Capital of South Korea and the largest city in Korea
A shipment of unserviceable F-35 parts has been diverted from Australia to Hong Kong and remains unreturned. The package reportedly included a radar‑coated cockpit canopy and a weapons‑bay door. The Pentagon, Lockheed Martin and Australian authorities have opened investigations and are working to recover the components as Congress seeks answers.
The United States has signaled renewed dialogue with North Korea after a series of statements from South Korea and Washington suggesting a possible path to talks. Analysts say public responses from Pyongyang remain muted while diplomatic channels show signs of contact. Topics include U.S. weapons sales to the Republic of Korea, regional security, and China’s role in facilitating dialogue.
Paris Saint‑Germain has moved its Ligue 1 opener against Rennes to Roazhon Park after declaring the Parc des Princes pitch unsafe following a scorching summer. The club has also completed major summer sales — including Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye in high‑value deals — and has generated roughly €400m from departures while recruiting selectively.
Leicester City is under pressure as owner King Power seeks to sell amid a poor start to the season, a heavy losses year, and managerial scrutiny. The club has drawn 1-1 and lost 2-1 in its opening League One fixtures, while questions mount over funding, strategy and future ownership.
The drills Ulchi Freedom Shield are being halted ahead of planned meetings with North Korea, following President Trump’s order to scale back the exercise amid regional tensions.
The United States has reduced two major joint military exercises with South Korea — cutting the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise from 11 days to five and suspending the Ssangyong marine drill — citing limited U.S. force availability tied to the war in Iran and presidential orders. Seoul and Washington are consulting on when to resume training while Pyongyang has launched ballistic missiles in response.
Honda plans to cut over $9 billion in costs by 2030 and asks suppliers to trim prices while expanding use of Chinese components; Honda and Nissan will jointly develop SDV-focused electronic control units for a 2029 rollout. Hyundai is accelerating US growth with a massive Georgia plant, a major metaplant expansion, and a target to lift US-made vehicles share.
The police on Jeju Island have arrested a sergeant for allegedly closing missing-person cases prematurely and lying to families. Four bodies have been found as belated searches unfold, prompting President Lee Jae Myung to push police reforms and for officials to review hundreds of cases overseen by the officer.
A Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crashed after landing gear failed to deploy at Muan International Airport. Investigators found bird-strike traces in engines and the plane’s black boxes stopped four minutes before impact. Authorities accuse seven officials of falsifying statements about localizers; the incident remains the deadliest in Korea since 1997.
The latest briefings show North Korea condemning U.S.-led trilateral drills as a hostile act while Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo emphasize defensive aims. Recent leadership statements reiterate Pyongyang’s resolve as joint exercises proceed, raising doubts about diplomacy in the near term.
A seven-year study of about 41,000 adults in South Korea finds that modest weekend catch-up sleep—about 1 hour 27 minutes—reduces the risk of high blood pressure by up to 9%, with larger benefits for physically inactive individuals. Excessive weekend sleep (>4 hours) may offset gains. Findings were presented at the European Society of Cardiology congress in Munich.
The Seoul Central District Court has found Han Hak-ja, 83, guilty of illegal political donations and bribery related to efforts to influence South Korea's political scene. The court has handed two-year sentences across involved parties, and related cases of Kim Keon Hee are noted with earlier and subsequent penalties.
Anak Krakatau has erupted since late Friday, producing lava fountains and ash plumes up to 50,000ft and forcing temporary closures at Soekarno‑Hatta and multiple regional airports. Authorities have suspended operations at several airports, delayed or cancelled hundreds of flights and stranded tens to hundreds of thousands of passengers while marine and air exclusion zones remain in place.
Liverpool has paid a record transfer fee for Barcola, a France international who has helped PSG win back-to-back Champions League titles. The move signals a shift in the market as Liverpool builds a high-priced attack around Isak and Wirtz, while PSG posts a hefty profit from Barcola’s sale.
North Korea has commissioned the Kang Kon destroyer as part of an intensified naval buildup. Pyongyang frames the move as deterrence, while Washington and Seoul coordinate drills amid heightened tensions with the U.S. pressing allies to join in regional security efforts.
Police have referred Bang to prosecutors over alleged capital markets act violations tied to 2019 investor misdirection and a possible side deal worth about 200 billion won. Indictment decisions remain in flux as prosecutors weigh grounds for arrest and further investigations.
A Seoul court has sentenced the director of Saekdongwon in Incheon to 15 years for sexual assaults on residents and bodily injuries. The ruling bars him from care-work for a decade and places him on probation after release; the decision is subject to appeal. The case prompted nationwide inspections of 1,507 facilities for people with disabilities.
South Korea has refused US pressure to deploy combat forces to the Strait of Hormuz and has said it will not send troops into the US-Iran war. Seoul has told Washington it will consider limited, non‑combat contributions to protect shipping while negotiations continue over a $350bn investment package and alliance tensions persist.
Argentina's president Javier Milei has reasserted Argentina's claim to the Falkland Islands, said he will punish companies drilling near the islands and ordered investigations into 45 entities linked to hydrocarbon exploration. The UK and Falkland Islanders have reiterated their support for self‑determination, while companies involved in the Sea Lion oil project have said development will continue.
Bloomberg reports that ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming is personally overseeing the development of a new AI model, with internal teams pooling resources and computing power behind the effort. Separately, a Tokyo-based chip designer is aiming to deliver samples of its latest AI-ready processors to customers in H1 next year, signaling a push to tailor chips for AI workloads.
A synthesis of recent sleep studies shows wearables may misjudge sleep quality, narcolepsy treatment advances gain regulatory traction, and weekend catch-up sleep ties to lower hypertension risk, prompting a nuanced view of how to monitor and improve sleep.
Iran's state media has touted a new missile test against a US warship, with Tehran claiming a turning point in its defense. The US has hit Iranian oil tankers in response, and both sides warn of further escalation as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains contested.
Philippines’ defense chief has read a note he says came from China during a Seoul forum, accusing China of coercion and challenging UNCLOS. Beijing denies wrongdoing, urging restraint as regional tensions persist. The incident follows a string of coast guard clashes in the South China Sea and comes as Manila signals willingness to reset ties while Beijing pushes a harder line.
Recent attacks in the Hormuz Strait have escalated, with Iran claiming to have hit ships, Saudi Arabia reporting air alerts, and Brent crude rising above $100. The conflict touches global energy markets as the US, Iran, and regional players remain locked in a dangerous exchange.
Keely Hodgkinson wins the 800m at Athlos London in 1:56.40, wearing Nike’s all-black speed suit designed to reduce drag and regulate temperature. The event, outside New York for the first time, features an all-women format with a Tiffany crown and a $65,000 prize for winners. The season-ending meet aims to spotlight female athletes and redefine track and field’s spectacle.
Micron has announced its strongest-ever rewards for about 60,000 employees globally, including a NT$1 million cash bonus for Taiwan-based staff and annual equity grants. Taiwan unions are seeking changes to profit-sharing, with ongoing talks risking a broader strike near Taipei.
Missiles launched from North Korea’s Wonsan area have flown about 250 km toward eastern waters. Seoul and Washington say the launches do not threaten the homeland; Pyongyang frames the event as a responsive act after the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises. The launches follow North Korea’s accusation that the drills are provocative.
The latest round of tit-for-tat strikes has targeted Iranian oil tankers and U.S. ships in the Gulf of Oman and near Kharg Island, with Iran and the U.S. exchanging retaliatory blows. The flare-up follows Houthi attacks on Saudi facilities and heightens fears for global oil shipments through the Hormuz chokepoint.
North Korea has conducted a multi-system drill involving drones, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and rocket artillery, aiming to showcase an integrated strike network. South Korea’s military reports short-range missiles and increased readiness following trilateral exercises with the US and Japan.
The Seoul court has ruled that North Korea must pay 44.6 billion won in damages over the destruction of the inter-Korean liaison office in Kaesong, a move the South regards as a symbolic judgment in a long-running diplomatic standoff.
At the UN, South Korea has pushed for a phased denuclearization path with North Korea, arguing for stop, reduction and dismantlement while seeking dialogue with Washington. Trump has indicated willingness to meet Kim Jong Un later this year. The goal remains a resumed dialogue leading toward a Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons, though North Korea has signaled it will not abandon its arsenal in a single step.
Netflix executives describe events as appointment TV and outline a strategy to use global events, NFL rights, and international games to fuel growth. The company is pursuing five NFL games this season and contemplates FIFA World Cup rights while expanding international programming amid a shifting sports and entertainment landscape.
The government has seen its popularity decline to a fresh record low as foreign policy tensions and domestic economic pressures weigh on public sentiment. Officials are under pressure as investors watch the AI and chip sectors amid concerns over property prices and growth.
North Korea has condemned an IAEA resolution as meaningless and says it remains a nuclear weapons state. Pyongyang has carried out inspections of major munitions facilities as Seoul and Washington seek to salvage diplomacy.
France has launched its new era under coach Zinedine Zidane with a first training camp at Clairefontaine featuring a 12-player group. Mbappé is absent, while Zidane is joined by Bettoni and Barthez as they prepare for Nations League fixtures against Turkey, Belgium, and Italy.
North Korea has launched a second set of short-range ballistic missiles from the Wonsan area into the East Sea, with the launches following a previous round of tests amid ongoing regional tensions. South Korea and its allies are monitoring the situation.
The US has disclosed an ongoing probe into how Lockheed Martin F-35 parts shipped from Australia for service ended up in Hong Kong, where Chinese authorities have reportedly taken possession. The parts, including a cockpit canopy and weapons-bay door with radar-absorbing coating, were diverted in late May, raising questions about security and technology leakage.
South Korea’s Defence Ministry confirms an explosion occurred during an operation in the DMZ. Two officers have been airlifted and the third transported by land before airlift. The incident follows rising North-South tensions, with authorities evaluating possible North Korea involvement and broader border-security concerns.
North Korea has conducted Sunday missile tests observed by Kim Jong Un and his daughter, with the regime saying the launches strengthen war readiness. South Korea and Japan report missiles landing outside EEZs after launches near Wonsan, as Pyongyang rolls out further military displays amid stalled diplomacy.
Zelensky has told the UN that Ukraine has transferred two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea. He says North Korea is using soldiers as currency to support Russia, while Kyiv seeks humanitarian and legal pathways amid international scrutiny.
KFC has opened Open House in McKinney, Texas, a test restaurant offering breakfast, late hours, table service, and new menu items. The concept aims to learn what works for guests and rolls out successful ideas system-wide. The restaurant features digital kiosks, table service, dual drive-thru lanes, a photo booth and merch counter.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has demanded an apology after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly said Kyiv transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea. Seoul says the transfer was meant to be confidential and accuses Ukraine of breaching an agreement; Kyiv denies any nondisclosure pact and calls the matter a diplomatic misunderstanding.
South Korea has preliminarily concluded that North Korean mines caused explosions near the DMZ, injuring three soldiers. The assessment, made with the U.N. Command, is being treated as an armistice violation and could lead to “corresponding measures.” The exchange heightens already tense relations as Pyongyang denies responsibility.
Three South Korean soldiers have been injured by two explosions on 21 September inside the Demilitarised Zone. South Korea and the US-led UN Command have identified North Korean anti-personnel mines on the southern side of the Military Demarcation Line and say an armistice violation has occurred. Pyongyang denies responsibility and has warned of retaliation.
At Nagoya, Wang Xiyu defeats Eala to reach the women's singles final, while Zhang Shuai advances to face Wang in the all-Chinese final. Eala may face a WTA fine for skipping the China Open as she represented the Philippines.
The United States has unveiled a large-scale investment package with South Korea that includes up to $200 billion in projects such as nuclear plants, a Texas gas facility, and the Alaska LNG pipeline. Seoul’s commitment hinges on commercial viability and legal compliance, while experts caution on Alaska’s project costs and timelines.