Pagasa flags rivers across Western Visayas as ITCZ brings rains

Inquirer.net - Sep 16, 2026

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Rivers and tributaries across Western Visayas could be affected by rains and thunderstorms brought by the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), prompting state weather forecasters to warn residents in low-lying areas and near mountain slopes to take precautions. In General Flood Advisory No. 1 for Western Visayas issued at 6 p.m. Wednesday,

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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

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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

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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

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

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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

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

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Lee vows to crack down on transnational crimes, scalping

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Pagasa flags rivers across Western Visayas as ITCZ brings rains

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