Category: Politics

Politics

Defense Stipulates Nolasco ‘Received’ P112.5M DepEd Confidential Funds—What the Senate Trial Is Uncovering

MANILA, Philippines — The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte took another turn Monday after her defense agreed to a stipulation that former Department of Education (DepEd) security officer Col. Dennis Nolasco received confidential funds released by the agency’s special disbursing officer, Edward Fajarda. The stipulation concerns P112.5 million in DepEd confidential funds released in three tranches of P37.5 million during Duterte’s tenure as education secretary. But a critical dis

1d

Politics

Supreme Court Eyes Major Reforms to Cut Court Delays, Expand Access to Justice

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court is pushing forward with a series of judicial reforms aimed at tackling one of the country's most persistent justice-system problems: delays in the resolution of cases and barriers that keep Filipinos from accessing the courts. The reform drive comes as the judiciary continues to modernize court operations, expand digital services, strengthen court performance monitoring and improve legal assistance for disadvantaged Filipinos. The Supreme Court's broader

1d

Politics

PDIC to Auction 75 Properties Online in October—Bids Start at ₱164,000

MANILA, Philippines — Property buyers looking for residential and agricultural lots may have another opportunity this October as the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) prepares to put 75 properties in Luzon up for electronic public bidding. The auction is scheduled for October 14 to 15, 2026, with online bids accepted beginning 9 a.m. on October 14 until 1 p.m. on October 15. The opening of bids is set for 2 p.m. on October 15 through the PDIC's online Assets for Sale portal. The

1d

Politics

PSA Finds No Civil Registry Records for 1,685 Names in OVP and DepEd Payee Lists

MANILA — A Philippine Statistics Authority verification has placed 1,685 names from confidential-fund payee lists of the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education under intense scrutiny, after the agency found no matching birth, marriage or death records for those names in its Civil Registry System. The revelation came Monday, September 7, during the 22nd day of Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial, as the House prosecution presented PSA Assistant National Statistician

1d

Politics

DSWD Has More Than ₱1 Billion Left in Quick Response Fund as Philippines Braces for Future Calamities

MANILA — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) still has more than ₱1 billion in its Quick Response Fund (QRF) for future calamities, even after a series of major relief operations across the Philippines, a senior agency official said Monday. The latest figure comes as the country continues to face recurring weather disturbances during the rainy season, putting renewed attention on whether government agencies have enough resources to respond quickly when disasters strike. DSW

1d

Entertainment

Iran School Destroyed in War’s First Days Becomes Memorial for Children Killed in Strike

MINAB, IRAN — A school in southern Iran that was destroyed during the opening days of the war has become a somber memorial for the children who died there. The Shajareh Tayyebeh school in Minab, in Iran’s Hormozgan province, once welcomed students through a bright blue entrance decorated with oversized pencils, an Iranian map and portraits of figures from science and literature. Today, the same entrance leads visitors toward photographs of children who were killed in the strike on Feb. 28, 202

1d

Asia

Singapore Is Reviewing Political Salaries Again — But What Could Change for the PM, Ministers and MPs?

Singapore is set to put one of its most closely watched and controversial issues back under the spotlight: how much the country pays its political leaders and parliamentarians. The salaries of Singapore's political office holders and Members of Parliament have remained unchanged since the current framework took effect in 2011. But an independent committee has completed a new review, and the government is now preparing to reveal its response and bring the issue before Parliament. Prime Minister

1d

Asia

PH Races to Seal Tax Deals With Oman, Singapore Before 2026 Ends—Here’s What Could Change for Investors

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is moving to close two major tax treaty efforts with Oman and Singapore before the end of 2026, as the Marcos administration intensifies its push to make the country more attractive to foreign investors and strengthen its network of international tax agreements. Finance Assistant Secretary Euvimil Nina R. Asuncion said the Philippines is targeting the conclusion of negotiations with Oman within the year, while also pushing to finish the renegotiation of its

1d

Asia

Iran’s New Gulf ‘Restricted Zone’ Could Change Everything — But What Happens to Ships That Enter?

DUBAI — Iran says it will announce a new restricted maritime zone in the Gulf in the coming days, raising fresh concerns over shipping and energy supplies around the Strait of Hormuz as tensions with the United States continue to escalate. Iranian official Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of the country's Supreme National Security Council, said the planned zone would extend from areas affected by what Tehran describes as a U.S. blockade into parts of the Gulf. According to Iranian state media, any ves

1d

Politics

China Doubts US “Hellscape” Strategy for Taiwan Strait—But Its Military Experts Are Watching Closely

TAIPEI, Taiwan — China may publicly dismiss the United States' proposed “Hellscape” strategy for a Taiwan Strait conflict, but behind that rhetoric, Chinese military analysts appear to be taking the concept far more seriously than Beijing's official messaging suggests. That is the central finding of a new analysis by Ian Easton, an associate professor at the U.S. Naval War College's China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI), who examined Chinese-language military and strategic writings on the U.S

1d