MANILA, Philippines — Davao City Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte on Friday filed libel and cyberlibel complaints against several individuals, a television network and its officials and journalists over allegations of bribery that he said were “untrue” and meant to destroy his reputation. Duterte, who personally appeared at the Davao City Prosecutor’s Office, filed the complaints

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Friday announced it will bid out next year the P103.6-billion concession for Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3). “Through public-private partnership, we bring in the expertise and investment this line needs,” Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said in a statement by his agency. “What we need here

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday said the government is expanding the use of solar-powered irrigation systems amid the threat of the Super El Niño anticipated by year-end until early 2027. He made the remarks during the inauguration of the Tugbong Solar Pump Irrigation Project (SPIP) in Barangay Tugbong, Kananga, Leyte. “All

MANILA, Philippines — There is no need for the House of Representatives to recall its 2027 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) in response to a recent Supreme Court decision which declared as unconstitutional key provisions of the 2024 to 2026 national budgets, according to two Senate leaders. Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said the high court’s Oct.

A new price hike for diesel is expected next week due to worsening geopolitical conflicts. In an advisory on Friday, Jetti Petroleum president Leo Bellas said diesel prices may increase by P2 to P2.50 per liter. But motorists may also get small relief, with gasoline scheduled for a rollback of P1 to P1.50 per liter.

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) will deploy more than 100 personnel under “Oplan Biyaheng Ayos–Undas 2026” to ensure road safety and orderly traffic with the expected surge in travelers. READ: Undas practices continue at home for those absent in cemeteries, columbaria The deployment will cover Manila-Cavite Expressway, South Luzon Expressway, Skyway, STAR

CEBU CITY — A 16-year-old boy is now in the custody of state social workers after being accused of grooming minors online and encouraging them to engage in violent activities, including school shootings, the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) said on Friday. The teenager allegedly participated in an online group whose members

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol —The resumption of construction along Bohol’s iconic Loboc River has reignited concerns among residents, tourism operators and environmental advocates over the potential impact of a P3.5-billion flood control project on the river’s natural landscape and tourism industry. Dredging and the installation of steel sheet piles have raised fears of damage to firefly

A recap of news, sports, lifestyle, entertainment, and human interest images from the Philippines and around the globe

A revised Imperial House Law took effect on Saturday to address Japan’s shrinking imperial family while retaining the traditional male-only succession system despite public support for female emperors. The legislation, enacted in July in the first major revision of the 1947 law, allows the imperial family to adopt males aged 15 or older from 11 former imperial branch families who are descended from emperors through the male line. The revised law also allows female members to retain their...

Kiray Celis and her husband, Stephan Estopia, celebrated their first child's upcoming arrival with a baby shower.

Make way for the fintech queen: top dog of the PSE’s seventh-largest local company, one of Asia’s most powerful women, and now, a paper billionaire

A study by researchers from Germany found that the brains of runners who participated in an extreme endurance race temporarily shrank by as much as 6%.

The disclosure comes amid concerns over the ability of increasingly capable AI agents to identify and exploit software flaws, including in the guardrails meant to contain them

The Department of Education is using data-driven criteria in its construction strategy to determine classroom allocations according to school needs, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said.

Fiercely proud of its culinary traditions, India is increasingly open to foreign influences, with French cooking schools attracting students eager to make their mark on the country’s growing fine-dining sector. “Ten or 15 years ago, there were far fewer young people dreaming of becoming chefs,” said Aabhas Jain, director of bakery and pastry training at Ecole Ducasse, a French culinary school also operating in India. “But with the rise of social media … today’s students have greater ambitions in...

In Seoul's bustling Namdaemun Market, a group of American tourists stepped out of a pharmacy and opened their shopping bags to show their haul: a box of Bacchus energy drinks and three packages of polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) skin care products. Inside, other foreign shoppers queued at the counters with acne treatments, scar gels and cosmetics in hand. Pharmacists in white coats scanned their purchases at the registers. Scenes like this are becoming increasingly common as Korean pharmacies emerge as a new stop on the K-beauty tourism route. Foreign visitors are seeking both over-the-counter (OTC) dermatological drugs available only at pharmacies and pharmacy-sold cosmetics promoted through social media. “Foreign tourists now account for 40 to 50 percent of our sales,” Park Jun-sun, who runs one of the pharmacies in Namdaemun Market, told The Korea Times. “There weren’t that many when I opened two years ago, but the number suddenly started rising about a year ago.” Even at larger pharmacies that cater mainly to Korean customers, foreign shoppers have become more visible. Staff

North Korea is displaying an increasingly diverse missile arsenal this year, firing from different platforms — on land, aboard warships and, according to Pyongyang, underwater from a submarine — while testing weapons designed to carry heavier warheads, maneuver to evade interception and inflict damage over wider areas. The frequency of missile tests has also increased, with 16 ballistic missile launches recorded through Oct. 12, which exceeds the six recorded in all of 2025 and 12 in 2024. But what's more threatening than the frequency of ballistic missiles is diversification, with cruise missile tests added on seven occasions through Oct. 14, involving land-based launchers, destroyers and, purportedly, a submarine. The expanding arsenal gives North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s military more options to approach targets from different directions and coordinate strikes, placing greater demands on South Korean and U.S. defenses even as questions remain over Pyongyang's technological claims. Widening range of weapons This year's ballistic launches began near Pyongyang on Jan. 4 with susp

If you are planning a fall foliage trip this year, you may need to set off a little later than expected. The peak autumn foliage season is forecast to arrive later than usual. According to the Korea Forest Service, fall colors will spread gradually from the central to southern regions, starting with Mount Seorak on Oct. 20. Foliage is expected to reach its peak nationwide only in late October, with peak dates forecast for Oct. 28 at Mount Songni, Nov. 4 at Mount Naejang and Nov. 6 at Mount Halla. The average peak date for maples and oaks nationwide is expected to be Oct. 31, about 0.8 days later than the average peak date over the past five years. The delayed foliage season is not an isolated development this year. As temperatures rise, spring is arriving increasingly early while autumn is shifting later, a pattern that researchers have consistently observed in Korea's forests. The seasonal clock that we have long taken for granted is changing. A 2021 study by researchers at the Korea National Arboretum and Seoul National University’s Graduate School of Environmental Studies tracked 25

As you stroll among the trees, you hear a rustle and stop to listen. You raise your binoculars and quietly scan the spot where the sound came from. After waiting patiently, you may finally catch a glimpse of something rarely encountered in everyday life: a small, precious bird. Birdwatching, or birding, is emerging as a new hobby among Korea’s millennials and Gen Z. Until recently, it was largely seen as a pastime for middle-aged and older people, requiring expensive equipment and specialized knowledge. But smartphones have made the activity accessible to almost anyone. With celebrities, including actress Kim Tae-ri, author Chung Se-rang and model Lee So-ra, sharing their interest in birdwatching, it has even gained a reputation as a trendy hobby. Taking off during COVID-19, with smartphones lowering the barrier to entry Content about birdwatching has recently proliferated on social media. On Instagram, posts tagged “birdwatching" number approximately 144,000, while those tagged “birdwatching records" and “birdwatching life” number around 17,000 and 14,000, respectively. A gro

On the paved narrow streets of Seongsu-dong, red-brick shoe factories built during Korea’s mid-century manufacturing boom now stand beside sweeping, glass-fronted flagships and repurposed industrial storehouses. Once a gritty hub for leather workers and cobblers, the neighborhood has earned a reputation as the "Brooklyn of Seoul" — a playground for architectural experimentation where old-world industrial heritage meets ultra-modern design. Now, local authorities are opening the doors to this urban metamorphosis, inviting residents to walk through the neighborhood's living architectural archive alongside professional designers. Seongdong District said it will host its 10th annual "Gagahoho" Architecture Academy from Oct. 26-31 in partnership with the Seongdong Architects Association. The weeklong initiative culminates on Oct. 31 with an architect-led walking tour through Seongsu-dong’s most famous structures, offering 20 local residents an insider’s look at the precinct's spatial evolution. Led by four professional architects, the tour will set off from the local Footwear Theme Pa

Halloween is just around the corner, and even though Korea does not traditionally celebrate with jack-o’-lanterns and trick-or-treating, the familiar prickle on the back of the neck at night and the whispering autumn breeze seem to be anticipating the time when the veil between our world and the world of spirits is thin. For readers who would like to celebrate the spooky season, second-guess the shapes in the shadows of their room or want a novel idea for a costume to wear to a party, here are five Korean ghosts that might keep you up at night. Gumiho The "gumiho," or the nine-tailed fox, is one of the better-known Korean spirits, especially following its inclusion in the hit video game League of Legends. One of the game's most celebrated characters is Ahri, a bewitching and seductive fox lady who drains the souls of others. The gumiho also appears frequently in Korean dramas and webtoons, often taking the form of a beautiful woman and a romantic interest. In the original folklore, however, gumiho are characterized as malevolent and ancient fox spirits, defined by an animalistic hunger

After the first few pages, I thought I was in for a buttered popcorn, "KPop Demon Hunters" snack of a novel. High in calories, low in nutrition. Well, I was right … and wrong. AMIL’s "The Forest Called You" is a highly addictive and engaging read about a K-pop idol and a high school outcast that masks an undercurrent of deeper social themes. The story is set in 23rd-century Korea, where climate change has devastated Earth. There is no more winter, half of Earth’s species are gone and humanity is left surviving in a Dune-like, dystopian environment. There are dust storms, and the specter of the “Akanta virus” (presumably similar to COVID-19) looms large. Seoul has become a cesspool of filthy, destitute and virus-ridden lowlifes, and as a result, a severe class divide has emerged. The wealthy can afford to eat real food and interact almost entirely in a highly immersive virtual world, all within the safety of their disinfected homes. Conversely, the poor subsist on artificial meal substitutes and have no choice but to go out in the dirty and harsh physical world, interacting di

James Durias Arieta came to Dubai with no plan other than to be with his ‘TNT’ mother, a visit that unexpectedly launched his career in cinematography

Celebrating 35 years of sisterhood, Assumption High School Batch 1991, the Jade Jubilarians, returned to the Velada stage with hearts still ready, true to their batch motto, Paratum Cor Meum (“My heart is ready, O God”). Through the years, the Jades have made a difference in their respective fields and communities. Their Velada performance celebrated the enduring bonds of sisterhood, resilience and the Assumption spirit. The production was led by choreographer Jo De Peralta, with assistant choreographer Divine Josue and support from batchmates Jackie and Jennie Verano. Trina Monsod contributed the lyrics and music, while Luis “Chito” Miguel III served as video director. Thirty-five years later, the Jades of Assumption Convent High School Batch 1991 remain spirited Assumption girls at heart — stronger, wiser and united by a sisterhood that has stood the test of time.

Japan’s centuries-old festivals are facing renewed scrutiny after a series of fatal accidents in recent weeks, raising questions over how communities can preserve their cultural traditions without putting lives at risk. Three people have been killed and more than a dozen injured in accidents at autumn festivals across the country in recent weeks. Meanwhile, organisers of another major festival, where two men died in February, have cancelled next year’s event, citing public safety concerns. The...

Private recreation leases have a long and contentious history in Hong Kong. Complaints about the inequity of granting land leases to private clubs at a nominal premium for the exclusive enjoyment of a small number of members have been raised many times. This issue is increasingly pressing. Twenty-seven sites are involved and almost all the leases for these sites are set for renewal next year. In response to this perceived inequality, the government reviewed its policy for clubs with private...

The number of private secondary schools in Hong Kong has risen by more than half in five years as demand for alternative curricula grows and new operators seek to attract families drawn by the city’s highly ranked universities, education authorities and principals have said. Between 2021-22 and 2025-26, the number of private secondary institutions increased from 16 to 25, a jump of 56.3 per cent, Education Bureau figures show. Leaders at schools offering alternative curriculum pathways said that...

We recently hosted visitors from Malaysia at our place in the Czech Republic, happily guiding them around Prague and several places beyond the capital, including a few that were new to us, too. There was much conviviality as the six of us explored beautiful Czech cities and towns, sampled hearty local cuisine and slipped effortlessly into the distinctive Malaysian-Singaporean patois – a lively hybrid of English, Chinese, Malay and some Indian vocabulary and syntax – that comes naturally to many...

When 35-year-old Bekasi resident Ika Kartika voted for Prabowo Subianto in Indonesia’s 2024 presidential election, she hoped the former general would restore a “Suharto-like” era of stability, when everyday essentials were affordable and life felt more predictable. Growing up, she had often heard her parents reminisce about the “good old days” under the late strongman, whose rule had brought a sense of order to their lives. Two years into his presidency, however, rising food prices have left Ika...