COA: DepEd overpaid P938,000 in aid

Inquirer.net - Sep 30, 2026

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Audit (COA) has found several “unverifiable” beneficiaries in the senior high school voucher program of the Department of Education (DepEd), which resulted in an “overpayment” of P938,000 worth of government assistance. The existence of these beneficiaries could not be verified because they have either dropped out, transferred schools, did

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Provinces brace for drought, farm losses

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Agriculture and health officials in several parts of the country are stepping up preparations as El Niño intensifies, with the weather phenomenon expected to reach a “very strong” state before the end of 2026 and possibly persist into 2027. The Department of Agriculture (DA) said Western Visayas, the Negros Island Region,

125th Balangiga anniversary honors courage, resilience

Sep 30, 2026

125th Balangiga anniversary honors courage, resilience

TACLOBAN CITY, LEYTE, Philippines — The legacy of the Balangiga Encounter, one of the most significant episodes of the Philippine-American War, continues to shape the identity of Eastern Samar and offers lessons on unity, courage, resilience and service, Cabinet Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. said on Monday. Speaking during the 125th anniversary commemoration of the

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Sep 30, 2026

Kazakh worker killed as concrete ceiling collapses at Seoul construction site

A Kazakhstani worker died Tuesday after part of a concrete ceiling collapsed on him at an apartment construction site in southern Seoul, authorities said. The man, in his 30s, was waiting to begin cleaning inside a unit on the 23rd floor of the site in Seoul's Seocho district when part of the concrete ceiling fell and hit him at around 9:45 a.m., according to the labor ministry. The ministry said it immediately suspended work at the site and began an investigation into the incident with police and construction safety authorities. Police and the labor ministry plan to investigate the cause of the accident and look into whether the companies involved violated workplace safety laws.

Young Koreans use digital placebos to curb spending

Sep 30, 2026

Young Koreans use digital placebos to curb spending

Office worker Lee Joo-hyun, 25, opens a mobile app when hunger strikes, even though she is trying to lose weight. Lee browses the menu, selects food and hits the order button. A notification pops up notifying her that the food is being prepared, followed by a real-time map tracking a delivery driver picking up the meal and moving toward her home. The food, however, never arrives. Lee is not charged, either. The platform Lee used is not a standard delivery service but "FoodNeverArrives" — an application designed to simulate the ordering process. Instead of a meal, Lee receives a virtual receipt tallying the money and calories saved. "Looking at the numbers written on the receipt makes me proud. I'm happy even without eating the food," she said. As inflation remains high, digital placebos that curb impulse spending through virtual consumption are gaining popularity among budget-conscious consumers. The simulations provide a sense of satisfaction and amusement without costing money or raising health concerns. For people in their 20s and 30s who self-deprecatingly joke that "only breathin

Military demands NK apology over DMZ mine blast as UNC confirms Armistice violation

Sep 30, 2026

Military demands NK apology over DMZ mine blast as UNC confirms Armistice violation

South Korea’s military on Wednesday demanded an apology from North Korea over a recent mine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that seriously injured South Korean soldiers, calling on Pyongyang to halt its ongoing border fortification activities. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said North Korea has continued laying mines and carrying out what it calls the “fortification of its border” near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), saying such activities have heightened tensions along the inter-Korean border. “This is a clear violation of the Armistice Agreement and undermines the spirit of existing inter-Korean agreements, and must be stopped immediately,” the JCS said. It also urged the North to offer an apology and take “responsible measures” over the Sept. 21 blast. The United Nations Command (UNC), which conducted a joint on-site investigation with the South Korean military, said investigators found an active North Korean anti-personnel mine on the South Korean side of the MDL. “Based on the findings of the investigation, UNC determined that an Armistice Agreement v

Less than half of S. Koreans say unification with N. Korea necessary: poll

Sep 30, 2026

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UN Command says Armistice Agreement violation occurred over DMZ mine blast

Sep 30, 2026

UN Command says Armistice Agreement violation occurred over DMZ mine blast

The United Nations Command (UNC) said Wednesday it found a violation of the Armistice Agreement has occurred over last week's mine blast inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). "Based on the findings of the investigation, UNC determined that an Armistice Agreement violation occurred. UNC is addressing the violation through established Armistice mechanisms," it said in an emailed statement. The UNC said a joint investigation team with the South Korean military identified an active North Korean mine on the South Korean side of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL). "UNC remains committed to maintaining and enforcing the Armistice Agreement and fulfilling its responsibilities to preserve stability and prevent escalation on the Korean Peninsula," it said. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff released Monday its preliminary findings on the joint investigation with the UNC on the Sept. 21 mine blast. It determined that North Korean resin antipersonnel mines "highly likely" caused the two explosions that injured three South Korean soldiers. Two of them suffered critical injuries. North Korea denied it

Int'l tribunal dismisses Iranian investor's $566 mil. claim against Seoul

Sep 30, 2026

Int'l tribunal dismisses Iranian investor's $566 mil. claim against Seoul

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Spy agency says Ukraine first requested confidentiality over transfer of N. Korean POWs

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Honey Jam Sam reflects on foreign experience in Korea in latest album

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Honey Jam Sam reflects on foreign experience in Korea in latest album

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Who will be BARMM’s first elected chief minister?

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The new members the BARMM parliament enter a period of negotiations before choosing their chief minister on October 30, when they hold their first regular session

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