International, Health, Transport, Technology
455 storiesChina domestic flight fuel surcharge to rise from Oct 10
China’s domestic flight fuel surcharge will rise from Oct 10, 2026, under airline notices reported by Chinese outlets: 50 yuan for routes of 800 km or less, up 10 yuan, and 90 yuan for longer routes, up 20 yuan. IT Home said the change foll…
Trump says a phone call with Putin is planned “very soon”
US President Donald Trump said a telephone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin is planned and will take place “very soon”. Trump gave no date or agenda. Russian outlets carried the announcement without reporting any Kremlin comment o…
Sochi airport imposes temporary flight restrictions for fourth time in a day
Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency introduced temporary restrictions on the reception and release of aircraft at Sochi airport, Interfax reported, citing Rosaviatsia. The airport temporarily stopped servicing flights. According to Interf…
Russian anti-plague lab researcher dies; US and EU say they are monitoring
A 28-year-old female researcher at the Irkutsk anti-plague research institute in Shelekhov, Russia, died after being diagnosed with pneumonia of unknown cause, the state agency Rospotrebnadzor said. About 200 people who may have had contact…
Trump repeats Alaska LNG charge threat as Vance says Korea details unresolved
US President Donald Trump said on 2 October that if South Korea does not invest in the Alaska LNG project, Washington can charge it more, and Seoul should be told the amount will double if it does not agree soon. Korean outlets reported tha…
AMD CEO Lisa Su to visit Korea Oct. 7 for Gamer Day; AI chip talks expected
AMD chair and CEO Lisa Su will visit Korea on Oct. 7, about seven months after her March trip, to attend an “AMD Gamer Day” event at 2 p.m. at Dragon City in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, AMD said. Su and senior vice president Jack Huynh will attend, …
Russia quarantines hospital as lab worker’s death puts nearly 200 under observation
A female employee of the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far East died last week of pneumonia of unknown cause, Russian authorities said, and a hospital in the town of Shelekhov was placed under quarantine. Officia…
China Railway: 20.32 million travelled Oct 4, 21.05 million expected Oct 5
China Railway said the national rail network carried 20.32 million passengers on October 4, describing transport as safe and orderly, and expects 21.05 million trips on October 5 with 1,463 additional trains planned as mid- and short-distan…
China medical insurance pooled funds take in 2.07 trillion yuan in Jan-Aug
China's National Healthcare Security Administration released data showing that in January to August 2026 the basic medical insurance (including maternity insurance) pooled funds took in 2.072772 trillion yuan and spent 1.550414 trillion yua…
South Korea: North Korean mines south of MDL breached armistice, minefield cleared
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff concluded that a Sept. 21 landmine explosion on the western DMZ was caused by a North Korean mine placed about 10 metres south of the Military Demarcation Line, an armistice violation, and the military re…
Celltrion's Avtozma wins FDA nod for pediatric COVID-19 use in US
Celltrion said the US Food and Drug Administration granted an additional approval for its Avtozma (tocilizumab) intravenous formulation to treat COVID-19 in patients aged 2 and older. The approval widens the drug's COVID-19 indication from …
South Korea study links severe gestational diabetes to higher diabetes risk in children
South Korea's National Institute of Health said children of mothers who had gestational diabetes are more likely to develop diabetes, with the risk rising to 4.3 times for type 2 diabetes among children of mothers who needed insulin during …
UN North Korea mission's voicemail appears hacked, CNN reports
CNN reported on October 6 that the voicemail of the landline listed for North Korea's mission to the United Nations in New York appeared to have been hacked. Callers heard a voice mocking North Korea's chronic food shortage and telling anyo…
Moscow's Vnukovo airport lifts flight restrictions; Kaluga, Gelendzhik affected
Restrictions on receiving and dispatching aircraft at Moscow's Vnukovo airport were lifted and the airport is operating normally, Rosaviatsia said, according to Kommersant, TASS and RIA Novosti. Kommersant reported that Vnukovo handled flig…
Kim Jong Un congratulates Putin on his 74th birthday
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent a telegram to Vladimir Putin congratulating him on his 74th birthday on October 7. Kim praised Russia's strengthened status under Putin and emphasised the comprehensive strategic partnership between thei…
Ukraine criticizes South Korea over reported diesel shipments to Russia
Ukraine's presidential office sanctions adviser, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, publicly criticized South Korea over a Guardian report that seven tankers carried more than 176,000 tonnes of petroleum products, mostly diesel, from South Korean ports to …
Trump says he has call scheduled with Putin over suspected plague death in Siberia
President Trump said Tuesday he has a call scheduled with Vladimir Putin about the suspected pneumonic plague case in Siberia, after saying Monday the US was willing to help Russia. The case follows the death of Darya Shipilova, 28, a worke…
Egypt's Sisi to make state visit to South Korea Oct 7-9, summit with Lee on Oct 8
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi will make a state visit to South Korea from Oct 7 to 9 at President Lee Jae-myung's invitation, the Blue House said in a written briefing on Tuesday. The two leaders will hold a summit on Oct 8, prece…
Vance says Iran must cut uranium enrichment capacity to end war with US
US Vice President JD Vance said Iran must make a substantial reduction in its uranium enrichment capacity to end its conflict with the United States, while saying Washington remains open to a peace deal. Kommersant reported that the US also…
China and Laos open joint training facilities at Lao airfield
China's Ministry of National Defense said it and Laos began operating a “joint support training centre” and an “aviation academy” at an airfield about 50 km north of Vientiane on Sept 29, with the stated aim of helping train Lao air force p…