Category: Politics

Politics

Indonesia Wildfires Choke Southeast Asia as Haze Hits Millions — and El Niño Could Make It Worse

PALANGKARAYA, Indonesia — Indonesia is throwing aircraft, cloud-seeding operations, water bombs and thousands of firefighters into an escalating battle against forest and peatland fires that have already exposed millions of people to choking smoke — but regional weather conditions suggest the crisis could still intensify. More than five million people on Sumatra and Borneo have been directly exposed to hazardous haze, while about 13,500 people were treated for respiratory infections during July

August 29, 2026

Philippines

“Two Years Underwater”: Lyn Ching’s Emotional Report Exposes the Harsh Reality in Hagonoy—Will Help Finally Come?

HAGONOY, BULACAN — What began as another live morning report turned into an emotional moment for Kapuso host Lyn Ching, who openly expressed her frustration over the devastating and prolonged flooding affecting residents of Hagonoy, Bulacan. During a live report for Unang Hirit, Ching delivered her report while wearing a raincoat and life jacket and riding through flooded communities by boat. But beyond the images of rising water was a painful reality she said residents have been forced to endu

August 29, 2026

Politics

Trump and Xi Say US-China Ties Have Entered ‘Strategic Stability’ — But Taiwan, Chips and Iran Could Break the Calm

WASHINGTON/BEIJING — Three months after Donald Trump and Xi Jinping emerged from their closely watched Beijing meetings promising a more stable relationship between the world’s two biggest powers, the temperature between Washington and Beijing appears to have fallen. But beneath the smiles, state dinners and diplomatic language, the United States and China are still competing fiercely over trade, artificial intelligence, advanced semiconductors, Taiwan, rare earth minerals and global influence.

August 29, 2026

Philippines

₱735.56B in the 2027 Budget Flagged as High-Risk — But the Bigger Test Begins When Congress Starts Changing It

MANILA, Philippines — Nearly ₱736 billion in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s proposed ₱7.2-trillion national budget for 2027 has been placed under heightened scrutiny by a coalition of civil society organizations, which says the allocations could be vulnerable to political intervention, congressional insertions and patronage as the country moves closer to the 2028 elections. But the headline number needs an important qualification: the ₱735.56 billion has not been officially declared anomalous

August 29, 2026

Philippines

Lacson Flags 4 Taguig Reclamation Titles as Allegedly Fraudulent — But the Bigger 85-Hectare Question Is Still Unanswered

MANILA, Philippines — The controversy surrounding reclamation and flood-control projects along the Taguig side of Laguna Lake has taken another turn after Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson disclosed that four parcels of reclaimed land covering nearly 38.83 hectares are tied to land titles he alleges were fraudulently issued. The disclosure raises a potentially bigger question than the infrastructure projects themselves: How did portions of reclaimed lake area obtain land titles, and who ultimately has

August 29, 2026

Philippines

DENR Taps Private Sector to Fight Philippines’ Garbage Crisis as Waste Continues to Clog Waterways

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government is looking beyond traditional cleanup operations in its fight against the country’s growing garbage problem, with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) pushing for stronger private sector participation to stop waste before it reaches drainage systems, rivers and waterways. Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said businesses could play a bigger role in addressing plastic pollution through existing laws and programs, particul

August 29, 2026

Philippines

LTFRB Is Bringing Services Closer to MIMAROPA — But Two Provinces Could See the Biggest Change Yet

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — Transport operators in two MIMAROPA provinces could soon spend less time and money traveling to Calapan City for government transactions as the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board moves to expand its physical presence across the island region. LTFRB MIMAROPA Regional Director Enrico Moreno Bautista said the agency is working on establishing additional extension offices in Marinduque and Occidental Mindoro, part of a broader effort to make franch

August 29, 2026

Philippines

DSWD Naka-Red Alert Habang Patuloy ang Habagat; Milyun-Milyong Relief Packs Nakaabang sa Posibleng Mas Malawak na Epekto

MANILA, Philippines — Itinaas ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) sa Red Alert ang disaster response status nito habang patuloy na mino-monitor ang matagal na epekto ng southwest monsoon o Habagat sa ilang bahagi ng Luzon at Visayas. Ang pinakamataas na antas ng paghahanda ay nangangahulugang naka-heightened alert ang mga field office at response teams ng ahensya, habang ang mga relief supplies ay nakaposisyon upang maipadala agad sa mga komunidad na maaaring tamaan ng tuloy-

August 29, 2026

Business

Sablayan Freezes Prices of Basic Goods Until October 13 — But the Bigger Test Comes After ₱1.43-B Flood Damage

SABLAYAN, Occidental Mindoro — Families struggling to recover from weeks of destructive rains and flooding are getting at least one layer of protection at the checkout counter: prices of key basic necessities in Sablayan have been frozen for 60 days as the municipality deals with massive storm damage estimated at more than ₱1.4 billion. The Department of Trade and Industry said the automatic price freeze took effect on August 14, 2026, following Sablayan's declaration of a state of calamity aft

August 29, 2026

Philippines

Lacson Uncovers 4 Questionable Land Titles in Taguig—But What Investigators Found Next Raises More Questions

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has flagged four parcels of allegedly illegally reclaimed land in Taguig City whose land titles he said were fraudulently issued, as the investigation into alleged irregularities involving infrastructure projects and reclamation activities in the city continues to widen. In a statement posted on Saturday, August 29, Lacson said the documents involving the four properties would be turned over to the Office of the Ombudsman’s fact-finding team f

August 29, 2026