China bar exam row sinks Trump press secretary Katie Zacharia after just 5 days

South China Morning Post - Oct 16, 2026

Katie Zacharia was “let go” as White House press secretary on Friday, a White House official said, five days into a tenure dominated by questions over her claimed legal career in China, where she said she had passed a bar exam. Her exit came on the same day Beijing invited her to visit China more often, responding to her remark that the country “doesn’t even have proper toilets”. US President Donald Trump said he had urged her to reconsider the job but denied firing her. “I told her: ‘I think...

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Defense ministry refutes Pyongyang's claim questioning Seoul's test of hypersonic glide vehicle

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Farm raising beef for tables around the world faces threat from data center construction

A fierce battle over artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, which are increasingly being seen as unwanted facilities, is erupting around the world among governments, companies and local residents. Korea, which is also moving quickly to expand AI data centers as one of the government's three megaprojects, is no exception. Where can we find clues to resolving these conflicts? To find answers, a Hankook Ilbo reporting team traveled to Australia Aug. 7-14 for a field investigation into how the country is preparing for the future with AI data centers. Australia is seeking to make AI data centers its next major growth industry after minerals and wool. Residents are banding together to make their voices heard and searching for rules that will allow people and AI data centers to coexist. In August, winter fog in the Southern Hemisphere swallowed the morning sunlight, leaving a farm in darkness as cattle awoke to the familiar voices of an elderly couple. "Did you have any trouble during the night?" "Did you sleep well?" Every morning at 7 a.m., Paul Brackenreg, 61, and Rosalind "Rose" Murphy, 7

China bar exam row sinks Trump press secretary Katie Zacharia after just 5 days

MORE NEWS

18 reasons to get the new iPhone Duo with Smart Postpaid

Musk settles election lottery lawsuits over $1 million voter giveaways

AI safety group pushes for tighter export controls, limits on 'vastly superhuman AI'

Philippines 5th most targeted by Chinese cyber operations -- Microsoft

DPWH cites failed biddings for slow classroom construction

Prosecutors end evidence presentation vs. Marcoleta on first day of trial, says Remulla

Tesla says its newly unveiled Roadster 2 vehicle ‘can fly’

Brush fires spark in Southern California, prompting evacuation orders

A US scholar’s take on how shifts in US-China relations are felt in a Tsinghua classroom

Warsh offers no fresh signals on interest rates

Defense ministry refutes Pyongyang's claim questioning Seoul's test of hypersonic glide vehicle

Farm raising beef for tables around the world faces threat from data center construction

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