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The latest updates from around the world, as they happen.
System failure at Malaysia-Singapore strands thousands of travellers
Tens of thousands of travellers were left stranded at Malaysia’s two main land checkpoints with Singapore on Saturday after a major system failure shut down most automated immigration gates, causing hours-long queues at one of the world’s busiest border crossings. The worst congestion was reported at the Sultan Iskandar Building (BSI) Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex in Johor Bahru, where foreign visitors faced waits of up to two hours to clear immigration. The problem also affected...
Rescuers in Philippines detect ‘signs of life’ in garbage avalanche that killed four workers
Twelve workers have been rescued with injuries from the huge mound of garbage that collapsed among the low-slung buildings of waste management facility
When will it snow next in the UK after Storm Goretti?
Storm Goretti will ease away on Friday, but it won’t be long until the UK sees snowfall again
As healthcare costs soar in the Philippines, are doctors’ fees to blame?
The Philippine government is exploring ways to cap doctors’ professional fees after public complaints about soaring hospital bills, a move that has drawn resistance from physicians who say they are being unfairly blamed for deeper failures in health financing. The Department of Health (DOH) said it was studying possible standards for doctors’ fees following social media posts from patients detailing unexpectedly high out-of-pocket costs, but doctors’ groups argue that inadequate insurance...
Season 2 'Culinary Class Wars' chefs ride popularity wave, led by Son Jong-won
Netflix’s mega-hit “Culinary Class Wars” is once again catapulting its chef contestants into stardom. Leading the Season 2 pack is Son Jong-won, a member of the white spoon team comprising established chefs. Soft-spoken yet confident, the chef behind Seoul’s two one-Michelin-starred restaurants, Eatanic Garden and L’Amant Secret, has captivated viewers. Son’s Instagram following has jumped by more than 300,000 since the show’s release, reaching 475,000 as of Friday; reservations at his restauran
Two passports, one grudge: Roots of Korea's unease with 'black-haired foreigners'
Born into one of South Korea’s most powerful families, Lee Jee-ho, the son of Samsung Electronics Chair Lee Jae-yong, stepped into the spotlight in September last year for giving up his US citizenship to serve in the South Korean Navy. As a dual national by birth, the 25-year-old could have legally avoided conscription, but his decision not to was widely praised as a rare display of civic duty. More than two decades earlier, a Korean American K-pop star faced a similar choice and went the opposi
Seoul's most talked-about park online is right next to one of its hippest areas
Of Seoul’s 26 city-run parks, Seoul Forest was the most talked online, data showed Thursday. According to an analysis conducted by the Seoul AI Foundation, Seoul Forest in the eastern district of Seongdong accounted for 33.7 percent of all online mentions in 2024, ranking first by a wide margin. Yeouido Park came in second with 10 percent of mentions, followed by Children’s Grand Park at 8.7 percent. Namsan Park, which recorded the highest proportion of positive mentions, ranked fifth with 5.4 p
Social media is rewriting Korea’s ramyeon rules
At first glance, it sounds more like a dare than a recipe: Mix the blisteringly spicy stew-type Buldak Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor ramyeon with a pouch of beef and seaweed soup, boil them together, and enjoy. Yet this unlikely combination — now widely known online as Buldak miyeok tang myeon — has become one of South Korea’s most talked-about food trends, driven not by chefs or brands, but by consumers experimenting in their own kitchens. The dish combines Buldak ramyeon, known for its inten
[Contribution] 'Kpop Demon Hunters' and the rise of Koreanism
By Sung Soo Eric Kim During the 2026 New Year's Eve countdown in Dallas, two K-pop songs were played: "APT." by Rose and Bruno Mars, and "Golden" from "KPop Demon Hunters." This past Halloween, a curious scene unfolded in American neighborhoods. Among children dressed as superheroes or cartoon characters, some were dressed as figures from "KPop Demon Hunters," singing their songs as they went door-to-door. What stood out was not the children. It was that parents and neighbors knew the songs as w
[Weekender] What counts as ‘good food’ in Korea? Long lines, viral shows and mounting stress
On a chilly afternoon outside Namyeong Station in Seoul, a surprisingly large crowd quietly waits in line for bungeoppang, a traditional Korean fish-shaped pastry filled with red bean paste. The vendor, 62-year-old Kim Jong-sik, flips each one by hand, refusing to mechanize his craft even as demand surges. He sells up to 1,000 pieces on busy days, he says. “If I used machines or more staff, I could sell even more,” Kim says. “But then it wouldn’t taste like mine.” His small store has become a mi