Category: Politics

Philippines

Marcos Orders 13 More Pumping Stations for Metro Manila—But Will They Finally Keep the Floodwaters Back?

MANILA, Philippines — The government is moving to strengthen Metro Manila’s flood defenses with 13 additional pumping stations, as President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. warned that increasingly intense rainfall is putting greater pressure on the capital’s already strained drainage and flood-control systems. Marcos announced the plan on Thursday, August 20, after inspecting the Tripa de Gallina Pumping Station in Pasay City, the largest of the 73 pumping stations operated by the Metropolitan Manila

August 20, 2026

Philippines

₱4-Billion Clark Food Hub Moves Into Construction—But the Bigger Impact Could Be on Farmers and Food Prices

CLARK, PAMPANGA — The Philippines is taking a major step toward reshaping how food moves from farms to consumers, as the government fast-tracks the development of the ₱4-billion Clark National Food Hub in Pampanga. The project is now moving from years of planning toward construction after the Department of Agriculture (DA), through Food Terminal Inc. (FTI), and Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) signed a lease agreement covering about 40 hectares at the Clark Aviation Capital. The governm

August 20, 2026

Philippines

Marcos Is Adding 13 Metro Manila Pumping-Station Projects—But He Says One Problem Could Still Keep the Capital Flooded

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. says Metro Manila is getting a major boost to its flood-control system, with 13 pumping-station projects expected to be completed or put in place by the end of 2026 or early 2027 as the capital grapples with increasingly intense rainfall, aging drainage infrastructure and waterways repeatedly clogged by garbage. Marcos made the announcement Thursday, August 20, after inspecting the Tripa de Gallina Pumping Station in Pasay City, the largest o

August 20, 2026

Politics

Trump Just Cut U.S.–South Korea Military Drills From 11 Days to 5—But the Real Reason May Have More to Do With Kim Jong Un

SEOUL — One of the most important annual military exercises between the United States and South Korea is being dramatically shortened after President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to scale back the drills — a surprise move that comes as Washington explores another diplomatic opening with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The 2026 Ulchi Freedom Shield, originally scheduled to run for 11 days from August 17 to August 27, will instead conclude on August 21, reducing the main exercise to just fi

August 20, 2026

Philippines

ICC Prosecutors Hand Duterte’s Lawyers 6,909 Evidence Items—But 57 Could Actually Help His Defense

MANILA — Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s lawyers are facing a massive new batch of material ahead of his crimes-against-humanity trial at the International Criminal Court, with prosecutors disclosing 6,909 evidence items to the defense between January 7 and July 31, 2026. But buried inside the thousands of records is a detail that could become just as important as the evidence prosecutors intend to use against him: 57 items have reportedly been classified as potentially exonerating or otherw

August 20, 2026

Philippines

BIR Hits Hongsheng Gaming With ₱2.2-Billion Tax Evasion Complaint—But Its Name Is Already Tied to a Much Bigger POGO Scandal

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Internal Revenue has filed a ₱2.228-billion tax evasion complaint against Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc. before the Department of Justice, adding a massive tax case to the long list of controversies surrounding the offshore gaming company previously linked to the notorious Bamban, Tarlac POGO compound. According to the BIR, Hongsheng allegedly committed several tax violations covering taxable years 2021 to 2023, including the underdeclaration of income, inc

August 20, 2026

Philippines

Romualdez Camp Denies Pressuring ‘Maleta Boys’ to Recant—But the Ombudsman Says 28 More Witnesses Are Ready

MANILA, Philippines — The legal battle surrounding the Philippines’ multibillion-peso flood-control controversy has taken another dramatic turn, with former House Speaker Martin Romualdez’s camp firmly denying allegations that it pressured former security aides of ex-Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co into withdrawing testimony that had linked Romualdez to alleged cash-filled suitcase deliveries. But even as witnesses reverse their stories, the Office of the Ombudsman says its investigation is far from co

August 20, 2026

Politics

China Praises Anwar’s Taiwan Stand—But Taipei’s Next Warning Could Hit Malaysia’s Tech Economy

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has found himself at the centre of a sensitive China-Taiwan diplomatic dispute after remarks supporting Malaysia’s longstanding One-China position won public praise from Beijing but triggered a sharp rebuke from Taipei — including a warning involving Taiwanese investment in Malaysia. The controversy began after an Al Jazeera interview in which Anwar was pressed on whether the wishes of Taiwan’s people should outweigh Beijing’s claim over the

August 20, 2026

Politics

Law Society Agrees to Release Report After Hundreds of Lawyers Demand Answers—But What Gets Redacted Could Become the Next Battle

SINGAPORE — The Law Society of Singapore has moved toward releasing a closely watched audit into alleged workplace and governance problems after lawyers demanded greater transparency — but the disclosure will come only after an extensive redaction and response process. LawSoc told members on Thursday, August 20, that it intends to release the audit committee’s report “as soon as practicable”, provided confidentiality promises made to interviewees are protected and people facing material allegat

August 20, 2026

Philippines

Iran War Sends Filipinos Racing Into Solar as Power Bills Surge—But One Barrier Could Keep Millions From Joining the Boom

MANILA, Philippines — The global energy crisis triggered by the continuing conflict involving Iran is reshaping how Filipinos think about electricity, with households, businesses and power developers increasingly turning to solar energy as protection against volatile imported fuel prices. The Philippines has emerged as one of the biggest beneficiaries of the global shift toward solar, not because electricity has suddenly become cheap—but because conventional power has become increasingly expens

August 20, 2026