창간 80주년 경향신문

Traces of prayer woven across the Himalayas… Encountering living Buddhism in Bhutan

The clichéd epithets for Bhutan are the last Shangri-La and the land of happiness. Yet the key to reading this small Himalayan kingdom more precisely is something else: Buddhism. In Bhutan, Buddhism does not stay confined to mountain monasteries; it is inscribed in the land and in daily life. Traces of prayer permeate the lonely mountain paths, the villages strung along riverbanks, and the cliff-hanging temples. Five-colored flags that pray for peace and good fortune (Lungdhar) rippl...

2026.04.16 11:02

With the Strait of Hormuz blocked, buyers flocked to U.S. oil···U.S. crude exports hit a ‘record high’

With transit through the Strait of Hormuz restricted and Middle Eastern crude harder to obtain, U.S. crude exports have reached an all-time high.The Financial Times (FT) reported on the 15th (local time) that last week U.S. crude exports averaged 5.2 million barrels per day, the highest on record. That was an increase of more than 1 million barrels from the previous week.According to U.S. government data, exports of refined petroleum products, including gasoline and fuel oil, averaged ab...

2026.04.16 11:02

U.S. Treasury Secretary "We will block trade in Iranian oil again"

The U.S. Treasury has decided not to renew the waiver on sanctions for Iranian oil that it had introduced as a response to the surge in global oil prices caused by the Iran war.U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said at a White House briefing on the 15th (local time), "We will not renew the general license for Russian oil, and we will not renew the 'general license' for Iranian oil either." A general license is a system that temporarily permits the purchase of petroleum products from ...

2026.04.16 11:02

BLACKPINK's Jennie Named to Time's '100 Most Influential People'

Jennie of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK (legal name Kim Jennie, 30) has been named to Time magazine's '100 Most Influential People of the Year'.According to the 'Time 100' list released by Time on the 15th (local time), Jennie was included in the Artists category.Last year, Jennie released the solo album 'Ruby' and, as the first female K-pop solo artist, set a record by placing three songs on the Billboard main singles chart, the 'Hot 100', simultaneously.Gracie Abrams, a singer-...

2026.04.16 11:02

“U.S. and Iran Consider Extending Truce by Two Weeks”···Iran Proposes Limited Opening of the Strait of Hormuz

The United States and Iran are reportedly considering extending the truce by two more weeks to secure additional time for negotiations to end the conflict.Bloomberg reported this on the 15th (local time), citing anonymous sources.The sources said mediators are working to convene U.S.-Iran working-level talks to resolve the most contentious issues. The core issues include reopening the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian uranium enrichment.If the working-level talks succeed, they could pave the ...

2026.04.16 11:02

Actor Jang Dong-yoon Makes His Feature Directorial Debut: “I Feel Like I’m Scratching a Lottery Ticket Every Time···There’s No Right Answer in Life”

If fate led him then, this time he chose his fate. Actor Jang Dong-yoon debuted the following year after appearing in the news in 2015 for apprehending a convenience store robber while attending Hanyang University. Ten years on, he stands at another starting line. On the 13th, two days before the release of his first feature as a director, <Nuruk>, we met “director Jang Dong-yoon”.Jang said, “Even if I’m clumsy, what matters is to try.” “I’m still clumsy as an actor, but I don’t regret...

2026.04.16 11:01

Iran “Ceasefire extension not finalized···cannot abandon nuclear program”

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said that although the first round of end-of-war talks with the United States collapsed, the two countries have since continued to exchange views indirectly through a mediating country.According to state-run IRNA on the 15th (local time), Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said at a briefing that “since the Iranian delegation returned (from Islamabad) on the 12th, multiple exchanges of messages with the United States via Pakistan have continued.”He...

2026.04.16 11:01

“A maritime blockade is a lawful act; if you do not comply, we will use force”···U.S. military posts warning-broadcast video on social media

The U.S. military posted to social media a video broadcasting a warning that it will respond with force if there is no cooperation with the maritime blockade against Iran.In the 26-second video that U.S. Central Command posted to X on the 15th (local time), it says, “The United States has declared an official blockade of Iranian coastal ports, and this is a lawful act,” advising vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports to turn back and cease navigation.It then warns, “Do not attempt to br...

2026.04.16 11:01

At least 22 casualties as a middle school student in Turkey opens fire at school

In Turkey, a middle school student opened fire at a school, killing at least nine people, including students.According to the Interior Ministry and other authorities, around 1:30 p.m. on the 15th (local time), a shooting took place at Aysercalik Middle School in Kahramanmaras in southern Turkey, leaving a total of nine people dead, including eight students and one teacher, and injuring 13. Six patients were classified as critical, and three of them were reported to be in life-threatening c...

2026.04.16 11:01

Trump “I am keeping the Strait of Hormuz permanently open”

On the 15th (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that he is keeping the Strait of Hormuz permanently open.Trump wrote on Truth Social that “China is very pleased that I am keeping the Strait of Hormuz permanently open.”He added, “I am doing it for them (China), and also for the world,” and “This kind of situation will not happen again.”Trump went on to say, “China has agreed not to send weapons to Iran,” and “When I arrive there (Beijing, China) in a few weeks, President Xi...

2026.04.16 11:01