Japan’s Natuna port proposal highlights Indonesia’s balancing act on China

South China Morning Post - Sep 17, 2026

Japan’s proposed port upgrades in Indonesia’s Natuna Islands reflect Tokyo’s push to bolster South China Sea security without building an overt military footprint. However, analysts stress that the move does not mean Jakarta is siding with Japan in its efforts to contain Beijing. Japan, which earlier this year eased its restrictions on lethal weapons exports, is ramping up security cooperation with Indonesia – a crucial bellwether for Southeast Asia. The expanding partnership includes joint...

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Lahar threat from Kanlaon forces evacuations

Sep 17, 2026

Lahar threat from Kanlaon forces evacuations

BACOLOD CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines — Heavy rains triggered lahar flows along the slopes of Kanlaon Volcano on Tuesday, prompting 167 residents in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental to preemptively flee their homes, an Office of Civil Defense (OCD) official said Wednesday. The OCD had asked the Negros Occidental provincial government to assist with a

Quirino governor dies at 48; remembered for 25-year public service

Sep 17, 2026

Quirino governor dies at 48; remembered for 25-year public service

CABARROGUIS, QUIRINO, Philippines — Quirino Gov. Dakila Carlo “Dax” Cua passed away on Tuesday evening, ending a quarter-century career in public service marked by youth leadership, legislative reforms and local governance advocacy. He was 48. His family appealed for prayers and support as they mourned his death and prepare to bring his remains home to

In Palawan, kin of ferry fire victims still seek answers a week after tragedy

Sep 17, 2026

In Palawan, kin of ferry fire victims still seek answers a week after tragedy

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, PALAWAN, Philippines — One week after the fire that engulfed MV June Aster in the waters off Coron, Palawan, families of the victims remain anxiously waiting for answers as authorities continue to search for 12 missing people and investigate the cause of the deadly blaze. The death of a survivor on Tuesday afternoon

Singapore Management University president highlights growing role of social sciences in AI era

Sep 17, 2026

Singapore Management University president highlights growing role of social sciences in AI era

SINGAPORE — As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes how businesses operate, governments make policy and people work, the skills needed to navigate its impact are extending far beyond technology — putting greater emphasis on human judgment, critical thinking and an understanding of society. Singapore Management University (SMU) President Lily Kong believes that shift will make the social sciences and management increasingly important in the AI era, as universities are tasked not only with teaching students how to use the technology, but also to question its output, understand its consequences and apply it responsibly. “I think that the more capable that AI becomes, the more valuable human judgment becomes,” Kong said in a recent interview with The Korea Times. For Kong, AI is not just a technological shift. As it reshapes workplaces, business decisions and public policy, universities must equip students to understand and manage its broader impact on society. She said SMU’s focus on management, social sciences and technology puts it in a strong position to prepare students for t

5-year term upheld for drunk driver who killed Japanese woman

Sep 17, 2026

5-year term upheld for drunk driver who killed Japanese woman

A court of appeals on Thursday upheld a five-year prison sentence for a man in his 30s who was indicted for drunk driving in downtown Seoul and hitting a Japanese woman and her daughter last year, killing the mother. The appellate division of the Seoul Central District Court issued the ruling after dismissing the appeal filed by the man identified only by his surname Seo, saying there were no grounds to reduce his sentence or grant him leniency. Seo is accused of drunk driving after consuming three bottles of soju on the night of Nov. 2 last year and hitting the two Japanese women as they crossed a pedestrian crosswalk near Dongdaemun Station in Seoul's Jongno Ward. The mother in her 50s was taken to a nearby hospital in cardiac arrest and later died, while her daughter in her 30s sustained minor injuries. Seo's blood alcohol concentration was 0.212 percent, well above the 0.08 percent legal threshold for license revocation. The accident reportedly occurred on the first day of the two women's three-day trip to Korea. In early May, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced Seo to five ye

Korea, France stage joint air drills to enhance interoperability

Sep 17, 2026

Korea, France stage joint air drills to enhance interoperability

Korea and France staged a joint aerial exercise this week aimed at enhancing interoperability between their troops, the Korean Air Force said Thursday. The three-day drills, which kicked off Tuesday, took place at an air base in Cheongju, about 110 kilometers south of Seoul, according to the armed service. It marks the first joint drills between Korea and France in three years. The Air Force mobilized its F-35A stealth jets and KC-330 Cygnus multirole aerial tankers, among others, while the French Air Force deployed two Rafale fighter jets and an A-330 aerial refueling tanker for the drills. The French team was mobilized as part of France's "Pegase" mission designed to inspect its interoperability and deterrence capabilities with allied forces. The exercise is scheduled to take place across nine countries, including Canada, the United States and Japan, from Sept. 8 through Oct. 15. On Wednesday, the Korean and French air forces conducted mutual aerial refueling designed to enhance the understanding of their respective aerial refueling systems. The air forces also staged joint tactical flig

Korea's 1st unmanned military ground vehicle gets ready for battlefield

Sep 17, 2026

Korea's 1st unmanned military ground vehicle gets ready for battlefield

CHANGWON, South Gyeongsang Province — As an employee walked across a test track at Hanwha Aerospace’s Changwon Plant 2, a four-wheeled vehicle trailed several meters behind, matching his path without anyone at the controls. The vehicle was the Arion-SMET, Korea’s first multipurpose uncrewed ground vehicle selected for military deployment. “The Arion-SMET can autonomously follow a soldier in front without any intervention from the operator,” said Lee Yun-su, a research engineer at Hanwha Aerospace’s Manned-Unmanned Teaming R&D Center, during the demonstration Monday. The vehicle then picked up speed under remote control. It can travel at up to 60 kilometers per hour, allowing it to leave dangerous areas or deliver supplies, according to the company. A 7.62-millimeter remote-controlled weapon station mounted on top swiveled toward a target on the test ground. Even as the vehicle moved, the weapon remained trained on it. For the final demonstration, another Hanwha employee loaded supplies onto the vehicle and pressed a button on its side. With no driver aboard, the Arion-SMET mov

Lee vows to crack down on transnational crimes, scalping

Sep 17, 2026

Lee vows to crack down on transnational crimes, scalping

President Lee Jae Myung said Thursday that he will root out transnational crimes, including voice phishing targeting Koreans. Lee made the remarks on social media while sharing a video showing the arrest of members of a scam ring hiding in Kazakhstan in a joint operation with the local government. "The notion that one can avoid capture by staying abroad must now be abandoned," Lee said, adding that anyone who commits crimes against Koreans will be thoroughly tracked down and punished, no matter where in the world they are hiding. Lee expressed gratitude to Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the Kazakh authorities for their active cooperation in busting the large-scale voice phishing ring. The Korean National Police Agency announced on Aug. 5 that investigators from a governmentwide special task force on transnational crimes apprehended 14 members of the Korean scam ring in the joint operation in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on July 23. Lee also vowed to crack down on scalpers, while sharing a news report about the arrest of a scalper who had made several billion won by purchasing tickets t

Sungkyunkwan University research offers design guidelines for organic solar cells

Sep 17, 2026

Sungkyunkwan University research offers design guidelines for organic solar cells

A Sungkyunkwan University research team has analyzed an ultrafast process through which electricity is generated in organic solar cells, offering design guidelines for developing more efficient materials. The university said Monday that the team, led by chemistry professors Kim Tae-yeon and Ko Doo-hyun, conducted the analysis, providing insights for the development of higher-performance solar cell materials. Organic solar cells are a next-generation clean energy technology prized for their flexibility and transparency. The silicon solar panels commonly seen on rooftops are heavy and rigid. Organic solar cells, by contrast, use lightweight, thin films that can be bent and shaped, making them a promising technology that could be integrated into windows or even clothing. More recently, non-fullerene acceptors have emerged as a new class of materials that can significantly improve the efficiency of converting sunlight into electricity. However, exactly how electricity is generated in these materials at the moment they absorb sunlight has remained uncertain. To unravel this mystery, the researc

9 sent to prosecution for alleged extortion targeting foreigners in Yangsan, Gimhae

Sep 17, 2026

9 sent to prosecution for alleged extortion targeting foreigners in Yangsan, Gimhae

Police have referred nine individuals to the prosecution on suspicion of intimidating and extorting money from foreign nationals operating unregistered motorcycles in the southeastern cities of Yangsan and Gimhae, local authorities said Thursday. According to the Yangsan Police Station, two suspects in their 20s allegedly extorted about 2 million won ($1,450) from foreign riders on 24 occasions between June and July in the city located some 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul by threatening to report them to police. They actually did so when victims claimed they had no money. The suspects apparently targeted foreigners knowing they would not be reported to the police as the victims feared their own undocumented status or operation of unregistered motorcycles would be exposed. Similarly, seven teenagers in Gimhae, about 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, were transferred to the prosecution on suspicion of intimidating foreign motorcyclists without license plates, such as by kicking their vehicles, in September 2025 and June 2026, according to the Gimhae Seobu Police Station. Police noted, h

Illegal imports of weight-loss drugs top 5,000 through Aug.: customs agency

Sep 17, 2026

Illegal imports of weight-loss drugs top 5,000 through Aug.: customs agency

Korea's customs agency said Thursday the number of attempted illegal imports of weight-loss medications, such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, surged from a year earlier to exceed 5,000. A total of 5,030 cases involving the illegal import of weight-loss drugs through overseas direct purchases and other illicit channels were detected in the January-August period, far exceeding the 1,189 cases tallied for all of last year, according to data compiled by the Korea Customs Service. The customs agency has been working closely with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to inspect imported medications as part of efforts to protect public health from unauthorized products. While Wegovy and Mounjaro are prohibited from being brought into the country in travelers' hand luggage, a growing number of Koreans have attempted to purchase the medications from neighboring countries due to price differences. "The customs agency conducts X-ray scans and baggage inspections and returns or discards products that do not meet import requirements," the agency said. "If violations go beyond a failure to meet import requireme

Gov't supports bill easing restrictions on civilian contact with N. Koreans: lawmaker

Sep 17, 2026

Gov't supports bill easing restrictions on civilian contact with N. Koreans: lawmaker

The government has expressed support for a bill that would ease restrictions on South Koreans seeking to contact North Korean residents by removing its authority to block such contacts, officials said Thursday. Under the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act, South Korean nationals planning to make contact with North Koreans are required to file a report in advance with the unification ministry. The ministry may reject such requests if there are clear concerns that the contact may undermine inter-Korean cooperation or pose a threat to national security, public order or public welfare. A revision proposed by Rep. Kim Joon-hyung of the minor Rebuilding Korea Party seeks to remove the government's authority to reject such requests, and the government has decided to support the move, Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo of the main opposition People Power Party said, citing a report from the unification ministry. The ministry confirmed its position, saying, "The government supports the proposed revision, considering the law's purpose of promoting inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation, operating a system

President Lee set to meet IEA chief to discuss energy security

Sep 17, 2026

President Lee set to meet IEA chief to discuss energy security

President Lee Jae Myung will meet with International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol on Thursday to discuss energy security and other global issues, his office said. The meeting at Cheong Wa Dae was arranged as a follow-up to Lee's proposal during the Group of Seven summit in June to discuss ways to cooperate to strengthen the resilience of Asia-Pacific nations' energy supply chain, it said in a press release. Lee and Birol plan to share views on ways to strengthen global energy security amid the intensifying energy and climate crises seen in the recent war in the Middle East and devastating flood in Nepal. Birol has been at the forefront of efforts to overcome the global energy crisis, such as by getting IEA member countries to release 400 million barrels of oil from their emergency reserves in response to the Middle East conflict in March, the presidential office said.

Special counsel team raids election watchdog in probe into ballot shortages

Sep 17, 2026

Special counsel team raids election watchdog in probe into ballot shortages

A special counsel team on Thursday raided the national election watchdog and other local election commissions as part of its probe into shortages of ballots during the June 3 local elections. It marked the first raid by special counsel Lee Tae-han's team after its launch on Sept. 7 to investigate the shortages that sparked major public outcry after some voters were forced to turn back without casting their votes. Lee's team sent investigators to nine locations, including the National Election Commission (NEC) based in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul, and the local election commissions of Gyeonggi Province, Incheon, Busan and Daegu. Investigators seek to seize internal records in connection with the ballot shortages. During the elections, the shortages led to voting disruptions at some polling stations in Gyeonggi that surrounds the capital, the western city of Incheon, and the southeastern cities of Busan and Daegu. The special counsel team is tasked with investigating the election watchdog's management of ballot papers and suspected tampering of voter turnout data during the local election

Korean Catholic Church voices 'deep concerns' over abortion bill plan

Sep 17, 2026

Korean Catholic Church voices 'deep concerns' over abortion bill plan

The Korean Catholic Church has expressed "deep concerns" over government plans to formally introduce abortion pills and urged for a reconsideration. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea (CBCK) made the call in a statement issued Wednesday after the government announced plans to allow the use of abortion pills by women up to nine weeks pregnant. "The CBCK voices deep concerns as this measure would only institutionalize abortion in an 'orderly' manner, without changing its fundamental nature, while allowing a disregard for life to be more deeply rooted in our society," the organization said. The Korean Catholic Church said the phased introduction of abortion pills is merely a "road map" to expand them, stressing that regardless of how well the process is built, it does not change the fact that the pill kills a human life in the womb. The CBCK said a society that truly respects humans is not one that gets rid of the most vulnerable life to ease the difficulties of women but one that takes the responsibility so that women would not have to give up on new life. In such a regard, it asked

Martin Romualdez co-accused Joselyn Serenio has left PH --BI

Sep 17, 2026

Martin Romualdez co-accused Joselyn Serenio has left PH --BI

The co-accused and personal assistant of Leyte Representative and former House Speaker Martin Romauldez in his plunder case has left the Philippines, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Thursday.

LIVE UPDATES: Impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte

Sep 17, 2026

LIVE UPDATES: Impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte

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Only 21 senators qualified to vote in Sara Duterte impeachment -- Carpio

Sep 17, 2026

Only 21 senators qualified to vote in Sara Duterte impeachment -- Carpio

For retired Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, only 21 senator-judges are qualified to vote in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

16 or lower? Ex-SC justices guide impeachment court on conviction threshold issue

Sep 17, 2026

16 or lower? Ex-SC justices guide impeachment court on conviction threshold issue

The amici curiae give solicited advice to the impeachment court on the crucial issue

Part of donor's tax for Marcoleta's P75M campaign fund paid by his employee --witness

Sep 17, 2026

Part of donor's tax for Marcoleta's P75M campaign fund paid by his employee --witness

Part of the donor's tax for the P75 million worth of funds donated to Senator Rodante Marcoleta was paid by his employee, a witness told the Sandiganbayan on Thursday.

The Red Ribbon on the Earth | Seizing the Luding Bridge

Sep 17, 2026

The Red Ribbon on the Earth | Seizing the Luding Bridge

Held up on the banks of the Dadu River by a lack of ferries to carry its soldiers and equipment across, the Central Red Army was under imminent threat from a vast, rapidly-approaching enemy force. To open up an alternative route across the river, the Red Army's 4th Regiment was ordered to capture the Luding Bridge, 120 kilometers away.

The Long March History | Capturing Luding Bridge

Sep 17, 2026

The Long March History | Capturing Luding Bridge

In late May 1935, the Central Red Army reached the banks of the Dadu River in Sichuan Province. However, their attempts to cross were severely hampered by the limited number of boats available and the river's swift, turbulent current.

The Red Ribbon on the Earth | Held Up at the Dadu River

Sep 17, 2026

The Red Ribbon on the Earth | Held Up at the Dadu River

In late May 1935, the Central Red Army reached the banks of the Dadu River in Sichuan. However, the possibility of crossing it was complicated by a severe shortage of available ferries.

OpenAI’s rogue agents probed Hugging Face for weaknesses 2 months before major hack

Sep 17, 2026

OpenAI’s rogue agents probed Hugging Face for weaknesses 2 months before major hack

The newly uncovered malicious activity shows that the rogue agents' efforts to find a way into Hugging Face began earlier than was publicly known

Huawei unveils latest tech to boost AI power in push to break China’s Nvidia reliance

Sep 17, 2026

Huawei unveils latest tech to boost AI power in push to break China’s Nvidia reliance

Huawei Technologies on Thursday unveiled its latest Ascend 960 SuperPoD computing cluster and an upgraded version of its UnifiedBus interconnect technology, a key component of the Chinese tech giant’s strategy to build advanced artificial intelligence systems despite US semiconductor-related restrictions. At the Huawei Connect 2026 conference in Shanghai, the Shenzhen-based firm introduced near-packaged optics (NPOs) – a placement structure enabling higher speeds and lower energy use – to the...

Intl. media outlets highlight China's role in BRICS cooperation

Sep 17, 2026

Intl. media outlets highlight China's role in BRICS cooperation

Intl. media outlets highlight China's role in BRICS cooperation

Rodrigo Duterte's ICC appearance indicates he is fit for trial, Colmenares says

Sep 17, 2026

Rodrigo Duterte's ICC appearance indicates he is fit for trial, Colmenares says

Rodrigo Duterte"s ICC appearance indicates he is fit for trial, Colmenares says

Houthi blitz leaves Saudi Arabia exposed, Iran emboldened

Sep 17, 2026

Houthi blitz leaves Saudi Arabia exposed, Iran emboldened

The lack of international military support for Saudi Arabia, particularly from the US, has emboldened Iran and its allies, complicating the geopolitical landscape in the region

2 of Oriental Mindoro’s most wanted, another suspect arrested

Sep 17, 2026

2 of Oriental Mindoro’s most wanted, another suspect arrested

CALAPAN CITY, ORIENTAL MINDORO, Philippines — Two provincial most wanted persons and another wanted individual were arrested in separate police operations in Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro, on Wednesday, Sept. 16. Police identified the suspects as the provincial top 4 and top 5 most wanted persons, both arrested in Barangay San Jose, and another wanted person apprehended

Japan’s Natuna port proposal highlights Indonesia’s balancing act on China

Sep 17, 2026

Japan’s Natuna port proposal highlights Indonesia’s balancing act on China

Japan’s proposed port upgrades in Indonesia’s Natuna Islands reflect Tokyo’s push to bolster South China Sea security without building an overt military footprint. However, analysts stress that the move does not mean Jakarta is siding with Japan in its efforts to contain Beijing. Japan, which earlier this year eased its restrictions on lethal weapons exports, is ramping up security cooperation with Indonesia – a crucial bellwether for Southeast Asia. The expanding partnership includes joint...

Rep. Teodoro: Strong anti-drug policy should go beyond enforcement

Sep 17, 2026

Rep. Teodoro: Strong anti-drug policy should go beyond enforcement

MANILA, Philippines — While he was responsible for defending the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) proposed budget for 2027, Marikina Rep. Marcelino Teodoro has admitted that the government needs to have a strong anti-drug policy that goes beyond mere enforcement. In his sponsorship speech delivered on Wednesday, to defend DDB’s P526.5 million budget for 2027, Teodoro

Aquino urges creation of Filipino-made AI, warns of risks from foreign models

Sep 17, 2026

Aquino urges creation of Filipino-made AI, warns of risks from foreign models

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Bam Aquino on Wednesday urged the government to develop a Filipino-made artificial intelligence (AI) model, warning that continued reliance on foreign-made ones could influence Filipinos’ culture, language, and perspectives. Aquino raised the concern during the Senate committee on finance’s budget hearing on the 2027 spending plan of the Department of Science

US officials met Iran-backed Houthis in Oman over the weekend, sources say

Sep 17, 2026

US officials met Iran-backed Houthis in Oman over the weekend, sources say

A US State Department spokesperson says safeguarding freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and preventing the export of terrorism from the Middle East are core US interests

NK leader's sister dismisses IAEA's denuclearization calls, reiterates nuclear status

Sep 17, 2026

NK leader's sister dismisses IAEA's denuclearization calls, reiterates nuclear status

Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, on Thursday rejected international calls for denuclearization as "all noises," calling the regime's nuclear status "absolute." She made the remarks in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) as the 70th regular session of the IAEA General Conference is currently under way in Vienna, Austria. The conference has voiced concern over North Korea's expanding nuclear capacity, urging Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons program in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner in compliance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Ahead of the session, the agency also released the IAEA Director General's Safeguards Report on North Korea, detailing a substantial increase in Pyongyang's uranium enrichment capacity and the expansion of its core nuclear facilities. The North Korean leader's sister dismissed the calls as "all noises, not surprising and not new." "No matter how desperately the IAEA and the West may hold periodic meetings and talk about the denuclearization according to the fixed scenario, th

Will Four-Way Test help Pia Cayetano feel less pressured as senator-judge?

Sep 17, 2026

Will Four-Way Test help Pia Cayetano feel less pressured as senator-judge?

An emotional Senator-judge Pia Cayetano tells the impeachment court's amici curiae — retired Supreme Court justices — that she 'genuinely didn't know what to do' as her fellow minority senators were being slapped with cases left and right

Senators flag last-minute flight cancellations, policy review sought

Sep 16, 2026

Senators flag last-minute flight cancellations, policy review sought

MANILA, Philippines — Senators on Wednesday questioned the abrupt cancellations of flights during bad weather, saying passengers should not have to travel for hours to the airport only to find out that their flights had been canceled. During a Senate committee on finance hearing on the 2027 spending plan of the Department of Science and

Federal judge limits immigration arrests without a warrant in Southern California

Sep 16, 2026

Federal judge limits immigration arrests without a warrant in Southern California

A Los Angeles federal judge has ordered immigration agents to stop making civil arrests without a warrant unless they first determine that a person is likely to escape before one can be obtained.

High-tech dreams, low-tech reality of the Luzon Economic Corridor

Sep 16, 2026

High-tech dreams, low-tech reality of the Luzon Economic Corridor

Despite all the high-tech rhetoric, only 0.1% of the Luzon Corridor’s projects is in advanced manufacturing and 1% in digital connectivity

[Pastilan] The curious case of Sara Duterte’s memory hole

Sep 16, 2026

[Pastilan] The curious case of Sara Duterte’s memory hole

Sara Duterte tries to sweep under the carpet the corruption and anomalies that took place during her father's presidency, while blaming Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as though he and he alone were responsible for all the country's institutional rot

DENR cites public role after turnover of rescued wildlife in Cotabato

Sep 16, 2026

DENR cites public role after turnover of rescued wildlife in Cotabato

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has highlighted the public’s role in wildlife conservation after two Cotabato residents voluntarily turned over 12 rescued wildlife species to its provincial office on Sept. 10. “The recovery highlights growing community initiative and adherence to Republic Act (RA) No. 9147, also known as the Wildlife

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