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

US President Donald Trump took center stage on Sunday as host of the storied Kennedy Center's flagship awards program, praising select entertainers and his own forceful overhaul of the storied arts venue.

China's towering annual trade surplus surpassed $1 trillion for the first time last month, data showed Monday, as a sharp drop in shipments to the United States was offset by surging exports to other major markets.

Morocco have home advantage, a team that has won a world record 18 consecutive internationals and an inspirational captain in Achraf Hakimi as they seek 2025 Africa Cup of Nations glory.

Ten Africa Cup of Nations records:

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky was due to meet with European allies in London on Monday, after President Donald Trump accused him of not reading the US proposal to end the war with Russia.

The United Nations on Monday hit out at global "apathy" over widespread suffering as it launched its 2026 appeal for humanitarian assistance, which is limited in scope as aid operations confront major funding cuts.

The Southeast Asian Games officially open in Bangkok on Tuesday against a backdrop of chaotic organisation and with fresh border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia threatening to overshadow the sporting showpiece.

AFP Sports looks at the winners and losers in the 2025 season which came to a tense end on Sunday with Lando Norris winning the three-way title showdown in Abu Dhabi:

Luka Doncic returned with a triple-double and LeBron James came up big in the clutch to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 112-108 NBA victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.

Thailand launched air strikes on its neighbour Cambodia on Monday, the Thai army said, with both sides trading blame for the latest eruption of fighting on their disputed border which killed a Thai soldier.

Asian equities drifted Monday as investors gear up for an expected US interest rate cut this week, with debate centring on the likelihood the Federal Reserve will continue easing monetary policy further into the new year.

England's cricketing woes deepened Monday when their second-tier team crashed to Australia A by an innings and 127 runs, emphasising the tourists' alarming lack of depth.

Australia's ability to adapt and rise in key moments has thrust them to the cusp of retaining the Ashes, with Steve Smith saying it is a process they have fine-tuned.

Thailand launched air strikes on its neighbour Cambodia on Monday, the Thai army said, with both sides trading blame for the latest eruption of fighting on their disputed border which killed a Thai soldier.

Australia's landmark move to ban under-16s from social media will be closely watched by other countries, which could follow suit with similar laws.

EU countries on Monday are expected to approve a significant tightening of Europe's immigration policy, including endorsing the concept of setting up "return hubs" for migrants outside the 27-nation bloc.

Olympic figure skaters will perform for a matter of mere minutes at February's Milan-Cortina Games but the process of creating and honing their routines takes months of consideration and effort.

US President Donald Trump commented Sunday on Netflix's effort to acquire storied Hollywood studio Warner Bros., saying the streaming giant already has "a very large market share" and "it could be a problem."

Hollywood's awards season shifts into high gear Monday when nominations for the Golden Globes are unveiled, with hit musical "Wicked: For Good," Shakespeare family tragedy "Hamnet" and period horror movie "Sinners" leading the charge.

Venezuela acknowledged Sunday an opposition figure died while in custody, as the Trump administration slammed Caracas as "vile" and the South American country's army swore in thousands of new soldiers amid mounting US military pressure.

England captain Ben Stokes has demanded his players toughen up after another embarrassing defeat to Australia left the Ashes hanging by a thread, making clear the team is "not a place for weak men".

The scientific chain behind Neutrino® Energy Group's neutrinovoltaic technology, once debated, now stands independently confirmed.

Eight engravings by the French artist Henri Matisse were stolen from a library in Sao Paulo, the Brazilian city's government said Sunday.

Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso called on his team to bounce back quickly after a painful defeat by Celta Vigo on Sunday when they face Manchester City in the Champions League.

Rasmus Hojlund fired Napoli top of Serie A with both goals in Sunday's 2-1 win over Juventus and former idol Luciano Spalletti, who left empty-handed from the site of his greatest triumph.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones suffered a potentially season-ending Achilles injury as his team slipped to a 36-19 NFL defeat to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

Former Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama birdied the first hole of a sudden death playoff to beat Alex Noren in the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas on Sunday.

Lyon fell to their fifth defeat of the season in Ligue 1 as they lost 1-0 at lowly Lorient on Sunday, while crisis-club Nice went down to the same scoreline against Angers.

Real Madrid crashed to a damaging 2-0 home defeat by Celta Vigo on Sunday in La Liga, finishing the game with nine men after red cards for Fran Garcia and Alvaro Carreras.

The Pittsburgh Steelers battled past the Baltimore Ravens to claim a controversial NFL Road win on Sunday as Josh Allen inspired a late comeback to give the Buffalo Bills a dramatic victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Rasmus Hojlund fired Napoli top of Serie A with both goals in Sunday's 2-1 win over Juventus and former idol Luciano Spalletti who left empty-handed from the site of his greatest triumph.

Nigerian authorities have secured the release of 100 kidnapped schoolchildren taken by gunmen from a Catholic school last month, a UN source and local media said Sunday, though the fate of the 165 students and staff thought to remain in captivity remains unclear.