DBM rules for 2028 budget require reasons for shelving local projects

Inquirer.net - Oct 12, 2026

National government agencies must explain why they reject, delay or modify regional development projects under new guidelines for preparing the proposed 2028 national budget, a move aimed at making spending decisions more transparent and responsive to local needs. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said on Sunday the rules would require agencies to report

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Putin aide looks to boost Russian shipbuilding ties with China during visit

Oct 11, 2026

Putin aide looks to boost Russian shipbuilding ties with China during visit

Russia is looking to expand shipbuilding cooperation with China through technology partnerships and joint investment, visiting presidential aide and Maritime Board chairman Nikolai Patrushev said. Patrushev held talks in Beijing with Ke Jixin, Chinese vice-minister of industry and information technology, the Russian Maritime Board said in a statement on Saturday. It said the two sides discussed the possibility of Chinese shipbuilders becoming technology partners and equipment suppliers for new...

Melody-inspired calligraphy and boundary-breaking mash-up headline Asia+ Festival

Oct 11, 2026

Melody-inspired calligraphy and boundary-breaking mash-up headline Asia+ Festival

Hong Kong’s Asia+ Festival, the annual celebration of the cultural diversity of the region, particularly those countries linked by the Belt and Road Initiative – China’s plan to develop a global trading network – is back for its fourth edition under the theme “Traditions Recast”. Two headline shows at this year’s festival – organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department – which runs until the end of November, perfectly capture that spirit by fusing ancient music with visual art and...

Caloocan LGU offers free mental health services to constituents

Oct 11, 2026

Caloocan LGU offers free mental health services to constituents

MANILA, Philippines — Constituents of Caloocan City can avail themselves of free mental health screening and consultation and other services to take care of their well-being.  According to the Caloocan City Public Information Office (PIO), the Caloocan City Calm Space is located on the 5th floor of Caloocan City Hall – South and is operational

Padilla: No info on other senators moving to majority bloc

Oct 11, 2026

Padilla: No info on other senators moving to majority bloc

MANILA, Philippines — After Sen. Mark Villar’s transfer to the Senate majority last week, no other senator has yet informed the minority bloc of planning to cross over the political fence, according to Sen. Robinhood Padilla. But if any of his colleagues in the minority should decide to follow Villar’s move, he said the group

Mans Carpio feels like ‘collateral damage’ in wife Sara Duterte’s trial

Oct 11, 2026

Mans Carpio feels like ‘collateral damage’ in wife Sara Duterte’s trial

VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon —  Manases “Mans” Carpio has felt exasperated over being dragged into the political controversies surrounding his wife, Vice President Sara Duterte, describing himself as a “collateral damage” in the impeachment case she is facing. “Pati ako, gidamay. Pastilan. Murag ako man gi-impeach da. Wala silay makita kang Sara ba, kaya murag collateral

A monk's purple garden blooms in Mungyeong

Oct 11, 2026

A monk's purple garden blooms in Mungyeong

MUNGYEONG, North Gyeongsang Province —Every step along the country road reveals another pale purple flower emerging through the mist. Any visitor soon finds themselves surrounded by thousands upon thousands of blossoms. A wave of flowers winds along the ridges of the wooded hillside, revealing here and there a statue of the Buddha or stately pine trees. It is a truly dreamlike and otherworldly scene. Bongcheon Temple, a small Buddhist temple halfway up Mount Wolbang in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province, is blanketed in purple aster flowers every autumn. The sight is spectacular every year, but the flowers are particularly abundant this year. Seven asters grow into a field of flowers The flowers cover an area of 23,100 square meters, but began with just seven aster flowers. When the abbot first came to the temple 12 years ago, the surrounding hillside was barren. It was covered with kudzu vines, with only a few small vegetable plots cultivated by local residents scattered here and there. Looking for a wildflower that could thrive on the rocky, weed-covered hillside, the monk chose aste

Craftsmanship takes center stage in Korea's string instrument capital

Oct 11, 2026

Craftsmanship takes center stage in Korea's string instrument capital

Tucked inside the bustling Seocho District in southern Seoul, the Seoripul Musical Instrument Street has long served as the heart of Korea’s classical music scene. Situated near the Seoul Arts Center and the prestigious Korea National University of Arts, this designated cultural zone is home to scores of instrument workshops, rehearsal spaces and specialized repair shops. It is a neighborhood where the delicate scent of wood varnish drifts into the alleyways and the world’s finest string instruments find their voice. Starting Oct. 17, the district will showcase this centuries-old craft during the 2026 Seoripul K-String Fair at the Rhode Art Center. Running through Oct. 23, the event stands as Korea’s premier modern string instrument festival, bringing together 13 master instrument makers based in Korea and Italy to display 28 handcrafted masterpieces, including 21 violins, five violas and two cellos. Crafting a violin is a painstaking pursuit of acoustic perfection. Artisans spend hundreds of hours carving maple and spruce, shaping the instrument’s delicate arching to control so

Paradise Hotel Busan blends spa, sound healing for ultimate coastal wellness

Oct 11, 2026

Paradise Hotel Busan blends spa, sound healing for ultimate coastal wellness

BUSAN — “Take a slow, deep breath. Let the aroma of neroli, sandalwood and lavender release every bit of tension held in your body.” As dusk settled at 6 p.m. on Oct. 2, Paradise Hotel Busan unveiled a sanctuary of quiet renewal. Against the dramatic sweep of the autumn sea and a fading horizon, the hotel introduced a specialized wellness experience designed to blend thermal spa immersion with deep meditation. Held as an intimate gathering for 10 members, the "Ocean Healing Ritual with the Autumn Sea" began with a simple act: An instructor gently placed a few drops of aromatic oil onto each participant's open palms. In the crisp evening air, participants rubbed the fragrant oils into their hands, smoothing away the knots in their necks and shoulders. Through a series of gentle yoga postures, they began to release the weight of the day, restoring physical and mental equilibrium. The initiative is part of Paradise Hotel Busan’s ongoing effort to design wellness experiences grounded in the season and its coastal setting. In collaboration with Amorepacific’s ultra-luxury skin care

Digital goodies give travelers permanent piece of Korea's coastal hub

Oct 11, 2026

Digital goodies give travelers permanent piece of Korea's coastal hub

Among domestic travelers in Korea, a popular catchphrase has taken root to describe the post-vacation blues: Busan fever. The term captures the lingering nostalgia visitors feel for the southern port city's coastal views, vibrant night markets and laid-back atmosphere long after their trips have ended. Starting this week, the Busan Metropolitan Government is offering a digital remedy for that homesickness. City officials launched Busan Kku, a dedicated online platform distributing free downloadable digital merchandise — ranging from smartphone wallpapers to tablet stickers — designed to help domestic and international travelers bring a piece of Busan into their daily lives. The initiative taps directly into a popular youth culture trend in Korea known as "ponkku" (decorating smartphones) and "keomkku" (customizing computers and tablets). Moving away from traditional, text-heavy public relations, municipal planners collaborated with local Busan illustrators to craft high-quality digital goods that appeal to Gen Z and digital natives. Downloads include aesthetic illustrations of iconi

4 papers co-authored by Hankuk University of Foreign Studies professor accepted in 3 AI conferences

Oct 11, 2026

4 papers co-authored by Hankuk University of Foreign Studies professor accepted in 3 AI conferences

Four papers co-authored by Lee Jun-hyun, a professor in the Division of Computer Engineering at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS), have been accepted at three of the world’s leading artificial intelligence (AI) conferences this year, the university said Wednesday. The three conferences are the International Conference on Learning Representations (ICLR), the International Conference on Machine Learning (ICML) and the Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems (NeurIPS). Together, they are known as the “Big Three” AI conferences. Researchers from academia and industry worldwide present their latest findings at the conferences, where papers undergo rigorous peer review, the university said. Lee was the corresponding author of all four papers: one accepted at ICLR 2026, one at ICML 2026 and two at NeurIPS 2026. This marks the first time Lee has had papers accepted at all three conferences in a single year, highlighting the breadth of his research in AI system evaluation and collaboration, efficient information exchange and model compression. The studies were conducted

Sungkyunkwan University holds Southeast Asia round of Korean writing contest in Hanoi

Oct 11, 2026

Sungkyunkwan University holds Southeast Asia round of Korean writing contest in Hanoi

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University of Seoul students showcase achievements of overseas exploration program

Oct 11, 2026

University of Seoul students showcase achievements of overseas exploration program

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