Category: Politics

Philippines

Marcoleta Breaks Silence on Guteza Recantation: “Improbable” Conspiracy Claim Raises New Questions

MANILA, Philippines — Detained Sen. Rodante Marcoleta has pushed back against explosive allegations made by retired Marine MSgt. Orly Guteza, insisting that it was “improbable” for him and former congressman Mike Defensor to have conspired with the witness to fabricate testimony linking former House Speaker Martin Romualdez to alleged cash deliveries connected to the flood control controversy. In a statement released Friday, Marcoleta questioned the circumstances surrounding Guteza’s recent rec

August 28, 2026

Politics

Singapore Court Sets 5-Year Term for 90-Year-Old Who Killed His Wife — But It Isn’t a Normal Jail Sentence

SINGAPORE — A 90-year-old man who killed his 74-year-old wife during a devastating attack inside their Bukit Panjang flat has been assigned a five-year notional imprisonment period by the High Court — a rare decision that could become an important test of Singapore’s updated laws for accused persons who are mentally incapable of standing trial. But the five-year period imposed on Ridawi Morsudin on Friday, Aug. 28, should not be confused with an ordinary prison sentence following a conviction.

August 28, 2026

Philippines

Over 200 BFP Personnel Under Probe in ‘Slots-for-Sale’ Scandal—How Deep Does the Alleged Scheme Go?

MANILA, Philippines — More than 200 personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) are now under investigation over an alleged “slot-for-sale” scheme that authorities say may have allowed applicants to pay large sums of money in exchange for help securing positions in the agency. Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Friday that the investigation has expanded nationwide and is part of a broader campaign to root out alleged corruption within the BFP. He warned officials i

August 28, 2026

Politics

Singapore Is Making Neighbour Mediation Mandatory From Sept 1 — But the S$1,500 Fine Isn’t the Biggest Change

SINGAPORE — For years, one of the biggest weaknesses in Singapore's system for resolving bitter neighbour disputes has been surprisingly simple: mediation works remarkably well when both sides actually turn up — but many cases never reach that stage because one neighbour simply refuses to participate. From September 1, 2026, that loophole is about to become much harder to use. Singapore is expanding its enhanced neighbour-dispute framework nationwide following a pilot in Tampines, giving autho

August 28, 2026

Politics

Malaysia’s Former HR Minister M. Saravanan Charged Over RM1.097 Million in Alleged Bribes — But His Response Could Turn the Case Into a Bigger Political Fight

KUALA LUMPUR — Former Malaysian human resources minister M. Saravanan has pleaded not guilty to three corruption charges involving RM1.097 million, escalating a closely watched case centered on the approval of foreign-worker quotas during his time in government. Saravanan, 58, was charged at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Friday, August 28, over allegations that he received three separate payments connected with an application allowing a company to hire 1,000 foreign workers. The Tapah MP,

August 28, 2026

Politics

₱58.5 Billion for LGUs: Economist Raises Alarm Over Who Gets to Decide Where the Money Goes

MANILA, Philippines — A proposed ₱58.53-billion Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) in the 2027 national budget is drawing fresh scrutiny, with economists and budget watchdogs warning that vague rules over how the money is distributed could leave too much room for discretion—and potentially open the door to political favoritism. Economist JC Punongbayan flagged concerns over the proposed fund in an interview reported by ABS-CBN News on Friday, as debate intensifies over transparency and accoun

August 28, 2026

Politics

Japan Wants to Cap New Debt at ¥40 Trillion — But Its Interest Bill Is Becoming the Bigger Problem

TOKYO — Japan is trying to draw a line under how much new debt it takes on next year, but rising borrowing costs and an ambitious spending agenda could make that promise increasingly difficult to keep. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said her government aims to hold new government bond issuance to around ¥40 trillion, or roughly US$251 billion, in the fiscal 2027 budget, according to an interview with Japan’s Yomiuri newspaper reported by Reuters. The target comes at a critical moment for the wo

August 28, 2026

Politics

Trump’s Marine One Took Off Before Reagan Airport Got Its Required Warning — Investigators Say the Problem Was Known Days Earlier

WASHINGTON — A communication breakdown involving President Donald Trump’s Marine One helicopter allowed a passenger jet to begin taking off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport at almost the same time as the presidential helicopter departed nearby Washington — and investigators have now revealed that warning signs had emerged days before the incident. A preliminary report released by the US National Transportation Safety Board says the Marine One crew tried at least twice to contact a

August 28, 2026

Politics

Trump Tightens Internship Rules for International Students — But the Biggest Warning Is Actually for US Universities

WASHINGTON — International students hoping to turn their US university education into hands-on work experience are facing a new obstacle after the Trump administration sharply tightened scrutiny of a widely used internship programme — prompting major universities to suspend some applications and raising fresh concerns about America's appeal to overseas students. A federal memorandum dated August 24, 2026, from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, or SEVP, warned US colleges that certain Cu

August 28, 2026

Philippines

Meta Makes Major Commitment to PH Authorities—What Happens When an Online Threat Is Detected?

MANILA, Philippines — Meta has committed to cooperate more closely with Philippine authorities by providing certain user information when a potential threat to public safety—particularly involving children—is identified, according to Senator Risa Hontiveros. The commitment, Hontiveros said, could allow authorities to receive subscriber information and traffic data before a suspected threat escalates into an actual attack. The development emerged after members of the senator's staff joined a Ph

August 28, 2026