MANILA, Philippines – Day 37 of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on Friday centered on the testimony of financial forensic analyst lawyer Alexander Cabrera, whom the prosecution presented as its final witness for Article II. Cabrera’s report alleged that Duterte had a total unexplained wealth of P817.87 million from 2022 to 2025, as summarized

Lyazzat Khan, a proud resident of Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, has quietly been building an empire of laughter. Originally from Kazakhstan, she is the mastermind behind Event Max, a business that brings Russian-speaking comedians to Korea. For Korea’s Russian-speaking population of nearly 200,000, there is a growing market for entertainment services. Most of these residents are Koryo-saram, or ethnic Koreans from former Soviet Union countries. Many are employed in the country’s light and heavy industry factories, working grueling hours. Leisure services for this group of workers remain underdeveloped, mostly because of the language barrier to accessing Korean entertainment. Over half of Korea’s Russian-speaking population lives in Ansan and Incheon, where in some neighborhoods, it is common to hear Russian spoken on the street. Restaurants and lounges catering specifically to Russian-speakers have sprung up in these neighborhoods since the early 2000s. However, a demand for more community-centered entertainment is on the rise as many businesses were shuttered during the pandemic. Ent

Every weekday before 1997, death row inmates in Korea braced themselves between 6 and 9 a.m. — the hours when executions could happen. If 9 a.m. passed uneventfully, they felt relief. Then they went to sleep wondering if the next morning would be their last. No one has been executed since Dec. 30, 1997, but 56 people remain on death row — 52 in Ministry of Justice correctional facilities and four in military prisons. Kim Dae-keun, a research fellow at the Korean Institute of Criminology and Justice, interviewed 42 of them. "Most of them were ashamed, distressed or regretful about what they did," Kim said in an interview with The Korea Times. "I imagine they were brutal and frightening when they committed their crimes. But many I met in prison now were older, frail men." Oct. 10 marks World Day Against the Death Penalty, an annual international observance calling for the abolition of executions as judicial punishment. In Korea, the day arrives with the death penalty still on the books but widely regarded as unenforceable. Most inmates now believe executions will not resume — a beli

Known worldwide for its bustling fish markets and pristine beaches, Korea’s southern port city of Busan is reframing its local food culture through a modern, unified lens. The Busan Metropolitan Government unveiled two new signature meal sets, Friday, termed Busan Bansang, at the Busan International Food Expo, running through Sunday. The initiative transforms three years of culinary research and 72 standalone recipes into complete, elevated set-meal experiences designed for local restaurants and international tourism. Created by a coalition of 16 local chefs specializing in Korean, Japanese, Chinese and Western cuisines, the new menus reimagine traditional multidish dining using regional coastal ingredients. Rather than developing isolated dishes, the culinary team integrated long-standing local flavors into cohesive, multicourse meal sets tailored for modern diners. The two featured options, titled Busan Landscape Table and Busan Nature Table, pair classic Korean formats with modern techniques. Highlights include clam and seaweed pot rice sourced from Myeongji and Gijang, pork ribs,

Over the past decade, the former industrial district of Seongsu-dong — often dubbed the "Brooklyn of Seoul" for its mix of repurposed factories and youth culture — has transformed from a quiet grid of red-brick shoe workshops and auto repair shops into Korea’s epicenter of cool. Trendy local boutiques, coffee roasters and pop-up stores have drawn massive crowds of fashion-conscious youth and international tourists. But as real estate prices soar, local authorities are stepping in to protect the district from becoming another generic commercial strip. Starting this December, Seongdong District in eastern Seoul will expand its strict ban on new corporate megachains and large franchises to key arterial streets in Seongsu-dong, including Bangsongdae Street and parts of Yeomujang Street. First introduced along the nearby Seoul Forest Road to curb gentrification, the regulations restrict large corporate franchises across three specific sectors: standard restaurants, cafes and bakeries. The policy stems from hard-learned lessons elsewhere in the capital. Once-vibrant enclaves — like Gar

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Friday filed a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chair Richard Palpal-latoc and three others for allegedly claiming travel allowances for a trip that was already funded by a donor. The other subjects of the complaint were CHR

When China and the United States agreed in May to frame their relationship as a “constructive relationship of strategic stability”, the phrase left many observers trying to guess what it actually meant. Four months on, they have added an elaboration that offers further insight into the two sides’ respective priorities. After presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump met in Washington last month, the two sides pledged to build a “constructive relationship of strategic stability on the basis of...

MANILA, Philippines – Ongoing development programs by the government in communities formerly affected by armed conflict are among the reasons why the insurgents are steadily losing influence in the countryside. This was emphasized by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) in a news release Friday, and reported that around 28,415

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has ruled out an oil spill as the cause of discolored water and foul odor reported along portions of the coastline in Barangay Talabaan, Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro. PCG Station Occidental Mindoro conducted an on-site inspection following public reports of dark-colored water and stinking smell in

MANILA, Philippines — In celebration of its 17th anniversary, Manila Water Non-East Zone operating unit Laguna Water launched an expanded implementation of its Daloy ng Saya program months ahead of its traditional year-end schedule, enabling the company to reach more learners through a strategic partnership with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Laguna. Daloy ng Saya has served

The Port of Los Angeles, the largest container port in the United States and the country’s leading gateway for imports from China and other Asian countries, had its busiest three-month period on record from July through to September, despite persistent uncertainty over tariffs and shifting global trade supply chains. “If there was ever a time for a drum roll, this is it,” said Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, during a media briefing on Friday. “July through September...

CEBU CITY, Philippines — A 60-year-old woman and her two grandchildren, aged 5 and 6, were killed when a landslide buried their house in Barangay Pulangbato here on Friday, Oct. 9. The landslide struck shortly after noon as the family ate lunch in Sitio Kandarong Riverside. Rescuers recovered the bodies of Judith and her grandchildren,

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — Police launched a manhunt for three individuals who duped a 72-year-old retired government employee to hand in jewelry and other valuables worth about P100,000 in a “budol-budol” (swindling) scheme. This crime happened at a local shopping center in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur on Tuesday, Oct. 6. Col. Jeffrey

MANILA, Philippines — Two containers carrying P29-million worth of smuggled cigarettes were intercepted at the Sub-port of North Harbor in Tondo, Manila, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said on Friday. The BOC said that at least 320 boxes of Astro and Redwood cigarettes were found hidden inside the containers declared as scrap metal.  “Malinaw ang

MANILA, Philippines — Food company GenCorp Industries Inc. remained part of Vice President Sara Duterte’s business interests under her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) — even if the firm does not list her as an incorporator — because it is too precious to lose. This is was a witness at Duterte’s impeachment trial on

MANILA, Philippines – After testifying on his financial review of Vice President Sara Duterte, and her husband, Atty. Manases Carpio’s wealth on Friday, financial forensic analyst Atty. Alexandra B. Cabrera stated that paying one’s taxes shows integrity. Cabrera, the expert witness of the House prosecution panel, made the statement after he presented his analysis of

TACLOBAN CITY — The Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8) in Palo, Leyte is rolling out a community-centered program aimed at making residents feel safe. Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño, PRO-8 regional director, said the program called SAFE or Seen, Appreciated, Felt and Extraordinary Police Service, seeks to improve police visibility and responsiveness. “We should see one

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusn del Sur — Police and environmental law enforcement operatives arrested two men and seized an estimated P810,000 worth of illegally sawn hardwood lumber during an anti-illegal logging operation in the hinterlands of Lanuza, Surigao del Sur, on Wednesday, Oct. 7. Brig. Gen. Rolindo M. Suguilon, director of Police Regional Office 13 (Caraga),

MANILA, Philippines — Labor group National Union of Workers in Hotel, Restaurant and Allied Industries (NUWHRAIN) has called for an independent and transparent investigation into the deaths of three engineering workers during maintenance work at Dusit Thani Residence Davao on Oct. 5. The group said the investigation should determine whether negligence, foul play or violations

MANILA, Philippines — The House prosecution panel’s final witness in Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth tagged the purchasing of a manager’s check as a form of “tinikling.” This was because the transaction was reportedly used to skirt a specific amount of funds from the year-end balance. The purchase was in reference to manager’s

ILIGAN CITY, Northern Mindanao — The main building of Iligan City Hall was illuminated in pink to raise awareness about the importance of early breast cancer detection and mental health care for women. The activity, which started on October 8, brought together the local government and community groups to encourage women to undergo regular medical

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Friday that it directed transportation authorities to explore a possible route along the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 2 for Public Utility Buses (PUBs) to help passengers amid limited train operations. The DOTr said that Transportation Secretary Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez has directed the Land Transportation Franchising

The European Union said the deal could roughly halve shipments of hybrid vehicles from China in the next four years. But it also could lead to an even stronger Chinese auto industry.

VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon — City health officials here are rushing to secure confirmatory testing for 73 suspected Hepatitis A cases. The move comes following a sharp rise in infections in Barangay Lurugan, a heavily urbanized village surrounded by vast pineapple plantations. Most of those affected are students aged 10 to 19. Aron Apostol Rempohito, chief

MANILA, Philippines — The table prepared by prosecution witness, lawyer and accountant Alexander Cabrera, alleges that Vice President Sara Duterte had a total unexplained wealth of P817.87 million from 2022 to 2025. On Friday, day 37 of Duterte’s trial, House Prosecutor Rep. Chel Diokno led the direct examination of Cabrera, whom the prosecution sought to

MANILA, Philippines — Senator-Judge Joel Villanueva on Friday expressed alarm that Cale88 Foods Corp. supposedly has only two employees, despite reporting over P150 million in revenue and over P6 million in losses. READ: Sara Duterte trial: Witness reveals CALE88, Gencorp balances, 2022-2025 Cale88 is among Vice President Sara Duterte’s business interests being tackled before the

The International Criminal Court (ICC) Trial Chamber III has rejected former President Rodrigo Duterte"s bid to have prosecutors refile and reframe the charges against him, while allowing seven of the eight additional incidents to remain in the case.

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte supposedly failed to declare over P207 million worth of cash in different bank accounts belonging to her and her husband, Manases Carpio, a financial forensic analyst, Atty. Alexander Cabrera testified on Friday. At Day 37 of the impeachment trial, Cabrera — the prosecution panel’s witness for Article II of the

MANILA, Philippines — The state weather bureau on Friday said the low-pressure area (LPA) off Northern Samar will affect some areas in the country until Saturday, Oct. 10. In its 4 p.m. weather advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Quezon, Marinduque, and Romblon may experience

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — After helping secure the historic Bangsamoro Parliamentary elections last month, troops of the Army’s 27th Infantry Battalion (27IB) have finally returned home. Maj. Gen. Alvin Luzon, 10th Infantry Division commander, alongside Brig. Gen. Christopher Diaz of the 1003rd Infantry Brigade, led the welcome ceremony for the returning officers and enlisted