BARMM leaders firm up coalition to rule region

Inquirer.net - Oct 15, 2026

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The incoming leadership of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has vowed to mobilize the support of “all political actors that have significant influence” in a bid to build a strong foundation for the regional government. On Wednesday, BARMM interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua, who heads the Bangsamoro Federalist

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Migrant Indie Art Festival seeks artistic independence with Declaration of Freedom

Oct 15, 2026

Migrant Indie Art Festival seeks artistic independence with Declaration of Freedom

The Migrant Indie Art Festival is back for its 15th year, but this time it's being held under a new name. Organized by the Asian Media Culture Factory, it started in 2012 as the Seoul Migrant Art Festival. This year's festival will be held in two venues from this Saturday to Oct. 25 in Seoul’s Yeongdeungpo and Seodaemun districts, featuring events including music and screenings of films made by migrants living in Korea. Founded in late 2011, the Asian Media Culture Factory is a nonprofit cultural and arts organization led by migrants. The organizers told The Korea Times that their mission is to support migrant-led artistic practices and build a cultural and artistic platform for people who arrived from overseas. “We believe that everyone should have the right to engage in the arts, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, religion or visa status," they said. “We hope to create a space where migrant artists and cultural practitioners, who often have limited cultural and artistic networks and few opportunities to present their work in Korean society, can showcase their work and gain rec

[INTERVIEW] Alaska Airlines eyes Asia expansion as Korea route gains traction

Oct 15, 2026

[INTERVIEW] Alaska Airlines eyes Asia expansion as Korea route gains traction

SEATTLE — Alaska Airlines is looking to expand its presence in Asia as its Incheon-Seattle route gains traction, with Korea emerging as a key market in the U.S. carrier’s expanding international network. The airline recorded load factors of 82 percent in June, 84 percent in July and 79 percent in August on the route, marking a strong start in its first full year of operations. The figures exceeded expectations for a new route, which typically takes about three years to mature as the airline adjusts schedules and connections to meet passenger demand. "Those are really good, strong load factors for the first year of a new route," Shane Tackett, president and chief financial officer of Alaska Airlines, said in an interview with The Korea Times on Sept. 29. He added that one month ranked among Alaska's best-performing international routes financially before fuel prices increased significantly. The airline sees further opportunities to attract passengers from Korea, where its brand remains relatively unfamiliar. Tackett said Alaska Airlines aims to raise awareness of its services and enco

Hyundai Motor's tech bets face headwinds as core business loses steam

Oct 15, 2026

Hyundai Motor's tech bets face headwinds as core business loses steam

Hyundai Motor’s weakening auto profitability is raising questions about the sustainability of its costly investments in robotics and autonomous driving, as the technologies remain years away from generating significant earnings. The company is betting on Boston Dynamics’ Atlas humanoid robot, its own software-defined vehicle (SDV) and autonomous driving capabilities as three core pillars for its future mobility. Yet those businesses are far from generating tangible earnings, leaving Hyundai increasingly dependent on its conventional auto business which faces mounting earnings pressure from labor disputes at home, tariffs from the United States and intensifying competition from Chinese automakers in Europe. The timing gap between its weakening core business and future growth engines is becoming harder for investors to overlook. Hyundai’s shares have fallen around 60 percent from their June 1 peak of 783,000 won ($587) to less than 320,000 won on Monday, reflecting fading enthusiasm for its robotics ambitions and growing doubts over its earnings outlook. The pressure continues to be

How Mediheal is evolving beyond sheet masks

Oct 15, 2026

How Mediheal is evolving beyond sheet masks

This is the third in a series of interview stories and feature stories about L&P Cosmetic, a company behind the globally popular facial sheet mask brand Mediheal, introducing the philosophies, insights and future strategies of leaders of the K-beauty company. — ED Best known for turning sheet masks into a beauty routine staple, L&P Cosmetic’s Mediheal is building its next stage of growth around a broader portfolio of skin care solutions, ranging from toners to serums, cleansers, creams and sun care products. The expansion reflects Mediheal’s evolution from a mask-focused label into a comprehensive skin care brand designed to address consumers’ needs across every step of their daily routines. Drawing on the recognition it has built through sheet masks, the brand is extending its ingredient expertise and research capabilities into products that can be used before, after and alongside masks. That strategy was on display in Japan in August when Mediheal introduced its new Derma Skin Care Series, featuring toners, serums and serum masks. The series used three ingredients closely asso

N. Korea tests 2 types of submarine-launched strategic cruise missiles: KCNA

Oct 15, 2026

N. Korea tests 2 types of submarine-launched strategic cruise missiles: KCNA

North Korea said Thursday it tested two types of submarine-launched strategic cruise missiles in the East Sea the previous day. "The test-fire aimed to examine the current mobilized posture of the underwater combat systems and contributed to getting the Navy skilled in performing its strategic missions and showcasing high reliability, trustworthiness and ability of the war deterrents of the DPRK," the North's Korean Central News Agency said in an English dispatch. DPRK stands for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The test was overseen by Kim Jong-sil, a member of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea, Jang Chang-ha, director-general of the Missile Administration and the Navy's underwater weapon system engineers, the report said. The Rodong Sinmun, the country's the most widely read paper, did not report the launch. The report came days after the North test-fired tactical ballistic missiles from the Pyongyang area toward the East Sea on Monday. The North said Tuesday the test launch was intended to "confirm the success in the re

N. Korea could bolster drone capabilities through workers at Russian factory: report

Oct 15, 2026

N. Korea could bolster drone capabilities through workers at Russian factory: report

North Korea could strengthen its military drone capabilities by gaining technical expertise through workers deployed to a major Russian drone production facility, potentially posing a new security threat to South Korea and U.S. forces in the region, a U.S. think tank report showed Wednesday. The report, jointly published by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the George W. Bush Institute, examined the security implications of North Korea's involvement in Russia's drone manufacturing industry, as well as the roles of China and Iran in supporting Moscow's war against Ukraine. According to a separate report issued by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) in September, Russia hosted an estimated 15,000 to 30,000 North Korean workers as of the end of 2025, some of whom were involved in manufacturing military drones. The report also said Moscow had established a student visa scheme to disguise North Korean workers as students. "North Korean labor also transfers technical know-how. Technicians sent to Alabuga will return to Pyongyang with invaluable lesson

Seoul mayor says to press ahead with housing supply plan

Oct 15, 2026

Seoul mayor says to press ahead with housing supply plan

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said Thursday the city government plans to press ahead with its supply plan for the housing market, noting that construction has already begun for 15,000 units this year. The municipality plans to break ground on 310,000 housing units by 2031 through redevelopment and reconstruction projects amid recent supply shortages that have contributed to sharp price hikes. "Under the principle that sufficient and continued supply is the starting point of reducing housing concerns, we have sped up improvement projects through rapid integrated planning," Oh said during a parliamentary audit of the city government. "Going forward, we will continue to ease on-site difficulties and unfair regulations so that housing can be supplied continuously without stopping." He also pledged to actively respond to shortages in the rental housing market by broadening the foundation for private supply.

President Lee to meet US-Korea Business Council chair to discuss cooperation

Oct 15, 2026

President Lee to meet US-Korea Business Council chair to discuss cooperation

President Lee Jae Myung was set to meet Thursday with the chair of the U.S.-Korea Business Council (USKBC) to discuss economic cooperation between the two countries and trade relations, officials said. During the meeting with Evan G. Greenberg, chair of USKBC and CEO of Chubb Group, scheduled for Thursday afternoon, Lee plans to hear the outcome of a joint plenary meeting of the U.S.-Korea and Korea-U.S. Business Councils held in Seoul the same day. The plenary meeting brought together the USKBC and its Korean counterpart, which is operated by the Federation of Korean Industries. The USKBC is a major business advocacy organization representing top U.S. companies engaged with Korea. During the meeting, Lee also plans to call for the USKBC to play a role in expanding economic cooperation between Seoul and Washington, Cheong Wa Dae said.

S. Korea to kick off annual Hoguk exercise next week

Oct 15, 2026

S. Korea to kick off annual Hoguk exercise next week

The South Korean military will launch an annual outdoor defense field exercise next week, along with some joint field drills with the United States that were pushed back as the allies scaled back their combined summertime exercise, officials said Thursday. The Hoguk exercise will begin Monday for a five-day run, aimed at bolstering joint operational capabilities and the readiness posture of the armed forces across the land, maritime and air domains, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). This year's drills will involve a similar number of troops to the 2025 exercise and incorporate the operation of opposing forces and simulated combat training to better reflect realistic threats, the JCS said. The drills will be conducted alongside computer-simulated command post exercises and various strategy discussions as part of efforts to maintain a "robust" readiness posture, it added. The U.S. Forces Korea will also participate in the drills to enhance interoperability with South Korean troops, a JCS official said. Launched in 1996, the Hoguk exercise is aimed at enhancing the interoperabili

Young Chinese are choosing healthy relationships over toxic filial piety

Oct 15, 2026

Young Chinese are choosing healthy relationships over toxic filial piety

As the Chinese saying goes, “Even an upright judge finds it hard to settle family matters.” Whenever Chinese TV channels air reality shows that centre on couples or parent-child relationships, controversy is guaranteed. Heated debates ensue over who is right and who is wrong. Viewers examine every facial expression in microscopic detail and overanalyse every word before arriving at their verdict. Yet, that wasn’t the case with Zhang Jiaqi after the Olympic diving medallist and her mother, Xiao...

Ridon to Carpio’s massive shoe bill: Only oligarchs are sports patrons

Oct 15, 2026

Ridon to Carpio’s massive shoe bill: Only oligarchs are sports patrons

MANILA, Philippines — Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon has asked whether Vice President Sara Duterte’s husband Manases Carpio considers himself an oligarch, as the reason that he gave for huge sports apparel purchases—supporting basketball teams—is often reserved for big business players. Ridon, in an interview on the sidelines of Duterte’s impeachment trial, maintained that

US and China race to shape AI agenda ahead of Xi-Trump talks in Shenzhen, sources say

Oct 15, 2026

US and China race to shape AI agenda ahead of Xi-Trump talks in Shenzhen, sources say

The United States and China are in regular talks to iron out details of a framework announced last month for handling AI-related incidents and institutionalising bilateral dialogue, multiple sources told the South China Morning Post. The technical teams of the two countries aim to make AI cooperation a potential deliverable when presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump meet on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Shenzhen next month – their third face-to-face...

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