High Court discharges jury in Abby Choi murder trial over sick juror, causing delay

South China Morning Post - Sep 28, 2026

The High Court has discharged a recently empanelled jury from the murder trial of slain Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi Tin-fung’s former relatives after one member asked to be excused for health reasons, leading to a delay in proceedings. Deputy Judge Brian Keith informed the seven men and two women on Monday that he had accepted the unidentified member’s request and decided that a new panel must be formed to ensure the jury selection complied with legal precedent. A new jury will be empanelled...

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University of Seoul, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to offer engineering dual-degree program

University of Seoul, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to offer engineering dual-degree program

The University of Seoul has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) to establish a dual-degree program in engineering. The University of Seoul said the MOU was signed on Sept. 14 to expand academic and educational exchanges between the engineering colleges of the two universities and foster globally capable engineering talent. Under the program, engineering students at the University of Seoul who meet certain requirements will be able to take engineering-related courses at UWM and earn degrees from both universities. University of Seoul President Won Yong-kul met with UWM Chancellor Thomas Gibson to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation in engineering education and research between the two universities and expand student exchanges. Both universities plan to gradually expand cooperation between their engineering colleges, including the smooth operation of the dual-degree program, faculty and student exchanges, joint seminars and collaborative research. “This agreement is significant in that it will combine the strengths of the two univ

'Korea's demographic crisis rooted in changing family values': Global Peace Foundation head

'Korea's demographic crisis rooted in changing family values': Global Peace Foundation head

Korea will not reverse its demographic decline simply by spending more on policy measures, according to Hyun Jin Preston Moon, founder and chairman of the Global Peace Foundation. The deeper problem, he argues, is a transformation in how Koreans view marriage, parenthood and their obligations to one another. "The family unit is the primary and the most important cultural expression of Korea," Moon said in a recent interview with The Korea Times in Seoul. "The very civilization itself is now under threat because Korea had abandoned the institution that was most important to this nation." For Moon, framing the fertility crisis primarily as an economic problem misses what he sees as a more fundamental shift in values. He believes the answer lies in reviving elements of Korea's traditional family culture. The traditional Korean extended family has been characterized by strong intergenerational ties, norms of filial responsibility, respect for older family members and a high degree of mutual support across generations. Moon argues that the weakening of these structures has contributed to pro

Global Family Forum highlights traditional family values amid Korea's population crisis

Global Family Forum highlights traditional family values amid Korea's population crisis

Korea's traditional extended-family culture could help address the country's low birthrate and deepening population crisis, according to experts and civil society leaders at the 2026 Global Family Forum in Seoul. The forum, hosted by the Federation for Korean Families, was held Saturday at the Textile Center in Seoul. Held under the theme, "The Population and Family Crisis and the Value of Korean Family Culture: Transitioning toward a Family-Friendly Society and Ensuring Sustainability for Future Generations," the forum drew some 600 participants, including representatives from 180 member and partner organizations, academics, experts, civil society groups and policymakers. Participants said financial support alone would not be enough to tackle Korea's low birthrate. Alongside expanded housing and child care support, the country needs a social and cultural environment in which marriage, childbirth and family formation are viewed more positively, they added. Korea's total fertility rate rose for the second consecutive year to 0.80 in 2025, though it remains among the lowest in the OECD. Fr

Over 560,000 visitors flock to Busan to see canal-trapped shark Bukang-i

Over 560,000 visitors flock to Busan to see canal-trapped shark Bukang-i

BUSAN — More than 560,000 people have visited a waterfront park in the southeastern city of Busan over the past 10 days to catch a glimpse of a 3.5-meter shark trapped in a local canal, authorities said Monday. The shark was first spotted Sept. 18 in a narrow canal at Busan's North Port. Affectionately named Bukang-i — a combination of Bukhang, or North Port, and the Korean suffix "i" — the marine animal has drawn 568,800 visitors since Sept. 19, according to the Busan Infrastructure Corp. Public interest spiked dramatically during the Chuseok holiday, the Korean equivalent of Thanksgiving, with 483,000 visitors flocking to the waterfront park over four days: 101,000 on Thursday, 136,000 on Friday, 140,000 the following day and 106,000 on Sunday. These figures represent a fiftyfold increase compared with the park's usual daily average of about 2,000 visitors during holidays. Initially, local maritime police and authorities tried to drive the shark away. The animal, however, refused to leave the channel, prompting officials to suspend their operations. As Bukang-i remained trapped i

Soldier's statement points to possible unexploded land mine at DMZ blast site

Soldier's statement points to possible unexploded land mine at DMZ blast site

An undetonated land mine was spotted at the site of last week's explosion inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), according to military sources Monday, citing initial statements from soldiers involved in the blast. The statement was obtained as the military is working to determine the exact cause of last Monday's blast that occurred south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) inside the DMZ separating the two Koreas. Two South Korean soldiers were severely wounded, with a third sustaining minor injuries. The incident, which involved two separate explosions, is suspected of having been triggered by North Korean land mines. It is too early to verify the statements regarding the additional land mine, including whether it belongs to North Korean forces, as the military investigation team was unable to reach the blast site during an operation Sunday, sources familiar with the probe said. As the on-site investigation continues, retrieving the unexploded mine will be crucial to gathering evidence and making progress in the probe. On Monday, a Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) official said it received t

Pak Se-ri puts out lavish spread for housewarming guests

Pak Se-ri puts out lavish spread for housewarming guests

LPGA legend Pak Se-ri has drawn attention by unveiling the townhouse she recently moved into. On the Saturday episode of MBC's variety show “Omniscient Interfering View,” Park showed viewers her new home and a housewarming gathering. Explaining why Pak had moved, her manager said she had recently relocated to a townhouse because she felt it would be more comfortable for living with her dogs than an apartment. The new home makes a positive first impression with its grand entrance. The first floor features a stylish living room decorated with various works of art, a cozy bedroom and a dressing room. The spacious dressing room was filled with cosmetics and clothes. The home also had an area where her dogs could run around freely. The second floor featured a large terrace with a motorized awning, as well as a study, a second dressing room and a guest room. The show's panelists marveled at the home, asking, “Is this a resort?” The basement housed a hobby room equipped with a projector for watching movies, a record player and storage area for her home bar. One panelist joked, “You hav

Trump asked Xi if Beijing wanted US weapons: a joke, a gambit or something more?

Trump asked Xi if Beijing wanted US weapons: a joke, a gambit or something more?

Donald Trump asked President Xi Jinping whether Beijing wanted to buy American weapons, the US ambassador to China said on Sunday, prompting the State Department to quickly rule out any such deal with Washington’s principal strategic competitor. “He actually asked President Xi, would he like to buy some at one point,” the ambassador David Perdue said on Fox News after Xi’s state visit to the White House last week. He did not say when Trump raised the question, what prompted it, or how the...

China lights up ‘super microscope’ hopes with world-leading electron gun beam

China lights up ‘super microscope’ hopes with world-leading electron gun beam

China has produced an electron beam using a cutting-edge electron gun, taking a step towards building a “super microscope” that could help drive breakthroughs in everything from Alzheimer’s research to advanced microchips. The Hefei Advanced Light Facility (HALF) in central China’s Anhui province fired its first electron beam on September 20. Bunches of electrons generated by the gun were accelerated by a 192-metre (630-foot) linear accelerator until they reached 2.2 billion electron volts,...

17 injured as minibus hits truck on Hong Kong highway during morning rush

17 injured as minibus hits truck on Hong Kong highway during morning rush

Seventeen people have been injured in Hong Kong after a minibus collided with a truck on Fanling Highway in the New Territories during the peak-hour commute. Emergency services were called to the scene at around 9am on Monday after the minibus travelling towards Tai Po struck the truck near Choi Yuen Estate in Sheung Shui, police said. The truck had slowed down on the highway when the minibus failed to brake in time and crashed into it, the force said. The crash injured 16 passengers and the...

Fireworks, free rides and dining deals: how to celebrate National Day in Hong Kong

Fireworks, free rides and dining deals: how to celebrate National Day in Hong Kong

Hong Kong will celebrate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China on October 1 with a string of offerings for locals and visitors. The National Day “golden week” holiday in mainland China, which runs from October 1 to 7, is expected to bring in about 1.29 million visitors from across the border. But Hongkongers will only have one public holiday during the period, on Thursday. The South China Morning Post lists the discounts and perks available during the...

WorldSkills President: Innovation is always part of the competition

WorldSkills President: Innovation is always part of the competition

WorldSkills President: Innovation is always part of the competition

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