63 of 77 MV June Aster fire victims identified; probe ongoing

Inquirer.net - Oct 17, 2026

MANILA, Philippines — Authorities have identified 63 of the 77 people killed in the MV June Aster ferry fire off Palawan in September, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has reported. The BFP also said Friday eight people remain missing as investigators continue to determine possible lapses that allowed the vessel to sail despite engine

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Taal Volcano logs 22 quakes as seismic activity continues

Oct 17, 2026

Taal Volcano logs 22 quakes as seismic activity continues

LUCENA CITY—Taal Volcano in Batangas continues to exhibit seismic activity, recording 22 volcanic earthquakes in the past 24 hours, up from 17 the previous day. This report comes from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Saturday, Oct. 17. Phivolcs data showed 139 volcanic earthquakes and 11 tremor episodes recorded from Oct. 9

EA producer confirms the return of Wing Commander

Oct 17, 2026

EA producer confirms the return of Wing Commander

MANILA, Philippines – A panel at the Portland Retro Gaming Expo on game preservation revealed that the master tapes containing high quality source video for Wing Commander III were located.  The contents of these tapes will now undergo restoration and preparation is at work for a new release of the game, tentatively called Wing Commander

Severe Tropical Storm ‘Champi’ outside PAR intensifies into a typhoon

Oct 17, 2026

Severe Tropical Storm ‘Champi’ outside PAR intensifies into a typhoon

MANILA, Philippines — Severe Tropical Storm internationally named “Champi” intensified into a typhoon early Saturday morning, Oct. 17. It is forecast to bring rains into the country by Monday, the state weather bureau said. In its 2 a.m. weather advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Champi developed into a typhoon

Calapan distributes free lots to 200 demolition-affected families

Oct 17, 2026

Calapan distributes free lots to 200 demolition-affected families

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — The local government of Calapan has turned over free land allocations and financial assistance to residents affected by the recent demolition in Barangay Guinobatan. This is seen as a relief after the prolonged litigation over the contested real estate.  As many as 294 families have been impacted by the dispute

Ride-hailing app taps AI to improve customer, driver experience

Oct 17, 2026

Ride-hailing app taps AI to improve customer, driver experience

MANILA, Philippines – Ride-hailing app, inDrive, wants to use artificial intelligence (AI) to improve mobility in the Philippines while keeping passengers and drivers in control of their choices. The company is exploring how AI can address practical challenges such as traffic, passenger safety and driver earning, in line with its push to make travel decisions

Incheon stabbing raises questions over effectiveness of electronic ankle monitors

Oct 17, 2026

Incheon stabbing raises questions over effectiveness of electronic ankle monitors

The recent stabbing rampage in Incheon by a repeat violent offender wearing an electronic ankle monitor has raised doubts about the system's ability to prevent violent crime. The case has sparked calls for tighter supervision of high-risk offenders, beyond simply tracking their movements. On Tuesday, a man in his 50s previously convicted of attempted murder went on a stabbing attack at a shopping complex in Incheon, injuring nine people. The suspect was wearing an electronic ankle monitor despite having repeatedly violated his supervision conditions and recently been booked by police for possessing a weapon. The suspect was sentenced to four years in prison in 2015 for attempting to murder his ex-wife by stabbing her. After his release in 2019, he was required to wear an electronic ankle monitor until 2029. Despite the monitoring, he was fined in 2021 for violating his curfew four times and was booked by police last month for possessing a weapon. He also reportedly met with his probation officer on the day of the attack. The case has sparked public criticism over whether electronic ankle

Korean 'haenyeo' diver honored by UN for work in food systems, rural life

Oct 17, 2026

Korean 'haenyeo' diver honored by UN for work in food systems, rural life

When Sung Jung-hee slips into the cold waters off Korea’s eastern coast, she wears no oxygen tank — just a mask, a weight belt and four decades of practical instincts from making her living harvesting the ocean floor by hand. That lifetime of hard labor and leadership earned international recognition earlier this week when the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations named Sung one of 100 women honored globally for their contributions to food systems and rural life. Timed to mark the International Year of the Woman Farmer, the distinction recognizes 100 visionary leaders, scientists and community advocates driving sustainable change across global food and maritime networks. Selected from nearly 600 nominees submitted by member nations, Sung is the only honoree from Korea. Sung also serves as head of the Guryongpo fishing community and president of the Gyeongbuk Haenyeo Association. Beyond her daily dives, she has spent years improving working conditions, expanding welfare support for fellow divers and elevating the public profile of women in coastal industries. Her sel

N. Korea tests new precision-guided torpedo using AI: KCNA

Oct 17, 2026

N. Korea tests new precision-guided torpedo using AI: KCNA

North Korea said Saturday it has conducted an underwater test of a new high-speed precision-guided torpedo weapon system that uses artificial intelligence (AI) technology, noting that the test heralds a "significant" change in the North's naval capabilities. North Korea test-fired the Zam-2.0 super-speed precision-guided torpedo weapon system Thursday to confirm the successful technical upgrade of the weapon, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). It did not disclose further details of the weapon. Key national defense officials who oversaw the weapon test assessed that it "served as a great success foreseeing a significant change in the actual development of the Navy," the KCNA said. North Korea said AI technology was applied to the target detection and the guidance function of the torpedo. "The test proved the core technology for raising the efficiency of propulsion and the performance of rocket propulsion devices," the KCNA said, adding more than 180 rounds of related tests have been conducted over the past five years. Experts said the newly disclosed weapon system could be

Securing equipment emerges as new variable for Korea's chip expansion plans

Oct 17, 2026

Securing equipment emerges as new variable for Korea's chip expansion plans

Securing equipment for manufacturing advanced memory chips is emerging as a new variable in Korea's plans to expand semiconductor production capacity through large-scale industrial clusters, after ASML, the dominant supplier of advanced chipmaking equipment, warned that its current production plans may not be sufficient to meet demand in 2027 and 2028. During its earnings call Wednesday, ASML CEO Christophe Fouquet said the company's plans to increase its production capacity for advanced chipmaking equipment by 30 percent in 2027 and another 30 percent in 2028 would likely not be enough to meet customer demand. “Last quarter, we talked about 30 percent more capacity next year, and also the aspiration to have another 30 percent increase in 2028,” Fouquet said. “But to be honest, it's becoming very clear that 30 percent in 2027, 30 percent in 2028 will not allow us to meet our customer demand.” According to the company, the planned capacity increases cover both low-numerical-aperture extreme ultraviolet (low-NA EUV) lithography equipment and deep ultraviolet (DUV) immersion system

Sejong relocation set to worsen KTX seat shortage

Oct 17, 2026

Sejong relocation set to worsen KTX seat shortage

Civil servants commuting from Seoul to Sejong face growing concerns over an already severe shortage of high-speed rail tickets, as the government prepares to relocate thousands of officials to the administrative city. Kim, a 52-year-old civil servant who commutes from his home in Seoul to Government Complex Sejong, said he was worried after the government recently announced its second-phase relocation plan for central government agencies. Even now, securing a high-speed train ticket departing from Seoul is difficult. The large-scale transfer of government personnel could make finding a seat even harder. “If you let your guard down and miss the ticket reservations, which open a month in advance, you could end up arriving late to work or having to take a half-day off,” Kim said. “If nearly 3,000 civil servants move to Sejong next year alone, the morning commute will be nothing short of a battle.” The government's second-phase relocation plan has stirred concern among officials in Sejong. Many are expected to continue commuting from Seoul and other existing places of residence, at l

Dispute intensifies over street food stalls near Seoul elementary school

Oct 17, 2026

Dispute intensifies over street food stalls near Seoul elementary school

As autumn reaches its peak, street food stalls across from Yeomni Elementary School in Seoul's Mapo District begin lighting up one by one in the early evening. On Oct. 8, the aroma of spicy rice cakes spread through the street. Office workers heading home and nearby residents gathered at the stalls, where drinking sessions continued late into the night. As the cooler season draws more visitors to outdoor dining spots, a long-running dispute between local residents and street vendors near the school has intensified once again. In the spring, parents launched a petition calling for the removal of the stalls, citing pedestrian safety and concerns about children's exposure to drinking and smoking. This autumn, vendors have countered with their own petition campaign, urging authorities to protect their livelihoods. The stalls have stood near Yeomni Elementary School for decades, but tensions have escalated recently after the area gained popularity on social media as a cherry blossom-season outdoor dining destination, dubbed the "cherry blossom night market." A sudden influx of visitors durin

Musinsa teams up with Japan's ZOZOTOWN for 1st Korean pop-up

Oct 17, 2026

Musinsa teams up with Japan's ZOZOTOWN for 1st Korean pop-up

Fashion platform Musinsa has teamed up with ZOZOTOWN, one of Japan's leading online fashion retailers, to open a pop-up store in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, a popular destination for young consumers. Musinsa opened the doors to ZOZOTOWN in Musinsa, the Japanese platform’s first official pop-up store in Korea, to the media on Friday. The pop-up will run through Oct. 31, while an accompanying online promotion will continue until Nov. 16. Launched in 2004, ZOZOTOWN features more than 11,000 brands and serving over 13 million customers annually. Fifteen Japanese fashion brands available on the platform, including Snidel and Grancy, are participating in the event. The pop-up’s concept, ZOZO is Coming to Town, draws inspiration from Korean streets. Crosswalks, road markings and oversized three-dimensional typography have been incorporated into the space to create the impression of an intersection where Korean and Japanese fashion meet. The pop-up follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two platforms in December 2024 to establish a strategic partnership. In November last y

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