Hong Kong leader vows support for media’s global reach, to review TV practice code

South China Morning Post - Sep 16, 2026

Hong Kong’s leader has expressed renewed support for the local media industry, including strengthening its global reach and reviewing the code of practice for television to ensure it keeps abreast with the times. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu made the pledges in both the city’s first five-year plan and the policy address he unveiled on Wednesday. In the section on “Develop an East-meets-West Centre for International Cultural Exchange” under the five-year plan, Lee said: “We will strengthen...

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Seoul city to hike Han River ferry fares for weekends starting next year

Seoul city to hike Han River ferry fares for weekends starting next year

The Seoul city government said Thursday it seeks to increase fares for its Han River ferry shuttle service on weekends and public holidays next year in a bid to better distribute costs. The "Hangang Bus" service fare is expected to rise from the current 3,000 won ($2.17) to around 5,000 to 10,000 won on weekends and holidays next year, the city said, as the service marks its first anniversary Friday. The ferry service links major points along the Han River that runs through the capital, and has carried more than 600,000 passengers since its launch on Sept. 18, 2025, according to the city government. The city is pushing for the fare hike as there is more demand for the service on weekends, a city official said, adding that a final decision is expected to be made in April next year after public hearings. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said the city also plans to increase the number of piers and ferries to reduce waiting intervals to 15 minutes, while diversifying routes by introducing an express service. The city government said it plans to expand the ferry service into a form of public transit bey

Confirmation hearing reports adopted for justice, defense minister nominees

Confirmation hearing reports adopted for justice, defense minister nominees

Parliamentary confirmation hearing reports were adopted for the justice and defense minister nominees Thursday amid objections from the main opposition People Power Party (PPP). The parliamentary legislation and judiciary committee adopted a confirmation hearing report for Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won as the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) forged ahead despite PPP lawmakers' boycott, protesting that allegations surrounding Kim were not fully addressed. "None of the allegations raised during the hearing have been resolved," PPP Rep. Park Hyeung-soo said before walking out of the session. The DPK argued that the nominee sufficiently explained himself during Tuesday's confirmation hearing, including claims that he illegally lobbied the food and drug safety ministry to speed up approval for a COVID-19 treatment in 2021 at a broker's request. Kim, a two-term lawmaker, served as a judge at the Jeonju District Court and the Suwon District Court before joining the presidential office under the liberal Moon Jae-in administration, where he worked in the office of political affairs

Korea's 2nd Nepal relief team to return; efforts to locate 9 missing Koreans to continue

Korea's 2nd Nepal relief team to return; efforts to locate 9 missing Koreans to continue

Korea will maintain a joint government response team in Nepal to continue efforts to locate nine Korean nationals who have remained missing since massive floods hit the country last month, Seoul's foreign ministry said Thursday. The move comes as the second contingent of the Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT) is set to wrap up its seven-day mission later in the day and return home, in line with a decision made by a joint public-private emergency relief council last week, according to the ministry. Nine Koreans — six employees of Doosan Enerbility and three of Korea South-East Power — went missing Aug. 26 after massive floods and landslides struck Rasuwa District near the Nepal-Tibet border while they were working at a hydropower plant construction site. The government response team, which was dispatched earlier for search-and-rescue operations separately from the KDRT, will remain in Nepal and work closely with Nepalese authorities, while also supporting the families of the missing, the ministry said. The team will consist of eight members — three from the ministry, two from the Nat

FM Cho heads to Washington for talks with Rubio on investment, Hormuz, N. Korea

FM Cho heads to Washington for talks with Rubio on investment, Hormuz, N. Korea

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun left for Washington on Thursday for talks with U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio that are expected to cover a range of pending issues, including bilateral economic and security arrangements, North Korea and the Middle East conflict. Cho will make a three-day visit to Washington through Saturday, with his itinerary including a meeting with Rubio on Friday (U.S. time), according to the ministry. "We will have in-depth discussions on various pending issues between the two nations, as well as consultations on issues concerning the Korean Peninsula, regional affairs and the international situation," Cho told reporters before departing from Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul. The meeting comes as Seoul and Washington have a number of outstanding issues on which the two sides have differing positions, including Seoul's role in securing the Strait of Hormuz and its U.S.-bound investment plans. As the Donald Trump administration has pressured South Korea to contribute to efforts to restore freedom of navigation through the strategic waterway, the Seoul governm

Ieodo Int'l Seminar highlights need for practical cooperation amid gray zone threats

Ieodo Int'l Seminar highlights need for practical cooperation amid gray zone threats

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BIFF names Chinese auteur Zhang Yimou as Competition jury chief

BIFF names Chinese auteur Zhang Yimou as Competition jury chief

Renowned Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou has been tapped as jury president for the main Competition section of the upcoming Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), organizers said Thursday. Zhang will lead a seven-member jury that also includes Chinese filmmaker Bi Gan, Japanese director Kei Ishikawa, Vietnamese producer Tran Thi Bich Ngoc and Korean director July Jung, according to BIFF. Also serving on the jury are Korean actor Choi Hee-seo and Kazakhstani actor Samal Yeslyamova, it added. The jury will choose the winners for the Busan Award among 13 films shortlisted for the Competition section that was first introduced last year. Zhang has won top prizes at prestigious film festivals, including the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival for his directorial debut "Red Sorghum" (1987) and the Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival for "The Story of Qiu Ju" (1992) and "Not One Less" (1999). He also received the Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival for "To Live" (1994). The 31st edition of BIFF, Asia's biggest film fest, will run in the southeastern po

Filmmaker Park Hoon-jung wins top prize at French festival with 'Tristes Tropiques'

Filmmaker Park Hoon-jung wins top prize at French festival with 'Tristes Tropiques'

Director Park Hoon-jung's new action noir film "Tristes Tropiques" won the Nouveau Genre Grand Prize, the top honor in the international competition section at the 32nd L'Etrange Festival in France, its overseas distributor Finecut said Wednesday. The prestigious award reinforces the director's standing in the international film circuit following a strong festival run across Europe. The film previously won the Silver Raven in the international competition at the 44th Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival and was officially invited to the 58th Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival as well as Germany's 40th Fantasy Filmfest. "Tristes Tropiques" revolves around a group of young assassins trained in a tropical rainforest by a ruthless master. After a pivotal incident shatters their trust, the killers begin to suspect one another and embark on a brutal journey of revenge. The movie blends deep suspense with fast-paced action, keeping the audience glued to the screen. L'Etrange Festival, held annually in Paris every September, is one of France's premier venues for bold and inve

Wendy, fromis_9 agency warn of legal action over privacy violations

Wendy, fromis_9 agency warn of legal action over privacy violations

ASND, the agency representing Red Velvet’s Wendy and girl group fromis_9, warned of possible legal action over repeated invasions of privacy and threats to the artists’ safety. In a notice posted on its social media accounts Tuesday, the agency said Wendy and fromis_9 had faced repeated incidents. It urged fans to refrain from approaching the artists, bringing vehicles too close when delivering letters and gifts or stepping into the road to block vehicles, saying such actions could endanger the artists and others. The agency also asked fans to respect the artists’ private spaces, refrain from illegally obtaining their personal information and stop lingering around its offices. Legal action could be taken against anyone who misuses the artists’ personal information, invades their privacy, repeatedly loiters around company premises or enters without permission, it warned. Wendy debuted as Red Velvet’s main vocalist in 2014, but left SM Entertainment in 2025 after 11 years, but announced that she would continue her activities with Red Velvet. She joined ASND in April 2025. Fromis_

Global comic fans to decide year's best webtoons in worldwide vote

Global comic fans to decide year's best webtoons in worldwide vote

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Condoleezza Rice, Lee Kyung-chul receive inaugural Lee Hong-koo Diplomacy Award

Condoleezza Rice, Lee Kyung-chul receive inaugural Lee Hong-koo Diplomacy Award

Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Lee Kyung-chul, special representative for Middle East peace at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, have been named the inaugural recipients of the Lee Hong-koo Diplomacy Award. The Seoul Forum for International Affairs (SFIA), a private diplomatic think tank, announced it has rebranded its Youngsan Diplomat Award, which recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Korean diplomacy, in honor of former Prime Minister Lee Hong-koo. Lee Hong-koo, who died in May at the age of 91, served as the founding chairman of SFIA. The awards were presented Wednesday at FKI Tower in Seoul’s Yeongdeungpo District during an event marking SFIA’s 40th anniversary. About 100 guests from Korea and abroad attended, including former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Rice served as national security advisor under former U.S. President George W. Bush before becoming U.S. secretary of state from 2005 to 2009. She is now director of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. Lee was appointed Korea's special representative for Middle Ea

Korean, US troops conduct annual explosive ordnance disposal drills

Korean, US troops conduct annual explosive ordnance disposal drills

Korean and U.S. troops have conducted joint explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) drills designed to improve interoperability and strengthen cooperation among relevant agencies, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Thursday. The EOD drills took place at the Army's I Corps and 9th Infantry Division in Goyang, just north of Seoul, from Wednesday to Thursday, according to the JCS. Some 200 personnel, including officials from each branch of the military, the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division and the Korea Airports Corp., participated in the drills. During the drills, EOD teams trained under simulated scenarios involving explosives planted in an urban area, with Korean and U.S. troops conducting joint operations to achieve a shared objective. The troops also took part in a seminar to share information on explosives and discuss ways to improve the EOD teams' operational capabilities in peacetime and wartime. Officials said the drills were not related to recent security developments, including the reportedly ongoing review on the possible deployment of Korean troops to the Strait of Hormuz, noting they hav

Lee faces no-win dilemma as justice minister nominee row threatens prosecution reform

Lee faces no-win dilemma as justice minister nominee row threatens prosecution reform

President Lee Jae Myung is facing a high-stakes dilemma over his justice minister nominee: push forward with Kim Seung-won's appointment at the cost of further eroding his approval ratings or withdraw the nomination and lose momentum on his flagship prosecution reform agenda. Political insiders suggest Lee will press ahead regardless. Analysts say he is likely to frame the standoff as a defining battle for prosecutorial reform — a direct confrontation with what his camp describes as political prosecutors resistant to change. “The (ruling) Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) appears poised to push forward with the appointment, while opposition parties are expected to gauge public sentiment following President Lee’s press conference scheduled on Friday before deciding whether to launch full-fledged street protests,” Seo Yang-ho, a political commentator and former mayor of Seoul’s Jung District, was quoted saying on a TV news program. “At its core, Kim Seung-won's nomination is not simply a Cabinet appointment; it represents a fundamental clash between forces driving President Lee

Assembly passes confirmation motion for Supreme Court justice nominee

Assembly passes confirmation motion for Supreme Court justice nominee

The National Assembly on Thursday passed the confirmation motion for Supreme Court Justice nominee Kim Sung-soo. During a plenary session, the Assembly endorsed the confirmation motion for Kim in a 227-28 vote, with 13 abstentions. Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae last month recommended Kim to President Lee Jae Myung for appointment as the successor to former Supreme Court Justice Lee Heung-ku. Kim's parliamentary confirmation hearing took place Monday and rival parties adopted his confirmation hearing report Wednesday. Kim will become the first Supreme Court justice to take office since the launch of the Lee administration if the president approves his appointment.

Korea plans abortion pill rollout as doctors, women's groups clash over access

Korea plans abortion pill rollout as doctors, women's groups clash over access

As Korea prepares to introduce abortion pills, women’s rights groups and doctors are welcoming the move but remain divided over how broadly the drugs should be made available. Women's rights advocates are calling for wider eligibility and eased prescription rules, while doctors are urging tighter medical oversight, reflecting a broader debate over how to balance reproductive autonomy with patient safety. The government on Wednesday announced a plan to allow the use of abortion pills for pregnancies of nine weeks or less, as early as the first quarter of next year. The move follows a prolonged legislative vacuum since the Constitutional Court ruled in 2019 that the criminalization of abortion was unconstitutional. Lawmakers have remained gridlocked over the deeply divisive issue, leaving follow-up legislation on matters such as permissible gestational limits stalled for years. Amid that vacuum, abortion pills have circulated illicitly, fueling calls for their formal introduction. President Lee Jae Myung instructed officials to discuss allowing Mifegyne during a Cabinet meeting in July. M

Cortis' 'GreenGreen' tops 4 mil. copies in sales

Cortis' 'GreenGreen' tops 4 mil. copies in sales

K-pop boy group Cortis has surpassed 4 million copies in sales with its second EP, "GreenGreen," becoming the second act to reach the milestone in Korea this year, its agency said Thursday. BigHit Music said the EP has sold over 4.1 million copies, based on the latest data from the weekly Circle Chart. The only other release to exceed the 4 million mark in Korea this year is BTS' fifth studio album "Arirang." According to Hanteo Chart data, "GreenGreen" began its highly successful run by selling more than 2.3 million copies during its debut week in May. BigHit Music attributed the robust sales to sustained listener interest in the EP's tracks, particularly the lead single, "RedRed," and the B-side, "YoungCreatorCrew." The record's popularity has also extended well beyond Korea. "GreenGreen" debuted at No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and has remained on the chart for 18 consecutive weeks as of mid-September. Cortis' debut EP, "Color Outside the Lines," released in September 2025, has also maintained strong sales, adding about 1 million copies this year alone to its sales total of around 2.

The Red Ribbon on the Earth | Seizing the Luding Bridge

The Red Ribbon on the Earth | Seizing the Luding Bridge

Held up on the banks of the Dadu River by a lack of ferries to carry its soldiers and equipment across, the Central Red Army was under imminent threat from a vast, rapidly-approaching enemy force. To open up an alternative route across the river, the Red Army's 4th Regiment was ordered to capture the Luding Bridge, 120 kilometers away.

The Long March History | Capturing Luding Bridge

The Long March History | Capturing Luding Bridge

In late May 1935, the Central Red Army reached the banks of the Dadu River in Sichuan Province. However, their attempts to cross were severely hampered by the limited number of boats available and the river's swift, turbulent current.

The Red Ribbon on the Earth | Held Up at the Dadu River

The Red Ribbon on the Earth | Held Up at the Dadu River

In late May 1935, the Central Red Army reached the banks of the Dadu River in Sichuan. However, the possibility of crossing it was complicated by a severe shortage of available ferries.

Intl. media outlets highlight China's role in BRICS cooperation

Intl. media outlets highlight China's role in BRICS cooperation

Intl. media outlets highlight China's role in BRICS cooperation

CityU’s response to disco night ‘misconduct’ an overreaction

CityU’s response to disco night ‘misconduct’ an overreaction

In response to the August 27 case of a young man lifting up and carrying a young woman at a party, City University authorities have established a student discipline panel. The man was reportedly half-naked while the woman was clad in only shorts and a bra. Am I the only person to think that a mountain is being made out of a molehill here? We run the risk of using a sledgehammer to crack the proverbial small nut. One aspect of this case does merit further examination: the issue of consent. Who...

Japan’s Natuna port proposal highlights Indonesia’s balancing act on China

Japan’s Natuna port proposal highlights Indonesia’s balancing act on China

Japan’s proposed port upgrades in Indonesia’s Natuna Islands reflect Tokyo’s push to bolster South China Sea security without building an overt military footprint. However, analysts stress that the move does not mean Jakarta is siding with Japan in its efforts to contain Beijing. Japan, which earlier this year eased its restrictions on lethal weapons exports, is ramping up security cooperation with Indonesia – a crucial bellwether for Southeast Asia. The expanding partnership includes joint...

Hong Kong’s 5-year plan, policy continuity offer investors more stability, experts say

Hong Kong’s 5-year plan, policy continuity offer investors more stability, experts say

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US Congress passes bill targeting Russia’s leading energy buyers – China and India

US Congress passes bill targeting Russia’s leading energy buyers – China and India

The US Congress on Wednesday passed a bill to strengthen sanctions on Russia by targeting Moscow’s leading energy buyers – China and India – just days before Chinese President Xi Jinping is due to arrive in Washington for a bilateral summit with President Donald Trump. The US House of Representatives cleared the “Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026” by a 262-159 vote, making its way to the White House for Trump’s signature. The Senate passed the bill last month by an...

Huawei accused of stealing robot tech to get hands on T-Mobile’s trade secrets

Huawei accused of stealing robot tech to get hands on T-Mobile’s trade secrets

The criminal trial of Huawei Technologies on racketeering charges shifted this week into a slower, more laborious pace in what is expected to be a weeks-long trial as the US Government sought to establish on Wednesday that Huawei was intent on learning about a proprietary robot developed by US telecommunications carrier T-Mobile. Matthew Skurnik, assistant US attorney for the Eastern District of New York, spent hours running FBI Special Agent James Diclemis through a series of emails that...

Hong Kong targets gold trading, FPS-UnionPay link to boost yuan use

Hong Kong targets gold trading, FPS-UnionPay link to boost yuan use

Hong Kong will expand the use of the yuan in areas including gold trading and cross-border payments, as policy blueprints call for the city’s biggest push yet to internationalise the Chinese currency. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Wednesday devoted part of the city’s first five-year plan and his annual policy address to developing a gold trading ecosystem and creating a regional intellectual property trading centre in the city. “We will consolidate and enhance Hong Kong’s status as an...

Hong Kong aims to raise innovation spending to 3% of GDP by about 2030

Hong Kong aims to raise innovation spending to 3% of GDP by about 2030

Hong Kong will strive to raise its expenditure on innovation activities to a level equivalent to 3 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) by around 2030, nearly double the current rate, according to the city’s first five-year plan. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu unveiled the ambitious goal, together with measures to boost frontier technologies, including aerospace research, on Wednesday. Among the 22 indicators laid out in the plan, the government aims to raise the ratio of total domestic...

Police arrest man after wife found dead with knife wounds in Heng Fa Chuen

Police arrest man after wife found dead with knife wounds in Heng Fa Chuen

Hong Kong police have arrested a man on suspicion of murder after his wife was found dead in a flat at a private residential estate. The force said the woman, 53, was discovered with knife wounds to her neck in a flat in block 2 of Heng Fa Chuen in Chai Wan at about 7.50pm on Wednesday, a police spokesman said. She was confirmed dead at the scene. Officers arrested the man, 52, and announced that an investigation was under way. Heng Fa Chuen is a major private waterfront residential estate...

Hong Kong sets 5-year plan to double innovation spending, boost new industries

Hong Kong sets 5-year plan to double innovation spending, boost new industries

Hong Kong’s leader has unveiled the city’s first five-year blueprint, aligned with China’s national development strategy, setting targets to nearly double innovation spending and raise the share of manufacturing and new industries to 5.5 per cent of the economy. In a historically significant new approach, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu prefaced his annual policy address on Wednesday with a comprehensive set of binding and anticipatory or aspirational longer-term targets for Hong Kong up to the...

China uses 100,000 home-grown AI chips to build leading weather forecast system

China uses 100,000 home-grown AI chips to build leading weather forecast system

China said it can now predict weather 10 days in advance at a cutting-edge resolution of 5km (3.1 miles), finer than most major systems in routine use around the world. The advance was achieved by a Chinese-developed weather forecasting model running on Sugon 8,000, a massive home-grown computing system built entirely with domestically made AI chips. Most major global forecasting systems have resolutions of roughly 5km to 10km, according to the China Meteorological Administration and...

Pinglu Canal opens with wildlife bridge for safer animal crossings

Pinglu Canal opens with wildlife bridge for safer animal crossings

The 134.2-km-long Pinglu Canal in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region officially opened to navigation on September 16, connecting the Xijiang River waterway with the Beibu Gulf. Among the canal's 104 bridges is a special ecological overpass designed exclusively for wildlife, locally dubbed a "bridge of life."

Wang Yi calls on China, Brazil to strengthen strategic coordination

Wang Yi calls on China, Brazil to strengthen strategic coordination

China's top diplomat Wang Yi on Wednesday called on China and Brazil to strengthen strategic coordination on major international and regional issues, continue to stand on the side of international fairness and justice, and jointly uphold multilateralism.

Wujiang Village: A traditional way of life along the Wujiang River

Wujiang Village: A traditional way of life along the Wujiang River

Wujiang Village: A traditional way of life along the Wujiang River

Chinese defense minister meets attendees of Beijing Xiangshan Forum

Chinese defense minister meets attendees of Beijing Xiangshan Forum

China's Defense Minister Dong Jun on Wednesday said the Chinese military is ready to work with all parties to jointly safeguard international and regional stability, foster a favorable security environment, and provide a guarantee for peaceful development.

Hong Kong to offer ‘attractive’ merger deals for schools beyond those struggling

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From the ozone hole to recovery: Global action enters a new phase

From the ozone hole to recovery: Global action enters a new phase

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Hong Kong’s new training visa could be available in first quarter of 2027

Hong Kong’s new training visa could be available in first quarter of 2027

A new visa intended to attract international talent to participate in short-term training programmes in Hong Kong could become available as early as the first quarter of next year, the South China Morning Post has learned. The final policy address of Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s current term also put the spotlight on five existing or soon-to-launch academies that would seek to train overseas professionals and organise international events. They and the new visa category were among a spate...

Sci-tech cooperation helps the Global South build its own capacity

Sci-tech cooperation helps the Global South build its own capacity

Sci-tech cooperation helps the Global South build its own capacity

China-ASEAN at 35: What keeps the partnership moving forward

China-ASEAN at 35: What keeps the partnership moving forward

Chinese President Xi Jinping has said that China and ASEAN have "explored a bright path of good-neighborliness and win-win cooperation, taken strides toward building a closer community with a shared future and made important contribution to the cause of human progress."

Korea welcomes Central Asia's leaders

Korea welcomes Central Asia's leaders

The presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan gathered in Seoul on Wednesday for the first Korea-Central Asia Summit, elevating their partnership that began with the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1992 to the highest level. Held under the slogan "Walking Together Toward the Future: Partnership for Trust and Prosperity," the summit aims to chart a shared path forward in trade, supply chains, digital innovation and people-to-people exchanges, opening a new chapter built on three decades of cooperation. Kazakhstan Central Asia's largest economy and major energy producer Capital: Astana Population: 20.59 million (ethnic Korean population: 122,554) President: Kassym-Jomart Tokayev Establishment of diplomatic relations with Korea: Jan. 28, 1992 Trade volume: $4.36 billion (2025) Exports to Kazakhstan: $3 billion Imports from Kazakhstan: $1.36 billion Kyrgyz Republic Mountainous terrain with significant water resources and gold production Capital: Bishkek Population: 7.37 million (ethnic Korean population: 18,434) President: Sadyr Japarov Establishment of diplomatic

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