WATCH: Hegseth-Teodoro talks, Undas 2026 updates top INQToday newscast

Inquirer.net - Oct 29, 2026

MANILA, Philippines — Here are INQToday’s top stories this afternoon. The United States will increase its security cooperation funding to help speed up the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), following talks between US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. in Cebu. Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte’s

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Balicucha-making highlights Ilocos Sur’s culinary heritage

Oct 29, 2026

Balicucha-making highlights Ilocos Sur’s culinary heritage

SAN ILDEFONSO, Ilocos Sur — The balicucha-making industry in Sta. Maria town in Ilocos Norte was among the local enterprises featured in the Raniag: Region 1 Creative Tour, highlighting efforts to promote homegrown products and introduce traditional food-making to a wider audience. Held in Barangay Maynganay, the activity gave visitors firsthand experience in making balicucha,

Marcos inaugurates NLEX link cutting travel time to 5 minutes

Oct 29, 2026

Marcos inaugurates NLEX link cutting travel time to 5 minutes

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday inaugurated a two-kilometer section of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) that will connect Mindanao Avenue in Valenzuela City to Quirino Highway in Quezon City, reducing travel time between the two points to just five minutes. Called NLEX C5 Northlink Segment 8.2 Section 1A, Marcos said the segment

Army kills 2 NPA rebels, seizes arms in separate Eastern Visayas ops

Oct 29, 2026

Army kills 2 NPA rebels, seizes arms in separate Eastern Visayas ops

TACLOBAN CITY — Two suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members were killed in a military operation in Dolores, Eastern Samar, while a separate operation in Northern Samar led to the recovery of firearms and an anti-personnel mine, the military reported. The 52nd Infantry Battalion said troops encountered NPA members in the hinterlands of Barangay Jicontol,

MTRCB reminds bus operators to screen family-friendly shows only

Oct 29, 2026

MTRCB reminds bus operators to screen family-friendly shows only

MANILA, Philippines – In a series of transport hub inspections, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) has reminded transport terminals and bus operators to screen content appropriate for families and children. Ahead of the All Saints’ Day travel rush, the MTRCB began inspections on Tuesday, covering bus terminals and transport hubs in

Tacloban City adopts 4-day workweek to cut energy use amid El Niño

Oct 29, 2026

Tacloban City adopts 4-day workweek to cut energy use amid El Niño

TACLOBAN CITY — The city government will implement a four-day compressed workweek for most offices starting Nov. 3 as part of its energy conservation measures in anticipation of the effects of El Niño. Mayor Alfred Romualdez issued Memorandum Order No. 2026-10-435, dated Oct. 27, directing city government offices to operate from Monday to Thursday, from

Pagasa monitors LPA inside PAR on Thursday morning

Oct 29, 2026

Pagasa monitors LPA inside PAR on Thursday morning

MANILA, Philippines – A low pressure area (LPA) was being monitored inside the country on Thursday morning, according to the state weather bureau.  in its tropical cyclone formation outlook issued at 10 a.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that the LPA was last estimated 915 kilometers (km) east of Eastern

MRT-3 releases adjusted operating schedule for Undas 2026 break

Oct 29, 2026

MRT-3 releases adjusted operating schedule for Undas 2026 break

MANILA, Philippines — Are you planning to take the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) this Undas season? The train line has released its adjusted operating schedule for October 29 (Thursday) to November 2 (Monday). According to the Department of Transportation, the MRT-3 is under heightened alert during this period, with 700 security personnel deployed

Hundreds of customers' personal information at Bithumb leaked in hacks

Oct 29, 2026

Hundreds of customers' personal information at Bithumb leaked in hacks

Personal information of hundreds of customers at cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb has been leaked in a recent cyberattack, industry sources said Thursday. Bithumb reported a data breach in its in-house mobile system on Wednesday, but the incident was initially believed to have affected only its employees. After analyzing the scope of the data leak, Bithumb found that personal information of hundreds of customers has also been exposed, according to the sources. Three financial firms — Daishin Securities, Mirae Asset Global Investments and Bithumb — have been hit by cyberattacks, in the latest hacking attack targeting the nation's financial institutions.

JB Financial expands partnerships with AI, fintech companies

Oct 29, 2026

JB Financial expands partnerships with AI, fintech companies

JB Financial Group brought together strategic partners at its annual forum to expand cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) and fintech, the company said Thursday. The group held its second annual JB Forum from last Friday to Saturday at its campus in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province, with 14 partners from Korea and abroad participating. Held under the theme "Navigating Tomorrow," the two-day forum featured strategic partners including Finda, Upstage, Aigen Global, Higher Diversity and MediArk, which shared business developments and discussed potential areas of collaboration. JB Financial has made strategic investment in 17 companies so far, expanding its focus this year beyond domestic and overseas fintech firms to include AI and digital assets. Four companies joined its partner network this year including Upstage, Streami, U.S.-based AI security firm CipherData and Higher Diversity. Participants shared developments from the past year and discussed how AI could reshape financial services and workplace practices. The forum also featured demonstrations of physical AI, with humanoid robo

Lotte reshuffles biz portfolio with Busan store sale to Shinsegae

Oct 29, 2026

Lotte reshuffles biz portfolio with Busan store sale to Shinsegae

Lotte Shopping, a retail affiliate of Korea's Lotte Group, said Thursday it has agreed to sell a department store in the southeastern port city of Busan to rival Shinsegae Group as part of its business reorganization. The move is part of the company's "select and focus" strategy, aimed at responding swiftly to rapidly changing retail market conditions through asset sales and business restructuring, the company said in a press release. The deal to transfer Lotte Department Store's Centum City outlet in Busan, about 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul, to Shinsegae Centum City will be completed following a review by the Fair Trade Commission (FTC), the company said. "We will increase investment in core department stores nationwide and strengthen our business competitiveness by developing new shopping malls," a company official said. Lotte Shopping currently operates four department stores in Busan, including the Centum City outlet. The outlet will remain in operation until the FTC completes its review. Globally, Lotte Shopping operates 61 department stores, including four in Vietnam and Indon

Dongwon launches AI-powered tuna vessel with drone technology

Oct 29, 2026

Dongwon launches AI-powered tuna vessel with drone technology

Dongwon Industries, Korea’s leading seafood conglomerate, has deployed a state-of-the-art 2,000-ton fishing vessel equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) and aerial drones to track tuna schools and enhance crew safety in the South Pacific. The company held a launch ceremony for the Danuri at Dadae Port in Busan Thursday afternoon, with about 200 people attending, including Oceans and Fisheries Minister Hwang Jong-woo, Dongwon Group Chairman Kim Nam-jung and Dongwon Industries CEO Park Sang-jin. Built with an investment of more than 50 billion won ($35 million), the vessel brings advanced technology to nearly every stage of tuna fishing, from locating schools to preserving the catch. Danuri carries two drones designed specifically for fish detection, capable of taking off and landing automatically while the vessel is moving and flying at speeds of up to 120 kilometers per hour. Footage captured by the drones is analyzed in real time by AI systems in the vessel's control room, while three-dimensional sonar and radar help crews identify fish schools and improve fishing efficiency. The

Major financial groups enjoy strong Q3 earnings, but face mounting regulatory pressure

Oct 29, 2026

Major financial groups enjoy strong Q3 earnings, but face mounting regulatory pressure

Korea’s four largest financial groups — KB, Shinhan, Hana and Woori — have shown strong earnings for the third quarter of this year, posting a combined 5.76 trillion won ($4.31 billion) in net profit. But a recent wave of cyberattacks and data breaches, as well as tougher regulatory scrutiny of corporate governance, are adding to the challenges they face, industry officials said Thursday. According to market data, KB Financial Group led the pack with a third-quarter net profit of 1.91 trillion won, up 13.1 percent from a year earlier. Its cumulative profit for the first nine months reached a record 5.79 trillion won. Shinhan followed with 1.58 trillion won, an 11.3 percent increase from the same period last year. Its nine-month net profit also hit a record, at 5.03 trillion won. Hana logged a net profit of 1.22 trillion won, its highest quarterly figure since the 2015 merger of Hana Bank and Korea Exchange Bank. Woori was the only one of the four to post a decline, with net profit falling 15.7 percent to 1.04 trillion won. Even so, it recorded a quarterly profit of over 1 trillion

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