Ombudsman to intensify lifestyle checks on BIR, BOC

Inquirer.net - Nov 15, 2026

The Office of the Ombudsman announced it will intensify the lifestyle checks being conducted on officials of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Bureau of Customs (BOC) over reports that excessive fees were being collected from businesses. Speaking during a town hall dialogue with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Friday, Ombudsman

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Benguet’s Mt. Camisong puts sustainability on the plate

Nov 15, 2026

Benguet’s Mt. Camisong puts sustainability on the plate

ITOGON, BENGUET—Yesterday’s rice became chocolate mousse, fruit and vegetable peels were transformed into edible leather, and rice crusts became rice crispies at a dining experience that put sustainability on the menu. At Mt. Camisong Forest Park and Events, these culinary creations reflect an effort to minimize kitchen waste and make the most of available resources

This week’s milestones: Nov. 15 to Nov. 21

Nov 15, 2026

This week’s milestones: Nov. 15 to Nov. 21

Nov. 17, 1965 Carmen was established as an independent municipality in Surigao del Sur by virtue of Executive Order No. 197, signed by then President Diosdado Macapagal. It initially comprised the barrios of Carmen, Esperanza, Cancaban, Bonga, Santa Cruz, Antao and Puyat, which were formerly part of the municipality of Lanuza. However, EO 197 was

How a picture book helped a troubled student find her way

Nov 15, 2026

How a picture book helped a troubled student find her way

At an interview for a Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education position as a behavioral intervention specialist teacher earlier this year, Jang Se-ra, a veteran elementary school teacher of 23 years, held a well-worn book in her hands. The book, titled "Try It Like Ji-woo!," had helped bring about a remarkable transformation in just two to three months in a 13-year-old student, identified by the pseudonym Ji-woo. Jang had created the picture book herself, making Ji-woo, whom she had taught the previous year in an inclusive classroom at Haneul Elementary School in Seoul's Mapo District, its main character. The experience gave her a firsthand appreciation of the power of behavioral intervention to change both students and schools. Whenever Ji-woo, then a sixth-grader, traveled between her inclusive classroom and the special education classroom, everyone at the school could tell she was on the move. Ji-woo, who has autism spectrum disorder, repeatedly shouted, sat down on the hallway floor and cried. When Jang became her homeroom teacher, Ji-woo displayed similar behavior. She threw objects,

Medical school prep at age 4? Korean math tutor calls it 'child abuse'

Nov 15, 2026

Medical school prep at age 4? Korean math tutor calls it 'child abuse'

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. A prominent Korean math instructor has sparked debate after calling for criminal punishment of those responsible for intensive academic programs targeting children as young as 3 or 4 years old, describing the country's increasingly competitive early education culture as a form of child abuse. Jung Seung-je, one of South Korea's best-known private education instructors, made the comments during a recent appearance on the popular YouTube channel ChimChakMan. The video, titled "Which Subject Is Most Important: Korean, English or Math?" featured Jung alongside Korean language instructor Yoo Dae-jong and English instructor Kim Ji-young, who also appear on the education reality program "Teachers 3: Retake War." During the discussion, Jung criticized the growing trend of enrolling preschool children in advanced academic programs designed to prepare them for eventual admission to medical school, one of the most competitive educational pathways in South Korea. "Especially in math, children are entering medical school preparation classes at the age of 3

[K-ART FOCUS] For Seok Chang-woo, painting opened world beyond his dreams

Nov 15, 2026

[K-ART FOCUS] For Seok Chang-woo, painting opened world beyond his dreams

It was lunchtime on Oct. 29, 1984. Seok Chang-woo, a 29-year-old electrical technician with a young daughter and a newborn son, was inspecting electrical equipment at work. He climbed up to clean one remaining spot, then everything went blank. When he regained consciousness, he was in intensive care. Electrocuted by an astonishing 22,900 volts, Seok was hospitalized for a year and a half and lost both of his arms and two toes. On Feb. 1, 1988, four years later, his son, who turned four, carried a drawing pad to his mother and asked her to draw a bird. Busy with housework, she told him to ask his father. Realizing what she had said, she hurried into his room. She saw Seok fitting a pencil into the hook of his prosthesis and was drawing an eagle from a bird guide. “Wow, Dad, it looks like a real bird,” his son exclaimed. Encouraged, Seok drew more: sparrows, magpies and swallows, then cartoon characters. What began as something to do for his child became a practice that would carry him toward calligraphy, figure drawing and eventually, expansive abstractions drawn with his whole body. Fi

Top tax accountant exam scorer admits to using AI to cheat

Nov 15, 2026

Top tax accountant exam scorer admits to using AI to cheat

The top scorer in Korea’s recent tax accountant qualification examination admitted Sunday that he used generative artificial intelligence (AI) and a camera to cheat, reversing his earlier denials after his unusually high marks drew public scrutiny. “I cheated on the tax accountant examination,” Han Won-seok said on the YouTube channel run by his lawyer Lee Don-ho. “I sincerely apologize for the harm my wrongdoing has caused so many people.” Han’s results attracted attention because he answered 159 of the 160 questions correctly in the first-stage tax accountant examination in April, scoring 397.5 out of 400. Three months later, he scored 663 out of 800 in the second-stage written examination and was named the overall top scorer. His exceptionally high scores had fueled online speculation about possible cheating. Initially, he rejected suggestions that he had used AI-enabled equipment.

Fresh coat, lighter load: Hong Kong airport puts runway-painting robots to work

Nov 15, 2026

Fresh coat, lighter load: Hong Kong airport puts runway-painting robots to work

Hong Kong International Airport has become the world’s first to deploy robots to repaint runway markings, cutting the time needed to refresh centre lines by about 67 per cent compared with manual painting, its managing authority has said. According to the Airport Authority, the AI-powered robots, called “Brushman”, also improve painting accuracy and worker safety, reducing the need for physically demanding overnight work and allowing staff to take on supervisory roles. Steven Yiu Siu-chung, the...

Could Beijing’s HQ-17 air-defence system defend PLA amphibious forces from Taiwan strikes?

Nov 15, 2026

Could Beijing’s HQ-17 air-defence system defend PLA amphibious forces from Taiwan strikes?

Before mainland Chinese troops could attempt a landing on Taiwan, they would first have to assemble vehicles, weapons and supplies along the coast – potentially exposing them to Taiwanese drone, rocket and missile attacks. A nighttime drill reported by state broadcaster CCTV on June 11 offered a glimpse of how the People’s Liberation Army could shield those amphibious forces as they prepared to cross the Taiwan Strait. As soldiers headed into open water aboard amphibious armoured vehicles, a...

Digital nomads are flocking to Asia. South Korea wants in

Nov 15, 2026

Digital nomads are flocking to Asia. South Korea wants in

Alina Radulescu, 38, has stayed in Italy, the United States and Thailand for months at a time. Now, the IT consultant from Romania shares a co-living space in Seoul with 11 other digital nomads – and says she’s never been happier. “There’s a certain vibe in Korea,” she said. “These days, I’m just so happy when I realise that I’m living here.” Her affinity for South Korea grew gradually through friends in Romania and dance classes where her teacher played K-pop. She first discovered Korean...

Weekly Pisces Horoscope for November 15-21, 2026

Nov 15, 2026

Weekly Pisces Horoscope for November 15-21, 2026

To guide your week, read the forecast below for your Sun, Moon, and Rising signs.

Asia’s Eurovision Contest Is Missing China, India, Pakistan, Indonesia and Japan

Nov 15, 2026

Asia’s Eurovision Contest Is Missing China, India, Pakistan, Indonesia and Japan

China, India, Pakistan, Indonesia and Japan didn’t join the singing contest in Bangkok. That left some of the region’s best-known musical cultures out of the mix.

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