Does Trump’s new AI Force signal tech race escalation ahead of Xi Jinping summit?

South China Morning Post - Sep 20, 2026

US President Donald Trump has unveiled a new “AI Force” just days ahead of a state visit by Chinese leader Xi Jinping, in a potential escalation of the high-stakes technology race between the rival powers. Experts said the proposed AI Force – whose exact structure remains unclear – could give Beijing a clear counterpart for AI safety talks, but warned it risked becoming an instrument of further technological containment and export controls targeting China. In a social media post on Saturday,...

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Inside the Seo Hui: A look at Korea's newest submarine

Sep 20, 2026

Inside the Seo Hui: A look at Korea's newest submarine

GEOJE, South Gyeongsang Province — Wearing gloves, reporters ducked beneath a canvas cover and descended a ladder into the Seo Hui, a 3,600-ton submarine under construction at Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje shipyard. At the bottom was a narrow passage, barely wide enough for two adults. Pipes and equipment remained exposed, while stickers reading “painting inspection completed” showed that work was still underway. Hanwha Ocean opened the interior of the Seo Hui, the second Jangbogo-III Batch-II submarine, to the media for the first time Tuesday. Its launch ceremony is tentatively planned for November, although the timing could change depending on the Navy’s schedule. The contract stipulates that delivery is set for December 2027. Measuring about 89 meters long, the Seo Hui is larger than the Dosan Ahn Chang-ho-class submarines of Batch-I. Its combat management and sonar systems have been upgraded to improve data processing, target detection and land attack capabilities. Its overall localization rate is about 80 percent. In the torpedo room in the bow, horizontal launch tubes were arrange

Shark sightings draw crowds at Busan's North Port

Sep 20, 2026

Shark sightings draw crowds at Busan's North Port

Repeated shark sightings at a waterfront park in Busan’s North Port have drawn crowds of curious visitors, prompting city authorities to step up safety measures while monitoring the sea creature’s return to open waters. A shark estimated to be at least 3 meters long was first spotted at around 8:57 a.m. on Friday in a waterway at the port’s Waterfront Park, according to city officials. Another shark sighting was reported at around 1:05 p.m. the following day. The creature was believed to be a basking shark, a species found in subtropical waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans, including waters off the Korean Peninsula. Although the species is not known to be aggressive, city officials said it could still pose a danger if provoked or approached too closely. The Korea Coast Guard initially tried to guide the shark out of the narrow waterway. But it suspended the effort after the National Institute of Fisheries Science advised that forcing the animal away could trigger defensive or aggressive behavior. Instead of deterring visitors, the unusual sight quickly turned the park

From royal seals to water droppers: Korea's museum cosplay contest finale thrills onlookers

Sep 20, 2026

From royal seals to water droppers: Korea's museum cosplay contest finale thrills onlookers

A giant golden royal seal swayed down a red carpet to pounding music, along with two women — one dressed in a Western-style uniform from the Great Korean Empire period, the other in a green Joseon era official’s robe and sunglasses. “Where did the state seal go?” they called out as thousands of spectators cheered at the National Museum of Korea’s open plaza in Seoul on Saturday afternoon. The seal, handcrafted from a barbecue restaurant exhaust hood and a large box spray-painted gold, represented "Jegojibo," the royal seal used for imperial decrees. Looted and taken to Japan in 1911 during the colonial occupation, the seal returned home decades after Korea’s liberation. Their entrance set the tone for the final round of “Dress Like a Museum Exhibit,” the National Museum of Korea’s increasingly popular artifact cosplay contest. What began in 2024 as a small program has grown into a nationwide heritage fan event, drawing 275 teams and 643 participants this year — more than three times last year’s 83 entries. More than 2,000 people registered in advance to attend. The s

Rare earth exposure can triple low birthweight risk: Chinese study

Sep 20, 2026

Rare earth exposure can triple low birthweight risk: Chinese study

A new study finds that prenatal exposure to rare earth elements can raise the risk of low birthweight, with some substances increasing the danger by more than three times. Researchers tracked 4,891 pregnant women who gave birth at Wuhan Maternal and Child Health Hospital between 2012 and 2014. They measured the concentration of 13 rare earth elements including cerium, ytterbium, and lanthanum in urine samples collected from the mothers. After adjusting for confounding factors such as maternal...

DICT welcomes Ombudsman probe into alleged 'ghost internet' scheme

Sep 20, 2026

DICT welcomes Ombudsman probe into alleged 'ghost internet' scheme

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Sunday welcomed the Office of the Ombudsman"s probe into an alleged “ghost internet” scheme involving government IT systems, saying it is ready to provide the necessary records and data for the investigation.

Viral drone flight in Mindoro linked to alleged plan to help Korean inmate escape Bilibid

Sep 20, 2026

Viral drone flight in Mindoro linked to alleged plan to help Korean inmate escape Bilibid

A young Filipino man became the center of an unusual story after a video showed him being lifted into the air by a large drone at a port in Sablayan, Mindoro in March.

World leaders return to UN amid wars in Middle East and Ukraine

Sep 20, 2026

World leaders return to UN amid wars in Middle East and Ukraine

Compounding the crisis of morale and finance are questions about the next leader of the 80-year-old organization

New North Korea-Russia bridge delivers a powerful message to China

Sep 20, 2026

New North Korea-Russia bridge delivers a powerful message to China

The recent opening of a new road bridge between North Korea and Russia may look like a modest infrastructure project. In reality, the 1km stretch across the Tumen River carries implications far beyond the movement of vehicles between two border towns. For China, it is a reminder that its influence over North Korea is no longer as secure as it once appeared and that Russia may be increasingly capable of challenging Beijing’s interests on its northeastern periphery. The bridge, inaugurated on...

New North Korea-Russia bridge delivers a powerful message to China

Sep 20, 2026

New North Korea-Russia bridge delivers a powerful message to China

The recent opening of a new road bridge between North Korea and Russia may look like a modest infrastructure project. In reality, the 1km stretch across the Tumen River carries implications far beyond the movement of vehicles between two border towns. For China, it is a reminder that its influence over North Korea is no longer as secure as it once appeared and that Russia may be increasingly capable of challenging Beijing’s interests on its northeastern periphery. The bridge, inaugurated on...

Agatha Wong shifts focus to med school after Asian Games swan song

Sep 20, 2026

Agatha Wong shifts focus to med school after Asian Games swan song

Filipina wushu standout Agatha Wong delivers her Asian Games swan song, finishing 10th in the women's taijiquan and taijijian event

Hong Kong secures expanded equal treatment and investment guarantees across Asean

Sep 20, 2026

Hong Kong secures expanded equal treatment and investment guarantees across Asean

Hong Kong firms will benefit from expanded non-discriminatory treatment and investment guarantees in 10 Asean states after a protocol amending an investment agreement with the bloc was signed on Sunday. The protocol was signed in Manila – where Asean economic ministers are meeting – ahead of dedicated trade consultations between Hong Kong and the bloc. Undersecretary for Commerce and Economic Development Bernard Chan Pak-li signed the protocol for Hong Kong, alongside Philippine Trade Secretary...

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