Data center boom fuels calls for tighter regulation in Korea
Seoul could soon join a growing number of major cities seeking tighter controls on new data centers as concerns mount over their heavy use of electricity and water.
· Lim Jae-seong
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Newest first · UTC+11:00Police bust Thailand-based phishing ring involving nude-photo extortion
SEOUL, Aug. 13 (Yonhap) -- Police said Thursday they have busted a Thailand-based voice phishing ring that allegedly swindled 6.7 billion won (US$4.73 million) from 68 victims in South Korea last year.
· Yoo Cheong-mo
Korea flags 36 penny stocks under tougher delisting rules
36 Kospi and Kosdaq firms receive new warnings as authorities spur market cleanup
· Choi Yeon-jae
Chinese yeast factory boosts cancer drug production speed 1,000 times
Turning point for team came from cross-disciplinary collaboration, including working across plant biochemistry, synthetic biology and protein engineering
· Zhang Tong
Chinese yeast factory boosts cancer drug production speed 1,000 times
Turning point for team came from cross-disciplinary collaboration, including working across plant biochemistry, synthetic biology and protein engineering
· Zhang Tong
S. Korea completes development of its first small satellite constellation
SEOUL, Aug. 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has completed the development of the country's first small satellite constellation set to be topped on the Nuri rocket in October, and held a pre-shipment review on Thursday, the space agency said.
· Kang Jae-eun
Top diplomats of S. Korea, Fiji meet in Seoul for talks on energy cooperation, mutual ties
SEOUL, Aug. 13 (Yonhap) -- Foreign ministers of South Korea and Fiji held talks in Seoul on Thursday, seeking ways to strengthen bilateral ties and discussing energy supply chains and other areas of mutual interest, Seoul's foreign ministry said.
· Woo Jae-yeon
N. Korea considering expanding troop deployment to Russia: report
Since 2017, I have covered South Korea’s political and economic landscape as a reporter, with a focus on foreign affairs, inter-Korean relations and security.As a foreign affairs reporter, I closely follow developments from the Ministry of Unification, the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Ministry, tracking shifts i…
· Jung Min-kyung
Nationwide rain forecast for long weekend to bring relief to drought-hit south
SEOUL, Aug. 13 (Yonhap) -- Rain is forecast across South Korea over the upcoming three-day weekend, the national weather agency said Thursday, likely bringing relief to southern regions suffering from a severe drought.
· Chae Yun-hwan
Chinese ‘pre-made children’ term reflects trend of parents prioritising study over summer fun
Chinese parents traditionally view summer as a time for academic advancement, leaving many children dreading the break
· Fran Lu
Chinese ‘pre-made children’ term reflects trend of parents prioritising study over summer fun
Chinese parents traditionally view summer as a time for academic advancement, leaving many children dreading the break
· Fran Lu
ASEAN chief urges deeper Korea ties on energy, digital transition
Since 2017, I have covered South Korea’s political and economic landscape as a reporter, with a focus on foreign affairs, inter-Korean relations and security.As a foreign affairs reporter, I closely follow developments from the Ministry of Unification, the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Ministry, tracking shifts i…
· Jung Min-kyung
China’s late premier Zhu Rongji remembered as the chief engineer of economic transformation | South China Morning Post
Zhu had a major role in reshaping China’s economy, first as vice-premier and then as premier.
Russia’s Putin makes first visit to Kuril Islands claimed by Japan
The Russian president inspected the Pacific fleet on his first trip to the disputed archipelago, drawing a protest from Tokyo
· Agence France-Presse
Russia’s Putin makes first visit to Kuril Islands claimed by Japan
The Russian president inspected the Pacific fleet on his first trip to the disputed archipelago, drawing a protest from Tokyo
· Agence France-Presse
Nearly 3 years on, Korea again delays Google, Apple app payment ruling
South Korea’s media regulator has delayed a final decision on sanctions against Google and Apple over in-app payment practices it says violated Korean law, nearly three years after the penalties were first proposed.
· Jie Ye-eun
Taiwan says it was hit by ‘abnormal’ AI-assisted cyber-attack
Taiwan’s statement comes a day after reports that suspected China-linked hackers had carried out a first-of-a-kind breach
· Guardian staff with agencies
China’s YMTC breaks into global top three flash-memory suppliers for first time
The chipmaker captured 14 per cent of global bit shipments, but still ranks fifth by revenue due to heavier exposure to lower-value products
· Howard Liu
China’s YMTC breaks into global top 3 flash-memory suppliers for first time
The chipmaker captured 14 per cent of global bit shipments, but still ranks fifth by revenue due to heavier exposure to lower-value products
· Howard Liu
Today in Korean history
1961 -- South Korea establishes diplomatic relations with Gabon.
· Choi Kyong-ae
YouTuber sparks controversy for filming at mixed-gender hot spring in Japan
A Korean YouTuber has touched off controversy after filming at a mixed-gender outdoor hot spring in Japan despite the facility's no-filming policy.
· Yoon Min-sik
Millions witness Europe’s first solar eclipse in 27 years | South China Morning Post
The eclipse travelled through parts of Greenland and Iceland, before arcing across the Atlantic Ocean towards northern Spain.
Japan protests against Putin visit to disputed islands
Russian state media said it was Putin's first visit to the Kuril islands
· Bbcnews
US-China rivalry takes flight over scramble for contracts at Ethiopia’s Bishoftu airport
State-owned Chinese companies are leading the way in the bidding war, but Washington is pushing the claims of firms such as Boeing and GE
· Jevans Nyabiage
US-China rivalry takes flight over scramble for contracts at Ethiopia’s Bishoftu airport
State-owned Chinese companies are leading the way in the bidding war, but Washington is pushing the claims of firms such as Boeing and GE
· Jevans Nyabiage
South Korea’s Kospi has staged a stunning comeback. How long will the bull market last?
South Korea's Kospi has staged a reversal from its latest rout, returning to bull-market territory as investors pile back into the country's semiconductor giants that dominate the index.
· Lee Ying Shan
China’s ‘brain chip’ drive accelerates with slew of state-backed initiatives
China is throwing the power of the state behind efforts to overtake Elon Musk in a vital frontier technology: brain-computer interfaces
· Julie Zhang
China’s ‘brain chip’ drive accelerates with slew of state-backed initiatives
China is throwing the power of the state behind efforts to overtake Elon Musk in a vital frontier technology: brain-computer interfaces
· Julie Zhang
Asian shares mostly rise after AI leads rally on Wall Street
A person walks in front of an electronic stock chart board showing Japan’s Nikkei index at a securities firm Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
· Yuri Kageyama
S. Korea vows to start building 230,000 houses in 5 years amid housing affordability crisis
South Korea on Thursday unveiled plans to begin construction of 230,000 houses in the Greater Seoul area within five years to address the housing affordability crisis.
· Son Ji-hyoung
China steadies yuan as exporters feel currency squeeze
Some Chinese exporters have issued profit warnings due to foreign exchange losses, reflecting a decline in the value of their dollar-denominated assets in their yuan-denominated financial statements. © Reuters
· Staff Writer
TWS tops Billboard Japan Hot 100 with 2nd single
TWS claimed the No. 1 spot on Billboard Japan’s Hot 100 with “Soda Soda,” according to the latest chart published Wednesday.
· Hwang You-mee
Taiwan holds anti-blockade naval drill during war games as China steps up maritime pressure
Taiwan's armed forces carried out an anti-blockade drill during annual war games, using the navy and coast guard to simulate escorting a merchant ship, the Defense Ministry said Thursday, as China steps up its maritime pressure.
· Yonhap
China Dominates The Humanoid Robot Race. Can Trump Close The Gap?
It should surprise no one that new data from Smart Analytics Global, cited by Bloomberg, shows that Chinese humanoid robot makers accounted for a staggering 97% of global shipments in the first half of 2026.
· Tyler Durden
Auto exports set new record, rising 7 pct in July
SEOUL, Aug. 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's auto exports rose 7 percent in July from a year earlier to a new record high, driven by strong demand for environment-friendly models, data showed Thursday.
· Choi Kyong-ae
N. Korea's Wed. rebuke marks its 1st official stance on Seoul's nuclear submarine push: official
SEOUL, Aug. 13 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's criticism Wednesday of Seoul's push for nuclear-powered submarines marked Pyongyang's first official response to the matter, a South Korean unification ministry official said Thursday.
· Woo Jae-yeon
North Korea doubles down on Its alliance with Russia, for now
Keep independent journalism alive
· Daniel Sneider
LG Energy Solution's production facility utilization rate rebounds in H1
SEOUL, Aug. 13 (Yonhap) -- LG Energy Solution Ltd., South Korea's leading battery maker, said Thursday that the average utilization rate of its domestic and overseas production facilities rebounded in the first half of the year from a year earlier.
· Kim Han-joo
Hulking prop set to be 1,000th Wallaby as Kiss reshuffles deck
Massimo De Lutiis is set to make his Wallabies debut this weekend. (Getty Images: Joe Allison)
Naver invests in U.S. startup developing wave-powered AI data centers
SEOUL, Aug. 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Naver Corp. said Thursday it has made an investment in a U.S. startup developing wave-powered floating data centers, without disclosing the financial details.
· Kang Jae-eun
BoyNextDoor to drop single in Japan before tour
BoyNextDoor is rolling out a digital single in Japan on Aug. 18, its second in the country, according to KOZ Entertainment on Thursday.
· Hwang You-mee
Chinese dad sparks controversy after digging grave to help sick daughter cope with death
National attention surrounding their situation leads to crowdfunding campaign, successfully raising funds for Xinlei
· Zoey Zhang
Chinese dad sparks controversy after digging grave to help sick daughter cope with death
National attention surrounding their situation leads to crowdfunding campaign, successfully raising funds for Xinlei
· Zoey Zhang
Fire trucks, military deployed to combat drought in southeast
CHANGWON, South Korea, Aug. 13 (Yonhap) -- Firefighting water tankers and military vehicles from across the nation were mobilized Thursday to supply water to South Gyeongsang Province as a deepening drought grips the nation's southeast.
· Chae Yun-hwan
‘Taking control’: Penfolds cracks down on Chinese grey market amid $1.1b loss
Penfolds maker, Treasury Wine Estates, cracked down on grey market imports in China and deliberately turned off the tap to global wholesalers to clear existing stock as the wine giant downsizes the business to target affluent drinkers.
· Jessica Yun
Tax agency launches probe into KB Kookmin Bank: sources
South Korea's tax agency has launched a special probe into KB Kookmin Bank, a major lender, financial sources said Thursday.
· Yonhap
Tax agency launches probe into KB Kookmin Bank: sources
SEJONG, Aug. 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's tax agency has launched a special probe into KB Kookmin Bank, a major lender, financial sources said Thursday.
· Kang Yoon-seung
Carter Gordon returns for Wallabies in ‘balanced selection’ for second Japan Test
Fly-half overcomes calf injury to partner Ryan Lonergan in halves
· Jack Snape
Kiss makes mass changes to Wallabies for Japan clash in Townsville
The Wallabies will meet Japan with an almost all-new forward pack in Townsville - and with the 1000th Wallaby in history on the bench - after coach Les Kiss made sweeping changes for Saturday’s rematch with Eddie Jones’ Brave Blossoms.
· Iain Payten
Nearly 200-country study shows China’s Belt and Road Initiative cuts debt and corruption
Data analysis spanning more than 20 years across 197 countries and regions challenges ‘debt trap diplomacy’ narrative
· Chao Kong