. Gen. Xavier Brunson made the remarks during a dialogue hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, highlighting the military benefits Pyongyang has gained from deploying troops and supplying weapons to support Moscow in the war. "They've learned how to go from North Korea to find themselves in Russia to move men, weapons and equipment there, as well to build supply lines that would allow them to support the Russian war effort," Brunson said when asked about the experiences Pyongyang gained through its participation in the conflict. Brunson stressed that North Korea's military has gained experience in strategic movement, mobilization and logistics, allowing it to develop capabilities that extend beyond tactical lessons learned on the battlefield. The commander warned that North Korea's military is becoming increasingly

NEW YORK — Cornell University has suspended fraternity social events for the academic year, its president said Tuesday, following outcry over an alleged gang rape at one of the all-male clubs. "All parties and social events in Interfraternity Council (IFC) houses at Cornell will be suspended for the remainder of the 2026-2027 academic year," Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff said in a statement. "These measures will provide time for a thorough review of fraternity life at Cornell to determine whether and how it can safely continue." The 2024 incident, as alleged in a graphic lawsuit filed last month, has drawn accusations that the Ivy League institution in New York state failed to properly punish the men involved. The accuser claimed in a civil lawsuit that she was pressured to take ketamine, assaulted and raped by seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity -- one of several "Greek life" organizations common across U.S. colleges. Following her initial allegations in 2024, Cornell shut down the fraternity and temporarily suspended the accused male students, two of whom were later expelled

Saudi Arabia has one of the world’s most expensive and sophisticated arsenals, filled with American warplanes, missile defenses and other cutting-edge technology. But in recent days it has appeared helpless in the face of barrages of missiles and drones fired by the Houthi rebel group from neighboring Yemen. The attacks have struck Saudi airports, killed at least 14 people and forced schoolchildren and businesspeople to stay indoors and work from home. The Iran-backed Houthis, once seen as little more than a ragtag militia, have grown into a formidable fighting force. They have inflicted damage on the region’s top oil producer, threatened critical supply routes in the Red Sea and now risk reigniting a full-scale war on the Arabian Peninsula that displaced millions and killed tens of thousands. The Houthis are attacking Saudi Arabia because it supports government forces in Yemen the rebels seek to overthrow. As Saudi Arabia investigates how its air defenses failed to stop the Houthis' attacks, it must also consider how to respond and what the rebels might do next. Here’s what we kno

WASHINGTON — New White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia said Tuesday that $54 billion was tied to an Alaska liquefied natural gas (LNG) project as part of a South Korean energy investment package, despite uncertainty over Seoul's participation in the project. Zacharia made the remarks during her first official press briefing at the White House while highlighting the South Korean energy investment package worth up to $200 billion that U.S. President Donald Trump announced earlier this month. "President Trump also unveiled a South Korea energy investment package of up to $200 billion in the United States. This is an amazing deal. This includes as much as $120 billion to build eight large-scale nuclear power plants," Zacharia said. "In addition to that, there is $54 billion tied to the Alaska LNG pipeline and terminal to service the Pacific Rim and sell fuel to our allies as well as $22.3 billion for a 6-gigawatt natural gas power facility in Texas." Following Trump's announcement, South Korea's industry ministry, however, said the Alaska project had not yet been finalized, stressing

ROME — Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery Tuesday that confirmed he has lung cancer and doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung, the Vatican said. Tests confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, the Vatican said in a medical bulletin after the surgery. It said the diagnosis had been suspected by preoperative tests and was confirmed during surgery. The statement made no mention of treatment going forward, and the Vatican said doctors were not currently speaking of chemotherapy or other therapies pending the results of other tests. The Vatican press office noted the medical statement spoke of the “radical” removal of the lobe as an indication that doctors removed all suspect tissue in hopes of removing any lingering traces of the cancer. Leo's lymph nodes also would have been removed and tested, to determine if the cancer had spread, and there was no word yet on those test results. “Adenocarcinoma is the most common (type of lung cancer), also with the most favorable prognosis,” said Dr. Stephen Liu, a lung cancer expert at Georgetown’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Ce

RIYADH — Yemen's Iran-allied Houthis said Saudi Arabia was attacking the Yemeni capital Sanaa on Tuesday after a Saudi-led coalition warned civilians to stay away from an oil depot on the city outskirts, part of a rapidly escalating war between the sides. The Houthis have for a week been targeting Saudi airports, including a strike on Riyadh on Saturday that killed 13 people, in retaliation for the kingdom's backing of government forces against the Houthis in Yemen's reignited civil war. Houthi-run Al-Masirah television reported that the Saudi-led coalition had targeted the Yemen Petroleum Company's Sabah central station, a fuel depot on the outskirts of Sanaa. YPC said the facility did not currently hold any stocks of petroleum products and that targeting it did not affect oil reserves or supply chains. However, the Houthis had earlier threatened a "harsh and painful" response to any strikes on Sanaa, with spokesperson Yahya Saree saying targets could include the Saudi Aramco headquarters in Dhahran and an oil refinery in Riyadh. The group renewed earlier warnings it had issued to oil

PARIS — Cyberattacks have disrupted European supermarket chains, causing refrigeration systems to overheat at hundreds of stores in France and forcing a major grocer to shut down websites serving customers in Europe and the United States. French Finance Minister Roland Lescure told Parliament on Tuesday that about 700 of the country’s 10,000 supermarkets were affected. He said there was no risk to France’s food supplies but acknowledged that the attack “touches the heart of our food security.” ″It was a wake-up call for everyone,” he said. The Paris prosecutor’s office said Tuesday that its cybercrime unit was investigating the large-scale attack, including the extent of damage caused by spoiled food and possible fires. Dominique Schelcher, CEO of French grocery chain Cooperative U, said 80 of the company’s 2,000 stores were affected. Most managed to prevent disruptions to refrigeration, but some had to discard food, he said in a post on X. “Targeting equipment essential to the preservation of fresh products is an attack on the French food supply chain. It is unprecede

MOSCOW — Russia's Federal Security Service said it detained a Japanese journalist accused of gathering information on Russia's defence capabilities, news agencies reported on Tuesday. FSB said the journalist for the Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper had been detained in the far eastern Sakhalin region before he planned to leave Russia, and was subsequently transferred to custody in Moscow, Interfax reported. Russian state TV showed a man lying on a floor and handcuffed by three masked men in black uniform. A voice behind the scene tells him he is suspected of spying. TV also showed him boarding a plane accompanied by two FSB servicemen, then in a cage on trial in a Moscow court, which authorised his custody for nearly two months. Russia regards Japan as an "unfriendly" country as it has joined Western sanctions against Moscow over the war in Ukraine. Japan's embassy in Moscow did not answer phone calls out of business hours. Russia and Japan never signed a formal World War Two peace treaty, with the main obstacle being an unresolved territorial dispute over the Kuril Islands, known in Japan as

Anthropic said on Monday that small AI models could be months away from self-replicating across internet-connected devices, raising the possibility of AI botnets spreading quickly, fighting takedown attempts and even breaking into data centers to turbocharge their growth. Last month, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei first floated the idea that within the next year or even sooner, AI might be able to hijack "the entire internet" with "a persistent botnet," a warning that raised eyebrows in the cybersecurity community. Botnets — vast networks of devices controlled by malicious operators — have been around since the early days of the internet, and are still around. The network typically includes poorly secured Internet of Things (IoT) devices, such as Android TV boxes, smart appliances and security cameras, and is used by hackers to send spam, seed malware, or sabotage target companies using floods of bogus traffic. Anthropic's Monday blog post appeared to be the first attempt to articulate how that might happen. The company said that its experiments showed that a malicious AI agent could stit

WASHINGTON — New White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia made her briefing room debut Tuesday by taking remarkably few questions from journalists while leaving no doubt who she believes has all the answers — Donald Trump. "I get to do what I was doing on the outside already, which was hoping to amplify, multiply and expand upon President Trump's incredible agenda for the American people," she said, describing her vision for the job. Zacharia, a 41-year-old devotee of Trump's hard-right MAGA movement, is taking over the White House communications role just as Republicans face warnings of heavy defeat in upcoming midterm elections. She's also replacing the combative but skilled former press secretary Karoline Leavitt at a time when polls show the 80-year-old president becoming ever more unpopular. Little known to the general public, Zacharia opened her first session at the famous briefing room podium by reading — at a notably slow pace — a lengthy list of what she said were achievements under the "energetic" leader. These types of initial roundups, dubbed "toppers" in White House

PARIS — French investigators on Tuesday were hunting the hackers who seized control of cooling units at hundreds of supermarkets in a cyberattack that underlined the vulnerabilities of connected systems, with no group publicly claiming responsibility. The investigation comes as Dutch supermarket company Ahold Delhaize grapples with a separate cybersecurity incident that disrupted online services, although Dutch authorities said they saw no connection between the two events. The absence of a claim of responsibility by hacktivists or a ransom demand by cybercriminals has puzzled French investigators, according to a source with knowledge of the probe. Typically, such groups tend to quickly seek to monetise their hacks or claim credit for them for political ends. The cyberattack, which manually overrode the temperatures at fridges in supermarket groups including Carrefour, Monoprix, Intermarche and Cooperative U, appears to have been easy to pull off, three cyber experts told Reuters. Staff at some Paris supermarkets threw boxes full of perished meat and frozen goods into giant trash conta

AUSTELL, Ga. — A man killed on a roller coaster at Six Flags over Georgia was thrown from the ride and struck other patrons, police say. Visitors at Six Flags near Atlanta described watching a man being tossed from a roller coaster and falling to his death, causing the theme park operator to temporarily close nine similar roller coasters nationwide. Several others were injured in the incident Monday at Six Flags Over Georgia. Officials have not released any information about the man who died or the conditions of the others. Authorities and Six Flags did not identify the ride associated with the man's death, but local TV stations showed video of passengers being evacuated from the Goliath roller coaster. The park already was scheduled to be closed Tuesday. One of Goliath's trains remained on its track Tuesday, seemingly where it stopped as it was climbing the ride's first hill. Witnesses describe seeing a man fly out of the roller coaster Logan Conner said he was on Goliath with his fiancée when he saw the man come out of his seat. “The man started levitating in the air sideways,” he

The finance ministers of South Korea and the United States have reaffirmed the importance of economic and financial cooperation between the two countries, according to Seoul's finance ministry. Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il held a video conference with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for the first time since Lee took office last month, according to the ministry. Bessent congratulated Lee on his appointment and stressed the importance of bilateral cooperation in economic and financial affairs. Lee thanked Bessent for his congratulations and expressed hope for close communication and cooperation, the ministry said. The two ministers also discussed shared economic policy priorities and ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation. The Treasury also issued a release on the finance chiefs' virtual exchange. "Secretary Bessent congratulated Deputy Prime Minister Lee on his new role and underscored the importance of the U.S.–Republic of Korea economic and financial relationship," the release said, adding, "The two officials discussed shared economic priorities and opportunities to strengthen

The pace of price rises increased to 3.7% in the year to September, driving by higher motor fuel costs.

Elon Musk's system allows Kyiv to protect Ukrainian skies and effectively guide drones to Russian targets.

It comes ahead of a meeting between the prime minister and President Zelensky at Downing Street.

Israeli forces have raided what they say are the offices of several Palestinian NGOs in the occupied West Bank. Palestinian officials say a child was injured from Israeli gunfire, while others suffered from tear gas inhalation. At least one journalist was reportedly detained in the raids, which come four years after the forced closure of multiple NGOs that the Israeli government designated as “terrorist” organizations.

“This is part of the whole propaganda show that this government is actually implementing just before the Israeli election,” says human rights lawyer Sahar Francis. “They just wanted to cause harassment, and this is the main message: the persecution and the collective punishment for the whole Palestinian community.” Francis was formerly the general director at Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, one of the organizations that Israel claims to have raided this week despite the fact that it was already forced to close its West Bank offices in 2022.

In a joint ecumenical document, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the National Association of Evangelicals call for “compassion and wisdom” in the immigration debate affecting the country.

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The prime minister has been under growing pressure since the club was found guilty of Premier League rule breaches.

More than six decades after leaving Canada, legendary singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell has officially become a U.S. citizen. The announcement has drawn mixed reactions given her outspoken political views.

William Chapman was attacked by the tiger after he entered its pen at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.

On Monday, federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security raided the Washington, D.C., home of Congressmember Ilhan Omar. Omar has faced years of racist targeting from President Trump over her ethnicity and immigrant background. She immigrated to the United States as a refugee from Somalia when she was a child. Omar is the first Somali American elected to federal office, the first woman of color to represent Minnesota and, along with Michigan’s Rashida Tlaib, one of the first Muslim women to serve in Congress.

“Congresswoman Omar has been under attack by this administration for the last decade. … She’s a symbol of everything that this administration hates: an immigrant who stands up for her community, who fought to be here in this country, and now is doing her job and her duty to serve her constituents,” says our guest Zaynab Mohamed, a fellow Somali immigrant who represents Minneapolis in Minnesota’s state Senate. As Trump spews racist invective against the Somali American community in Minnesota, Mohamed says, “We will continue to do everything we can to reject this type of hate and rhetoric from this administration.”

Recent figures show that Ireland is among a number of European countries recording a decrease in childhood vaccination rates.

Four years after the attacks, Serhii Kuznetsov appears in court accused of a plot to destroy Russia's gas pipelines to Germany.

The Criminal Courts of Justice (CCJ) on Dublin's Parkgate Street was at a standstill as staff mounted a picket on the steps, bringing scheduled legal proceedings to a halt.

With few details so far, it is unclear what might need to change for a Pope who has been focused on stability.

Australia's military confirms the device had been discovered, after a senator reports being contacted with allegations of concealed cameras on the ship.

Catechism of Pope Leo XIV on Peace, inspired by Pope Leo’s Apostolic visit to Cameroon in April 2026, is a Pastoral Guide for teaching Peace.

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Tens of thousands of students stormed the streets of Tirana on Wednesday, setting alight Albania's Education Ministry building and two banks and hurling stones at police, during the second straight day of protests over rising education costs and corruption.

The midterm elections are in less than three weeks, on November 3. With Republican majorities in both chambers of Congress on the line, the Trump administration has thrown its time and resources into holding rallies in newly competitive states. We take a look at key Senate races in Georgia, Texas, Michigan and Maine with The Lever’s David Sirota. Ultimately, says Sirota, election results will hinge on voter turnout. “Will there be that surge of turnout based on how unpopular Trump is and how bad the affordability crisis is?” And, if they win, can Democrats then “deliver” on their promises?

A third member of the Canadian Armed Forces, and four other people, were arrested and charged in a kidnapping probe that led to the arrest of two other members of Canada’s military reserves, Toronto police announced Wednesday.

The Competition and Markets Authority has fined Wayfair, Appliances Direct, and Gold's Gym £6m in total.

Small modular reactors, having capacity of 300 megawatts or less, are increasingly seen as a way to decarbonize energy.

Haiti is living through one of the world’s most acute security crises. Armed gangs control large parts of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and are pushing into rural areas, terrorising communities, killing people, committing rape and other sexual assaults, kidnapping for ransom and extorting individuals and businesses.

UN independent experts welcomed on Wednesday a recent landmark corporate accountability ruling involving the Ecopetrol oil company by Colombia’s Special Jurisdiction for Peace, calling for reparations for victims.

The UN and its partners are stepping up preparations in Gaza for the approaching cold and rainy season, even as attacks affecting civilians continue, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Wednesday.

The cholera epidemic continues to spread in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where more than 125,000 suspected cases and 3,644 suspected deaths were recorded between January 2025 and the end of September 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Wednesday.

A new AI-powered hub for health professionals aims to help identify alcohol-related risks and launch discussions with patients, including the link between drinking and cancer, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Wednesday.

Despite progress in the political process in Libya, institutional divisions, economic deterioration and security fragility continue to threaten stability, the UN envoy warned the Security Council on Wednesday, calling on Libyan leaders to overcome their differences to pave the way for national elections.

Intensifying fighting in Yemen has cut off life-saving assistance to 800,000 people as shifting frontlines, blocked roads and growing insecurity severely restrict access to the city of Taiz and other conflict zones, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said on Wednesday.

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has called for promoting, providing and protecting health in the Eastern Mediterranean region, home to some of the world’s top humanitarian crises such as Sudan, Yemen and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Fighting Escalates in Yemen Between the Houthis and Saudi-Backed Gov’t Forces, NYT: Israel Levels 48 Villages and Towns It Occupies in Southern Lebanon, Kimberly Guilfoyle Resigns as U.S. Ambassador to Greece, WSJ: Texas GOP Attorney General Ken Paxton Partied in Dubai with Two Indicted Fugitives, Federal Agents Subpoena Relatives of Democratic Congressmember Ilhan Omar, Maine GOP Senator Susan Collins Faces Off Against Democratic Challenger Troy Jackson in Debate, Reuters: DOJ Gives California Officials 48 Hours to Review List of Alleged Noncitizen Voters, Man Shot by ICE in New York Held in Solitary Confinement with Bullet Still Lodged in His Neck, Immigrants Sue ICE for Keeping Their Documents Long After Their Release, Cornell University Bans All Fraternities from Hosting Parties, Ebola Cases Surpass 9,000 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sixth Person Dies of Measles in Pennsylvania, Vatican Announces Pope Leo Diagnosed with Lung Cancer, Trump Reportedly Has Doubts of Live-Streaming Execution of Fort Hood Shooter, 600,000 People Left Without Electricity in Ukraine After Russian Strikes, Indian Court Orders Two Leaders of Youth-Led Cockroach Janta Party Jailed for Five Days, Tens of Thousands March in Solidarity with Students in France, Anti-Government Student Protests Erupt in Albania

Kashim Chowdhury is accused of fraudulently juggling multiple government jobs while working from home.

Nabi Ito said that theater can make communication easier for children who struggle with conversation because scripts provide a framework.

Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers has said the €1.2 billion for public sector pay talks announced in the Budget is the "starting point" for discussions, and the only way to develop that is to agree to have talks.

A severe shortfall in donor support threatens vital protection for refugees, including thousands fleeing conflict in Sudan who are still waiting to be registered in Chad.

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Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam imposed a curfew after days of unrest that first began over water shortages.

On three occasions in the past 24 hours, top IMF officials have praised UK plans to reduce its annual levels of borrowing.

Eve Smith, Darcy Ross and Rafel Jeanne died when the car crashed into woodland in Cardiff in 2023.

Emma Moore shares how creating a special place at home has helped her family.

U.S. President Donald Trump said an oil, gas and mineral exploration is set to begin in Greenland. It wasn't immediately clear what exploration or developments he was referring to.

The TV presenter says she suffered memory loss following her operation to remove a benign tumour.

In "Zen and Ghibli," Toshio Suzuki reflects on his career and Studio Ghibli's beloved films through conversations with three Buddhist priests.

The nine-year-old boy who died in a house fire along with his parents and older brother was a 'heart warrior', who had an operation two weeks ago.

At the Koinonia Community’s "Salama" Center in Nairobi, Kenya, young mothers are learning vocational skills and striving for self-reliance after enduring harrowing pasts. The stories of Daisy, Eva, and Damaris offer a detailed look at how one learns to see a different side of Nairobi’s famous informal settlement.

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In his homily read by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle at the concluding Mass of the Vatican encounter to mark the 10th anniversary of 'Amoris laetitia,' Pope Leo XIV calls on the Church to put the Apostolic Exhortation's pastoral guidance into practice in the heart of families.

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His sudden exit deals a blow to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's administration, with key bills involving his ministry being debated in parliament.

The HSE has said that a number of applications have been made for it to cover several weight-loss drugs.

BBC Ukraine Correspondent Dan Johnson is in Kyiv, where at least three people were killed in overnight strikes.

"In the morning, I bathe, fix breakfast and then wash dishes, not to mention apply makeup," said Sanae Takaichi.

As the Iran conflict deepened, examples multiplied of large, markedly well-timed trading in futures and prediction markets.

Graduates are increasingly using AI to misrepresent themselves in job applications, research suggests. But some say their peer group has no choice.

Heavy spells of rain and strong winds expected to sweep across parts of the west, northwest and south of the country as three separate Status Yellow warnings are in effect for seven counties.

Populations of the species have become more stable thanks to decades of efforts including egg relocation, marine protection and trade bans.

Cardinal Michael Czerny, Prefect Emeritus of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, receives the Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal from Villanova University at the Laudato Si’ Village in the Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo, and calls for humanity to urgently work to protect the environment.

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Often simultaneously, hackers start putting the data they have stolen to use while companies investigate the breach.

The 10-year and 30-year portions of Tencent's recently priced offshore yuan securities carried coupons well below the yields on dollar notes.

All non-urgent procedures have been cancelled due to today's strike action, HSE Chief Clinical Officer Dr Colm Henry has said.

A growing middle class makes India one of the world's largest and fastest-growing seafood markets.

The Holy See Press Office says Pope Leo XIV had a calm first night in Rome's Gemelli Hospital after he underwent a successful lung operation without complications, adding that further information will be provided later in the day.

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Irish graduate Ella Flanagan has been shortlisted in the global top 20 for the James Dyson Award 2026 for her invention Noli which supports the safety of mental health nurses.

A pesticide was detected on one grower's silverbeet at 360 times the legal limit, but no recall was issued.

US President Donald Trump said that "massive" ⁠oil, gas and mineral exploration is getting ready to begin in Greenland.

Russell Brand is a "ruthless and manipulative" predator who laughed at women when they refused to agree to his sexual demands, a court has heard.

Pope Leo XIV is out of bed, walking and eating after doctors removed a cancerous tumour from his lung, while post-surgery tests show his progress is "normal", his doctors have said.

A Canterbury University professor is calling on researchers to test AI models on "the real thing".

Updates as public sector strikes cause schools to close and lead to hospital appointment cancellations across the country.

A weak yen and rising costs for Japanese households have India and the U.K. on course to overtake Japan in GDP next year.

Aside from 24 hour work stoppages, thousands of public servants are also engaged in work-to-rule actions as part of the current pay dispute

Land transactions in areas around Self-Defense Forces bases and Japan Coast Guard facilities would require prior approval from the central government.

Residents say pest plants are running rampant, while Heritage NZ fears slash could threaten New Zealand's oldest building.

Manitoba is one of the last remaining provinces whose dental associations also regulate the profession and investigate complaints against dentists — a structure the family of a 23-year-old woman who died after a procedure says raises conflict of interest concerns.

Alitia Bainivalu believes cultural and community expectations drain politicians' pockets, in a country where an ordinary MP earns over 600 percent more than a full-time minimum wage worker.

The ship is scheduled to begin service in the spring of 2029 and reservations will be accepted about six months before its launch.

The BBC's political editor Chris Mason looks at the fallout from the Lib Dem frontbench resignations.

Officers tell the BBC they are overstretched and struggling to keep up with sophisticated criminals.

Investigations reporter NJ Convery has been out on a nighttime hunt for vehicle thieves.

Archaeologists say the wreck is up to 4,700 years old, dating to the Early Bronze Age.

This time two years ago property prices were accelerating at a breakneck speed of 10% annually, but the rate of increase has now slowed to 5%.

Months after the death of their baby girl, Carly Wedge and Alexandre Genest are touring around Nova Scotia on their bicycles — working through their grief, raising money for the hospital that tried to save her, and spreading the word about a vaccine that’s in development.

Tens of thousands of Aucklanders were mistakenly billed early during an upgrade to Watercare's billing system.

An administrative building belonging to Saudi Arabia's state-owned oil company Saudi Aramco in the eastern city of Dhahran was attacked, causing a limited fire, the Energy Ministry said in a statement Wednesday, as fighting between Yemen's Iran-allied Houthis and the kingdom intensified.

Heavy overnight Russian strikes killed at least six people in Ukraine and left hundreds of thousands without power, authorities said, in an attack President Volodymyr Zelensky ⁠called "ostentatious disrespect" to US President Donald Trump's peace effort.

Russian strikes killed three people in Kyiv and plunged hundreds of thousands into darkness overnight, authorities said Wednesday, in an attack Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called "ostentatious disrespect" to Donald Trump's peace efforts.

A report found the council should have struck Timothy Fisher off a decade before he was convicted of sex offences against children.

Braydon Hepworth was given just minutes to leave a transitional housing unit and was later reported missing.

The Hokkaido Shimbun journalist was detained in the far eastern Sakhalin region, with Moscow accusing him of collecting defense-related information.

Japan conducted "surveillance and intelligence-gathering" activities near the flotilla, which operated near Okinawa's Ishigaki Island on Wednesday.

Health NZ's head nurse says it is working with the sector to explore ways to boost placement capacity.

Housing and social service organisations say the election just weeks away could dramatically change government plans.

The Carney government quietly suspended plans to purchase 16 Black Hawk helicopters for Canada's special forces amid escalating tensions with Washington. The decision reflects Ottawa's growing reluctance to buy American military equipment, even as commanders seek urgently needed capabilities. Critics warn short-term political calculations could undermine long-term military readiness.

When Ukrainian drones hit three data centres owned by Russian technology and AI company Yandex this weekend, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy initially said it resulted in a sudden drop in pro-Russia bot activity on social media. Some experts are casting doubt on his claim, instead suggesting people are misinterpreting data collected after the strikes.

For the first time, the City of Hamilton is hosting a delegation of visitors from a small Dutch municipality that was liberated by the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry during World War II.

Tenants at a seniors’ apartment building in Fort Frances, Ont., that was damaged by a fire last month won’t be able to return home until next year. A fatal fire at Rose Manor on Sept. 22 resulted in the death of a 92-year-old tenant. All other residents of the seniors’ apartment building have been displaced since then. Here's the latest on the situation.

As polls show the race to be Toronto’s next mayor is tightening, experts say endorsements can help Brad Bradford and Olivia Chow show they’ve got momentum in the final stretch.

A U.S. judge is expected to hand down a sentence Wednesday for Luciano Frattolin, a Montreal man who was found guilty in August of the second-degree murder of his nine-year-old daughter, Melina.

A winery in Tuscany is reeling after thieves made off with about 30,000 bottles of some of Italy's most prized wines last week in what the producer described as the country’s largest wine theft on record.

The cyberattack on French supermarkets earlier this week that left hundreds of fridges worth of food spoiled should be a wake-up call about the vulnerabilities of digitized systems and devices that are connected to the internet, cybersecurity experts say.

The seven Māori seats could be pivotal in this election. The race for the largest one is wide open after incumbent MP Tākuta Ferris was expelled from Te Pāti Māori.

Beneath the chart-topping trio's bright melodies lies a more experimental side, where rock influences, odd meters and darker themes emerge.

It is the "first severe wind watch through the capital for a fair while", says MetService, with expected 100km/h gusts overnight.

Gardaí believe there are people in Waterford "who know the person or persons" who carried out an arson attack which killed four people and appealed for them to come forward.

The strategy is designed to keep oil prices high, according to two senior Iranian officials.

The affected data includes the personal information of users of the company's Gin no Sara, Sushi Joto and Kamatora delivery services.

Even if replacement work moves forward, completing it quickly is seen as nearly impossible primarily due to staffing and financial constraints.

The groups are challenging 99 of the minister's classification decisions, saying he did not give reasons for the decisions made.

Paul Goldsmith says forecasts of 220,000 new jobs over the next four years will create huge opportunities for Māori, but Willie Jackson isn't buying it.

Chinese carmakers have an edge in mass-market vehicles from sheer scale, faster development and lower costs.

Japan's largest bank has begun considering raising its stake in the Indian financial conglomerate to more than 50% from about 20% now, sources said.

The schools, established under a 2016 agreement, incorporate Japanese school practices such as classroom cleaning and student duty rotations.

The teenager from Taradale High School was separated from others while hiking to Sunrise Hut as part of a school group.

The Auckland club wants legal clarity over the extent of NZ Thoroughbred Racing's rights and interests in its land.

The officer's "sustained and repetitive searches" were in breach of police policy and his actions "constituted serious misconduct", says the police watchdog

The teenager from Taradale High School was separated from others while hiking to Sunrise Hut as part of a school group.

Gardening can be an expensive hobby, but maybe not in the way you're thinking.

"Right around my 40th birthday," creator Lena Dunham said, "they started talking to me in the shower".

The family of William Chapman, who was killed by a tiger at a wildlife park, have described the 23-year-old as a "bright, warm and engaging young man".

Cornell University will ban parties and social events at fraternity houses until the end of the academic year, its president has said, responding to the outcry over an alleged gang rape on campus in 2024.

PNG's police chief says the seizure highlights the serious threat posed by transnational criminal syndicates exploiting the country for the movement of illicit firearms.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for wind in north-west Scotland on Wednesday with 70mph gusts possible, as Ben Rich explains.

Powerswitch's Paul Fuge says elderly and smaller, lower-income households will be the worst off.

Striking images including an urban coyote and an elephant carrying a dead calf are among this year's winners.

Former US president Barack Obama has told crowds in Belfast to "insist that we can do better than we're doing right now" as he spoke about striving for peace at a time of global instability.

Virtually every primary and post-primary school in the country are closed as teachers and SNAs join the public sector one-day work stoppage.

Auckland Transport says week four of the new rail network was the region's second busiest week on record for train use.

Markets and small, locally-owned business are where these shoppers prefer to spend their dollars.

Ireland's industrial greenhouse gas emissions are projected to rise again in the coming years, according to the Climate Change Advisory Council.

Recent hacking incidents perpetrated by AI agents are "early warning shots", Google DeepMind co-founder and Chair Demis Hassabis has told a major international AI summit at the RDS in Dublin.

More than 300,000 public sector workers, including nurses, doctors, teachers and civil servants, are taking strike action over delays in agreeing a new public sector pay deal.

Work and Technology Correspondent Brian O'Donovan explains the impact of the public sector strike.

Father Alexandro Rangga says those in the Church meet people who have been displaced or have lost family members every day.

Data errors connected to a federal system used by End Homelessness Winnipeg have led to a significant overestimation of the number of people experiencing homelessness in the city, an internal organizational memo obtained by CBC News says.

The refusal of a transit visa means the woman has been trapped in the Cook Islands for 3 years.

Minister Jack Chambers has said that pay can "absolutely" be the starting point for negotiations on a new public sector pay deal, in an apparent shift in position.

The CNN security analyst says post-9/11 conflicts have a long tail, and now the US war with Iran war could drag on another two years.

Affordability is a "major concern" for the regional redevelopment plan that covers five hospitals, according to official documents.

The man behind provocative signs wanted to catch attention and express frustration, but says his signs are disappearing.

Cole Davison, co-owner of Ottawa bookshop the Spaniel’s Tale, tells The National about the moment hundreds of people formed a human chain to help him move books to the store's new location.

A new industry being dubbed the “loneliness economy” has emerged in China, with people hiring themselves out as companions to help the elderly.

Officials say there is not enough room for extra students to complete placements.

Batches of popular breakfast cereals Ready Brek Original and Tesco Super Smooth Porridge have been recalled due to the presence of flour beetles.

The arrests were part of a three-month intensive operation into drugs and crime in the region.

The actress allegedly bit one flight attendant and left another with lacerations, according to police. Her lawyer said she was in the grip of a medical emergency.

A Wyoming microbiology graduate student from China has been arrested on accusations she poisoned the tea of a colleague who had pending patents, then tried to flee the U.S. after police questioned her.

Farming groups have called for immediate action after the Department of Agriculture this evening confirmed there will be a delay in issuing payments under the BISS and CRISS schemes.

There's been sharp improvement in primary school children's maths and vocabulary skills but their understanding of what they read is in a serious dip.

The Government's National Drugs Strategy has been years in the making but the real test will be implementation and whether communities see tangible results.

Former premiers Rachel Notley and Jason Kenney have joined forces to push Albertans to vote to remain in Canada in the upcoming provincial referendum.

The alert at 4am set in motion Exercise Pacific Wave - a nationwide simulation to test how emergency management communicates and makes decisions in the event of a tsunami threat.

With house prices still down more than 20 percent from the peak, you might be wondering whether it's a good time to buy an investment property in Auckland.

As politicians wrestle with questions about Super, there is increasing debate about the sustainability of the system.

The Blood Service is forecasting the country's plasma stock will reach critical levels and is calling for 25,000 donations by the end of November.

Real Estate Institute data shows nationwide house prices were up 0.4 percent in September.

Pope Leo XIV has undergone surgery at Gemelli Hospital, during which doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung, according to the Holy See Press Office.

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Helen Branswell, a journalist celebrated for her years of coverage on public health and infectious diseases, has died at the age of 69.

Prime Minister Mark Carney says he’s accepted an invitation to attend two Forever Canadian rallies in Alberta this week ahead of the Oct. 19 referendum. Carney will make a stop in Calgary on Thursday and another in Edmonton Friday.

Spanning 18 countries and six continents, the latest lineup includes Ukrainian 'ethno chaos', Puerto Rican percussion and Indian hip-hop.

A former gang leader has been sentenced to 40 years to life in prison for orchestrating the 1996 drive-by shooting death of hip-hop star Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas

Irene Mathyssen, an NDP politician who represented London, Ont., at the federal and provincial level in an impressive political career that stretched back to 1990, has died. She was 75.

Attendees at a Māngere candidates forum say they want clearer answers from those seeking to represent the electorate, particularly on issues affecting local communities.

It comes just days after an explicit video appeared on Siromi Turaga's Facebook profile on the eve of Fiji's 56th independence anniversary.

Much of what has transpired in Alberta as the referendum approaches reminds Brexit scholar Ian Cooper of parallels to the United Kingdom leaving the European Union.

The New Zealand First deputy leader visited the mine site near Cromwell on Tuesday, and took aim at "woke, brittle, anti-mining mythology" as a group of local protesters rallied at the gate.

The extreme levels of violence and murder associated with organised crime came in the most brutal and callous manner to a two-storey semi-detached family home in Waterford city in the early hours of the morning, writes Crime Correspondent Paul Reynolds.

More than 400,000 names have been removed from the electoral register in the past three years because individuals have emigrated, received multiple ballots incorrectly or have died

Fresh fears have been raised over the prevalence of the use of nitrous oxide in Ireland, which is typically inhaled from canisters or balloons to produce a short term high.

On Oct. 19th, Albertans will head to the polls to answer a question: Should Alberta remain a part of Canada or should the legal process required for separation discussions begin with another future referendum? Andrew Chang breaks down the legal fine print behind Alberta’s separation question, how Indigenous treaty rights shaped the ballot and why a "yes" result is far from a done deal.

Nearly two weeks with no public updates on an investigation into the deaths of two elders outside a B.C. mall on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is too long, says a law professor.

But China has rejected the United States' claim as "disinformation" and politically motivated.

The planned polar drone would send back data from its sensors to the NZDF, maritime security agencies and international partners.

The European Union's central data regulator said smart glasses should give 'clear warnings' when they are recording after a public outcry in recent months over secretly filmed footage of girls and women.

U.S. federal agents arrested a Saudi national employed as an OpenAI engineer and charged him with installing ​a hidden audio recording device in an ​executive conference room at the AI company, the U.S. Justice Department said on Tuesday.

The WHO's vaccine experts recommended that countries consider routine vaccination against HPV in girls as young as four to help improve lagging vaccine coverage.

Nationwide protests by high school students over education in France in recent weeks have spread to other parts of Europe.

Elections Alberta told registered third-party advertisers they won't be able to appoint scrutineers in the upcoming referendum — a move drawing criticism from campaigners on both the federalist and separatist sides.

Erica Stanford says there was a "rotten culture" inside the Teaching Council that allowed a sex offender to continue teaching.

Assistant United States attorney Todd Greenberg, who is prosecuting the case against Bryant, argued that Bryant posed a flight risk and a danger to the public. He said there were substance abuse issues and mental health concerns that should also be factored in.

The High Court has approved an interim settlement of €1 million in the case of a two-year old boy who was described as being on "borrowed time" after a serious heart abnormality was not detected in an ultrasound scan before his birth.

Yemen's ⁠Houthi-run health ministry said two people were killed ‌when ⁠an oil company in the Red Sea province of ‌Hodeidah was ⁠attacked, ‌blaming Saudi Arabia for ⁠the strike.

The President of Microsoft Brad Smith has called for greater guardrails for artificial intelligence (AI).

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev summons the Russian ambassador after two merchant ships hit in Black Sea amid growing fallout from the Ukraine-Russia war.

Two dozen apartments in Auckland's Glen Eden will next month become home to people on the Ministry of Social Development's housing register.

A complete failure of the braking system triggered by neglected mechanical repairs contributed to a deadly tour bus rollover in the Columbia Icefield, a fatality inquiry has concluded.

A dozen U.S. senators, including six of U.S. President ‌Donald Trump's fellow Republicans, called on the president on Tuesday to rescind his diesel oil deal with Russia, days before his administration must decide whether to formally impose new sanctions on Moscow over its war in Ukraine.

Pierre Poilievre is making a trip to Detroit Tuesday to pitch a plan for a “real deal” between Canada and the U.S. amid the ongoing trade war.

Inuk Elder Emma Reelis shared her experience about residential schools, advocated for changes in the K-12 curriculum and was recognized in her lifetime with the King Charles III Coronation medal, the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal and a Seniors of Distinction Award.

A 32-year-old man who killed three members of his family, stabbing them multiple times at their home in Co Louth last year, was suffering from a relapse of his schizophrenia at the time, the Central Criminal Court has heard.

NDP Leader David Eby is defending his family's enrolment in British Columbia's $10-a-day child-care program. Eby is under attack from Conservatives who say his "wealthy family" should not benefit from the program that they say is inaccessible to many low-income families.

The Dáil has heard accusations the Government is engaging in a "game of brinkmanship...and chicken" with trade unions on the eve of a nationwide strike by over 300,000 public sector workers.

Cornell University has suspended all frat parties and events for the rest of the 2026-27 academic year, president Michael Kotlikoff announced Tuesday, as an alleged gang rape at one of the school's fraternities continues to fuel calls for action and accountability.

For the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles (OLA), care for creation is not simply an environmental concern. It is part of their missionary vocation: caring for people, protecting the earth and responding to the needs of communities. Across Africa, this commitment is taking concrete form in gardens, fields, tree-planting initiatives, environmental education and advocacy.

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The Department of Agriculture has published additional detail on how €46.2m in fertiliser supports, announced in the Budget, will be distributed to farmers facing severe input cost spikes caused by the conflict in the Middle East.

Canada has joined allies France, the U.K. and Australia in saying they "deeply regret" the postponement of Palestinian presidential and legislative elections.

Minister for Culture Patrick O'Donovan has been brought by ambulance to hospital after becoming unwell at an EU presidency meeting being held at the University of Limerick.

U.S. President Donald Trump's ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, resigned on Tuesday after allegations of improper conduct but insisted she'll "vigorously defend" herself.

South Korea is continuing efforts to resolve its recent diplomatic dispute with Ukraine while maintaining its demand for an apology from Kyiv over its disclosure of the transfer of North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) to Seoul, the foreign ministry said Tuesday. "The government hopes that all pending issues between the two countries will be resolved amicably," ministry spokesperson Park Doo-soon told a press briefing. "To that end, we will continue consultations with the Ukrainian side and are currently maintaining communication." The statement came after Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the matter had been "resolved" in an interview with RBC-Ukraine on Monday (local time). "Everything stemmed from different interpretations of the confidentiality requirements at various stages of the transfer of the prisoners of war. Ukraine fulfilled all its obligations," Sybiha was quoted as saying by RBC-Ukraine. The report said Seoul was continuing to escalate the situation by recalling its ambassador, despite Kyiv's view that the dispute had been resolved. Asked whether Seoul's demand fo

This is not an article about politics, capital punishment or whether the Fort Hood shooter deserves to be executed in public for his crimes. Instead, it's focused on the unprecedented parental challenge of handling the near-certain prospect that children will hear of or see footage of the Dec. 3 U.S. execution by firing squad of Nidal Malik Hasan if the Trump administration follows through with plans to livestream the event. The danger stretches beyond the broadcast itself, because history shows graphic video from the event could be clipped, copied and pushed into children’s social feeds even if the original stream is restricted. Experts suggest that grownups who care about children start by setting aside matters of politics and public policy — like the Nov. 3 U.S. midterm elections and the debate over capital punishment . Focus instead on how witnessing someone's death by firing squad might land with young viewers — and how best to reassure and protect them. Here are some guidelines that might help. Keep empathy for kids in mind — and facts at hand Mis- and disinformation reach ch

President Lee Jae Myung called Tuesday for a firm government response to the spread of false information about eggs imported from Brazil. During a closed-door session of a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, Lee asked Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Song Mi-ryung how she was responding to the spread of misinformation about Brazilian eggs, according to presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung. Lee emphasized that "we must make it clear that stirring up public sentiment with false information is not a demonstration of influence or competence," Kang added. Earlier, some media outlets reported that the government had imported eggs from Brazil at a cost of 39,000 won per tray and sold them domestically for around 4,000 won. The reports sparked criticism over the excessive use of public funds in the import process. Some critics went so far as to allege a so-called "left-wing connection," citing political ties with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs explained that the imports were a precautionary measure aimed at addressi

Cheong Wa Dae has formed a task force and begun preparations for a potential round of golf between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump. A Cheong Wa Dae official said Tuesday that the task force was established late last month, shortly after Lee returned from his trip to the U.S. and Mexico, to prepare for a possible golf outing between the two leaders. The move follows Trump's request during a Korea-U.S. summit to arrange a golf outing. Although no date has been set, there is speculation that the two leaders could play golf on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Miami in December. The task force has reportedly already held an in-person meeting, during which members reviewed Trump's previous golf outings with other world leaders and discussed specific arrangements. The push to arrange a golf outing with Trump comes amid a separate controversy over Lee's own golfing activities. Politicians from the main opposition People Power Party, including Rep. Joo Jin-woo, accused Lee of indulging in "luxury golf" on the day the ceiling of a commercial building collapsed in

SERANGAN ISLAND, Indonesia — Indonesian authorities on the tourist island of Bali released 20 protected green sea turtles back into the ocean Tuesday after they were found and seized on an empty boat seemingly abandoned by wildlife smugglers fleeing a police raid. Officers conducted final checks on the turtles at a conservation center on Serangan Island, also known as Turtle Island, in southern Bali. They then carefully lifted the turtles using blue cloths and transported them by small truck to the shoreline. Marine police officers in Bali on Saturday foiled an attempt to smuggle 22 green sea turtles, known by the scientific name Chelonia mydas, in the waters off Serangan Island after receiving a report from residents who suspected sea turtle smuggling activity in the area. Two of the 22 turtles are still sick and need to be treated before they can also be released, Gusti Agung Purnama Wirahadi from the Bali Water and Air Police said Tuesday. All of the turtles, which are protected species in Indonesia, were found alive on the boat, but the suspected smugglers had already fled the scen

WASHINGTON — The House speaker stood before Donald Trump during his first term at the White House and pointed a finger declaring that with this president, “All roads lead to Putin.” The stark assessment years ago from Nancy Pelosi echoed anew after Trump’s surprise announcement last week that he struck a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to import tons of Russian diesel to the U.S. as a way to ease sky-high prices at the pumps for Americans ahead of the midterm elections. Trump’s diesel deal with Putin has been criticized by both Republicans and Democrats as fueling Russia’s war against Ukraine, violating existing U.S. laws and drawing the U.S. closer to Russia. It joins a growing list of instances where the president has sided with Putin , often at the expense of Ukraine — and America’s own standing. “The harm to the Ukrainians is real,” said William Taylor, a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, now a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, in an interview Monday. “And the cost to us, the United States, is high.” It’s not at all clear the Trump-Putin deal

NEW YORK — Actor Selma Blair was arrested after she was accused of injuring two flight attendants on a trip from Los Angeles to New York. She was also accused of kicking a police officer taking her to the hospital and kicking a nurse once she got there. She pleaded not guilty Monday night to two counts of assault for state charges involving the officer and the nurse. And she faces separate federal charges based on what happened on the flight, which her representatives say was brought on by a severe medical emergency. Blair, 54, was detained by police at around 11 p.m. Sunday after the Delta Air Lines jet parked at the gate at John F. Kennedy International Airport, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said in a statement. Blair and one of the flight attendants were taken to a hospital for evaluation, the Port Authority said. A police officer taking her to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center said in charging documents that while she was securing Blair to a stretcher, Blair pulled a leg from the straps and kicked her repeatedly around the face, neck and chest, causing serious pain an

Park Woo-jin, a member of boy group AB6IX who first rose to stardom through Wanna One — the project boy band born out of Mnet's "Produce 101 Season 2" — returned with his second solo EP, "SOLSTICE," Tuesday. Park first rose to fame after placing sixth on the survival show, which led to his debut with Wanna One in August 2017. Following the group's disbandment, he debuted as the main rapper and dancer of AB6IX in May 2019. Alongside his group promotions, he has built a strong presence as a solo artist since making his solo debut with the mini-album "oWn" in February 2023. Now a seasoned veteran of the K-pop scene, Park makes his return about a year and five months after his single "Cool & Hot," released in April last year. The EP is also his first release since joining Para Music in June. AB6IX has been on hiatus since its seventh-anniversary concert in May, when the group's contract with Brand New Music expired. Hours before the album's release, Park met with reporters at a performance hall in Jung District, central Seoul, on Tuesday, sharing the story behind the album and what he has

Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong will receive the company’s shares worth 2.6 trillion won ($1.94 billion) from his mother, former Leeum Museum of Art Director Hong Ra-hee. According to the company’s regulatory filing Tuesday, Hong will gift approximately 11.16 million shares of Samsung Electronics to Lee. The shares represent a 0.17 percent stake in the company and are worth approximately 2.6 trillion won based on Tuesday’s closing price. The gift agreement was signed Oct. 12, and the transfer is scheduled to be completed Nov. 12. Lee currently holds a 1.58 percent stake in the stake, and his holdings will increase to 1.75 percent when the transfer is completed. Hong's stake will decline from 0.99 percent to 0.82 percent. Samsung Life Insurance is Samsung Electronics' largest shareholder, with an 8.51 percent stake. Together with other Samsung affiliates, Hong, Lee, other family members and executives classified as related parties, the largest shareholder group holds 19.7 percent of the company's voting shares. The amount of gift tax is expected to be determined

BANGKOK — The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday slightly upgraded its outlook for the world economy for this year, while warning of growing risks from rising debt, including the financial frenzy around artificial intelligence. The IMF says it expects the global economy to grow at a 3.1 percent pace this year. That's up from its July forecast for 3.0 percent growth and well below the 3.5 percent expansion in 2025. Growth in 2027 should rebound to 3.4 percent, it said in its latest Economic Outlook. The report, released as world economic and financial leaders gathered in Bangkok for the fall meetings of the IMF and World Bank, predicts that growth in the United States will remain steady at 2.3 percent in 2026 and 2027. Collectively, advanced economies will grow 2.1 percent this year, up from 2.0 percent in 2025, and then slow to 1.9 percent growth next year, it said. The forecasts are based on a nearly 41 percent increase in oil prices this year, at an average of $96 a barrel. Global inflation is foreseen at 4.7 percent in 2026, falling to 4.1 percent next year. They also are based

President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday reaffirmed Korea's push to develop a new shipping route through the Arctic Ocean, saying it will be pursued in compliance with international norms and sanctions. The president made the pledge at a ceremony celebrating Korea's successful voyage to Europe through the Arctic Ocean by a container ship, as the country seeks to operate summer-season container shipping services linking Asia and Europe. The PanStar Acro, a Korean container ship, returned to the southeastern port city of Busan on Sunday after sailing via the Arctic Ocean north of Russia to Britain, the Netherlands and Poland, 50 days after leaving Busan. The pilot voyage marks the first successful trip by a Korean container vessel via the Arctic Ocean, a route which is riskier due to polar ice, but offers faster shipping than routes via the Suez Canal. Growing international use of the Arctic route has, however, raised concerns that cooperation with Russian entities could undermine international sanctions imposed on Russia over its war with Ukraine. "First of all, (Korea) will move to open the Arc

CAIRO — As word came of Houthi rebels closing in, Weam Abdullah and her family decided it was time to leave their home in Taiz, Yemen’s third largest city. They had survived a yearslong siege by the rebels earlier in their country’s civil war, and they didn’t want to endure that again. They made it out just in time: Just after Abdullah, her husband and two young children left, the rebels on Oct. 4 captured a key town, largely encircling the city and cutting off most access to supplies from government-held areas. “We already feel dead, there was already despair” in the city, Abdullah said, speaking by phone to The Associated Press from a province further south. “We feel as if we are cursed. Everyone is conspiring against us even though we’re not affiliated with any party or politics.” The Iranian-backed Houthis — even as they escalate attacks on Saudi Arabia with a string of deadly attacks on the airport in the capital Riyadh — are trying to make a major gain in Yemen's 12-year-old civil war by moving on Taiz, a prize they have long sought to capture. Their assault

Kim Ji-won of "Queen of Tears" and Kim You-jung of "Dear X" are going head-to-head on weekend television, returning with dramatically different roles after acclaimed performances in their previous series. Kim Ji-won stars as a brilliant surgeon in SBS' new Friday-Saturday series "Doctor X: Mafia in White," while Kim You-jung transforms into a master pickpocket in tvN's 20th anniversary special project "100 Days of Deception." The two dramas premiered just one day apart, with "Doctor X" airing its first episode Friday and "100 Days of Deception" following Saturday. Their schedules put the two stars in direct competition on Saturday nights, adding another high-profile matchup to the weekend drama race. Expectations are particularly high because both actors are coming off performances that marked significant moments in their careers. Kim Ji-won returned to a leading television role about two years after the hit tvN series "Queen of Tears," in which she played Hong Hae-in, a third-generation chaebol heiress confronting love, loss and a life-threatening illness. Her performance, which shifted

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) lifted its forecast for Korea’s economic growth this year to 3.3 percent from 2.6 percent three months ago, a 0.7-percentage-point increase driven by strong semiconductor exports, the Ministry of Finance and Economy said Tuesday. The IMF sees chip demand providing enough support to outweigh the economic damage from the Middle East war. But the benefits have yet to reach households and the broader domestic economy fully, raising concerns that weaker artificial intelligence (AI) spending or chip demand could expose Korea’s heavy dependence on a single industry. The IMF’s October World Economic Outlook, published earlier Tuesday, gave Korea a larger upward revision than either the global economy or advanced economies as a group. It raised its world growth projection by 0.1 percentage point, from 3 percent to 3.1 percent, and its estimate for advanced economies by 0.4 percentage points, from 1.7 percent to 2.1 percent. Among the individual advanced economies listed in the ministry’s summary, Germany’s 0.6-percentage-point upgrade was second to

President Lee Jae Myung said Tuesday that disagreements can exist between countries, while stressing that Korea must put its national interests first and “avoid submissive attitudes or excessive servility” in its diplomacy. Speaking to ministers and presidential aides during a live broadcast of the weekly Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, Lee made the remarks as disputes over intelligence sharing, U.S. visa delays for high-profile Korean figures and limited access to senior White House officials heightened concerns over the Korea-U.S. alliance. Conservative politicians have accused Lee’s liberal government of undermining decades of trust, while progressive figures have argued that some objections from the U.S. are misplaced. “Disagreements can exist between countries ... how can their interests always align when each pursues its own national interests?” Lee said, adding that countries must continually discuss their differences, make their positions clear and work toward agreement. He called for efforts “to minimize differences and keep them within manageable bounds,” but em

Concerns are growing that the technological gap between China's CXMT and Korean memory makers Samsung Electronics and SK hynix in DRAM technology has already narrowed, after the Chinese company unveiled plans to launch server memory product by the end of this year featuring a next-generation memory cell architecture that remains only on the technology road maps of the two Korean chipmakers. According to South China Morning Post and other Chinese media outlets, CXMT President Cao Kanyu said the company plans to roll out a new server DDR5 based featuring the new architecture during an industrial event in Shanghai on Saturday. The new architecture uses a design called 4F square, which reduces the space occupied by each memory cell. F refers to the minimum line width that a given DRAM manufacturing process can draw. In current processes such as 1a, 1b and 1c, F is just over 10 nanometers. 4F square means each cell occupies an area equivalent to four times F squared. The current industry standard is 6F square, meaning the new technology could theoretically reduce the area occupied by each me

Gyeonggi Province, Korea's most populous province, narrowly averted disruptions to essential welfare programs with the passage of a supplementary budget on Monday. But restoring funding for the rest of 2026 has not resolved the fundamental problem behind the crisis: falling revenue, growing spending obligations and fewer resources to bridge the gap. With the provincial government required to submit next year’s budget proposal by Nov. 11, residents and welfare providers remain concerned and question whether the province's Gov. Choo Mi-ae can prevent further funding shortfalls. What did Monday’s agreement resolve? The provincial council approved the supplementary budget after last-minute negotiations restored 21.6 billion won ($16 million) for livelihood-related programs, including support for child care and postpartum care. The agreement broke a monthlong impasse over funding needed to keep essential services running through the final quarter. Some welfare programs had been allocated only nine months of funding, leaving them facing suspension this month and prompting protests by child

MetLife Korea relocated its headquarters from Gangnam District in southern Seoul to the central part of the capital, the insurer said Tuesday. MetLife Asia Regional President Lyndon Oliver, MetLife Korea CEO Song Young-rok and other executives and employees marked the opening of the new office at a commemorative ceremony, Oct. 6. The move to Jongno District brings teams that had previously been spread across different floors into a more integrated workspace, with the aim of improving communication and collaboration across the life insurer’s departments and speeding up efficient decision-making. Built around the concept of “MetLife Village,” the company said its office incorporates several traditional Korean design elements, including “giwa” (curved roof tiles) and “obangsaek” (five colors associated with the cardinal directions). “The new office marks an important milestone in our more than 30 years of serving customers in Korea and underscores our long-term commitment to this market,” Oliver said. “By bringing our teams together in a more connected environment, we ar

The Lee Jae Myung administration on Tuesday began the process of selecting its first prosecutor general, a post that has remained vacant for one year and three months. The justice ministry announced the formation of a nine-member committee, including a chairperson, to recommend candidates for prosecutor general in accordance with the law. Former Prosecutor General Moon Moo-il, who served as the first prosecutor general under the former Moon Jae-in administration, will chair the committee, the ministry said. The post has remained vacant after former Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung, who was appointed by former President Yoon Suk Yeol, resigned in July last year. The new prosecutor general will head the Prosecution Service, which was launched Oct. 2 as part of a recent reform aimed at stripping prosecutors of their independent investigative powers. The prosecutor general will serve a two-year term, as before. The justice ministry will accept public recommendations for candidates for eight days from Wednesday. Candidates must have at least 15 years of experience in the legal profession. The r

Kakao showcased an artificial intelligence (AI) assistant, Kanana Space, for KakaoTalk on Tuesday, outlining plans to turn its flagship messenger into an interface for managing messages, schedules and shopping across its service ecosystem. “Over the past 15 years, Kakao has connected people with everyday life and bridged online and offline experiences with the goal of connecting everything in the world,” the company’s CEO Chung Shin-a said during its annual if(Kakao)26 conference at Kakao AI Campus in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. “We now aim to take the connections we have built to a new level.” The service, which is slated to begin a closed beta test in December, can be accessed from anywhere in KakaoTalk by swiping the screen with two fingers. Users can interact with it through voice or text to retrieve information from conversations, organize unread messages, manage schedules and adjust app settings. Kanana Space is designed to go beyond answering questions by using context from users’ past interactions to complete tasks. In a demonstration, the assistant identified work-rel

South Korea and Ukraine remain at odds over the scope of a "binding" nondisclosure agreement regarding the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs), with the dispute now centering on a fine but crucial distinction: Seoul says a consensus on confidentiality existed from the start of negotiations, while Kyiv says no official document of any agreement exists. South Korean officials acknowledged that no formal nondisclosure agreement was signed, but maintained that both sides had operated from the beginning under a shared understanding that the entire negotiation would remain confidential. "There is no official document signed by the two sides on nondisclosure," a senior foreign ministry official told The Korea Times. "We have internal documents on the meetings, which we cannot disclose. But Seoul and Kyiv have been communicating based on the consensus that the entire negotiation should remain subject to a binding nondisclosure agreement." The official added that President Lee Jae Myung’s remarks on the matter “have some grounds” and that Cheong Wa Dae and the foreign mini

KOSPI plunged 5.46 percent Tuesday, as heavy foreign selling and deteriorating sentiment toward semiconductor stocks pushed the benchmark index's 12-month forward price-to-earnings ratio to a record low on a closing basis. KOSPI closed at 6,035.35, down 5.46 percent. A sell-side sidecar was triggered at 9:47 a.m., marking the 26th activation this year. It fell below 6,000 intraday before recovering slightly by the close. Foreign investors sold a net 4.51 trillion won ($3.36 billion), while institutional and retail investors bought 1.69 trillion won and 2.23 trillion won, respectively. Semiconductor stocks led the decline, with SK hynix sliding 10.09 percent to 1,443,000 won and Samsung Electronics dropping 7.39 percent to 232,000 won. A Financial Times report suggested OpenAI's annualized revenue stood at $50 billion, about 30 percent below the previously reported $70 billion. Toshiba's plans to expand HDD production and CXMT's planned launch of new server memory products also weighed on sentiment. "The key reason why foreign selling on a scale similar (to August and September) has now tr

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said late on Monday he did not believe that China and Russia were helping Iran "at all," adding that Moscow and Beijing had "too much to lose" if they enabled Tehran. Trump said on Truth Social that he had seen comments from his critics and opponents that China and Russia were helping Iran. "If they are, it's at a very low level, but I don't believe they are at all. They have too much to lose, and we would know about it, and know about it very fast," Trump wrote. Trump said in July he trusted China and Russia not to help Tehran in the Iran war, but warned that if they did get involved "it would be very bad for them." The United States and Iran have been at war since February 28 when the US and Israel attacked Iran and Tehran responded with its own strikes on Israel and Gulf states that host US bases. US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Israeli attacks on Lebanon have since killed thousands and displaced millions. Trump has previously described Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin as "neutral" during the Iran war. Moscow and Beij

One person went into cardiac arrest and seven others were injured after a man went on a stabbing spree in a supermarket building in Incheon, west of Seoul, on Tuesday, police said. The suspect, believed to be in his 60s, attacked people with knives fastened to both his hands at 1:40 p.m. while moving on an escalator between the second basement floor — where a Homeplus supermarket is located — and the second floor above ground, according to Namdong Police Station. The man was subdued by shoppers and later apprehended by police officers, who were questioning him in custody. All eight victims were taken to hospitals. An emergency medical center has been set up on the building's first floor in case of additional casualties.

Former fromis_9 member Roh Ji-sun has offered a rare and deeply personal account of her 15 years in the entertainment industry, days after revealing that she once had to rely on a credit card loan to cover basic living expenses after ending her activities with the K-pop girl group. On Oct. 11, Roh shared a thumbnail from her appearance on Min Sae-rom's YouTube channel on her personal social media account, along with a lengthy message reflecting on the years she spent as an idol. "I tried to fit the 15 years from age 14 to 29 into just over 20 minutes," Roh said. "It wasn't enough time to tell every story, but there were also things I couldn't tell." "There were moments when I was an adult and moments when I wasn't. There were people I was grateful for and things that were difficult to understand," she said. Roh also reflected on how years in the idol industry changed her relationship with beauty and appearance, tied to the intense visual expectations placed on K-pop stars. "I like pretty things. I like dressing myself up and choosing what to wear, and I like seeing and creating beautiful

Two college applicants were caught cheating this month by wearing prohibited artificial intelligence (AI) glasses while taking college entrance exams at two different schools in Seoul, sources said Tuesday. According to the sources, a test-taker at Yonsei University in western Seoul wore normal glasses before the start of the mathematics essay portion on Saturday but switched to AI glasses after the exam began. Proctors reported the student to the school, and the person admitted to having worn AI glasses, the sources said. Yonsei University is currently reviewing possible action against the examinee. A similar incident occurred during an entrance exam at the University of Seoul on Oct. 3 where an applicant wore regular glasses while supervisors checked the IDs of test-takers and switched to smart glasses later. The University of Seoul immediately removed the student from the test site and banned the applicant from taking its entrance exam for the next three years.

The rival parties clashed Tuesday over the adoption of a parliamentary resolution condemning North Korea over recent land mine explosions near the inter-Korean border that injured three South Korean soldiers. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) called on the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) to swiftly adopt the resolution, while the PPP called for further discussions to change details of the resolution, including explicitly describing the blasts as an act of provocation by the North. "Our government's position on North Korea's provocation is too ambiguous, calling it an accident or an unfortunate incident," PPP Rep. Lim Jong-deuk said during a plenary session of the National Assembly's defense committee. The PPP and DPK each submitted a resolution over the land mine explosions on Sept. 29 and Oct. 2, respectively, with the committee seeking to draw up a final version for adoption. "Unification Minister Chung Dong-young has even said it cannot be conclusively determined whether the incident was a deliberate mine attack by North Korea," he added. Rep. Lim also criticized the

The rivalry between Korean tech giants Toss and Naver has escalated into a public dispute, with both sides trading accusations of unfair business practices, drawing scrutiny from lawmakers, industry officials said Tuesday. The latest dispute centers on Naver's exclusion of Toss Place's point-of-sale (POS) system from a service that integrates merchants' transaction data with Naver's search and map services. The integration allows users to check information such as a restaurant's popular menu items and peak hours. Naver has integrated its platform with 15 other POS providers but has excluded Toss Place, according to Rep. Song Eon-seog of the main opposition People Power Party. Toss Place CEO Choi Jae-ho said the company had sought integration for two years but had received no clear explanation of the criteria for inclusion. Naver denied discriminating against Toss Place, saying it was gradually expanding integrations based on objective criteria. During a parliamentary audit Monday, the Fair Trade Commission said it would review both sides' claims to determine whether any unfair discrimina

A special counsel team on Tuesday asked the Seoul High Court to uphold a lower court's conviction of former President Yoon Suk Yeol for violating the election law, a ruling that, if finalized, would invalidate his 2022 presidential election and force his former ruling party to cough up nearly 40 billion won ($29.8 million). Special counsel Min Joong-ki's team made the request during a hearing at the appeals court, urging it to dismiss Yoon's appeal. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Oct. 27. In late July, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced Yoon to a 1 1/2-year prison term, suspended for three years, after finding him guilty of making false statements as the People Power Party (PPP)'s presidential candidate ahead of the election in March 2022. Yoon was indicted for falsely claiming during a 2021 press event that he had never introduced a lawyer to a former tax official. Yoon was also accused of lying in an interview in January 2022, claiming that a party official had introduced him to shaman Jeon Seong-bae and denying that he had met Jeon together with his wife, Ki

Korean police are working with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to trace the hackers behind recent cyberattacks targeting Korea's financial institutions, sources said Tuesday. According to the sources, Korean authorities, including the Korean National Police Agency, have recently launched the process for cooperation with the FBI. The move aims to obtain critical investigation data, such as account details and access logs of major U.S.-based global cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI) companies. U.S. cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike earlier suggested that a 26-year-old Chinese man from China's Guangdong Province might be behind the attacks, but the person has denied involvement. Local authorities are reportedly considering the possibility of other or different individuals being responsible for the recent cyberattacks, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Police are analyzing data used by CrowdStrike to estimate the hackers' identities, as well as documents suggesting ties to a Chinese distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack group. When ask

Seoul has created three running routes that trace the shapes of a loaf of bread, a slice of pizza and a fish on a map, and will hold an event for runners who complete them starting Wednesday, the city government said Tuesday. The routes are part of what is known as “art running,” in which runners use the GPS function of a running app to record their route. Following a set path draws a picture on the app’s map. The city said it designed the routes to connect Korea’s growing running culture with local tourism and give people a new way to visit sites chosen for Seoul Edition 25. The project aims to promote lesser-known local spots as tourist attractions beyond well-known landmarks. In July, residents voted to select 25 sites, one in each of Seoul’s 25 districts. The 1.4-kilometer “bread run” circles Seoul Forest, a large park in eastern Seoul, and is linked to D Museum, a Seoul Edition 25 site. Runners can visit nearby bakeries and the museum’s exhibitions afterward. The event runs through Oct. 31. The roughly 6-kilometer “pizza run” around Maeheon Citizen’s Forest, a

Korean entertainment agencies will soon be able to bypass government review boards and release music videos on their own schedule under a new self-rating policy approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday. The milestone amendment to the Music Industry Promotion Act establishes a self-rating framework that empowers registered media distributors to classify their own music videos and release them directly to the public, dismantling a regulatory process that often delayed digital music drops. Korea’s strict oversight of music videos dates back to 2012, when the government mandated predistribution rating checks to protect minors from explicit sexual content, violence and dangerous behaviors in visual media. While intended as a public safety barrier, the prescreening requirement increasingly clashed with the fast-paced realities of the digital era, where sudden teaser drops and synchronized global rollouts are critical to a song’s commercial success. Under the overhauled system, qualified entertainment agencies and digital platforms registered with the Korea Media Rating Board can independently a

The Presidential Security Service (PSS) will open a 1.32-kilometer-long mountain trail near the presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae to the public, nearly six decades after it was designated off-limits, officials said Tuesday. The upcoming public opening of the trail in the southwestern part of Mount Bukak, located behind Cheong Wa Dae, marks the latest and final opening of the three major trails on Mount Bukak previously off-limits to the public, according to PSS officials. A 2.2-km trail in the northern part of Mount Bukak was first opened to the public in 2020, followed by a 3-km trail in the southeastern part of the mountain in 2022. The public will be allowed access to the new southwestern trail around the clock starting on Saturday, according to the PSS. With the upcoming opening, Mount Bukak will be fully open to the public, PSS chief Hwang In-kwon noted.

Seoul’s annual flagship showcase for artificial intelligence (AI) and smart city technology drew roughly 87,000 visitors this year, a 45 percent surge from last year that reflects mounting public interest in urban tech, city officials said Tuesday. Smart Life Week 2026 was held from Oct. 6 to 8 at Coex in Gangnam District. The city said the turnout reflected strong public interest in AI and robot technology that could change daily life and the future of cities. This year’s event brought together 110 cities from 52 countries, along with 302 companies and 101 institutions, to share technology and experience in using AI for urban innovation. To help Korean small businesses and startups expand overseas, the event hosted 379 business meetings with foreign cities, buyers and investors. A total of 91 buyers, 46 from Korea and 45 from abroad, reviewed Korean companies’ technology and discussed sales and investment opportunities. These included 40 Present for Your City sessions, which matched the policy needs of overseas cities with Korean firms’ AI, robot and smart city technology, and 3

Discarded festival banners are getting a second act as limited-edition accessories, with the Seoul Museum of History transforming last year’s European Film Festival promotional materials into card wallets and mini bags that combine distinctive designs with a push toward sustainability. The museum will begin selling the upcycled merchandise at its museum shop on Thursday, using recycled materials to reduce waste from exhibitions and cultural events. The products were developed in collaboration with Van a Banner, an upcycling company led by Lee Ban-seok, which helped turn the used polyvinyl chloride banners into practical everyday items. Recycled fabric is used for the products’ linings and mesh components, extending the reuse effort beyond the original banner material. Because different sections of the banners are cut and incorporated into each item, the finished products vary in color and pattern, making each piece unique, the museum said. The card wallet features a mesh pocket for cards and a zippered compartment for small belongings, while the mini bag has a magnetic flap designed f

Jeonbuk National University's Business Incubation Center is helping promising local startups enter global markets by developing overseas sales channels and strengthening their brand competitiveness. The university said the center is working to expand growth opportunities for local businesses by turning meetings with overseas buyers into export partnerships and providing follow-up support. These efforts are part of the 24th World Korean Business Convention Participation Support Project, which is being carried out under the 2026 Specialized Capacity BI Support Program. The project is jointly run by the Business Incubation Center, the Jeonbuk Institute for Food-Bioindustry, the Korea Institute of Convergence Textiles and Jeonbuk Science College. The initiative aims to identify and nurture promising local businesses with innovative products and strong entrepreneurial capabilities and help them expand into domestic and overseas markets. Three participating companies — JK Nanobio, Global Clam and CellCore — met with overseas buyers at the 24th World Korean Business Convention in Incheon las

HD Hyundai and Siemens Digital Industries Software opened a joint center in Busan on Tuesday as part of their efforts to accelerate digital transformation in the shipbuilding industry. HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, HD Hyundai’s shipbuilding intermediate holding company, held an opening ceremony for the Global Marine Center, attended by key officials from both companies, including CEO Kim Hyung-kwan and Siemens Digital Industries Software Chief Revenue Officer Robert Jones. The center will house about 50 professionals from both companies specializing in ship design, production, artificial intelligence (AI) platforms and product lifecycle management. It will serve as a key hub for combining HD Hyundai’s shipbuilding expertise with Siemens’ digital engineering technology. The two companies signed an agreement in July to work together on establishing a next-generation marine platform, a project that aims to connect all aspects of shipbuilding, from design, production and supply chain management to quality control and maintenance with AI and digital technology. The cente

As young urbanites in Korea increasingly navigate the pressures of fast-paced city life dominated by convenience store meals and high-sugar takeout, the Seoul Metropolitan Government is offering a fresh alternative: healthy eating as a vibrant, everyday lifestyle rather than a restrictive chore. Seoul Forest Park will transform into an open-air culinary playground Sunday for the Youth and Family Healthy Food Picnic. Running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. around the park's outdoor stage, the autumn festival invites young residents and their families to discover how seasonal, plant-forward cooking can be both accessible and delicious. The main event of the afternoon is a high-energy live cooking competition titled "Youth Healthy Table." Ten finalist chefs, selected through a nationwide recipe contest, will take to the stage to transform October's local bounty — including spinach, Napa cabbage, sweet potatoes and wild mushrooms — into creative, balanced dishes. A panel composed of professional chefs and citizen judges will evaluate the entries based on taste, nutrition and originality to sele

A Seoul-based AI startup has joined a prestigious New York City commercialization program, opening a rare doorway to test its products with American companies and court global investors. NextPayments was the only Korean company among 14 startups selected for NYC AI Nexus, a program organized by the New York City Economic Development Corp., from more than 200 applicants worldwide, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday. Beginning in November, NextPayments plans to conduct pilot projects with local companies, focusing on retail and food service, to test its technology and assess demand in the U.S. market. The company develops AI platforms that integrate data from offline businesses, including orders, payments, products, staffing, logistics and customer behavior, into a unified system. Through the yearlong program, selected startups receive local office space, strategic advice, introductions to potential business partners, help with proof-of-concept projects, expert consultations and assistance in attracting investment. The New York City Economic Development Corp. plans to select as

The Korea Asset Management Corporation (KAMCO) is expanding its cooperation with Asian financial authorities, drawing on nearly three decades of experience managing nonperforming loans (NPL) to help countries strengthen their financial systems, the state-run agency said Monday. Vietnam offers a clear example of that approach. In April, KAMCO signed a consulting agreement worth around $400,000 with the Asian Development Bank to help establish a legal framework for asset-backed securities (ABS) in the country. Over the next 25 months, the agency is set to assess Vietnam’s financial and legal environment, recommend regulatory improvements and help develop guidelines for issuing ABS. The project will also include training programs to strengthen local expertise. KAMCO is working to improve the infrastructure for actual transactions as well. In a consortium with Shinhan DS, it is undertaking a 2.5 billion won ($1.86 million) project to upgrade the Vietnam Asset Management Company’s online platform for NPL trading. The agency is also extending its work beyond individual markets through a br

In the disciplined world of "pansori," Korea’s traditional narrative storytelling through song, the barrel drummer — or "gosu" — occupies a place of quiet, essential reverence. For centuries, folklore has maintained that a singer’s success depends first on the drummer, then on the vocalist. Yet despite holding the pulse of the performance, the drummer almost always plays second fiddle, tethered to the singer’s shadow. Master percussionist Yoo In-sang will reverse that age-old hierarchy on Oct. 24 when he steps to the forefront of the stage at the National Intangible Heritage Center in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province. Titled IMPRESSION, the concert serves as the grand finale of the center’s 2026 Isujadyeon series, an annual showcase spotlighting certified successors of Korea’s official intangible cultural heritage. Yoo, a veteran performer who has spent decades directing music and providing rhythmic accompaniment for major national dance and theater productions, will transform the traditional drum from a supportive backdrop into the main event. Divided into four distinct acts,

Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, will host the 2026 Jinju International Forum on Entrepreneurship from Oct. 18 to 20, bringing together United Nations officials, global business leaders and scholars to discuss entrepreneurship amid geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions and intensifying artificial intelligence (AI) competition. The Jinju K-Entrepreneurship Foundation said Tuesday that the forum will explore how businesses, governments and local communities can turn these challenges into opportunities for innovation and shared prosperity. Under the theme “An Era of Global Uncertainty and Digital Transformation: What Is the Role of Entrepreneurship?” the three-day forum will examine how entrepreneurship can foster innovation and shared prosperity. A key session will bring together former U.N. Economic and Social Council presidents Nestor Osorio and Martin Sajdik, former Argentine ambassador to the U.N. Martin Moritan and U.N. Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development Navid Hanif. They will discuss opportunities and inequalities arising from AI, the sustainable deve

Shinhan Financial Group has officially launched Shinhan Financial Group Indonesia, becoming the first Korean financial group to establish a local financial holding company in the Southeast Asian country, the company said Tuesday. The launch ceremony was held in Jakarta on Monday, attended by Shinhan Financial Group Chairman Jin Ok-dong and local financial authorities. The new structure places Shinhan Indonesia Bank at the center of the group's Indonesian operations, with the bank taking on the additional role of a holding company overseeing its local card and securities businesses. The restructuring follows the Indonesian government's announcement requiring financial groups to establish holding companies in December 2024. Shinhan began reorganizing its local governance structure in response to the requirement and received approval from Indonesian financial authorities in September 2025. The transition was completed on Sept. 16 following the transfer of stakes in the group's local affiliates, according to the company. Under the new structure, Shinhan Indonesia Bank acquired additional stak

Shinhan Financial Group Inc., a major banking group, has decided to take over a midsize non-life insurer for 693 billion won ($518 million) to diversify its business portfolio, industry sources said Tuesday. Shinhan Financial's board of directors approved the acquisition of a 77.04 percent stake in Lotte Insurance, from private equity firm JKL Partners, and then the banking group plans to buy the remaining 22.96 percent depending on regulatory approval.

Recent explosion sounds heard from the northern side of a western border island appear to be linked to North Korea's ongoing work to reinforce its coastal security facilities, a South Korean military official said Tuesday. North Korea was seen conducting demolition and border fortification work in a border area near Ganghwa Island off South Korea's west coast, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported the previous day. The media outlet quoted a Ganghwa resident who described hearing massive "booms" nearby, saying that nothing like this had ever happened in all his years living there. "Explosion sounds are being continuously heard in the North Korean coastal area north of the neutral waters of the Han River estuary on the Ganghwa front," Capt. Jang Do-young, spokesperson of the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), said during a press briefing. "We judge that the North Korean military is reinforcing its coastal security facilities on the North's side and we are closely monitoring related movements," he added. Located just northwest of Incheon along the Han River estuary, Ganghwa Island is one of th

A twist has emerged in the controversy surrounding actor Kim Soo-hyun and the late actress Kim Sae-ron: KakaoTalk messages previously presented as evidence that the two were involved while Kim Sae-ron was a minor were reportedly exchanged with another celebrity, identified only as "Celebrity A." Dispatch reported Tuesday that police identified Celebrity A, not Kim Soo-hyun, as the person who exchanged the 2016 messages with Kim Sae-ron. The chats had previously been released by the YouTube channel HoverLab, also known as Garo Sero Research Institute, as purported evidence of a relationship between the two actors. According to Dispatch, police conducted a forensic examination of electronic devices used by Kim Sae-ron and recovered past conversations, photographs and other data. The report said investigators found no evidence on the devices showing that Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron were dating during the period in question. It also said Kim Sae-ron maintained close relationships with at least four men during that period. Police analysis reportedly identified Celebrity A as the sender of th

The foreign, unification and defense ministries will relocate from Seoul to the central administrative city of Sejong by 2031 as part of a broader government agency relocation plan affecting nearly 10,000 public servants, the interior ministry said Tuesday. The ministry announced the plan following last month's decision to relocate some government ministries and public institutions to Sejong, about 110 kilometers south of Seoul, starting next year. A total of 44 ministries and agencies will relocate in phases between next year and 2031, depending on the requirements of the particular agency and the availability of office space. "The relocation of central administrative bodies to Sejong is a key national strategy aimed at overcoming the capital area-centered system and efficiently using our land to achieve sustainable growth and a new leap forward," Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung said at a press briefing at the government complex in Seoul. Of the 44 subject to relocation, 27 ministries and agencies will start moving to temporarily rented office spaces in Sejong next year. In the first half

Lexus Korea has launched its first all-electric ES sedan, expanding the luxury carmaker’s electrification strategy beyond its established hybrid lineup, as it moves to strengthen its position in the increasingly competitive electric vehicle (EV) market, the company said Tuesday. The eighth-generation All-New ES lineup comprises the ES 350e and ES 500e EVs alongside the ES 350h hybrid, offering customers a choice between fully electric and hybrid powertrains. The launch carries strategic significance for Lexus, which has built its reputation in Korea largely on hybrid vehicles. While the Japanese luxury brand is well established in the premium hybrid sedan segment, it has been a latecomer to the all-electric market. “EVs are not a sudden move for Lexus Korea,” Lexus Korea CEO Manabu Konoyama told reporters during a media event. “Rather, they represent the next step, built on the experience and expertise we have accumulated through our hybrid vehicles.” The ES 350e, the entry-level electric model, starts at 71.6 million won ($53,500) and offers a driving range of 478 kilometers on

The Busan city government said Tuesday it will devise measures to keep sharks at bay to protect beachgoers amid the animal's unusual visit to one of the city's canals. "Bukangi" — which was named after Bukhang, or North Port, where it was first spotted on Sept. 18 — has refused to leave the canal at a waterfront park in the southeastern city despite authorities' repeated rescue attempts. The shark has drawn throngs of visitors to the park, with the number reaching nearly 1.35 million as of Sunday. A meeting to evaluate authorities' operation of beaches this year is scheduled for Nov. 17, and the city government said it will also discuss measures to prevent sharks from reaching the shores. Among the plans is including sharks in the harmful marine life category, along with toxic jellyfish, for which authorities have typically installed nets along beaches. Busan's beaches are a popular attraction and drew a record 22.5 million visitors this year, up 2.54 percent from last year, according to the city government.

CJ OliveNetworks, the information technology services affiliate of CJ Group, is running a hands-on coding camp for elementary school students in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, to teach them how artificial intelligence (AI) and self-driving cars work, the company said Tuesday. The AX Creative Camp is part of the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education’s Sinnaneun Gongyu Hakgyo, or “Exciting Sharing School,” program. AX refers to “AI transformation,” the use of AI across business operations. This is the second year the company has held the camp, in which employees use their AI expertise to teach coding classes as part of its corporate social responsibility work. The education office’s program is an after-school learning platform built with local community groups to help students find their interests and learn on their own. Some 130,000 students took part in about 7,200 programs last year, covering arts, sports and AI. This year’s camp is open to elementary students in the area covered by the Bucheon office of education. Lessons move step by step from the basic principles of sel

Outstanding loans extended to risky real estate development projects fell in the second quarter of the year via sell-offs or recapitalization, the financial watchdog said Tuesday. According to the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), 15.1 trillion won (US$11.3 billion) in loans extended to real estate projects were classified as risky at the end of June. The reading marks a drop from 16.4 trillion won at the end of March. The end-June figure accounted for 9 percent of total exposure by financial institutions to real estate development at 168.8 trillion won, which also marks a drop from 9.6 percent at the end of March last year and 169.8 trillion won, respectively. The remaining risky PF loans will be restructured as well, the watchdog said. PF loans have been one of the sticky issues in the financial market as a rise in soured loans, which started in late 2023, was feared to hurt financial institutions and the overall financial stability in the market.

The new tvN weekend drama "100 Days of Deception" directed by Yoo In-sik and written by Rheu Bo-ri has captured viewers, breaking through a 7 percent viewership rating in just two episodes. Set in 1932 Gyeongseong, Seoul's old name, the drama seamlessly weaves tense espionage with a deeply moving storyline, sparking enthusiastic reviews among K-drama fans. The series immediately grabs attention with its stylish direction. The opening sequence mixes black-and-white film footage reminiscent of historical documentaries with upbeat music, creating an engaging atmosphere without feeling overly heavy. Set 13 years before liberation, 1932 was an era when Japanese colonial control over Gyeongseong reached its peak, while secret independence movements stirred deep underground. The storyline introduces fresh character archetypes into this historical whirlwind, notably a pragmatic pickpocket turned spy and a former street beggar turned Japanese elite official. The opening episodes delivered exceptionally emotional resonance through the powerful acting of Kim Hyun-joo and Lee Mu-saeng. Kim Hyun-joo

Exposure to the artificial intelligence (AI) supply chain is splitting the third-quarter earnings outlooks for LG Innotek and Samsung Electro-Mechanics. The former faces weaker earnings prospects because of its optics-heavy sales mix and sensitivity to foreign exchange fluctuations, while the latter is offsetting currency-related pressure with a growing contribution from multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) and semiconductor substrates. According to market tracker FnGuide on Tuesday, brokerages’ consensus estimate for LG Innotek’s third-quarter operating profit stood at 202.9 billion won ($152 million), down 32.8 percent from 302 billion won a month earlier. The revenue forecast was also lowered to 6.1 trillion won from 6.32 trillion won over the same period. The worsening earnings outlook weighed on LG Innotek shares, which plunged 15.47 percent on Monday. The biggest factor appears to be foreign exchange fluctuations, as raw materials and inventories purchased or produced when the won was weaker are being reflected in sales at a stronger won, hurting profit margins. “The sharp de

A Sejong University professor has collaborated with a researcher at Finland’s Aalto University to examine how university students’ academic backgrounds relate to their problem-solving approaches. The researchers are Jang Hye-won, a professor at Sejong University’s Office of Educational Innovation, and Petter Holme, a professor of computer science at Aalto University. They analyzed 84 written solutions from a first-year physics course at Harvard University, systematically organizing information about students’ assumptions and reasoning sequences to examine how their approaches differed by academic background. The study was published online last month in the International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education under the title “Through Different Lenses: Connecting Educational Backgrounds to Fermi Problem-Solving Pathways.” The study used a Fermi problem, which requires people to make reasonable assumptions and arrive at approximate answers despite limited information. Such problems require learners to identify relevant variables, make reasonable estimates and assess whether

LG Uplus is upgrading the artificial intelligence (AI) search engine in its customer app into an active agent that completes tasks rather than just answering questions, the company said Tuesday. Korea’s third-largest mobile carrier is gradually converting the AI search in U+one, its all-in-one customer app, into what it calls an “actionable AI agent.” Through U+one, subscribers can check their plans and bills, make payments and sign up for services such as roaming and add-ons. The company launched a bill payment agent in August and a roaming agent in September. The previous AI search answered queries and then sent users to the relevant app screen. The new agents analyze customers’ actual usage data, recommend services and complete payments or sign-ups once the user confirms, all within a single conversation. The bill payment agent answers questions such as “How much is my bill this month?” When a bill has changed from the previous month, it explains why by breaking down items such as roaming, add-on services, small mobile payments and device installments. Users can pay without

Deep within the UNESCO-listed grounds of Changdeok Palace in central Seoul, behind grand wooden gates that once shielded Korea’s sovereign rulers from public gaze, lies an extraordinary architectural crossroads where centuries of dynastic tradition collide with early 20th-century Western luxury. Beginning Oct. 20, visitors will step directly into these private living quarters and official chambers through an exclusive guided program hosted by the Changdeok Palace Office under the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center of the National Heritage Service. The limited-run tour, titled “Entering the Inner Court of Changdeokgung: Living Spaces of the King and Queen,” offers rare entry into Huijeongdang — the royal bedchamber turned administrative hall — and Daejojeon, the queen’s official residence. While Huijeongdang has been accessible during select special viewings since 2022, this month marks the first time that the interior of Daejojeon will open to the general public. Destroyed by a devastating fire in 1917 and rebuilt in 1920 during the Japanese colonial period, both structures refl

Drought conditions have been reported in 97 regions across the country, with the situation particularly severe in Yeongcheon, North Gyeongsang Province, the interior ministry said Tuesday. Water storage levels in agricultural reservoirs nationwide stood at just 70 percent of the average for a normal year, the ministry said in its October drought report. The cumulative precipitation nationwide over the six months from April 2 to Oct. 1 totaled 783.3 millimeters, or 72.5 percent of the normal year average, the ministry said. As a result, meteorological drought conditions had been observed in 97 regions across the country as of Oct. 1. Of the 97 regions, 74 were classified as experiencing mild drought and 22 as moderate drought, while Yeongcheon, some 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, was experiencing severe drought. However, the drought in Yeongcheon is expected to ease by the end of the year, as precipitation is forecast to be above normal in November and December, the ministry said.

As artificial intelligence (AI) drives demand for ever-faster computing, Kim Joung-ho, a professor from Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST), credited with helping lay the foundations for high-bandwidth memory (HBM), will receive a science and technology innovation award recognizing his contributions to Korea’s semiconductor industry. The Daejeon Development Committee will present the Science and Technology Innovation Award to Kim at 11 a.m. on Thursday at Lotte City Hotel Daejeon, honoring the professor for his research and role in advancing the development and commercialization of HBM. Kim, a professor in KAIST’s School of Electrical Engineering, has spent three decades researching next-generation memory technologies, including HBM, high-bandwidth flash and high-bandwidth SRAM, according to the committee. He proposed core concepts and the basic architecture of HBM and participated in key design and technology validation work during its development in 2009, contributing to SK hynix’s commercialization of the technology in December 2013, which the committee des

The arms procurement agency said Tuesday it will speed up the development of nuclear-powered submarines and acquisition of artificial intelligence (AI)-based combat assets, including unmanned and counter-drone systems. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) unveiled the plan in a parliamentary audit, as part of a broader road map to secure core capabilities for "self-reliant" defense amid Seoul's efforts to retake wartime operational control (OPCON) of troops from Washington and North Korea's evolving military threats. "The agency will leverage existing organizations and capabilities to develop a nuclear propulsion system and establish a blueprint to construct nuclear-powered submarines," DAPA said in a document submitted to lawmakers. "We plan to launch a full-scale acquisition of combat unmanned systems, such as combat uncrewed surface vessels and small attack drones, as well as anti-drone networks, including laser air defense weapons and integrated counter-drone systems for front-line border areas," the agency said. South Korea is pushing to build nuclear-powered attack

Samsung Electronics showcased next-generation memory and storage technologies at the 2026 OCP Global Summit in the United States on Monday (local time), highlighting its efforts to improve artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and expand cooperation with global technology companies. The Korean tech giant jointly demonstrated a memory expansion solution with AMD and displayed products related to AI chipmakers Groq and Nvidia at the event, where Samsung participated as a Diamond Sponsor. As AI models grow larger and AI agents handle increasingly complex tasks, demand is rising for memory capacity, faster data processing and more efficient storage. Samsung presented technologies designed to address these challenges across three areas: computing speed, memory expansion and data storage. A key highlight was the joint demonstration with AMD of a Compute Express Link (CXL)-based memory expansion solution. CXL allows processors and other computing components to share memory resources, helping AI systems access additional capacity without relying solely on memory installed directly in indi

National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik has met with Greek President Constantine Tassoulas and the Greek parliamentary leader to discuss bilateral cooperation in defense and shipbuilding, his office said Tuesday. During his meeting with Tassoulas in Athens on Monday (local time), Cho expressed hope that the participation of Korean companies could contribute to strengthening Greece's defense amid intensifying security threats in Europe. Cho highlighted the two countries' "blood-forged" ties during the 1950-53 Korean War, pointing out that Greece dispatched some 10,000 troops to Korea despite not having established diplomatic relations with Seoul at the time. "We look forward to further deepening cooperation in the shipbuilding and shipping sectors and expanding it into future industries, including defense," Cho was quoted as telling the Greek president. In a separate meeting with his parliamentary counterpart, Nikitas Kaklamanis, Cho said the two countries should expand bilateral cooperation beyond shipbuilding and shipping into areas of advanced technologies and defense. Cho is on a four-

PARIS — Hackers raised the temperature of refrigerators and freezers at hundreds of French supermarkets to as high as 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) overnight, causing fires and spoiling food. The Paris prosecutor's office said on Monday that a "large-scale" attack was "affecting connected refrigerators in several major food retailers across France", leading to food losses and fires. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has instructed France's National Cybersecurity Agency (ANSSI) to investigate, a person in his office said. France was coordinating with European counterparts because other countries could also be affected, the person said, adding that authorities were assessing whether other French companies were at risk. Felix Aime, a senior cyber threat intelligence analyst at Sekoia Threat Detection and Research, said Spain, Portugal, Poland, Germany and Belgium had also been affected. Carrefour said 80 of its supermarkets were hit, while Monoprix, which operates about 490 stores in France, said 5% of its stores were affected. Les Mousquetaires, owner of retailer Intermarche,

President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday stressed the importance of the country's alliance with the United States but also noted a submissive stance should be shunned in pursuing diplomacy. The president made the remarks at a Cabinet meeting, amid concerns over apparent friction in the Seoul-Washington alliance, highlighted by South Korea facing limitations in intelligence sharing by the U.S. Lee said diplomacy should be focused on safeguarding national interests, while emphasizing that differences can arise between countries. "Diplomacy should be pursued in a way that always upholds South Korea's dignity and safeguards its national interests (while) any submissive or kowtowing stance should be shunned," the president noted. "The guiding principle of South Korea's diplomacy is pragmatism. The most important thing for South Korea is its national interests," Lee stressed. His remarks come as South Korea continues to face restrictions on intelligence sharing by Washington, reportedly over the South Korean unification minister's previous remarks identifying North Korea's Kusong as a site housing a

Broadway sensation “Hamilton,” which reshaped musical theater with its fusion of hip-hop, jazz and R&B, will make its long-awaited Korea debut in December, launching a new world tour with limited engagements in Busan and Seoul. The musical, produced by S&Co and presented by Clip Service, will run at Dream Theatre in Busan from Dec. 17 this year to Jan. 16, 2027, before moving to the Grand Theater of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul from Jan. 21 to March 20, 2027. Based on Ron Chernow’s biography of Alexander Hamilton, one of the founding fathers of the United States, the production traces the immigrant’s rise to become a central figure in the early American republic and its financial system. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote the book, music and lyrics, weaving 46 songs into a score that combines contemporary musical styles with Broadway traditions to tell a story of ambition, political rivalry and revolution. Since its Broadway premiere at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in August 2015, “Hamilton” has earned 16 Tony Award nominations, winning 11, including the best musical,

Senior diplomats from South Korea, the United States and Japan held telephone consultations Tuesday to share information and discuss responses to North Korea's latest ballistic missile launches, Seoul's foreign ministry said. On Monday, North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The North said Tuesday it test-fired a "tactical" ballistic missile the previous day to verify technological improvements to a key component of its weapons systems. Baek Yong-jin, director general for Korean Peninsula policy at Seoul's foreign ministry, spoke with David Wilezol, deputy assistant secretary for Northeast Asia at the U.S. State Department, and Takashi Ariyoshi, a senior official at Japan's foreign ministry, the ministry said. "The three officials shared relevant information and discussed future responses," the ministry said in a press release. "The foreign affairs authorities of the three countries operate a channel for promptly sharing information and assessments whenever North Korea launches ballistic missiles," it add

North Korea and Russia have signed an agreement to expand bilateral cooperation on disaster management for the next three years, the North's state media reported Tuesday. Kim Chol-nam, the North's minister of disaster management, and Aleksandr Kurenkov, the Russian minister of extraordinary situations, signed the agreement in Pyongyang the previous day to boost cooperation on the matter from 2027-2029, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The "successes and experience gained by the two countries in the work to prevent disaster were exchanged and the issues of boosting bilateral exchange and cooperation were discussed," according to the report. A delegation from Russia's emergency ministry arrived in Pyongyang on Sunday for talks with its North Korean counterpart on ways to deepen cooperation in disaster management. The visit came as the Russian ministry and the North's corresponding ministry signed an agreement on specialist training and scientific and technical cooperation in December.

Sales of bonds and certificates of deposits (CDs) in Korea rose more than 11 percent in the third quarter of this year from a year earlier, data showed Tuesday. The value of debt instruments issued during the third quarter came to 178.3 trillion won ($134 billion), up 11.1 percent from a year earlier, according to the data from the Korea Securities Depository. Bond sales jumped 13.8 percent on-year to 166.4 trillion won, while CD issuance sank 16.8 percent to 11.9 trillion won. Compared with a quarter ago, however, sales of bonds and CDs fell 1.9 percent. The Bank of Korea lifted its key rate to 3 percent over two straight meetings in July and August, marking the first back-to-back rate hikes since January 2023.

SK earthon, a Korean oil exploration and production (E&P) company, said Tuesday oil production has recently begun at an offshore field in Vietnam where it holds a stake. U.S.-based Murphy Oil Corp., the operator of Block 15-1/05, began production at the Lac Da Vang field in the Cuu Long Basin late last month, SK earthon said in a press release. SK earthon holds a 25 percent stake in the block, having invested in the project in 2007. Murphy Oil and Vietnam's state-run PetroVietnam Exploration Production Corp. (PVEP) hold 40 percent and 35 percent stakes, respectively. The block is estimated to contain total oil reserves of 60 million barrels, with production expected to reach up to 25,000 barrels per day when the project is fully developed, the company said. "We will continue to expand its oil exploration and development activities in Vietnam to secure a stable energy supply amid rising geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions," a company official said. SK earthon has been expanding its E&P operations in China and Southeast Asia to help improve the profitability of its parent com

North Korea has showcased the Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), submarine-launched ballistic missiles and other advanced weaponry at a newly opened defense museum, according to state media Tuesday. North Korea held an opening ceremony for the National Defense Revolution Museum on Sunday on the occasion of the 81st founding anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), which falls on Oct. 10, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). According to photos published by state media, items on display included the Hwasong-20 ICBM capable of striking almost anywhere in the U.S. mainland and its mobile launcher. The solid-fuel Hwasong-20 was first unveiled during a military parade marking the party's 80th founding anniversary last year. The North's media previously described it as "the most powerful nuclear strategic weapon system." In an apparent bid to flex its muscles, North Korea exposed a diagram showing the Hwasong-20 ICBM tipped with multiple warheads and an explanation board describing the flight range of the new ICBM, encompassing the Middle East, Austra

Korea's bourse operator on Tuesday activated a sell-side sidecar for the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) as the stock index dropped. Program trading for the KOSPI-listed shares was suspended for five minutes at 9:48 a.m, according to the Korea Exchange (KRX). After opening 3.1 percent lower, the KOSPI lost 257.09 points, or 4.03 percent, to 6,127.15 as of 9:50 a.m. Investors sold off semiconductor shares, including Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, as losses in U.S. technology stocks weighed on investor sentiment ahead of major companies' earnings reports and the release of U.S. inflation data. A sell-side sidecar is triggered when the KOSPI 200 Futures Index falls 5 percent or more for at least one minute.

LS Electric said Tuesday it has signed a 185.3 billion-won ($138.7 million) contract with global power solutions provider Bloom Energy to supply switchgear and distribution transformers. With the latest deal, the Korean electrical equipment maker's cumulative orders from Bloom Energy have exceeded $500 million since April last year. Under the contract, LS Electric will supply power equipment for a fuel cell-based on-site power generation project at a major U.S. technology company's data center in Pennsylvania. The Korean company plans to deliver 38-kilovolt (kV) high-voltage switchgear and distribution transformers between April and July 2027.

CAIRO — Saudi Arabia has launched an investigation to determine how its air defenses failed to intercept a barrage of missiles and drones fired by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, including an attack on Riyadh airport that killed at least 13 people and wounded over 300, two regional officials said Monday. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly, said the initial probe showed that Yemen's Houthis first fired multiple drones to pave the way for a mix of cruise and ballistic missiles to reach Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport. The Houthis possess ballistic missiles and advanced systems fitted with warheads that can change direction during flight and pose a challenge to Patriot interceptors and other defense systems used by the Saudis. One of the officials said the investigation also aims to find out why air defense systems did not provide earlier warning of the attack in which the Houthi missiles and drones flew over 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) to reach Riyadh. The incident, one of a string of Houthi attacks since last we

Seoul shares extended their losses late Tuesday morning, as fresh woes over rising competition from China and artificial intelligence (AI) valuations emerged ahead of major corporate earnings reports and the release of U.S. inflation data. After opening 3.1 percent lower, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 386.25 points, or 6.05 percent, to 5,997.99 as of 11:20 a.m. Foreigners sold a net 2.3 trillion won ($1.7 billion) worth of stocks, while institutions and individuals bought a net 808.9 billion won and 1.27 trillion won, respectively. Overnight, U.S. stocks ended mixed, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising 0.38 percent and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite falling 0.44 percent. Investors are awaiting the U.S. consumer price index report due Wednesday (U.S. time), which could offer further clues about the Federal Reserve's policy outlook ahead of its October rate-setting meeting. In Seoul, tech stocks led the decline. Market behemoth Samsung Electronics plunged 7.29 percent, and its chipmaking rival SK hynix declined 8.35 percent. Defense giant Hanwha Aerosp

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON/KYIV — President Donald Trump's envoys told Ukrainian officials on Friday that a deal to allow Russian diesel exports is part of a bid to draw Russia back to negotiations after the failure of previous efforts to launch sustained talks to end the war, three people familiar with the meeting told Reuters. Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner told the Ukrainians in a meeting in Miami that Russian President Vladimir Putin was not prepared to negotiate an end to his 4 1/2-year-old war in Ukraine and that the deal announced last week could help restart trilateral talks, said two of the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The third person said the US relayed to the Ukrainians that the diesel deal could help "soften" Moscow's position in part because it "sends a signal that Trump is open to do things" with Russia. That deal, under which Russia will supply more than 2.25 million barrels of diesel to US and global markets, has triggered a backlash from some US lawmakers, who say it will give Moscow cash to pursue its war without forc

WASHINGTON — US authorities conducted a predawn raid on Monday on the Washington, DC, home of Democratic US Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, an outspoken critic of Donald Trump who has been the target of political insults by the Republican president, as part of an ongoing investigation, the Justice Department said. A person familiar with the investigation said it is related to alleged immigration fraud, and part of the probe concerns the Somali-born lawmaker's immigration paperwork filled out by her late father when she was a child. Omar wrote on social media that the US government is being weaponized to target a political enemy of the president. "For ten years, Trump has targeted me with baseless lies and smear campaigns," Omar said. "This is just the latest escalation in his campaign of political intimidation. I will not be silenced." Other Democrats accused Trump and his administration of abuse of power. Omar, 44, is seeking a fifth two-year term in the US House of Representatives in the midterm elections on November 3. In announcing the raid, a Justice Department spokesperson

The United States and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea during high-level talks in Tokyo on Monday, the U.S. State Department said. U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker and Japanese Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Hiroyuki Namazu made the commitment during the countries' second U.S.-Japan Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) Dialogue held in Tokyo, according to a department press release. "They noted progress in U.S.-Japan defense industrial cooperation and reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of the DPRK and the immediate resolution of the abductions issue," the department said, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The statement comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed his willingness to resume dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, raising speculation over the possibility of renewed diplomacy between Washington and Pyongyang. The two sides also discussed ways to strengthen cooperation with regiona

WASHINGTON — Tech billionaire Elon Musk, the world's richest man, has contributed $276 million to organizations boosting the campaigns of right-wing American candidates ahead of upcoming midterm elections, US media reported Monday. The sum, all contributed since July, positions Musk as the largest single donor for the November 3 elections, according to the New York Times. He has spent a total of $366 million this election cycle. The largest funding recipient was the Republican's Senate Leadership Fund, receiving $158 million, aimed at maintaining the party's control of the upper house of Congress despite a slim margin. The SpaceX and Tesla boss is no stranger to massive US election spending, having contributed $290 million in 2024 to help US President Donald Trump win reelection. Trump allowed Musk to work in the White House for several months overseeing his cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) venture, but exited the role after a public falling out with the president. They've since reconciled, and Trump awarded Musk the National Medal of Science at an event in DC las

North Korea has test-fired a tactical ballistic missile to upgrade a key component of its weapons systems, which it called a "big success," the country's state media reported Tuesday. The report came a day after South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) detected multiple ballistic missiles launched from the Pyongyang area toward the East Sea. North Korea's missile administration "test-fired a tactical ballistic missile on Oct. 12 to confirm the success in the research for the technical upgrading of an important core element," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. The administration claimed that the upgrade "was a big success heralding an important change in improving the performance and sophistication of all offensive weapon systems," it added, describing the test as part of regular activities. The North did not disclose further details about the test-firing. The JCS earlier noted that North Korea launched multiple types of ballistic missiles, with one specific kind of missile flying more than 900 kilometers, and that South Korean and U.S. authorities were conducting a detailed

The commander of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) on Monday called for more geographically dispersed military exercises across South Korea, citing lessons from the war in Ukraine and the need to adapt to evolving battlefield threats. Gen. Xavier Brunson made the remarks during a panel discussion at the Association of the United States Army's (AUSA) annual conference in Washington, as he discussed ways to improve the readiness and deterrence posture of U.S. and South Korean forces. "I think what we recognize is that largely the two big exercises every year in Korea focus on large command posts. We've got to move away from that," Brunson said. The general suggested that the allies consider conducting exercises across a much broader geographical area rather than in fixed locations. "What would it look like if we train from Jeju all the way up to Gyeonggi Province in the north?" he said. "So just imagine if we trained across the entirety of the peninsula." South Korea and the United States hold large-scale combined exercises every year -- the Freedom Shield and the Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) -- to tr

U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that he may meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his upcoming trip to Asia, raising the possibility of renewed summit diplomacy between Washington and Pyongyang. Asked by a reporter at the White House on whether he plans to meet Kim during the trip, Trump replied, "I may," adding, "That'll be exciting, won't it? But I get along with him." Trump plans to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in China, scheduled for November 18-19 in Shenzhen. In August, Trump said that he hopes to meet Kim later this year, adding to speculation that he might seek to rekindle his personal diplomacy with Kim that led to three bilateral in-person meetings: the first in Singapore in June 2018, the second in Hanoi in February 2019 and the third at the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom. On Saturday, Trump said at a campaign rally in Ohio that he "gets along great" with the North Korean leader as he stressed the importance of maintaining good relations with leaders of nuclear-armed nations. Tommy Pigott, spokesperson for the State Departme

On a stage stripped of almost everything but white, actors Isabelle Huppert and Lee Hye-young summoned a snowbound island. There were no trees, no hospital bed and no visible parrot to rescue. Yet as the French and Korean actors read from Han Kang’s novel, their voices and languages supplied the scenery: severed fingers ache and snow gathering around an unseen house. “Oiseau,” a bilingual reading play drawn from the Nobel laureaute's “We Do Not Part,” made its Korean premiere at Sogang University’s Mary Hall on Saturday — exactly two years after Han won the Nobel Prize in literature, a date Korean literature fans affectionately call “Han Kang Day.” Presented through Sunday as part of the Seoul Performing Arts Festival (SPAF), the production brought July’s Avignon Festival premiere from the roughly 2,000-seat outdoor Cour d’honneur at the Palace of the Popes into a 500-seat indoor theater. The smaller space sharpened its defining quality: intimacy. Dressed in white, Huppert and Lee stood amid white fabric in front of reading stands. Huppert voiced Kyung-ha in French

Pending bills at the National Assembly proposing a cap on delivery platform fees charged to food businesses to reduce their financial burdens, particularly small businesses with limited customer bases, are raising questions about the effectiveness of the proposed changes. Industry experts have examined the current ecosystem, which consists of food-ordering platforms, participating businesses, customers who place orders and riders who deliver them. They found that the cap could reduce the burden on businesses using the platforms but shift that cost to other groups in the ecosystem, such as riders and consumers. Three bills proposing different versions of the cap are pending at the National Assembly. One was proposed by Rep. Lee Kang-ill of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, a member of the National Policy Committee. He proposed capping the combined brokerage fee, payment processing fee and advertising expenses at 15 percent of an order's value, while imposing a separate cap and a minimum floor on delivery fees. Rep. Park Jeong-hun of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) propo

When YouTuber Inevitable Yunhwa walked into North Korean restaurants in China, she spoke nothing but English, convinced she was passing as a foreigner, only to realize while editing the footage at home that she looked unmistakably South Korean and that the staff had most likely let her slide. Born in 1999, Yunhwa is a religious studies graduate who once planned to go to law school. Now, she runs one of the more unusual channels on the Korean side of YouTube. Since posting her first video in February 2024, she has drawn 570,000 subscribers as of Monday, not with "mukbangs" (eating broadcasts) or daily vlogs but with long, meticulously edited videos that take her into one-star motels and bars, villages run by religious groups with criminal histories and North Korean state-run restaurants. She insists she is not a journalist, yet her audience increasingly holds her to the standards of one, a tension that shapes nearly every decision she makes as she sets her sights on viewers beyond Korea. 6-month experiment The channel was never meant to last. Yunhwa had quit her office job to prepare for l

This year, the combined operating profits of Korea’s semiconductor companies are expected to soar well beyond 500 trillion won ($373 billion), reaching unprecedented levels. Some have likened this extraordinary performance to winning a lottery. But I see it differently. What we are witnessing today, I believe, is not a stroke of good fortune. Rather, it is the culmination of decades of perseverance, sacrifice and dedication. As Koreans know well, countless companies, engineers and technicians have worked since the 1970s to build the foundations of the nation’s semiconductor industry. After nearly half a century of accumulated effort, the seeds they planted are finally coming to fruition. A similar story of long-term commitment can be found in the rapid growth of international students choosing to study in Korea. In 2023, the Ministry of Education launched the Study Korea 300K Project, setting a goal of attracting 300,000 international students by 2027. That target has already been achieved ahead of schedule, with the number of international students in Korea surpassing 300,000 this

U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) said Monday that North Korea launched two ballistic missiles recently while stressing that the move poses no immediate threat to the United States or its allies. "The Democratic People's Republic of Korea launched two ballistic missiles on October 12, 2026 (KST)," the command said in a statement, referring to North Korea by its official name. The command said it was aware of the launches and was consulting closely with its allies and partners. "Based on current assessments, this event does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or to our allies," it said. It added that the U.S. remains "committed to the defense of the U.S. homeland and our allies in the region." South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Monday (Korea time) it detected the launch at about 9:20 a.m. from the Pyongyang area and that at least one of the missiles flew more than 900 kilometers. The North's latest missile launch came after it fired one ballistic missile from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea on Oct. 3.

South Korea's top envoy to the United States said Monday that progress has been made in improving intelligence cooperation between Seoul and Washington, amid concerns over apparent friction between the two allies. Ambassador Kang Kyung-wha made the remarks during a parliamentary audit at the South Korean Embassy in Washington, responding to questions about bilateral intelligence cooperation. Regarding the controversy, the ambassador said she is aware that "intelligence agencies of the two countries have communicated with each other" and that "progress has been made" in terms of improving cooperation. The remarks follow growing speculation over bilateral friction after South Korea's National Intelligence Service acknowledged it was excluded from a June trilateral meeting, also involving Japan, on North Korean cyber threats. Local media reports indicated the agency was left out at Washington's request. South Korea and the U.S. have experienced friction in the intelligence field after Seoul Unification Minister Chung Dong-young's public disclosure of a North Korean uranium enrichment facili

The U.S. Army has received its first South Korean-made mobile howitzer system as part of efforts to replace its aging artillery systems, a U.S. defense news outlet reported Monday. The Mobile Tactical Cannon (MTC), manufactured by Hanwha Defense USA, a U.S. subsidiary of South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace Co., was displayed at a U.S. Army event held in Washington earlier this month, Defense News reported, citing U.S. Army officials. "We're excited to have that and get ready to test it," Brig. Gen. Robert Mikesh Jr., the Army's portfolio management executive for offensive fires, was quoted as saying. "And get that soldier feedback, that we think is so important." In August, Hanwha Defense USA was selected to provide prototypes based on a wheeled variant of the bestselling K9 Thunder self-propelled artillery for the MTC program, which aims to develop a highly mobile 155 mm artillery system to replace the Army's aging M777 towed howitzers. The contract calls for the delivery of six MTC prototypes, with an option for an additional 12 systems, and has a cumulative value of up to $262.9 million, a

The European Union (EU) on Monday added three individuals and four entities to its sanctions list targeting North Korea over its nuclear and missile programs and ties with Russia. "The Council today adopted additional restrictive measures against three individuals and four entities under its autonomous sanctions list on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)," the European Council said in a statement. The DPRK is the acronym of North Korea's official name. The council said the individuals and entities were responsible for supporting, promoting or facilitating activities contributing to North Korea's nuclear weapons, ballistic missile and other weapons of mass destruction programs, as well as for violating and evading United Nations sanctions. With the latest additions, the EU's sanctions list on North Korea now covers 80 individuals and 25 entities.

A health and safety investigation is under way at Yorkshire Wildlife Park following the incident.

Eleven crew members are missing after a merchant ship was sunk overnight, local officials say.

The Holy See’s Permanent Observer to the United Nations addresses a debate on sustainable development noting the deep interconnectedness of all human dimensions.

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An Coimisiún Pleanála has refused planning permission for a service station on a separate site beside the location of the Creeslough tragedy in which 10 people died.

After spending the last few weeks quietly watching his reputation be torn apart, Quebec-based author Thélyson Orélien is speaking out and addressing the allegations that he used artificial intelligence to write his debut novel.

A man, a woman and two children died after a house fire and two other children are critically ill.

Sir Ken McCallum says more is being done to tackle state threats than since the Cold War - and warns AI could be used to develop drones and potentially bioweapons.

The second tranche of prisoners being released includes those serving up to two and a half years.

Or perhaps vice-versa--some notes on permitting reform

At the "Tone la Maji" centre, meaning “a drop of water,” street children in southern Nairobi, Kenya, explore their talents and dreams for life, as recounted by our correspondent during a recent visit.

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Iran is ramping up attempts to hit harder targets such as military sites in Britain while Russia is escalating its hybrid warfare as it lashes out against Ukraine's allies, MI5 said.

We speak with the Academy Award-winning director Alex Gibney about his new documentary Musk, an expansive, nearly four-hour examination of the world’s first trillionaire and how he has amassed unprecedented power in business, technology and politics. The film traces Elon Musk’s early ventures and the rise of SpaceX and Tesla, examining the role of government support in their growth. It also explores his acquisition of Twitter, now X; his alliance with President Donald Trump and the MAGA movement; and his role in the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, whose cuts devastated federal programs, including USAID.

Gibney says Musk has carefully crafted an image of a “polymath” who can solve the world’s most pressing problems, but that he is really “kind of a ruthless businessman” willing to do whatever it takes to succeed, including “a series of elaborate cons” to win government support for his companies.

The internal affairs ministry data show increases in foreign populations not only in major cities and industrial districts but also in rural areas.

Local residents in the Birchwood housing estate in Waterford said they are shocked and devastated following a house fire which left a couple and two of their children dead.

The leadership team is attempting a buyout, but a union has warned the retailer could fall into administration instead.

Yemen’s Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthis, have repeatedly attacked the Saudi capital of Riyadh in recent days. On Saturday, a missile strike on the airport in Riyadh killed at least 12 and injured over 300 in the deadliest attack on Saudi soil in over a decade. President Trump is now weighing whether to join the Saudi fight against the Houthis in Yemen.

This latest escalation comes after Ansar Allah captured key areas along Yemen’s Red Sea coastline in recent weeks, driving back the Saudi-backed, internationally recognized government and taking control of the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait.

“Yes, the Houthis are attacking Saudi Arabia with airstrikes, but there is now, actively, a real ground war going on within Yemen, and that is a far more relevant and important issue for the Yemenis on a day-to-day basis because they are now back into a full-scale civil war,” says Middle East scholar Helen Lackner.

Teachers formed a line to shield students from police in Paris, as countrywide protests over education reform have reached their fourth week.

The British government will formally table what it calls a significant set of amendments to the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill.

A series of calls, obtained by the Associated Press, reveal emergency services were delayed in reaching Pike.

Yemen’s southwestern city of Taiz is facing a “devastating” humanitarian crisis as escalating tensions are dramatically driving up food prices and causing shortages of supplies, the UN Spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Fewer people from West Africa are reaching Europe by sea, but the journey has not become safer, the UN migration agency (IOM) said on Tuesday.

Russian attacks in recent days on on Ukraine’s two largest cities have again killed and injured civilians, damaged homes and civilian infrastructure, the UN aid coordination office (OCHA) said on Tuesday.

The UN Special Representative on Violence Against Children has called for stronger global action to protect boys and girls caught up in a growing number of crises, as current efforts fall short.

Amid climate disruption, an AI revolution, war and growing hunger, “the need for the United Nations has never been greater,” Secretary-General António Guterres said on Tuesday, presenting a $3.3 billion programme budget proposal for next year – a cut of $40.8 million.

Approximately 800 million young people entering the labour market in developing economies over the coming years will not find jobs unless countries act, the head of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) warned on Tuesday, as the agency launched two initiatives to boost investment and employment.

$228 billion is a staggering amount of money to find, but that’s exactly what communities around the world are faced with every year, to rebuild housing after disaster strikes.

Houthis Warn of “Swift and Painful” Response If U.S. Joins Saudi-Led Attacks on Yemen, 139 Migrants Die and 84 Go Missing as Yemen-Bound Boat Capsizes Off Djibouti, Iran’s IRGC Says It Struck Another Tanker in Strait of Hormuz, Bulgaria Summons Russian Ambassador as Drones Attack Black Sea Ships, Bipartisan Group of Senators Calls on Trump to Reverse Plans to Buy Diesel from Russia, Homeland Security Agents Raid Rep. Ilhan Omar’s D.C. Home Amid Trump’s Attacks, NYT: Elon Musk Gives GOP $366M in Campaign Contributions During 2025-26 Election Cycle, GOP Senator Graham Spars with Democratic Opponent Annie Andrews, Israeli Forces Raid Offices of Palestinians NGOs in Occupied West Bank, Netanyahu Seeks to Identify and Prosecute IDF Soldiers in Investigative Documentary NAZA, Israeli Academic and Independent Analyst Ori Goldberg Dies at Age 50

The influential economics body has upgraded its UK growth forecast for this year, but risks remain.

The first tranche of successful applications for the new Basic Income for the Arts scheme will be notified this week, the Minister for culture, Patrick O'Donovan has confirmed today.

The Government has launched the latest National Drugs Strategy which includes a two-year action plan, which includes measures on prevention, family and community supports, services for women and minority groups.

British Airways said the plane landed safely at Gatwick and passengers were due to resume their journey.

The US firm's boss responds to critics, saying "much of the room wants it to be 2016, but it's not".

Duane (Keffe D) Davis received a sentence of to 40 years to life in prison Tuesday for orchestrating the murder of rap icon Tupac Shakur, who was gunned down off the Las Vegas Strip over 30 years ago.

The award-winning singer said there were 1.8 million sign-ups for her 5,000-seat Royal Albert Hall show.

In a news release Thursday, the federal and territorial governments announced they're nominating the Mackenzie River to the Canadian Heritage Rivers System. Dehcho Grand Chief Herb Norwegian sees an opportunity to call for stronger water monitoring.

Okamoto said he called for Komeito to become a rallying point for realignment because he wanted to build a bloc of lawmakers who share similar values.

"I think the public understands the need for discussions" on Japan's possession of a nuclear submarine, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said.

Pope Leo XIV has arrived at Rome’s Agostino Gemelli University Hospital, where he is scheduled to undergo surgery on Tuesday afternoon to remove a "small, localized nodule" from his lung.

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Jamie Carragher has settled an unpaid tax bill with His Majesty's Revenue and Customs.

The BOJ officials see little need for consecutive rate hikes in the absence of signs that upside inflation risks will increase abruptly.

Crimes including rapes, assaults, hit-and-runs and drunk driving by U.S. military personnel have long triggered protests in Okinawa.

The forecast is relatively high despite concerns about the impact of prolonged rain in September.

Over more than seven months of conflict in the Persian Gulf, Japan's risk-averse refiners and shipowners have stayed away from the wider area.

Minister for Culture Patrick O'Donovan has hit out at anonymous briefings from Government and party colleagues, describing them as "hurtful" and "the ultimate betrayal".

Pope Leo XIV sends a message to a conference on Blessed Pope John Paul I at the Pontifical Gregorian University, and urges all individuals and institutions to do their part to concretely safeguard and promote peace.

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Annual house price growth in August was the lowest rate in more than two and a half years, the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show.

Aerial footage at the park after the incident shows a stuck rollercoaster with riders being helped off.

The international body slightly upgraded its outlook for the world economy, but warned that risks of an AI-related market correction and job losses because of the technology, as well as government debt, remain concerns. The report comes as economic and financial leaders gathered in Bangkok for the fall meetings of the IMF and World Bank.

Heavy spells of rain and strong winds expected to sweep across parts of the west, northwest and south of the country as three separate Status Yellow warnings are in effect for seven counties.

A group of clinicians warns technology use in English schools is driving a rise in health problems like short-sightedness.

TFG London has apologised to customers for disruption after it identified a "cybersecurity incident" on Sunday.

Opposition parties grilled the prime minister on Tuesday on not just her policies, but also her new farm minister's election campaign in January.

A father and daughter, who helped rescue four members of a family from the sea last year, said "you don't hesitate when you have to help people in difficulty".

Archbishop Timothy Broglio, the Archbishop for the United States Military Services, issues a statement on the planned execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, expressing sympathy for Hasan’s victims and “obliging” Catholic soldiers to request to be excused if they are assigned to the firing squad, saying the action is “contrary to the teaching of the Church."

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Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin shares with journalists his hope for the Pope's quick recovery from surgery, saying everyone is accompanying Pope Leo with prayer and affection.

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The rover reached the milestone 5½ years into its mission to explore if conditions conducive to microbial life ever existed on Earth's neighbor.

As Pope Leo XIV prepares for surgery on Tuesday, Cardinal Baldassare Reina, Vicar General of Rome, will lead a Rosary at Gemelli Hospital and the Pope’s Augustinian confreres gather in prayer at a Marian shrine near Rome.

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The Breaking Bad actor, who died aged 34, spoke to BBC Newsnight in 2015 about working in the film industry.

The International Monetary Fund says growth will stabilize next year "as the energy shock dissipates and monetary policy gradually normalizes."

"How low can NZ go?" Former PM Helen Clark has blasted the country's abstention on a vote on global pandemic preparedness.

Canada’s Wonderland has closed two roller coasters after one person died and several others were injured in an incident on a similar ride at a Six Flags in Georgia on Monday.

Organizers of World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul have launched an official pilgrim app to help young Catholics prepare for travel to South Korea and take part in the gathering.

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Mitte, who lived with cerebral palsy, starred as Walter White Jr in the Emmy-winning drama series.

Google has announced a €4.5m investment to advance AI-powered weather forecasting and climate research in Ireland.

Kim English, Philip English and their children, 12-year-old Callum and nine-year-old Jayden, died in a house fire after an incendiary device was brought to their home.

Advance voting for the Alberta referendum starts Tuesday and continues until Saturday.

All charges laid in the cold case murder of P.E.I. teacher Byron Carr will be withdrawn because crucial evidence has been lost, the P.E.I. Crown Attorneys' Office said in a statement Tuesday.

Pope Leo's surgery confirmed that he has lung cancer, and he had the lower lobe of his right lung removed, the Vatican said Tuesday.

The policy will consider future population projections, as the country seeks to balance a reliance on foreign workers with a shrinking population.

Dietary guidelines for girls and boys aged between nine and 18 have been published by the FSAI.

In an interview with Vatican News, former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates speaks about the potential dangers associated with the growth of artificial intelligence, and explains that it is a sector incapable of self-regulation that must therefore be guided by governments, noting that action must be taken to harness the opportunities AI offers in healthcare, education, and agriculture.

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An explosion was ⁠heard in Ukraine's capital of Kyiv in the early hours of today, ‌a witness said.

Bryan Cranston has paid an emotional tribute to his Breaking Bad co-star RJ Mitte, revealing they had been making plans to meet for lunch just weeks before the actor's death.

A record 246 startup companies and universities, along with 194 overseas firms, are taking part in the four-day technology event.

Hurricane Simon pounded western Mexico, causing one death in the state of Guerrero, while four people died and some are missing in the state of Baja California due to the impact of post-tropical cyclone Rachel.

A couple and their two children who were killed in an arson attack in Waterford have been named locally.

Self-described elite "competitive sleepers" vied to nap the fastest and deepest in a Tokyo contest organized by a mattress company.

The IMF has warned of "elevated" risks faced by the global financial system, with potential perils including an AI-related market correction and cyber threats that could have "severe" consequences.

Fisher River Cree Nation is grappling with a shortage of at least 40 educational assistants that leaders say comes after years of federal underfunding, at a time when more children with special needs are enrolled in school.

Emergency rooms in rural Saskatchewan often rely on travel nurses to stay open, but a group of those nurses say they've gone months without pay and the private agency that deployed them has gone silent.

Grounding two teams is creating major safety concerns for boaties in the upper North Island, says an air patrol volunteer.

Anthropic has said that small AI models could be months away from self-replicating across internet-connected devices, raising the possibility of AI botnets spreading quickly, fighting takedown attempts and even breaking into data centres to turbocharge their growth.

One company in Hyogo Prefecture began offering a plant-based product to substitute Akashi brand octopus after prices for it skyrocketed.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Japan will continue to communicate with the U.S. after Washington slapped sanctions on the court.

At the end of fiscal 2025, 1.55 million people had three or more unsecured, unguaranteed loans from moneylenders.

An in-depth look at the key polling, races and issues ahead of an election that will define Trump’s final two years as president.

In his first interview since being forced from his post, Gen Syrskyi speaks about Ukraine's future in the war.

In August, the department told CBC News it had 251 children and youth in care as of June 30. CBC News questioned that at the time but was told it was the point-in-time figure. After CBC News sought further clarity, the department admitted the previous figure is inaccurate and does not match any category in its database. It's prompted critics to question the department’s ability to track the children in its care.

One person was injured in the crash.

The Legally Blonde star is investigated by the FBI following an alleged altercation on a flight from LA to New York.

A special radar is aiding the search for the unmarked graves of patients who died in care in mental asylums near Dunedin.

Athletes have previously spoken cautiously about the exemptions, long a sensitive subject in a country where most young men are required to serve.

Drones struck two ships in the Black Sea off Bulgaria on Tuesday, sinking one and prompting emergency rescue operations, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said.

The Over 65s Free Store has distributed 29,949kg of surplus food - the equivalent of more than 66,000 meals - since May 2024.

Train services on a section of the Hisatsu Orange Railway in Kumamoto Prefecture resumed Tuesday, 77 days after the July 28 earthquake.

The Pope has lung cancer and had the lower lobe of his right lung removed during surgery in Rome, the Vatican has said.

The main council office, the Westland District Library and the Hokitika tourist information centre will all be affected by the closures.

As security personnel blocked the main protest site in New Delhi, protesters turned to holding flash demonstrations elsewhere.

But Health New Zealand is not releasing the findings yet and says it does not know when it will.

Erica Stanford says the case of a sex offender who was able to teach despite multiple warning signs shows there is a rotten culture inside the Teaching Council.

Horticulture teacher Travis Gienger hauled his pumpkin from Minnesota to Half Moon Bay, California where he won the annual event.

The International Monetary Fund noted a growing divergence between countries benefiting from artificial intelligence and those bypassed by it.

Joshua Arnold was last seen on Sunday 4 October on Kotuitui Road, Wainui.

Canadian travel to Las Vegas continues to crater as President Donald Trump's near-daily insults to the country drag on, and the resulting economic slump in Sin City has become a major midterm election issue.

The recent decision by Prime Minister Mark Carney to fast-track a new oil export pipeline to the West Coast is adding urgency for Ottawa to finally decide what to do with a long-standing environmental issue plaguing the oilsands in Northern Alberta — what to do with tailings ponds.

Sidhu Moose Wala's Signed to God world tour kicked off in Toronto last Friday, with a hologram standing in on stage for the Punjabi rap star who was shot and killed in 2022. Fans lined up for the show seemed eager to see what was in store, while tech and music industry observers say it's an interesting test of the technology.

Belmont's Curse is mostly a roaring resurrection for the 40-year-old series — but its punishing difficulty could make it hard to recommend to newcomers to the genre.

The North Korean leader inaugurated the museum — chock full of advanced weaponry — as the U.S. president teased the idea of a summit next month.

A science advocate says the closure is part of wider science reform that could hamper new opportunities for food innovation and technology for New Zealand.

PNG police deny that their Kumul 23 unit is to blame for killings and house burnings near the Porgera Gold Mine in late September violence.

Wayne Brown has responded to comments about disruption following the All Blacks’ event saying "let’s get the facts straight".

The Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Bryant has urged politicians to temper their language, after an MP said police "could have sanitised the Garvaghy Road" to clear the way for a march.

French students have taken to the streets around the country for another day of protests over poor conditions.

The move would test a tourism industry that has yet to fully recover from the pandemic.

The shortage highlights Thailand's growing dependence on migrant labor as an aging population shrinks its domestic workforce.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a woman was hit by a vehicle last night in Auckland.

US President Donald Trump has been accused of 'abusing his power' after the Washington home of Democrat Ilhan Omar was searched by US federal agents.

A round-up of news from around the region, including Samoa's national teams to continue to participate in regional and international events under Lakapi Samoa.

People with type 2 diabetes using the technology were expected to live longer and spend more years in better health, the study has found.

Toa Samoa's head coach and co-captain both believe veteran Jarome Luai will be the key man in their campaign at the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.

For the first time since the UK left the EU, we have a prime minister who will "unflinchingly" debate Brexit, says the BBC's political editor Chris Mason.

The woman involved has been left bemused at how the community feared the worst.

The 26-year-old is accused of using garden loppers to steal more than $57,000 worth of EV car charging cables in Canterbury.

"I think life is tough enough for beneficiaries anyway,"Jonathan Coleman says.

The 2007 Rugby World Cup-winning coach with the Springboks replaces Senirusi Seruvakula, who was appointed to the position on an interim basis in April.

The new Flying Fijians head coach Jake White's focus is to get the players ready to be in the best shape possible for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

COGENT chief information security officer Anthony Grasso said he was not surprised by the attack.

This week NZTA is reducing speed limits on five sections of state highway around the region, after they were previously increased.

Antonia Okonma Shittu's wig business was launched after a shock diagnosis, and she now wants to help other women feel their best.

The body allowed a sex offender to teach despite a police "red stamp" saying he should not have unsupervised access to children.

Minister for Housing James Browne will seek approval from the Cabinet to launch a scheme enabling local authorities to repair damage to social housing caused by defective concrete blocks

Candidates faced a number of in-depth and quick-fire questions in front of a crowd of about 60 locals during a Wairarapa electorate debate on Monday night.

The Labour Party says it will cut back-to-school costs for families by making school uniforms cheaper and allowing for "affordable, generic" alternatives to be used as well.

A fiery public meeting on Monday night laid bare political differences over who should get the final word on the future of the district - local councils or fast-track panels.

About 38 percent of Māngere voters were enrolled in the 2023 election but did not cast a vote.

The Kumul 23 police unit is believed to be responsible for the deaths of eight people and numerous house burnings in Porgera, near the Porgera Gold Mine.

Meeting travellers' expectations could be challenging, experts warn.

Sitiveni Rabuka has confirmed he will take no immediate disciplinary action regarding the explicit video uploaded to Justice Minister Siromi Turaga's Facebook profile.

Jacob Sharpe died in June 2024, while staying at community support service Pathways' respite facility, and under the care of Health NZ Nelson Marlborough.

Foundational work on Arcadia is continuing while formal arrangements are finalised, the Defence Force says.

A 42-year-old man killed while riding a roller-coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia was thrown from his seat and struck other patrons before landing below the ride, police said Tuesday.

Police are investigating after a man fell to his death from a roller coaster at a Six Flags near Atlanta, watched by other visitors to the amusement park as he was catapulted from the ride.

Social media "clippers" make short, vertical videos that appear on the likes of Instagram and TikTok.

Fórsa General Secretary Kevin Callinan has confirmed tomorrow's strike will go ahead - despite a final plea from Government this afternoon to enter into talks aimed at finding a new public service pay deal.

Limiting a wealth tax to the very richest in society would only capture 1.5% of households, according to a paper by the Economic and Social Research Institute and the Department of Finance.

Work and Technology Correspondent Brian O'Donovan explains the impact of tomorrow's public sector strike.

PrepayPower has announced it is freezing electricity and gas prices for customers this winter.

Annual asking price inflation for homes has slowed to its softest pace in over three years, according to a new housing report.

The ERA found the employer's failure to act in good faith during the meeting was "deliberate, serious and sustained".

Brothers Jaden and Justin Flora tell The National about the moment they each scored a hat trick in the same game for their team the Niagara Falls Canucks in the Ontario Junior Hockey League, in St. Catherines, Ont.

The actor played Walter White Jr on the popular TV show. No cause of death has been disclosed.

Former Auckland-based police officer Matthew Rogers was one of three police staff charged following a rapid review in October 2025.

American actor RJ Mitte, best known for starring opposite Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad, has died aged 34.

The two 19-year-olds appeared at the High Court at Invercargill on Tuesday but did not enter a plea.

Major French supermarket chains say they were hit by a cyberattack that caused their refrigerators to shoot up in temperature, forcing spoiled food to be thrown away.

The plans to broadcast the firing squad killing of Nidal Hasan mark a return to a long-abandoned spectacle.

On this episode of Behind The Story, Robert's lawyer, Peter Griffin unravels the complex and extraordinary five-year journey from a notorious Baghdad prison to finally setting foot back on Irish soil.

Ben McNulty says figures from Wellington Water indicate the cost over 25 years to fix water pipes would be more than $6 billion.

The managers employed by Health NZ will take partial strike action for two weeks from the end of the month.

State Highway 26 is closed at the intersection with State Highway 27 while police investigate the cause of the single vehicle crash.

When Jeff Warner strapped his 1,711-pound pumpkin to a trailer and set off for Port Elgin Pumpkinfest earlier this month, he knew a top prize wasn't guaranteed. Still, the Englehart, Ont., grower says he was hoping for a shot. Instead he was disqualified. The culprit? A soft spot.

A group of medics swapped stethoscopes for sheet music recently when the 84-strong New Zealand Doctors' Orchestra came together for its annual charity concert in New Plymouth.

Part of the highway was closed after the crash on Tuesday morning.

The revamped outdoor concert venue is due to host singer Olivia Dean to a sold-out crowd on Saturday.

Reuben Sharples says it was daunting to see people looking for work whose skill sets were "10, 20 times" what was required.

The researcher behind a new national audit of specialist respiratory care says the system is "just on the brink of collapse" if one of the doctors resigns or retires.

Leinster House will be shut on Wednesday owing to the strike by public sector workers.

A man in his 60s has died following a collision between a car and a truck in Ashbourne, Co Meath.

Breaking Bad actor and disability rights advocate RJ Mitte died on Monday at age 34, authorities and his representatives said.

British comedian and actor Russell Brand will stand trial in London on Monday, accused of rape and sexual assault.

Premier Danielle Smith sits down with CBC News chief correspondent Adrienne Arsenault to talk about Alberta’s high-stakes referendum, what happens after the vote on Oct. 19 and why she’s ‘public enemy no.1’ with many separatists.

The man behind the Pacific's first independent fact-checking website says the unchecked spread of misinformation and disinformation in the region is why he started it.

The government has said that it remains Ireland's ambition that can conclude its accession negotiations during the Irish EU presidency.

Kiribati's national men's team, Te Eitei, has claimed its maiden international trophy after defeating Seaqaqa in the Fiji Inter-District Championship premier division final.

The leaders of Vanuatu and Solomon Islands used their speeches at the UN General Assembly to urge Indonesia to allow a human rights commissioner to assess the situation in West Papua.

The United States military is seeking greater access to the Northern Mariana Islands' ports, airports, and other facilities, as the territory asks for more than $12.5 billion in federal assistance.

A banner was flown above the Detroit River on Monday to thank Canadians during Thanksgiving. The initiative was organized by groups in Detroit, who wanted to commemorate the unique relationship between Windsor, Ont., and the American city.

Leaders of Indigenous groups are speaking out against Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew's recent comments that residential school denialism should not be considered a crime.

Rory McIlroy's winning putt in the 2025 Masters at Augusta last year helped the Irish arm of Sky to increase revenues by 7% to £539m (€637.55m).

There is mounting criticism of the Irish government's draft seven-year EU budget from member states, the European Parliament and the European Commission.

With Trump's declaration of an 'energy ceasefire' between Russia and Ukraine, the U.S. president appears to be increasing pressure on Kyiv to halt its attacks on Russian refineries while simultaneously pursuing fuel deals with Moscow.

New research is showing what makes honeybee stings an effective, self-driving weapon. High speed cameras reveal how the stinger uses a double-piston that pumps up and down to drive it deeper while delivering its poison.

Cardinal Gérald Cyprien Lacroix, Archbishop of Quebec, speaks to Vatican News about the need for the Church to be present for families and couples on the sidelines of the Vatican's latest press briefing on the ecclesial encounter ‘Ten Years after ‘Amoris laetitia’: proclaiming the Gospel with families today.’

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On the 400th anniversary of the consecration of St. Peter’s Basilica, the documentary Pétros ení — featuring Chris Pratt and with the special participation of Pope Leo XIV — takes viewers on a journey to discover the burial place of the first of the Apostles. Directed by Paula Ortiz and written by Andrea Tornielli, it will be screened in a special preview on October 16 at the Rome Film Festival.

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Garvaghy Road residents have been refused permission to appeal a decision to allow an Orange Order parade.

Twenty-four Koreans have been arrested in Nepal for participating in a religious program while visiting the country on tourist visas, local media reported Monday. According to Nepalese online news outlet Ratopati, the arrests were recently made after they took part in a religious training program at New Covenant College, a Christian educational institution in the Morang district of Koshi province in eastern Nepal. New Covenant College operates with support from a Korea-based Christian missionary organization and provides religious studies and education, according to local reports. Nepalese police reportedly arrested the Koreans after determining that some of their activities may have violated the terms of their tourist visas. Foreign nationals entering Nepal on tourist visas are not permitted to engage in religious education or missionary activities. Seoul's foreign ministry said it was aware of the arrests and had been in close contact with Nepalese authorities through the Korean Embassy in Nepal since learning of the incident. The ministry said it could not disclose further details to pr

The state human rights watchdog decided Monday to scrap its earlier resolution recommending that former President Yoon Suk Yeol's right to defense be guaranteed during his impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court. The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) revised and approved the motion calling for the repeal of the recommendation and a public apology over issuing the recommendation. Ahn Chang-ho, chair of the commission, abstained from the vote. Ahn was appointed by Yoon. In February 2025, the commission came under fire after adopting the recommendation amid growing calls from Yoon's supporters for the impeached president to be guaranteed a fair trial over his short-lived martial law declaration on Dec. 3, 2024.

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won on Monday is said to be challenging the court's property division in his ongoing suit with his former wife, which set the wife's share at 33 percent of their shared property subject to division. The SK chairman raised the issue in a document submitted to the Supreme Court earlier in the day, as part of his appeal filed in August against the Seoul High Court's decision ordering him to pay 944 billion won ($707.8 million) in property division to his former wife Roh Soh-yeong, the daughter of late former President Roh Tae-woo. The appellate court issued the ruling in its second trial after the Supreme Court sent its previous ruling back for retrial a year earlier, determining that the former president's alleged 30 billion-won slush fund given to SK Group should not be recognized as the daughter's contribution to the marriage because it would have been illegal funds, even if it existed. In the document Chey's side submitted to the Supreme Court as part of his appeal, the SK Group chairman reportedly disputed the legality of the appellate court's latest decisio

The South Korean government has won a lawsuit against the descendants of a pro-Japanese collaborator during Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea, seeking to recover land and proceeds from its sale worth a combined 2.7 billion won ($2 million), officials said Monday. The Goyang branch of the Uijeongbu District Court on Thursday ruled in the government's favor in a lawsuit seeking the return of "unjust proceeds" from the sale of assets by a pro-Japanese collaborator and the transfer of land ownership, according to the justice ministry. The court ruled that the government is entitled to seek the return of proceeds from pro-Japan collaborators' assets even if the assets had been transferred to third parties before 2005, when the law mandating the reversion of pro-Japanese collaborators' property to the state was enacted. The figure in question, Shin Woo-sun, served as a vice councilor at the Japanese colonial government's advisory body and received honorary medals from the then Japanese government. The ministry filed the lawsuit in January, seeking to recover 2.43 billion won in proceeds f

Three years after a boardroom battle pushed him out of SM Entertainment, the company he founded, K-pop mogul Lee Soo-man unveiled two new idol groups on Monday in his first music project in Korea since his noncompete agreement with HYBE expired in February. His Singapore-headquartered A2O Entertainment introduced 15-member boy group A2O Soul and nine-piece girl group A2O Lite at a joint showcase at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, where both groups performed live for the first time. Their digital singles, “Superstar” and “Neon,” come out at 6 p.m. Tuesday. The launch also uses an unusual format — two groups debuting at once, linked through a shared fictional universe centered on "Soulite," an alien planet. “The question I get asked most is what makes A2O different,” said Lee, who took the stage at the showcase. “As long as K-pop groups are classified as singers, what a singer needs most is a song. I wanted everything, from the song to the dance, music video, performance and concert, to be different from what came before.” Being different alone is not enough, he adde

Police on Monday sought a warrant to arrest a man on charges of killing his mother-in-law and kidnapping his wife, with whom he is involved in a marriage annulment suit. The Seoul Songpa Police Station in eastern Seoul filed for the warrant with a Seoul court on charges including parricide, a day after arresting the man in his 20s, who had been on the run, according to police officials. The suspect was accused of stabbing his mother-in-law to death at a house in Seoul's Songpa district and kidnapping his wife before going on the run early Sunday. He had previously been booked for police investigation in August for frequently using violence against the wife, and the couple had been in a suit to annul their marriage, according to officials. The suspect has reportedly admitted the parricide charge but denied police accusations that the murder was premeditated, saying that he was trying to change his wife's mind.

STOCKHOLM — American-born economists Robert E. Hall and Michael Woodford won the Nobel memorial prize in economics on Monday for their work on models that have helped governments and central banks manage economic shocks, such as energy crises and inflation. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the winners in Stockholm, saying the two were being honored for work that has helped policymakers deal with economic fluctuations. “The laureates have helped us smooth out the economy’s peaks and troughs,” the academy said in a statement. Hall is affiliated with Stanford University in California, and Woodford with Columbia University in New York. Woodford spoke to the committee by phone Monday from New York, saying: “It’s a tremendous honor, it’s a surprise." “The laureates’ work has provided us with a stable theoretical foundation for the models that are now used by central banks and governments around the world,” John Hassler, chair of the Committee for the Prize in Economic Sciences, said in a news release. “With them, we are better equipped to deal with shocks in

Director Yeon Sang-ho, best known for his intense genre storytelling, returns with the thought-provoking psychological thriller "Paradise Lost," exploring the complexities of motherhood and human identity in the era of artificial intelligence (AI). "In the era of AI, I believe being human means living in a world of deep thought," Yeon said after the premiere of the movie in Seoul Monday. "AI cannot think deeply, but humans can. I believe humans have a deep, unknown inner world, like a black hole in space. 'Paradise Lost' tries to explore that." The director added his new movie was inspired by a short three-page story written by his mother. The film follows So-young (Kim Hyun-joo), a grieving mother who lost her son Sun-woo nine years earlier, along with 12 other children, on a missing school bus. Seven days after the incident, several children were found dead in a mining town warehouse basement. The search was then called off, leaving her in endless pain. To cope with the loss, So-young interacts with an AI-generated version of her child daily through an augmented reality program called "

T.O.P, formerly of K-pop group BIGBANG, has found himself facing unusually public criticism from some of his most devoted supporters, with a fan site that backed him for 20 years shutting down and his agency ultimately issuing an apology. The controversy unfolded shortly after T.O.P, whose real name is Choi Seung-hyun, was confirmed to be dating Nana, a former member of girl group After School who is now an actress. While speculation initially linked the backlash to his relationship, the longtime fan site CHOIDOT said the real issue went much deeper, pointing to years of insufficient communication, limited activities and what it described as an assumption that fans would continue supporting the singer regardless. Saturday, T.O.P's agency, TOPSPOT PICTURES, apologized through its official social media account. "We are taking seriously the opinions that fans have recently shared with us," the agency said. "We deeply apologize that fans who have waited for him have not received sufficient updates about his activities or enough communication, and for the disappointment and frustration this h

Police are facing a shortage of officers to keep track of electronic ankle monitors, despite nearly 600 violations of relevant rules this year alone, data showed Monday. According to the data submitted by the Ministry of Justice to Rep. Kim Han-kyu of the ruling Democratic Party, 599 violations were recorded between January and July this year, 590 of them breaches of curfew or stay-at-home orders. The number of criminals monitored via GPS-tracked electronic anklets reached 5,273 as of July, up 9.24 percent from end-2025, and is expected to reach over 5,500 by year-end. The number of field officers assigned to monitor them stood at only 234 as of August, the data showed. As of end-July, each officer oversaw an average of 20.4 anklet wearers, compared with 17.1 in 2022. In 2013, the ministry established special crime prevention units, pairing a probation officer with a martial arts expert, to analyze the movements of anklet wearers and catch violators. The number of martial arts officers stood at 167 as of August, falling short of the official quota of 170. Field officers also face growing p

Korea has decided to provide $500,000 in humanitarian assistance to Honduras to help the country cope with a persistent drought, the foreign ministry said Monday. A severe drought has affected the Central American country since May, leaving some 620,000 people facing severe food insecurity and suffering from malnutrition, according to the ministry, citing an appeal by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). "We hope the assistance would help affected communities return to normal life as soon as possible," the ministry said in a release.

Police on Monday apprehended a man in his 60s for allegedly murdering a woman under police protection over stalking and dating violence on the southern resort island of Jeju, officials said. The man was placed under emergency arrest hours after allegedly fatally stabbing the woman in her 40s outside a hotel in Jeju at 1:38 a.m., according to the Jeju Seobu Police Station. During police questioning, the man reportedly claimed the victim was a former lover. The victim was found to have reported the man for stalking in October 2025, and filed multiple reports of dating violence in May. Last month, police issued her a smart watch to alert authorities of emergencies and registered the woman as a subject of protection. She was reportedly unable to use the device during the fatal attack. A restraining order had not been issued against the man as formal cases had not been officially filed during the previous reports. Police plan to file for a warrant for the suspect's formal arrest after further investigation.

Lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties criticized Coupang on Monday for refusing an on-site investigation by the antitrust regulator, warning that its actions could undermine law enforcement and calling for legislation to prevent companies from obstructing investigations. During a parliamentary audit of the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) at the National Assembly in Seoul, Rep. Min Byoung-dug of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) said Coupang had blocked investigators from entering its premises, demanding that the FTC explain why it believed evidence could be destroyed. “There is a question of whether Coupang should be allowed to treat Korea’s public authorities this way,” Min said. “If Coupang brazenly disregards the FTC’s authority in Korea, other retailers will do the same … It will be a very bad precedent.” He also called for a committee resolution or a statement from the committee chair or party floor leaders condemning Coupang’s actions. Coupang refused the commission’s on-site investigation in August over suspected violations of the law governi

It is normal for a president to clash with members of opposition parties, especially those with different political inclinations, over reform measures. President Lee Jae Myung, however, is having an unusual conflict — one against members of his own party and other liberal figures. The conflict is over the nomination of Kim Ji-yong, a former prosecutor, to be the inaugural chief of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (SCIA). The new investigative body was established as part of prosecutorial reform, dividing the prosecutors’ office into SCIA in charge of probing serious crimes and the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) tasked with indicting suspects and prosecuting cases. The nomination on Sept. 8, however, turned the long-awaited prosecution reform into the focus of an increasingly bitter internal conflict, as hardliners from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), the minor liberal Rebuilding Korea Party (RKP) and elsewhere in the liberal bloc argue that his record of defending prosecutorial powers makes him unfit to serve as its inaugural chief. They also label Kim a loyalist

President Lee Jae Myung's move to the official presidential residence at Cheong Wa Dae is being planned for this year, an official said Monday. Lee and first lady Kim Hea Kyung have been living at the official residence used by former President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul's Yongsan Ward while refurbishments take place at Cheong Wa Dae. Yoon relocated the presidential office and residence from Cheong Wa Dae to Yongsan upon taking office in 2022 but Lee decided to return both to the former location following his inauguration last year. Only the presidential office completed its move to Cheong Wa Dae in December. "We are preparing to enable the move within the year after completing building commissioning and moving preparations," the presidential official said. "No schedule has been fixed for the move to the Cheong Wa Dae residence yet."

The Korean won advanced to a near two-year high against the U.S. dollar Monday, fueled by dollar sales by local exporters. The won was quoted at 1,335.1 won per dollar at 3:30 p.m., up 7.7 won from the close of the previous stock trading session. At one point in afternoon trading, the won strengthened to a high of 1,331.3 per dollar, marking the strongest level since Oct. 4, 2024. The won's advance came as local exporters, led by semiconductor manufacturers, continued to convert their dollar earnings into the Korean currency, traders said. Foreigners sold a net 2.01 trillion won ($1.5 billion) worth of local shares during the latest regular trading session, with the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index plunging 3.65 percent to close at 6,384.24.

The unification ministry on Monday appointed a North Korean defector to head the Korea Hana Foundation, an agency affiliated with the ministry to support the resettlement of North Korean defectors, for the first time. Kim Young-hee, 61, who previously headed the North Korea Development Institute, was named president of the foundation for a three-year term, according to the ministry. It marked the first time that a North Korean defector has been appointed to the post since the foundation's establishment in 2010. Kim, who was born in Kilju County in North Hamgyong Province, came to South Korea in 2002, and has since assumed the role of a North Korean economy expert for various government agencies and local governments. The foundation's top post remained vacant for more than 19 months after its previous chief, Cho Min-ho, was dismissed in February last year over allegations he sexually and verbally harassed employees.

PARIS — France's high school students on Monday begin a new stage of their campaign for improved conditions, hoping to maintain the momentum with a fresh wave of demonstrations. The new protests, scheduled for Tuesday, could be a turning point in the movement, launched in mid-September, which the government hopes is already winding down. On Friday, the government noted a dramatic drop in the number of blockades and meetings outside the country's lycees, where students -- most between 15 and 18 -- complete their high school education. More than 96 percent were opening Friday, said the education ministry. The authorities are all the more keen to see the student protests end given that online activists have called for demonstrations next Saturday to protest the cost of living. For President Emmanuel Macron's administration, that brings back troubling memories of the grassroots Yellow Vest movement. Their protests, launched in 2018 over a planned fuel tax rise, saw massive demonstrations and clashes between police and protesters that shook the presidency during Macron's first term in office.

Korean and Japanese creators are increasingly joining forces on television dramas, but the latest wave of collaborations is moving beyond the once-novel spectacle of simply putting stars from the two countries together. Two new series, "KiDnap Game" and "Merry Berry Love," illustrate how Korea-Japan co-productions are evolving as producers combine different production systems and storytelling styles from the development stage while setting their sights on audiences beyond either country. Channel A's "KiDnap Game," which premiered Tuesday, is a thriller revolving around an unprecedented series of kidnappings that simultaneously occur in seven Asian cities: Seoul, Tokyo, Taipei, Singapore, Bangkok, Manila and Naha. The global project is a joint production involving Korea, Japan and Hong Kong. Japanese actor Kentaro Sakaguchi takes a leading role alongside Korean star Lee Joon-gi, marking the first time the two actors have worked together. A day later, CJ ENM-produced "Merry Berry Love" premiered on Japan's Nippon TV and Disney+. The cross-border romance follows Yubin, a Korean spatial desi

The government on Monday finalized a package of measures aimed at preventing suicide in a nation that has outstripped other developed countries in terms of suicide rates for more than two decades. The sixth Suicide Prevention Basic Plan was finalized during a meeting of the suicide prevention policy committee presided over by Prime Minister Han Seong-sook. The measures include reducing motivation for suicide and offering psychological care and counseling. Korea has charted out the suicide prevention basic plan every five years starting in 2004 in an effort to curb suicide rates. The fifth basic plan was announced in 2023 for a period through 2027, but the government came up with the sixth plan earlier than scheduled as suicide rates spiked in 2024. Korea's suicide rate, which refers to the number of suicide deaths per 100,000 people a year, surged to 29.1 in 2024, but fell back to 27.8 in 2025. This year, suicide deaths totaled 7,432 between January and July, down 12.3 percent, or 1,043, from the same period last year. The country has been at the top among the OECD member countries in te

President Lee Jae Myung ordered the authorities Monday to respond sternly to allegations that a car battery manufacturer duped its workers into getting shots to discharge heavy metals from their bodies in order to cover up dangerous levels of lead in its production line, his spokesperson said. According to a news report, DN Automotive, a major local car battery manufacturer, tricked workers at its plant in the southeastern city of Ulsan into getting the shots multiple times by disguising them as "vitamin injections" ahead of their medical exams. Lee was briefed on the labor ministry's recent decision to refer the company to the police for investigation, and strongly rebuked the government over the fact that the company had passed a work environment assessment even after five times the allowed level of lead was found in its production process, according to his spokesperson Kang Yu-jung. "President Lee said it was an unacceptable and grave human rights violation that a company, which should protect workers' lives and health, made its workers get injections while hiding potential side effe

KOSPI slid 3.65 percent Monday, falling below 6,400 as its losing streak stretched to four consecutive sessions. The benchmark index has shed 619.50 points, or 8.85 percent, since Oct. 6. After losing the 7,000 mark earlier in that stretch, it breached both the 6,500 and 6,400 levels on Monday. Persistent selling by foreign investors has weighed on KOSPI, leaving it struggling to recover even after Samsung Electronics reported record earnings last Thursday. After opening 47.76 points, or 0.72 percent, lower at 6,578.17, the index extended its losses to close at 6,384.24, down 241.69 points, or 3.65 percent. It marked the benchmark’s biggest daily percentage decline since Sept. 2, when it fell 3.99 percent. Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, the market’s two leading chip stocks, dropped 4.39 percent and 4.52 percent, respectively, dragging KOSPI lower. “The two chip heavyweights came under pressure as investors weighed renewed concerns about an artificial intelligence (AI) bubble following reports about OpenAI,” said Kim Seok-hwan, an analyst at Mirae Asset Securities. Reports on Thu

Bank of Korea (BOK) Gov. Shin Hyun-song said Monday that the central bank's August rate hike ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's September move gave Korea more time to respond and helped minimize the economic costs of monetary tightening. "We signaled a shift toward higher interest rates earlier than many other major economies. By raising rates in August, ahead of the Fed's September hike, we bought ourselves time," Shin said during a parliamentary audit of the central bank. "Taking action early carries far lower economic costs than having to raise rates defensively in response to market pressure," he added. Shin said the preemptive move also helped guide market expectations, noting that the prospect of BOK's rate increases was reflected in bond yields and other market prices before the hikes actually took effect. The BOK raised its policy rate by 0.25 percentage point in both July and August, bringing it to 3 percent. The Fed raised its benchmark rate by 0.25 percentage point in September, its first increase since July 2023, to a range of 3.75 percent to 4 percent. During the audit, Shin

The Ministry of National Defense inaugurated a physical artificial intelligence (AI) research center Monday at Pangyo Techno Valley — a sprawling high-tech hub south of Seoul often hailed as Korea's Silicon Valley for its heavy concentration of tech giants, startups, and advanced research facilities. The opening marks the start of an ambitious national project to train humanoid robots and autonomous machines for high-risk military missions, such as mine clearance, explosive ordnance disposal and hazardous chemical reconnaissance. Led by Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul, the launch event brought together roughly 150 officials from government agencies, academic institutions and defense industries, including representatives from the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Presidential National AI Committee. Operated in partnership with Ajou University, the Pangyo facility is the first of five specialized regional defense AI hubs planned across the nation. While Pangyo will focus on hardware-software integration — collecting physical operational data to train humanoid and multilegged robots

Visitors can watch the sunset from the curved rooftop of Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), one of Seoul’s best-known architectural landmarks, through a special guided tour this fall, its operator said Monday. The Seoul Design Foundation will run the “Sunset Tour” every Friday and Saturday from Oct. 16 to Nov. 21. First held last year, the 90-minute tour now adds live music and meditation. DDP, a futuristic complex in central Seoul designed by the late British Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, is covered in silver aluminum panels that reflect the colors of the setting sun. Participants walk along the building’s curving roof while taking in views of the city skyline. On Fridays, singer-songwriters and a flutist will perform live on the rooftop, with the sky and sunset serving as the backdrop. Saturdays will feature meditation sessions accompanied by singing bowls, bowl-shaped instruments that produce a resonant sound when struck or rubbed. Participants are guided to focus on their breathing and the sounds around them. Tours run from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. in October and from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Taiwan’s military is grappling with a worsening manpower shortage, with its volunteer staffing rate remaining below the 80 percent target for a third consecutive year and concerns mounting over the impact on combat readiness, according to the island’s legislature. The shortages extend deep into frontline formations — including infantry, artillery, missile and air defence units — raising questions over whether Taiwan will have enough trained personnel to operate and maintain the vast quantities of new weapons entering service, observers said. A Legislative Yuan Budget Centre assessment of the government’s proposed 2027 budget warned this week that persistent personnel shortages could increase workloads and training demands on serving troops while affecting readiness. Defence ministry figures cited by the centre showed that the number of staff positions successfully filled by volunteers peaked at 88.52 percent in 2020 before falling below 80 percent in 2023. It dropped to 75.93 percent in 2024 and stood at 77.31 percent at the end of last year. A separate Budget Centre assessment

The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) on Monday criticized President Lee Jae Myung's golf outing over the weekend, questioning whether it was appropriate for him to play golf while the collapsed ceiling of a supermarket in Daegu left dozens of people injured. "Is a single line of instruction given while playing golf the right attitude for the head of state responsible for people's lives?" PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok said during a meeting of the party's supreme council. "Is it even possible to receive reports in real time and give directions while playing golf?" In a statement released the previous day, Cheong Wa Dae said Lee immediately issued an order from the golf course for thorough rescue operations after receiving reports about the incident. The incident took place Saturday morning, leaving 38 people injured. PPP chief spokesperson Park Sung-hoon also released a commentary, accusing Lee of enjoying what he called an "imperial" round of golf, a term widely used in Korea to describe golf outings that are especially leisurely, unlike ordinary rounds where golfers are usually rush

Korea plans to gradually phase out special military service arrangements for athletes and artists, while tightening eligibility for international arts competitions, the head of the Military Manpower Administration (MMA) said Monday. MMA Commissioner Hong So-young told lawmakers during a National Assembly audit that she backed the Ministry of National Defense’s plan to scale back the exemption program before eventually abolishing it. “Our position is the same as the defense ministry’s,” Hong said, adding that the proposal was undergoing a final review as part of the government’s defense reform plan and would be announced soon. Under measures presented to the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee, the MMA plans to limit eligibility only to first-place winners at international arts competitions, rather than granting exemption to both first-place and second-place winners. It also aims to cut the number of qualifying winners at domestic traditional arts competitions from two or three per event to one. The agency said 86.6 percent of artists admitted to the program over th

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young rejected claims Monday that his remarks on a suspected North Korean uranium enrichment site prompted the U.S. to restrict intelligence sharing with Seoul, as the opposition stepped up calls for him to resign. Chung told reporters that Washington misread the situation, arguing that his reference to the North's Kusong region was first made at his July 2025 confirmation hearing, not in March this year, when he raised it as a minister at a parliamentary session. "The U.S.' misunderstanding was that intelligence had been shared, passed on to the unification minister and then somehow leaked by the minister. What I want to point out is that I made those remarks in July last year as a lawmaker, not as unification minister. The U.S. may have overlooked that. Had they known, they would not have raised the issue. They saw it as a leak because they thought I was speaking as minister. Even the U.S. can get the facts wrong," he said. “The U.S. should have taken action against the National Assembly or the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), because I was a DPK lawm

"If you feel empty whenever you don't have plans, I want to tell you that you need time to develop the ability to deal with loneliness instead." For years, social media has been a showcase for picture-perfect lives — luxury hotels, fine dining, designer goods, exotic vacations and bustling social circles. Now, a very different kind of lifestyle is drawing millions of views: staying home alone on a Friday night. Kim Yu-rye, a 38-year-old office worker in Seoul, documents her solitary routines on Instagram. Her account, "kimuyeah," is filled with everyday activities she enjoys by herself, from watching animation after work and reading to practicing yoga. She shares tips with followers on how to spend time comfortably by themselves. It was not always something she was comfortable showing publicly. As someone without a spouse, romantic partner or children, Kim gradually found herself spending more time alone. She eventually stopped treating that reality as something that needed to be hidden behind carefully curated social media posts. "I used to think I should only post special and beautifu

The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal by Korea's tax authority, effectively upholding a lower court's ruling in favor of Google Korea in a corporate tax cancellation case involving about 154 billion won ($115.3 million), judicial officials said Monday. The top court left intact the Seoul High Court's ruling siding with Google Korea in its corporate tax cancellation lawsuit against the head of Seoul's Yeoksam Tax Office by dismissing the defendant's appeal without substantive review Thursday, the officials said. The tax office imposed corporate and local income taxes totaling around 154 billion won on Google Korea in 2020, arguing that the company's transfer of part of its income to Google Asia Pacific based in Singapore was subject to taxation. The office classified the payments as royalty income derived from the use of copyrights and knowhow. But Google Korea took the case to court, arguing that the payments constituted business income for Google Asia Pacific and were therefore not taxable in Korea. The Seoul Administrative Court ruled in favor of Google Korea, finding that the paym

Many crypto projects have sought to bring traditional finance onto blockchain, but few have gained as much traction as Canton Network, a privacy-focused blockchain for institutional finance. Already embraced by financial heavyweights such as Goldman Sachs, BNP Paribas and the London Stock Exchange Group, Canton is facilitating more than $300 billion in daily value transfers while deepening its presence in Korea through partnerships with major financial institutions, including Shinhan, Hanwha and KB. Yuval Rooz, co-founder and CEO of Digital Asset, the company behind Canton Network, told The Korea Times in a recent one-on-one interview that Korea is poised to play a greater role in global finance, citing its tech-savvy population and growing institutional interest. "Once the regulation takes place, and I believe that it will, you actually have a market that is already ready for the technology," Rooz said. "In other places, regulation might be ahead, but the customers and the companies are not ready for the technology." Korean financial institutions are already expanding their involvement

When the curtain falls at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts this autumn, the show will no longer end at the auditorium doors. A newly landscaped courtyard garden in central Seoul is set to extend the evening outdoors, offering theatergoers live jazz, food stalls and a space to linger beneath nighttime illuminations. The center will launch Curtain Call Garden on Thursday, running the outdoor cultural program through Nov. 8 at its Art Garden behind the venue in central Seoul’s Gwanghwamun area. Open daily from 5 to 11 p.m., the garden will welcome visitors free of charge, extending the experience of live performance beyond the theater and encouraging residents and tourists to spend more time in the downtown district. The program is part of Seoul’s initiative to stimulate the nighttime economy by activating cultural spaces after dark and bringing more visitors to nearby businesses. Club Janus, a landmark of Korea’s jazz scene since opening in 1978, has curated 15 live performances scheduled from Wednesdays through Saturdays. The lineup includes Prelude, one of Korea’s leading

Sonam Sherpa, left, president of the Society of Nepalese Students in Korea (SONSIK), presents a briefing binder on student welfare to Ram Kaji Khadka, joint secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal, during a meeting in Kathmandu, Thursday. The two discussed key issues affecting Nepali students studying in Korea, including student welfare, academic document verification and broader educational cooperation between the two nations. Courtesy of SONSIK

Books are almost universally judged by the text on their pages, but a new exhibition in Seoul invites audiences to look beyond words and consider how paper, typography and binding can elevate a physical volume into a standalone work of art. Presented by Seoul Art Book Bogo — a public cultural facility operated in tandem with the Korean Publishers Association — “Artbookgraphy: A Landscape Where Art and Publishing Intersect” runs through Dec. 6 in Guro District in western Seoul. The exhibition, which opened Wednesday, marks the venue’s first major survey dedicated to the medium since its founding in 2022. Unlike trade publications, art books intentionally fuse tactile form with thematic substance, treating cover materials, graphic layouts and structural binding as core components of artistic expression. “An art book is more than text and images — it is an artwork enjoyed through its cover, paper texture and the very act of turning its pages,” said Oh Ji-eun, director of the Seoul Metropolitan Library. “We hope this exhibition encourages visitors to see books through a fr

Biotech company Celltrion said Monday that its operating profit for the third quarter of 2026 is expected to surpass the 500 billion won ($374.3 million) mark for the first time, driven by robust sales in global markets. In its earnings guidance released Monday, the company forecast 1.5 trillion won in sales and 510 billion won in operating profit for the three-month period, representing year-on-year increases of 45.8 percent and 69.2 percent, respectively. Both sales and operating profit reached record quarterly highs, with operating profit surpassing 500 billion won for the first time since the company's establishment. Celltrion said its profitability has improved due to a growing share of high-margin products in its sales mix and improvements in its cost structure. Earlier this year, Celltrion set quarterly operating profit targets of more than 300 billion won for the first quarter, 400 billion won for the second and 500 billion won for the third. The company said it has exceeded its targets in each of the first three quarters, demonstrating that its profit growth has progressed as p

Korean retail investors have shifted from domestic equities to U.S. stocks in the second half as the two markets have taken divergent paths, market analysts said Monday. While the KOSPI has fallen nearly 30 percent from its peak and struggled to regain momentum, enthusiasm for artificial intelligence (AI) has pushed Wall Street to a series of record highs. According to data from the Korea Exchange and Korea Securities Depository, individuals sold a net 5.59 trillion won ($4.2 billion) worth of shares on Korea’s main bourse during the July-September period. Net purchases of 5.37 trillion won in July and 3.24 trillion won in August were outweighed by net sales of 14.2 trillion won in September alone. Korean retail investors’ appetite for U.S. equities, meanwhile, remained strong throughout the third quarter. They made net purchases of $7.63 billion, equivalent to about 10.15 trillion won, over the three months. September’s heavy selling in Korea coincided with net buying of about $1 billion in U.S. stocks. That pattern stands in stark contrast to their investment activity in the firs

KakaoBank on Monday launched a range of financial services for international residents in Korea, joining local lenders in the race to attract customers from the country's growing foreign population. The new offering from the internet-only lender includes checking accounts, debit cards, overseas remittances and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered multilingual support. "Even though banking has become much more convenient for domestic customers, foreign residents still face the kind of inconvenience we experienced in the past, when we had to visit bank branches just to open an account," Bae Jung-ho, head of KakaoBank's Foreign Customer Camp, said during a press conference in Seoul. "By providing foreign residents with the same app that our 28 million customers already use, we were able to launch more than 50 services at once," he added. KakaoBank's Foreign Resident Account is available to residents aged 19 or older who have an accepted form of identification and a mobile phone registered in their name. Applicants can open an account through a mobile chatbot in about five minutes, the bank

The urn containing the ashes of late Hong Kong Cantopop star Anita Mui Yim-fong was discovered missing from a monastery three months ago, the singer’s family has revealed, saying police have made “no progress” in their investigation and that the incident has caused “immense distress.” A police spokesman said on Sunday that the force had received a report on July 18 that an item stored in a Lantau monastery was suspected to have gone missing. The case has been classified as a “request for police assistance” and is being investigated by Lantau district crime squad. No arrest has been made so far, the spokesman said. Mui’s family made a public appeal for information on the whereabouts of the ashes in a statement issued on Saturday, Mui’s birthday. The singer, who died in 2003 aged 40, would have been 63. The statement, reposted by one of the singer’s biggest fan groups — the Anita Mui International Fan Club — on its Instagram account, said police had made no progress after a three-month investigation. “This incident has brought immense distress and mental torment to

Four sites reflecting Korea’s industrial, architectural and wartime history have been proposed for national heritage registration, including a factory designed by one of the country’s most influential modern architects and a cinema that has served audiences for more than nine decades. The Korea Heritage Service said Monday that it will propose national registration for the former Yuyu Pharmaceutical factory in Anyang, Gwangju Theater, the former Daejeon Public Hall and Japanese military aircraft hangars at Altteureu Airfield in Moseulpo, Jeju Island. The former Yuyu Pharmaceutical complex, built between 1958 and 1960, comprises a factory, research building and guardhouse designed by Kim Chung-up, a leading figure in modern Korean architecture. The complex is recognized for its historical role in the pharmaceutical industry and architectural features that reflect Kim’s early work, including distinctive columns, projecting window frames and a cylindrical guardhouse. Gwangju Theater, which opened in 1935 under an organization established with Korean capital during Japanese colonial ru

A civic group filed a complaint against Kakao with the privacy watchdog on Monday, alleging that the tech giant's corporate advertising service uses personal data to target users without their consent. The Seoul YMCA said it urged the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) to investigate KakaoTalk’s Brand Message service and impose strict sanctions if violations are confirmed. The group said Kakao replaced its previous channel-based advertising service, which limited promotional messages to users who had added a business’s KakaoTalk channel, with Brand Message, which allows businesses to send ads without requiring users to follow their channels. It alleged that Kakao matches phone numbers provided by advertisers with its own user database to identify ad recipients, even though users had provided their numbers for basic messaging functions, not to receive third-party advertising. “The key alleged violations involve the unauthorized use of personal information and infringement of users’ rights,” the group said. “Although users agreed to provide their phone numbers for

A newly painted hall at Gyeongbok Palace in central Seoul will open its doors this November, offering visitors a rare glimpse into Korea’s royal heritage through expert talks on historic palace architecture, ceremonial incense burners and the fragrances of 1392-1910 Joseon-era court rituals. The Gyeongbok Palace Management Office, under the Korea Heritage Service’s Royal Palaces and Tombs Center, will host four sessions of its Heungbokjeon Royal Culture Academy on Saturdays from Nov. 7-28. The free program will take place at Heungbokjeon, a hall within Gyeongbok Palace in central Seoul, and is designed to help participants explore royal history through two themes: palace architecture and the cultural significance of incense burners. The opening lecture on Nov. 7 will feature writer Lee Man-hee, who will draw on his book, “Secrets of the Palace No One Tells You,” to examine spaces within Gyeongbok Palace that no longer exist, using historical materials, including the Bukgwoldohyeong, an old architectural plan of the northern palace. The following three sessions will focus on the i

Seoul will host an autumn night festival at Namsan Park in central Seoul from Oct. 23 to Nov. 7, offering outdoor camping, evening hikes and movie screenings to boost the local nighttime economy, the city government said Monday. The 2026 Namsan Night Festival will take place every Friday and Saturday over six days, culminating in a separate silent disco event on Nov. 14. The festival’s flagship program, Namsan Campnic — a blend of camping and picnic — will run from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Baekbeom Square, a grassy slope overlooking the city's sunset and N Seoul Tower. The site will feature 100 designated tent and mat spots each day, accommodating up to 600 groups over the course of the event. Activities include live music performances, a live radio-style request show and open-air screenings of films including "August Rush." For hikers, a guided evening trek dubbed the Autumn Foliage Walk will run on Oct. 23 and 24, and Nov. 6 and 7, departing from Namsan Yejang Park. Participants can choose between two routes: a 3.8-kilometer, 90-minute course, or a 4.2-kilometer path that passes N Se

Developing industrial artificial intelligence (AI) requires "world AI" capable of understanding the physical world, and Korea has an increasingly important role to play in this field, according to Yann LeCun, widely regarded as one of the four leading figures in the global AI academia. LeCun and a number of other leading experts shared their views during the Global AI Leaders Seoul Dialogue, an event organized ahead of the fifth International Industrial AI Conference, scheduled for Tuesday in Tokyo. LeCun is a leading AI scientist, a recipient of the 2018 Turing Award, founder of AMI Labs and former chief AI scientist and vice president at Meta. He is known for pioneering convolutional neural networks, which revolutionized image recognition. He also serves as chief science adviser to Project Tapestry, an AI Alliance-led initiative to develop a large-scale AI model through federated learning, which allows AI models to learn from data stored across different countries or companies without requiring the data to be transferred to a central server. Christopher Nguyen, CEO of Aitomatic and chi

New forms of school violence, including one that forces those bullied into physical fights, are on the rise but many of those responsible for such violence go nearly unpunished, a lawmaker said Monday, citing relevant data from the education ministry. According to the data submitted to Rep. Han Byung-do of the ruling Democratic Party, 490 cases of such violence have been subject to a review by school disciplinary committees between 2024 and August this year. A total of 1,961 disciplinary measures were taken against 1,232 students involved, but 77.7 percent, or 1,523, of those measures taken are those considered "light" as they leave no official records of the incidents or their punishment, according to the lawmaker. Such measures include requiring a written apology and orders to keep a distance from victims. Less than 10 percent, or 193, of the measures involved a suspension or school transfers. The report comes amid an apparent spread of the so-called yacha rule, where victims are pushed into unwanted physical fights under the guise of mutual agreement. "There needs to a detailed guideli

Korean budget airline Air Premia has captured more than 20 percent of passenger traffic carried by domestic carriers on the Incheon–Los Angeles route, marking four years of service on its flagship transpacific corridor. The airline said Monday that it transported 759,277 passengers on the route from its launch on Oct. 29, 2022, through September, recording an average share of 15.8 percent among Korean carriers over the period. Its share rose steadily from 12.9 percent in its first year to 14 percent in its second and 15.3 percent in its third, before reaching 20.8 percent in its fourth year. International demand has also grown, with passengers holding foreign nationalities accounting for 44.8 percent of total travelers over the four-year period. Their share climbed from 40.2 percent in the first year to 41.1 percent in the second and 47.2 percent in the third, reaching 49.6 percent in the fourth year. To mark the anniversary, Air Premia is offering promotional fares across five U.S. routes: Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Honolulu. Round-trip fares on the Los

Hyosung Chemical, a major Korean producer of advanced industrial polymers, is pushing its high-performance plastics into the European market. The company is targeting automakers and robotics manufacturers with specialized materials engineered for exceptional chemical resistance and durability under friction. The Korean chemical maker is participating in Fakuma 2026, an international plastics processing trade fair running from Monday through Oct. 16 in Friedrichshafen, Germany, where it is presenting its POKETONE material and applications across several industries. POKETONE is engineered to resist impact, abrasion and chemical exposure while absorbing little moisture, helping components maintain their shape and dimensions, the company said. Its strength, wear resistance and flame-retardant properties can also be tailored to specific applications, making it suitable for a range of industrial uses. Hyosung Chemical is highlighting automotive connectors, gears, drive components and medical parts under the exhibition theme “Automotive, Robotics, Medical.” The material is also finding poten

Korean drugmaker HLB has resubmitted its application for U.S. approval of a combination therapy for advanced liver cancer, renewing its push to bring the target treatment to market after addressing regulatory concerns raised earlier this year. The Korean biopharmaceutical company said Monday that its U.S. subsidiary, Elevar Therapeutics, and Chinese partner Hengrui Pharma submitted the application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday, seeking approval of rivoceranib in combination with camrelizumab as a first-line treatment for liver cancer. The resubmission follows an FDA complete response letter issued in July regarding an application Elevar filed in January, prompting the companies to work with regulators to address the agency’s concerns. HLB said inspections of the manufacturing facilities have recently been completed, allowing the companies to submit the application again. The filing is based on CARES-310, a global Phase 3 clinical trial involving patients with unresectable or metastatic liver cancer. In the trial’s final analysis, the combination treatment ac

CAIRO — A projectile struck a passenger terminal at the international airport in Riyadh on Sunday, a day after a missile hit the same terminal and killed 12 people , the Saudi-led coalition fighting Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen said. The Houthis claimed responsibility for those attacks and others. Saudi authorities said one person, described as a Pakistani national, was killed, and 11 were injured in the latest attack on the domestic terminal complex at King Khalid International Airport. The airport — struck four times in the past five days — has been closed since Saturday’s missile attack, which was the deadliest in a Gulf Arab nation since the Iran war began. Over 300 other people were wounded, some critically. The sharp escalation in the war's new front threatens to draw in greater U.S. military involvement. President Donald Trump has said he is weighing joining the fight against the Houthis. There was no White House comment Sunday. India’s embassy in Saudi Arabia said one of its citizens died Sunday of injuries sustained in Saturday’s attack, which would bring the t

Greg Pence, a former U.S. congressman and the older brother of former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, visited Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul on Sunday as part of a delegation from the Association of Former Members of Congress (FMC), highlighting the enduring bond between Korea and the United States. During the Sunday service, the former lawmaker shared his family's personal connection to the Korean Peninsula and thanked Rev. Lee Young-hoon, the senior pastor of the church, and the congregation for their warm welcome. The visiting FMC delegation included other former U.S. lawmakers David Trone, Ron Klein, Mimi Walters and Elizabeth Esty, alongside FMC CEO Peter Weichlein. "I am deeply grateful to Rev. Lee Young-hoon and the beloved congregation for welcoming us so warmly," Pence said during his address. "It is a great blessing to pray and worship together with all of you." Pence shared the story of his late father, a U.S. veteran who fought in the 1950-53 Korean War and received the Bronze Star for his service. "Decades ago, my father was one of many young Americans who came to Korea to

Korean employers are no longer just asking job candidates if they understand artificial intelligence (AI). Instead, they are requiring hands-on expertise with specific platforms — and Claude is leading the surge in recruitment demand. According to data released Monday by JobKorea, a human resources technology platform operated by Worksphere, recruitment postings mentioning generative AI tools like Claude, ChatGPT and Gemini jumped 170 percent in the third quarter compared to the same period last year. Among individual tools, Claude recorded the sharpest increase, with mentions climbing 770 percent, followed by Google’s Gemini at 500 percent, ChatGPT at 165 percent, Microsoft Copilot at 96 percent and Midjourney at 46 percent. Claude’s share of postings that named specific AI tools jumped from 17 percent last year to 55 percent this year, narrowing the gap with ChatGPT, whose share remained around 70 percent over the same period, according to JobKorea. Demand also grew for skills related to how AI is applied, with mentions of generative AI, prompt engineering, AI agents and vibe cod

The head of South Korea's military manpower agency voiced regret Monday over South Korean footballers glorying in their exemption from mandatory military service following their win at the recent Asian Games. Military Manpower Administration (MMA) Commissioner Hong So-young made the remarks during a parliamentary audit, after some of the gold medalists gloated about their exemptions in media interviews and on social media, sparking strong public backlash and reigniting calls for policy overhaul. "I deeply regret this unfortunate situation," Hong said. "I take heavily to heart the sense of loss felt by young men serving their military duties, as well as the public's calls for reform." After clinching the gold medal in men's football at the Asian Games on Oct. 3, Yang Min-hyeok, one of the players on the national team, told media he played the match to earn the exemption rather than winning a medal or trophy. Park Seung-soo, another member on the team, uploaded a photo of himself wearing a cap typically worn by men who have completed their military service. Their actions have sparked widesp

Naver Map, Korea’s most widely used online map service, will offer real-time, step-by-step voice navigation through artificial intelligence (AI)-powered smart glasses, becoming the first Korean map service to do so, its operator, Naver, said Monday. The feature is available first on Meta’s Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta glasses, according to the internet portal operator. It will also support “intelligent eyewear” being jointly developed by Google and Samsung Electronics, which is set for release later this year. Users can receive voice directions to their destination without repeatedly checking their smartphone screens. The glasses also tell them which way to turn and whether stairs or escalators lie ahead. The service will first be available on Android phones, with iPhone support to follow. Naver Map has also introduced voice commands designed for the glasses. Users can ask questions such as “When will I arrive?” or “Find a convenience store nearby” while walking and get answers right away. On the Google-Samsung glasses, users will also be able to launch Naver Map and star

WASHINGTON — A UN global poverty index has risen for the first time since its creation in 2010, bringing the number of people affected to 1.2 billion, the United Nations Development Programme reported Monday. In the 2026 edition of their annual report, the UNDP and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative research center counted 51.5 million more people living in "acute" poverty compared to the previous year. UNDP Administrator Alexander De Croo said the increase in poverty should be a "wake-up call for the world." "Behind these figures are 1.2 billion people facing hardships that reinforce one another: hunger, missed schooling and a lack of clean water or electricity. This is unacceptable," he said in a press release. More than half of those in acute poverty were children. However, UNDP said a major factor in the recorded increase was population growth, and new data was only available for 13 of the 108 developing countries covered by the report. While the total number of people in poverty has increased, the report provides a mixed picture. Some 33 nations have halved the perc

Gaon Cable, an affiliate of LS Group, will build production lines for nuclear power plant cables at its U.S. plant in North Carolina, aiming to get ahead in a market expected to grow as the country expands nuclear power, the company said Monday. The Korean cable maker said its U.S. unit, LS Cable & System U.S.A., will install the equipment at its plant in Tarboro, North Carolina. The move is intended to build a local supply system ahead of the expected expansion of the U.S. market for large nuclear plants and small modular reactors (SMRs), smaller reactors that can be factory-built and installed in modules. The plant already produces overhead power lines for the U.S. grid. Adding nuclear cables will widen the range of products it makes locally. The company said the U.S. supply chain for nuclear plant equipment, including cables, remains thin because few new reactors have been built in the country for decades. Interest in new reactors has returned as electricity demand rises with the growing number of artificial intelligence data centers and as energy security becomes a priority. A single

SK Group will launch a two-year, full-time, non-degree program for aspiring developers and early-career innovators focused on using artificial intelligence (AI) to solve real-world problems, the conglomerate said Monday. Participants in the initiative will receive a monthly stipend of 3 million won (approximately $2,200) to support their intensive training and practical application projects. The program, SK AIGEN, combines “AI” and “generation.” It is open to people aged 19 to 34 and will start in March 2027 with about 50 participants. Participants will receive the monthly stipend for two years, along with training, mentoring and workspace. The program does not guarantee a job at SK or grant a degree, and participants have no obligations after completing it. In the first year, participants will plan and carry out individual or team projects that use AI to tackle problems faced by individuals, companies and society. In the second year, they will gain hands-on experience in fields tied to their own career or project plans, with SK connecting them to mentors and experts. SK said this

When a fire broke out at a military battery storage facility in South Chungcheon Province in August, the building’s advanced fireproofing worked as designed. The reinforced concrete walls and automated sprinklers contained the blaze before the structure was lost. Yet that success created a perilous new crisis. Inside the facility sat roughly 210,000 unexploded lithium batteries. Scorched and baked by extreme heat, the remaining stockpiles lingered on the brink of secondary thermal runaway — a violent chain reaction capable of triggering massive explosions. Heavy treads or four-legged rescue robots, standard tools in modern disaster response, were far too heavy. A single misstep pressing against a delicate cell could detonate the entire room. For nearly two weeks, firefighters could only watch from the exterior perimeter. They were completely barred from entering the hazard zone. Battery safety has become an urgent national focus in Korea following a series of severe industrial fires. The risk was starkly highlighted in June 2024, when a thermal runaway explosion at a lithium battery

The benefits of Korea's economic recovery have yet to reach households more broadly, a state-run think tank said Monday, noting the recovery in their purchasing power remains limited. "The recovery in household purchasing power remains constrained due to subdued underlying wage growth and elevated supply-side inflationary pressures, including those from persistently high oil prices," the Korea Development Institute (KDI) said in its monthly economic assessment. The KDI noted that despite the Korean economy's recovery led by the artificial intelligence (AI) industry, its benefits have not yet reached households broadly. The think tank nevertheless said the Korean economy appears to be maintaining its recovery momentum, with manufacturing output continuing to grow at a solid pace. "Exports and equipment investment continue to grow strongly, led by AI-related sectors, as global demand for AI infrastructure investment remains robust," the KDI said. In September, Korea's exports soared 83.5 percent from a year earlier to a record $120.9 billion, driven by a surge in chip shipments. Semiconducto

Korea's top central banker will attend a meeting of the Group of 20 (G20) finance ministers and central bank chiefs to be held in Thailand this week, the Bank of Korea (BOK) said Monday. BOK Gov. Shin Hyun-song will join the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting, set to take place in Bangkok, where participants will discuss global economic conditions, growth and global imbalances, according to the central bank. He will also attend the International Monetary Fund-World Bank Group (IMF-WBG) meetings, where discussions will focus on the global economic outlook and financial stability. While in Bangkok, the BOK governor is scheduled to hold separate talks with high-ranking officials from the Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank and other major central banks to exchange views on recent international developments. He will also participate in CNN's Global Perspectives, a live event series convening leaders, CEOs and innovators for conversations on issues covering culture, technology and business, along with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria, director-general of the World T

The number of foreign nationals suspected of committing violent crimes in Korea has risen by nearly 12 percent over the past five years, increasing from 689 in 2021 to 771 last year. A total of 645 foreign suspects had been apprehended for violent crimes between January and September this year, according to the Korean National Police Agency. By nationality, Chinese nationals accounted for the largest number of violent crime suspects last year, at 250, followed by Uzbekistan nationals at 62, U.S. nationals at 60 and Vietnamese at 53. The number of foreign nationals suspected of crimes overall increased as well. The figure rose more than 7 percent, from 32,470 in 2021 to 34,760 last year. By nationality, Mongolian suspects recorded the largest increase, rising around 38 percent from 1,007 to 1,397. Meanwhile, the number of Thai suspects fell over 20 percent, from 2,482 to 1,979. Police mainly attribute the rise to the growing number of foreign nationals living in Korea, not necessarily to a higher rate of offending. The number of foreign nationals residing in Korea increased 42.2 percent,

BUSAN — A woman in her 20s sits quietly with her dog along the safety fences of North Port Waterfront Park in Busan, patiently scanning the artificial waterway for any sign of "Bukangi." Kim Yeon-ji, a local middle school student who also visited the site the day before, chatted animatedly with a friend while waiting nearby. "Sometimes you only have to wait 20 to 30 minutes, or at most an hour, before Bukangi appears," Kim said. "This isn't a shark trapped in an artificial facility like an aquarium. When else would we get the chance to see a wild shark up close like this? I come here with my friend almost every day after school just to see Bukangi." When a distinct dorsal fin finally broke the surface, several onlookers gasped in excitement, shouting, "It's here!" Some began running along the perimeter of the channel, keeping pace with the shark's movements. The long queues of spectators waiting for a glimpse of the creature evoked the dedicated fans waiting outside a K-pop idol concert. "I had no idea there would be this many people," said Choi Ho-yoon, an office worker visiting from

The number of Korean content that was illegally distributed overseas reached nearly 500 million cases last year, the highest number since 2022, a lawmaker said Monday. The number of reported cases hit 493.6 million in 2025, up 19.2 percent from the previous year, according to the data submitted to Rep. Jeong Jun-ho of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea by the Korea Copyright Protection Agency. The figure is the highest since 477.1 million in 2022, when the agency began compiling relevant data. Of the total, piracy cases involving webtoons accounted for the majority at 66.5 percent, followed by films and broadcasts at 33.5 percent. By language, 46.6 percent of the reported cases involved content distributed in English, followed by Chinese at 20.4 percent and languages of Southeast Asian nations at 15.7 percent. While the number of content illegally distributed in English fell 17 percentage points on-year, the portion of those distributed in languages of Southeast Asian and European nations, such as Vietnamese, Thai, Spanish and French, rose. Despite a surge in digital piracy cases, the nu

The finance minister on Monday stressed the need to address weaknesses in Korea's supply chains amid global uncertainties, including the geopolitical crisis in the Middle East. Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il made the remarks during a meeting of the supply chain stabilization committee, noting current uncertainties are no longer short-term issues but structural challenges requiring long-term management. "A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. The government will proactively identify and strengthen weak links to build supply chains resilient to external shocks," Lee said. To this end, the finance minister said the government will expand the list of strategically important items to 340 from 327. Korea will replace its current three-tier classification system with two categories — items under general management and those requiring attention — to strengthen the government's crisis response capabilities. The government will also seek to build up stockpiles of strategic items and diversify import sources as well, the finance minister added. Amid lingering uncertainties in the Middle E

The presidential National Security Office (NSO) demanded Monday that North Korea immediately stop its ballistic missile launches, calling them a grave violation of international sanctions. The NSO issued the call during an emergency meeting, shortly after the South Korean military detected multiple ballistic missiles launched from the Pyongyang area over the East Sea. "North Korea's repeated ballistic missile launches are grave acts that violate U.N. Security Council resolutions and are of no help to managing the current situation on the Korean Peninsula, and (the NSO) demanded they be halted immediately," presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing. The meeting brought together officials from the defense ministry and the Joint Chiefs of Staff and reviewed the country's readiness posture and security situation in light of North Korea's recent successive missile launches, according to the spokesperson. The NSO called for taking all necessary measures while analyzing and assessing the latest launch's impact on South Korea's security. North Korea last fired a ballistic

K-rock band Xdinary Heroes is making a bold return to the global music scene with the release of its ninth mini album "IMPULSE" on Monday. The five-member group — Jungsu, Gaon, O.de, Jun Han and Jooyeon — has established a unique footprint in modern rock with their explosive instrumentals and self-produced tracks. The band has also performed on prominent stages — from Lollapalooza Chicago to opening for British rock icons Muse in Korea. Xdinary Heroes is releasing its newest mini album alongside the lead single, "Obsessed with Youth." Centered on raw instincts, longing and the chaotic beauty of youth, the seven-track project reflects the band's growth both visually and musically. Below, the members share the inspiration behind the album, their songwriting process and memories from their biggest performance milestones. Q: With your new mini album "IMPULSE," you explore instinctual emotions. What message did you want to share most, and how have your music and visuals evolved since your last release, "DEAD AND"? Xdinary Heroes: We wanted to use "desire" as a keyword to express a wide s

K-pop group ATEEZ will return to the global stage in 2027 with a world tour spanning Asia, Europe and the Americas, extending its momentum ahead of a new album scheduled for release next month. KQ Entertainment announced the tour, titled “2027 ATEEZ WORLD TOUR ‘ZERO TO ALL,’” on its official social media accounts on Saturday, unveiling a poster outlining the initial schedule. The tour will open with three concerts in Incheon from Jan. 22-24, before moving to Tokyo on Feb. 2 and 3 and Kobe on Feb. 13 and 14. ATEEZ will then travel to Europe in April, North America from July to August and South America in September, with additional dates and cities expected to be announced. The tour’s name reverses “All to Zero,” a phrase from the group’s debut album, “TREASURE EP.1: All to Zero,” released after ATEEZ debuted in 2018. The title reflects the group’s journey of continued challenges and growth since its debut, while raising expectations for new music and performances on the upcoming tour. ATEEZ demonstrated strong ticket demand during its previous “IN YOUR FANTASY” wor

Boy group NCT WISH will drop its fourth mini-album, "I SPY," at 6 p.m. Monday, followed by its debut performance at Seoul’s iconic Gocheok Sky Dome in January, according to its management agency SM Entertainment. The six-track album will be available on streaming platforms, with physical copies on sale the same day. Along with the title track of the same name, it includes “We Own This Street,” “UPGRADE,” “Super Major,” “Hubble Time” and “Like A Dream.” The agency described “I SPY” as a hybrid dance-pop song about the moment of falling for someone, when every sense turns toward that person. The lyrics convey excitement, curiosity and a wish to invite the other person into one’s own world, it said. Ahead of the release, the group held a fan event titled “I SPY YOU” on Saturday and Sunday at Korea University’s Hwajeong Gymnasium in Seoul. The three shows drew a combined 11,400 people, the agency said. The venue was set up as a physical version of “WISH LAND,” a fictional digital world used in the album’s promotion, with six rooms — one for each membe

The Korean economy is expected to continue solid growth for the time being as robust semiconductor exports spill over into the broader economy, the central bank said Monday. "The domestic economy is expected to see a significant increase in its growth rate this year, driven by strong semiconductor exports, and it will maintain steady growth next year as well," the Bank of Korea (BOK) said in a report submitted to the National Assembly. "As the semiconductor sector continues to expand, the positive impact of improving income conditions is expected to spread to domestic demand as a whole, including consumer spending, leading to a favorable growth trend." The BOK raised its growth forecast to 3.3 percent for 2026 and 2.9 percent for 2027, saying the semiconductor upcycle continues and the gains are spilling over into the broader economy. The country's gross domestic income (GDI), which measures the total income generated and costs incurred by all sectors within an economy, grew 13.2 percent in the first quarter of this year and 15.7 percent in the second quarter, compared with 3.5 percent i

The head of Korea's antitrust watchdog said Monday his agency will take stern action against unfair market practices, such as price fixing, that add to people's financial burdens. Ju Biung-ghi, head of the Fair Trade Commission (FTC), made the remarks during a parliamentary audit at the National Assembly, noting the watchdog will work to revamp policies to root out such abuses. "To fundamentally address deep-rooted price fixing in the market, the FTC will develop more effective policy measures, such as revoking the registrations of businesses repeatedly engaging in price fixing, seeking business suspensions or ordering companies to reset their prices," Ju said. The chairperson added the commission will proactively address unfair practices in sectors closely linked to people's daily lives, including the wedding, leisure and funeral industries. Ju said the FTC's policy goals include giving vulnerable groups, including small businesses and the self-employed, a stronger voice. "To ease the imbalance of power among market players, we aim to establish an environment where they can compete fairl

A delegation from Russia's emergency ministry visited Pyongyang to discuss ways to expand cooperation in disaster management, the North's state media reported Monday. The delegation, led by Aleksandr Kurenkov, minister of extraordinary situation, arrived in Pyongyang on Sunday, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The delegation was greeted by Kim Chol-nam, the North's minister of disaster management, and Vladimir Topekha, charge d'affaires ad interim of the Russian Embassy in North Korea. The same delegation visited Pyongyang in July last year, inspected the North's disaster prevention and response sites and held discussions on cooperation in science and technology. Pyongyang and Moscow have stepped up cooperation in a number of fields, including military and economy, following back-to-back summits between their leaders in September 2023 and June 2024. The ongoing visit by the Russian delegation comes after the Russian ministry and the North's corresponding ministry signed an agreement on specialist training and scientific and technical cooperation in December. North Korea,

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump sowed confusion on Sunday, announcing an "energy ceasefire" between Ukraine and Russia that sparked astonishment in Kyiv, silence from Moscow and support from Ukraine's Western allies. But the ceasefire appeared shaky at best as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia struck multiple Ukrainian power plants on Sunday, including one in the capital and another in Kharkiv, leading to power outages and outrage. Trump's announcement came two days after he declared a temporary easing of U.S. sanctions on Russian diesel, prompting outrage by European allies and Kyiv, who said it would only embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine," Trump said early Sunday on Truth Social. "Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!" Zelenskyy appeared to express surprise at the announcement, saying he was seeking further details, but added that "Ukraine supports the ceasefire, and it is important that Russia support it as well." Russia has yet to confirm its agreement

North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Monday, South Korea's military said, in an apparent show of force against the South's recent successful test-fire of a hypersonic missile. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launch at about 9:20 a.m. from the Pyongyang area and that at least one of the missiles flew more than 900 kilometers. "Initial analysis suggests (Monday's launch) was seen as a protest against the successful launch of our hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) and a display of the North's achievements under its five-year plan to bolster defense capabilities and a deliberate show of its missile capabilities," JCS spokesperson Jang Do-young told a press briefing. When asked if the missiles launched were hypersonic or intermediate-range missiles, Jang declined to comment, saying the military needs to further analyze the specifications of the launch. South Korea conducted its first test launch of a HGV on Thursday in an apparent show of force against North Korea following the Sept. 21 mine blast on the South's side of the Demilitarized Zon

Korea's exports more than doubled from a year earlier during the first 10 days of October, customs data showed Monday, on the back of the global semiconductor upcycle. Outbound shipments reached $26.1 billion in the Oct. 1-10 period, according to the data from the Korea Customs Service. It marked the highest export value for the period, surpassing the previous record of $15.3 billion set in the first 10 days of October 2025. The daily average export total came to $4.75 billion, setting a new record for any 10-day period as well. Imports went up 65.5 percent year-on-year to $22.3 billion over the cited period, resulting in a trade surplus of $3.8 billion. By sector, outbound shipments of chips vaulted 170.9 percent to $12.1 billion, while those of petroleum products rose 45.6 percent to $1.75 billion. Exports of cars surged 82.7 percent to $1.21 billion, while those of steel products increased 49.4 percent to $1 billion. Ship exports, however, fell 13.4 percent to $682 million. By destination, exports to China soared 167 percent to $7.59 billion, while those to the United States jumped 159.9

Seoul shares extended their losses late Monday morning, led by declines in technology stocks, as elevated oil prices and escalating tensions in the Middle East fueled inflation concerns. After opening 0.72 percent lower, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 150.98 points, or 2.28 percent, to 6,474.95 as of 9:15 a.m. Foreigners sold a net 699.27 billion won ($524 million) worth of stocks, while institutions and individuals bought a net 3.25 billion won and 441.74 billion won, respectively. The decline came despite gains on Wall Street on Friday (U.S. time). The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.83 percent on Friday (local time), while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.64 percent. Oil prices rose amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following renewed Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia's main airport over the weekend. A broader regional conflict could further disrupt energy supplies, stoking inflation and increasing pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates. In Seoul, tech stocks led the decline. Market behemoth Samsung Electronics fell 2 perce

Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il on Monday stressed the need to diversify Korea's trade network to address uncertainties, including economic fragmentation and protectionism. Lee made the remarks during a meeting on international economic affairs with relevant ministers, highlighting Korea's continued strong exports despite challenging external conditions. "The government will closely monitor trade issues with major countries to address trade-related risks and bolster diplomatic outreach to maintain stability," Lee said. "By diversifying our trade network, we aim to expand the Korean economy and make every effort to help our businesses enter global markets," he added. To address prolonged tensions in the Middle East and supply chain disruptions stemming from the U.S.-China conflict, Lee said the government will continue efforts to increase domestic production, build up stockpiles and establish overseas production capacity. "Through summit-level diplomatic dialogue, we aim to lay the groundwork for economic and supply chain cooperation with major countries and deliver tangible results," Lee s

President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating fell for the second consecutive week to 35.2 percent, a poll showed Monday, amid controversies over judicial independence and last month's mine blast near the border. In the poll conducted on 1,504 adults nationwide from last Tuesday to Thursday by Realmeter, positive assessments of Lee's job performance fell by 2.2 percentage points from the previous week. Negative assessments rose 1.6 percentage points to 61.4 percent. "Controversies surrounding judicial independence involving Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, disputes between rival parties over mine explosions in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), as well as rising rental and housing prices in the Seoul metropolitan area, all came under the spotlight during parliamentary audits, leading to the decline in approval ratings," the pollster said. In a separate survey of 1,004 adults conducted last Wednesday and Thursday, support for the ruling Democratic Party fell 7 percentage points to 35.5 percent, while that of the main opposition People Power Party rose 2.9 percentage points to 41.3 percent.

The Korean film "The Assassin(s)" attracted more than 400,000 admissions over the weekend, despite controversy over its historical details, but slipped to No. 2 at the box office, industry data showed Monday. The film garnered 407,680 admissions over the weekend, bringing its cumulative total to 2,992,544 as of Sunday, according to the Korean Film Council. The council's weekend chart compiles ticket sales from Friday through Sunday. "The Assassin(s)" centers on the 1974 assassination attempt on then South Korean President Park Chung-hee that resulted in the death of the first lady. Blending the actual event with fictional elements, the film has drawn backlash, mostly from conservative critics, over alleged historical inaccuracies. Following its release on Sept. 23, the film had topped the weekend box office chart for two consecutive weeks. It drew 412,004 admissions the previous weekend. The Japanese animation "Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island" topped the chart by a narrow margin, drawing 407,895 admissions and bringing its cumulative ticket sales to 1,281,485. Other K

BANGKOK — Finance ministers and central bankers meet in Bangkok this week for the annual gatherings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, with the global economy buffeted between the U.S.-Iran war's energy shock, rising debt pressures and the AI boom. The meetings run from Monday through Saturday in the Thai capital, and will see policymakers tackle some stark choices, with the IMF calling on governments to rein in spending even as vulnerable citizens' needs may be growing in the face of surging inflation and climate risks. The week will see a combination of high-level closed-door meetings, public events and policy announcements from the world's top economic officials. On Tuesday, the IMF will unveil its global economic forecast, along with detailed regional outlooks through the week, as policymakers set about tackling the challenges darkening the economic horizon. "To put it simply, the global economy is being pulled in two opposite directions: a negative energy supply shock and a positive demand shock from AI," said IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva at an event kickin

A senior Iranian official says Tehran finds the latest U.S. response to a proposal to end the war “insufficient" and warns of attacks on regional data centers and cables if fighting intensifies again. Meanwhile, Israel’s former attorney general took the witness stand in corruption cases against Benjamin Netanyahu, as the political future of the country's longest-serving prime minister hangs in the balance with elections weeks away. Iran says latest US response is ‘insufficient’ The head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council says Tehran finds the latest response from the United States “insufficient” as efforts at negotiations to end the war and fully open the Strait of Hormuz limp along. The comments by Mohsen Rezaei, a former Revolutionary Guard commander, were carried by Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency. Rezaei added that Iran is no longer responding to the U.S. and said Washington must clarify certain issues, without giving details. He said the U.S. has accepted some of the seven conditions but others remain unclear. Iran’s delegation to the annual U.N. gathering

GENEVA — At least 139 people, including children, have died after a boat carrying more than 300 migrants capsized off the coast of Djibouti in east Africa, the International Organization for Migration said Sunday. That number only includes those buried by authorities in Djibouti. Others have been buried by the migrants themselves but they won't be added to the official count until authorities can verify the bodies, Alexandre Coissac, IOM Chief of Mission in Djibouti, told the AP via the phone. “What is terrible is that they were buried with no names, in a common grave, like in a war situation,” Coissac said. “They all have a mother, a father, and we may never learn what happened.” Coissac said the migrants boarded the ship in the evening of Oct. 8 and that it sank very soon after, close to the shore, “mainly because it was overcrowded.” “The local authorities did their best,” Coissac said, “but they were overwhelmed with all the bodies that kept coming at once towards the shore.” He said authorities were bringing the surviving migrants to the IOM rescue center in Obo

Three major telecom companies — SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus — are expected to report an 83.56 percent year-on-year jump in combined third-quarter operating profits to 1.37 trillion won ($1.04 billion), as one-off costs from last year’s hacking incident and voluntary retirement program fade. Their combined revenue is also forecast to rise 1.54 percent to about 15.35 trillion won. According to financial data provider FnGuide, the increase largely reflects a low base from last year, when SK Telecom incurred expenses related to a SIM card data breach and LG Uplus recorded costs for a voluntary retirement program. The combined figure would also be 10.47 percent higher than the 1.24 trillion won recorded in the third quarter of 2024, putting earnings above pre-incident levels. SK Telecom is expected to lead the recovery, with an operating profit soaring 981.5 percent year-on-year to 523.9 billion won and revenue rising 11.87 percent to about 4.45 trillion won. The company’s operating profit slumped to 48.4 billion won in the third quarter last year after the breach in April led to costl

Chungbuk National University is seeing tangible results from its efforts to attract international students, with its School of International Studies playing a central role and the expansion of degree programs in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), software and global business. The university enrolled more than 1,800 international students from approximately 40 countries this year, reflecting its efforts to expand its global student population. The university introduced a master’s program in global business in September 2024, followed by graduate programs in convergence software and global education in September last year. It also broadened its offerings in March this year with the introduction of two undergraduate majors in convergence software and global education. Following the expansion, the university enrolled 385 new students across five undergraduate and graduate programs for the fall 2026 semester, including 109 in the master's program in convergence software, which has drawn growing interest amid rising demand for AI-related education. Students at the School of Interna

An estimated 45,000 ethnic Koreans born and raised in South Korea have changed their faith to Islam. Among them is Yusuf, an ethnic Korean in his 30s who converted to Islam in 2014. “Most of the men do it to find wives," Yusuf said. Disillusioned with Korea's competitive dating culture, especially in Seoul, many of the men seeking out Islam are also seeking a return to what Yusuf described as a simpler path to marriage. At Seoul Central Masjid in Itaewon, between five and 25 new converts arrive every month for the training course in basic Islamic tenets. Students may choose to recite the Shahada — the Muslim declaration of faith and the first of the five pillars of the religion — and officially convert to Islam at the end. Most of them are men. Female converts, while not explicitly motivated by marriage, also cited “simplicity” when asked about why they became Muslim. Two interviewees said they found the basic premise of Islam — one God — appealing. Areum, a Korean follower in her 30s, said Islam’s respect for elders also aligned well with her native Korean culture, makin

October, when autumn colors grow richer, is an ideal time to slow down and take in the seasonal scenery on foot. With every step, the changing hues of autumn leaves, the breeze, ancient trees and forest paths offer a chance to escape the daily routine and fully immerse oneself in the spirit of the season. To mark the arrival of October, South Gyeongsang Province and the Gyeongnam Tourism Foundation have recommended four destinations under the theme “Autumn Foliage Tours on Foot,” where visitors can experience the beauty of fall up close. The routes each offer a distinct appeal, from the ridgelines of Mount Jiri and urban walking trails to historic paths shaded by ancient trees and scenic valley trails. As autumn deepens, the area around Odojae Pass in Hamyang is blanketed in red and yellow foliage, creating a striking contrast with the majestic ridgelines of Mount Jiri. Jiri Mountain Observatory Park offers sweeping views of the mountain range, while visitors can savor the autumn atmosphere on a leisurely walk along the path leading to Jiri Mountain Jeilmun Gate. One of the area's

Maru and Marong, twin red pandas born at Seoul Grand Park in the first successful breeding of the species in Korea, will make their public debut on Oct. 14. The park said Wednesday that the cubs, born on June 19, have grown healthily and recently begun exploring outside their den. It decided to introduce them to the public earlier than originally planned. The twins are the first red pandas to be born through successful breeding in Korea. Their mother, Rian, arrived from Tama Zoological Park in Japan in 2023, while their father, Ravi, came from the Calgary Zoo in Canada the same year. The cubs were named through a public contest on social media. The female was named Marong and the male Maru. Marong's name evokes a chestnut that is full and abundant, symbolizing the hope that she will grow into a bright-natured animal that embraces the world with warmth and generosity. Maru's name expresses the wish that he will be a precious and outstanding presence who brings comfort and love to many people. The cubs are learning various behaviors by following Rian, including walking, climbing trees and

Daytime temperatures in Seoul posted 30.1 degrees Celsius, Monday, breaking all-time-high records for October since the country recorded the temperature on Oct. 1, 1907. Seoul's data for Monday replaced its October record set on Oct. 3, 1913. Under standard meteorological guidelines, the latest temperature replaces the previous record when the numbers are the same. In Daejeon, midday temperatures soared to 31.5 degrees, also setting a new October high since the data recorded in 1969, surpassing the previous record of 31.2 degrees Celsius set on Oct. 3, 2021. October temperature records were also broken in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province (31.1 degrees); Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province (30.6 degrees); Gumi (30 degrees), Sangju (29.5 degrees) and Andong (29 degrees) in North Gyeongsang Province; Yeongwol (29.8 degrees), Wonju (29.3 degrees), Chuncheon (28.8 degrees) and Jeongseon (28.8 degrees) in Gangwon Province; and Icheon, Gyeonggi Province (29.1 degrees). The unseasonable late heat wave will end following nationwide rain through Tuesday, accompanied by an influx of cold air from t

Following a 7.7 magnitude earthquake on October 9, the bishops of Panama issue a letter to the nation encouraging them in the aftermath, stressing that where possible, the “parishes become true homes with open doors, where people find welcome, a listening ear, companionship, and whatever assistance we can provide.”

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The mother of a boy accused of attempted murder at a high school gives evidence at his trial.

The motion against Michelle O'Neill and three other Sinn Féin ministers will be debated after receiving the backing of unionist parties last week.

Kanishka Narayan said the government will use advanced AI to strengthen the UK against cyber attacks.

Pope Leo XIV will be admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday morning where he will undergo surgery to remove a “small, localized lung nodule,” requiring changes to his scheduled events, according to the Director of the Holy See Press Office.

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The Irish Takeover Panel, the body which polices the acquisition of stock market listed companies, has rejected a challenge to the €1.6 billion acquisition of PTSB bank by Austrian group BAWAG.

It is "inconceivable" that Russia did not try to use the referendum to its advantage, No 10 said, but the PM believed it did not succeed in influencing the result.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park remains shut after a man was fatally attacked by a tiger on Saturday.

The 51-year-old actor and comedian denies charges of rape and sexual assault against six women.

On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we feature a conversation with one of the world’s most prominent champions for Indigenous rights, Leonard Peltier. “Indigenous Day is a day that’s been long overdue for any type of recognition,” says Peltier. “I am not going to give up, because we are not free yet. We are in danger. Trump and these organizations, they’re talking about doing away with our reservations and our treaties and everything else. … We’re going to stay here. You’re not going to get rid of us.”

Peltier is a longtime political prisoner who spent nearly half a century behind bars for a crime he says he did not commit — the 1975 fatal shooting of two FBI agents. In the final hours of his administration last year, President Biden commuted Peltier’s sentence, but his conviction has not been overturned, and he remains under home confinement on the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Reservation in Belcourt, North Dakota.

“It was one crime against the justice system after another in order to frame Leonard for the assassination of these two federal agents,” says David France, co-director of the new documentary Free Leonard Peltier. “And although he and his team were able to prove over and over that every bit of evidence used against him in his conviction was brought into question, he was never able to get a retrial.”

A secondary school pupil in France has shot and wounded a headteacher and a female staff member with a hunting rifle at a school near Marseille.

Markwayne Mullin rejects concerns that livestreaming the execution of convicted killer Nidal Hasan could fuel radicalisation or make him a martyr.

Henry Rice, from Cranleigh, Surrey, was a signalman who served off Normandy in the days after D-Day.

On the fifth day of the ‘Amoris laetitia’ meeting, theologian Julie Hanlon Rubio calls for a reinvigoration of a “vision of marriage as intimate partnership oriented to love and justice," while Filipino Cardinal Pablo Virgilio Siongco David says the Church must ask "how close the Church is willing to come to families in their actual struggles."

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A 14-year-old was detained after the middle-school principal and teacher were injured.

Tens of thousands of people in India have taken to the streets in recent days to protest the deletion of 130 million names from the voter rolls, a large majority of which are believed to be opposed to Narendra Modi’s ruling BJP party. The demonstrations, joined by leaders from India’s opposition parties, are being led by students and the youth-led “Cockroach” movement. Tens of thousands of security forces, including paramilitary and police, were out on the streets over the weekend cracking down on the uprising, detaining protesters en masse, including lawyers, journalists and protest leaders.

The demonstrations “represent an outpouring of anger, of frustration at what many Indians feel is the fact that their democracy has been taken away,” says Shoaib Daniyal, political editor of Scroll, who was arrested on Saturday along with 7,000 other protesters. He points out that “the deletions have affected Muslims far more than they have affected other Indians.”

On Monday, in one of largest recent protests in India’s capital of New Delhi, India’s main opposition leader, Rahul Gandhi of the Congress Party, led a march to the Supreme Court of India. “This march has become a people’s march, with all of them heading towards this constitutional authority, which they feel should safeguard the rights of Indian people, especially this very basic right to vote,” says Jahnavi Sen, managing editor of The Wire.

Security correspondent Frank Gardner explains how the Iran-backed Houthis' precision strikes and guerrilla tactics have made it difficult for Saudi forces to gain the upper hand.

All asylum applications would be rejected and existing ones voided, with all claimants marked for deportation.

The number of people living in “multidimensional” poverty has risen for the first time in 15 years, reaching 1.2 billion, as families struggle to meet their basic needs.

The General Assembly on Monday adopted a political declaration on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, by 153 in favour to three against (Argentina, Israel and United States) with two abstentions (New Zealand and Paraguay).

Nearly 10 years after Colombia signed a historic peace agreement to end a decades-long insurgency, the deal is under strain from growing insecurity – and the UN’s top official in the country says it cannot be allowed to falter.

The Security Council met to debate Syria's thorny transition Monday as it faces pressure on several fronts. Economic hardship is fuelling unrest, Israeli incursions continue in the south and sectarian tensions persist in Sweida, even as Damascus reports progress on its chemical weapons programme and talks about future elections. Millions, meanwhile, remain displaced. Follow live below and go here for full meetings coverage.

The risk of famine is growing in parts of Sudan already torn apart by war, as a severe El Niño drought makes life even harder in Greater Darfur and Greater Kordofan, the UN-backed global hunger monitor warned on Monday.

The United Nations has rushed to assist Nepal following new flash floods in the central Gorkha district on Sunday that swept away homes and bridges just weeks after catastrophic flooding in the north.

The money is running out faster than needs are growing: with 117 million men, women and children now forced from their homes, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has received just $3 billion of the $8.5 billion it needs this year – and its chief, Barham Salih, warns that the global support system for asylum-seekers risks buckling.

Houthi Attack on Riyadh Airport Kills One Person, a Day After Another Strike Killed 12 People, Pentagon Quietly Raises Count of U.S. Troops Killed in Iran War, Two Palestinians Killed in Gaza Today, Russia Bombs Ukrainian Power Plant After Trump Declares Energy Ceasefire, Protests Against Right-Wing Government of Indian Prime Minister Modi Rock Delhi, DOJ Probing Whether Major TV Networks Broke Federal Antitrust Law, Federal Judge Orders Trump Admin to Stop Running Taxpayer Funded Ads Promoting the President, Federal Judge Issues Temporary Order Blocking Deportation of Man Shot by ICE Agents in NYC, ICE Agent in Houston Runs Over Man with Vehicle, Breaking Both His Legs, “I Can Call Him Whatever the Hell I Want”: Trump Misnames Michigan Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed, Christa Pike Discharged from Hospital and Sent Back to Prison After Surviving Botched Execution, U.S. Imposes Further Sanctions on ICC After Navi Pillay Wins Nobel Peace Prize, Conservative TV Personality Katie Zacharia Appointed White House Press Secretary

He is charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation between 18 October 2015 and 6 April 2017.

The mother of the little girl most seriously injured in the attack by Riad Bouchaker on Parnell Square three years ago has said their family's lives have been changed unrecognisably.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards "almost certainly directed" a suspected plot ⁠targeting a UK airbase used by the US military for its war in Iran, Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said.

The film dropped by around 60% in its second weekend, and could become one of Hollywood's biggest flops.

Former swimming coach George Gibney has been jailed for 15 and a half years for sexually abusing girls in the 1970s and 1980s.

Legal action against the Northern Ireland Secretary of State for banning the Drumcree parade is being widened out, the High Court in Belfast has heard.

Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill to face no confidence motion after backing the Garvaghy Road residents amid protests.

Daniel Kinahan, who is awaiting trial on an alleged organised crime offence, is to apply for bail in the coming weeks.

Celebrating Mass in Geneva for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher stresses the importance of recognizing the dignity of displaced children and offering them a sense of belonging.

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A migrant boat attempting to cross the Bab al-Mandeb Strait between Djibouti, in the Horn of Africa, and Yemen, on the Arabian Peninsula, leaves more than 130 dead and over 80 people still missing,

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In a meeting with members of the “Circolo di San Pietro,” an organisation in Rome that assists the most vulnerable, Pope Leo XIV emphasizes the importance of Christian charity as a guiding force.

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A Northern Ireland woman has been sentenced to three months in jail for breaching the anonymity of the victims of Jeffrey Donaldson.

A 24-year-old man who admitted stabbing a garda and setting the Black Forge Inn pub on fire as a message to the Government, and to the pub's owner Conor McGregor, not to insult the Prophet Muhammad has been further remanded in custody for sentencing next month.

It comes after the armed group hit Riyadh's international airport and another facility, killing 13 people, in a significant escalation.

After receiving his resignation as Dean of the College of Cardinals, Pope Leo XIV sends a letter to Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, expressing his gratitude for all his years of service with the Holy See, and stresses that the Cardinal is “one of the best-known and most highly esteemed servants of the Holy See.”

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Kyler Rattray, 21, is alleged to have repeatedly struck Dr Fortune Gomo with a knife last year.

The award, formally known as the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, was the final prize to be given this year.

Church leaders across the globe are praying for Pope Leo XIV and for the medical staff involved in his upcoming surgery to remove a “small, localized nodule” in his lung.

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Footage from inside the airport shows the moment the strike hit on Saturday.

The Indian leader faces the challenge of how to deal with mounting dissent, which analysts say is unlike anything he has faced so far.

Everyday assumptions have been challenged by the economic havoc wrought by the blockage of a single vital shipping and energy route.

Russia has violated an energy ceasefire announced by US President ⁠Donald Trump, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky said.

People are increasingly falling behind on credit card repayments, so here's the best way to get debt advice.

A rare sight in the sky over central Alberta last week turned heads and had people asking: Was that really a 20-metre blimp? While many have seen a Goodyear Blimp at a sporting event, it’s not every day you see such a sight in rural Alberta.

Jun Takahashi was stunned when he saw the online post: someone in the Yukon bush had found a canoe barrel full of his mildew-y camping gear, and his long-lost flute.

Gaza faces persistent shortages of medical supplies due to delivery restrictions. Hygiene conditions also remain dire.

Police have been investigating multiple reports of EV charging cables being cut and stolen across the Canterbury region in recent weeks.

British comedian Russell Brand has arrived in court for the start of his trial on rape and sexual assault charges.

The prime minister says voters were not "sufficiently" informed about how foreign actors sought to disrupt UK democracy.

The closest drill to Taiwan is off China's eastern province of Zhejiang. The drills are scheduled to last all week, according to notices.

The review will investigate sexual harassment complaints handled by the university within the last five years.

Captured images include a front-seat passenger holding a small child on her lap without a seatbelt.

New research shows that social awkwardness around money is costing adults in Ireland an estimated €150 every year in overpaid split bills and uncollected social debts.

Kristalina Georgieva said the technology is already hollowing out demand for many human workers by taking over routine, repetitive tasks.

The Tararua Health Group were put on a temporary freeze by Health New Zealand over several concerns.

A fire has destroyed the French capital's oldest covered food market, a popular street food venue, which as existed since 1615, authorities said.

US President Donald Trump must cancel any remaining taxpayer-funded television advertisements promoting himself, a federal judge has ordered.

American-born economists' models have helped governments and central banks manage economic shocks and "smooth out the economy's peaks and troughs," says Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

It’s not many high school athletes that need to bring a passport to practice. But that’s the case for a group of young football players in southern Alberta, who, during a time of heightened political tensions between Canada and the U.S., are now playing for an American high school team.

Another small Saskatchewan town's classic symbol of prairie life is in peril, but the owners are doing what they can to keep it standing.

Since the EU imposed additional tariffs on Chinese-made EVs in 2024, Chinese automakers have increasingly turned to plug-in hybrids.

The incident took place on Wairau Road off Tristram Avenue.

Thales Chairman and CEO Patrice Caine told the Nikkei daily that the base "will mark a milestone toward Thales's long-term engagement in Japan."

The march follows a chaotic weekend in Delhi which saw thousands of protesters being detained by police.

A woman in her 70s has died after she was struck by a car in Co Roscommon yesterday evening.

An intensifying El Niño broke a temperature record in a key zone of the Pacific in September, the EU's climate monitor has said.

Working with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, BBC Panorama reveals how the Russian billionaire hid his wealth with the help of Deloitte.

The Tokyo force hopes to accumulate expertise and share it with police departments in other prefectures.

Eight students from Fisher River Cree Nation travelled to a Saskatchewan provincial park as part of a land-based education program that prioritizes emotional, spiritual and cultural health — not just letter grades.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says "energy ceasefire" announced by U.S. President Donald Trump can be "a major step toward ending ​the war if the Americans truly step in now." The Kremlin says contacts are ongoing about the possible "energy ceasefire."

Chief executive Shaun Robinson says the party's plan to cut disability benefits by more than $650 million is based on "assumptions and bigotry".

Garry Dittmer had been seeking a response regarding his long-standing concerns about 1080 use when he collapsed at a meeting earlier this month.

James Wilson was acquitted by the Supreme Court in July this year over the Red Fox Tavern murder.

Auckland's deputy mayor says something has to be done to make sure the train delays that left hundreds waiting at Eden Park on Saturday do not happen again.

Robert Pether, a construction engineer, who has been held in Iraq for five years, has arrived in Ireland on a flight from Baghdad.

Rugby fans using the train after the All Blacks match on Saturday were left waiting as long as 40 minutes.

Addressing the Commons, Burnham is expected to say that a new deal with the EU could help tackle illegal immigration and boost economic growth.

Backdated paperwork also made the Russian oligarch’s yachts and mansions disappear from accounts, investigation finds.

Inshore fishermen are seeking permission to commercially catch bluefin tuna in Irish waters, noting it would "make a massive difference" in coastal communities.

Police don't believe there is any threat to the public.

Rescuers from Nepal's military on Monday reached an area hit by a flash flood the previous day. Five people have been reported missing and no fatalities have been reported so far.

"Food insecurity continues to be a significant and persistent issue affecting New Zealanders across the country", the NZ Food Network says.

Amid an increase in crimes committed by criminal groups, border control has become more important than ever before.

Farmers and grocers say demand for lamb is on the rise in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Some 45 houses were swept away, with the flood also damaging three hydropower projects and four bridges.

A US-based team of marine archaeologists has set sail for Kiribati to examine the latest clue to the 1937 disappearance of famed aviator Amelia Earhart.

The push reflects Japan's efforts to reduce Asia's vulnerability to oil supply disruptions.

A new social housing complex in Auckland's Orewa will soon be home to five autistic adults whose apartments have been designed to reduce sensory overload and provide long term accommodation.

This month marks a year since Timor-Leste was formally welcomed into ASEAN, and the transformation of the capital Dili, in that short time is staggering.

Hurricane Simon weakened to a Category 3 storm as it moved parallel to Mexico's Pacific coast, bringing strong winds and heavy rain that flooded homes.

While endometriosis affects one in 10 women, Canada’s health care system is doing a “poor” job in providing them care and many women are seeking treatment outside the country.

Operation Metro Surge is still a "fresh wound" in Minnesota, where a sweeping immigration crackdown saw thousands of arrested and two U.S. citizens killed. Minnesotans organized grassroots opposition against the federal officers. Now many of those same people have signed up for training to protect the polls in a Senate race that could be pivotal.

By making housing affordability the centrepiece of his campaign, Pedro Sánchez hopes to unite progressive voters while deflecting attention from other pressing political vulnerabilities.

Alberta is a wealthy province. Yet economic frustration is part of what's driving the separation movement. But would independence improve Alberta's fortunes or bring new economic concerns?

A new study finds a legal gap in Canada's Species at Risk Act can leave species waiting years for protection, with 153 of 288 cases overdue and still unresolved as of January 2025.

After securing dominant majority governments in back-to-back provincial elections, the Coalition Avenir Québec is now both without a seat in the National Assembly and without a leader, raising questions about the party's future and viability as a political entity.

The fitness pods are custom-built shipping-container gyms designed to bring free exercise programmes directly into communities.

The sanctions are largely symbolic given ministers from Taiwan's diplomatic allies generally never travel to China.

Ryder Hayden Coley-Clark was one of two people who had been swept out to sea while swimming on Friday afternoon.

The jail has counted John Lennon's killer Mark David Chapman, rapper Tupac Shakur and Sex Pistols musician Sid Vicious among its residents.

A children's advocate says she's "utterly appalled" by revelations that children were allegedly sexually and physically abused after initially going to police with complaints of abuse.

Only 62 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds are currently enrolled to vote for this year's general election.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee has described as "concerning" US President Donald Trump's call for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to be replaced as leader.

One person died in the single vehicle crash.

Tensions between the two leaders have come and gone since Trump returned to the White House with a pledge to quickly end the war in Ukraine.

The fresh attack on the airport killed one person — a Pakistani resident — and wounded 11 others, Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority said on X.

The imperial couple watched matches for boys and girls, held at a gymnasium in the city of Aomori.

The move comes ahead of the Dec. 25 launch of a Japanese version of Britain's Disclosure and Barring Service.

At least two of the weapons were believed to have fallen into waters outside Japan's exclusive economic zone.

Pakaraka School in Northland is now run by the Society of Holistic Learners - a charitable trust led by the school parents.

Saudi authorities have extended the suspension of operations at Riyadh's international airport following a series of deadly Houthi attacks.

Chris Hipkins says getting kids ready for school "shouldn’t mean starting the term with another big bill".

"Nothing about this technology is inevitable," says the Green Party's co-leader.

The girl was seriously assaulted at Queens Park on 2 October.

Dozens of people who were stranded on the vessel MV Awka have been rescued, local authorities confirmed on Monday.

One in 10 scams reported to Citizens Advice relate to fraudsters charging for work not done, or done badly.

Many farmers in states that backed the president say they are being hit from all sides, with the crucial midterm elections just weeks away.

After analysing 1,500 videos and images of the Raila Odinga memorial, Africa Eye finds that those killed were far from the scuffles.

Although rare, cancer is the leading cause of death from disease among children under 15 in the UK.

Irish consumers are fuelling a "fast tech" trend of low-cost, small electronic items, leading to a mountain of discarded e-waste, new data has revealed.

Union leaders have said a letter from Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers urging them to call off Wednesday's planned public sector strike "does not represent any change in his previously stated position".

A majority of Irish adults hear conflicting messages about the role of red meat in a balanced diet, new research has found.

The Construction Industry Federation is to launch its latest construction safety campaign.

Eztia CEO Tiffany Yeh discusses the story behind this innovation and its potential across a wide range of applications.

She's been stranded in the Cook Islands for three years.

The Fijian government has found itself caught up in another scandal after an explicit video involving one of its cabinet ministers ended up on Facebook on the eve of Fiji Day.

Niue has been placed on a yellow alert and the island's disaster management office says wildfires have already happened in several areas.

Rodney Smith is accused of murdering Glen Allan Tukaki and Nigel John Robinson, along with attempted murder and grievious bodily harm.

Strict (but not too strict), able to do magic tricks and memorise names - the kids at Hokitika Primary School have put together a wishlist for their new principal.

Can the "serious dangers and evils" of AI be regulated with a light touch?

Both departing and arriving travellers faced problems.

U.S. President Donald Trump must cancel any remaining television commercials paid for with millions of dollars in taxpayer money to promote his political message, a federal judge ordered Sunday night, even as the administration said the ad campaign was coming to an end.

Newly released documents reveal how New Zealand signed up to help build a new digital super-system.

Both GST and income tax payments are due in mid-January

The collision between a vehicle and motorbike happened the corner of SH29 and Pond Road.

The Skills Group wants incentives for employers to take on apprentices, a greater focus on achieving specific skills rather than serving time in an industry, and access to student loans and allowances for trainees.

SuperValu is recalling packets of its own-brand smoked salmon due to the presence of listeria monocytogenes.

One woman described thinking she was going die as he put his hands around around her neck.

The US President Donald Trump has approved a major disaster declaration for Guam following Super Typhoon Bavi.

Authorities in Solomon Islands are assessing options to rescue more than 70 people stranded on the vessel MV Awka, which has lost power and is drifting at sea.

Samoa's opposition leader raises questions over Prime Minister La'aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt's position on Nazism

Modern kids are picky eaters because we give them too many ultra processed snacks and don't let them get hungry, a food historian says.

Anyone who wants their review to have an impact should focus on clear, objective information, say researchers,

Electoral groups are working hard to educate older migrants who have been eligible to vote for some time but have never cast a ballot.

The CEO of the American company that owns Hamilton-based steelmaker Stelco says he's prepared to fight the Canadian government in court over Stelco's plan to lay off hundreds of workers. He also said he's open to selling the company and voiced support for U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel, despite citing tariffs as a reason for the company's economic struggles.

Children and those over 65 made up 70 percent of all hospital admissions.

A brand of turkey gravy sold in Canada has been recalled because it contains undeclared mustard.

Winnipeg shoppers weren't too happy to hear that another Giant Tiger store is closing, saying it will be one less option to buy affordable groceries.

The Irish Patients Association has warned that up to 20,000 people could be affected by cancellations and delays across health services as a result of planned strike action this week.

A decision by a HSE expert group to approve the drug Mounjaro could be "transformative", according to consultant endocrinologist Professor Donal O'Shea.

Irish supermarkets stock the lowest-fat deli meats in Europe but also have yoghurts and desserts with some of the highest sugar content found anywhere in the EU.

Hurricane Simon was pounding Mexico's Pacific coast as a Category 4 storm on Sunday, its eye remaining just offshore as its most powerful winds and rain slammed people living between the Sierra Madre and the ocean.

Irish society is "unprepared" to meet the needs of the growing population of people with both Down syndrome and dementia, Down syndrome charity advocates have said.

Nepali authorities have urged villagers to move to safer places after a flood in ⁠a river in the central part of the country swept away several houses and infrastructure, but there were no reports of any casualties.

At least 139 people, including children, have died after a boat carrying more than 300 migrants capsized off the coast of Djibouti in East Africa, the International Organization for Migration said Sunday.

Poland's interior ministry said Sunday that the country's Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz may have been targeted by assassination attempts. "A report about a potential assassination attempt on Prime Minister Donald Tusk, as well as on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, was transmitted to the police via the State Protection Service (SOP)," interior spokeswoman Karolina Galecka said at a press briefing. Earlier on Sunday, the ministry ordered authorities to take action "in connection with the information received by (the police) concerning a possible assassination attempt on the prime minister... as well as the deputy prime minister," who is also defense minister, Galecka wrote on X. Members of the police, state protection service (SOP) and internal security agency were present at the meeting Sunday. "We are treating this matter as deadly serious," a spokesperson for the minister-coordinator of special services, Jacek Dobrzynski, told journalists afterward. "Month by month, year by year, more and more v

Korea raised its travel advisory for Saudi Arabia to Level 3, the second-highest level, urging citizens to leave the country as intensifying clashes between Saudi forces and Houthi rebels threaten civilian infrastructure. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the upgraded alert, effective 10 p.m. Sunday, covering all regions of Saudi Arabia. The ministry urged Korean nationals in the country to depart if possible and advised those with travel plans to cancel or postpone their trips. The decision came after Foreign Minister Cho Hyun convened a meeting Sunday afternoon with 15 Korean diplomatic missions across the Middle East, including the embassies in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Iran, Israel and Lebanon. Cho noted that recent fighting between Saudi Arabia and Houthi rebels has escalated significantly, with direct strikes on civilian infrastructure such as airports causing multiple casualties. He called on diplomatic missions to stay alert and respond swiftly to the rapidly shifting security landscape, regional power dynamics and energy supply trends. Diplomatic missions in the region, inclu

VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV announced Sunday he will undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a nodular lesion on his lung that was recently discovered during medical checks. The 71-year-old pope said the nodule was found at an early stage and was “circumscribed” or well-localized. The Vatican later said Leo would undergo surgery in the first days of the week, with an expected recovery time of a week. The American pope made the announcement during his Sunday noon blessing. He thanked the crowd for their closeness and entrusted himself to their prayers. A lung nodule is a small abnormal area measuring less than 3 centimeters that sometimes appears on a CT scan of the chest or abdomen, according to the American Cancer Society. Often, the scans are done to investigate trauma or a lung infection, unrelated to a lung cancer screening. Leo has no previously known health problems and is considered physically active, with weekly tennis games and swimming at the papal summer retreat in Castel Gandolfo. The pope has a major trip planned Nov. 6-17 to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. It's uncle

BTS’s first performances in Peru drew more than 150,000 fans to Lima and are projected to generate about 25.1 billion won ($19 million) in tourism-related economic benefits for the country, according to a forecast by Peru’s tourism ministry. The group’s agency, BigHit Music, said Sunday that roughly 151,500 fans attended the three shows at Estadio San Marcos on Oct. 7, 9 and 10 — part of the group’s ongoing “Arirang” world tour. The attendance figure far exceeded the ministry’s pre-concert projection of 50,000 visitors to the capital. The Lima concerts marked BTS’ first performances in Peru since the group’s debut in 2013. The members acknowledged the wait from the stage. “We wonder why it took us so long to come to Peru,” they said to the fans during one of the shows. Member V commemorated Hangeul Day, a statutory holiday in Korea celebrating creation of the Korean alphabet, by wearing a specially designed T-shirt bearing handwritten messages during the concerts. The front displayed the name of the host city and his real name, Kim Tae-hyung, in Korean. On the bac

Cheong Wa Dae on Sunday took the unusual step of disclosing information on President Lee Jae Myung’s private golf schedule, shortly before an opposition lawmaker held a news conference questioning his whereabouts when a ceiling collapsed at a supermarket in Daegu. The office confirmed that Lee visited Taereung Golf Club with his family Saturday, about the time reports that the ceiling of a commercial building collapsed in Daegu, injuring dozens of people. Lee was briefed on the accident at the course and called acting National Police Agency chief Kim Jong-chul to check on casualties and injuries, Cheong Wa Dae said. He then ordered authorities to focus on rescue efforts and ensure a swift, safe response. “We normally do not confirm the president’s undisclosed schedule or private holiday activities,” the presidential office said, explaining that it made an exception “to prevent unnecessary controversy.” “We regret that the president’s private, undisclosed schedule is being used for political disputes,” it added. The announcement came shortly before Rep. Joo Jin-woo of the

K-pop girl group LE SSERAFIM topped Japan's Oricon daily chart immediately upon the release of its new single, demonstrating its strong popularity in both Korea and Japan. According to the band’s agency, Source Music, on Sunday, the five-member group’s second Korean single, “Made My Night,” grabbed the top spot on the Daily Single Ranking as of Friday, the day of its Japanese release. This marks the group’s second consecutive Korean single to tope the Oricon chart, following its previous single "SPAGHETTI,” which was released in 2025. "Made My Night" is a pop dance track that captures the excitement of spending a night with a special person. The single album features two tracks — the title song of the same name and the B-side track "AEIOU." The single has enjoyed huge commercial success here as well. According to Hanteo Chart, a local album sales tracker, the album sold around 200,000 copies on its first day of release, topping the daily album chart on Sept. 11. The title track has also gained significant traction globally. The song landed at No. 14 on Billboard's Bubbling U

Although the South Korean government insists its alliance with the United States remains strong despite six months of restrictions on North Korea-related intelligence sharing, experts see little prospect of a quick resolution, warning that Washington’s mistrust runs deep and the dispute reflects broader structural strains in the alliance. Nam Sung-wook, a chair professor at Sookmyung Women’s University, said the restrictions reflect strong U.S. mistrust of specific figures in the current administration and warned the situation was unlikely to improve soon. “The U.S. is showing a deep-seated distrust toward key figures such as Unification Minister Chung Dong-young and National Intelligence Service (NIS) chief Lee Jong-seok in the Lee Jae Myung administration and claiming that they cannot have high-level intelligence sharing meetings. It is worrisome, as it is also fundamentally hurting the allies,” he said. He said Seoul has strong reasons to resolve the restrictions quickly but warned that Washington’s concerns may be difficult to overcome in the short term. “It will not be b

Two human rights groups called Sunday for the immediate release of three detained Gwangju Prize laureates in Hong Kong and Thailand. The May 18 Memorial Foundation and the Network of Laureates of the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights said the detentions of Chow Hang-tung of Hong Kong and Thai activists Arnon Nampa and Jatupat Boonpattararaksa "reflect a crisis of democracy in Asia." Jatupat, a Thai activist and the 2017 recipient of the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights, and Arnon, a Thai human rights lawyer who won the prize in 2021, are detained in Thailand. Chow, a Hong Kong human rights lawyer and the 2023 laureate, is detained in Hong Kong. "We stand in solidarity with activists striving to defend democracy and human rights in Thailand, Hong Kong and Myanmar despite violence, imprisonment and restrictions on basic rights," the groups said in a joint statement. The prize was established in 2000 to promote the spirit of the May 18 pro-democracy uprising in the southwestern Korean city of Gwangju in 1980, during which a military crackdown on demonstrators left more than 200 civilians dead an

Starbucks Korea reclaimed its lead among coffee chains in September, five months after a marketing controversy sparked consumer backlash. According to data from market tracker IGAWorks on Sunday, the coffee chain recorded 121.08 billion won ($90.1 million) in estimated credit and debit card spending last month, up 4.3 percent from August, overtaking rival Twosome Place to reclaim the top spot. Starbucks trailed its rival for four consecutive months as its estimated card spending dropped by 13.13 billion won to 121.19 billion won from April to May, before bottoming out at 100.39 billion won in June. The coffee chain's estimated card spending then rose for three consecutive months, reaching 110.06 billion won in July, 116.12 billion won in August and climbing back above 120 billion won in September for the first time since the downturn. Twosome's estimated card spending fell 6.4 percent from August to 110.5 billion won in September, about 10.58 billion won below Starbucks. The recovery follows nationwide backlash over a Starbucks promotion that dubbed May 18, the anniversary of the 1980 Gwa

Cyberattacks are becoming a more consequential credit risk for financial firms, as the damage can extend beyond data theft to operational disruptions and higher funding costs. Korea Ratings is considering more objective ways to measure firms’ exposure to cyber threats, industry officials said Sunday. In a recent report, the ratings agency said cyber risk can weaken both a financial institution’s business prospects and its financial health. International rating agencies have already downgraded companies after cyberattacks disrupted operations or exposed weaknesses in internal controls. In 2019, S&P Global Ratings cut Bank of Valletta’s rating to BBB- from BBB following a cyberattack, citing operational risks and governance weaknesses that hurt its creditworthiness. Korea Ratings has also recently incorporated cyber-related concerns into its assessment of a domestic financial firm. In March, it lowered Lotte Card’s score for the “risk management” factor in its regular credit assessment. Lotte Card disclosed a data breach in August last year that exposed information belonging t

The 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has drawn record crowds and major global star power at its midpoint, cementing its position as Asia's premier film event. On Sunday, the festival organizer said attendance at BIFF’s official program events, such as outdoor stage greetings, Master Classes Actors House sessions and Open Talks, surpassed 50,000 visitors within its first five days through Saturday. This figure already exceeds the total attendance recorded across all program events during last year’s full festival run, they added. This highlights a sharp increase in public engagement outside movie theaters. The surging interest comes as BIFF celebrates its first edition since being elevated to the International Federation of Film Producers Associations A-List status, solidifying its standing alongside premier global film festivals. By shifting its opening day to Tuesday and adding extra weekend screenings, the festival made it much easier for both movie fans and industry officials to attend. At Tuesday's opening ceremony, the festival brought together world-renowned filmmak

Most Korean workers who took on additional duties while colleagues were on parental leave or working reduced hours for childcare received no extra compensation, with 7 in 10 going unpaid for the added workload. According to a survey released by workplace advocacy group Gabjil 119 on Sunday, 47.8 percent of 1,000 workers said their workloads had increased due to colleagues taking maternity or parental leave. The survey was conducted nationwide from Sept. 1 to 7. The results suggest that employers are shifting the burden of staffing shortages caused by parental leave or reduced working hours onto existing employees rather than hiring replacements or adjusting workloads. Of the 478 respondents who reported taking on additional duties, just 29.5 percent said they had received extra compensation, such as allowances, while the remaining 70.5 percent received no additional pay. Awareness of government subsidies aimed at compensating workers who take on extra duties was also limited. Only 37 percent of respondents were aware of the government’s workload-sharing subsidy for parental leave, while

As Korea prepares to regain wartime operational control (OPCON) from the United States, questions remain over how the leadership and organization of their combined military command will change. The Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC) is expected to retain its integrated command structure, with Korean officers potentially taking more senior staff positions, military experts said. The outlook comes after Seoul and Washington disclosed that they have agreed on a provisional organizational plan for the post-transfer command. While the two countries have already agreed to put a Korean general in charge, the division of responsibilities beneath the commander has yet to be made public. Gen. Kim Seong-min, the CFC’s deputy commander, told a parliamentary audit Wednesday that the provisional arrangement would be finalized during the Full Mission Capability (FMC) assessment, the final stage of the three-phase evaluation process for OPCON transfer. He described the plan as a draft and dismissed suggestions that the combined command would be dissolved after the handover. Kim Jung-sup, directo

A wave of recent data breaches at major Korean banks is putting pressure on both customer confidence and the industry’s defenses, with deposits at these lenders declining by more than 20 trillion won ($15 billion) in just 11 days, according to industry officials, Sunday. They are now stepping up security spending and hiring specialists to keep pace with increasingly sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI)-driven attacks. Demand deposits at the country’s five largest lenders — KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, Woori and NH NongHyup — totaled 675.5 trillion won on Sept. 30, but dropped to 655.4 trillion won as of Sunday. Fixed-term deposits, which had risen for five consecutive months, also fell by more than 2.7 trillion won to slightly more than 1 quadrillion won. On Oct. 1, Shinhan Bank first reported that about 25,000 customers were affected, with names, phone numbers, annual income and loan limits exposed. The following day, KB Kookmin reported 119 affected customers, while Hana Bank said personal information belonging to 89 customers was exposed. Lenders are responding with bigge

NEW DELHI — New Delhi braced for a second day of youth protests demanding the resignation of India's election chief on Sunday, as a court ordered the release of "cockroach" movement founder Abhijeet Dipke and two other senior leaders. Dipke, the founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, and the other leaders were detained when their plane landed in Delhi on Saturday as the movement planned to gather thousands of people at Jantar Mantar in Central Delhi. They were produced in front of a magistrate early on Sunday. "Condition — no breach of peace for one year," the CJP's legal head Ratna Singh said in a post on X announcing their release. Activist and social media influencer Dhruv Rathee, who was also among those detained, was released past midnight on condition he did not participate in any further protests, said an interior ministry official who declined to be named. Police detained more than 2,000 people and locked down Delhi's city centre to thwart Saturday's protest, and thousands of police and paramilitary personnel continued to be deployed across the city on Sunday although metro sta

RAMALLAH, West Bank — President Mahmoud Abbas postponed what would have been the first Palestinian elections in nearly 20 years, issuing a decree on Friday to further delay voting for the Palestinian Legislative Council almost another year. Rather than take place as scheduled next month, the decree pushes the elections back to Sept. 11, 2027, according to WAFA, the official Palestinian news agency. Presidential elections, which have not taken place for more than two decades, are scheduled for the same day. The postponement leaves entrenched Palestinian leaders unchallenged and threatens to further erode the Palestinian Authority’s credibility among ordinary Palestinians and donor countries who fund it. The internationally backed body is dominated by Abbas' party, Fatah, and has administered semiautonomous parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank since agreements reached in the 1990s. It has grown increasingly unpopular throughout Abbas’ presidency. Many Palestinians view it as corrupt and criticize its security cooperation with Israel. The decree came after a committee of top Palest

The government has been working to develop a national artificial intelligence (AI) foundation model, while planning to launch a separate effort to develop frontier models. This two-track strategy is raising questions: Why is the government pushing the new project and how will it draw the line between the two programs? The Ministry of Science and ICT confirmed that the ongoing AI foundation model project will proceed with a third-stage evaluation, with two finalists expected to be selected in February. Separately, the government plans to allocate 4.7 trillion won ($3.5 billion) for a frontier AI program set to begin in March 2027. The split reflects the government's growing concern that the rapid advances in global AI have made the foundation model project's original goals harder to achieve, while abandoning the project could undermine the ecosystem and capabilities built up over the past year. Deputy Prime Minister and Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon has repeatedly rejected speculations that the foundation model project is being scrapped. “The national AI foundation model project has b

Incheon International Airport Corp. (IIAC) said Sunday it will host the 2026 Incheon Airport Sky Festival on Nov. 7 and 8 at Inspire Arena near the airport, featuring K-pop performances and hands-on cultural activities. Marking its 21st edition, the event is billed as the world's only airport-based cultural festival. Under the theme “K-Vibe Starts at Incheon Airport,” it will offer visitors a chance to experience Korean culture through music, fashion, beauty, food and tourism. The Korea Tourism Organization, Incheon Tourism Organization and Korea Heritage Agency will offer hands-on programs showcasing Korean culture and tourism. The two-day concert will feature popular K-pop acts spanning various genres and generations. Epik High, BIBI, TNX, KickFlip and H//PE Princess will perform on Nov. 7, followed by PSY, Zion.T, Kim Na-young, Forestella, xikers, hrtz.wav and OURBIRTHDAY on Nov. 8. A 300-seat viewing area will also be set up near Inspire Arena, allowing visitors to watch live broadcasts of the concerts outside the main venue. Inspire Ballroom will host about 20 booths offering hand

BUSAN — Director Kim Jung-hoon said he hopes his new psychological thriller “Shaving” will offer catharsis and comfort to viewers dealing with past emotional scars. "Shaving is a daily routine for most men, but if you examine it closely, it is also dangerous and chilling," Kim said during a press conference at Busan Cinema Center at the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) on Friday. "It suited the concept of an ordinary couple's daily life turning into something hazardous. I focused on following Su-yeon's emotional arc across genres to reach a sense of catharsis, hoping the film helps people overcome their trauma." The film was invited to the competition section of the 31st edition of the film festival. It also marks Kim’s return to feature filmmaking 13 years after his debut "Tinker Ticker" (2013). The movie follows Su-yeon (Roh Jeong-eui), a horror novelist carrying past trauma, who spends a holiday at a countryside house with her caring boyfriend Shinji (Show Kasamatsu). The peaceful trip turns into a nightmare when Shinji accidentally cuts his face while shaving with an

President Lee Jae Myung has vowed to communicate more directly and actively with the public, a presidential official said Sunday. Lee made the remarks during his flight back to Seoul after his state visit to Mexico late last month, according to Seong Ghi-hong, senior presidential secretary for public relations and communication. "I will communicate more actively and directly with the public," Lee was quoted as saying by Seong. "What the president seeks is not simply 'social media politics' but dialogue that bridges the gap between the public and the president, and communication that lowers the barrier between state affairs and the people," Seong wrote on X. He added that social media is just one of many channels for communicating with the public. Lee has recently stepped up his posts on social media to express his views on political, diplomatic and real estate-related issues, prompting concerns among some over the frequency of his posts. On Saturday, Lee said in a post on X that he would continue to communicate with the public via social media despite criticism that such outreach lacks dig

As a venture capitalist based in Silicon Valley, I work with frontier technologies and the teams building them around the world. On a recent trip to Korea, I saw a surge in the number of companies and investors looking to engage with the U.S. technology ecosystem. The conversations were distinctly different from the ones I had five years ago. The question was no longer whether to engage, but how. That shift is promising, but Korea needs to move faster. The country has spent decades building world-class capabilities in semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, defense technology and data center infrastructure. It has the technical talent, industrial expertise and resources to become a leader in this technology cycle. What it does not yet have is influence within the U.S. innovation ecosystem that matches those capabilities. That matters more now than ever. Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping nearly every major industry, and no one knows exactly where the technology will create the greatest value. The companies, investors and institutions closest to the people building it will have an

Korea's central bank posted nearly 17 trillion won ($12.5 billion) in returns from foreign assets in 2025, helped by a weaker won and a rally in stock markets, data from the bank showed Sunday. The Bank of Korea (BOK) recorded 16.9 trillion won in returns on foreign assets last year, up 32 percent from a year earlier, according to data submitted to a lawmaker from the main opposition People Power Party (PPP). "The won's weakness against the dollar and a rally in stock markets drove up net income linked to foreign assets," the BOK said in its 2025 annual report, released in March. Returns on foreign assets rose from around 8 trillion won annually in 2016-18 to 13.8 trillion won in 2021, before plunging to 3.9 trillion won in 2022. Won-denominated returns from securities holdings, interest on bank deposits, dividends and stock sales rebounded to 4.9 trillion won in 2023, and jumped to 12.8 trillion won in 2024.

South Korea's spy agency on Sunday dismissed a local news report as completely untrue, rejecting its claim that the United States has restricted intelligence sharing with Seoul on North Korea to missile-related information. The denial by the National Intelligence Service (NIS) comes amid concerns over apparent friction in bilateral intelligence cooperation following the disclosure of a North Korean uranium enrichment facility. In March, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young referred during a parliamentary session to North Korea's Kusong region as one of the sites housing a uranium enrichment facility, a disclosure that reportedly prompted Washington to restrict Seoul's access to some intelligence related to North Korea. On Thursday, the NIS acknowledged that it had been excluded from a June trilateral meeting with Washington and Tokyo on North Korean cyberthreats. A senior U.S. official said Friday that Washington expects Seoul to "uphold" the standards of their decadeslong alliance. Still, the spy agency said Sunday that South Korea and the U.S. continue to share intelligence in various

Four papers co-authored by Lee Jun-hyun, a professor in the Division of Computer Engineering at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS), have been accepted at three of the world’s leading artificial intelligence (AI) conferences this year, the university said Wednesday. The three conferences are the International Conference on Learning Representations (ICLR), the International Conference on Machine Learning (ICML) and the Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems (NeurIPS). Together, they are known as the “Big Three” AI conferences. Researchers from academia and industry worldwide present their latest findings at the conferences, where papers undergo rigorous peer review, the university said. Lee was the corresponding author of all four papers: one accepted at ICLR 2026, one at ICML 2026 and two at NeurIPS 2026. This marks the first time Lee has had papers accepted at all three conferences in a single year, highlighting the breadth of his research in AI system evaluation and collaboration, efficient information exchange and model compression. The studies were conducted

Sungkyunkwan University hosted the Southeast Asia regional round of the 2026 Sungkyun Hangeul Essay Contest at Thuongmai University and the Grand Plaza Hanoi Hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Oct. 1. The university said the contest brought together 47 outstanding students selected from leading universities in five Southeast Asian countries — Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia and Laos — to demonstrate their Korean-language writing skills. Launched in 2007, the Sungkyun Hangeul Essay Contest is one of the university’s flagship international exchange programs, encouraging young people to express their thoughts and dreams in Korean and deepen their understanding of Korean culture. Participants spent two hours writing personal essays on the topic “Two Paths,” which was announced on the day of the competition. Drawing on moments of choice they had faced in life and their personal experiences, the students crafted thoughtful essays in Korean that deeply moved the judges. The grand prize, known as the Jangwon Prize, went to Ta Thi Bich, a student at the University of Languages and Intern

The University of Seoul held a showcase Wednesday to highlight the experiences and achievements of students who took part in its 2026 GO (Global Odyssey)-UOS overseas study tour program. The university said the event, held for the first time this year, gave the 25 participating teams an opportunity to present their projects and exchange ideas after completing their overseas trips during the summer break. This year’s GO-UOS program involved 100 students divided into 25 teams, which visited 33 cities in 12 countries, including the United States, Australia, Spain, Portugal, Japan and China. Each team carried out a range of activities tailored to its specific theme and objectives. All 25 teams presented the results of their overseas projects at the showcase. Ten teams were selected for awards based on a combination of peer evaluations of promotional materials submitted in advance and on-site assessments. Through their presentations, students shared what they had learned during their overseas trips and how the experiences had contributed to their personal growth. “This trip went beyond a sim

With the country’s ban on the dog meat trade slated to take effect on Feb. 7 next year, 87 percent of dog farms have been shut down, a pace faster than the government had anticipated, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said Sunday. A total of 1,537 dog meat farms were registered nationwide when the government announced the ban in February 2024 and began accepting closure notices from farm owners. As of Sept. 21, 198 farms remained in operation. The number of farms that had closed was 30 percent higher than the government had expected by that point. The number of dogs kept in cages stood at 468,000 in August 2024, the final month of a six-month period during which the government encouraged farm owners to submit closure notices and plans. As of last month, an estimated 7,600 dogs remained at farms still operating. The ministry is encouraging the remaining farm owners to close their businesses before the ban takes effect next year. In collaboration with local governments, it will conduct a special inspection campaign from November to December to check whether closed farm

Hyundai Motor's cumulative vehicle sales in India are expected to top 10 million this year, nearly three decades after the South Korean automaker began local sales, industry data showed Sunday. The company had sold 9.88 million vehicles in India through the third quarter of this year, having begun local production with the Santro minicar at its Chennai plant in 1998, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). At the current pace, Hyundai's cumulative sales in India are expected to surpass the 10 million mark by the end of this year. Over the past three decades, Hyundai has introduced a range of models in India, including the i10 and i20 hatchbacks, the Verna subcompact, the Creta SUV, the all-electric Creta EV, the Exter SUV and the Alcazar SUV. Hyundai's annual sales in India surpassed 500,000 units in 2016 and reached 605,433 units in 2024, according to SIAM data. Last year, the company sold 398,937 SUVs in India, accounting for about 70 percent of its total sales in the country. At its 2026 CEO Investor Day in August, Hyundai Motor Chief Executive Officer Jose M

CAIRO — The latest attack on the international airport in Saudi Arabia's capital of Riyadh killed 12 people and injured over 300 others, civil aviation authorities said Sunday, with some in critical condition. A Saudi-led coalition blamed Iran-backed Houthi rebels in neighboring Yemen. It was the deadliest attack in any Gulf Arab country since the start of the Iran war, whose fronts have expanded to include the recent surge in fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces. A missile struck a King Khalid International Airport complex housing terminals 3 and 4 for domestic flights, a regional official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak to the media. The Saudi statement said the dead included four Saudi citizens as well as two Bangladeshi nationals, a Palestinian, a U.S. citizen, an Egyptian, a Jordanian, a Syrian and a Sudanese. It said the injured were being treated at several hospitals. Footage posted on social media following the attack and analyzed by The Associated Press shows emergency vehicles outside the ai

U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday called for Ukraine to replace its leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy and railed against Ukraine's attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, a day after announcing a diesel supply deal with Russia that drew a sharp rebuke from Zelenskyy. "I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal because he could have made many deals, but for some reason he never does," Trump told reporters at the White House. "I think it's time for Ukraine to get a new president." Zelenskyy, in some of his sharpest criticism yet of the White House, blasted Trump's deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to lift sanctions on Russian diesel, which comes as soaring energy prices have become a political liability for Trump's Republican Party ahead of next month's midterm elections. The Russian government said on Saturday it had partially lifted a ban on diesel exports with immediate effect. "Today, Russia said thank you for the lifting of sanctions on diesel exports by dropping five glide bombs on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia," Zelenskyy said after a Russian strike on that

North Korea has held a celebration performance for the 81st founding anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea, with leader Kim Jong-un in attendance, state media reported Sunday. Patriotic songs, acrobatics and dance filled Pyongyang Indoor Stadium the previous day in a show that stressed loyalty to the party and Kim, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. Kim, whom the article described as "representing the dignity and mightiness" of the country, waved to the audience "as a token of his congratulations to all the participants on the party founding day" and expressed satisfaction with the performance, the KCNA said. A photo released by the KCAN shows Kim's wife, Ri Sol-ju, and daughter, Kim Ju-ae, accompanying him. Diplomatic envoys and members of foreign missions sat alongside senior party and military officials and Pyongyang citizens, according to the report. Kim did not issue a statement marking the anniversary. The performance capped a series of events and gatherings marking this year's anniversary, which were modest in scale. North Korea considers anniversaries ending in zero or

Tucked inside the bustling Seocho District in southern Seoul, the Seoripul Musical Instrument Street has long served as the heart of Korea’s classical music scene. Situated near the Seoul Arts Center and the prestigious Korea National University of Arts, this designated cultural zone is home to scores of instrument workshops, rehearsal spaces and specialized repair shops. It is a neighborhood where the delicate scent of wood varnish drifts into the alleyways and the world’s finest string instruments find their voice. Starting Oct. 17, the district will showcase this centuries-old craft during the 2026 Seoripul K-String Fair at the Rhode Art Center. Running through Oct. 23, the event stands as Korea’s premier modern string instrument festival, bringing together 13 master instrument makers based in Korea and Italy to display 28 handcrafted masterpieces, including 21 violins, five violas and two cellos. Crafting a violin is a painstaking pursuit of acoustic perfection. Artisans spend hundreds of hours carving maple and spruce, shaping the instrument’s delicate arching to control so

The esports industry continues to expand, drawing large audiences across game titles and appealing to an increasingly diverse range of people. The Business Research Company expects the global market to grow at an average annual rate of about 20 percent, from $3.02 billion in 2025 to $7.71 billion in 2030. However, few esports team operators have managed to turn that popularity into profits, as player salaries continue to rise while revenues from competition, such as prize money and league revenue sharing, remain volatile. DRX has remained profitable since 2024, helped by a diversified portfolio across multiple esports titles and a stable revenue base built through its advertising agency subsidiary. During an interview with The Korea Times, CEO Yang “Can” Sun-il said he is seeking to transform DRX into a broader digital entertainment company, expanding beyond esports through intellectual property (IP) and its esports academy, particularly in Southeast Asia. “K-culture has certainly become much more sophisticated and valuable than it was 10 years ago,” Yang said. “If you go to co

BUSAN — “Take a slow, deep breath. Let the aroma of neroli, sandalwood and lavender release every bit of tension held in your body.” As dusk settled at 6 p.m. on Oct. 2, Paradise Hotel Busan unveiled a sanctuary of quiet renewal. Against the dramatic sweep of the autumn sea and a fading horizon, the hotel introduced a specialized wellness experience designed to blend thermal spa immersion with deep meditation. Held as an intimate gathering for 10 members, the "Ocean Healing Ritual with the Autumn Sea" began with a simple act: An instructor gently placed a few drops of aromatic oil onto each participant's open palms. In the crisp evening air, participants rubbed the fragrant oils into their hands, smoothing away the knots in their necks and shoulders. Through a series of gentle yoga postures, they began to release the weight of the day, restoring physical and mental equilibrium. The initiative is part of Paradise Hotel Busan’s ongoing effort to design wellness experiences grounded in the season and its coastal setting. In collaboration with Amorepacific’s ultra-luxury skin care

Among domestic travelers in Korea, a popular catchphrase has taken root to describe the post-vacation blues: Busan fever. The term captures the lingering nostalgia visitors feel for the southern port city's coastal views, vibrant night markets and laid-back atmosphere long after their trips have ended. Starting this week, the Busan Metropolitan Government is offering a digital remedy for that homesickness. City officials launched Busan Kku, a dedicated online platform distributing free downloadable digital merchandise — ranging from smartphone wallpapers to tablet stickers — designed to help domestic and international travelers bring a piece of Busan into their daily lives. The initiative taps directly into a popular youth culture trend in Korea known as "ponkku" (decorating smartphones) and "keomkku" (customizing computers and tablets). Moving away from traditional, text-heavy public relations, municipal planners collaborated with local Busan illustrators to craft high-quality digital goods that appeal to Gen Z and digital natives. Downloads include aesthetic illustrations of iconi

MUNGYEONG, North Gyeongsang Province —Every step along the country road reveals another pale purple flower emerging through the mist. Any visitor soon finds themselves surrounded by thousands upon thousands of blossoms. A wave of flowers winds along the ridges of the wooded hillside, revealing here and there a statue of the Buddha or stately pine trees. It is a truly dreamlike and otherworldly scene. Bongcheon Temple, a small Buddhist temple halfway up Mount Wolbang in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province, is blanketed in purple aster flowers every autumn. The sight is spectacular every year, but the flowers are particularly abundant this year. Seven asters grow into a field of flowers The flowers cover an area of 23,100 square meters, but began with just seven aster flowers. When the abbot first came to the temple 12 years ago, the surrounding hillside was barren. It was covered with kudzu vines, with only a few small vegetable plots cultivated by local residents scattered here and there. Looking for a wildflower that could thrive on the rocky, weed-covered hillside, the monk chose aste

Korean society in the 1970s and 1980s was rife with violence and control masked as institutions and social order. At 16, the world saw her as a boy, but she already knew who she was. At a time when even the term “transgender” did not exist in common parlance, she performed on nightclub stages, singing and dancing in heavy makeup. She even underwent a risky, illicit gender-affirming surgery under only local anesthesia in a motel room. Her life was likely a relentless succession of discrimination and anger, difficult to imagine today. Yet even amid the violence and suffering that were commonplace at the time, she never lost faith in her choices. A one-person play portraying the fearless life of 69-year-old transgender performer Saek-ja, who spent five decades singing and dancing on nightclub stages, will meet audiences at the Seoul Performing Arts Festival (SPAF) on Oct. 15 and 16 at the small venue of Arko Arts Theater in Jongno District, Seoul. Titled “You Can't Make a Life Out of Not Getting Slapped in the Face," the play was first presented at the Feminism Theater Festival in 2

The 71-year-old pontiff said the nodule was identified "at a very early stage".

Lasik MD's spokesperson Jessica Lukian Papineau said Bashour was suspended immediately that night, and all his surgeries were reassigned to other physicians the next morning. That case is due in court next year, and no charges have officially been laid against Bashour.

Following Pope Leo XIV’s announcement that he will undergo surgery this week to remove a lung nodule, Catholics around the world send their prayers and best wishes for his quick recovery.

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It is the third time this week that Ukraine has targeted Russian tech giant Yandex, forcing the company to suspend its operations.

Wednesday's strike by public service workers "can still be avoided", the Minister for Higher Education has said, asking unions to engage and "come to the table with a blank sheet of paper."

Yorkshire Wildlife Park remains closed after a man entered the tiger enclosure and was fatally attacked on Saturday.

Eight men have been charged with violent disorder following an altercation in Ballinasloe, Co Galway yesterday.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the UK is "clear" there was Russian interference in the Brexit referendum.

The boat was travelling from Djibouti to Yemen with 350 people on board, when it capsized near the port town of Obock on Thursday night.

At least 139 migrants have died after their boat capsized off Djibouti, with a further 84 people still missing, the UN migration agency (IOM) said on Sunday.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned a Houthi missile attack on Riyadh’s main airport that Saudi authorities say killed 12 people and wounded more than 300.

Nidaa, Hanaa and Hanin have different stories, but share a common thread: the determination to build something of their own and keep it going despite extraordinary challenges facing them in war-ravaged Gaza.

It is the first health scare of the 71-year-old pontiff's tenure.

Polish prime minister Donald Tusk has said a man accused of threatening an assassination attack against him and his defence minister has been arrested.

The Houthis have stepped up their attacks on Saudi Arabian soil, and while the physical damage can be quickly repaired, its reputation for stability is taking a battering.

The defence secretary says the US and its allies need to increase pressure on Vladimir Putin to end the war with Ukraine.

At least 109 people have died, including 15 children, and some 116 went missing when a boat sank off the shores of Djibouti in the early hours of Friday morning, a UN agency has said.

Pope Leo has said doctors have detected a small growth on his lung during a recent health check and he would be undergoing surgery this week to remove it.

A flash flood at the Budhi Gandaki River has swept away several buildings and bridges, two months after catastrophic floods hit the country.

Pope Leo XIV renews his appeal for peace in Ukraine, and recalls the effects of its reduced grain exports on poor countries around the world.

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A senior member of the DUP has said the party should use its power to remove Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill as Northern Ireland's First Minister in response to her participation in street protests against a decision to allow an Orange Order parade in Portadown.

A drone attack damaged a Russian Yandex data centre east of the capital and disrupted operations at the facility, the technology and AI company has said.

At the Angelus on Sunday, Pope Leo XIV reflects on Jesus’ parable of the wedding feast, and recalls that Christian joy impels us to share it with others, even at the risk of misunderstandings.

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Hundreds of get-well messages and art pieces have been sent to the tortoise before he undergoes a bladder surgery on Tuesday.

Pope Leo XIV reveals that he is set to undergo surgery to remove a “localized nodule in my lung,” noting that it is at “a very early stage and is well-localized.” The operation will take place in the coming days at Rome's Gemelli Hospital.

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Saudi authorities said Sunday that King Fahd International Airport in Dammam has been attacked, with few details. The statement came hours after authorities said the international airport in the capital, Riyadh, had been attacked once again.

Junior Ajose, 36, and Cheriff Tall, 21, were gunned down at a lockdown party six years ago.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he has discussed the possibility of an energy ceasefire with Russia with Prime Minister Mark Carney, Finnish President Alex Stubb and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte but is waiting for more information from the United States.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee has condemned the attack by Yemen's Houthis on Riyadh airport and said she was "concerned by the escalation of attacks".

The natural phenomenon, known as the Aurora Borealis, is the result of increased solar activity.

The rush may reflect fears that their license data could be abused. Police, however, say that reissuing a license would do little to prevent crime.

What to know about income requirements, pension payments and the all-important statement of reasons.

Netflix Japan's dramas are pushing the boundaries of storytelling and uplifting domestic TV standards, though not without growing pains.

Sweeping security restrictions have underscored tensions facing Narendra Modi's government as it confronts a sustained wave of youth-led dissent.

Pope Leo announced Sunday he will undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a nodular lesion on his lung that was recently discovered during medical checks.

The CBC's Marketplace rounds up the consumer and health news you need from the week.

The warning, from Victoria University marine biologist Dr Christopher Cornwall, comes ahead of an international symposium on the issue in Wellington this week.

At a library branch CBC News visited in Calgary, a few people were excited to vote. Others were just starting to follow the process, and several expressed frustration at Alberta even having a referendum.

Provincial officials are investigating the illegal killings of four grizzly bears at three separate locations over the last year. One of the bear corpses was found abandoned with its paws removed after being poached.

Hurricane Simon strengthened into a powerful Category 4 storm and was expected to make landfall or skirt the coast of west-central Mexico today, according to the US National Hurricane Center.

Demand is expected to continue expanding as these electronics firms are reinforcing their services in anticipation of sophisticated AI cyberattacks.

Auckland University's Peter Shepherd has joined a chorus of concern over reports of previously restricted peptides going on sale in the US.

This week's strike action by 300,000 public sector workers will also affect the work of politicians.

Carleton University now has two Inuit students enrolled in its Certificate in Journalism in Indigenous Communities program. The nine-month course aims to get more Indigenous storytellers into the media.

Two big parties are battling for power in the middle ground of British politics, with housing and nostalgia proving key avenues to exploit, writes Sean Whelan.

The new State-backed investment account has been hailed as the first serious attempt to make investment more appealing to the Irish public. But it carries risks and a steep learning curve.

Japan, which hosts roughly 60,000 U.S. service members and depends on Washington for its security, will need to walk a fine line as it pushes back.

The government of Panama declared a state of emergency Saturday as the aftershocks of two powerful earthquakes that roiled the country shook communities for hours. Officials did not attribute any deaths to the quakes but reported damages in all 10 of Panama's provinces and two Indigenous territories.

Residents along the Budhi Gandaki river in north central Nepal evacuated on Sunday as flash flooding destroyed homes and other structures in the area.

The alleged murder by an American soldier has reignited controversy over the heavy U.S. military presence on the southern island.

Indonesian authorities and YIARI rescued 46 orangutans from threats of fires between August and Friday.

Members of the Irish women's wheelchair basketball team plan to bow their heads during the national anthem and wear black armbands as they face Israel in the qualifiers for the Women's B division European Championship.

Ernie Gallant was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after dedicating two decades of volunteer service to the New Glasgow Fire Department in Prince Edward Island.

What if the syllabics of the Cree language dominated everyday communication? This is the question asked by Joi T. Arcand’s new exhibition at the Carleton University Art Gallery.

Three Ukrainians who grew up in occupied Crimea describe how Russia trained them to become future soldiers for its war on Ukraine, including school classes on how to handle weapons — part of a larger pattern of Russian indoctrination of children that has raised alarm in the international community.

India is vying to secure a piece of the AI boom, and letting Google clear hundreds of acres to build a $15 billion US data centre hub near its eastern coast. It will be the company's largest such project outside the U.S., and comes with promises of jobs and investments. But at what cost?

Teachers have long had a place among Murdoch Mysteries fans; now some of them are bringing the detective drama's mix of history, science and snappy whodunit into their classrooms, saying that combining the show with active, hands-on learning can help kick-start curiosity, facilitate connections and build valuable skills.

More people are getting their news from television programs and the internet.

Zelenskyy, in some of his sharpest criticism yet of the White House, blasted Trump's deal with Putin to lift sanctions on Russian diesel.

Mark Baxter has launched a petition calling for permanent, in-person public dermatology services in Dunedin and the wider Southern region.

A third of school starters in the West Midlands last year were not toilet-trained, a survey suggests.

Ukraine would be ready to stop hitting Russian oil refineries if Russia curbed its attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said, after criticism from US counterpart Donald Trump.

The court's legislative body demanded "the immediate revocation" of the sanctions, urging "the international community to stand firm" in its defense.

The rate for the United States rose 9.3 percentage points from the previous fiscal 2025 survey. The figure stood at 6.6% in fiscal 2024.

Autumn is a very sweet beagle, a colorful chap with a penchant for play. And, he'll warm your heart no matter what the temperature.

"Anyone that presents a firearm at police officers clearly has no regard for public safety," Bay of Plenty's District Commander says.

Nishiyama, 31, who holds four titles in the joryu kishi system for women, could become the first female to compete in the top open system.

The retreat has potentially far-reaching consequences for public health as vaccination rates decline and preventable diseases resurge.

The victims, both men, were crushed under floats that overturned when traveling on the road, according to the Osaka Prefectural Police department.

Every day, Niyaha al-Masri spends six exhausting hours or more queueing at a community kitchen in the hope of getting some food for her family.

Pike, 50, was given two doses of the drug pentobarbital on Sept. 30 — a usually fatal dose that nevertheless failed to kill her.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park has said the tiger who attacked a man who entered the enclosure is "safe and well" and will not be euthanised following the incident.

More than 20 years after their literary debut, two of Nao-Cola Yamazaki's books have finally appeared in English translation for the first time.

Further complicating any finding of responsibility, a model's behavior is shaped by both its AI developer and the end user deploying the system.

The attack has raised the specter of a wider escalation, with President Donald Trump signaling the U.S. could join action against the fighters.

Kimberley Atkinson assumed her symptoms were depression until her behaviour started to change dramatically.

The US Justice Department said it is investigating whether television networks violated federal antitrust laws over their decision to boycott covering the White House following its decision to pull the credentials of reporters from three news organisations, including CNN.

Film-maker Sue Kim talks about having unprecedented access to K-Pop idol Lisa Manobal at her most candid.

Amid a surge in AI content, many are placing extra value on art that's obviously made by a human. But can that last, asks Ros Atkins

Lizzy, Charlotte and Libby studied at the same time, but their student debt now looks very different.

At least 12 people have been killed in a suspected Houthi attack on Riyadh's international airport, with an Irish man among 309 others wounded.

It doesn't have to be caviar to have the same culinary cachet, and this nori 'caviar' recipe proves it.

The project is a collaboration between New Zealand's Malaghan Institute and Scotland's University of Dundee.