This week’s milestones: Nov. 15 to Nov. 21

Inquirer.net - Nov 15, 2026

Nov. 17, 1965 Carmen was established as an independent municipality in Surigao del Sur by virtue of Executive Order No. 197, signed by then President Diosdado Macapagal. It initially comprised the barrios of Carmen, Esperanza, Cancaban, Bonga, Santa Cruz, Antao and Puyat, which were formerly part of the municipality of Lanuza. However, EO 197 was

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Nov 15, 2026

How a picture book helped a troubled student find her way

At an interview for a Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education position as a behavioral intervention specialist teacher earlier this year, Jang Se-ra, a veteran elementary school teacher of 23 years, held a well-worn book in her hands. The book, titled "Try It Like Ji-woo!," had helped bring about a remarkable transformation in just two to three months in a 13-year-old student, identified by the pseudonym Ji-woo. Jang had created the picture book herself, making Ji-woo, whom she had taught the previous year in an inclusive classroom at Haneul Elementary School in Seoul's Mapo District, its main character. The experience gave her a firsthand appreciation of the power of behavioral intervention to change both students and schools. Whenever Ji-woo, then a sixth-grader, traveled between her inclusive classroom and the special education classroom, everyone at the school could tell she was on the move. Ji-woo, who has autism spectrum disorder, repeatedly shouted, sat down on the hallway floor and cried. When Jang became her homeroom teacher, Ji-woo displayed similar behavior. She threw objects,

Nov 15, 2026

Medical school prep at age 4? Korean math tutor calls it 'child abuse'

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. A prominent Korean math instructor has sparked debate after calling for criminal punishment of those responsible for intensive academic programs targeting children as young as 3 or 4 years old, describing the country's increasingly competitive early education culture as a form of child abuse. Jung Seung-je, one of South Korea's best-known private education instructors, made the comments during a recent appearance on the popular YouTube channel ChimChakMan. The video, titled "Which Subject Is Most Important: Korean, English or Math?" featured Jung alongside Korean language instructor Yoo Dae-jong and English instructor Kim Ji-young, who also appear on the education reality program "Teachers 3: Retake War." During the discussion, Jung criticized the growing trend of enrolling preschool children in advanced academic programs designed to prepare them for eventual admission to medical school, one of the most competitive educational pathways in South Korea. "Especially in math, children are entering medical school preparation classes at the age of 3

Nov 15, 2026

Audi Korea accelerates recovery on solid sales of redesigned A6

Audi Korea surpassed 10,000 units in cumulative sales early this month, driven by solid sales of its redesigned A6 flagship sedan and expanded vehicle lineups with diverse powertrains, the carmaker said. The sales figure was achieved a month earlier than last year, marking the second consecutive year that the German automaker has hit the 10,000-unit sales milestone in Korea. Audi Korea is on track for a rapid sales rebound here after it revamped its overall strategy with a focus on product portfolio expansion. The carmaker introduced 16 new models last year, including flagship all-electric models — the Q6 e-tron and A6 e-tron — as well as the A5 sports sedan and Q5 SUV with internal combustion engines. The A6 sedan is particularly the key sales driver for Audi Korea, with the model's sales reaching 2,241 between January and September here, according to the carmaker. The strategy is designed to give Korean customers a broader range of choices amid rapidly diversifying preferences for powertrains, body styles and driving needs. The lineup has been further strengthened this year with the

Nov 15, 2026

Top tax accountant exam scorer admits to using AI to cheat

The top scorer in Korea’s recent tax accountant qualification examination admitted Sunday that he used generative artificial intelligence (AI) and a camera to cheat, reversing his earlier denials after his unusually high marks drew public scrutiny. “I cheated on the tax accountant examination,” Han Won-seok said on the YouTube channel run by his lawyer Lee Don-ho. “I sincerely apologize for the harm my wrongdoing has caused so many people.” Han’s results attracted attention because he answered 159 of the 160 questions correctly in the first-stage tax accountant examination in April, scoring 397.5 out of 400. Three months later, he scored 663 out of 800 in the second-stage written examination and was named the overall top scorer. His exceptionally high scores had fueled online speculation about possible cheating. Initially, he rejected suggestions that he had used AI-enabled equipment.

Nov 15, 2026

N. Korea-linked hackers target 30 S. Korean servers: report

Hackers suspected of having ties to North Korea's Lazarus Group identified 30 servers in South Korea as potential targets for cyberattacks in October, a report released by a cybersecurity firm showed Sunday. Cyfirma said it obtained a list of 216 servers across 10 countries compiled by Korean-speaking hackers, covering government agencies, banks, telecommunications companies and infrastructure providers. Of the total, 30 servers were located in South Korea. The original 216-server list was completed on Oct. 24, the report showed. By region, the Asia-Pacific accounted for 148 targeted servers, followed by North America with 49 and the Middle East with 19. The United States and Japan together accounted for 44.4 percent of the total, Cyfirma added. The cybersecurity firm assessed with "high confidence" that the hackers were linked to the Lazarus Group ecosystem, with their apparent objectives including financial gain and espionage. Cyfirma stressed that inclusion on the target list did not necessarily mean the servers had been successfully breached. The company warned that simply updating webs

Nov 15, 2026

Kia's domestic electrified vehicle sales top 300,000 units in 2026

Kia said Sunday its domestic sales of electrified vehicles surpassed 300,000 units this year as of Monday, making it the first automaker to reach the milestone in Korea in a single year. Kia, an automaking affiliate of Hyundai Motor Group, said its sales of electrified vehicles, including electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid models, came to 300,048 units, up 41.9 percent from a year earlier. Annual sales of electrified vehicles first topped 100,000 units in 2021, reaching 109,741, before exceeding 200,000 in 2024 at 222,085. Of this year's tally, EVs accounted for 120,360 units, more than doubling from a year earlier and marking the first time an automaker has sold more than 100,000 EVs in Korea in a single year. Sales of hybrid models over the period rose 16.9 percent to 179,688 units. Kia added that its overall domestic sales this year came to 502,286 units, with electrified models accounting for 59.7 percent of the total. Among EVs, the EV3 led sales with 30,455 units, followed by the EV5 with 28,971 and the PV5 with 24,266. Among hybrid models, the Sorento hybrid posted sales of 70,176 un

Nov 15, 2026

Chinese social media firms under fire as fake history spreads online

Pseudo-history about China is mushrooming online, spreading fake accounts of the past due in large part to platform algorithms, artificial intelligence (AI) and a lack of monitoring, according to a Chinese provincial authority. In a commentary published on Monday, “Zhejiang Propaganda” – a social media account affiliated with the propaganda department of the province’s Communist Party committee – said the “pseudo-historical school” was gaining ground online, resurfacing despite crackdowns and...

Nov 15, 2026

Police seize P5.9M in contraband cigarettes off Zamboanga coast

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur – Police operatives recovered a haul of abandoned contraband cigarettes with an estimated customs value of P5,932,449.60 along the coastal waters of Sta. Cruz Island in Barangay Sta. Barbara, Zamboanga City on Thursday, Nov. 12. Lt. Col. Shellamie Chang, Police Regional Office 9 (PRO-9) spokesperson, said personnel from the 904th

Nov 15, 2026

Upgraded Tacloban airport eyes soft opening by March next year

TACLOBAN CITY – The upgraded Daniel Z. Romualdez (DZR) Airport here could begin partial operations in March next year, provided that power supply requirements are completed and newly installed equipment passes operational testing, a public works official said. Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Eastern Visayas Assistant Regional Director Ma. Margarita Junia said the

Nov 15, 2026

Bohol-Panglao airport wins sustainability award in Singapore

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol — The Bohol-Panglao International Airport (BPIA) has been recognized for its environmental initiatives after winning the Sustainability Initiative of the Year – Philippines award at the 2026 Travel Daily Media (TDM) Travel Trade Excellence Awards – Asia. The award was presented on Nov. 10 at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in

Nov 15, 2026

Lahar deposits from Kanlaon volcano to be cleared

BACOLOD CITY – About 23 haulers have expressed interest in removing 67,530 cubic meters of lahar deposits clogging Ibid Creek in Barangay Biak-na-Bato, La Castellana town, Negros Occidental, the Provincial Environment and Management Office (PEMO) said. PEMO chief Julie Bedrio said clearing operations for the volcanic debris will be underway shortly after the provincial government

Nov 15, 2026

Opapru thanks MILF for belying fresh recruitment of combatants

COTABATO CITY — The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) on Saturday, Nov. 14, thanked the leadership of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for clarifying that there is no recruitment for its former armed wing, the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF). In a statement, Opapru thanked the MILF leadership,

This week’s milestones: Nov. 15 to Nov. 21

MORE NEWS

How a picture book helped a troubled student find her way

Medical school prep at age 4? Korean math tutor calls it 'child abuse'

Audi Korea accelerates recovery on solid sales of redesigned A6

Top tax accountant exam scorer admits to using AI to cheat

N. Korea-linked hackers target 30 S. Korean servers: report

Kia's domestic electrified vehicle sales top 300,000 units in 2026

Chinese social media firms under fire as fake history spreads online

Police seize P5.9M in contraband cigarettes off Zamboanga coast

Upgraded Tacloban airport eyes soft opening by March next year

Bohol-Panglao airport wins sustainability award in Singapore

Lahar deposits from Kanlaon volcano to be cleared

Opapru thanks MILF for belying fresh recruitment of combatants

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