Category: Politics

Philippines

Sandiganbayan Orders Release of Ex-DPWH Chief Manuel Bonoan After Dropping Him From Flood Control Cases

MANILA, Philippines — Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel “Manny” Bonoan has been ordered released by the Sandiganbayan, two days after the anti-graft court removed him as a co-accused in graft and plunder cases tied to alleged irregularities in flood control projects. The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division issued the release order on Thursday, Sept. 3, following its earlier 2-1 decision to grant the Office of the Ombudsman’s request to discharge Bonoan from the cas

September 3, 2026

Politics

Tiger Woods Gets 5-Year Driving Ban After Florida Crash as DUI Charge Is Dropped

STUART, Florida — Tiger Woods has reached a plea deal that brings his Florida driving case to an end—but not without a major penalty. The 50-year-old golf superstar pleaded no contest to a reduced reckless-driving charge Wednesday following the March rollover crash near his home on Jupiter Island. A Florida judge suspended Woods’ driver's license for five years and ordered him to pay fines and court costs. The development closes a case that initially carried a far more serious allegation: driv

September 3, 2026

Philippines

30 Years After the MNLF Peace Pact, Marcos Says the Work Is Not Yet Finished—Here’s What Comes Next

MANILA, Philippines — Thirty years after the Philippine government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) signed a landmark peace agreement, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called for renewed efforts to protect and strengthen the gains of the Mindanao peace process. Marcos led the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement (FPA) between the Government of the Philippines and the MNLF at Malacañang Palace on September 1, 2026, as part of the opening of the Natio

September 3, 2026

Politics

About 15,000 Singapore Taxpayers Hit by Wrong NSman Tax Relief — MINDEF and IRAS Move to Correct Bills

SINGAPORE — About 15,000 taxpayers have been affected by incorrect NSman tax relief amounts after an error in the Ministry of Defence’s (MINDEF) system generated inaccurate National Service activity records. The affected taxpayers include operationally ready national servicemen (NSmen), as well as eligible NSman parents and spouses. The incorrect relief amounts affected Years of Assessment (YA) 2025 and 2026, according to a joint statement from MINDEF and the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapo

September 3, 2026

Business

Farrer Park MRT Toilet Sparks Online Backlash Over “Too-Narrow” Urinal Layout

A public toilet at Singapore’s Farrer Park MRT station has become the center of an unexpected online debate after commuters questioned the unusually narrow space between two rows of facing urinals. The issue gained wider attention after photos of the men’s toilet circulated online, prompting sanitation advocate and World Toilet Organization founder Jack Sim to visit the station himself to verify the layout. The controversy has now reached the station operator: SBS Transit says it is reviewing

September 3, 2026

Philippines

DMCI Mining Nears 3 Million Tons of Nickel Ore—But Its Bigger Palawan Bet Is Just Getting Started

MANILA, Philippines — DMCI Mining Corp. is closing in on its ambitious 3 million wet metric ton (WMT) nickel ore production target for 2026, powered by strong output from Zambales and the rapid ramp-up of its Long Point operation in Palawan. DMCI Mining president and chief operating officer Tulsi Das Reyes said the company is confident it can reach the target despite seasonal weather disruptions that could temporarily affect shipments. The company’s latest figures show just how quickly product

September 3, 2026

Business

Trump’s New $1 Coin Is Now on Sale — But It Looks More Valuable Than It Really Is

A new U.S. $1 coin featuring President Donald Trump’s portrait has officially gone on sale, turning a piece of everyday American currency into one of the country’s most closely watched numismatic releases of 2026. The 2026 Semiquincentennial President Donald J. Trump $1 Coin was released by the U.S. Mint on September 2 as part of the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. The coin features Trump on the “heads” side and the Great Seal of the United States on the “tails” side. But there is

September 3, 2026

Politics

Iran Strikes U.S. Targets Across the Gulf as Trump Threatens More Attacks—Then Kuwait Sounds the Alarm

TEHRAN — The Iran-U.S. conflict has entered another dangerous phase, with Tehran launching missiles and drones toward U.S. military positions and allied locations across the Middle East after a new wave of American strikes on Iran. The latest escalation has put Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq's Kurdistan region on heightened alert while intensifying fears that the conflict could spread across the Gulf. The escalation followed U.S. strikes on Iranian military position

September 3, 2026

Philippines

Panay-Guimaras-Negros Bridge Hits ₱331.59 Billion — But the Biggest Cost Threat May Still Be Ahead

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — The Philippines’ ambitious plan to permanently connect Panay, Guimaras and Negros by road has reached a crucial milestone — but the race to build the massive bridge network may now be as much about controlling its cost as completing the engineering. The estimated price of the Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Island Bridges Project has climbed to ₱331.59 billion, and regional economic officials are warning that additional delays could push expenses even higher as inflation,

September 3, 2026

Philippines

OCTA Survey Delivers a Warning to the Senate as House Ratings Move the Other Way—Here’s What Changed

MANILA, Philippines — Public sentiment toward the country’s two chambers of Congress moved in opposite directions in the second quarter of 2026, with the Senate suffering declines in both trust and satisfaction while the House of Representatives posted modest gains, according to the latest OCTA Research Tugon ng Masa survey. OCTA Research reported that trust in the Senate dropped from 44% in the first quarter to 41% in the second quarter, while the proportion of Filipinos who expressed distrust

September 3, 2026