Wed Sep 18 05:07:00 UTC 2024: ## News Roundup: Chuseok Travel, Election Interference, and Pet Love
**Seoul traffic gridlocked as Chuseok holiday ends:** Seoul residents faced heavy traffic on the final day of the Chuseok holiday, as millions of people returned to the city after visiting family.
**Men’s makeup market booming in Korea:** Korean men are embracing beauty products, driving a significant increase in the men’s makeup market.
**Digital shift key to reviving Korean reading habits:** A leading writers’ organization is pushing for a digital shift in the reading industry, hoping to revitalize Korean reading habits.
**Trump undeterred by assassination attempt:** Despite an apparent assassination attempt, Donald Trump stuck to his schedule and continued his inflammatory rhetoric.
**Biden hosts first White House Chuseok reception:** President Biden and Vice President Harris hosted the first-ever White House Chuseok reception, extending greetings to the Korean American community.
**Pregnancy dramatically alters the brain:** Scientific research reveals that pregnancy causes extensive and significant changes in the brain.
**Central Europe floods leave 16 dead:** Heavy rains and flooding across Central Europe have resulted in 16 deaths in Romania, Poland, Czech Republic, and Austria.
**Smoking remains top in-flight offense:** Despite efforts to curb smoking on flights, it remains the most common illegal act committed by passengers over the past five years.
**US seeks to revive North Korea dialogue through Sweden:** The US hopes to re-engage with North Korea through diplomatic channels, utilizing Sweden as a mediator.
**Deepfakes proliferate across various crimes:** Deepfakes, manipulated media used to deceive, are being increasingly used in crimes ranging from sex offenses and fraud to election interference.
**Pet industry thrives as owners shower love on furry friends:** The “petconomy” continues to boom, with pet owners lavishing their furry companions with affection and spending.
**Seoul police investigate alleged unlicensed e-scooter riding by ex-Premier Leaguer Lingard:** Police in Seoul are investigating former Premier League player Jesse Lingard for allegedly riding an e-scooter without a license.
**Drunk and unlicensed driving behind half of fatal hit-and-runs:** Data reveals that drunk or unlicensed drivers are responsible for half of all fatal hit-and-run accidents.
**Daejeon artists prepare for DJAC exhibition:** Artists in Daejeon are gearing up for the upcoming DJAC exhibition, showcasing their work.
**Kia Tigers secure top regular-season spot in KBO:** The Kia Tigers clinched the best regular-season record in the KBO, demonstrating their dominance in the league.
**Hezbollah suffers casualties in Lebanon:** Multiple pager blasts targeted Hezbollah in Lebanon, resulting in nine deaths and 2,800 injuries.
**North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles:** North Korea has launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
**Trump assassination suspect may have waited 12 hours:** The suspect in the apparent assassination attempt against Donald Trump may have lain in wait for 12 hours before the incident.
**Convenience stores rank second in sales after department stores:** Convenience stores have achieved the second-highest sales figures in the first half of the year, trailing only department stores.
**Bayern Munich defeat Tottenham Hotspur in Seoul:** Bayern Munich triumphed over Tottenham Hotspur in a friendly match held in Seoul.
**Tottenham defeats K-League All-Stars:** Tottenham Hotspur emerged victorious in a match against a combined team of K-League All-Stars.
**Busan World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals:** The finals of the Busan World Team Table Tennis Championships are underway, with top athletes competing for glory.
First Piper 