Brice Hernandez, 6 others plead not guilty to graft case

Inquirer.net - Sep 30, 2026

MANILA, Philippines—Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineer Brice Hernandez, along with six others pleaded not guilty in their graft case before the Sandiganbayan fifth division on Wednesday. They were accused of violating Section 3 of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, over their involvement in the alleged

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Sep 30, 2026

MILF infighting sends civilians fleeing in Maguindanao del Sur

COTABATO CITY – Hostilities between rival Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur, erupted anew before dawn Wednesday, uprooting civilians from their homes, officials said. Shariff Aguak Vice Mayor Hadji Oping Ampatuan said the infighting among MILF members broke out in Barangay Bialong but was immediately defused on Tuesday by

Sep 30, 2026

Magnitude 5 earthquake jolts Occidental Mindoro

CALAPAN CITY — A magnitude 5 earthquake jolted Occidental Mindoro on Wednesday morning, with the strongest reported shaking at Intensity IV in the towns of Mamburao and Sablayan, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). The earthquake struck at 9:34 a.m. and was recorded at a depth of 10 kilometers, with the

Sep 30, 2026

Brice Hernandez, 6 others plead not guilty to graft case

Sep 30, 2026

Mangyan educator among 10 outstanding Filipinos honored at Palace

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — A public school teacher and proud Alangan Mangyan from Naujan town was named one of the 2026 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos and was formally recognized by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in ceremonies at Malacañang Palace on Tuesday. Dr. Emmanuel D. Guarde, Master Teacher II at Cornelio Lintawagin Memorial Elementary

Sep 30, 2026

Dole releases holiday pay guidelines for 2027

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) has released the pay guidelines for the holidays in 2027. READ: LIST: Holidays, special non-working days for 2027 Pursuant to Proclamation No. 1427, January 1, March 25, March 26, April 9, May 1, June 12, August 30, November 30, December 25, December 30, Eid’l Fitr

Sep 30, 2026

NFA procurement plan highlights gaps in PH rice policy

The National Food Authority’s recent announcement that P4 billion can purchase 173,913 metric tons of palay at P23 per kilogram for wet palay bought directly from threshers, or P27 per kilogram for clean and dry palay, highlights a disconnect between government pronouncements and conditions in the agricultural sector. While the announced buying price of P27

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.

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

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

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

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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

Sep 30, 2026

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

WASHINGTON — 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. Following the report, the White House released a press schedule for Wednesday, which included a plan for Trump to make an announcement with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in the Oval Office at 3:30 p.m. (Washington time), heightening expectations for his possible announcement on Korea's investment projects. Seoul and Washington have been in coordination to announce the investment projects under the trade agreement that committed the Asian country to investing $350 billion in the U.S. in return for lower U.S. tariffs on Korean goods. Last week, Seoul's industry ministry

Brice Hernandez, 6 others plead not guilty to graft case

MORE NEWS

MILF infighting sends civilians fleeing in Maguindanao del Sur

Magnitude 5 earthquake jolts Occidental Mindoro

Brice Hernandez, 6 others plead not guilty to graft case

Mangyan educator among 10 outstanding Filipinos honored at Palace

Dole releases holiday pay guidelines for 2027

NFA procurement plan highlights gaps in PH rice policy

Kazakh worker killed as concrete ceiling collapses at Seoul construction site

Young Koreans use digital placebos to curb spending

Planned cut to bank hours sparks debate among customers

Starlink Wi-Fi raises cost dilemma for LCCs

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

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

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