Category: Politics

Philippines

Marcos Says 13 Pumping Stations Could Help Fight Metro Manila Floods by Next Year—But One Problem Could Still Render Them Useless

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is pushing for the completion of 13 pumping stations in and around Metro Manila as the government races to strengthen the capital region's defenses against worsening floods—but officials acknowledge that pumps alone will not solve a decades-old problem involving outdated drainage, clogged waterways, garbage and increasingly intense rainfall. Marcos said Thursday that the pumping stations are expected to be completed as part of the government'

August 20, 2026

Philippines

Guteza Takes Back Romualdez Cash Claims—Then Names Marcoleta and Defensor in New Affidavit

MANILA, Philippines — The flood-control corruption investigation has taken another dramatic turn after former Marine and ex-security aide Orly Guteza withdrew his earlier testimony linking former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez to alleged cash deliveries, prompting Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Sen. Erwin Tulfo to suggest that the witness may have had a change of heart. Guteza’s recantation emerged after months of controversy surrounding his September 2025 appearance before the

August 20, 2026

Politics

Trump Threatens Any Country Helping Iran With ‘Tremendous’ Economic Consequences—But One Major U.S. Rival Could Put That Warning to the Test

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is dramatically widening Washington’s pressure campaign against Iran, warning that the economic consequences may no longer stop at Tehran’s borders. In a sweeping declaration Wednesday, August 19, Trump said the United States would pursue what he described as unprecedented economic isolation of Iran — while putting governments, banks, businesses and other institutions around the world on notice that helping Tehran could come with a price. The announcement po

August 20, 2026

Politics

South Korea Says North Korea Could Have Up to 120 Nuclear Warheads — But Trump Says 57. So Who’s Right?

SEOUL — A new estimate from South Korea has put North Korea’s possible nuclear arsenal at 80 to 120 warheads, a figure substantially higher than the 57 nuclear weapons recently cited by U.S. President Donald Trump. South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back told lawmakers on Thursday that North Korea is generally estimated to possess between 80 and 120 nuclear weapons. However, he stressed that the figure is based on estimates from private research organizations and cannot be officially confirm

August 20, 2026

Politics

Zelenskyy Fires Senior Aide as Anti-Graft Probe Reaches His Office—But the Investigation May Be Much Bigger

KYIV — A major corruption investigation has reached deep into Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s administration, putting fresh pressure on the wartime leader as anti-graft investigators examine an alleged criminal network involving lawmakers, senior presidential officials and financial figures. Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau, or NABU, and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, known as SAPO, launched what authorities described as a special operation targeting an

August 20, 2026

Politics

Trump Picks Dr. Heidi Overton to Run the FDA—But the Agency She Could Inherit Is Already in Turmoil

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has chosen one of his most trusted White House health-policy advisers, Dr. Heidi Overton, to take charge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, putting a relatively young but politically influential physician in line to oversee one of the world’s most powerful public-health regulators. But Overton would not be walking into an ordinary government job. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, she would inherit an FDA still dealing with leadership upheaval, major st

August 20, 2026

Philippines

Mikee Romero Retires From AFP Reserve Force as Military Reviews His Awards—What Happens to His Medals Next?

MANILA, Philippines — Former lawmaker and businessman Michael “Mikee” Romero has retired from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Reserve Force, ending his stint as commander of the Tactical Operations Wing Reserve Northern Luzon as the Philippine Air Force (PAF) continues an investigation into its policies governing reservist promotions, awards and military badges. Romero formally relinquished his duties and retired from the Reserve Force effective August 19, 2026, according to a stateme

August 20, 2026

Philippines

Remulla Blames the ‘Robin Padilla Law’ for Gun Crime Surge—But One Detail About the 1997 Law Changes the Story

MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla has reopened a decades-old debate over Philippine gun laws after blaming what he called the “Robin Padilla Law” for a rise in crimes involving loose firearms—and calling on Congress to tighten the rules following another deadly school shooting. But behind the politically explosive label is a more complicated legal history. Remulla urged lawmakers to revisit Republic Act No. 8294, a 1997 law that reduced penalties for certain illegal-firea

August 20, 2026

Politics

Trump Nagbanta na BOBOMBAHIN ang Oman—Iran Deal sa Strait of Hormuz ang Ugat ng Tensiyon

WASHINGTON — Muling uminit ang tensiyon sa Middle East matapos magbanta si US President Donald Trump na magsasagawa ng military action laban sa Oman kung, ayon sa kanya, hahadlangan ng Gulf state ang pagsisikap na wakasan ang digmaan at magkaroon ng kasunduan sa Iran. Sa isang panayam kay Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst noong Agosto 17, sinabi ni Trump na “if Oman gets in the way, we'll bomb the s— out of them,” ayon sa mga ulat ng Reuters, Associated Press at iba pang international news org

August 20, 2026

Philippines

28 Witnesses Ready to Testify vs. Romualdez—Will the Flood Control Probe Finally Break Open?

The Office of the Ombudsman says its investigation involving former House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez is far from resting on a handful of controversial witnesses. The anti-graft agency said it has 28 witnesses prepared to provide direct and material information on transactions under investigation in cases involving Romualdez, a disclosure that comes as questions continue to swirl around the recantation of former Zaldy Co aide Orly Guteza. The development was reported by Bombo Radyo

August 20, 2026