The smartphone is becoming the agent

Inquirer.net - Sep 30, 2026

Your smartphone already knows where you are, what time your next meeting starts, and which apps you use. Alibaba now wants it to do something with all that information. The company is betting on that idea with Qwen Intelligence, a platform designed to help smartphone makers build AI agents directly into their devices. Instead of

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Sep 30, 2026

Petition seeks better signal, internet at Batangas terminal

CALAPAN CITY— A Change.Org petition has been launched seeking improved mobile phone signal and internet connectivity at the Batangas Passenger Terminal, citing passengers’ growing reliance on digital services while traveling. The petition, titled “Improve Mobile Signal and Internet Connectivity at Batangas Passenger Terminal,” calls on the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), terminal operator Asian Terminals Inc.

Sep 30, 2026

Gov: No firearm but faulty wiring in Sultan Kudarat school ‘shooting’

MANILA, Philippines — No shooting took place at a high school in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, after a ‘loud sound’ was reported on the premises, the province’s governor said Wednesday. According to Sultan Kudarat Governor Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu, the loud sound reported was likely caused by faulty wiring, and not by a firearm. “There was

Sep 30, 2026

Police lock down Sultan Kudarat school after reported gunshot

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato — Police placed Isulan National High School in Sultan Kudarat province under lockdown Wednesday morning after teachers and students reported hearing what appeared to be a gunshot inside the campus. The Isulan Municipal Police Station imposed the lockdown as authorities carried out safety procedures and checked the school in Barangay Kalawag

Sep 30, 2026

INQToday: Lacson-Cayetano clash, Hernandez plea, Obiena gold

MANILA, Philippines – Here are INQToday’s top stories this afternoon: Sens. Panfilo Lacson and Alan Peter Cayetano continue to trade barbs over allegations surrounding ghost flood-control projects, with Lacson questioning Cayetano’s credibility after he raised concerns about the former’s alleged influence over Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon; former DPWH official Brice Hernandez and six others

Sep 30, 2026

The smartphone is becoming the agent

Sep 30, 2026

Bank exec found dead along Kennon Road in Benguet town

BAGUIO CITY — Police are investigating the death of a 56-year-old bank department manager whose body was found inside a parked vehicle along Kennon Road between Barangays Camp 3 and Twinpeaks in the Benguet town of Tuba on Tuesday. Responding police officers, Scene of the Crime Operatives, and barangay health workers found the victim seated

Sep 30, 2026

Marcos expands lands that are designated as ecozones in Cavite

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has issued a proclamation designating additional parcels of land for inclusion in existing economic zones in Cavite. Marcos designated approximately 14,640 square meters of land in Barangay Sta. Rosa I in Noveleta, Cavite, for coverage in the existing Cavite Economic Zone II. The move is based on Proclamation No.

Sep 30, 2026

Bukidnon man stabbed by sibling in dawn argument

VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon — A bitter family dispute turned violent Wednesday morning after a 45-year-old man allegedly stabbed his younger brother during a heated argument at Purok 4, Sitio Guan, Barangay Batangan here. The 40-year-old male victim sustained a stab wound on the left side of his armpit during the altercation. Responding personnel from the

Sep 30, 2026

Matibag: 18 ‘maleta boys’ also asked to undergo lie detector test

MANILA, Philippines — The 18 “maleta boys” who implicated various government officials, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in an alleged “cash delivery” scheme were also asked to undergo lie detector tests when they appeared before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in March as part of the investigation into their joint affidavit, NBI Director Melvin

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

The smartphone is becoming the agent

MORE NEWS

Petition seeks better signal, internet at Batangas terminal

Gov: No firearm but faulty wiring in Sultan Kudarat school ‘shooting’

Police lock down Sultan Kudarat school after reported gunshot

INQToday: Lacson-Cayetano clash, Hernandez plea, Obiena gold

The smartphone is becoming the agent

Bank exec found dead along Kennon Road in Benguet town

Marcos expands lands that are designated as ecozones in Cavite

Bukidnon man stabbed by sibling in dawn argument

Matibag: 18 ‘maleta boys’ also asked to undergo lie detector test

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

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