What else is in your baby's diaper? California forces brands to reveal product ingredients

Los Angeles Times - Sep 28, 2026

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law requiring companies to disclose all intentionally added ingredients in diapers, giving parents more transparency on products their babies depend on.

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Kazakh worker killed as concrete ceiling collapses at Seoul construction site

Sep 30, 2026

Kazakh worker killed as concrete ceiling collapses at Seoul construction site

A Kazakhstani worker died Tuesday after part of a concrete ceiling collapsed on him at an apartment construction site in southern Seoul, authorities said. The man, in his 30s, was waiting to begin cleaning inside a unit on the 23rd floor of the site in Seoul's Seocho district when part of the concrete ceiling fell and hit him at around 9:45 a.m., according to the labor ministry. The ministry said it immediately suspended work at the site and began an investigation into the incident with police and construction safety authorities. Police and the labor ministry plan to investigate the cause of the accident and look into whether the companies involved violated workplace safety laws.

Young Koreans use digital placebos to curb spending

Sep 30, 2026

Young Koreans use digital placebos to curb spending

Office worker Lee Joo-hyun, 25, opens a mobile app when hunger strikes, even though she is trying to lose weight. Lee browses the menu, selects food and hits the order button. A notification pops up notifying her that the food is being prepared, followed by a real-time map tracking a delivery driver picking up the meal and moving toward her home. The food, however, never arrives. Lee is not charged, either. The platform Lee used is not a standard delivery service but "FoodNeverArrives" — an application designed to simulate the ordering process. Instead of a meal, Lee receives a virtual receipt tallying the money and calories saved. "Looking at the numbers written on the receipt makes me proud. I'm happy even without eating the food," she said. As inflation remains high, digital placebos that curb impulse spending through virtual consumption are gaining popularity among budget-conscious consumers. The simulations provide a sense of satisfaction and amusement without costing money or raising health concerns. For people in their 20s and 30s who self-deprecatingly joke that "only breathin

Planned cut to bank hours sparks debate among customers

Sep 30, 2026

Planned cut to bank hours sparks debate among customers

A planned 30-minute reduction in bank branch hours is drawing mixed reactions from customers, with many worrying that shorter service hours could make it harder to get in-person banking services. Under a tentative labor-management agreement reached Monday, bank branches will open at 9:30 a.m. starting April next year, instead of the current 9 a.m., while closing hours will remain unchanged at 4 p.m. Some customers said the shorter hours could worsen already long waits as banks continue to reduce the number of branches and staff. "Even when I go in the morning, there are already long lines, and there are fewer employees available during lunch breaks. I don't understand why they are shortening the hours. If anything, they should keep the branches open until later," said Park, an office worker in Seoul. Some online users suggested that if banks are going to shorten their operating hours, they should instead open later and close later, saying longer evening hours would make it easier for office workers to visit branches after work. The issue is particularly relevant for customers looking for

Starlink Wi-Fi raises cost dilemma for LCCs

Sep 30, 2026

Starlink Wi-Fi raises cost dilemma for LCCs

Korea’s low-cost carriers (LCCs) are caught in a dilemma over rising demand for Starlink in-flight Wi-Fi, as the service carries hefty installation and operating costs for most budget airlines. Korean Air started introducing the service for the first time among local carriers in mid-September, initially focusing on long-haul routes. The flag carrier is expected to face few difficulties in expanding the service across its fleet stably due to the airline’s stronger financial resources than LCCs. Korean Air plans to expand its free Wi-Fi service to most of its fleet by the end of 2027 following its integration with Asiana Airlines. The service will also be introduced to its LCC affiliates. Jin Air plans to begin installing Starlink on its Boeing 737-8 aircraft, while Air Busan and Air Seoul are reviewing suitable aircraft for the system. The three LCCs will be merged into converged Jin Air following the integration of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines. However, other LCCs controlled by smaller parent firms than Korean Air are widely expected to face a tougher cost challenge when introducin

AMD chief to visit Korea next month: sources

Sep 30, 2026

AMD chief to visit Korea next month: sources

Lisa Su, chief executive officer of Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD), is expected to visit Korea next month to meet with Korean semiconductor companies and government officials, industry sources said Wednesday. The visit would come about seven months after her previous trip to Korea in March. According to government and semiconductor industry sources, a meeting attended by Su is being considered for Oct. 8 in Seoul. The meeting is expected to include the CEOs of major Korean artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductor companies, including Rebellions Inc., FuriosaAI and Mobilint. Su is also expected to meet with Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon around the time of the meeting, the sources said. During her visit, Su is also coordinating meetings with heads of major Korean companies, including Samsung Electronics Co. When she visited in March, the AMD chief met with Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong. Samsung Electronics has supplied HBM3E chips to AMD for its latest AI solutions since 2025, with the two companies maintaining a close business relationship.

FM Cho calls for stronger Korea-China-Japan cooperation for regional peace

Sep 30, 2026

FM Cho calls for stronger Korea-China-Japan cooperation for regional peace

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has called for stronger cooperation among Korea, China and Japan to promote peace and prosperity in their shared region, his office said Wednesday. Cho made the call during a meeting Tuesday with Tatsushi Nishioka, secretary-general of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS), and Deputy Secretaries-General Kim Han-kyu and Li Jing, respectively from South Korea and China, to congratulate them on taking office this month, according to the ministry. The TCS is a trilateral organization established in Seoul in 2011 following a Korean proposal at the second trilateral summit among the three nations in 2009. It carries out various programs, including people-to-people exchanges, aimed at deepening three-way cooperation. During the talks, Cho stressed the importance of cooperation among Seoul, Beijing and Tokyo in promoting the practical interests of their peoples and achieving peace and prosperity in East Asia. He said the Korean government will continue to play an active role in helping the three countries find common ground and maintain dialogue while asking the

Trump could announce Korea's investment projects as early as Wednesday: report

Sep 30, 2026

Trump could announce Korea's investment projects as early as Wednesday: report

WASHINGTO — U.S. President Donald Trump could announce Korea's investment projects in the United States, including a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Alaska, under last year's bilateral trade agreement, as early as Wednesday, according to a news report. Reuters reported Tuesday that Trump could announce his administration's plans to use Korea's strategic investment fund for several major projects, including approximately $54 billion for the Alaska LNG project. It cited two people familiar with the discussions. Seoul and Washington have been in coordination to announce the investment projects under the trade agreement that committed the Asian country to investing $300 billion in the U.S. in return for lower U.S. tariffs on Korean goods. Last week, Seoul's industry ministry reported to the National Assembly that the two countries have chosen the construction of a large-scale gas-fired power plant in Texas as the first investment project, according to sources in Seoul. As for the second and third projects, the ministry reported plans for the construction of eight large-scale nuclear

N. Korea denies responsibility for DMZ mine blast, warns S. Korea of retaliation

Sep 30, 2026

N. Korea denies responsibility for DMZ mine blast, warns S. Korea of retaliation

North Korea on Wednesday denied South Korea's announcement that a North Korean mine likely caused a recent blast inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), accusing Seoul of fabricating the findings and warning of "immediate and merciless" retaliation if its troops are fired upon. Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, issued the warning in a statement after the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) announced Monday that North Korean land mines were "highly likely" to have caused the explosion on Sept. 21 that left three South Korean soldiers injured. "What should not be overlooked is the fact that the armed gangsters of the ROK are now cooking up the groundless results and 'justifying their conduct' for political and military provocation against the DPRK, openly talking about 'reasonable and corresponding enforcement of measures,'" Kim said in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). DPRK stands for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, while ROK is the acronym for South Korea's official name, the Republi

LTO to issue order revoking driver's licenses over pedestrian lane incidents

Sep 29, 2026

LTO to issue order revoking driver's licenses over pedestrian lane incidents

The Land Transportation Office on Wednesday said it is drafting a memorandum order that could lead to the revocation of the driver"s license of motorists involved in pedestrian lane-related incidents.

Transport strike to continue for second day, PISTON says

Sep 29, 2026

Transport strike to continue for second day, PISTON says

The Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) said its transport strike will push through for a second day to press the government to act on the plight of jeepney drivers amid rising oil prices.

Trump, GOP leaders look to reclaim control over AI narrative

Sep 29, 2026

Trump, GOP leaders look to reclaim control over AI narrative

President Trump and Republicans are seeking to reclaim control of the narrative surrounding artificial intelligence as Democrats use the issue to go on offense ahead of the midterms. Numerous tech leaders joined Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) at a Tuesday luncheon on “super intelligence” — the president’s new term for AI — where they...

5 things to know about Trump's new AI website

Sep 29, 2026

5 things to know about Trump's new AI website

President Trump launched America.gov on Tuesday, a website that uses artificial intelligence to help Americans find information across government websites with a single search. Trump said the website has been in the works since the early days of his second term and that it’s still a work in progress. The website's unveiling took place at...

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