New research shows how microplastics and water interactions could lead to cell damage

Los Angeles Times - Oct 17, 2026

When water comes into contact with plastic surfaces, a key chemical reaction does take place, new research indicates.

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P1.1M contraband cigarettes uncovered after blaze in Bukidnon house

Oct 17, 2026

P1.1M contraband cigarettes uncovered after blaze in Bukidnon house

VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon — A dawn response to a residential fire in Barangay Batangan here on Friday, October 16, led to the discovery and confiscation of 45 cartons of contraband “Commando Red Label” cigarettes valued at an estimated P1.1 million. Firefighters responded to a distress call at around 11:45 p.m. on Thursday, October 15, regarding

Rare, threatened amphibian spotted in Mount Apo

Oct 17, 2026

Rare, threatened amphibian spotted in Mount Apo

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato — A rare, threatened amphibian known as the Mindanao caecilian (Ichthyophis mindanaoensis) has been recorded at a biodiversity monitoring site in Mount Apo Natural Park in Cotabato province, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The DENR in Region 12 said the species was identified by Marisol Pedregosa,

Bukidnon ube set to enter US market

Oct 17, 2026

Bukidnon ube set to enter US market

LANTAPAN, Bukidnon — The ube harvest of local farmers here, who are mostly members of the Talaandig indigenous tribe, is set to enter the United States market after they secured a five-year contract to supply the increasingly globally popular purple yam for export. The contract was formalized last October 5 at the Northern Mindanao Agricultural

Northern Samar leads Eastern Visayas in economic growth at 4.6%

Oct 17, 2026

Northern Samar leads Eastern Visayas in economic growth at 4.6%

TACLOBAN CITY — Northern Samar posted the highest economic growth rate in Eastern Visayas in 2025, with its economy expanding by 4.6% from 3.4% in the previous year, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) regional office. The PSA- 8 released the latest Provincial Product Accounts (PPA) on Oct. 15, showing Northern Samar outperforming the

Red tide warning up over Samar’s Irong-Irong Bay

Oct 17, 2026

Red tide warning up over Samar’s Irong-Irong Bay

TACLOBAN CITY — A red tide warning has been issued for Irong-Irong Bay in Catbalogan City, Samar, after shellfish samples tested positive for paralytic shellfish toxin, prompting authorities to ban the gathering, sale and consumption of all types of shellfish and alamang from the affected waters. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in

Only 17% of Philippine businesses have a roadmap to scale AI

Oct 17, 2026

Only 17% of Philippine businesses have a roadmap to scale AI

Only 17% of businesses in the Philippines have a roadmap for scaling artificial intelligence (AI), highlighting a gap between growing adoption of the technology and companies’ ability to integrate it more deeply into their operations. The finding comes from Unlocking the Philippines’ AI Potential 2026, a report commissioned by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and conducted

Army renders 21-gun salute for cops, soldiers slain during Marawi siege

Oct 17, 2026

Army renders 21-gun salute for cops, soldiers slain during Marawi siege

MARAWI CITY – Secretary Nasser Pangandaman Jr., Presidential Adviser for Marawi Rehabilitation and Development, led Saturday’s commemoration of this city’s liberation from the hands of Islamic State-linked militants nine years ago. Soldiers from the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade rendered a 21-gun salute for government security personnel who sacrificed their lives to liberate the city. October

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

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

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