Rubio invokes China, Russia to defend disputed Venezuela oil deal

South China Morning Post - Oct 27, 2026

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has defended Washington’s oil agreement in Venezuela as an alternative to Chinese and Russian involvement, pushing back against criticism from opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Rubio said most of the oilfields controlled by the company partnering with Washington had previously been held or operated by Chinese or Russian firms. He argued that the agreement would help revive production while securing US access to reserves in...

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Civil group files police complaint against agriculture minister over farmland survey

Civil group files police complaint against agriculture minister over farmland survey

A civic group has filed a complaint with police against Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryung over the government's ongoing farmland survey, accusing her of abusing power, sources said Monday. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency received the complaint from the People's Welfare Countermeasure Committee on Sunday, claiming Song pressed ahead with the survey without sufficient consultation from farmers, causing anxiety among them, according to the sources. The government launched the comprehensive nationwide survey earlier this year in an effort to determine the actual ownership of farmland and prevent it from being used as a speculative asset. Critics, however, have voiced concerns over the survey, arguing that it could infringe on the property rights of farmers.

Drug suspect repatriated from Ghana after 22 years on the run

Drug suspect repatriated from Ghana after 22 years on the run

A man in his 80s, suspected of transporting more than 5 tons of narcotics aboard a fishing vessel in waters off South America in the early 2000s, has been repatriated to Korea after spending 22 years on the run, police said Monday. The Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) said the man, whose identity was withheld, was brought back home on Oct. 20 in coordination with the Busan Coast Guard after being deported by authorities in Ghana, where he had been hiding for about 22 years. The man is accused of transporting narcotics on behalf of a drug trafficking organization on five separate occasions in international waters off South America between 2002 and 2004, when he was serving as a supervisor of a deep-sea fishing vessel, and receiving payment for the shipments. The KNPA said the transported narcotics are believed to have been 5,385 kilograms of cocaine worth about 4.8 trillion won ($3.6 billion). The suspect fled to Ghana after his accomplices were arrested and lived there as an undocumented immigrant from around 2004. His repatriation came after the Busan Coast Guard placed him on Inter

Korea, US kick off combined air drills this week

Korea, US kick off combined air drills this week

Korea and the United States kicked off their combined air drills this week, focusing on counter-air and air interdiction missions aimed at enhancing wartime joint operations, the Air Force said Monday. The Freedom Flag exercise began Monday for a two-week run at Kunsan Air Base in Gunsan, about 180 kilometers southwest of Seoul, involving the allies' key aerial assets, including the Korean Air Force's F-15K, KF-16 and F-35A fighter jets, the armed force said in a release. The KC-330 transport aircraft and E-737 Peace Eye early warning and control aircraft will also be deployed for the exercise. The U.S. Air Force's F-16 Fighting Falcon jet, RC-135 reconnaissance plane and its Navy's MH-60S Seahawk helicopter, as well as the F-35B stealth fighter jet and the MQ-9 Reaper unmanned surveillance aircraft of the U.S. Marines Corps will also participate in the drills. The air forces will operate day and nighttime "mission planning cells" to exchange tactics and expertise, while refining wartime operational and mission execution procedures, the Air Force said. The missions are designed to enhance

Presidential special inspector vows political neutrality, independence

Presidential special inspector vows political neutrality, independence

The new presidential special inspector, Choi Kil-su, on Monday pledged to uphold political neutrality and professional independence as he began his duties inspecting irregularities involving the president's spouse and close relatives. Choi made the remarks to reporters at his office in central Seoul, following President Lee Jae Myung's formal appointment of him Friday to the post tasked with inspecting corruption allegations involving the president's family and close relatives, as well as senior presidential aides. He is the first presidential special inspector appointed since late 2016, following the post's creation in 2014. "I will uphold political neutrality and independence in carrying out my duties to the end," Choi told reporters, adding he feels a heavy responsibility and will work to meet the public's expectations. Choi also pledged rigorous inspections, saying he plans to serve as a "panopticon," a circular prison design that allows inmates to be constantly monitored. "Inspections are not something for which you have to wait, like the filings of complaints or lawsuits, but (basic

Special counsel to inspect 2.5 mil. ballots in local elections shortage probe

Special counsel to inspect 2.5 mil. ballots in local elections shortage probe

A special counsel team said Monday it plans to examine about 2.5 million ballots at a vote counting center this week as part of its probe into ballot shortages during the June 3 local elections. Special counsel Lee Tae-han's team will carry out the examination Wednesday at the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium, which served as a vote counting center during the local elections marred by the shortages. The team plans to verify the 2.47 million ballots and other equipment at the site to check for irregularities, such as possible forgery, in the presence of observers chosen by the National Assembly, lawmakers and journalists. The team said the examination will not serve as a recount of the votes, which takes place when there is an objection to election results. "By thoroughly investigating various suspicions in this examination, we will do our best to resolve the public's skepticism on the fairness and management of public elections," the team said. Lee's team was launched last month to investigate the shortages that sparked a major public outcry after some voters were forced to turn back witho

Lee's approval rating falls to 35.3% after rebound: poll

Lee's approval rating falls to 35.3% after rebound: poll

President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating fell to 35.3 percent after rebounding the previous week, a poll showed Monday. In the poll conducted on 2,517 adults nationwide from last Monday to Friday by Realmeter, positive assessments of Lee's job performance fell 2 percentage points from the previous week. Lee's disapproval rating stood at 62.3 percent, up 1.9 percentage points from the previous week. Realmeter attributed the decline to growing concerns over the housing market and the economy, including the recent stock market plunge. The pollster also cited North Korea's threat to resume loudspeaker broadcasts toward the South and controversy over whether the chief of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency should attend Cabinet meetings. In a separate survey of 1,003 adults conducted between Thursday and Friday, support for the ruling Democratic Party of Korea fell 0.2 percentage point to 36 percent, while that of the main opposition People Power Party rose 1.7 percentage points to 42.6 percent. The survey on the president had a margin of error of 2 percentage points at a 95 percent confide

Itaewon's Lit Lounge shines beacon through dark times over 4 years

Itaewon's Lit Lounge shines beacon through dark times over 4 years

Lit Lounge opened the doors of its Itaewon location just about four years ago in late October 2022. Following a soft opening on Oct. 27 and 28, its grand opening was held on Saturday, Oct. 29, a day that would go down in infamy, after 159 people died in a crowd disaster in a narrow alley a little less than 400 meters away. "Lit Lounge's early existence was shaped by one of the most devastating tragedies in recent Korean history: The Itaewon Halloween crowd crush," said Jason Waller, owner of Lit Lounge. "For many of us operating businesses in Itaewon, the aftermath of this tragedy was even more devastating than the COVID-19 pandemic." It would have been understandable, maybe even advisable, if he just quit. But Waller, also known as Pinnacle TheHustler, decided to keep going. "I think the biggest reason I refused to close Lit Lounge was because I didn't want to look in the mirror and see someone who had given up. But for me, as long as I still believed in what I was building and I could still see a path forward, I wasn't ready to quit," he said. "And now, Lit Lounge, which started in 202

Korean stars are done staying silent as Yunho tells disrespectful fans to 'leave'

Korean stars are done staying silent as Yunho tells disrespectful fans to 'leave'

Korean celebrities are increasingly refusing to stay silent when confronted with angry fans, online criticism and rumors — marking a shift from an era when stars often left controversies for their agencies to handle. TVXQ's Yunho, singer and actor Son Dam-bi and singer and television personality Lee Ji-hye have all recently pushed back directly against criticism, using fan platforms, social media comments and YouTube to draw their own lines. Yunho drew particular attention after clashing with some fans on Bubble, a paid messaging platform that allows K-pop stars to communicate directly with subscribers. Some fans complained that he was not communicating frequently enough despite the service requiring a paid subscription. "I'm sorry, but it's OK if you can't understand," Yunho said. "I'm trying to come on Bubble as much as I can, and I'm sorry if I can't satisfy you, but I think this is the best I can do. Please don't provoke me for no reason." When a fan responded that because Bubble was a paid service, he should communicate at least once a month and said his previous visit had been in

ENHYPEN to close 'THE SIN' series with spinoff single in November

ENHYPEN to close 'THE SIN' series with spinoff single in November

K-pop boy band ENHYPEN will close its "THE SIN" series with a spinoff single in November, marking its third release of the year after its first Billboard 200 No. 1 this summer. The group's agency, Belift Lab, announced Monday through Weverse that "THE SIN : PARALLEL WORLD" will arrive on digital platforms at 2 p.m. on Nov. 20. A physical edition will follow at noon on Nov. 23. The single serves as an epilogue to the series, which began with the seventh mini-album "THE SIN : VANISH" in January and continued with the eighth, "THE SIN : BLISS," in August. It follows a pair of lovers who, having realized in the previous album that simply being together is a blessing, come to believe that they are bound by fate in a parallel universe. Belift Lab said the release expresses the members' desire to "repay the unwavering love and support" of their fans, known collectively as ENGENE, through music. Formed through Mnet's survival show "I-LAND," ENHYPEN debuted under Belift Lab in November 2020. The group has built its musical identity around a unique vampire narrative, exploring genres ranging from

ATEEZ's San opens up about how he built up muscular physique

ATEEZ's San opens up about how he built up muscular physique

ATEEZ member San, now known powerful stage presence, opened up about how he built up his muscular physique. The K-pop star shared the story behind his physical transformation on Saturday's episode of MBC's variety show "The Manager," which offered a glimpse into ATEEZ's daily life. San's physique has drawn particular attention this year following the release of ATEEZ's "BAD" in June. A choreography sequence performed by San near the end of the song, nicknamed the "chest dance," generated buzz among fans. During the episode, San headed to the gym, where his manager said working out has become an almost daily routine. "San is really serious about taking care of his body, so he works out almost every day," the manager said. "He even works out every day when we're staying at hotels." But San said his muscular build did not come naturally, recalling his slender frame around the time of his debut in 2018. Fellow ATEEZ member Hongjoong said San had been self-conscious about his body when he was younger. "San had a complex about it when he was young," Hongjoong said. "That's why he worked out incre

RIIZE releases emotional acoustic single 'Insomnia'

RIIZE releases emotional acoustic single 'Insomnia'

K-pop boy band RIIZE released its new digital single, “Insomnia,” Monday, launching a week of promotional activities that includes a fan event and appearances on television music programs. The single and its music video were released at midnight, according to the group’s agency, SM Entertainment. “Insomnia” is an acoustic pop track built around a lyrical guitar sound. Set against a quiet, lonely mood, the song features restrained yet plaintive vocals. Its lyrics depict thoughts that grow sharper as the night deepens and the complex emotions that branch out from them. The music video tells the stories of people who cannot fall asleep through cinematic direction. Produced in a drama-style format, it shows the six members, Shotaro, Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Sohee and Anton, acting out emotional roles suited to their individual characters. To celebrate the release, RIIZE is hosting an interactive fan event titled RIIZE into INSOMNIA at Space S50 in Seongsu-dong through Thursday. The trendy eastern Seoul neighborhood is widely known among international visitors as a hub for fashion

TWICE's Nayeon to make solo return with 'NA-sty' on Nov. 20

TWICE's Nayeon to make solo return with 'NA-sty' on Nov. 20

Na-yeon of K-pop girl group TWICE will release her new solo project, “NA-sty,” on Nov. 20, marking her first solo comeback in about two years and five months. JYP Entertainment announced the release Monday through the group’s official social media channels, unveiling a logo animation featuring angelic halos and wing-shaped icons that change colors against a moving screensaver. The new single, scheduled to drop at 2 p.m., follows Nayeon’s two previous solo releases, "IM NAYEON" in June 2022 and "NA" in June 2024. The title “NA-sty” blends a play on Nayeon’s name and personal style with the English word “nasty,” giving the project a cheeky edge that reflects her intention to showcase a wider range of attitudes and personalities. The album is expected to highlight both her signature bright, lovable image and a more daring, candid side, according to JYP Entertainment. Na-yeon established herself as a successful solo act with her debut extended play, “IM NAYEON,” and its lead single, “POP!,” which peaked at No. 7 on Billboard’s main albums chart, the Billboard 200,

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