WATCH: Romualdez’s co-accused in plunder case, out of country | INQToday

Inquirer.net - Sep 17, 2026

MANILA, Philippines – Here are INQToday’s top stories this evening: A former staff member of ex-House Speaker Martin Romualdez, who is also a co-accused in the P7.4-billion plunder case, is out of the country; a witness says Sen. Rodante Marcoleta allegedly solicited money from a donor linked to his P75-million plunder case; and a House

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Sep 17, 2026

Antonio Tinio calls out Marcos alleged inaction on transboundary haze

MANILA, Philippines — ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio on Thursday criticized President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on what he described as the latter’s inaction on the issue of transboundary haze that originated from Indonesia, which also affected the air quality in parts of the Philippines. Tinio made this remark during the House sponsorship and plenary

Sep 17, 2026

Marcoleta’s press conference inside Sandiganbayan is allowed – BJMP

[Updated Sept. 17, 2026, 8:04 p.m.] MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Rodante Marcoleta’s press conference on Thursday was well within what is being allowed by the Sandiganbayan. The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) said the forum between the senator and reporters today inside the premises of the anti-graft court was alright with the justices.

Sep 17, 2026

WATCH: Romualdez’s co-accused in plunder case, out of country | INQToday

Sep 17, 2026

Army: Civilian tips thwart NPA bid to establish foothold in Agusan

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — The Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) said information from residents helped government forces respond to the presence of the New People’s Army (NPA), leading to encounters in Barangay Bakingking, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur, last Sept. 10. The Joint Task Force Diamond and the 4ID said the incident highlighted

Sep 17, 2026

Overcast skies, rains to prevail over PH due to LPA

MANILA, Philippines — The low-pressure area (LPA) off Palawan is forecast to continue bringing rains over Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao until Friday, Sept. 18, the state weather bureau said. In its weather advisory issued at 4 p.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that gloomy skies with scattered rains and

Sep 17, 2026

Top 30 in The Korea Times University Rankings 2027

As competition for international students intensifies worldwide, The Korea Times has expanded and refined its University Rankings 2027, evaluating 60 universities across four categories: education, research, student support and graduate outcomes. The rankings aim to assess how well Korean universities are building sustainable environments for international students and scholars, shifting the focus beyond enrollment numbers toward the quality and depth of internationalization. This year’s evaluation features 19 indicators worth a total of 200 points, with 65 percent of the score directly tied to globalization. The following tables present the top 30 universities overall, along with the top 30 in each category.

Sep 17, 2026

Korea Times University Rankings focus on universities' internationalization capabilities

The Korea Times University Rankings 2027 focus on universities’ internationalization capabilities rather than their overall institutional strength. Unlike comprehensive rankings such as QS and Times Higher Education (THE), which place greater emphasis on reputation and research, The Korea Times rankings evaluate the diverse resources and achievements of universities from an internationalization perspective. Through the assessment, The Korea Times aims to help international students considering studying in Korea make informed choices and promote healthy competition among universities to strengthen their internationalization capabilities. Differences in evaluation method The Korea Times excluded the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and the Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) from its University Rankings, although both rank among Korea’s top universities in global rankings. The exclusion was based on a comprehensive consideration of the number of international students, institutional size and regional balance among Korean universities. In the QS

Sep 17, 2026

Evaluation criteria revised to better assess universities' internationalization

The Korea Times has revised the evaluation criteria for its University Rankings 2027 to provide a more comprehensive and rigorous assessment of the internationalization of Korean universities. This year’s evaluation expanded its coverage from 54 universities last year to 60, while increasing the total score from 190 points across 18 indicators to 200 points across 19 indicators. Notably, The Korea Times introduced a new indicator measuring the proportion of full-time international faculty. It also changed the calculation method for the academic retention rate of international students, focusing the measure on degree-seeking students, and refined the evaluation period for research performance. The new international faculty indicator, worth 10 points, is designed to strengthen the assessment of internationalization in the education and research environment, marking the biggest change in this year’s rankings. Accordingly, the education category’s score increased from 60 points to 70 points. The category now consists of seven indicators, including the ratio of degree-seeking internationa

Sep 17, 2026

New indicators sharpen focus on quality over quantity in university globalization

Academics and industry observers said revision to The Korea Times University Rankings 2027 represent a meaningful step forward, with updated indicators that offer a more comprehensive measure of university internationalization. This year’s revisions placed greater emphasis on faculty diversity, student success and sustained research collaboration. Shin Jang-sup, a professor of economics at the National University of Singapore, said the overall framework has improved from last year, highlighting the addition of an indicator measuring the proportion of international full-time faculty, as well as changes to the international student retention indicator. “Including the international student retention rate is a very desirable change,” Shin said. “It strengthens the rankings’ focus on evaluating universities from the perspective of international students.” Seo Myeong-seok, managing director of the Korea Advancing Schools Foundation, also emphasized that the revisions have strengthened the overall framework. He pointed to the introduction of the international full-time faculty ratio,

Sep 17, 2026

Universities need to do more to support international students

Internationalization is no longer an option for Korean universities but a necessity for their survival, as the nation’s higher education system faces an unprecedented structural transformation. Yet The Korea Times University Rankings 2027 reveal a stark reality: Korean universities still have a long way to go to achieve full-fledged internationalization. Universities have met the basic requirements for internationalization. But investment in faculty recruitment and student support has failed to keep pace with the increasing number of international students, while graduate outcomes remain weak. The Korea Times launched the university rankings last year to assess the level of internationalization among domestic universities. This year’s rankings covered 60 universities using 19 indicators in four categories: education, research, student support and graduate outcomes. Universities were assessed on a 200-point scale, with 70 points allocated to education, 50 points to research, 40 points to student support and 40 points to graduate outcomes. The education category saw the strongest overall

Sep 17, 2026

Top Korean universities hold firm as new contenders gain ground

Korea University retained the top spot in The Korea Times University Rankings 2027 for the second consecutive year, as the country’s leading universities largely held their ground while Sejong University emerged as the biggest mover in the top 10. First launched last year, The Korea Times University Rankings aim to look beyond the number of international students to assess how well universities are building the broader ecosystem needed for globalization. This year’s results suggest that while Korean universities have made progress in attracting and managing international students, many still lag in areas such as international faculty, financial support and post-graduation outcomes. The disparity was evident across the four evaluation areas. Universities performed strongest in education, while scores were lower in student support and lowest in graduate outcomes, underscoring the challenge of building an environment that supports international students not only upon arrival but throughout their studies and beyond graduation. Korea University topped the rankings with 149.52 points out o

Sep 17, 2026

Regional universities excel in student support category

Seoul-based universities dominate the top 30 of The Korea Times University Rankings 2027. Their dominance is, however, less evident in the student support category, where regional universities are investing more in helping international students find jobs and settle after graduation. Among the 60 universities evaluated nationwide, 18 of the 24 universities in Seoul made the top 30, reaffirming the capital’s long-standing dominance in internationalization. Five of nine schools in Gyeonggi Province and Incheon are included in the list, while four of 13 universities in metropolitan cities outside the capital region made the cut. Only three of the 14 universities in provincial areas made the top 30, showing that they still lag well behind major universities in Seoul and other metropolitan areas. Those figures indicate that internationalization capabilities remain concentrated in the capital region. The education, research and graduate outcomes categories showed a consistent regional pattern, with Seoul scoring highest, followed by Gyeonggi and Incheon, metropolitan cities outside the capita

Sep 17, 2026

Regional, smaller universities challenge hierarchy as globalization paths diverge

Some universities outside Seoul and the capital region demonstrated strong international competitiveness in specific areas in The Korea Times University Rankings 2027, despite the dominance of the country’s top-tier schools in the overall standings. This indicates that universities are strengthening their international capabilities in different ways across areas such as student recruitment, educational environments, international research, student support and graduate outcomes. Korea University, Seoul National University and Yonsei University — the country’s three leading institutions collectively known as “SKY” — held the top three spots in the overall top 30. However, regional and smaller universities including Handong Global University, Incheon National University, Woosong University and Kyungsung University performed strongly in categories such as education, student support and graduate outcomes. Handong Global University, based in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, stood out by ranking second in student support behind only Seoul National University, despite placing 23rd

Sep 17, 2026

New metrics reshuffle top 30 university rankings, expose globalization gaps

The top 30 of The Korea Times University Rankings 2027 remained largely stable — 28 of last year's 30 universities held their places — but beneath that continuity, a revised methodology reshaped individual positions and exposed widening gaps in the quality and depth of internationalization at Korean universities. Seoul-based private universities dominated the top 30, though seven universities outside the capital region also made the cut. They included regional flagship national universities — Pusan, Kyungpook, Jeonbuk and Chungnam — as well as private institutions known for their internationalization efforts, such as Woosong, Handong Global and Yeungnam universities. Yeungnam University and Kookmin University were the only newcomers, climbing three and four spots from 32nd and 34th last year to 29th and 30th, respectively. Yeungnam's rise was driven largely by its strong performance in international research. The private university in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province, ranked ninth among the 60 institutions in the research category with 30.95 points, placing first in the shar

Sep 17, 2026

Seoul's Jongno 3-ga rises to world's coolest neighborhood

Seoul’s Jongno 3-ga has gone from cool to coolest, taking the No. 1 spot on Time Out’s list of the world’s coolest neighborhoods in 2026 after ranking third five years ago. The historic downtown neighborhood was praised for its mix of old Seoul and new energy, from late-night food stalls, or "pocha," to independent businesses and traditional Korean houses, or "hanok." Time Out said Jongno 3-ga has only grown cooler since its previous appearance, citing the rise of late-evening outdoor dining, independent businesses and shops. The neighborhood’s appeal increasingly stretches across generations. Today, younger crowds are flocking to the area, drawn by its affordable food and relaxed, open-air atmosphere. "Jongno 3-ga thrives as a social intersection," Time Out wrote, describing a neighborhood where different generations and communities have long crossed paths. Nearby Ikseon-dong has become a magnet for cafes and boutiques tucked into century-old hanok, while Seosulla-gil offers another side of the neighborhood, with craft workshops, jewelry studios and bars. The ranking has put Jongn

Sep 17, 2026

DOE aims to install 7,000 EV charging points nationwide before 2028

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Energy (DOE) targets installing 7,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging points before 2028, a DOE official told the Senate finance subcommittee on Thursday. The agency’s goal is in line with its commitment to expand and promote the adoption of EVs in the Philippines, reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, and

Sep 17, 2026

‘Balutin mo ako’: Pangilinan lightens up DAR budget talk with Sharon hit

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Kiko Pangilinan brought some levity to the Senate committee on finance’s budget deliberations for the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) on Thursday, breaking into a song with a line from his wife Sharon Cuneta’s hit “Bituing Walang Ningning.” After discussing how better-organized farmers could help boost food supply and reduce hunger,

Sep 17, 2026

Pansipit River siltation among factors in Taal Lake water rise

LUCENA CITY — Siltation at the Pansipit River is among the top factors behind the continuing rise in Taal Lake’s water level, according to a multi-agency consultation organized by the Batangas government on Wednesday, Sept. 16. Accumulated soil and sand have slowed waterway discharges. The consultation aimed to establish a unified government response and develop

Sep 17, 2026

DOE seeks rules on boarding EVs on ships after MV June Aster tragedy

MANILA, Philippines — Following the fire on a Palawan ferry that carried an electric vehicle (EV), the Department of Energy (DOE) has sought new guidelines on boarding EVs and hybrids onto vessels from the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina). On Wednesday last week (September 9), M/V June Aster caught fire at sea while on its way

Sep 17, 2026

Butuan City acquires 4 new tankers to boost water rationing operations

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — Butuan City’s emergency water rationing operations got a boost with the arrival of four newly-acquired water tankers on Wednesday, amid the continuing disruption in water supply affecting several communities. The additional fleet consists of two high-capacity tankers with a capacity of 20,000 liters each and two tankers capable of

Sep 17, 2026

Who may continue receiving 4Ps aid beyond 7 years?

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said that the extension of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program"s (4Ps) maximum seven-year period will apply only to beneficiary families classified under Level 1 (Survival) and Level 2 (Subsistence).

Sep 17, 2026

Ridon still among co-lead prosecs in Duterte trial despite show-cause order

MANILA, Philippines — Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon will remain one of the co-lead prosecutors in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte in connection with her alleged unexplained wealth. He gave this statement amid the impeachment court’s issuance to him of a show-cause order over a possible violation of the sub judice

Sep 17, 2026

Magnitude 4.4 earthquake jolts Leyte, Samar

TACLOBAN CITY — A magnitude 4.4 earthquake was felt in parts of Leyte and Samar provinces on Sept. 17, with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reporting no expected damage or aftershocks. Phivolcs said the tectonic earthquake struck at 3:59 p.m., with its epicenter traced to Leyte, Leyte. READ: Magnitude 7 earthquake hits

Sep 17, 2026

Palace: Half-day work in gov’t offices on Sept. 28 (Monday) for Family Week

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has ordered the suspension of work in government offices starting at 1 p.m. on Sept. 28 (Monday) to give government employees and their families an opportunity to observe the 34th National Family Week. The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) made the announcement on Thursday. Included are all government agencies and instrumentalities under the

Sep 17, 2026

North-South Commuter Railway full operations moved to Q3 of 2033

MANILA, Philippines — The scheduled full operation of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) has been moved from 2032 to 2033 due to cost-cutting measures of the government, Palace press officer Claire Castro announced on Thursday. She said the adjustment was approved by the Economy and Development Council (EDC), chaired by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., during Wednesday

Sep 17, 2026

Man stabbed to death for singing loudly in Quezon

LUCENA CITY – A man was stabbed to death by a neighbor following an argument over his loud singing in San Francisco, Quezon, on Wednesday night. The victim, who was allegedly drunk, was singing loudly as he walked home in Barangay Mabunga at around 8:30 p.m. when the suspect confronted him as he wandered near

Sep 17, 2026

Marcos cites benefits, need for food production technologies upgrade

MANILA, Philippines — There is a need to further study and improve technologies that can accelerate the production of common food products with added nutritional value, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Thursday. He made the remarks after inspecting the Nutridense Food Manufacturing Corporation in Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan. READ: DOH aims to reduce stunting to

Sep 17, 2026

Naga City Hospital gets P25.1M in medical equipment from PCSO

NAGA CITY, Camarines Sur — Patients at Naga City General Hospital will get faster and more accessible diagnostic services after the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) turned over P25.1 million worth of medical equipment to the facility on Thursday. The donation included a digital stationary X-ray machine, an ultrasound machine, and a 2D echocardiogram machine.

Sep 17, 2026

PNP: EO formalizing anti-drug stance will help legitimize police ops

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday said an executive order to be issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. formalizing the government’s anti-drug stance will help legitimize the agency’s operations. “The evolving strategies and stable support system from the national government… serve as the guiding light towards aggressive operations anchored on the

Sep 17, 2026

OpenAI discloses 6 reports of AI models' 'unexpected or concerning' behavior

OpenAI published six new reports of artificial intelligence models showing “unexpected or concerning” behavior Wednesday as pressure grows on AI firms to be more transparent about the development process. The ChatGPT maker disclosed the reports as part of its new framework for tracking and disclosing instances of model misalignment, which occurs when an AI system...

Sep 17, 2026

Missing fisherman in Batangas found dead

LUCENA CITY – A 47-year-old fisherman who had been missing after his boat was found burning in the waters off Calatagan, Batangas, on Sept.13 was found dead on Thursday morning. The body of Celideño Hernandez, a resident of Barangay Tanagan, was recovered at around 11 a.m. in waters near the area where his fishing boat

Sep 17, 2026

Passage of anti-political dynasty law is a congressional priority – Dy

MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III on Thursday guaranteed that the passage of an anti-political dynasty law is a congressional priority. Dy made this statement after the Supreme Court (SC) ruled that Congress has a constitutional duty to enact and define a law that prohibits political dynasties. The SC en banc’s unanimous decision

Sep 17, 2026

BOC flags misdeclared P1.04-M medical devices at Cebu port

MANILA, Philippines — Around P1.04 million worth of medical devices were flagged at the Port of Cebu after they were misdeclared as a water purifier tube and bag, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) reported on Thursday, Sept. 17. According to the BOC, two 40-foot containers were found carrying at least 78,720 medical devices during its

Sep 17, 2026

NBI sees ‘red flags’ in 47 flood control projects in Paolo Duterte’s district

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has flagged 47 of 100 flood control projects in the district of Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said Thursday. The projects are part of the P1.9 billion worth of flood control projects in Duterte’s district, all of which Matibag said were awarded

Sep 17, 2026

Montenegro Lines bans EVs and HEVs on vessels as safety precaution

Domestic shipping company Montenegro Lines announced that it is banning, "effective immediately," any electric vehicle (EV) or hybrid EV (HEV) from its vessels, whether for passenger or cargo carriage, as a safety measure.

Sep 17, 2026

Environment groups decry police ‘harassment’ over Nueva Vizcaya mining

MANILA, Philippines — Environmental groups on Thursday condemned the Philippine National Police (PNP) for allegedly harassing organizers barricading in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya to stave off a mining venture there. The groups, spearheaded by the Kasibu Intertribal Response for Ecological Development (Kired), took their grievances to a protest staged outside the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame,

Sep 17, 2026

PNP eyeing foreign counterparts to help track Romualdez’s co-accused

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday said it is considering coordinating with its foreign counterparts to track down one of the co-accused in the plunder case against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. In a press briefing in Camp Crame, PNP public information chief Col. Allen Rae Co assured that manhunt for

Sep 17, 2026

Castro on Sept. 21 protests: If groups will stage violent rallies, that’s illegal

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday asked Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) to clarify how it plans to hold its Sept. 21 protest if it is rejecting government’s call for a peaceful demonstration. The Palace is reacting to the statement of Bayan Secretary-General Raymond “Mong” Palatino on the sidelines of a protest outside Camp Crame in Quezon

Sep 17, 2026

JV Ejercito admits political clan helped, but backs anti-dynasty bill

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. JV Ejercito on Thursday renewed his call for an anti-political dynasty law despite being part of a political dynasty himself. His statement came a day after the Supreme Court directed Congress to enact a law banning political dynasties under the 1987 Constitution. “I benefited from it when I first entered politics,

Sep 17, 2026

Judge orders Google to change ad auction rules

A federal judge has ordered Google to change its rules for auctioning online advertising on its platforms after finding last year that the search giant had an illegal monopoly over the technology connecting publishers and advertisers. The remedies were made public late Wednesday, when U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema unsealed her opinion from earlier this...

WATCH: Romualdez’s co-accused in plunder case, out of country | INQToday

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Antonio Tinio calls out Marcos alleged inaction on transboundary haze

Marcoleta’s press conference inside Sandiganbayan is allowed – BJMP

WATCH: Romualdez’s co-accused in plunder case, out of country | INQToday

Army: Civilian tips thwart NPA bid to establish foothold in Agusan

Overcast skies, rains to prevail over PH due to LPA

Top 30 in The Korea Times University Rankings 2027

Korea Times University Rankings focus on universities' internationalization capabilities

Evaluation criteria revised to better assess universities' internationalization

New indicators sharpen focus on quality over quantity in university globalization

Universities need to do more to support international students

Top Korean universities hold firm as new contenders gain ground

Regional universities excel in student support category

Regional, smaller universities challenge hierarchy as globalization paths diverge

New metrics reshuffle top 30 university rankings, expose globalization gaps

Seoul's Jongno 3-ga rises to world's coolest neighborhood

DOE aims to install 7,000 EV charging points nationwide before 2028

‘Balutin mo ako’: Pangilinan lightens up DAR budget talk with Sharon hit

Pansipit River siltation among factors in Taal Lake water rise

DOE seeks rules on boarding EVs on ships after MV June Aster tragedy

Butuan City acquires 4 new tankers to boost water rationing operations

Who may continue receiving 4Ps aid beyond 7 years?

Ridon still among co-lead prosecs in Duterte trial despite show-cause order

Magnitude 4.4 earthquake jolts Leyte, Samar

Palace: Half-day work in gov’t offices on Sept. 28 (Monday) for Family Week

North-South Commuter Railway full operations moved to Q3 of 2033

Man stabbed to death for singing loudly in Quezon

Marcos cites benefits, need for food production technologies upgrade

Naga City Hospital gets P25.1M in medical equipment from PCSO

PNP: EO formalizing anti-drug stance will help legitimize police ops

OpenAI discloses 6 reports of AI models' 'unexpected or concerning' behavior

Missing fisherman in Batangas found dead

Passage of anti-political dynasty law is a congressional priority – Dy

BOC flags misdeclared P1.04-M medical devices at Cebu port

NBI sees ‘red flags’ in 47 flood control projects in Paolo Duterte’s district

Montenegro Lines bans EVs and HEVs on vessels as safety precaution

Environment groups decry police ‘harassment’ over Nueva Vizcaya mining

PNP eyeing foreign counterparts to help track Romualdez’s co-accused

Castro on Sept. 21 protests: If groups will stage violent rallies, that’s illegal

JV Ejercito admits political clan helped, but backs anti-dynasty bill

Judge orders Google to change ad auction rules

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