Gov’t workers to get bonus, cash gift

Inquirer.net - Nov 9, 2026

MANILA, Philippines — Government employees will receive their year-end bonus equivalent to one month’s salary and a P5,000 cash gift with their November pay, with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) directing agencies to ensure the benefits are released on schedule. The DBM said it had released P82.998 billion to cover the benefits of

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President Lee's approval rating falls to 35.9%: poll

Nov 9, 2026

President Lee's approval rating falls to 35.9%: poll

President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating fell to 35.9 percent last week likely due to an intense political standoff over legislation and stock market volatility, a pollster said Monday. Positive assessments of Lee's job performance dropped by 1 percentage point from the previous week in the poll conducted on 2,528 adults from last Monday to Friday, according to Realmeter. Negative assessments rose by 0.5 percentage point to 60.6 percent, while 3.4 percent of respondents said they were not sure. Realmeter attributed the lower approval rating to last week's standoff between the ruling and main opposition parties over a bill calling for a special counsel investigation into alleged fabricated indictments targeting the president and others. The bill passed the National Assembly on Friday, led by the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). The pollster also attributed the decline to last week's sharp fall in the KOSPI stock market index to below 5,000 points and other volatility in the financial sector. Meanwhile, support for the two largest parties came to 36.5 percent for the DPK and 39.7 per

Disgraced stem cell scientist Hwang Woo-suk loses Korean citizenship after becoming UAE national

Nov 9, 2026

Disgraced stem cell scientist Hwang Woo-suk loses Korean citizenship after becoming UAE national

Hwang Woo-suk, the disgraced South Korean scientist dismissed from Seoul National University in 2005 over a stem cell research fabrication scandal, has lost his Korean citizenship after acquiring nationality in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), it was belatedly revealed. His loss of Korean citizenship took effect in April. According to the government's electronic gazette on Monday, Hwang's name appeared on a list of individuals who had lost their Korean nationality, published by the Cheongju Immigration Office under the Ministry of Justice on Aug. 13. The list included a man named Hwang Woo-suk, born in 1953 in Buyeo, South Chungcheong Province. His birthplace and year of birth strongly suggest that he is the former Seoul National University professor. The notice listed April 9 as the date he lost his Korean citizenship, citing his acquisition of UAE nationality. Under Article 15 of Korea's Nationality Act, Korean citizens automatically lose their nationality upon voluntarily acquiring foreign citizenship. Hwang currently serves as CEO of the UAE Biotech Research Center in Abu Dhabi, which

Lee vows to hire more firefighters, expand investment to ensure public safety

Nov 9, 2026

Lee vows to hire more firefighters, expand investment to ensure public safety

President Lee Jae Myung on Monday vowed to hire more firefighters and increase investment in strengthening their capabilities to ensure public safety amid diverse disaster risks. Lee made the pledge during a ceremony marking the 64th Day of Firefighting in the central city of Sejong, attended by government officials, firefighters, those who died while on duty and their bereaved families. The president stressed the ongoing climate crisis is increasing the diversity and scale of disasters, likely making them more complicated and difficult for firefighters to combat. "Preparing for and responding to changes a step ahead of time would be the way to protect the people's lives and ensure their safety," Lee said. He pledged to hire more firefighters, strengthen their command system and expand investment to enable them to respond more promptly and systematically to disasters and ensure public safety. Through the investment, the government plans to harness artificial intelligence (AI) and drones to identify risk factors, and undertake dangerous rescue operations while deploying cutting-edge defense

PPP leaders gather outside Cheong Wa Dae to protest special counsel bill

Nov 9, 2026

PPP leaders gather outside Cheong Wa Dae to protest special counsel bill

Leaders of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) gathered outside Cheong Wa Dae on Monday to protest the recent passage of a bill calling for a special counsel investigation into alleged fabricated indictments targeting President Lee Jae Myung and others. The PPP leadership held a Supreme Council meeting outside the presidential office, after the ruling Democratic Party of Korea railroaded the bill through a plenary session of the National Assembly on Friday. The legislation calls for appointing an independent counsel to investigate suspicions the prosecution under former President Yoon Suk Yeol fabricated evidence or induced false testimonies to build cases against then opposition leader Lee and others. The PPP has denounced the effort as a pretext to cancel all of Lee's indictments, as his trials have been suspended under an article of the Constitution that exempts a sitting president from criminal prosecution except in cases of insurrection or treason. Lee faces charges of involvement in corrupt development schemes, illegal remittances to North Korea, and the misuse of a govern

Justice minister nominee cautious on withdrawal of indictments against Lee

Nov 9, 2026

Justice minister nominee cautious on withdrawal of indictments against Lee

Justice Minister nominee Lee Yong-cheol on Monday expressed reservations about nullifying indictments against President Lee Jae Myung following last week's passage of a special counsel bill to investigate allegations of fabricated indictments, including those that currently involve the president. The nominee, who currently serves as head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), said the special counsel should focus exclusively on uncovering the truth. He was tapped Friday to become the justice minister, a post that has remained vacant for more than two months since Lee's first justice minister, Jung Sung-ho, resigned in late August. The National Assembly passed the special counsel bill on the same day amid protests from the main opposition People Power Party, which suspects the legislation is aimed at canceling all indictments against the president. "I believe it is appropriate for the special counsel to focus solely on uncovering the truth from now on, while all other matters should be handled in accordance with the law and established principles," the justice minister

Second vice minister of foreign affairs discusses role of diplomacy at HUFS lecture

Nov 9, 2026

Second vice minister of foreign affairs discusses role of diplomacy at HUFS lecture

Kim Jin-a, second vice minister of foreign affairs, delivered a lecture on the changing international order and the challenges facing Korean diplomacy at the Seoul campus of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) on Nov. 4. The university said the lecture was part of the 2026 HUFS Special Lecture program, which provides students, alumni and young people in the local community with opportunities to gain insights into the humanities and develop skills for their future careers. The program combines the university’s traditional strengths in diplomacy, international trade and the humanities with emerging issues such as artificial intelligence (AI) and big data. In her lecture, titled “Changes in the International Order and Korea’s Diplomatic Choices,” Kim discussed the role and importance of diplomacy in the evolving international environment. She also introduced various programs and initiatives pursued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and shared information to help students broaden their interest in international affairs and explore career opportunities in diplomacy. Kim earned

How to celebrate Pepero Day, Korea's sweetest tradition

Nov 9, 2026

How to celebrate Pepero Day, Korea's sweetest tradition

If you happen to be in Korea on Nov. 11, you might notice store shelves overflowing with boxes of thin, chocolate-coated biscuit sticks. Welcome to Pepero Day, one of Korea’s most vibrant and fun informal holidays. First launched by Lotte Wellfood in 1983, Pepero has grown from a simple brand name into a household term representing all long, thin biscuit sticks here. Legend has it that the phenomenon started in the 1990s when middle school students in Yeongnam began exchanging the biscuit sticks with a sweet wish, "May we both grow tall and slender!" Today, the tradition has evolved into a nationwide celebration of friendship, romance and affection, where exchanging Pepero sticks is the ultimate way to show someone you care. Whether you are looking for a quick wallet-friendly treat or an over-the-top artisan gift, here is your complete guide to navigating Pepero Day. Convenience store favorites Participating in Korea’s most popular November tradition does not require breaking the bank. Ahead of Nov. 11, the country’s leading convenience store chains — CU, GS25, 7-Eleven and Emart24

Dingdong Dantes on back-to-back milestones of Zia and Sixto: 'Proud is an understatement'

Nov 9, 2026

Dingdong Dantes on back-to-back milestones of Zia and Sixto: 'Proud is an understatement'

Dingdong Dantes is one proud dad as he attended back-to-back milestones of kids Zia and Sixto over the weekend.

LIVE UPDATES: Impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte

Nov 9, 2026

LIVE UPDATES: Impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte

Bookmark this page for Rappler's comprehensive coverage of Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial at the Senate

Hong Kong wakes up to coolest morning so far this autumn at 23.2 degrees

Nov 9, 2026

Hong Kong wakes up to coolest morning so far this autumn at 23.2 degrees

Hong Kong recorded its coolest morning so far this autumn on Monday, with temperatures falling to 23.2 degrees Celsius (73.76 Fahrenheit) and forecast to reach as low as 16 degrees the next day. The Hong Kong Observatory said a cold front and a strong northeast monsoon kept Guangdong’s coastal areas cool, adding that temperatures across the city were about two degrees lower than the day before. As of 7.40am, the Observatory had recorded a minimum temperature of 23.2 degrees. The mercury was...

Who is Engr. Jaime Adalin, the first witness of the defense?

Nov 9, 2026

Who is Engr. Jaime Adalin, the first witness of the defense?

The defense panel on Monday began the presentation of evidence in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, with Davao City assessor Engr. Jaime Adalin first to be called to the witness stand.

LOOK: Marcos swears in Rodil Zalameda as SC chief justice

Nov 9, 2026

LOOK: Marcos swears in Rodil Zalameda as SC chief justice

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. swore in Associate Justice Rodil Zalameda as the new Supreme Court chief justice at Malacañang on Monday.

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