Category: Politics

Politics

Taiwan Signals a Bigger Defence Push as Lai Says Record Spending Is About Protecting Peace

Taiwan is sending a sharper message about its security strategy, with President Lai Ching-te saying the island's record defence spending is intended to demonstrate its determination to protect itself and preserve peace across the Taiwan Strait. Speaking on Sept. 2, 2026, during Taiwan's Armed Forces Day events, Lai said stronger military preparedness and deterrence are essential to national security and regional stability. The remarks come after Taiwan's government proposed a 2027 defence budg

September 2, 2026

Business

Mexico Reopens Japan Steel Dumping Fight After Imports Surge 35-Fold — The 2024 Decision Behind It Is Back in Focus

MEXICO CITY — Mexico has reopened a potentially consequential trade battle with Japan over steel, launching an anti-dumping investigation after authorities found preliminary evidence that imports of Japanese steel plate surged dramatically while entering the Mexican market at prices substantially below those charged by domestic producers. Mexico’s Economy Ministry formally opened the investigation in a resolution published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación on September 2, following a compl

September 2, 2026

Philippines

Luzon Floods Refuse to Recede After Habagat as NLEX Gridlock, Evacuations Deepen Crisis

MANILA, Philippines — The rain may have weakened in parts of Luzon, but for thousands of families trapped by stubborn floodwaters, the disaster is far from over. Days after torrential monsoon rains inundated communities across Central Luzon and other parts of the country, floodwaters remained dangerously high in several areas Wednesday, September 2, disrupting highways, isolating communities and keeping families inside evacuation centers. The prolonged flooding has transformed what began as a

September 2, 2026

Philippines

Balanga Launches Citywide Cleanup After Habagat Flooding as Bataan Shifts From Rescue to Recovery

BALANGA CITY, Bataan — Balanga has launched a citywide post-disaster cleanup after another stretch of punishing rains and flooding linked to the southwest monsoon, or Habagat, as authorities race to clear communities and waterways before the next round of heavy weather arrives. The cleanup operation, reported by the Manila Standard on September 2, comes after days of weather disruptions across Bataan and much of western and Central Luzon. But for Balanga, the bigger challenge may go beyond cle

September 2, 2026

Business

FROM LOCAL TO NATIONWIDE: Filipino Entrepreneurs Are Taking Homegrown Products Online — But the Real Secret to Scaling May Be Where They Started

MANILA, Philippines — For many Filipino entrepreneurs, the path to bigger markets is no longer about abandoning their local roots. Instead, more homegrown businesses are discovering that their communities, traditions and locally made products can become their biggest competitive advantage in the digital economy. A new wave of Filipino entrepreneurs is using e-commerce to take products that once served mainly local customers to buyers across the Philippines—while keeping the stories and communit

September 2, 2026

Philippines

More Than 10,000 Army Personnel Deployed for Historic BARMM Elections as Security Risks Come Into Focus

MANILA, Philippines — More than 10,000 Philippine Army personnel have been deployed across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao as authorities mount one of the most closely watched election-security operations in the region’s recent history ahead of the September 14, 2026 Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections. The Army said 10,031 soldiers and CAFGU Active Auxiliary members from the 1st, 6th and 11th Infantry Divisions have been mobilized to support security operations surrounding t

September 2, 2026

Politics

OVP Seeks ₱785-Million Budget for 2027 — But the Bigger Question Isn’t the ₱104-Million Cut

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Vice President is heading into the 2027 budget season with a smaller spending plan, asking Congress for ₱785.204 million in new appropriations, or roughly ₱104 million less than the ₱889.236 million appropriated to the office for 2026. The proposed reduction translates to 11.7 percent, even as the overall proposed Philippine national budget is expanding to ₱7.2 trillion for 2027. The national spending plan is about 6 percent higher than the ₱6.793-trillio

September 2, 2026

Business

Cavite Takes Over Imus Retarding Basin as DPWH Says Major Flooding Has Sharply Eased

IMUS CITY, Cavite — One of Cavite’s biggest flood-control facilities is officially moving into its next phase, with the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Japan International Cooperation Agency turning over the Imus Retarding Basin to local authorities—putting the long-term success of the massive project increasingly in the hands of local government. The 35-hectare floodwater catchment facility in Barangay Anabu 1-G can store about 1.12 million cubic meters of water, roughly equiva

September 2, 2026

Philippines

GSIS RETURNS ₱19 BILLION TO 700,000+ MEMBERS — BUT THOUSANDS MAY STILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR MORE

MANILA, Philippines — More than 700,000 government workers and other qualified GSIS members have already received a combined ₱19 billion in loan-payment refunds under the Government Service Insurance System’s Balik Ginhawa programs, giving families additional financial breathing room amid rising everyday expenses. As of August 31, 2026, GSIS said the refunds covered nearly 1.3 million loan contracts, bringing the pension fund closer to its ₱20-billion target before the enhanced Balik Ginhawa 2

September 2, 2026

Business

AFAB Locks In ₱1.36-Billion Water Deal for 25 Years—But One Number Shows How Big the Problem Really Is

BATAAN, Philippines — The Freeport Area of Bataan is preparing for one of its biggest utility upgrades in years, with a ₱1.358-billion public-private partnership aimed at rebuilding and expanding the economic zone’s aging water and sanitation network. The Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) has entered into a 25-year Joint Venture Agreement with a consortium composed of Tubig Pilipinas Group Inc. and FB Infrastructure Corporation, handing the private partners a long-term mandate to

September 2, 2026