Gov’t, MILF agree to hasten stalled decommissioning process

Inquirer.net - Sep 29, 2026

COTABATO CITY, BARMM, Philippines — The Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have agreed to accelerate the stalled decommissioning of the front’s fighters and weapons following a special meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, over the weekend. With Malaysia facilitating the meeting, Peace Implementing Panel chairs Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento of the government

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Davao banana industry links farms to Asian markets

Sep 29, 2026

Davao banana industry links farms to Asian markets

PANTUKAN, DAVAO DE ORO, Philippines — Bananas are not only a staple crop in the Davao Region but also a major export earner, with Cavendish and other varieties accounting for nearly half of the region’s export revenues in the fourth quarter of 2025. Banana exports generated $499.42 million during the period, representing 49.22 percent of

Ex-Inquirer correspondent Eric Jimenez dies at 57

Sep 29, 2026

Ex-Inquirer correspondent Eric Jimenez dies at 57

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Philippines — Former Philippine Daily Inquirer correspondent Eric Jimenez died of complications from chronic kidney disease on Sunday, according to his family. He was 57. A graduate of Mass Communications at Angeles University Foundation in Angeles City, Jimenez wrote for and edited the newsweekly The Angeles Sun. He also served as

Newly elected officials report average assets of 1.35 billion won

Sep 29, 2026

Newly elected officials report average assets of 1.35 billion won

Officials newly elected in June's local elections reported average assets of 1.35 billion won ($996,500), according to Government Ethics Committee data released Tuesday. The committee disclosed the personal assets of 1,259 individuals, including 563 local governors, mayors, councilors and education chiefs elected in the June elections. The others are 586 people who retired from elected offices and 110 appointed public officials. The average assets of the newly elected people amounted to 1.35 billion won per person. The heads of large local governments averaged 1.99 billion won per person in assets while small local government heads declared an average 1.69 billion won of wealth. Among the heads of small local governments, Bonghwa County Mayor Choi Gi-young reported the largest assets at 34.9 billion won, while Yoon Yu-jin, a member of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, topped the wealth list among newly elected members of large local councils with 15.64 billion won, according to the data.

Lee calls for thorough probe of mine blast, vows necessary measures

Sep 29, 2026

Lee calls for thorough probe of mine blast, vows necessary measures

President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday called for a thorough investigation into a mine blast that injured three South Korean soldiers inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) last week, saying he will take necessary measures in line with the results. Lee made the remark during a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, a day after the military announced preliminary findings that the explosion likely had been caused by North Korean mines. "The military authorities must transparently reveal the truth behind the case by carrying out a swift and thorough investigation in close cooperation with the U.N. Command (UNC)," he said. "In accordance with that truth, we will take necessary measures." The explosion occurred last Monday during an operation to clear a path for a joint inspection by the South Korean military and the UNC to verify Seoul's suspicions that Pyongyang illegally buried land mines across the border in violation of the armistice that halted the 1950-53 Korean War. Lee had wished the injured troops a swift recovery in a message on his social media account shortly after the incident but it marked

Cheong Wa Dae denies military inspection of mine blast site connected to Lee's UN remarks

Sep 29, 2026

Cheong Wa Dae denies military inspection of mine blast site connected to Lee's UN remarks

Cheong Wa Dae on Tuesday rejected allegations that the timing of the military's inspection of a mine blast site was tied to President Lee Jae Myung's remarks on sanctions relief for North Korea ahead of last week's U.N. General Assembly. The main opposition People Power Party has accused the government of delaying an inspection of the site due to concerns Lee's call for sanctions relief would be undermined in the event North Korea is found responsible for the mine blast that injured three South Korean soldiers inside the Demilitarized Zone last week. The military on Monday announced preliminary findings that the explosion was highly likely to have been caused by illegally planted North Korean mines. "The Joint Chiefs of Staff and the U.N. Command planned and decided (on the timing of the inspection) purely based on a military judgment in consideration of the suggestions of field commanders," a presidential official said. "The military's on-site inspection regarding the mine accident has nothing to do with the president's U.N. speech." Lee had said in an interview with The New York Times

Jeonbuk National University offers AI training for Lotte Energy Materials employees

Sep 29, 2026

Jeonbuk National University offers AI training for Lotte Energy Materials employees

Jeonbuk National University is providing customized artificial intelligence (AI) training for Lotte Energy Materials to support its digital transformation and strengthen employees’ AI capabilities. The university said Monday that its Regional Innovation System and Education (RISE) Project Group has been conducting a four-session AI training program for employees at the company’s plant in Iksan, North Jeolla Province, from Sept. 11 to Oct. 13. The program is designed to improve employees’ ability to use AI in the workplace. Lotte Energy Materials is one of the largest companies with operations in the province. The company, a subsidiary of Lotte Group, produces copper foil for rechargeable batteries. “This training is an example of cooperation among regional government, industry and academia in which the university’s expertise is closely aligned with the needs of the region and industry,” said Jang Tae-il, director of the university’s RISE Project Group. “Building on our cooperation with Lotte Energy Materials, we will further develop specific plans for industry-academia-res

From 6th grade to high school, new data shows teen health declining in Korea

Sep 29, 2026

From 6th grade to high school, new data shows teen health declining in Korea

In a nation where academic pressure intensifies sharply as children grow older, a groundbreaking multiyear study is revealing how the physical and mental health of teenagers deteriorates over time. As students trade play for cram schools, public health officials are uncovering the long-term toll of childhood in one of the world's most competitive societies. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency released raw data Tuesday from its sixth annual Youth Health Panel Survey. The initiative tracks a single cohort of 5,051 students who entered the study in 2019 as sixth-graders through their high school graduation in 2028. The latest dataset follows 4,141 of these students — an 82 percent retention rate — through their second year of high school in 2024. The 2024 dataset introduces 29 core health indicators spanning five major domains: diet, physical activity, tobacco use, alcohol consumption and general illness. Crucially, the survey added specific metrics measuring screen addiction and high-caffeine energy drink consumption, capturing how teenagers cope with grueling academic sch

Seoul expands delivery discounts, vouchers across Han River parks

Sep 29, 2026

Seoul expands delivery discounts, vouchers across Han River parks

As autumn weather draws crowds outdoors, Seoul is ramping up financial perks for parkgoers and diners ordering delivery, doubling down on its public delivery alternative amid rising food costs. Starting Thursday, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will expand its dedicated delivery discount initiative across all 11 Han River parks, covering 17 designated drop-off zones. Under the expanded scheme, running through Nov. 30, visitors who order 25,000 won ($18.40) or more worth of food using the city’s public platform, Seoul Delivery Plus Ddangyo, will receive an immediate 3,000 won discount. The program expands on a pilot project launched in August that originally covered just three parks. By extending the timeframe to two full months and opening delivery zones in popular spots like Yeouido, Ttukseom and Banpo, officials hope to give picnickers a cost-effective way to enjoy outdoor dining. Customers paying with Seoul Love Gift Certificates will gain additional rewards. Orders exceeding 15,000 won yield a 3,000 won rebate, while purchases over 25,000 won earn a 5,000 won digital voucher ret

Mexican broadcasters turn spotlight on Korea's soft power, tech vision

Sep 29, 2026

Mexican broadcasters turn spotlight on Korea's soft power, tech vision

Mexican broadcasters TV Azteca and Imagen Television turned their cameras to Korea’s cultural rise and approach to artificial intelligence (AI) during three special documentaries aired last Thursday through Saturday timed to President Lee Jae Myung’s state visit to Mexico. The programs, produced in cooperation with Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, explored the roots of Korean cultural influence through the vision of independence leader Kim Koo and examined how Korean society is preparing for an era of human-centered AI. TV Azteca’s “Kim Koo: el sueno que conquisto al planeta (Kim Koo: The Dream That Conquered the Planet,” broadcast Saturday, presented K-culture as the result of long-term investment in education and culture rather than a passing trend. The documentary also traced historical ties between Korea and Mexico through the 1,033 Koreans who moved to Yucatan in 1905 and supported Korea’s independence movement. Imagen Television’s “La apuesta que cambio Corea,” broadcast Thursday, examined how Korean traditions such as “jang” and “hanbok”

Seoul Grand Park showcases nature's botanical predators

Sep 29, 2026

Seoul Grand Park showcases nature's botanical predators

Long a sanctuary for native flora and exotic animals, the Seoul Grand Park Botanical Garden is turning the spotlight on nature’s most cunning hunters: carnivorous plants. Starting Oct. 2, the park will host its 20th annual carnivorous plant exhibition, a 10-day Exploring North American Carnivorous Plants with JBS showcase. Set in the Welcoming Garden near the main entrance, the event features more than 700 specimens across 16 species native to North America — ranging from the iconic Venus flytrap and dew-beaded sundews to cobra lilies and butterworts. To make the botanical science accessible to families, park organizers are framing the exhibit around JBS (Jabasseu), a whimsical fictional mascot group created to celebrate the botanical garden’s 40th anniversary. Made up of five characters modeled after insect-eating plants — including Fly, Taeyang-i and Sara — JBS acts as a pop-idol-style guide, leading visitors through an interactive journey tracing how these plants thrive in the wild. Carnivorous plants are evolutionary marvels. By adapting to nutrient-poor soils like peat bog

Nvidia CEO Huang receives this year's Van Fleet Award for contribution to Korea-US relations

Sep 29, 2026

Nvidia CEO Huang receives this year's Van Fleet Award for contribution to Korea-US relations

Nvidia Corp. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jensen Huang received an annual prestigious award for his contribution to enhancing the relationship between Korea and the United States, a nonprofit organization said Monday. Huang was honored with this year's Van Fleet Award in recognition of his "visionary" leadership and "transformative" contributions to the artificial intelligence and semiconductor industries — sectors central to the deepening economic partnership between the two countries, according to The Korea Society. The award was given during The Korea Society's annual gala in New York. Samsung Electronics Co. Chairman Lee Jae-yong and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won also joined the event. Named after Gen. James A. Van Fleet, commander of the U.S. Eighth Army at the height of the Korean War in 1951, the award has been given annually to those who have made notable contributions to the bilateral relationship. Former honorees of the award include former Korean President Kim Dae-jung, Korean War hero Gen. Paik Sun-yup, former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and former U.S. Presidents

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