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K-Beauty Is Becoming South Korea’s New Diplomatic Weapon — And Brazil Is at the Center of It

South Korea is taking K-beauty far beyond skincare counters and social media trends — and Brazil is emerging as a major test of how cosmetics can become an instrument of economic diplomacy. During South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s state visit to Brazil in July, K-beauty was placed alongside commercial aircraft and critical minerals as one of the areas with potential to deepen the two countries’ economic relationship. That unusual combination highlights just how important South Korea’s bea

September 3, 2026

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K-Food Is Taking Over U.S. Supermarkets — But Korea’s Next Big Move Could Be Even Bigger

South Korea is making a major push to take K-food beyond Asian communities and into mainstream global grocery aisles as the country races toward a record $16 billion food-export target this year. K-food exports reached $8.25 billion from January through July, up 4.8 percent from the same period last year, according to South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Instant noodles alone surpassed $1 billion in exports during the first seven months. The United States has emerged

September 3, 2026

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2026 Bar Exams: Justice Gaerlan Tells Thousands of Examinees to Keep Fighting—But the Biggest Test Is Yet to Come

MANILA, Philippines — With only days left before the 2026 Bar Examinations, Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel H. Gaerlan is urging aspiring lawyers to keep pushing forward, hold on to their dreams and face the country’s biggest Bar examination yet with determination and integrity. Gaerlan, who chairs the 2026 Bar Examinations, delivered a message of encouragement to examinees as they enter the final stretch of one of the most demanding stages of their legal careers. His message: “Padayon

September 3, 2026

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China Walks Out of Gwangju Biennale Over ‘Taiwan Pavilion’—Is Another Korea-China Crisis Brewing?

China has withdrawn from South Korea’s Gwangju Biennale over the use of the name “Taiwan Pavilion,” raising fresh concerns about tensions between Beijing and Seoul and comparisons with the 2017 THAAD dispute. Gwangju, South Korea — Sept. 3, 2026 — What began as a dispute over the name of an art exhibition has suddenly turned into a sensitive diplomatic issue between China and South Korea, after Chinese participants withdrew from the 2026 Gwangju Biennale over the use of the name “Taiwan Pavilio

September 3, 2026

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Ridon: Sara Duterte Is the One on Trial, Not Poa, as Impeachment Case Turns to ₱112.5-M DepEd Funds

MANILA — House prosecutor Terry Ridon has sought to draw a clear line between Michael Wesley Poa’s role as a witness and the accountability being examined in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, saying Poa should not automatically face liability simply because he prepared the Department of Education’s response to Commission on Audit (COA) questions. “The one on trial here is not Mr. Poa. He is just a witness. The one on trial here is the VP,” Ridon said after Poa testified before th

September 3, 2026

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P100 Million Released to Transform Baguio’s Historic Maharlika Complex

BAGUIO CITY — A major facelift is coming to one of Baguio City’s most recognizable commercial landmarks after the Office of the President released ₱100 million for the rehabilitation of the Maharlika Livelihood Complex. The funding is expected to accelerate the city's efforts to modernize the decades-old trading center while preserving its role as a livelihood hub for small businesses and entrepreneurs. From aging complex to modern livelihood hub The Maharlika Livelihood Complex sits at the

September 3, 2026

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Cardinal Joseph Zen Loses Appeal in Hong Kong Over 612 Protest Relief Fund

HONG KONG — Retired Catholic Cardinal Joseph Zen and four other trustees of Hong Kong's now-defunct 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund have lost their appeal against convictions for failing to register the fund under the city's Societies Ordinance. The Court of Appeal on September 3, 2026, upheld the convictions, rejecting the argument that the fund was simply a charitable trust rather than a society subject to registration requirements. The five trustees were each fined HK$4,000 (about US$510) in 20

September 3, 2026

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Davao del Norte Farmers Get On-Site Soil Testing as DA Brings Mobile Laboratory Closer to Farms

DAVAO CITY — Farmers in Carmen, Davao del Norte are gaining easier access to soil testing as the Department of Agriculture brings a mobile laboratory directly into farming communities, giving growers scientific information they can use to make better decisions about fertilizer, soil health and crop production. The initiative is part of the Department of Agriculture's broader push to make science-based agricultural services more accessible to farmers, particularly those who may find it difficult

September 3, 2026

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UNHCR Rejects Role in Malaysia’s Myanmar Repatriation Plan, Warns Return Conditions Remain Unsafe

KUALA LUMPUR — A planned Malaysian repatriation of Myanmar nationals is facing renewed scrutiny after the United Nations refugee agency said it is not involved in the operation and warned that conditions in Myanmar remain too dangerous for a safe, dignified and sustainable return. Malaysia has scheduled the first phase of its voluntary repatriation programme for September 29, involving 1,476 Myanmar nationals. The group is part of a broader plan involving about 5,000 people who Malaysian author

September 3, 2026

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Palace Defends Marcos’ Acting Secretaries, Says Appointments Are Within His Legal Powers

MANILA — Malacañang is defending President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s continued use of acting Cabinet secretaries, saying the appointments are legally permissible and within the President’s constitutional authority. The Palace’s position comes amid renewed scrutiny over the number of government departments being headed by officials serving in an acting capacity rather than as permanent, Commission on Appointments (CA)-confirmed secretaries. The issue has become increasingly contentious as Congress

September 3, 2026