At Watsons, women’s health and wellness are at the heart of its commitment to supporting women at every stage of life. Today’s modern woman rarely fits into just one role. She moves between different priorities, responsibilities and routines, often balancing several at once. With so much to juggle, having someone to turn to for trusted health guidance can make a difference. At Watsons, pharmacists serve as Health Besties who are there to listen, answer questions and guide women toward choices that fit their needs. By making health guidance part of the everyday Watsons experience, they help make conversations about women’s health more approachable. This approach builds on 185 years of A.S. Watson Group’s experience in health and beauty retail, bringing its long-standing legacy of care into the way Watsons supports women today. Supporting her health at every stage There is no single definition of what being “well” looks like. Women have different health and wellness priorities depending on their lifestyles, concerns and stages of life, and finding the right solutions can sometimes feel overwhelming. Watsons brings together a wide range of products and services to support women’s changing health and wellness needs, with health at the core of the experience. From vitamins and supplements that support everyday nutrition to prescription and over-the-counter medicines, women can find support for both everyday and more specific health needs. Free consultations and vaccination services also encourage women to take a more proactive approach to their health. These needs extend beyond health alone, with skin care, hair care, personal care and beauty essentials also supporting the different ways women care for themselves. “At Watsons, we understand that women’s wellness is personal and constantly evolving. Her needs can change depending on her lifestyle, her priorities and the stage of life she is in. We want to make it easier for every woman to take care of herself by giving her access to trusted health, wellness, beauty and personal care solutions all in one place,” said Sharon Decapia, senior assistant vice president for marketing, public relations and sustainability at Watsons Philippines. Celebrating eight years of more with Watsons Club Having access to the right solutions is one thing; getting more value from every Watsons visit is another. For women who rely on Watsons for the everyday essentials that help them take care of themselves, Watsons Club adds another layer of value to the experience, with exclusive rewards, savings and benefits available in stores and online. As Watsons Club celebrates its eighth anniversary, members have even more reasons to celebrate. For eight years, Watsons Club has been part of members’ everyday health, wellness, beauty and personal care journeys, giving them more ways to enjoy their Watsons experience. For women navigating different routines and priorities, these member benefits offer additional ways to make everyday self-care and wellness more rewarding. For its anniversary, Watsons Club is offering more rewards and exclusive benefits for members. Members can look for green tags across Watsons stores to enjoy exclusive rewards. Being a member means getting more out of every Watsons visit. One way members can celebrate is through the Watsons Club Anniversary E-Raffle. Members can earn one e-raffle entry for every P1,000 spent at Watsons for a chance to win a three-day, two-night wellness retreat at COMO Shambhala Estate in Ubud, Bali. Watsons e-gift vouchers from Giftaway are also up for grabs for 185 winners. Members can also earn eight times the Watsons Club points on weekends when they spend at least P1,000 in a single transaction on eligible purchases at Watsons stores, through the Watsons app or at watsons.com.ph. Watsons Club members can also enjoy a 5% discount on vaccination services until Oct. 21, 2026, giving them another way to stay proactive about their health.

The leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party, an Indian youth movement, had been detained by the police on Saturday before they could lead protests over voting rights.

Hong Kong’s Asia+ Festival, the annual celebration of the cultural diversity of the region, particularly those countries linked by the Belt and Road Initiative – China’s plan to develop a global trading network – is back for its fourth edition under the theme “Traditions Recast”. Two headline shows at this year’s festival – organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department – which runs until the end of November, perfectly capture that spirit by fusing ancient music with visual art and...

MANILA, Philippines — Constituents of Caloocan City can avail themselves of free mental health screening and consultation and other services to take care of their well-being.  According to the Caloocan City Public Information Office (PIO), the Caloocan City Calm Space is located on the 5th floor of Caloocan City Hall – South and is operational

MANILA, Philippines — After Sen. Mark Villar’s transfer to the Senate majority last week, no other senator has yet informed the minority bloc of planning to cross over the political fence, according to Sen. Robinhood Padilla. But if any of his colleagues in the minority should decide to follow Villar’s move, he said the group

VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon —  Manases “Mans” Carpio has felt exasperated over being dragged into the political controversies surrounding his wife, Vice President Sara Duterte, describing himself as a “collateral damage” in the impeachment case she is facing. “Pati ako, gidamay. Pastilan. Murag ako man gi-impeach da. Wala silay makita kang Sara ba, kaya murag collateral

MUNGYEONG, North Gyeongsang Province —Every step along the country road reveals another pale purple flower emerging through the mist. Any visitor soon finds themselves surrounded by thousands upon thousands of blossoms. A wave of flowers winds along the ridges of the wooded hillside, revealing here and there a statue of the Buddha or stately pine trees. It is a truly dreamlike and otherworldly scene. Bongcheon Temple, a small Buddhist temple halfway up Mount Wolbang in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province, is blanketed in purple aster flowers every autumn. The sight is spectacular every year, but the flowers are particularly abundant this year. Seven asters grow into a field of flowers The flowers cover an area of 23,100 square meters, but began with just seven aster flowers. When the abbot first came to the temple 12 years ago, the surrounding hillside was barren. It was covered with kudzu vines, with only a few small vegetable plots cultivated by local residents scattered here and there. Looking for a wildflower that could thrive on the rocky, weed-covered hillside, the monk chose aste

Tucked inside the bustling Seocho District in southern Seoul, the Seoripul Musical Instrument Street has long served as the heart of Korea’s classical music scene. Situated near the Seoul Arts Center and the prestigious Korea National University of Arts, this designated cultural zone is home to scores of instrument workshops, rehearsal spaces and specialized repair shops. It is a neighborhood where the delicate scent of wood varnish drifts into the alleyways and the world’s finest string instruments find their voice. Starting Oct. 17, the district will showcase this centuries-old craft during the 2026 Seoripul K-String Fair at the Rhode Art Center. Running through Oct. 23, the event stands as Korea’s premier modern string instrument festival, bringing together 13 master instrument makers based in Korea and Italy to display 28 handcrafted masterpieces, including 21 violins, five violas and two cellos. Crafting a violin is a painstaking pursuit of acoustic perfection. Artisans spend hundreds of hours carving maple and spruce, shaping the instrument’s delicate arching to control so

BUSAN — “Take a slow, deep breath. Let the aroma of neroli, sandalwood and lavender release every bit of tension held in your body.” As dusk settled at 6 p.m. on Oct. 2, Paradise Hotel Busan unveiled a sanctuary of quiet renewal. Against the dramatic sweep of the autumn sea and a fading horizon, the hotel introduced a specialized wellness experience designed to blend thermal spa immersion with deep meditation. Held as an intimate gathering for 10 members, the "Ocean Healing Ritual with the Autumn Sea" began with a simple act: An instructor gently placed a few drops of aromatic oil onto each participant's open palms. In the crisp evening air, participants rubbed the fragrant oils into their hands, smoothing away the knots in their necks and shoulders. Through a series of gentle yoga postures, they began to release the weight of the day, restoring physical and mental equilibrium. The initiative is part of Paradise Hotel Busan’s ongoing effort to design wellness experiences grounded in the season and its coastal setting. In collaboration with Amorepacific’s ultra-luxury skin care

Among domestic travelers in Korea, a popular catchphrase has taken root to describe the post-vacation blues: Busan fever. The term captures the lingering nostalgia visitors feel for the southern port city's coastal views, vibrant night markets and laid-back atmosphere long after their trips have ended. Starting this week, the Busan Metropolitan Government is offering a digital remedy for that homesickness. City officials launched Busan Kku, a dedicated online platform distributing free downloadable digital merchandise — ranging from smartphone wallpapers to tablet stickers — designed to help domestic and international travelers bring a piece of Busan into their daily lives. The initiative taps directly into a popular youth culture trend in Korea known as "ponkku" (decorating smartphones) and "keomkku" (customizing computers and tablets). Moving away from traditional, text-heavy public relations, municipal planners collaborated with local Busan illustrators to craft high-quality digital goods that appeal to Gen Z and digital natives. Downloads include aesthetic illustrations of iconi

Four papers co-authored by Lee Jun-hyun, a professor in the Division of Computer Engineering at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS), have been accepted at three of the world’s leading artificial intelligence (AI) conferences this year, the university said Wednesday. The three conferences are the International Conference on Learning Representations (ICLR), the International Conference on Machine Learning (ICML) and the Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems (NeurIPS). Together, they are known as the “Big Three” AI conferences. Researchers from academia and industry worldwide present their latest findings at the conferences, where papers undergo rigorous peer review, the university said. Lee was the corresponding author of all four papers: one accepted at ICLR 2026, one at ICML 2026 and two at NeurIPS 2026. This marks the first time Lee has had papers accepted at all three conferences in a single year, highlighting the breadth of his research in AI system evaluation and collaboration, efficient information exchange and model compression. The studies were conducted

Sungkyunkwan University hosted the Southeast Asia regional round of the 2026 Sungkyun Hangeul Essay Contest at Thuongmai University and the Grand Plaza Hanoi Hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Oct. 1. The university said the contest brought together 47 outstanding students selected from leading universities in five Southeast Asian countries — Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia and Laos — to demonstrate their Korean-language writing skills. Launched in 2007, the Sungkyun Hangeul Essay Contest is one of the university’s flagship international exchange programs, encouraging young people to express their thoughts and dreams in Korean and deepen their understanding of Korean culture. Participants spent two hours writing personal essays on the topic “Two Paths,” which was announced on the day of the competition. Drawing on moments of choice they had faced in life and their personal experiences, the students crafted thoughtful essays in Korean that deeply moved the judges. The grand prize, known as the Jangwon Prize, went to Ta Thi Bich, a student at the University of Languages and Intern

The University of Seoul held a showcase Wednesday to highlight the experiences and achievements of students who took part in its 2026 GO (Global Odyssey)-UOS overseas study tour program. The university said the event, held for the first time this year, gave the 25 participating teams an opportunity to present their projects and exchange ideas after completing their overseas trips during the summer break. This year’s GO-UOS program involved 100 students divided into 25 teams, which visited 33 cities in 12 countries, including the United States, Australia, Spain, Portugal, Japan and China. Each team carried out a range of activities tailored to its specific theme and objectives. All 25 teams presented the results of their overseas projects at the showcase. Ten teams were selected for awards based on a combination of peer evaluations of promotional materials submitted in advance and on-site assessments. Through their presentations, students shared what they had learned during their overseas trips and how the experiences had contributed to their personal growth. “This trip went beyond a sim

President Lee Jae Myung has vowed to communicate more directly and actively with the public, a presidential official said Sunday. Lee made the remarks during his flight back to Seoul after his state visit to Mexico late last month, according to Seong Ghi-hong, senior presidential secretary for public relations and communication. "I will communicate more actively and directly with the public," Lee was quoted as saying by Seong. "What the president seeks is not simply 'social media politics' but dialogue that bridges the gap between the public and the president, and communication that lowers the barrier between state affairs and the people," Seong wrote on X. He added that social media is just one of many channels for communicating with the public. Lee has recently stepped up his posts on social media to express his views on political, diplomatic and real estate-related issues, prompting concerns among some over the frequency of his posts. On Saturday, Lee said in a post on X that he would continue to communicate with the public via social media despite criticism that such outreach lacks dig

Cheong Wa Dae on Sunday took the unusual step of disclosing information on President Lee Jae Myung’s private golf schedule, shortly before an opposition lawmaker held a news conference questioning his whereabouts when a ceiling collapsed at a supermarket in Daegu. The office confirmed that Lee visited Taereung Golf Club with his family Saturday, about the time reports that the ceiling of a commercial building collapsed in Daegu, injuring dozens of people. Lee was briefed on the accident at the course and called acting National Police Agency chief Kim Jong-chul to check on casualties and injuries, Cheong Wa Dae said. He then ordered authorities to focus on rescue efforts and ensure a swift, safe response. “We normally do not confirm the president’s undisclosed schedule or private holiday activities,” the presidential office said, explaining that it made an exception “to prevent unnecessary controversy.” “We regret that the president’s private, undisclosed schedule is being used for political disputes,” it added. The announcement came shortly before Rep. Joo Jin-woo of the

Two human rights groups called Sunday for the immediate release of three detained Gwangju Prize laureates in Hong Kong and Thailand. The May 18 Memorial Foundation and the Network of Laureates of the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights said the detentions of Chow Hang-tung of Hong Kong and Thai activists Arnon Nampa and Jatupat Boonpattararaksa "reflect a crisis of democracy in Asia." Jatupat, a Thai activist and the 2017 recipient of the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights, and Arnon, a Thai human rights lawyer who won the prize in 2021, are detained in Thailand. Chow, a Hong Kong human rights lawyer and the 2023 laureate, is detained in Hong Kong. "We stand in solidarity with activists striving to defend democracy and human rights in Thailand, Hong Kong and Myanmar despite violence, imprisonment and restrictions on basic rights," the groups said in a joint statement. The prize was established in 2000 to promote the spirit of the May 18 pro-democracy uprising in the southwestern Korean city of Gwangju in 1980, during which a military crackdown on demonstrators left more than 200 civilians dead an

Most Korean workers who took on additional duties while colleagues were on parental leave or working reduced hours for childcare received no extra compensation, with 7 in 10 going unpaid for the added workload. According to a survey released by workplace advocacy group Gabjil 119 on Sunday, 47.8 percent of 1,000 workers said their workloads had increased due to colleagues taking maternity or parental leave. The survey was conducted nationwide from Sept. 1 to 7. The results suggest that employers are shifting the burden of staffing shortages caused by parental leave or reduced working hours onto existing employees rather than hiring replacements or adjusting workloads. Of the 478 respondents who reported taking on additional duties, just 29.5 percent said they had received extra compensation, such as allowances, while the remaining 70.5 percent received no additional pay. Awareness of government subsidies aimed at compensating workers who take on extra duties was also limited. Only 37 percent of respondents were aware of the government’s workload-sharing subsidy for parental leave, while

As Korea prepares to regain wartime operational control (OPCON) from the United States, questions remain over how the leadership and organization of their combined military command will change. The Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC) is expected to retain its integrated command structure, with Korean officers potentially taking more senior staff positions, military experts said. The outlook comes after Seoul and Washington disclosed that they have agreed on a provisional organizational plan for the post-transfer command. While the two countries have already agreed to put a Korean general in charge, the division of responsibilities beneath the commander has yet to be made public. Gen. Kim Seong-min, the CFC’s deputy commander, told a parliamentary audit Wednesday that the provisional arrangement would be finalized during the Full Mission Capability (FMC) assessment, the final stage of the three-phase evaluation process for OPCON transfer. He described the plan as a draft and dismissed suggestions that the combined command would be dissolved after the handover. Kim Jung-sup, directo

Although the South Korean government insists its alliance with the United States remains strong despite six months of restrictions on North Korea-related intelligence sharing, experts see little prospect of a quick resolution, warning that Washington’s mistrust runs deep and the dispute reflects broader structural strains in the alliance. Nam Sung-wook, a chair professor at Sookmyung Women’s University, said the restrictions reflect strong U.S. mistrust of specific figures in the current administration and warned the situation was unlikely to improve soon. “The U.S. is showing a deep-seated distrust toward key figures such as Unification Minister Chung Dong-young and National Intelligence Service (NIS) chief Lee Jong-seok in the Lee Jae Myung administration and claiming that they cannot have high-level intelligence sharing meetings. It is worrisome, as it is also fundamentally hurting the allies,” he said. He said Seoul has strong reasons to resolve the restrictions quickly but warned that Washington’s concerns may be difficult to overcome in the short term. “It will not be b

There were no winners of either of the two major lotto games played on Sunday, October 11, 2026, as one of the jackpots neared P385 billion.

Questions about hospital emergency procedures and patient rights have emerged in three cases in Cavite, Iloilo, and Palawan involving an injured elderly man, a delivery rider who later died, and a father who claimed he was not allowed to leave a hospital because of unpaid bills.

TACLOBAN CITY — Thirteen years after Super Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) devastated Eastern Samar, the Felipe Abrigo Memorial Hospital (FAMH) reopened on Oct. 7, restoring public hospital services for residents of Guiuan and neighboring municipalities. Located in Barangay 9A, the hospital marks a step toward rebuilding health care services in Guiuan, one of the

Zhou Xianwang, the former mayor of Wuhan widely criticised for the initial handling of the Covid-19 outbreak, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for corruption. Zhou used various positions he held between 2003 and 2025 – including party secretary of Huangshi, mayor of Wuhan and vice-governor of Hubei province – to “provide assistance to companies and individuals in contracting projects, business operations and administrative approvals”, Shangqiu Intermediate People’s Court in Henan...

Pakistan’s president declared a state of emergency and suspended the provincial government of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan on Sunday, the president’s office said, following allegations it has failed to tackle Islamist militancy. The constitution allows the federal ‌government to take over some or all provincial government functions during an emergency. The provincial governor will take charge with an advisory council, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar told a news conference in Islamabad,...

MANILA, Philippines — Face-to-face classes are suspended in several areas on Monday due to water service maintenance and festivities. The affected areas and schools are listed below. READ: San Jose del Monte City water production improves after crisis San Jose del Monte, Bulacan Angeles City, Pampanga READ: Pope elevates church in Manila to minor basilica

BAGUIO CITY — Around 400 underground and surface workers of Philex Mining Corp. at its Padcal mine in Tuba, Benguet, went on strike on Oct. 11 after collective bargaining negotiations between management and the workers’ union broke down. The work stoppage began between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. during the first shift, according to labor

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Joel Villanueva has recalled how he, his family and religious community suffered — and overcame — emotional distress amid “severe accusations and allegations” and political attacks apparently linking him to the flood control scandal over the past year.   “Last year, I was also standing here, being criticized, being pelted with huge

Eddie Flores pressed the button at a pedestrian crossing on King Street, then pointed across the road. In the spring of 1910, Chinese revolutionary Sun Yat-sen lodged over there, on the second floor of a shop owned by a friend and fellow party member. “It’s no longer there,” said Flores, chairman of the restaurant chain L&L Hawaiian Barbecue. “But we can more or less point out where the building is.” Much of Sun’s Honolulu has to be found this way. The church where he worshipped as a boy was...

TACLOBAN CITY — The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is expanding solar-powered irrigation and other projects in Eastern Visayas to help farmers maintain agricultural production amid the threat of El Niño and prolonged dry conditions. Among these is the Guintigui-an Solar Pump Irrigation Project (SPIP), which was turned over to 87 farmers in Barangay Guintigui-an, Ormoc

LUCENA CITY—Policemen arrested two drug convicts who yielded more than P159,000 worth of suspected shabu (crystal meth) in separate buy-bust operations in Lucena City on Saturday, Oct. 10. A member of the city police drug enforcement unit, posing as a drug user, arrested a 31-year-old suspect at 1:03 p.m. after he allegedly sold the operative