Seoul Gazette - News from Seoul, the Dongan District, Manan District, Buk District, Busanjin District, South Korea and the world

Ireland’s transition to a fully digitized national health system will require a sustained ten-year investment and a fundamental shift in digital literacy among healthcare professionals, according to Department of Health Secretary General Derek Tierney. Speaking at the Patient Solutions 2026 conference, Tierney outlined the government's strategy to replace a fragmented legacy infrastructure with a unified electronic health record (EHR) designed to improve patient outcomes and operational efficiency across the country.

Arizona voters will head to the polls in less than a month for the 2026 midterm elections, deciding the state’s leadership and several contentious policy measures. The ballot features high-profile races for governor, attorney general, and secretary of state, alongside propositions addressing voter identification, affirmative action, sports participation, and local taxation.

As NBC’s primary election data analyst Steve Kornacki prepares for the upcoming midterm elections, he has opened up about his surprisingly low-tech lifestyle. Despite his digital prominence, Kornacki admits to using outdated hardware, avoiding modern social media trends, and harboring significant reservations about artificial intelligence.

엑스펑모터스코리아(XPENG Motors Korea)는 이만식 전 볼보자동차코리아 커뮤니케이션 및 커머셜 총괄을 신임 한국대표로 선임했다고 밝혔다. 신규 대표의 본격 임기는 오는 12월 1일부터 시작되며, 그는 30년 이상의 자동차 산업 경험과 프리미엄 브랜드 운영 노하우를 바탕으로 엑스펑의 한국 시장에서의 입지 강화와 지속 가능한 성장을 주도할 예정이다.

(Bloomberg) -- State-owned Coal India Ltd. is preparing to launch an initial public offering of its unit Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd.

United Nations India and Israel have voted against a draft resolution in the UN by Pakistan and Belarus on conventional arms control at regional and subregional levels, with New Delhi saying countries' security concerns are not confined within regional boundaries. The draft resolution, titled ‘General and complete disarmament: Conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels’, was approved by the UN General Assembly’s First Committee on Monday with 180 votes in favour, two against and no abstentions

Julia Stiles and her Dancing With the Stars partner, Ezra Sosa, shared tearful interviews after being eliminated during "Disney Night." The pair reflected on their time together, with Sosa praising Stiles' influence on his personal growth and Stiles citing newfound confidence from the competition.

BLS Polymers share price today:BLS Polymers shares made a strong debut on the stock exchanges on Tuesday, delivering listing gains of over 65 per cent to the IPO investors. The shares listed at ₹248 on the National Stock Exchange (NSE), a premium of ₹98 or 65.

A new study published in Nature Communications projects that the number of buildings across the contiguous United States threatened by wildfires could almost triple by 2060. Researchers attribute this escalating risk to a combination of climate change, forest mismanagement, and continued development in fire-prone areas, warning that socioeconomically vulnerable communities face disproportionate dangers.

Capital market-related stocks today Shares of capital market-related companies including stock broking and allied services, exchange and data platforms and asset management companies (AMCs) were in focus and rallied up to 7 per cent on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) in Tuesday’s intraday deals. The buying at these counters can be attributed to healthy Q2 earnings reported so far by related companies.

Grace Griffin thought she had calculated her pregnancy expenses accurately until bills exceeded $9,000—more than triple her insurer’s estimate. Her experience highlights a systemic failure in healthcare transparency, as federal rules designed to provide accurate cost predictions remain unimplemented. With maternity billing codes set to change next year, experts urge parents to master insurance details and verify every bill.

Civil society groups feared that intensified Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations would chill voter participation among Latino communities ahead of the midterm elections. Instead, organizers report a surge in turnout, with data confirming that Hispanic voters are casting ballots at significantly higher rates than in previous cycles, driven by a determination to influence policy outcomes.

The United States conducted limited military strikes against Iranian targets in the strategic Strait of Hormuz on Monday, a U.S. official confirmed, marking a significant escalation just days before the nation's midterm elections. The operation targeted Iranian surface-to-air missile systems, occurring as Tehran outlined plans to reopen the critical waterway and resume nuclear negotiations with Washington.

ITC shares rose 1. 5 per cent on Tuesday after the company reported its quarterly results post-market hours on Monday.

Bethlehem field hockey claimed its second consecutive Section 2 Class A title on Sunday with a 1-0 victory over Guilderland. Senior midfielder Lauren Brodeur scored the decisive goal in overtime, ending a defensive struggle at Glens Falls High School and propelling the Eagles to the regional final.

Reliance Industries (RIL) share price soared 11. 6 per cent to ₹1,299 on Monday, registering its biggest single-day gain in over six years on the BSE and NSE.

A meticulously preserved 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda equipped with the legendary 426 Hemi engine has appeared for sale through AutoTrader, carrying an asking price of USD$400,000. The vehicle, finished in the rare FF4 Lime Green Metallic paint, boasts exceptionally low mileage and a documented history linking it to Chrysler of France’s early racing efforts.

DOHA: Kuwait beat Oman 1-0 on Monday in the second edition of the Gulf Cup for veteran players, with Khaled Al-Fadhli scoring the winner in stoppage time. The tournament is organized by the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation (AGCFF) with the local organizing committee in Qatar and runs until Nov 5.

Instant messaging was designed to simplify life by removing the financial and technical barriers of early text communication. However, the removal of these limits has created a new phenomenon where constant connectivity generates social burnout, turning casual exchanges into an overwhelming obligation for users worldwide.

RIYADH: Saudi oil giant Aramco on Tuesday announced a 34. 6 percent jump in third-quarter net profit, as the Middle East war keeps crude prices high even while the kingdom’s energy infrastructure comes under regular attack.

Alberta’s contentious new electoral riding boundary proposals were released to the public on Monday, triggering immediate condemnation from Opposition Leader Naheed Nenshi, who accused Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative government of attempting to rig the next election. The tabling of the maps sets the stage for a legislative debate and potential legal battles over the fairness of the redrawn districts.

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump signaled progress on Monday in talks with Iran to avoid a return to war, as Tehran reported “intensive” exchanges and offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz under strict conditions. The diplomatic signals came ahead of Tuesday’s US midterm elections, in which Trump’s Republican Party is trying to keep control of Congress amid voter dissatisfaction over the conflict and the soaring fuel prices it has caused.

HONG KONG: A Hong Kong court will sentence pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong on Thursday in his second national security trial, which could see him jailed for life, as reported by the judiciary’s website. The website showed on Tuesday that a sentencing hearing was scheduled for Nov 5.

South Korea’s labor share of gross domestic product has fallen to its lowest level since comparable data began in 2010, hitting 41.1% in the second quarter. This decline coincides with a surge in corporate profits driven by the semiconductor industry, prompting experts to call for government intervention to address growing economic polarization.

SYDNEY: Australia’s central bank raised its central interest rate to an 18-year high on Tuesday, citing the prolonged war in the Middle East and persistent inflationary pressures. In a statement, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) said it would raise its cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.

Merchant operating system provider littlefish and enterprise SoftPOS technology developer Halo Dot have announced a strategic partnership designed to help financial institutions replace traditional payment terminals with secure mobile solutions. The collaboration integrates Halo Dot’s certified contactless payment infrastructure directly into the littlefish platform, allowing banks and merchant acquirers to offer a unified software-based solution that combines payment acceptance with business management tools.

Disney+ has launched its highly anticipated royal fantasy series "The Remarried Empress" ahead of schedule, offering viewers a glimpse into a lavish, fictional empire. At a press event in Seoul, the main cast detailed the complexities of adapting the hit web novel, from navigating unfamiliar court etiquette to performing alongside computer-generated counterparts.

KUWAIT: The Public Authority for Food and Nutrition (PAFN) issued nine violation reports and destroyed 115 kilograms of meat of unknown origin during an inspection tour of food establishments in Farwaniya Governorate, the authority announced on Monday. The tour was carried out by the authority’s Farwaniya food inspection department.

HONG KONG: Asian stock markets struggled on Tuesday after another AI-fueled tech selloff on Wall Street outweighed a plunge in oil prices and signs of a possible breakthrough in talks to end the Iran war. Investors were also watching the US midterm elections.

Egypt is accelerating the construction of a 341-kilometer railway line that will link Bir al-Abd, Arish, and Ras El-Naqab near Taba Airport. Transport Minister Kamel Al-Wazir recently inspected active work zones along the route, emphasizing the need to maintain round-the-clock operations to meet technical standards and construction schedules for this key infrastructure project.

Field exercises simulating emergency-response procedures were conducted at Hamad International Airport (HIA) Monday as part of the nationwide WATAN 2026 exercise, Qatar Airways announced. In a notice posted on its official X account, the national carrier said passengers and airport visitors may notice increased ground activity at designated locations across the airport, as well as related activities in the surrounding airspace.

'Dukes of Hazzard' actor John Schneider has formally acknowledged a debt of roughly $3.7 million in back spousal support to his ex-wife, Elvira Schneider, marking a shift in their ongoing divorce proceedings. While admitting the financial obligation, Schneider is contesting a court order that would divert half of his Social Security benefits to satisfy the arrears.