Hong Kong exports jump nearly 65% in September, highest growth in over 40 years

South China Morning Post - Oct 28, 2026

Hong Kong’s exports jumped by 64.9 per cent year on year in September, the highest growth in more than 40 years, with artificial intelligence-related (AI) products further fuelling the momentum of recent months. Provisional figures released by the Census and Statistics Department on Wednesday showed the total value of exports rose to HK$762.6 billion (US$97.8 billion) last month, after a 53 per cent surge in August. A government spokesman said September marked the 20th consecutive month of...

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President Lee to hold meeting on national safety

President Lee to hold meeting on national safety

President Lee Jae Myung was set to hold a government meeting Wednesday to discuss measures to ensure public safety and protect the rights of victims of safety incidents. The second plenary meeting of the national life and safety committee, to be presided over by Lee at Cheong Wa Dae, is expected to discuss measures to ensure public safety and protect victims' rights guaranteed under the public life and safety law, which is scheduled to take effect next Wednesday, the presidential office said. On May 7, the National Assembly passed the law, which stipulates the duties of the country and local governments to ensure people's rights to safety, including the rights to have their lives and properties protected and to lead safe lives. It also calls for the protection of victims of safety incidents, their family members and witnesses. Wednesday's meeting will be attended by about 70 government officials, victims of safety incidents and their family members. During the session, officials plan to outline the government's safety policies and measures to reduce suicides, unattended deaths, industrial

Global greenhouse gas levels hit new heights in 2025: report

Global greenhouse gas levels hit new heights in 2025: report

Global atmospheric concentrations of heat-trapping greenhouse gases reached unprecedented highs in 2025, according to a report released by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), driven by continued fossil fuel combustion and industrial activity. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels in the atmosphere hit a record high of 426.8 parts per million (ppm) — meaning there are now 1.5 times as much CO₂ in the air as there was before the Industrial Revolution in 1750. Two other powerful heat-trapping gases, methane and nitrous oxide, also reached record highs. But the report offered a slight silver lining regarding carbon dioxide. The annual concentration increase slowed to 2.8 parts per million in 2025, down from 3.5 parts per million the previous year. Climatologists attributed the temporary moderation to the recovery of terrestrial carbon sinks and a decline in wildfire activity following the strong El Niño phenomenon of 2023 and 2024. Regional monitoring data from Korea reflected an even starker trajectory. Findings published by the Korea Meteorological Administration showed background con

Former USFK commanders raise concerns over command structure after OPCON transfer

Former USFK commanders raise concerns over command structure after OPCON transfer

WASHINGTON — Two former U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) commanders on Tuesday raised concerns that Korea's envisioned wartime operational control (OPCON) transfer could weaken the bilateral alliance and undermine military effectiveness if Seoul and Washington fail to preserve a robust combined command structure. In an online symposium hosted by the Institute for Corean-American Studies, retired Gen. Walter Sharp warned that changes to the Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC) following the transfer could have implications for the longstanding alliance. "That whole combined nature goes away and ... I really do see it as a doorway to greatly reducing the alliance, greatly reducing our work with Korea," Sharp said. Sharp also questioned whether a future CFC would remain genuinely bilateral after the transfer, particularly regarding the roles of the countries' Military Committee Meeting and Security Consultative Meeting, as well as the approval of wartime operational plans. Retired Gen. Paul LaCamera, another former USFK commander, also expressed concerns about the future command arrangement,

Seungri already married to pregnant girlfriend: report

Seungri already married to pregnant girlfriend: report

Former BIGBANG member Seungri, who is reportedly expecting his first child, has already legally married his pregnant girlfriend, according to a report. Ilgan Sports reported Tuesday that Seungri and his wife, who is pregnant, have registered their marriage and are legally married. The report came a day after Gray News reported that Seungri's girlfriend, who is in her 20s, is expecting a baby boy in January next year. The news that Seungri is set to become a father drew public attention, with the revelation that the couple had already registered their marriage emerging later. As news of the expected birth broke before any announcement of marriage, speculation arose that the couple had conceived before marriage. Seungri denied the speculation, saying he was not considering holding a wedding ceremony at this time. The couple is reportedly preparing for the birth. The news of Seungri's marriage and impending fatherhood has drawn additional attention as he recently faced a complaint over alleged special assault. In August, Seungri was accused of threatening a man with a soju bottle and assaulti

State arms agency completes development of homegrown Marine attack helicopter

State arms agency completes development of homegrown Marine attack helicopter

Korea has completed the development of a homegrown Marine Attack Helicopter (MAH) fitted with a range of weapons systems, including air-to-ground missiles, for multidimensional amphibious operations, the state arms procurement agency said Wednesday. The attack helicopters are built on a Marine variant of the KUH-1 Surion helicopter, known as the MUH-1 Marineon, with new added features and weapons systems to counter attacks from enemy choppers and drones, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). DAPA launched a 450 billion-won ($337 millon) project to develop the homegrown MAH in 2022. Since then, it has completed a number of test flights and weapons tests, including live-fire tests involving turret-mounted machine guns, air-to-ground missiles, and guided and unguided rockets. It passed a full combat suitability evaluation in July and received airworthiness certification in August, guaranteeing the plane's suitability for safe flight. When deployed, the MAH system is expected to expand the Marines' amphibious operations not only on the ground, but also in the ai

Gov't to lift hoarding bans on urea, medical goods as supplies stabilize

Gov't to lift hoarding bans on urea, medical goods as supplies stabilize

Korea will lift bans on hoarding urea, urea solution, medical syringes and needles imposed earlier this year following supply concerns stemming from the Middle East war, citing stable inventories and supplies, the finance ministry said Wednesday. The Ministry of Finance and Economy made the announcement during a meeting of economy-related ministers, saying the hoarding ban on urea and urea solution, introduced in March, will expire at the end of this month. Restrictions imposed on medical syringes and needles, which have been in place since April, will also be lifted, the ministry added. Urea is used to curb emissions in diesel vehicles and make agricultural fertilizers. Under the bans, companies were prohibited from holding inventories exceeding 200 percent of their average monthly sales last year for seven days or longer for urea products and five days for medical supplies. "With domestic supplies remaining stable and no signs of hoarding or disruption to market order, the government will seek to end the hoarding ban," the ministry said. "Even after the ban expires, the government will c

Lee warns against 'irresponsible extremism' jeopardizing reforms

Lee warns against 'irresponsible extremism' jeopardizing reforms

President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday warned against "irresponsible extremism" that he said is demanding excessive reform, insisting such extremism may jeopardize effective reforms. Lee made the remarks on the social platform X in response to a user demanding he apologize for describing his critics as "irresponsible extremists." "There are those who sincerely call for prosecution reform for the country and the people, but there are also those who, in reality, hinder prosecution reform by only calling for clarity or making excessive, inflammatory demands for their hidden political and personal agendas," the president wrote. "Calling for 'all-or-nothing' approaches as if they are the only true leader of reform and attacking those who are genuinely seeking reform while inciting fears of failure to take advantage of the urgent desire of some people to reform is irresponsible extremism," he added. Lee's message was widely seen as targeting hard-liners within his ruling Democratic Party of Korea who accused Lee of backtracking on prosecution reform, the party's long-standing agenda. Lee earlier

Gov't to carry out large-scale inspections into IT infrastructures amid recent hacking attacks

Gov't to carry out large-scale inspections into IT infrastructures amid recent hacking attacks

The government is set to carry out large-scale vulnerability inspections on around 170 key information technology (IT) infrastructures in the private sector, amid back-to-back cybersecurity breaches at public institutions and financial firms, an official said Wednesday. The ministry of science and ICT will conduct a security vulnerability assessment targeting 111 public organizations that manage such infrastructures, with a particular focus on those connected to the Internet, such as web pages and public-facing servers. Inspections are expected to conclude by the end of the year at the latest, the official added. The latest measures come after a total of 16 commercial banks reported cyberattacks that led to the breach of customer data this year. President Lee Jae Myung has also expressed concern over such attacks, calling for the country to develop cybersecurity methods suited to the artificial intelligence (AI) era.

Special counsel launches inspection of local election ballots stored at Seoul handball arena

Special counsel launches inspection of local election ballots stored at Seoul handball arena

A special counsel team on Wednesday launched an inspection of ballot papers stored at a handball arena in Seoul as part of its probe into an unprecedented shortage of ballots during the June 3 local elections. Special counsel Lee Tae-han's team entered the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in southeastern Seoul to examine 2.47 million ballots, surveillance camera footage and other material, and check for possible irregularities in connection with the elections. The gymnasium was used as a vote counting center during the elections and houses ballots cast in Seoul's southeastern Songpa Ward as protesters have blocked their removal amid calls for accountability and a rerun of the elections. The shortages, reported at multiple polling stations nationwide, sparked a major public outcry after some voters were forced to turn back without casting their ballots. Lee's team said the inspection will not serve as a recount of the votes, but it will be aimed at verifying the number of ballots at the site and determining whether there were any acts of tampering or forgery. About 500 officials from the Na

Fire at shantytown in southern Seoul extinguished after nearly 13 hours; 1 injured

Fire at shantytown in southern Seoul extinguished after nearly 13 hours; 1 injured

A fire that broke out at a shantytown in Seoul's southern Gangnam district was fully extinguished early Wednesday, nearly 13 hours after it started, authorities said. Firefighters completely put out the blaze at Guryong Village at 4:39 a.m., after containing the main fire late Tuesday. The fire broke out at around 3:50 p.m. Tuesday, prompting 39 residents to flee to safety. One woman reportedly sustained a minor leg injury. No other casualties were reported. Authorities mobilized 232 personnel and 110 pieces of equipment to battle the blaze, which spread rapidly through densely packed makeshift homes. The Gangnam Ward office said 107 people from 77 households were affected by the fire, with temporary shelters arranged at a nearby school and gymnasium.

Korea chases global top 100, but world's leading universities take different paths

Korea chases global top 100, but world's leading universities take different paths

SINGAPORE, LONDON, SEOUL — Breaking into the world’s top 100 has become a common ambition among Korean universities. However, the world’s leading university ranking agencies have a surprising response for institutions chasing higher positions: Stop chasing the rankings. "The dog should wag the tail, the tail should not wag the dog," said Phil Baty, chief global affairs officer at Times Higher Education (THE), cautioning universities against allowing rankings to dictate their priorities. "Rankings should inform university strategy and decision-making, not drive them." Ben Sowter, senior vice president at QS, raised a similar concern, warning that universities risk losing their competitive edge if they all pursue similar strategies. “The important thing is that you build a really nuanced strategy where you don’t have a whole group of universities trying to do exactly the same thing as each other,” he said. “In that context you end up competing with yourselves rather than necessarily distinguishing yourselves internationally.” Global university rankings are evolving to reflect

N. Korea's Kim calls for combat readiness at photo session with army company leaders

N. Korea's Kim calls for combat readiness at photo session with army company leaders

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has urged company commanders to intensify training and sharpen combat readiness, calling it their "primary revolutionary task," state media reported Wednesday. He made the remark Tuesday at a photo session with participants in the Third Meeting of Company Leaders of the Korean People's Army (KPA), the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. Pak Jong-chon, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK); Defense Minister Kim Song-gi; and KPA Chief of the General Staff Ri Yong-gil were with the leader. "The primary revolutionary task of the company leaders is to round off the combat preparations of their units for getting fully ready for fighting a war and the way for its implementation is to bring about a radical improvement in the strenuous and intensive training," Kim was quoted as saying by the KCNA. He said their loyalty and leadership should be demonstrated through successes in turning their units into "a-match-for-a-hundred ranks with firm revolutionary faith, patriotic spirit and matchless heroic mettle and fight

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