Chinese deep-ocean drilling ship brings home ‘precious’ South China Sea samples

South China Morning Post - Sep 29, 2026

The ocean drilling ship Mengxiang has returned from its first expedition in the South China Sea, where it set a national depth record and obtained basalt core samples that could help to unravel the region’s tectonic history. The 30-day expedition organised by the China Geological Survey tested the operational capabilities of the world’s most powerful deep-ocean drilling ship, according to a report published on Monday by the official ministry newspaper Science and Technology Daily. During the...

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BIGBANG takes over London with world tour marking 20th anniversary

BIGBANG takes over London with world tour marking 20th anniversary

BIGBANG held its first solo concert in London in nearly 14 years as part of its ongoing world tour marking the iconic K-pop act's 20th debut anniversary, the group's agency said Tuesday. The "XX: Cosmos" concert took place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Saturday, marking BIGBANG's first solo tour in the British capital since 2012, according to YG Entertainment. The gig opened with the group's megahit "Fantastic Baby" and included tracks such as "Haru Haru" and "Lies." At the concert, members of BIGBANG — G-Dragon, Taeyang and Daesung — thanked fans for their unwavering support and noted that celebrating the group's 20th debut anniversary feels like a "miracle," YG Entertainment said. The world tour, which began in South Korea last month, will continue across North America, Europe, Oceania and Asia through February next year.

Cabinet passes special bill on introduction, operation of nuclear-powered subs

Cabinet passes special bill on introduction, operation of nuclear-powered subs

The government on Tuesday passed a special bill outlining measures to introduce and operate nuclear-powered submarines as part of a national strategic project. The bill was passed during a Cabinet meeting led by President Lee Jae Myung and will be submitted to the National Assembly for deliberations. It is aimed at helping the systematic running of nuclear-powered submarine projects and promoting sustainable economic growth through the establishment of national security based on self-reliant defense, the maintenance of international peace and the development of the defense industry. In particular, it outlines special provisions for the introduction and operation of nuclear subs, as well as regulations concerning the safe management of nuclear power, as the project is the country's first case combining weapons systems with nuclear energy. The government has said it aims to enact the special law before the end of the year to launch the lead ship in the mid-2030s and field the homegrown nuclear-powered submarine in the late 2030s.

DMZ mine blast puts Seoul's NK outreach at risk

DMZ mine blast puts Seoul's NK outreach at risk

President Lee Jae Myung ordered the military on Tuesday to determine the cause of a land mine explosion near the inter-Korean border and take necessary measures, raising questions about how his administration, which has been pursuing dialogue with Pyongyang, might respond if North Korea is found responsible. Possible responses range from resuming propaganda broadcasts along the border to adjusting military operations inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and seeking action through the United Nations Command (UNC). The government has yet to announce any specific measures. “The military must work closely with the UNC to conduct a swift and thorough investigation and establish the facts transparently,” Lee said during a Cabinet meeting. “Necessary measures will then be taken based on the findings.” His remarks followed an interim military investigation that found a very high likelihood that North Korean mines caused the Sept. 21 explosions, which injured three South Korean soldiers. Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul and the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) have pledged corresponding measures

Korea turns to AI to modernize TOPIK national language exam

Korea turns to AI to modernize TOPIK national language exam

Korea’s national Korean language proficiency exam is preparing for a major digital overhaul, introducing artificial intelligence (AI) to draft test questions and grade essays as global demand to learn the language surges. The Ministry of Education and the National Institute for International Education unveiled a comprehensive strategy Tuesday to modernize the Test of Proficiency in Korean, widely known as TOPIK. The overhaul aims to transition the traditional paper-heavy exam into an AI-driven digital testing platform by 2029, catering to an expanding pool of foreign students, job seekers and workers aiming to establish careers in Korea. Since its launch in 1997 with fewer than 3,000 test-takers across four countries, TOPIK has grown into a crucial gateway for foreign nationals seeking university admission, corporate employment or residency visas in Korea. Annual applicants soared from roughly 329,000 in 2018 to more than 566,000 in 2025, spanning 94 countries. By September, registration had already reached 564,606 — up 10 percent from the same period last year — putting the exam

Busan launches rescue operation for canal-trapped shark 'Bukang-i'

Busan launches rescue operation for canal-trapped shark 'Bukang-i'

BUSAN — Maritime authorities on Tuesday launched an operation to guide a shark from a canal to the outer sea, 12 days after the animal became trapped in the canal at a waterfront park in the southeastern city of Busan. The Busan Coast Guard and the National Institute of Fisheries Science, along with other relevant agencies, began preparing for the operation earlier in the day at North Port in Busan, about 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul. Once the preparatory work is completed, the police plan to deploy two vessels to guide the shark out of the park by spraying streams of water. If the method fails, they plan to guide the shark to the open sea by using a net custom-made to fit the width and depth of the artificial waterway. Affectionately named "Bukang-i" — a combination of Bukhang, or North Port, and the Korean suffix "i" — the marine animal has drawn more than 600,000 visitors as of Monday since it was first spotted in the canal on Sept. 18. Initially, local maritime police and authorities tried to drive the shark away. The animal, however, refused to leave the channel, prompting

Cornell disputes light-punishment claims in drugging, assault case

Cornell disputes light-punishment claims in drugging, assault case

Cornell University has disputed claims that students named in a sexual assault lawsuit were allowed to mitigate their punishment simply by submitting essays, calling the characterization false and warning it could deter survivors from coming forward. When asked about the disciplinary action against the accused students, the Ivy League university said that any suggestion that the university did not impose consequential punishments for those involved is false. “A continuation of the false narrative that there were minimal consequences in this case is irresponsible, will make survivors feel less safe and supported, and will perpetuate the underreporting of sexual assault,” the university said in a statement on Monday (local time), which it sent to The Korea Times in response to the newspaper's inquiry. The response came after a former Cornell student, identified as Jane Doe, filed a lawsuit in New York this month alleging that seven members of the school's Chi Phi fraternity drugged and sexually assaulted her in October 2024, according to The Cornell Daily Sun. The university said the

College student jailed for attempting to join ISIS

College student jailed for attempting to join ISIS

CHEONGJU — A college student was jailed Tuesday for pledging allegiance to the extremist militant group ISIS while in high school, officials said. The Cheongju District Court sentenced the 18-year-old male student to an indeterminate prison term of one to 1 1/2 years after finding him guilty of violating the anti-terrorism law. The student, whose identity was withheld, was charged with attempting to join ISIS after watching various propaganda materials at an encrypted online platform operated by an ISIS-affiliated group between November 2024 and February this year, and swearing allegiance to ISIS. He was also suspected of obtaining bomb-making instructions from an ISIS contact, forming a bomb attack scheme against the government forces of Mozambique and requesting an ISIS evaluation for his attack plan, according to court officials.

China warns Japan over WWII history as business delegation visits Beijing

China warns Japan over WWII history as business delegation visits Beijing

China’s top diplomat Wang Yi met Japan’s former foreign minister Takeshi Iwaya, who is leading a 50-member delegation of corporate executives, in Beijing on Monday, marking the highest-ranking Chinese official reception for a Japanese visit in nearly a year. During the talks, Wang warned that bilateral relations were facing a “severe situation” and had “yet to be normalised” ahead of next year’s 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties, according to a readout from the Chinese foreign ministry. “A...

‘Safeguard the truth and strengthen global reach,’ John Lee urges Hong Kong media

‘Safeguard the truth and strengthen global reach,’ John Lee urges Hong Kong media

Hong Kong’s media should eliminate falsehoods and expand their global reach, the chief executive has said, urging news workers to serve as “spokespeople” for good stories about mainland China and Hong Kong. Speaking on Tuesday at an event marking the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, city leader John Lee Ka-chiu outlined his two expectations for the industry. He first directed media workers to safeguard the truth, dispel falsehoods and exalt the good, invoking a...

‘Important and consequential’: Nvidia’s Jensen Huang on US-China AI race, risk management

‘Important and consequential’: Nvidia’s Jensen Huang on US-China AI race, risk management

The US and China need to improve communication, work together more closely and more fully embrace technology to stem risks associated with artificial intelligence, the founder of Nvidia said on Monday. “We should recognise that we’re competitors, and competitors are still able to collaborate,” said Jensen Huang, head of the world’s most valuable company, with a market capitalisation of about US$5.5 trillion. “This is such an important and consequential technology. It has the incredible...

Man who allegedly hid 3 pinhole cameras in Hong Kong gym changing rooms out on bail

Man who allegedly hid 3 pinhole cameras in Hong Kong gym changing rooms out on bail

A Hong Kong man who allegedly installed pinhole cameras in the changing rooms of a popular gym chain has been released on bail pending the identification of victims. Construction site foreman Fung Kwok-wang, 34, was not required to answer a count of voyeurism in his first appearance at Sha Tin Court on Tuesday, as prosecutors sought an eight-week adjournment for further police inquiries. Acting Principal Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong granted the defendant HK$2,000 (US$255) bail on condition that he...

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