First Quad leaders’ summit after 2 years in Manila next month, Rubio confirms

South China Morning Post - Oct 20, 2026

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on Tuesday that the leaders of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue would meet in the Philippine capital next month, marking the group’s first summit in more than two years, just days before US President Donald Trump meets Chinese President Xi Jinping in Shenzhen, China. “It’s been agreement now that we’re going to do it; we’re going to do it in Manila, at the Asean conference,” Rubio said in an interview with Indian news channel CNN-News18. “We don’t...

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Will Xi, Trump, Putin meet at Apec? First, they must agree on an agenda

Will Xi, Trump, Putin meet at Apec? First, they must agree on an agenda

While US President Donald Trump has said he is open to sitting down with Chinese and Russian counterparts Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin at the Apec summit, it remains far from certain that the three leaders will actually meet in a few weeks. Observers said much would depend on whether the countries could agree on an agenda, with one expert describing this as a “critical lever”. Russia was set to gain most if the trilateral meeting took place, experts said, as the summit would be a potent symbol...

Hong Kong-based IOMed settles more disputes as body marks its first year

Hong Kong-based IOMed settles more disputes as body marks its first year

A Hong Kong-headquartered intergovernmental mediation body has successfully settled an infrastructure dispute in Malaysia and received “more than a dozen” inquiries, its head has revealed on the organisation’s first anniversary. Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah, secretary general of the International Organisation for Mediation (IOMed), told a reception marking the body’s first anniversary that it had wrapped up a case on Tuesday and was handling another. “Our ambition is not simply to build a successful...

After string of dark roles, Kim Young-kwang revels at transition to rom-com hero

After string of dark roles, Kim Young-kwang revels at transition to rom-com hero

Actor Kim Young-kwang has returned to romantic comedy — and this time, it is a classic rom-com that makes viewers fall helplessly for its male lead. Kim’s presence has breathed new life into a familiar genre, fueling an enthusiastic response from viewers around the world to “Take Charge of My Heart.” Netflix’s original series "Take Charge of My Heart” is a romantic comedy about a man whose artificial heart battery has run out of power and a woman with electrical powers, whose relationship unfolds under the pretext of charging it. Released on Oct. 9, the series recorded 3 million views — calculated by dividing total viewing hours by the title’s runtime — in just three days, ranking third on Netflix’s Global Top 10 list of non-English shows. It has also made the Top 10 list in 44 countries, including Korea, Brazil, Singapore, India, Turkey, Chile and the Philippines, indicating a strong reception globally. In an interview following the release, Kim said, “It hasn’t been long since the series came out, but it seems a lot of people are enjoying it. I’ve also been

Lee Chang-dong's 'Possible Love' wins Korean film critics award

Lee Chang-dong's 'Possible Love' wins Korean film critics award

Korean auteur Lee Chang-dong's Venice-winning film "Possible Love" was named the best film of the year by an association of Korean film critics on Tuesday. Jeon Do-yeon, one of the film's leads, was also named best actress, according to the list of winners for this year's Korean Association of Film Critics Awards. "Possible Love," Lee's first feature film in eight years, follows the intertwined lives of a laid-off worker and his wife, and a documentary maker and her affluent husband. The film won the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize at the prestigious Venice International Film Festival. Director Na Hong-jin's sci-fi blockbuster "Hope" clinched three awards in the categories of best director, best actor for lead Zo In-sung and best cinematography. Also among the winners were Park Ji-hoon, who won best new actor for his performance in "The King's Warden," which has become the most-watched film in Korea this year, and Seo Su-bin, who won best new actress for "The World of Love." In addition to "Possible Love" and "Hope," the films "The Assassin(s)," "The King's Warden," "The World of Love," "Sal

Taiwan content agency partners with 'The Roundup' producer at Busan film festival

Taiwan content agency partners with 'The Roundup' producer at Busan film festival

Taiwan’s state content agency signed a partnership with the Korean production house behind “The Roundup” crime-action franchise during the 31st Busan International Film Festival, as part of a push to expand film and TV cooperation between the two sides. The Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA), established in 2019 under Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture to support the production, financing and overseas expansion of Taiwanese films, series, music, comics and games, signed a memorandum of understanding with B.A. Entertainment on Oct. 12 at the Paradise Hotel Busan, the agency said. B.A. Entertainment also produced “The King’s Warden,” which drew 16.9 million moviegoers this year, and “The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil.” Under the agreement, the two will cooperate on co-planning and co-producing content, talent development, financing and international distribution. “Building international partnerships and connecting resources is essential for Taiwanese content to reach the global market,” TAICCA Chairperson Sue Wang said. The agreement will help Taiwan’s original stories

Illit's 'Magnetic' becomes fastest debut song by K-pop group to reach 900 mil. streams

Illit's 'Magnetic' becomes fastest debut song by K-pop group to reach 900 mil. streams

Girl group Illit's "Magnetic" has surpassed 900 million streams on Spotify, becoming the fastest K-pop group debut song to reach the milestone on the world's largest music streaming platform, its agency said Tuesday. The track reached the milestone on Sunday, about two years and seven months after its release in March 2024, according to Belift Lab. "This is the shortest time taken among the debut songs of K-pop groups that have reached the same number of streams on Spotify," the agency said in a release. Blending Pluggnb and house genres, the dance track "Magnetic" compares the feelings of being drawn to a crush to a magnet. The song achieved widespread popularity following its release, sweeping top spots on local music charts while also entering the U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 main singles chart and the British Official Singles Chart Top 100.

Inside EJAE's Seoul wedding: 'KPop Demon Hunters' singer unveils bridal photos

Inside EJAE's Seoul wedding: 'KPop Demon Hunters' singer unveils bridal photos

New wedding photos of EJAE, the singer-songwriter behind the global "KPop Demon Hunters" phenomenon, are drawing attention after offering a closer look at her tying the knot in Seoul — from a custom bridal gown to a traditional Korean wedding ceremony. Vogue unveiled photos from EJAE's wedding to producer Sam Kim on its website and social media accounts Tuesday, giving fans a glimpse inside the celebration held Saturday at Stage28 in Seoul's Gangdong District. In the newly released photos, EJAE wears a strapless custom Danielle Frankel wedding gown featuring voluminous layers of tulle and a dramatic silhouette. Kim appears alongside her in a custom tuxedo. Other images capture the couple taking part in "pyebaek," a traditional Korean wedding ceremony in which newlyweds pay respects to their families. The couple later celebrated with guests at a reception held in a glass greenhouse-style space. The wedding venue also carried a personal connection for EJAE. She is the granddaughter of veteran Korean actor Shin Young-kyun, and Stage28 is a place where she spent time with her maternal gran

'KPop Demon Hunters' singer-songwriter EJAE ties knot with producer Sam Kim

'KPop Demon Hunters' singer-songwriter EJAE ties knot with producer Sam Kim

Korean American singer-songwriter EJAE, who gained attention for "Golden" from the original soundtrack of the Netflix animated film "KPop Demon Hunters," has married music producer and composer Sam Kim. The couple held an outdoor wedding ceremony on Saturday at a multipurpose cultural space that sits on the former residence site of EJAE's maternal grandfather and veteran actor Shin Young-kyun, the U.S. fashion magazine Vogue reported Monday (U.S. time). The pair had originally planned to hold the ceremony in California next month, but moved the location to Korea and advanced the date by about a month. The couple tied the knot after four months of preparation, having temporarily postponed their wedding plans due to promotional schedules and award show appearances following the success of "KPop Demon Hunters." "It was hectic and a little stressful, but it was real teamwork, and everything has fallen into place perfectly," EJAE told the magazine regarding the preparation process. EJAE and Kim first met during a music session in 2017, and continued their relationship as musical colleagues and

Son Ye-jin's Japan vacation look sparks unexpected fashion debate

Son Ye-jin's Japan vacation look sparks unexpected fashion debate

Actor Son Ye-jin's laid-back vacation photos from Japan have sparked an unexpected online debate, with some criticizing her casual fashion choices while others questioned why a celebrity's private wardrobe should matter at all. Son shared a series of photos from a trip to Yokohama on her social media account Sunday, writing, "Hope you have a lovely Sunday!" The photos show the actor enjoying a relaxed outing in the Japanese port city. In one shot, she raises both arms while sitting on an amusement park ride, while another shows her posing by the waterfront in sunglasses. Son paired a shirtdress with jeans in one look and wore an oversized sweatshirt with loose-fitting white pants in another. The seemingly ordinary vacation outfits unexpectedly became a talking point online. Some commenters criticized her styling, writing, "Another fashion fail today," "This is pretty bad" and "Why does she dress like this?" Others quickly came to her defense, questioning the scrutiny surrounding what the actor chooses to wear in her private life. "Who cares what she wears off duty?" one commenter wrote. Oth

N. Korea, Russia discuss ways to expand exchanges in education

N. Korea, Russia discuss ways to expand exchanges in education

The education ministers of North Korea and Russia have met in Pyongyang and discussed ways to expand exchanges in the education field, the North's state media reported Tuesday, amid deepening cooperation between the two nations. North Korean Education Minister Ri Yong-chol and his Russian counterpart, Sergey Kravtsov, held talks the previous day, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). A Russian delegation, led by Kravtsov, arrived in Pyongyang on Monday. "At the talks, the successes and experience gained by the two countries in the field of education were shared, and the issues of further boosting bilateral exchange and cooperation were discussed," the KCNA reported, without disclosing other details. In a separate dispatch, the KCNA said the Russian delegation toured the Pyongyang University of Education No. 2, a major educational institution for training teachers in the North, the previous day. The two nations signed a "supplementary agreement" to establish and operate a Russian education center in North Korea under a partnership between the Pyongyang university and Russia'

Lee welcomes 'dramatic rebound' in potential growth outlook

Lee welcomes 'dramatic rebound' in potential growth outlook

President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday welcomed a rise in the country's potential growth rates as "a dramatic rebound" in the national economy's "basic physical strength." Lee wrote the message on his X account, referring to a recent upward revision of the country's potential growth rate projections by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to 2.14 percent this year and 2.2 percent in 2027. The figures mark the first consecutive annual increases in about 40 years. The president "welcomed" the projections, describing them as marking the first back-to-back increases since the late 1980s, when the country benefited from low oil prices, low interest rates and a strong won against the U.S. dollar. "It marks a dramatic rebound in the Korean economy's basic physical strength," he said, describing the trend as "a very positive sign." Based on the improvements, Korea will have to focus on sustaining growth and ensuring that its benefits are shared fairly by all, he noted.

Battery CEO's 4-year sentence upheld over fire that killed 23, mostly foreigners

Battery CEO's 4-year sentence upheld over fire that killed 23, mostly foreigners

The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a four-year prison sentence for Park Soon-kwan, CEO of lithium battery maker Aricell, over a factory fire that killed 23 workers, mostly foreigners, more than two years ago. The court dismissed appeals by prosecutors and the defendants, leaving intact an appellate ruling that sentenced Park's son, Park Joong-un, a senior executive at the company, to seven years in prison, along with a fine of 1 million won ($750). The court also upheld an 800 million won fine against Aricell. The fire at the company’s factory in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, on June 24, 2024, killed 17 Chinese nationals, one Lao national and five Koreans, and injured nine others. The blaze began on the second floor of Building No. 3, where workers inspected and packaged finished batteries, and spread rapidly as batteries exploded. The CEO was indicted on charges of failing to fulfill his statutory safety obligations, including checking for workplace hazards and preparing a manual for responding to serious accidents. The Supreme Court affirmed the lower court’s ruling that the chief e

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