Category: Politics

Politics

Belize Minister Visits Taiwan to Unlock Disaster-Response Secrets—What’s Coming Next Could Deepen Ties for Years

TAIPEI, Taiwan — A high-level visit from Belize is putting renewed focus on Taiwan’s expanding partnerships with its diplomatic allies, as Belize’s Minister of Public Service and Disaster Risk Management, Henry Charles Usher, wraps up a five-day trip aimed at learning from Taiwan’s experience in civil service development, disaster preparedness and emerging technology. Usher and his delegation visited Taiwan from August 19 to August 23, meeting with government officials and touring institutions

August 23, 2026

Politics

Kaohsiung Flooded Again as Torrential Rain Batters City—What Mayor Chen Found on the Ground Raises New Questions

KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan — Torrential rain triggered flooding, muddy runoff and hillside erosion across parts of Kaohsiung on Saturday, putting renewed pressure on the southern Taiwanese city’s drainage and flood-control systems as Mayor Chen Chi-mai inspected damage and ordered faster improvement work. The downpour was intense. According to rainfall figures cited by local media, some parts of Kaohsiung recorded up to 81 millimeters of rain in a single hour, while accumulated rainfall over 24 hours ex

August 23, 2026

Politics

Europe Is Spending Billions to Win the Space Race—But Italy’s Space Industry Has One Major Problem

Italy’s space ambitions are entering a critical phase as Europe accelerates investment in defense, satellite technology, and strategic industries—but experts warn that the country’s highly specialized space sector may struggle to compete unless companies grow larger and stronger. Italy has long been recognized for its engineering expertise in satellites, aerospace systems, and advanced space technologies. However, much of the industry remains dominated by small and medium-sized enterprises (SME

August 23, 2026

Politics

Taiwan Wants 1,320 Drone Boats — Now a Former Chipmaker Is Racing to Build Them

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan’s push to build a formidable fleet of uncrewed military vessels is creating new opportunities for domestic industry, and one company is making an ambitious leap into the emerging defense technology race. Myson Century, a company previously associated with integrated-circuit design, has announced that it is prioritizing the development of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) as Taiwan prepares for a major expansion of its domestically produced unmanned defense systems. The com

August 23, 2026

Philippines

Ilocos Norte Is Spending ₱58.5 Million on Nearly 2,500 Young Scholars—But the Bigger Payoff Could Take Years to See

LAOAG CITY, Philippines — Ilocos Norte is making a multimillion-peso bet on its young people, putting ₱58.5 million behind scholarship programs benefiting nearly 2,500 young Ilocanos as the province attempts to build its next generation of doctors, lawyers, agricultural specialists, artists, athletes and community leaders. Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos highlighted the program during her recent State of the Province Address, describing education and youth development as part of a broader strat

August 23, 2026

Politics

Taiwan Tracks 14 Chinese Ships — But the Bigger Question Is What Comes Next

TAIPEI — Taiwan has tracked 14 Chinese vessels around the island in the latest sign of Beijing's sustained military and maritime pressure, prompting Taiwanese forces to respond with aircraft, naval ships and coastal missile systems. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense said it detected seven Chinese naval vessels and seven official ships operating around Taiwan during the 24-hour period from 6 a.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday. The latest activity comes amid a steady pattern of Chinese operations

August 23, 2026

Philippines

Free Government Services Reach Piñan Residents—Here’s What Families Could Get From the Kuyog Ta! Caravan

PIÑAN, Zamboanga del Norte — Residents of Piñan no longer had to travel far to access a range of government services as the provincial government brought its Kuyog Ta! Medical and Serbisyo Caravan to Barangay Poblacion North. The initiative, conducted with the support of GC Services on Wheels, brought multiple government agencies together to provide free assistance covering healthcare, civil registration, identification, agriculture, veterinary services, social welfare and other community needs

August 23, 2026

Politics

Lee Hsien Loong Is Heading to Central Asia—But What Singapore May Sign in Uzbekistan Could Be the Bigger Story

SINGAPORE — Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong is set to make his first official visit to Central Asia, travelling to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan from Aug. 24 to 31 as Singapore looks to deepen economic and strategic ties with two of the region’s key economies. According to Singapore’s Prime Minister’s Office, Lee will visit Kazakhstan from Aug. 24 to 27 before travelling to Uzbekistan from Aug. 27 to 31. The trip will take him to Astana and Almaty in Kazakhstan, followed by Tashkent and Samarkand i

August 23, 2026

Philippines

Gatchalian Presses DepEd to Speed Up Hiring of Specialists for Inclusive Education

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian is urging the Department of Education (DepEd) to accelerate the hiring and deployment of specialists who will provide critical support to learners with disabilities, saying newly approved positions should be filled without unnecessary delays. The call comes after the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) approved 133 new plantilla positions for DepEd to strengthen the implementation of the country’s inclusive education program. The

August 23, 2026

Politics

Hope for a Gaza Ceasefire Was Rising — Then Deadly Strikes Changed Everything

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Hopes for progress toward a lasting Gaza ceasefire are facing another major setback after deadly Israeli strikes hit the Palestinian territory just days after U.S. envoy Jared Kushner concluded a high-stakes diplomatic push. The latest violence came as Washington attempted to revive a stalled U.S.-backed roadmap aimed at ending the conflict, adding fresh uncertainty to negotiations that had already been strained by major disagreements between Israel and Hamas. Kushn

August 23, 2026