Hong Kong may raise GDP forecast as growth poised for 5-year high: Paul Chan

No drug-related violations found in special crackdown on eve of Halloween

Police said Saturday they have found no drug-related violations during a joint crackdown the previous night on nightlife districts in Seoul on the eve of Halloween. Police carried out inspections at eight clubs in nightlife districts in Gangnam, Seocho and Yongsan on Friday night as part of a special drug crackdown that has been under way since August in cooperation with fire and municipality authorities. "Ahead of Halloween, we conducted crackdowns focusing on clubs, entertainment venues, and areas with high concentrations of foreigners, where large crowds are expected," a police official said. "We will continue to strengthen inspections and crackdown activities in vulnerable areas." Police urged the public to actively report drug-related crimes, saying they will guarantee the anonymity of informants and rewards will be provided.

Ruling party lawmaker issued US visa, days after refusal

Rep. Jin Sung-joon of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea said Saturday he has been issued a U.S. visa for a trip to the U.S. Pacific Command, days after he said his application was rejected. Jin, who serves as chairman of the parliamentary defense committee, said in a Facebook post that he received the visa from the U.S. Embassy in Seoul and that it was fortunate the U.S. State Department has issued the official A-2 visa, albeit belatedly. The lawmaker said he will depart Sunday afternoon and hold discussions with the U.S Pacific commander and other U.S. military leaders about strengthening bilateral security cooperation and developing a future-oriented alliance. On Wednesday, Jin had said his U.S. visa application was rejected and shared on Facebook what appeared to be a document that showed his application was refused. Jin expressed strong regret, saying the rejection was difficult to understand, given that he had visited the U.S. command in 2014 as a member of the parliamentary committee. The exact reason for the denial was unclear, but some observers note that Jin's past conviction

N. Korea slams multination statement backing anti-Pyongyang sanctions as 'strategic failure'

North Korea blasted Saturday a joint statement recently issued by the United States, South Korea and other partner nations calling for continued enforcement of sanctions against Pyongyang's nuclear and weapons programs, branding the move as a "strategic failure." A spokesperson from the North's foreign ministry issued the criticism in a statement, after 11 countries and the European Union (EU) released the joint statement earlier this week reaffirming their commitment to monitoring the North's activities in violation of U.N. Security Council (UNSC) sanctions resolutions. The joint statement also highlighted the findings of the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) on the North's illicit activities and welcomed fresh independent sanctions imposed by the U.S., Australia and the EU over the North's cyberactivities and dispatch of its workers overseas to finance its nuclear weapons and missile programs. "This is another case that reminds us that the hostile forces' bad habit of denying the constitutional status of our state," the spokesperson said in the statement carried by the Nor

N. Korea reports on Swiss FM's visit following opening of diplomatic office

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui met one-on-one with her Swiss counterpart visiting Pyongyang earlier this week and discussed promoting dialogue and cooperation, the North's state media reported Saturday. Choe held the talks with Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, who was on a two-day trip since Friday following Switzerland's recent opening of its first diplomatic office in Pyongyang. The two sides discussed "the issue of promoting dialogue and cooperation between the diplomatic fields of the two countries and exchanged the appraisal and views of the international situation of common concern," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. "The talks proceeded in a friendly atmosphere," the news outlet said, without elaborating. Also attending the talks from the North's side were Jong Tong-hak, the North's vice foreign minister, and Jo Chol-su, North Korea's top envoy to Switzerland, among other officials. In a separate dispatch, the KCNA reported that Cassis paid a courtesy call on Jo Yong-won, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, on the same

S. Korean, US, Japanese FMs reaffirm 'resolute commitment' to complete denuclearization of NK

WASHINGTON — The top diplomats of South Korea, the United States and Japan on Friday reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea during trilateral talks, the U.S. State Department said. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on the sidelines of a Group of 20 (G20) meeting in Atlanta, according to a State Department readout. "The Secretary and Foreign Ministers reaffirmed their resolute commitment to the complete denuclearization" of North Korea and the full implementation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, the department said. The three ministers also underscored the need to enforce U.N. sanctions prohibiting activities that generate revenue for Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, while commending the work of the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team in exposing North Korea's sanctions violations and evasion. They emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Rubio also raised concerns about China's

Late Korean TV icon Choi Bul-am requested documentary chronicle his life amid illness

The late actor Choi Bul-am asked for a documentary to be made about his life while he was battling illness, it has belatedly been revealed. MBC aired a special encore broadcast of its documentary, "Paha, This Is Choi Bul-am," on Friday. Originally broadcast in May this year, the program revisits Choi's life and acting career through music in the format of a radio documentary. It was rebroadcast in tribute to the actor, who passed away on Thursday. During the program, viewers learned that Choi had personally approached the production team to request the documentary. According to an on-screen caption, "In 2025, while already undergoing treatment, actor Choi Bul-am called the production team himself and asked them to make a program that would look back on his life." The caption continued, "In response to his request, this documentary was broadcast in May this year, while he was still alive." Choi died at around 10 p.m. on Thursday at a hospital in Gangseo District, Seoul, where he had been receiving inpatient treatment. He was 87. Following surgery for a herniated disc last year, Choi report

Pianist Lim Dong-hyek to perform Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 in Seoul

Pianist Lim Dong-hyek will perform one of the most beloved works in the piano repertoire when he performs Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 under the baton of creative conductor Adriel Kim this November. Having scaled back his recent concert appearances, Lim will perform the concerto for the first time in four years, making the occasion a particularly meaningful encounter with audiences. The concert marks the first collaboration between Lim and Orchestra The Original. Audiences will be watching to see how Lim’s delicate touch and Kim’s meticulous conducting combine to create a distinctive musical dialogue. At the heart of the program is Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2. Written after the composer overcame a period of profound despair and regained his creative confidence, the work has remained a favorite among audiences for its lyrical melodies and sweeping emotions. Lim’s return to the concerto after four years adds another layer of anticipation, with listeners eager to hear how his interpretation has evolved over time. The concert’s title, “Reboot,” further undersc

Lim Hyung-joo to sing 'Ave Maria' at funeral Mass for TV legend Choi Bool-am

Popera tenor Lim Hyung-joo will pay his final respects to veteran actor Choi Bool-am by performing “Ave Maria” at the late actor’s funeral Mass. According to a representative for Choi’s family on Saturday, Lim will sing during the funeral Mass scheduled for 10 a.m. on Monday at Yeouido Catholic Church in Seoul. The Mass will be presided over by Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung. “Ave Maria” is one of Lim’s signature pieces. Lim is said to have shared a particularly close relationship with Choi, whom he affectionately referred to as his "uncle by marriage." Following news of Choi’s death on Friday, Lim paid tribute to the late actor in a social media post. “I never imagined that my visit to see him in the hospital a few months ago would turn out to be our final goodbye,” Lim wrote. “I am deeply grateful that he always cherished my singing, attended my solo concerts with Aunt Kim Min-ja and offered me words of encouragement and wisdom. I love you, Uncle.” Lim also shared a photograph of himself with Choi, and recalled a conversation they had shared. “I still remember him

AI could turn China’s social credit system into surveillance tool: government-funded study

China’s social credit system, stereotypically imagined as an all-powerful numerical scoring project for authoritarian control, has gained notoriety in the West – although people inside the country actually feel little of its presence or practical influence. In a government-funded study, however, a Chinese legal scholar warned that deploying artificial intelligence (AI) risked turning the rating system into a “large-scale surveillance tool”. The paper was published in the Journal of Sichuan...

Tai Po fire report: lessons from a tragedy

Appeal for private flight to bring critically ill British baby home from Hong Kong

A UK-registered air ambulance and family support charity has issued an urgent appeal for a donated private flight to bring a critically ill baby boy home from Hong Kong. Lia’s Wings said on Friday that nine-month-old Matthew, from Nottinghamshire, had travelled to Hong Kong with his mother several months ago to visit relatives. He fell ill with influenza A and suffered three cardiac arrests, leaving him critically ill in hospital. His brain was reportedly deprived of oxygen for 47 minutes. His...

Hong Kong has released the full report on Tai Po fire tragedy. Here’s all you need to know

We have put together 10 stories from our coverage on the full report of the Wang Fuk Court fire, released almost a year since the tragedy claimed 168 lives. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. John Lee apologises for Tai Po fire, unveils reforms as housing chief resigns Hong Kong’s leader has apologised for last year’s deadly Tai Po fire, vowing extensive civil service and legislative reforms and an overhaul of government departments as his housing...