Rubio pitches US business in Central Asia, says China ties need not suffer

South China Morning Post - Oct 19, 2026

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday that Washington wanted to compete for business in Central Asia without asking countries to stop working with China, as the United States and five regional governments outlined proposals to deepen cooperation on minerals, transport and technology. Speaking in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Rubio was asked what Washington could offer as Beijing expanded its presence in the region. “I mean, look, it’s competition, right? We have products, we have companies;...

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N. Korea touts 'invincible' comradeship with Russia at diplomatic event

N. Korea touts 'invincible' comradeship with Russia at diplomatic event

North Korea has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening relations with Russia at a diplomatic event, calling its ties with Moscow an "invincible" comradeship, Pyongyang's state media reported Monday. The North Korean Embassy in Russia hosted a reception marking the 78th anniversary of forming diplomatic relations between the two nations last Tuesday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. The event was attended by Alexander Kozlov, Russia's minister of natural resources and chair of the North Korea-Russia Intergovernmental Committee for Cooperation in Trade, Economy and Science, along with other Russian government and party officials. North Korean Ambassador to Russia Sin Hong-chol said the bilateral ties have developed at an unprecedented level through the "most truthful" relations forged between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Shin said the meeting between their leaders in 2024 has upgraded bilateral ties into a comprehensive strategic partnership and leaped toward "invincible comradely-in-arms relations," according to the KCNA. In response, Koz

SEVENTEEN's Jeonghan, Joshua chase dreams in new unit album

SEVENTEEN's Jeonghan, Joshua chase dreams in new unit album

SEVENTEEN members Jeonghan and Joshua explore the shifting boundaries between fantasy and reality in “DREAMSCAPE,” their first mini album as a unit, released Monday, with seven tracks built around dreams, personal aspirations and their evolving vocal styles. The lead single, “12 o’clock,” blends dance-rock with modern interpretations of 1970s and 1980s disco and funk, following the two singers as they chase a dream between noon and midnight. A music video teaser released Sunday features surreal imagery, including a train seemingly covered in snake scales and a picturesque meadow, setting the tone for the album’s dreamlike world. In an interview provided by their agency, Pledis Entertainment, Jeonghan and Joshua discussed their creative process, musical experiments and hopes for fans. Q. How do you feel about releasing your first mini album as a unit? Jeonghan: I feel proud of what we have created, especially because it has been a while since I released an album, and I spent a lot of time thinking about what new things we could show CARAT; although I feel some nerves as I retur

NMIXX explores unusual muses, makes wishes with 'Strange Muse'

NMIXX explores unusual muses, makes wishes with 'Strange Muse'

K-pop powerhouse NMIXX is back on Monday with "Strange Muse," the group's sixth mini album that pushes the boundary-pushing sextet into bold new creative territory. Anchored by a genre-defying lead single, the release marks a career milestone for the group as the members step into songwriting and composition roles for the first time. Alongside group tracks like "Birthday Wish," "Kerosene" and "RudE TaLK," the six-song collection breaks NMIXX into distinct sub-units for the very first time. The duo pairings highlight each member's unique dynamic — featuring Lily and Haewon on "Sing to the Moon," Sullyoon and Bae on "Hot ’n Unbothered," and Ji-woo with Kyujin on "WHIP." The lead single, "Birthday Wish," pairs future house with moombahton — a genre combining slowed-down house synths with reggaeton’s signature rhythmic bounce. Blending these with Afro-house influences, the song moves from energetic dance drops to a quiet piano and vocal passage before culminating in a narrated bridge. In an interview provided by JYP Entertainment, the members discussed the album’s concept, their c

IVE to release new song 'Looks Can Kill'

IVE to release new song 'Looks Can Kill'

K-pop girl group IVE will release a new song, "Looks Can Kill," on Monday, its agency, Starship Entertainment, said. "Looks Can Kill" serves as both the lead track and a prerelease song for IVE's upcoming EP of the same name, which is scheduled for release on Oct. 26. An electronic dance-pop track, "Looks Can Kill" delivers the message that anyone can be the protagonist and hero of their own life.

ITZY's Chaeryeong to make solo debut with mini album 'Lovesick' on Nov. 9

ITZY's Chaeryeong to make solo debut with mini album 'Lovesick' on Nov. 9

Chaeryeong of K-pop girl group ITZY will make her solo debut on Nov. 9 with a mini album, titled “Lovesick,” with the lead track of the same name, her agency JYP Entertainment said Monday. The agency released a trailer, track list and promotion schedule for the album on its official social media channels. Chaeryeong is the third ITZY member to put out solo music. Yeji debuted as a soloist with the EP “Air” in March 2025, while Yuna released “Ice Cream” in March this year. Chaeryeong debuted with ITZY in 2019. The group is known for hits such as “Dalla Dalla” and “Wannabe.” JYP described her as a performer with stable live vocals, light, feathery dance moves and a lively presence on TV variety shows. The agency said she will show a new side of herself as a solo artist. The trailer, structured like a storybook, portrays Chaeryeong as someone indifferent to nearly everything around her. A narrator says she stayed the same “in front of a birthday cake, when her phone caught fire, when she won the lottery, when the upstairs neighbors were noisy and even when the floor was

Korean singer-songwriter eldon brings his 'Comic Book' world to life with Asia, US tour

Korean singer-songwriter eldon brings his 'Comic Book' world to life with Asia, US tour

Korean singer-songwriter eldon kicked off his first-ever world tour Saturday, bringing his “Comic Book” series to Asia and the U.S. The tour kicked off following the release of “Finalé,” a surprise single released Thursday that serves as the final installment in the R&B act’s music series of the same name. The tour covers multiple stops across Asia and North America, opening the showcases in Taipei, Bangkok and Tokyo before heading to New York, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles. The tour will culminate with a Seoul concert, happening mid-December, eldon revealed. Details on the last stop are yet to be announced. The singer will feature guest artists throughout the tour, listing the help of fellow R&B artists jeebanoff and Kim Seungmin for the Tokyo leg. “I’ve been a fan of both of them for a long time, so I really, really wanted to do a show with them,” eldon explained. Meanwhile, the Houston show will feature HOHYUN, with whom he previously collaborated on his 2024 single “Fraud.” “It was kind of a coincidence," he said. "Our tours just happened to overlap, so we’r

First lady Kim says hopes Korean adoptees will grow closer to homeland

First lady Kim says hopes Korean adoptees will grow closer to homeland

First lady Kim Hea Kyung on Monday expressed hope that Koreans adopted overseas would grow closer to their motherland and keep good memories of it. The first lady made the remarks in her speech at the opening ceremony of a Seoul gathering of the International Korean Adoptee Associations (IKAA), which brought together Korean adoptees from around the world to connect and build a community. "South Korea may be viewed differently by each of you. To some, it may be a foreign country. To others it may be a homeland long longed for," the first lady said. "It may also be a place you are visiting with many questions in search of your roots and identity." "No matter how you came, I hope that you can grow closer to the homeland and create valuable new connections on this occasion," Kim added, expressing hope that the visiting adoptees would also experience the country's autumn, cuisine and other attractions. "I wish that the vibe, allure and beauty of the motherland will stay in your memories for a long time." IKAA President Tommy Gentzel stressed that relations between Korean adoptees and South Kor

Gangnam expands medical tourism footprint from US to Southeast Asia

Gangnam expands medical tourism footprint from US to Southeast Asia

Long celebrated as the bustling heart of K-pop and luxury fashion, Gangnam District in southern Seoul is rapidly establishing itself as a global hub for medical tourism. Home to the world’s highest density of cosmetic procedure centers — often dubbed the "Beauty Belt" — the district is leveraging its renowned concentration of plastic surgery and dermatology clinics to expand its reach far beyond domestic borders. Following a successful outreach initiative in the United States, district officials and health care providers recently returned from Jakarta, Indonesia, having secured major business agreements and hundreds of consultations with prospective patients. During the three-day CosmoBeauty Indonesia expo held at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition early this month, Gangnam District operated a joint promotional pavilion alongside six partner medical institutions. The delegation, which included specialists in plastic surgery, dermatology, gynecology and spinal health, conducted 117 consultations with local travel agencies, medical tourism coordinators and visitors. Officials proje

Religious sect leader sentenced to 33 years in prison for sexual assault

Religious sect leader sentenced to 33 years in prison for sexual assault

A local district court on Monday sentenced the leader of the religious sect Jesus Morning Star (JMS) to a 33-year prison term on charges of sexually assaulting female followers. The Daejeon District Court handed down the punishment for Jeong Myeong-seok, 81, longer than the 27 years requested by the prosecution, in his latest conviction for sexual assault. Jeong had been indicted on charges of sexually assaulting or molesting 16 female members between 2018 and 2022 after making them incapable of resisting by brainwashing them into believing he was the "Messiah." "The ways and means of the crime are very malicious, and as criminal acts took place repeatedly over a long period of time using the structure of religious control and influence, a grave punishment is inevitable," the court said. The court also ordered Jeong to wear an electronic tracking device for 15 years and barred him from working at facilities for children, adolescents and disabled people for 10 years. Jeong is currently serving a 17-year prison sentence after the Supreme Court finalized a ruling in January 2025 for sexually

From robotic gloves to safer batteries, CUHK puts research to work

From robotic gloves to safer batteries, CUHK puts research to work

HONG KONG — From helping stroke patients perform everyday tasks to developing safer ways to store electricity, researchers at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) are developing technologies for use beyond the laboratory. During a visit to the university on Sept. 1, a reporter tried on a robotic glove that moved the fingers with noticeable force, but without jerking them. For stroke survivors who cannot move their hands, that movement could help them do something as ordinary as holding a spoon or picking up a phone. The device uses air-powered artificial muscles developed by a team led by Raymond Tong, a professor of biomedical engineering at CUHK. Unlike conventional motor-driven rehabilitation equipment, the lightweight system uses a small pump to help patients open and close their hands. “Nowadays, you can see those exoskeletons are very rigid. They are very heavy,” Tong said, inviting the reporter to try the device. Patients can use it both for rehabilitation exercises and everyday tasks, including gripping objects, writing and eating. Tong said the system can also respond

Jeju expands job opportunities to bring overseas Korean youth into local workforce

Jeju expands job opportunities to bring overseas Korean youth into local workforce

As provincial communities grapple with demographic shifts and labor shortages, island authorities and national agencies are forging a new pathway to revitalization. The Overseas Koreans Agency announced a strategic partnership with Cheju Halla University to attract young ethnic Koreans from abroad, offering specialized education, professional training and long-term employment directly on the resort island. The initiative comes at a critical juncture for Jeju, which has suffered a sharp demographic turnaround after more than a decade of uninterrupted growth. Recent government data reveals a deepening net population loss driven primarily by an exodus of residents in their 20s searching for broader career and educational prospects in metropolitan Seoul. At the same time, regional economic pillars such as tourism, hospitality and health care face compounding labor deficits. The agreement, finalized earlier this month, establishes a collaborative framework designed to channel overseas Korean youth into these key sectors. Under the pact, the university will expand vocational programs tailored

S. Korea to launch solid-fuel space rocket postponed in June by year-end

S. Korea to launch solid-fuel space rocket postponed in June by year-end

South Korea plans to push for the launch of a solid-fuel space rocket by the end of this year, after it was postponed in June due to safety concerns, the defense ministry said Monday. The Mir space rocket was initially scheduled to lift off on June 30 off the southern coast of Jeju Island, but the launch was canceled due to a set of issues detected in the final stages. "The defense ministry is pushing to resume the launch of the solid-fuel space rocket postponed in the final launch stages on June 30 within this year," a ministry official said. The ministry has completed a thorough inspection of the technical aspects and other conditions, and final preparations are under way to ensure optimal launch conditions, the official said. The ministry, however, has yet to decide on the exact launch date, noting it plans to determine the scheduling in light of weather conditions and progress in preparations. If launched, it would mark the rocket's first test launch in a fully assembled four-stage vehicle, after a series of trials conducted in 2022 and 2023 that each evaluated partial three-stage con

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