Dire straits and tech’s saving grace?

Inquirer.net - Sep 20, 2026

There are two big tech-centric events that are being talked about today. The first and more obvious one is Pax Silica. The second is the upcoming listing of GCash into the local stock market. Although these two events are by themselves a big deal on their own merit, I would not have framed them to

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Dire straits and tech’s saving grace?

Sep 20, 2026

Dire straits and tech’s saving grace?

There are two big tech-centric events that are being talked about today. The first and more obvious one is Pax Silica. The second is the upcoming listing of GCash into the local stock market. Although these two events are by themselves a big deal on their own merit, I would not have framed them to

No winners of major lotto games on Sunday; Ultra Lotto jackpot at P315 million

Sep 20, 2026

No winners of major lotto games on Sunday; Ultra Lotto jackpot at P315 million

There were no winners of either of the two major lotto games played on Sunday, September 20, 2026, with the Ultra Lotto jackpot now at over P315 million.

US, China seek Xi-Trump summit deliverables in New York talks

Sep 20, 2026

US, China seek Xi-Trump summit deliverables in New York talks

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer held their final preparatory talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in New York on Sunday to work out deliverables for next week’s summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump in Washington. The leaders are meeting at JP Morgan’s headquarters in the city to discuss possible economic outcomes for the summit and begin their long-awaited dialogue on artificial intelligence safety and...

Lost in translation no more: Gangnam upgrades administrative counters with AI

Sep 20, 2026

Lost in translation no more: Gangnam upgrades administrative counters with AI

In the bustling administrative offices of Gangnam District, the sleek area of southern Seoul famous for its glamour and wealth, public service counters are undergoing a futuristic transformation. Where transparent acrylic panels once merely served as physical barriers between residents and city officials, new artificial intelligence-powered displays are now translating spoken words with real-time subtitles across 130 languages. The Gangnam District Office said that it has deployed a state-of-the-art "Real-Time Transparent OLED Communication Window" as part of its drive to eliminate communication hurdles for foreign nationals and hearing-impaired residents. Developed in collaboration with private tech partners through an open innovation initiative, the system merges transparent organic light-emitting diode (OLED) screens with advanced speech-to-text and machine translation engines. For Gangnam's international and hearing-impaired residents, the technology eliminates the tedious routine of writing notes back and forth or waiting for on-call interpreters. The interface is relatively seamles

Hyundai Motor bets on redesigned Tucson SUV for sales rebound

Sep 20, 2026

Hyundai Motor bets on redesigned Tucson SUV for sales rebound

PAJU, Gyeonggi Province — Hyundai Motor is banking on the redesigned Tucson to help turn around its weakening sales momentum, putting one of its global best-selling SUVs at the center of its global sales strategy in the second half of the year. The automaker unveiled the fifth-generation Tucson on Friday, six years after the previous model was introduced, positioning the compact SUV alongside the redesigned Avante and the facelifted Grandeur as key models for its swift sales recovery. The launch comes at a difficult time for the carmaker. Its domestic sales plunged 41.1 percent in August from the previous year to its lowest level in 11 years, largely due to production disruptions caused by a prolonged labor strike. With its relatively affordable, high-volume models expected to provide a more immediate boost to its global sales, the launch of the highly sought-after SUV came at the opportune time for the carmaker. Tucson is particularly important because its role extends beyond the Korean market. It is one of Hyundai's major global volume models, giving the company an opportunity to use

Nobel laureate Mello stresses importance of embracing challenges without fear of failure

Sep 20, 2026

Nobel laureate Mello stresses importance of embracing challenges without fear of failure

Sungkyunkwan University’s Biomedical Institute for Convergence hosted a special seminar featuring Craig C. Mello, a 2006 Nobel laureate in physiology or medicine and professor at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, on Sept. 10. In his lecture, titled “RNAi: A Molecular Spark in an Information Inferno,” Mello recounted the discovery of RNA interference and how basic research evolved into therapies that can save patients’ lives. Addressing students and young researchers in particular, he repeatedly emphasized the importance of embracing challenges without fear of failure. A university official quoted Mello as saying, “Great discoveries do not come from finding predetermined answers, but from a process of constantly asking questions and going through countless failures.” Professor Mello is a world-renowned scientist who discovered RNA interference (RNAi), a “gene-silencing” mechanism that can switch off the activity of specific genes inside cells. Genes serve as blueprints for our bodies, and his discovery that specific genetic instructions could be selective

Vietnamese professionals in Korea nearly double over 4 years

Sep 20, 2026

Vietnamese professionals in Korea nearly double over 4 years

The number of Vietnamese nationals holding Korea's E-7-1 professional visa has nearly doubled over the past four years, data showed Sunday. As of August, 3,572 Vietnamese nationals held the visa, up 1.84 times from 1,938 in 2022, according to the data submitted to Rep. Kim Joon-hwan of the Democratic Party of Korea by the justice ministry. The E-7-1 visa is granted to foreign nationals working in government-designated professional fields such as information technology and robotics. Indian nationals saw a similar rise, growing 1.46 times to 1,014 during the same period. Chinese nationals holding the visa, by contrast, declined to 1,566 from 2,213 in 2022. American E-7-1 holders also slipped to 1,355 from 1,471. Meanwhile, Chinese nationals dominate a separate visa category, the semi-professional E-7-2, which covers areas such as caregiving. They accounted for 80.6 percent of all 10,759 E-7-2 holders. The lawmaker called the influx of such tech talent "a positive sign," but said the country needs to improve working and living conditions for those workers to generate "bigger synergy."

[COVER STORY] Korea-US $200 bil. investment talks hit last-stage hurdles over 'commercial viability'

Sep 20, 2026

[COVER STORY] Korea-US $200 bil. investment talks hit last-stage hurdles over 'commercial viability'

Korea’s negotiations with the United States over a $200 billion investment package have run into last-stage hurdles, with the two sides disagreeing over nuclear reactors, energy projects and funding terms. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources postponed a parliamentary briefing initially scheduled for Thursday, which had been expected to clear the way for signing of a memorandum of understanding for the first project as early as Friday. The briefing is now expected to take place Monday or Tuesday, although the timing will depend on progress in the negotiations. President Lee Jae Myung acknowledged that some provisions remained difficult to accept despite the negotiations being close to an agreement. “After reviewing the details, there are parts that are not easy to agree to,” Lee said during a press conference at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Friday. “We are discussing them again.” Lee said the investment negotiations had broad, complex implications for Korea-U.S. relations and that disagreements emerged as the talks moved into specific projects. “There were several points o

Unification ministry plans to send over 1,400 medical items to Pyongyang hospital

Sep 20, 2026

Unification ministry plans to send over 1,400 medical items to Pyongyang hospital

The unification ministry has drawn up a list of more than 1,400 medical items, including automated external defibrillators, to send to North Korea as part of a humanitarian medical support program, a document showed Sunday. The ministry plans to send 1,431 medical items covering 166 categories to a hospital in Pyongyang, necessary for diagnosis, surgery and treatment, according to the document submitted to Rep. Kim Dae-sik of the People Power Party by the ministry. The items include diagnostic equipment, such as X-ray machines, stethoscopes and blood pressure monitors, along with operating tables and other surgical and treatment equipment. The ministry said the selection was made in consultation with the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare and medical experts, adding that the plan still hinges on discussions with the North Koran side and could change. Its estimated cost is US$6.75 million. The ministry secured a sanctions exemption in May from the U.N. Security Council's North Korea sanctions committee to provide the equipment. As inter-Korean exchanges and dialogue channels are

LG Innotek develops AI-powered component recommendation system

Sep 20, 2026

LG Innotek develops AI-powered component recommendation system

LG Innotek has developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered system that recommends components suitable for use in new products, the company said Sunday. Completed recently after two years of development, the system analyzes vast amounts of internal and external component data using AI and allows users to compare specifications and prices at a glance. LG Innotek’s key products include camera modules, semiconductor substrates and automotive components, each of which can contain hundreds of individual parts. By using AI to speed up component selection while considering both price and performance, the company expects to strengthen its competitiveness. When users enter the specifications they need, the system searches through the data of more than 2 million components in its database and suggests parts with similar specifications. By providing information on components previously purchased by LG Innotek and from the external market, the system significantly broadens the search domain. A distinctive feature of the system is its reference price function. The AI analyzes actual purchase r

Samsung Electronics holds tech forum in US to share AI strategies

Sep 20, 2026

Samsung Electronics holds tech forum in US to share AI strategies

Samsung Electronics said Sunday it held its eighth annual technology forum in the United States to share its artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and business strategies with global developers. About 80 executives from Samsung Electronics and global information technology companies took part in the 2026 Tech Forum in Silicon Valley, the company said in a press release. Samsung brass, including President Roh Tae-moon, who heads its device experience (DX) division, and Chief Technology Officer Yoon Jang-hyun, presented the company's mid and long-term AI vision and business strategies and exchanged views with participants on recent technology trends. Yoon discussed how the combination of next-generation AI technologies and robotics could drive changes in the future, the company said. "AI is a driving force for delivering intelligent and hyper-personalized experiences across every aspect of consumers' daily lives and for driving innovation," Roh said, adding that Samsung aims to provide customers with the best possible AI experience.

Justice minister nominee's withdrawal deals blow to president, ruling party

Sep 20, 2026

Justice minister nominee's withdrawal deals blow to president, ruling party

Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won's withdrawal from candidacy is expected to deal another setback to President Lee Jae Myung and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), as they are already struggling with declining public support. Kim stepped down Saturday, 20 days after his nomination, following controversy over several allegations — including that he used his influence as a lawmaker in 2021 to help a pharmaceutical company get regulatory approval for a COVID-19 clinical drug trial. He withdrew even after the National Assembly approved his nomination. While Kim’s withdrawal eased the immediate pressure on Lee over the appointment, it reinforced concerns over shortcomings in the administration’s personnel vetting system. Kim’s departure also leaves the justice ministry without leadership at a critical time, with pressing tasks piling up ahead of a major overhaul of the criminal justice system, scheduled to take place in October as part of Lee’s signature prosecution reform drive. For the ruling party, Kim’s departure highlighted its political misjudgment. DPK lawmake

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