BAGUIO CITY — A 13-year-old Grade 8 student allegedly pointed an unserviceable firearm at a classmate at Lucban Integrated School on Wednesday, Sept. 16, prompting an investigation by the Department of Education (DepEd) Baguio and the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO). The incident, which involved three learners, happened in the morning, according to school principal

A woman is being investigated on suspicion of eavesdropping on singer-actor Cha Eun-woo by installing a recording device under a cafe table last month, police said Friday. The woman in her 50s was caught by police on Aug. 30 while removing the device from the cafe in Seoul's Yongsan Ward where Cha was meeting with an acquaintance, according to the Yongsan Police Station. She allegedly used the same method twice last month to eavesdrop on Cha's conversations. Police are reportedly determining whether she had any accomplices and how she got hold of the device by conducting a forensic analysis of her phone, among other measures.

"I want to take my shirt off and exercise like my friends do, too!" Lim Jae-i, 80, cannot forget her grandson's anguished cry years ago. Lee Hyun-seo, 25, was exposed to humidifier disinfectant — an antibacterial liquid added to humidifier water — while still in the womb and was born prematurely. He cycled in and out of hospitals with nontuberculous lung disease, a chronic lung condition unrelated to tuberculosis, and he almost never complained. Then adolescence arrived and he reached a breaking point. Facing a mirror, he saw a chest left concave by years of drug treatment and labored breathing and a body that remained thin. He realized that his life would never resemble those of his peers. The infants who bore the brunt of Korea's humidifier disinfectant disaster have reached young adulthood. A 2025 Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment survey of victims drew 1,213 responses, 321 (26.5 percent) of which came from victims in their 20s or younger. A tragedy the public still associates primarily with infant fatalities now runs through its survivors as an unfinished daily grind o

With strict new religious compliance rules set to take effect across Southeast Asia, Korea is taking decisive diplomatic steps to protect its booming cultural exports. Health and regulatory officials in Seoul signed a landmark agreement with Indonesia on Friday to streamline halal certification — clearing a critical path for Korean food and cosmetics brands entering the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation. Food and Drug Safety Minister Oh Yu-kyoung signed a memorandum of understanding with Indonesia’s Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH) during the fifth Halal 20 Summit in Depok, Indonesia, the ministry said. The agreement serves as a direct follow-up to a bilateral defense and economic summit held in March, where both nations pledged to expand mutual market access under a Special Strategic Partnership. The regulatory pact arrives at a pivotal moment for Korean exporters. Starting Oct. 18, Indonesia will enforce mandatory halal certification for all imported food, beverage and cosmetic products. Without official certification verifying that products comply wit

Cheong Wa Dae said Saturday that President Lee Jae Myung's remarks ruling out troop dispatches that could involve the country in a war were not a refusal of U.S. President Donald Trump's request for Seoul to send forces to the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The presidential office clarified the position after the New York Times reported that Lee's comments at a press conference Friday amounted to a rejection of Trump's appeal for Seoul's military cooperation in the Middle East. "Lee did not turn down Trump's request for Korea's cooperation on Middle East-related issues during yesterday's press conference," a presidential official told reporters on condition of anonymity. "The government has been reviewing practical ways to contribute in close communication with the international community, including the United States, in order to protect our citizens and safeguard national interests." Seoul will continue to examine concrete options under its stated principle of not intervening in a war or combat, the official added. On Friday, Lee said during the nationally televised press conference that "

Justice minister nominee Kim Seung-won withdrew his nomination on Saturday following allegations concerning his involvement in a COVID-19 treatment and approval of its clinical trials. “After much deliberation, I decided to step down as the nominee for justice minister. I apologize for failing to live up to your expectations,” Kim said during a press conference at the National Assembly. The move comes after a parliamentary committee adopted his confirmation hearing report Thursday amid objections from the main opposition People Power Party over the allegations. Kim, a two-term lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), served as a judge at the Jeonju District Court and the Suwon District Court before joining the presidential office under the liberal Moon Jae-in administration, where he worked in the office of political affairs. He was elected to the 21st National Assembly in 2020 and later served as DPK's legal affairs committee chief.

BUCHEON, Gyeonggi Province — The area around the Korea Manhwa Museum in Bucheon turned into a lively celebration of pop culture on Friday as colorful comic panels came to life for the opening day of the 29th Bucheon International Comics Festival. Running through Sunday under the theme "Comics & Webtoons: Easy to Love, Endless to Enjoy," the annual three-day event kicked off with a rich mix of global cosplay competitions, interactive community programs and passionate fans bringing their favorite characters into reality. Friday's opening day offered a rich variety of experiences, drawing families, international visitors and dedicated pop culture enthusiasts. Inside the museum, local volunteers warmly greeted young visitors at hands-on craft booths, guiding children as they decorated everyday items like keyboards and hand mirrors with cartoon characters. "We joined the festival as volunteers out of a shared passion as Bucheon residents to promote our city's signature cultural identity," a local volunteer said. "At first, seeing all the cosplayers felt a bit unfamiliar. But seeing how passi

Korea and the United States pledged to reinforce cooperation to accelerate the transition of wartime operational control (OPCON) to Seoul from Washington during their senior-level defense talks this week, a joint statement said Friday. The allies held the 29th Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD) in Korea's southeastern city of Busan from Wednesday to Friday, as President Lee Jae Myung's administration seeks to retake wartime OPCON before the end of its term in 2030. "Both sides evaluated the work to modernize the alliance in the face of an evolving security environment," they said in the statement. "They also assessed progress on the Conditions-based Wartime Operational Control Transition Plan, and pledged to strengthen cooperation to accelerate the transition of wartime OPCON," they added. Seoul and Washington have been working on the conditions-based OPCON transfer since they agreed on it in October 2014. The conditions include Korea's capabilities to lead combined Korea-U.S. forces, its strike and air defense capabilities, and a regional security environment conducive to suc

BACOLOD CITY — The city government of Victorias in Negros Occidental has distributed PSR 03-171, a high-yielding and pest-tolerant sugarcane variety, to 50 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Barangay V to help farmers cope with the destructive Red-Striped Soft Scale Insect (RSSI). The high-quality cane points were turned over to the farmers on Thursday, Sept.

BACOLOD CITY — About 1,800 police officers will be fielded to secure the MassKara Festival here, which kicks off on Oct. 1 and runs until Oct. 18. The festival peaks on Oct. 16 with the Electric MassKara, followed by the arena and street dancing competitions for schools and barangays on Oct. 17 and Oct. 18.

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Friday said Sen. Pia Cayetano need not panic if she has done nothing wrong. This was after Cayetano said she “fears” for her liberty and right to speak after discovering that the National Bureau of Investigation tracked her travel movements and return from Singapore. Citing NBI Director Melvin Matibag’s recent

SAN ILDEFONSO, Ilocos Sur — A total of 32 leptospirosis cases, including one death, have been recorded in nearby Ilocos Norte this year, according to the Provincial Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (PESU). Of the reported cases, 26 were classified as suspect cases, three as probable cases, and three as confirmed cases. One death was also recorded,

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of National Defense (DND) on Friday welcomed the House of Representatives’ approval of the proposed New Espionage Act, which, the agency described as “critical and [a] long-overdue modernization of antiquated laws.” House Bill 9642 was approved on third and final reading Thursday night by 247 favorable votes against 10 unfavorable.

MANILA, Philippines — The University of the Philippines (UP) will push for amendments to its P26.5-billion budget for next year—a huge cut from its original proposed budget, which its leader said could jeopardize the completion of long-delayed infrastructure projects and the capacity-building of its research program. UP President Angelo Jimenez told reporters on Friday they

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has tapped Meta to trace the individuals behind at least 30 social media accounts mocking the disability and sexual orientation of Akbayan Rep. Percival Cendaña, Director Melvin Matibag said. This is in response to the Sept. 15 complaint filed by Cendaña — a stroke survivor and

MANILA, Philippines — The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), a monitor of the state of the Philippine press in the last 37 years, announced on Friday that it is winding down operations due to funding issues. CMFR said that while it weathered different political environments and challenges since its founding as a nonstock,

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has initiated a preliminary investigation focusing on members of the Villar family and executives of the water utility firm that they previously owned for possible violations of the anti-graft law. In a statement on Friday, the Ombudsman said criminal and administrative complaints against Senators Mark and Camille

BANGA, SOUTH COTABATO — Another shooting rampage in school involving a teenage attacker, this time in this town some 15 kilometers from the provincial capital of Koronadal City, left three students dead and six others wounded on Friday. The 1 p.m. attack at Banga National High School was the third fatal campus attack in as

COTABATO CITY — A tribal leader who will serve as a member of the regular Bangsamoro Parliament expressed optimism that the long-neglected concerns of indigenous peoples (IPs) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will finally be heard and addressed now that non-Moro indigenous peoples (NMIPs) have representation in the regional legislature. “Our

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Saturday he will be delaying his planned trip to France for a follow up on an Interpol red notice request against former party-list lawmaker Zaldy Co, following the fatal shooting incident at Banga National High School in South Cotabato.

BAGUIO CITY — A giant crocheted mandala measuring 6 meters (19 feet) in diameter has earned Baguio artist Adelaida Guia a Guinness World Records title for the largest mandala crocheted by a single person. Guia received an email on Thursday, Sept. 17, informing her that she had officially set the record with her 29-square-meter creation.

TAGBILARAN CITY—The Bohol provincial government is fast-tracking the procurement of a P5-million cloud-seeding operation as prolonged heat and below-normal water levels threaten thousands of hectares of farmland across the province. Provincial Administrator Asteria Caberte said during the full-council meeting of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) on Thursday that the contract could

Alina B.K. should have been preparing for her end-of-year university exams, but news of devastating floods along the Nepal–Tibet border kept pulling her back to a troubling question: what kind of future awaits her? The 21-year-old forestry student, who coordinates the Pokhara network of Nepalese Youth for Climate Action, said she struggled to concentrate as reports of death and destruction deepened her fears about a changing climate. “With the floods and deaths happening around us, it is really...

Why make the shift to sustainable products? These days, “natural” and “eco-friendly” aren’t just buzzwords. They refer to resources that deliver results while being sourced and developed in ways that aim to protect both the planet and the skin.  For those who remain skeptical, science offers another perspective. The promise of natural products isn’t based solely on anecdotal evidence. Science-backed tests and research methods help determine which ingredients from nature can be effective for hair and skin. With the wealth of information available in today’s tech-forward world, the shift toward natural solutions is not only about sustainability but also effectiveness.  Naturals by Watsons offers a product line of gentle and sustainable formulations made with naturally derived ingredients. What is good for the skin can also be good for the planet. The brand follows its “Results Rooted in Nature” philosophy, delivering hair and skin solutions that make use of naturally available resources through responsible and sustainable methods.  The in-house brand of Watsons offers products categorized according to different “super ingredients,” each associated with specific benefits. This gives consumers the opportunity to find products based on their individual concerns while reducing unnecessary experimentation and confusing jargon. The products are formulated with ingredients that have been tested for efficacy and undergo continuous formulation testing.  The brand also states that the integrity of its ingredients makes its products generally suitable for expecting or breastfeeding mothers, although consumers are advised to consult their OB-GYN before using any personal care product during pregnancy or breastfeeding.  Naturals by Watsons carries four flagship hair care lines, each highlighting a key ingredient and the specific concerns it is formulated to address.  For dry and damaged hair, Naturals by Watsons offers its Argan Oil Shampoo and Argan Oil Conditioner. The duo is formulated with argan oil to help nourish and revitalize hair while supporting moisture, shine and elasticity. Complementing the pair is the Naturals by Watsons Argan Hair Oil, which provides lightweight, non-greasy nourishment for smooth, shiny-looking hair.  For thick and coarse hair, Naturals by Watsons Olive Shampoo and Olive Conditioner are formulated to provide lasting hydration, restore vitality and enhance shine. The Naturals by Watsons Olive Hair Oil completes the routine by helping seal split ends.  For scalp care, consumers can turn to the Naturals by Watsons Aloe Vera Shampoo and Aloe Vera Conditioner, which are positioned for anti-dandruff care. Made with 99 percent certified organic aloe vera, the products cleanse and nourish the hair, soothe the scalp and help keep hair smooth and hydrated. The Naturals by Watsons Aloe Hair Tonic complements the routine and is designed to support healthier-looking hair over time.  For consumers concerned about hair fall, Naturals by Watsons offers its Coffee Shampoo and Coffee Conditioner. The products contain caffeine, which is positioned to help revitalize the roots, as well as sesame oil for scalp moisture and Abyssinian oil to hydrate dry and brittle hair. The Naturals by Watsons Coffee Hair & Scalp Tonic features Baicapil and is positioned to address breakage-related hair loss and hair density.  Beyond hair care, Naturals by Watsons also offers skin and body care products designed to provide naturally derived solutions for everyday personal care needs. The range features ingredients such as rosemary, rose, lavender, ginger, tea tree, bakuchi and sakura for face and body care, with each formulation targeting different skin concerns.  The brand says its naturally derived ingredients are supported by science-based findings and are designed to deliver results with consistent use. Naturals by Watsons combines these ingredients with gentle formulations while maintaining its focus on sustainability.  Sustainability is incorporated into the brand’s sourcing, research, packaging and refill initiatives, combining environmental considerations with science-based product development.  With Naturals by Watsons, the brand continues to promote its philosophy, “Results Rooted in Nature: The Essence of Nature, Powered by Science.”  Naturals by Watsons products are available at more than 1,200 Watsons stores nationwide and through the Watsons App, with Express Delivery and Click & Collect options. Watsons Club members can also access exclusive features and promotions. For the latest updates, follow @watsonsph on Instagram.

The death toll from an explosion and gun attack at a police headquarters in northern Pakistan rose to at least 31, including 16 police personnel, a senior police official said on Saturday, with fighting ongoing. An attacker rammed an explosives-laden car ‌into the Old Police Lines complex while gunmen stormed the compound on Friday afternoon as officers and ⁠their families were praying in a mosque. The police complex at Kohat, a town of around 220,000 people in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa...

Is bespoke jewellery a modern fashion statement? Are jewels designed and made exclusively for a wearer the ultimate expression of the individual? According to the Business of Fashion’s “Face to Face with Luxury Clients” report, “emotional connection is the number one driver of luxury brand desirability in both the US and China – above craftsmanship, heritage and logo recognition”. The results for the media platform’s latest report in its State of Fashion series come from a survey of more than...

Korea and the United States pledged to reinforce cooperation to accelerate the transition of wartime operational control (OPCON) to Seoul from Washington during their senior-level defense talks this week, a joint statement said Friday. The allies held the 29th Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD) in Korea's southeastern city of Busan from Wednesday to Friday (Korea time), as Korean President Lee Jae Myung's administration seeks to retake wartime OPCON before the end of its term in 2030. "Both sides evaluated the work to modernize the alliance in the face of an evolving security environment," they said in the statement. "They also assessed progress on the Conditions-based Wartime Operational Control Transition Plan, and pledged to strengthen cooperation to accelerate the transition of wartime OPCON," they added. Seoul and Washington have been working on the conditions-based OPCON transfer since they agreed on it in October 2014. The conditions include Korea's capabilities to lead combined Korea-U.S. forces, its strike and air defense capabilities, and a regional security environm

The young government of Nepal, a nation with a tiny carbon footprint, is seeking reparations from the world’s major economies as it bears the brunt of collapsing Himalayan glaciers.

Ateneo professor Melay Abao writes about the life and times of Etta Rosales, the former communist who became a lawmaker and eventually headed the Commission on Human Rights

Fears that advanced artificial intelligence could wipe out humanity have dominated global headlines, but in Japan the technology is being used for a sweeter purpose – developing never-before-seen convenience store desserts. For customers tired of the usual egg sandwiches and rice balls, major chains are turning to AI to develop products, including some unexpected flavours. Lawson, one of the country’s biggest convenience store operators, said on Tuesday it would roll out three new food items,...