Technology, Disasters & accidents, Politics
527 storiesCulture Minister Choi Hwi-young takes oath at parliamentary audit
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young took an oath and answered questions at a parliamentary audit of his ministry on October 7, 2026. The audit was held by the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee. Pho…
Japan farm minister retracts budget-cut remarks, apologises, denies resignation
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Yana retracted and apologised on Oct 5 for remarks that he had “greatly cut” road budgets of municipalities whose mayors did not support him in the February lower house election. He denied lobbyi…
South Korea ruling party says chief justice refuses to testify at Oct. 6 audit
The Democratic Party said Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae submitted a non-appearance reason statement to the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, declining to appear as a witness at the Supreme Court's parliament…
Tokushima assembly LDP faction moves to censure Governor Gotōda over remarks
The Liberal Democratic Party faction in the Tokushima prefectural assembly, the chamber’s largest, has moved to submit a censure motion against Governor Naozumi Gotōda, saying his remarks and conduct are a problem, and plans to put it to th…
Yokohama mayoral election announced with seven candidates; vote set for Oct 18
Yokohama's mayoral election was announced on Oct 4, and seven candidates filed, including former mayor Takeharu Yamanaka, 54, who resigned after harassment of city staff was found. Outlets said the main issue is whether voters endorse the c…
Ex-Lower House member Inatomi to run in Fukuoka mayoral election as independent
Former Lower House member Shuji Inatomi, 56, has decided to run in the Fukuoka mayoral election as an independent and will formally announce at a press conference soon. The race is set for Nov. 1 notification and Nov. 15 voting, with incumb…
Chief Justice Cho Says Assembly, President Cannot Intervene in Justice Nominations
Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae said on October 6, 2026 that the National Assembly and the President cannot intervene in the Chief Justice's recommendation of Supreme Court justices, citing Article 104 of the Constitution. He refused the witness …
Collins and Jackson clash in first Maine Senate debate as race stays tight
Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson met Tuesday night in Portland for the first of four scheduled Maine Senate debates. Jackson repeatedly tied Collins to President Donald Trump, saying she votes with him 96…
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, …
Fishing boat capsizes off Jeju; nine rescued, two missing as search continues
A 29-tonne fishing vessel registered in Sacheon capsized at about 03:04 on October 5 about 65 kilometres northwest of Chagwido, off Jeju, with 11 people aboard. Nine crew — eight Indonesians and one Vietnamese — were rescued and taken to Ha…
Okinawa governor demands measures from Japan defense minister over U.S. Marine arrest
Okinawa Governor Genta Kojya met Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on Oct. 7 and handed him a written request for effective, fundamental measures to prevent a repeat of incidents involving U.S. military pers…
Three typhoons active near Japan as Typhoon 27 moves north, JMA says
The Japan Meteorological Agency announced on Oct. 5 that Typhoon 28 (Nolo) and Typhoon 29 (Koguma) had formed, making three active typhoons near Japan with Typhoon 27 (Choi-wan). Typhoon 27 was large and very strong, moving north-northwest …
Trump suggests Iran could ‘take out’ LA and San Diego; California officials condemn
President Donald Trump said at a rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, that Iran could “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego, calling the war with Iran “a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe.” California Govern…
Park Jin-young says he did not know of 2 million won monthly payment; president apologizes
Park Jin-young, co-chair of the presidential Public Culture Exchange Committee and executive producer at JYP Entertainment, said he did not know he was receiving about 2 million won a month in duty expenses for a post described as unpaid. A…
South Korea chief justice refuses oath at audit, denies martial law role
Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae attended the Supreme Court’s parliamentary audit at the National Assembly on Oct. 6, delivered a greeting and refused to take the witness oath, saying demands for testimony about his recommendation of…
Unification Minister calls DMZ mine injuries an accident, urges peace efforts
South Korea's Unification Minister Chung Dong-young told a National Assembly audit on Oct. 7 that North Korean mines in the DMZ had injured South Korean troops, calling it an unfortunate accident and saying efforts for fundamental peace had…
Typhoon No. 27 moves north near Ogasawara as typhoons 28 and 29 form
Typhoon No. 27, described by the Japan Meteorological Agency as large and very strong, moved north over waters near the Ogasawara Islands and was forecast to approach the islands at very strong intensity from the evening of Oct. 5 to early …
Police question lawmaker Kim Jae-seop on audit opening day over Cancún trip claims
Seoul police questioned Rep. Kim Jae-seop of the People Power Party as a suspect from 10 a.m. on Oct. 6, the first day of the National Assembly audit, over allegations about former Seoul mayoral candidate Chung Won-oh’s 2023 trip to Cancún,…
Japan's land minister to publish review of farm minister's road budget remark
Japan's land minister, Ihei Tatsunori, said on 6 October that the transport ministry will publish within the day the results of its review into a remark by agriculture minister Yanao Kazuo that he had cut road budgets, and repeated that no …
Ruling party presses chief justice to testify at audit; opposition protests
South Korea's Legislation and Judiciary Committee held its Supreme Court audit on Oct. 6, where ruling and opposition lawmakers clashed over whether Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae should take the witness stand. Cho submitted an opinion letter on…