Fire breaks out at Hong Kong’s Shek Kwu Chau waste-to-energy plant

South China Morning Post - Oct 26, 2026

A fire broke out on Monday at Hong Kong’s waste-to-energy incinerator on an artificial island off Shek Kwu Chau. The blaze started at 12.43pm at the Integrated Waste Management Facilities Phase I and was upgraded to a No 3 alarm at 1.24pm, the Fire Services Department said. A No 3 alarm is the third of five levels, with five the most severe. Higher alarm levels trigger the deployment of more resources to fight a fire. Firefighters deployed two water jets and two breathing apparatus teams to...

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Presidential special inspector vows political neutrality, independence

Presidential special inspector vows political neutrality, independence

The new presidential special inspector, Choi Kil-su, on Monday pledged to uphold political neutrality and professional independence as he began his duties inspecting irregularities involving the president's spouse and close relatives. Choi made the remarks to reporters at his office in central Seoul, following President Lee Jae Myung's formal appointment of him Friday to the post tasked with inspecting corruption allegations involving the president's family and close relatives, as well as senior presidential aides. He is the first presidential special inspector appointed since late 2016, following the post's creation in 2014. "I will uphold political neutrality and independence in carrying out my duties to the end," Choi told reporters, adding he feels a heavy responsibility and will work to meet the public's expectations. Choi also pledged rigorous inspections, saying he plans to serve as a "panopticon," a circular prison design that allows inmates to be constantly monitored. "Inspections are not something for which you have to wait, like the filings of complaints or lawsuits, but (basic

Special counsel to inspect 2.5 mil. ballots in local elections shortage probe

Special counsel to inspect 2.5 mil. ballots in local elections shortage probe

A special counsel team said Monday it plans to examine about 2.5 million ballots at a vote counting center this week as part of its probe into ballot shortages during the June 3 local elections. Special counsel Lee Tae-han's team will carry out the examination Wednesday at the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium, which served as a vote counting center during the local elections marred by the shortages. The team plans to verify the 2.47 million ballots and other equipment at the site to check for irregularities, such as possible forgery, in the presence of observers chosen by the National Assembly, lawmakers and journalists. The team said the examination will not serve as a recount of the votes, which takes place when there is an objection to election results. "By thoroughly investigating various suspicions in this examination, we will do our best to resolve the public's skepticism on the fairness and management of public elections," the team said. Lee's team was launched last month to investigate the shortages that sparked a major public outcry after some voters were forced to turn back witho

Lee's approval rating falls to 35.3% after rebound: poll

Lee's approval rating falls to 35.3% after rebound: poll

President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating fell to 35.3 percent after rebounding the previous week, a poll showed Monday. In the poll conducted on 2,517 adults nationwide from last Monday to Friday by Realmeter, positive assessments of Lee's job performance fell 2 percentage points from the previous week. Lee's disapproval rating stood at 62.3 percent, up 1.9 percentage points from the previous week. Realmeter attributed the decline to growing concerns over the housing market and the economy, including the recent stock market plunge. The pollster also cited North Korea's threat to resume loudspeaker broadcasts toward the South and controversy over whether the chief of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency should attend Cabinet meetings. In a separate survey of 1,003 adults conducted between Thursday and Friday, support for the ruling Democratic Party of Korea fell 0.2 percentage point to 36 percent, while that of the main opposition People Power Party rose 1.7 percentage points to 42.6 percent. The survey on the president had a margin of error of 2 percentage points at a 95 percent confide

Itaewon's Lit Lounge shines beacon through dark times over 4 years

Itaewon's Lit Lounge shines beacon through dark times over 4 years

Lit Lounge opened the doors of its Itaewon location just about four years ago in late October 2022. Following a soft opening on Oct. 27 and 28, its grand opening was held on Saturday, Oct. 29, a day that would go down in infamy, after 159 people died in a crowd disaster in a narrow alley a little less than 400 meters away. "Lit Lounge's early existence was shaped by one of the most devastating tragedies in recent Korean history: The Itaewon Halloween crowd crush," said Jason Waller, owner of Lit Lounge. "For many of us operating businesses in Itaewon, the aftermath of this tragedy was even more devastating than the COVID-19 pandemic." It would have been understandable, maybe even advisable, if he just quit. But Waller, also known as Pinnacle TheHustler, decided to keep going. "I think the biggest reason I refused to close Lit Lounge was because I didn't want to look in the mirror and see someone who had given up. But for me, as long as I still believed in what I was building and I could still see a path forward, I wasn't ready to quit," he said. "And now, Lit Lounge, which started in 202

Korean stars are done staying silent as Yunho tells disrespectful fans to 'leave'

Korean stars are done staying silent as Yunho tells disrespectful fans to 'leave'

Korean celebrities are increasingly refusing to stay silent when confronted with angry fans, online criticism and rumors — marking a shift from an era when stars often left controversies for their agencies to handle. TVXQ's Yunho, singer and actor Son Dam-bi and singer and television personality Lee Ji-hye have all recently pushed back directly against criticism, using fan platforms, social media comments and YouTube to draw their own lines. Yunho drew particular attention after clashing with some fans on Bubble, a paid messaging platform that allows K-pop stars to communicate directly with subscribers. Some fans complained that he was not communicating frequently enough despite the service requiring a paid subscription. "I'm sorry, but it's OK if you can't understand," Yunho said. "I'm trying to come on Bubble as much as I can, and I'm sorry if I can't satisfy you, but I think this is the best I can do. Please don't provoke me for no reason." When a fan responded that because Bubble was a paid service, he should communicate at least once a month and said his previous visit had been in

ENHYPEN to close 'THE SIN' series with spinoff single in November

ENHYPEN to close 'THE SIN' series with spinoff single in November

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ATEEZ's San opens up about how he built up muscular physique

ATEEZ's San opens up about how he built up muscular physique

ATEEZ member San, now known powerful stage presence, opened up about how he built up his muscular physique. The K-pop star shared the story behind his physical transformation on Saturday's episode of MBC's variety show "The Manager," which offered a glimpse into ATEEZ's daily life. San's physique has drawn particular attention this year following the release of ATEEZ's "BAD" in June. A choreography sequence performed by San near the end of the song, nicknamed the "chest dance," generated buzz among fans. During the episode, San headed to the gym, where his manager said working out has become an almost daily routine. "San is really serious about taking care of his body, so he works out almost every day," the manager said. "He even works out every day when we're staying at hotels." But San said his muscular build did not come naturally, recalling his slender frame around the time of his debut in 2018. Fellow ATEEZ member Hongjoong said San had been self-conscious about his body when he was younger. "San had a complex about it when he was young," Hongjoong said. "That's why he worked out incre

RIIZE releases emotional acoustic single 'Insomnia'

RIIZE releases emotional acoustic single 'Insomnia'

K-pop boy band RIIZE released its new digital single, “Insomnia,” Monday, launching a week of promotional activities that includes a fan event and appearances on television music programs. The single and its music video were released at midnight, according to the group’s agency, SM Entertainment. “Insomnia” is an acoustic pop track built around a lyrical guitar sound. Set against a quiet, lonely mood, the song features restrained yet plaintive vocals. Its lyrics depict thoughts that grow sharper as the night deepens and the complex emotions that branch out from them. The music video tells the stories of people who cannot fall asleep through cinematic direction. Produced in a drama-style format, it shows the six members, Shotaro, Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Sohee and Anton, acting out emotional roles suited to their individual characters. To celebrate the release, RIIZE is hosting an interactive fan event titled RIIZE into INSOMNIA at Space S50 in Seongsu-dong through Thursday. The trendy eastern Seoul neighborhood is widely known among international visitors as a hub for fashion

TWICE's Nayeon to make solo return with 'NA-sty' on Nov. 20

TWICE's Nayeon to make solo return with 'NA-sty' on Nov. 20

Na-yeon of K-pop girl group TWICE will release her new solo project, “NA-sty,” on Nov. 20, marking her first solo comeback in about two years and five months. JYP Entertainment announced the release Monday through the group’s official social media channels, unveiling a logo animation featuring angelic halos and wing-shaped icons that change colors against a moving screensaver. The new single, scheduled to drop at 2 p.m., follows Nayeon’s two previous solo releases, "IM NAYEON" in June 2022 and "NA" in June 2024. The title “NA-sty” blends a play on Nayeon’s name and personal style with the English word “nasty,” giving the project a cheeky edge that reflects her intention to showcase a wider range of attitudes and personalities. The album is expected to highlight both her signature bright, lovable image and a more daring, candid side, according to JYP Entertainment. Na-yeon established herself as a successful solo act with her debut extended play, “IM NAYEON,” and its lead single, “POP!,” which peaked at No. 7 on Billboard’s main albums chart, the Billboard 200,

Woman in military custody over unauthorized entry into restricted front-line border area

Woman in military custody over unauthorized entry into restricted front-line border area

Korean authorities are questioning a woman in her 30s after she made an unauthorized entry into a civilian restricted area near the inter-Korean border, a military official said Monday. The individual, whose identity has been withheld, was taken into custody Sunday after illegally entering the Civilian Control Line (CCL) south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) in the front-line border region of Cheorwon, about 80 kilometers northeast of Seoul, a Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) official said. "We have in custody an unidentified individual who, without authorization, approached military surveillance facilities in an area south of the general outpost and north of the CCL, and are investigating the exact circumstances with relevant agencies," a JCS official said. She is suspected of crossing the CCL on Saturday and reaching a front-line general outpost, where she attempted to damage military surveillance installations, including tampering with fiber-optic security sensors along the border fences on Saturday and Sunday, according to officials with knowledge of the matter. The CCL was establi

Unification ministry hopes Kim's Dandong trip revives dialogue

Unification ministry hopes Kim's Dandong trip revives dialogue

The unification ministry said Monday it hopes North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's one-day trip to the Chinese border city of Dandong last week will lead to the resumption of dialogue with neighboring nations. Kim made a surprise visit to Dandong on Saturday, where he met with Wang Huning, China's fourth-highest-ranking official, as North Korea and China are seeking to deepen their traditional ties. "We hope the visit will contribute to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and lead to the resumption of dialogue with neighboring countries," Yoon Min-ho, the ministry's spokesperson, said at a regular briefing. Responding to speculation that Kim's trip could be linked to a potential summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, Yoon said the government was "watching closely" and would do what it could in the event of such a meeting. On Kim's visit to a bus factory in Dandong, he said the ministry would watch developments without drawing conclusions, since North Korea had not specified the purpose of the visit. The factory stop was seen as a sign that Pyongyang wants to expand cooperation with

Korea to sell idle Argentine farm from Park Chung-hee era after nearly 50 years

Korea to sell idle Argentine farm from Park Chung-hee era after nearly 50 years

Korea plans to sell a farm in Argentina nearly 50 years after purchasing it during President Park Chung-hee’s rule to support agricultural immigration, following decades of the land sitting idle and requiring costly maintenance. The plan, outlined by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was submitted to Rep. Han Jeoung-ae of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and made public on Monday. Korea purchased the Yatamauca farm in Santiago del Estero, about 1,050 kilometers northwest of Buenos Aires, for $2.12 million in August 1978, toward the end of Park's term. Park served as Korea's president from 1961 until his assassination in 1979. Spanning 20,882 hectares (208.82 square kilometers), roughly one-third of Seoul’s area or 72 times the size of Yeouido, the farm was purchased to help Korean immigrants settle in Argentina and make a living through farming. The vision never materialized. Multiple surveys found the land unsuitable for development, while its upkeep has cost taxpayers billions of won. KOICA, the country’s

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