Thunderstorms, heavy rain expected in parts of Calabarzon Monday morning

Inquirer.net - Oct 19, 2026

MANILA, Philippines — Moderate to heavy rainshowers with lightning and strong winds are expected over parts of Batangas, Quezon, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal on Monday morning, the state weather bureau said.  In a thunderstorm advisory issued at 7:10 a.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the weather conditions could affect the

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Church, youth groups push action vs political dynasties

Oct 19, 2026

Church, youth groups push action vs political dynasties

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — Church and youth groups in Oriental Mindoro are urging young people to take a more active role in political reform, including efforts to end political dynasties. The call is part of the “Dapat Isa Lang” people’s initiative campaign, which seeks to raise awareness about political dynasties and encourage Filipinos to

Taal Volcano records 2 minor phreatic eruptions, spike in quakes

Oct 19, 2026

Taal Volcano records 2 minor phreatic eruptions, spike in quakes

LUCENA CITY — Taal Volcano showed renewed unrest after two minor phreatic eruptions and a spike in seismic activity were recorded within a 24-hour period, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported on Monday (Oct. 19). In its morning bulletin, Phivolcs said the steam-driven eruptions, locally called “pusngat,” occurred at 7:31 p.m. and

Champi nears PAR but will not affect PH directly on Monday

Oct 19, 2026

Champi nears PAR but will not affect PH directly on Monday

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Champi is approaching the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) but is not yet affecting the country, the state weather bureau said Monday. In its 5 a.m. forecast, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Champi was last spotted 1,720 kilometers east of Southern Luzon as of 3 a.m.

President Lee's approval rating rebounds after 2-week decline: poll

Oct 19, 2026

President Lee's approval rating rebounds after 2-week decline: poll

President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating rebounded to 37.3 percent after two consecutive weeks of decline, a survey showed Monday. In the poll conducted on 2,520 adults nationwide from last Monday to Friday by Realmeter, positive assessments of Lee's job performance rose 2.1 percentage points from the previous week. Negative assessments fell 1 percentage point to 60.4 percent. As reasons for the rebound, Realmeter cited policies aimed at improving people's livelihoods in areas such as housing and jobs, as well as the government's measures to tackle violent crimes following a stabbing spree in Incheon, west of Seoul. The pollster added that a sharp stock market decline later in the week appeared to have weighed on Lee's approval rating. In a separate survey of 1,005 adults conducted between Thursday and Friday, support for the ruling Democratic Party of Korea rose 0.7 percentage point to 36.2 percent, while that of the main opposition People Power Party fell 0.4 percentage point to 40.9 percent. The survey on the president had a margin of error of 2 percentage points at a 95 percent confid

Chungnam National University offers hands-on agricultural programs

Oct 19, 2026

Chungnam National University offers hands-on agricultural programs

Chungnam National University is nurturing future agricultural workers through programs that give university and high school students practical experience in crop cultivation and harvesting. The university said its Department of Crop Science and GreenBio Convergence and Open Sharing System (COSS) project group held the “2026 Morakmorak Nongshim” green bio career exploration program at the university's affiliated farm on Friday. The program brought together about 60 participants, including students from the university and Yuseong Bio Science Technology High School in Daejeon. Under the guidance of professor Shim Kyu-chan, participants harvested wild rice, while professor Lee Sung-woo led a session on soybean harvesting. They learned about the ecological value of wild rice as a genetic resource and the importance of conserving native seeds. Explanations of crop growth characteristics and cultivation and harvesting methods also helped participants better understand the diversity of food crops and the need to preserve genetic resources. The program builds on the “Green Bio Mo-ment Program

1 KATUSA killed, 3 USFK soldiers injured in rollover crash in Daegu

Oct 19, 2026

1 KATUSA killed, 3 USFK soldiers injured in rollover crash in Daegu

DAEGU — One Korean soldier attached to the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) was killed and three others, including two U.S. servicemembers, were injured Monday after their vehicle crashed in the southeastern city of Daegu, local police said. Their military sport utility vehicle (SUV) crashed into a median strip and flipped onto its right side on a highway in the city about 240 kilometers southeast of Seoul, at 5:07 a.m., the police said. One Korean soldier in his 20s, who was serving as a Korean Augmentation to the U.S. Army (KATUSA), died in the crash, while another KATUSA soldier, also in his 20s, sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries, according to the police. Two USFK servicemembers suffered minor injuries. The four soldiers were returning to their base after completing their shift in Daegu's Chilgok County. The police said they notified the USFK of the accident and are investigating the details.

Yongsan to deploy 2,550 personnel in Itaewon to prevent repeat of Halloween tragedy

Oct 19, 2026

Yongsan to deploy 2,550 personnel in Itaewon to prevent repeat of Halloween tragedy

With the approach of Oct. 31, a Saturday that promises packed streets and spirited celebrations, local authorities in the heart of the capital are taking no chances. The Yongsan District Office announced a comprehensive safety mobilization Monday for the upcoming Halloween season, deploying thousands of personnel and leveraging real-time data technology to safeguard visitors in the bustling Itaewon neighborhood. The heightened security measures reflect a deep, ongoing commitment to preventing any repetition of the tragic 2022 Halloween crowd crush, which claimed 159 lives in a narrow alleyway in Itaewon. In the years since, local authorities and disaster response agencies have completely overhauled urban safety protocols, turning the nightlife district into a testing ground for real-time crowd management. Running Oct. 23 to Nov. 1, a special 10-day safety enforcement period aims to manage an anticipated crowd of 165,000 visitors across popular nightlife corridors such as the World Food Street. The comprehensive plan blends boots-on-the-ground vigilance with advanced digital monitoring. A

Inaugural SCIA chief reaffirms pledge to end 'politicization' of investigations

Oct 19, 2026

Inaugural SCIA chief reaffirms pledge to end 'politicization' of investigations

The inaugural chief of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA) on Monday reiterated his pledge to end the "politicization" of investigations. Kim Ji-yong was appointed to lead the newly launched agency Thursday following a major overhaul to the criminal justice system earlier this month that stripped prosecutors of their investigative powers. "The previous prosecution caused various harms, such as abusing investigative powers, and I think the root cause of that lies with the politicization of investigations," he told reporters. "The SCIA will establish itself as an investigative agency that the public will not have to worry about by strictly upholding fairness, neutrality and procedural justice." Kim, as nominee, had vowed to prioritize ending the "politicization" of investigations. The SCIA was launched on Oct. 2 as part of reforms to the prosecution amid criticism that prosecutors pursued politically motivated investigations.

Korea to send delegation to Kazakhstan for water industry cooperation

Oct 19, 2026

Korea to send delegation to Kazakhstan for water industry cooperation

Korea will send a delegation to Kazakhstan to expand bilateral cooperation in the water industry and support Korean companies seeking to enter the Kazakh market, the foreign ministry said Monday. The public-private delegation will include officials from the foreign and energy ministries, nine Korean water companies and representatives from relevant state-run entities, according to the ministry. During their three-day visit through Wednesday, the delegation will meet with major Kazakh water management agencies to discuss technological cooperation, visit water and wastewater treatment facilities and review ongoing pilot projects to identify new business opportunities. The two nations have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on smart water management technologies and pursued pilot projects involving Korean water industry products and technologies. "We will continue expanding water industry cooperation with Kazakhstan by matching its water management needs with advanced technologies from Korean companies," the ministry said in a release.

N. Korea touts 'invincible' comradeship with Russia at diplomatic event

Oct 19, 2026

N. Korea touts 'invincible' comradeship with Russia at diplomatic event

North Korea has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening relations with Russia at a diplomatic event, calling its ties with Moscow an "invincible" comradeship, Pyongyang's state media reported Monday. The North Korean Embassy in Russia hosted a reception marking the 78th anniversary of forming diplomatic relations between the two nations last Tuesday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. The event was attended by Alexander Kozlov, Russia's minister of natural resources and chair of the North Korea-Russia Intergovernmental Committee for Cooperation in Trade, Economy and Science, along with other Russian government and party officials. North Korean Ambassador to Russia Sin Hong-chol said the bilateral ties have developed at an unprecedented level through the "most truthful" relations forged between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Shin said the meeting between their leaders in 2024 has upgraded bilateral ties into a comprehensive strategic partnership and leaped toward "invincible comradely-in-arms relations," according to the KCNA. In response, Koz

APR expands US retail presence as Medicube hits Costco shelves

Oct 19, 2026

APR expands US retail presence as Medicube hits Costco shelves

Korean beauty company APR said Monday that its flagship skin care brand, Medicube, is now sold in about 400 Costco stores in the United States. The move expands the brand’s presence in physical stores in North America. Medicube products went on sale at Costco’s U.S. stores this month, and the company plans to expand to all of the warehouse club’s U.S. locations. This month it also finished rolling out to every Costco store in Korea. It plans to enter Costco in Canada and Europe as well. For the launch, APR made a Costco-only package of its Zero Pore Pad, one of Medicube’s best-selling products. The company said the toner pad has ranked first in Amazon’s U.S. facial toners and astringents category since February 2025. APR plans to add products from its popular PDRN line to its Costco lineup. The line features an ingredient made from salmon DNA. The Costco deal is the latest in a series of U.S. retail expansions. Medicube entered about 1,400 Ulta Beauty stores in August last year, more than 1,500 Target stores in April and about 3,000 Walmart stores in June. It is also set to en

A Twosome Place makes US debut in Virginia, drawing all-day crowds

Oct 19, 2026

A Twosome Place makes US debut in Virginia, drawing all-day crowds

Korean dessert cafe chain A Twosome Place has opened its first U.S. store, in Alexandria, Virginia, the company said Monday. Customers lined up from opening to closing on the first day. The store opened Saturday, local time, at 404 King Street, the main street of Alexandria’s historic Old Town district. People started lining up before it opened at 7 a.m., and the line lasted until it closed at 8 p.m. Some customers came from as far away as New York and Baltimore. A Twosome Place has more than 1,700 outlets in Korea and is known for its cakes. Global investment firm Carlyle Group owns the company outright. On the first day, the best sellers included spoonable versions of its icebox cake and of its signature strawberry chocolate cream cake. The top drinks were a black sesame latte and the Dalgona Cream Top, a drink topped with whipped coffee cream. The company said deli items such as a brioche “K-toast” and a Seoul spicy chicken panini also sold well. The store covers about 240 square meters. It has 78 seats, including an outdoor terrace, and Korean design touches. The menu has about

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