Putin aide looks to boost Russian shipbuilding ties with China during visit

South China Morning Post - Oct 11, 2026

Russia is looking to expand shipbuilding cooperation with China through technology partnerships and joint investment, visiting presidential aide and Maritime Board chairman Nikolai Patrushev said. Patrushev held talks in Beijing with Ke Jixin, Chinese vice-minister of industry and information technology, the Russian Maritime Board said in a statement on Saturday. It said the two sides discussed the possibility of Chinese shipbuilders becoming technology partners and equipment suppliers for new...

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Roh Jeong-eui, Show Kasamatsu uncover dark romance in 'Shaving'

Roh Jeong-eui, Show Kasamatsu uncover dark romance in 'Shaving'

BUSAN — Director Kim Jung-hoon said he hopes his new psychological thriller “Shaving” will offer catharsis and comfort to viewers dealing with past emotional scars. "Shaving is a daily routine for most men, but if you examine it closely, it is also dangerous and chilling," Kim said during a press conference at Busan Cinema Center at the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) on Friday. "It suited the concept of an ordinary couple's daily life turning into something hazardous. I focused on following Su-yeon's emotional arc across genres to reach a sense of catharsis, hoping the film helps people overcome their trauma." The film was invited to the competition section of the 31st edition of the film festival. It also marks Kim’s return to feature filmmaking 13 years after his debut "Tinker Ticker" (2013). The movie follows Su-yeon (Roh Jeong-eui), a horror novelist carrying past trauma, who spends a holiday at a countryside house with her caring boyfriend Shinji (Show Kasamatsu). The peaceful trip turns into a nightmare when Shinji accidentally cuts his face while shaving with an

Cheong Wa Dae makes rare disclosure of Lee's golf outing ahead of opposition attack

Cheong Wa Dae makes rare disclosure of Lee's golf outing ahead of opposition attack

Cheong Wa Dae on Sunday took the unusual step of disclosing information on President Lee Jae Myung’s private golf schedule, shortly before an opposition lawmaker held a news conference questioning his whereabouts when a ceiling collapsed at a supermarket in Daegu. The office confirmed that Lee visited Taereung Golf Club with his family Saturday, about the time reports that the ceiling of a commercial building collapsed in Daegu, injuring dozens of people. Lee was briefed on the accident at the course and called acting National Police Agency chief Kim Jong-chul to check on casualties and injuries, Cheong Wa Dae said. He then ordered authorities to focus on rescue efforts and ensure a swift, safe response. “We normally do not confirm the president’s undisclosed schedule or private holiday activities,” the presidential office said, explaining that it made an exception “to prevent unnecessary controversy.” “We regret that the president’s private, undisclosed schedule is being used for political disputes,” it added. The announcement came shortly before Rep. Joo Jin-woo of the

Rights groups call for release of 3 detained activists in Hong Kong, Thailand

Rights groups call for release of 3 detained activists in Hong Kong, Thailand

Two human rights groups called Sunday for the immediate release of three detained Gwangju Prize laureates in Hong Kong and Thailand. The May 18 Memorial Foundation and the Network of Laureates of the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights said the detentions of Chow Hang-tung of Hong Kong and Thai activists Arnon Nampa and Jatupat Boonpattararaksa "reflect a crisis of democracy in Asia." Jatupat, a Thai activist and the 2017 recipient of the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights, and Arnon, a Thai human rights lawyer who won the prize in 2021, are detained in Thailand. Chow, a Hong Kong human rights lawyer and the 2023 laureate, is detained in Hong Kong. "We stand in solidarity with activists striving to defend democracy and human rights in Thailand, Hong Kong and Myanmar despite violence, imprisonment and restrictions on basic rights," the groups said in a joint statement. The prize was established in 2000 to promote the spirit of the May 18 pro-democracy uprising in the southwestern Korean city of Gwangju in 1980, during which a military crackdown on demonstrators left more than 200 civilians dead an

7 in 10 workers get no extra pay for covering parental leave: survey

7 in 10 workers get no extra pay for covering parental leave: survey

Most Korean workers who took on additional duties while colleagues were on parental leave or working reduced hours for childcare received no extra compensation, with 7 in 10 going unpaid for the added workload. According to a survey released by workplace advocacy group Gabjil 119 on Sunday, 47.8 percent of 1,000 workers said their workloads had increased due to colleagues taking maternity or parental leave. The survey was conducted nationwide from Sept. 1 to 7. The results suggest that employers are shifting the burden of staffing shortages caused by parental leave or reduced working hours onto existing employees rather than hiring replacements or adjusting workloads. Of the 478 respondents who reported taking on additional duties, just 29.5 percent said they had received extra compensation, such as allowances, while the remaining 70.5 percent received no additional pay. Awareness of government subsidies aimed at compensating workers who take on extra duties was also limited. Only 37 percent of respondents were aware of the government’s workload-sharing subsidy for parental leave, while

Korea's role in combined command set to grow after OPCON transfer

Korea's role in combined command set to grow after OPCON transfer

As Korea prepares to regain wartime operational control (OPCON) from the United States, questions remain over how the leadership and organization of their combined military command will change. The Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC) is expected to retain its integrated command structure, with Korean officers potentially taking more senior staff positions, military experts said. The outlook comes after Seoul and Washington disclosed that they have agreed on a provisional organizational plan for the post-transfer command. While the two countries have already agreed to put a Korean general in charge, the division of responsibilities beneath the commander has yet to be made public. Gen. Kim Seong-min, the CFC’s deputy commander, told a parliamentary audit Wednesday that the provisional arrangement would be finalized during the Full Mission Capability (FMC) assessment, the final stage of the three-phase evaluation process for OPCON transfer. He described the plan as a draft and dismissed suggestions that the combined command would be dissolved after the handover. Kim Jung-sup, directo

LE SSERAFIM tops Oricon chart with 'Made My Night'

LE SSERAFIM tops Oricon chart with 'Made My Night'

K-pop girl group LE SSERAFIM topped Japan's Oricon daily chart immediately upon the release of its new single, demonstrating its strong popularity in both Korea and Japan. According to the band’s agency, Source Music, on Sunday, the five-member group’s second Korean single, “Made My Night,” grabbed the top spot on the Daily Single Ranking as of Friday, the day of its Japanese release. This marks the group’s second consecutive Korean single to tope the Oricon chart, following its previous single "SPAGHETTI,” which was released in 2025. "Made My Night" is a pop dance track that captures the excitement of spending a night with a special person. The single album features two tracks — the title song of the same name and the B-side track "AEIOU." The single has enjoyed huge commercial success here as well. According to Hanteo Chart, a local album sales tracker, the album sold around 200,000 copies on its first day of release, topping the daily album chart on Sept. 11. The title track has also gained significant traction globally. The song landed at No. 14 on Billboard's Bubbling U

Strong turnout, star power propel 31st BIFF into global spotlight

Strong turnout, star power propel 31st BIFF into global spotlight

The 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has drawn record crowds and major global star power at its midpoint, cementing its position as Asia's premier film event. On Sunday, the festival organizer said attendance at BIFF’s official program events, such as outdoor stage greetings, Master Classes Actors House sessions and Open Talks, surpassed 50,000 visitors within its first five days through Saturday. This figure already exceeds the total attendance recorded across all program events during last year’s full festival run, they added. This highlights a sharp increase in public engagement outside movie theaters. The surging interest comes as BIFF celebrates its first edition since being elevated to the International Federation of Film Producers Associations A-List status, solidifying its standing alongside premier global film festivals. By shifting its opening day to Tuesday and adding extra weekend screenings, the festival made it much easier for both movie fans and industry officials to attend. At Tuesday's opening ceremony, the festival brought together world-renowned filmmak

Experts see no quick fix for Korea-US intelligence rift

Experts see no quick fix for Korea-US intelligence rift

Although the South Korean government insists its alliance with the United States remains strong despite six months of restrictions on North Korea-related intelligence sharing, experts see little prospect of a quick resolution, warning that Washington’s mistrust runs deep and the dispute reflects broader structural strains in the alliance. Nam Sung-wook, a chair professor at Sookmyung Women’s University, said the restrictions reflect strong U.S. mistrust of specific figures in the current administration and warned the situation was unlikely to improve soon. “The U.S. is showing a deep-seated distrust toward key figures such as Unification Minister Chung Dong-young and National Intelligence Service (NIS) chief Lee Jong-seok in the Lee Jae Myung administration and claiming that they cannot have high-level intelligence sharing meetings. It is worrisome, as it is also fundamentally hurting the allies,” he said. He said Seoul has strong reasons to resolve the restrictions quickly but warned that Washington’s concerns may be difficult to overcome in the short term. “It will not be b

Korea raises Saudi travel alert to Level 3 amid Houthi clashes

Korea raises Saudi travel alert to Level 3 amid Houthi clashes

Korea raised its travel advisory for Saudi Arabia to Level 3, the second-highest level, urging citizens to leave the country as intensifying clashes between Saudi forces and Houthi rebels threaten civilian infrastructure. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the upgraded alert, effective 10 p.m. Sunday, covering all regions of Saudi Arabia. The ministry urged Korean nationals in the country to depart if possible and advised those with travel plans to cancel or postpone their trips. The decision came after Foreign Minister Cho Hyun convened a meeting Sunday afternoon with 15 Korean diplomatic missions across the Middle East, including the embassies in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Iran, Israel and Lebanon. Cho noted that recent fighting between Saudi Arabia and Houthi rebels has escalated significantly, with direct strikes on civilian infrastructure such as airports causing multiple casualties. He called on diplomatic missions to stay alert and respond swiftly to the rapidly shifting security landscape, regional power dynamics and energy supply trends. Diplomatic missions in the region, inclu

BTS concerts in Peru projected to generate $19 mil. in tourism revenue

BTS concerts in Peru projected to generate $19 mil. in tourism revenue

BTS’s first performances in Peru drew more than 150,000 fans to Lima and are projected to generate about 25.1 billion won ($19 million) in tourism-related economic benefits for the country, according to a forecast by Peru’s tourism ministry. The group’s agency, BigHit Music, said Sunday that roughly 151,500 fans attended the three shows at Estadio San Marcos on Oct. 7, 9 and 10 — part of the group’s ongoing “Arirang” world tour. The attendance figure far exceeded the ministry’s pre-concert projection of 50,000 visitors to the capital. The Lima concerts marked BTS’ first performances in Peru since the group’s debut in 2013. The members acknowledged the wait from the stage. “We wonder why it took us so long to come to Peru,” they said to the fans during one of the shows. Member V commemorated Hangeul Day, a statutory holiday in Korea celebrating creation of the Korean alphabet, by wearing a specially designed T-shirt bearing handwritten messages during the concerts. The front displayed the name of the host city and his real name, Kim Tae-hyung, in Korean. On the bac

Wuhan’s Covid mayor Zhou Xianwang jailed for 14 years for corruption

Wuhan’s Covid mayor Zhou Xianwang jailed for 14 years for corruption

Zhou Xianwang, the former mayor of Wuhan widely criticised for the initial handling of the Covid-19 outbreak, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for corruption. Zhou used various positions he held between 2003 and 2025 – including party secretary of Huangshi, mayor of Wuhan and vice-governor of Hubei province – to “provide assistance to companies and individuals in contracting projects, business operations and administrative approvals”, Shangqiu Intermediate People’s Court in Henan...

‘A Hawaiian son’: Honolulu honours Sun Yat-sen as his landmarks vanish

‘A Hawaiian son’: Honolulu honours Sun Yat-sen as his landmarks vanish

Eddie Flores pressed the button at a pedestrian crossing on King Street, then pointed across the road. In the spring of 1910, Chinese revolutionary Sun Yat-sen lodged over there, on the second floor of a shop owned by a friend and fellow party member. “It’s no longer there,” said Flores, chairman of the restaurant chain L&L Hawaiian Barbecue. “But we can more or less point out where the building is.” Much of Sun’s Honolulu has to be found this way. The church where he worshipped as a boy was...

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