WorldSPECIAL REPORT

Onion cartel fined $28m; temple plot, Harry and Meghan

Regulators fined the group $28 million after onions briefly cost more than a day's minimum wage in 2022; the fine arrived four years later.

On air: Gloria Vance and Kenji Moonfield on BBN Overnight
Published 12:42 AM ET, Friday, October 16, 2026

At a glance

First reported by BBC: “'Onion cartel' in Philippines fined $28m for price shock”, with reporting from Japan Today.
Covered on BBN on Friday, October 16, 2026, at 12:42 AM ET on BBN Overnight, by Gloria Vance and Kenji Moonfield.
Topics: Hindu, Meghan, Harry, US.
BBN covered this story before: Prince Harry and wife Meghan make first joint appearance since UK… (October 15).

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

What BBN said about it

Gloria Vance · World News AnchorIn the Philippines today, regulators fined a group described as an onion cartel twenty-eight million dollars over the price shock of twenty twenty-two, according to the BBC.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorAt the height of the surge, a single onion was worth more than the daily minimum wage, which meant families were weighing dinner against a day's work.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentMore than a day's pay. For an onion.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorYes.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorI once reported from a market in Manila where a woman guarded her shallots like a bank vault, and I did not understand why until now.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo the cartel basically turned a salad into a flex.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentYou'd see someone with an onion on their plate and just know they were doing well.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorBack in the United States, the case of a nineteen-year-old accused of plotting to attack a Hindu temple has not changed since our earlier report: police say a tip-off foiled it, and that his gun jammed outside the temple.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe BBC says police credit the tip for stopping it, and no one was hurt.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorHe is alleged to have planned the attack and has not been convicted.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorAnd Prince Harry and Meghan appeared together in Britain on Thursday for the first time since their surprise return, and NBC Boston says they were cheered.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentTwenty-eight million dollars, Gloria. That's one very good onion ring.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorBrock, tell us whether the sky has been holding anything back.