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POLITICSOct 3Hong Kong vs Singapore in tackling bad behaviourSingapore is doing something about uncivilised behaviour on public buses. The city state has started enforcing new regulations that carry an immediate fine of up to S$500 (US$390) if you put your feet up on seats, play loud audio on your phone or make a nuisance of yourself in other ways such as eating, drinking and littering. This aligns with existing rules governing passenger conduct on Singapore’s MRT railway system. Did you know we have long had similar regulations for Hong Kong’s MTR...South China Morning Post

POLITICSOct 3Ibaraki won’t accept second-stage survey for nuclear waste site, governor saysIbaraki Gov. Kazuhiko Oigawa's announcement comes days after the mayor of Hitachiomiya expressed a willingness to accept the survey for his city.japantimes · japan

POLITICSOct 2‘No retreat’: Key Trump ally urges continued US-China engagement on rare earthsUS Republican Senator Steve Daines, a close aide to President Donald Trump and a key interlocutor between Washington and Beijing, has called on the two capitals to stay engaged and “not retreat” over differences on issues including rare earth supply chains. Daines told the South China Morning Post that both sides still had issues that predated Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington last week and that they would continue working on them after the summit. “So that’s again why...South China Morning Post

POLITICSOct 2Trump shrugs off South Korea’s uncertainty on $54B Alaska energy investmentPresident Trump brushed off questions Friday over whether he jumped the gun in announcing that South Korea would fund a natural gas pipeline in Alaska, which South Korean officials have said is still under discussion. “Well, I didn’t jump the gun. I mean, they were there, and they were represented,” Trump told reporters before departing…The Hill

POLITICSOct 2Trump says he did not 'jump the gun' on South Korea Alaska LNG investment announcement - ReutersTrump says he did not 'jump the gun' on South Korea Alaska LNG investment announcement ReutersReuters World

POLITICSOct 2Latin America sees China as more positive global influence than US: PollAnnual Latinobarometro survey finds views of China’s influence improving as perceptions of US influence worsen.Al Jazeera [en]

POLITICSOct 2South Korea's anger at Ukraine is 'about more than a secret'Oekraïne en Zuid-Korea liggen met elkaar overhoop over twee Noord-Koreaanse krijgsgevangenen. Aanleiding is een opmerking van de Oekraïense president Volodymyr Zelensky bij de Algemene Vergadering van de Verenigde Naties vorige week. Daar maakte hij bekend dat Oekraïne twee Noord-Koreaanse militairen had overgedragen aan Zuid-Korea. Dit schoot bij Zuid-Korea in het verkeerde keelgat, omdat afgesproken zou zijn de overdracht geheim te houden. Zuid-Korea zegt dat geheimhouding onder meer nodig was vanwege mogelijke risico's voor de militairen en hun familieleden in Noord-Korea. Maar er speelt voNOS Buitenland

POLITICSOct 2Panama auditor targets ex-port regulators and Hong Kong firm’s executives in canal probePanama’s comptroller general said on Friday that his office would send prosecutors more audit material on former executives of CK Hutchison’s local subsidiary next week, as part of a criminal investigation into the Hong Kong conglomerate’s annulled Panama Canal ports concession. Speaking at the Atlantic Council in Washington, Anel Flores said prosecutors had requested documents concerning Panama Ports Company (PPC), the operator of the Balboa and Cristobal terminals at either end of the canal...South China Morning Post

POLITICSOct 2Justice as fairness: An argument for the defense“Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made.” – Immanuel Kant First word FIRST, I want to make a personal disclosure. I want to disclose the writing work that I did for a book on the Filipino vice presidency that was published and released in November last year, entitled “First in Line The Vice Presidents of the Philippines.” The volume was produced and designed by Studio 5 Designs Inc. for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) under a contract that it won by competitive bidding. Studio 5 persuaded me to do research and writing for the book; I then spent three months of my time working on the project in between my work as a columnist in The Manila Times and other interests. Studio 5 and the publisher set November 2025 as the working deadline for the completed project to coincide with the 90th anniversary of the vice presidential office. This seemingly stiff deadline was punctiliously met without frayed nerves and task misunderstandings by the highly professional working staff. And so, on Nov. 15, 2025, at a reception and ceremonies held at Makati Shangri-La Hotel, the OVP marked its 90th anniversary. Vice President Sara Duterte was on hand to lead in welcoming the guests and preside over the program. All 15 of the country’s vice presidents since 1935 are featured in profiles in the pages of “First in Line.” With seven VPs deceased, and a handful indisposed, the book launching had to settle for the vice presidents being present chiefly in spirit and represented by living members of their families. Former vice president and former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was a notable presence in the evening’s festivities. And so was the surprise attendance of former president Joseph Ejercito Estrada, who gamely joined the commemoration while seated on a wheelchair. My involvement in this publishing project might be construed by some readers and journalist colleagues as signifying that I have joined the advisory and communications team of Vice President Duterte in her fight for acquittal and quest for vindication in her impeachment trial. I am not without sympathy over the ordeal that she is living through, but the simple fact is that I am not an adviser to the vice president or her office. My work on the vice presidents’ book did not change my long-standing nonpartisan and uncommitted position in national politics and government. And the battle lines now forming for the forthcoming wars and competition in the politics of 2028. I strive to be, and I remain an observer of our politics and the issues that are driving our public life. When I was contracted by Studio 5 for the writing of “First in Line,” I explicitly set as my condition that the writing subject should be the Filipino vice presidency, and not its incumbent occupant. I said that my interest was institutional, not personal. My terms were accepted, and so the writing commission went forward. It is pleasing to see that the finished product is not an unworthy addition to the limited number of books on Philippine public affairs and public institutions. This disclosure should clear up any question about my coverage of national politics and the approaching presidential elections 2028. I watch and analyze events and developments as they happen. And I will raise questions and comment freely as objectively as I can. On the current issue now being hotly debated — the arbitrary change of the conviction threshold in the impeachment trial of VP Duterte — I think the impeachment court may have gifted the vice president and her team with a strong and compelling argument against the impeachment charges laid against her. Senate blunder With all the problems that it is already facing from absent members under indictment, in jail or on the lam, from institutional disrepute for alleged senatorial plunder of public funds for flood control, and from differences and open feuding among influential Senate leaders, the Philippine Senate as the sole trier of the impeachment case of Vice President Duterte has added an even bigger problem to resolve in the trial of the second-highest ranking official of the Republic. There is no polite way to view the new conviction threshold than as a blunder by senators who desire an easier and quicker way to convict and remove VP Duterte from the vice presidency. The unwisdom of the impeachment court’s decision will begin to crumble when the Supreme Court starts a review of the impeachment court’s decision, following the petitions filed by various parties before the high court. The Senate foolishly opened itself for criticism or rebuke by a higher authority, in its handling of the impeachment proceedings, which only yesterday concluded its 29th day of the trial. Significantly, the court’s presiding officer, Sen. Francis Escudero, did not join his colleagues in changing the conviction threshold without the benefit of a constitutional amendment. What the court has done is nothing less than to change the rules when the game is already being played. It is the same as the English idiom on changing horses in midstream. Which means changing methods or choosing leaders during a crisis. The team of VP Duterte will find itself in better command of the argument if it takes the time to study and comprehend, and adopt the writing of the political philosopher John Rawls on his theory of justice as fairness. Justice as fairness Rawls, who is widely regarded as the most important and influential political philosopher of the 20th century, presented his theory of justice as fairness in a book published in 1971, “A Theory of Justice.” According to Wikipedia, Rawls describes a society of free citizens with equal basic rights who work together cooperatively in an egalitarian economic system. Through its liberal political conception of justice, his theory provides a framework for the legitimate use of political power. However, legitimacy is only the minimum standard of moral acceptance; a political order can therefore be legitimate without being just per se. Justice, on the other hand, sets the maximum standard: the arrangement of social institutions that is morally best. The “Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy” explains Rawl’s theory of justice: Rawl’s conception of justice comprises two main principles of liberty and equality; the second is subdivided into fair equality of opportunity and the difference principle. The principles are, however, intended to form a single, coherent conception of justice (justice as fairness) rather than to operate independently. They are consistently applied with the aim of benefiting the least advantaged members of society, ensuring that they are neither harmed nor overlooked. Something tells me that the impeachment’s court’s decision will have an awfully tough time squaring itself with the idea of justice as fairness. Justices of our Supreme Court will sit up and take notice of Rawls’ theory and so will the senator judges in the impeachment court. yenobserver@gmail.commanilatimes · philippines

POLITICSOct 2PNP backs resumption of NCAP in Metro ManilaTHE Philippine National Police (PNP) reaffirmed its commitment to help authorities maintain road discipline and public order as several Metro Manila local government units prepare to resume the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) next week. PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the organization supports lawful efforts aimed at improving traffic safety and compliance with road regulations. “The Philippine National Police respects the decision allowing the resumption of NCAP and supports lawful measures that promote road discipline, traffic safety, and efficient enforcement. We encourage all motorists to comply with traffic regulations and remain informed of local ordinances,” Nartatez said in a statement on Friday. Manila, Quezon City, Valenzuela, Parañaque, Muntinlupa, and San Juan prepare to resume NCAP implementation on Oct. 5. The system uses CCTV cameras, digital cameras, and other technologies to document traffic violations without requiring traffic enforcers to stop motorists. The resumption follows the Supreme Court’s June 3, 2026 decision that dismissed consolidated petitions challenging NCAP ordinances in Manila, Quezon City, Valenzuela, Parañaque, and Muntinlupa. The decision, made public on July 9, also lifted the remaining temporary restraining order against the local ordinances. While the PNP is not the primary implementing agency for NCAP, Nartatez said police units have been instructed to assist the concerned local governments in its implementation as needed. As the policy returns to participating cities, Nartatez urged motorists to remain informed and use available legal remedies for any concerns involving reported violations. “We urge motorists to view NCAP as a tool for promoting safer roads and responsible driving. Those with concerns should make use of the proper channels provided by local governments to verify, contest, or clarify reported violations,” he said.manilatimes · philippines

POLITICSOct 2Republican calls Starbucks ‘morally bankrupt’ for doing business in China’s Xinjiang and demands store closuresChina's Foreign Ministry called allegations of repression in the region ‘naked lies’The Independent World

POLITICSOct 22 Hongkongers held in Philippines for months after prison terms endThe Chinese embassy in Manila has expressed concern over the cases of two Hongkongers who have remained in custody in the Philippines for months despite being discharged from prison, according to the Immigration Department. The department confirmed on Friday night that it was handling the two cases following an appeal from a former lawmaker and a Hong Kong man who returned to the city on Tuesday after serving 26 years in a Philippine prison for drug offences. The returned Hongkonger, Tang...South China Morning Post

POLITICSOct 2Donald Trump is planning trip to the Philippines for Asean summitUS President Donald Trump is planning to attend the Asean summit next month, the South China Morning Post understands, as Washington vies with Beijing for influence in the region. If the trip happens, Trump’s appearance at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting, expected to run from November 16-18 in Manila, will be his second consecutive appearance at the gathering during this term. Trump was in Kuala Lumpur for Asean last year and in Manila for the meeting in 2017. Sources told the...South China Morning Post

POLITICSOct 2Šefčovič: Negotiations with China still without resultsDer EU-Handelskommissar erklärt gegenüber POLITICO, China habe verstanden, dass eine Einigung dringend notwendig ist. Er hofft auf Ergebnisse zu drei Hauptthemen.Politico Europe

POLITICSOct 2If young US people accept Xi’s invitation to China, what will Beijing show them?China is ramping up its efforts to bring young Americans to China, and ready to be seen as a country concerned with environmental protection, lifting people out of poverty, protecting minority cultures and building the technology of the future. During his trip to the United States last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping said his country aimed to welcome 100,000 young Americans on exchange or study trips over the next five years. That builds on an earlier target announced in 2023 that set the...South China Morning Post

POLITICSOct 2Concerns About ‘WWII Allies’ at US-China SummitHow China is weaponizing WWII historyThe Diplomat

POLITICSOct 2Legislators urge broader cooling-off law after abrupt Hotstone Yoga closureHong Kong lawmakers have urged the government to widen the scope of a proposed statutory cooling-off law to cover more types of wellness market trends after the abrupt shutdown of the Hotstone Yoga chain, as claimed financial losses by customers rose to HK$3.9 million (US$497,030). Their calls followed the government’s commitment to introduce a bill in the Legislative Council in the first half of next year that would establish a statutory cooling-off period for prepaid fitness and beauty...South China Morning Post

POLITICSOct 2Chinese language teachers leave the Philippines over safety fearsAround 150 Chinese language teachers in the Philippines are returning home following mounting criticism from Philippine security officials that educational exchanges involving China could pose national security threats. The withdrawal affects teachers stationed at schools including the Immaculate Conception Academy in Greenhills and Jubilee Christian Academy in Quezon City, both in Metro Manila, according to local media. The Manila-based Chinese Commercial News reported on Friday that the...South China Morning Post

POLITICSOct 2National Day celebrations to showcase Taiwan diversity , vitality : Speakerfocustaiwan.tw · Taiwan

POLITICSOct 2South Korea warns of further measure if Ukraine refuses public apology over POW transfer disclosuretert.am · Armenia

POLITICSOct 2Hong Kong to raise helpers’ monthly minimum wage to HK$5,220Hong Kong authorities have raised the minimum wage for foreign domestic helpers by more than 2 per cent to HK$5,220 (US$665) per month, while their food allowance will be unchanged, citing “more favourable” socioeconomic factors. The government announced on Friday that the current minimum wage of HK$5,100 for foreign domestic helpers, or FDHs, would be increased by 2.35 per cent, and the adjusted salary would apply to all such contracts signed on or after Saturday. While most employers provided...South China Morning Post

POLITICSOct 2Trump announced a $54 billion energy investment from South Korea. South Korea said he jumped the gunA struggling project to export natural gas from Alaska has turned into another potential sticking point in the allies’ long-running negotiations over trade.headtopics · united states of america

POLITICSOct 2South Korean president threatens action against Ukraine over statements on North Korean POWsSouth Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Friday threatened unspecified measures against Ukraine unless Kyiv acknowledged a confidentiality agreement that Seoul says covered the transfer of two captured North Korean soldiers and issued an apology.Ukrinform [en]

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