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

The re-election of President Sergio Mattarella in Italy has temporarily averted a political disaster and may ease the passing of key reforms, but Machiavellian plotting by political parties has just begun, analysts warn.

Portugal voted Sunday in a close-fought election, with no party expected to garner a majority in parliament in a fragmented political landscape that could see the far right make huge gains.

Blinding snow whipped up by powerful winds pummeled the eastern United States into Sunday's early hours, as one of the strongest winter storms in years triggered transport chaos and power outages across a region of some 70 million people.

Portugal votes Sunday in a tight election, with no party expected to garner a majority in parliament in a fragmented political landscape that could see the far right make huge gains.

The Beijing Olympics are taking place in a strict "closed loop" with 60,000 competitors, journalists and the Chinese workforce looking after them cut off from local people and tested for Covid-19 every day.

Factory activity in China edged down in January, official figures showed Sunday, but slightly exceeded expectations as businesses struggled with sporadic disruptions due to coronavirus outbreaks.

India's capital New Delhi is shivering through an unusually harsh bout of harsh winter cold, blamed for killing scores of homeless people and leaving other hard-up residents struggling to keep warm.

Top seeds Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova won their fourth Grand Slam Sunday, sweeping to the Australian Open women's doubles title against Kazakstan's Anna Danilina and Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia.

In a remote monastery in northern Greece, an Orthodox abbot delivers a blunt message to dozens of his maskless worshippers: Covid-19 vaccines are "the mark of the Antichrist".

As the sun sets over central Rome, five figures in white overalls move under the trees. They wave speakers emitting a mix of sharp cries, and the birds rise into the air.

Ashleigh Barty's coach believes the world number one will not win the only Grand Slam missing from her resume unless the US Open changes its balls.

Klay Thompson drained a three-pointer with 12.5 seconds remaining to lift the Golden State Warriors to a 110-106 NBA victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday.

Bhutan's success in avoiding coronavirus is almost unrivalled but a rare patient death -- just the kingdom's fourth -- shows more work was needed to fight the pandemic there, its leader says.

The pandemic prevented Shanghai schoolteacher Chen Hainan from returning to her hometown to reunite with family for the past two Lunar New Year holidays, but not even lingering virus concerns and repeated Covid tests will keep her away this time.

Ashleigh Barty says she feels "humbled" to have joined tennis royalty's most exclusive club with a Grand Slam crown on three different surfaces, but vowed: "There's still work to be done."

Three-time world men's figure skating champion Nathan Chen strapped on his first pair of skates at age three after watching his two older brothers playing ice hockey.

Agriculture entrepreneurs are bringing the digital age to Pakistan's farmers, helping them plan crops better and distribute their produce when the time is right.

North Korea on Sunday tested its most powerful missile since 2017, ramping up the firepower for its record-breaking seventh launch this month as Seoul warned nuclear and long-range tests could be next.

Beijing recorded its highest number of new Covid-19 cases for a year and a half on Sunday, as the Chinese capital gears up to host the Winter Olympics in five days.

A baby in his car seat. A man in bed. A girl walking with her mother: Stray bullets killed each of them days apart as surging gun violence ripples through the United States.

Luke List birdied the first playoff hole to beat Will Zalatoris in the Farmers Insurance Open on Saturday, notching his first US PGA Tour title in his 206th start.

Each working morning, oil engineer Safa al-Saeedi dons a safety helmet and heads into a gas complex for another day challenging conservative prejudices by being a professional woman in Iraq.

China warns almost daily against "politicising" this week's Beijing Olympics, but for its rulers, hosting the Games has always been about far more than sport and the medal count.

"Bloody Sunday" was a turning point in three decades of violence in Northern Ireland known as the "Troubles".

The Northern Irish city of Londonderry commemorates one of the darkest days in modern UK history on Sunday when, 50 years ago, British troops opened fire without provocation on civil rights protesters.

Eileen Gu is just 18, a grade-A student and has set new standards in freestyle skiing -- no wonder there is a frenzy around her in China ahead of this week's Beijing Olympics.

Miami resident Maria Ruby learned last month that her rent will shoot up 65 percent in February. She cannot afford it and does not know where to go.

Rafael Nadal will be looking to move ahead of his great "Big Three" rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic by winning a record 21st Grand Slam crown in Sunday's Australian Open final -- but Daniil Medvedev is ready to crash the party.

Seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Tom Brady is poised to retire after 22 NFL seasons, according to multiple US media reports Saturday.

Stand-in skipper Moeen Ali starred with bat and ball as England beat the West Indies by 34 runs to set up a series decider on Sunday.

A town in western Mexico where thousands of American white pelicans migrate is hoping to turn the birds into a global tourist draw -- and recoup losses from the Covid-19 pandemic.

There was no men's shot put world record by Ryan Crouser on Saturday at the Millrose Games despite an erroneous reading from a faulty laser measurement device that showed a historic mark.