President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. arrived in Washington, D.C. on July 20 for a high-stakes three-day visit to recalibrate Philippine-U.S. relations amid mounting economic and strategic pressures. The trip marks the first for an ASEAN head of state under President Donald Trump’s second term, and it comes just weeks before a steep 20% tariff on Philippine…
President Donald Trump has announced sweeping new reciprocal tariffs targeting over 20 countries, including key U.S. allies and BRICS members, in a bold move rattling global markets and reigniting trade tensions. The July 20 rollout marks a strategic escalation to restore what Trump calls “America’s economic sovereignty” after decades of trade deficits and lopsided deals….
Former President Donald Trump has filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch and Dow Jones, publisher of The Wall Street Journal, over a controversial article linking Trump to Jeffrey Epstein’s inner circle. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, alleges “malicious intent and reckless disregard for truth,” citing a birthday album excerpt that Trump…
In a dramatic late-night vote, the U.S. Senate approved President Donald Trump’s $9 billion rescission package. The package claws back billions in foreign aid and public broadcasting funds to refocus spending on domestic priorities. Fiscal conservatives hailed the move as a “course correction. ” It marks a defining moment in Trump’s second term and signals…
President Donald Trump’s administration unveiled a sweeping budget proposal on July 16 that slashes $9.4 billion in foreign aid and eliminates funding for public broadcasting, including NPR and PBS. The move is framed as a recalibration of national priorities, emphasizing fiscal discipline and rejecting globalist spending patterns. This budget signals a shift toward America-first governance,…
On July 16, the U.S. Navy began constructing two boat repair facilities in Palawan, a strategic move under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). The expansion is seen as a direct counter to Chinese maritime aggression in the West Philippine Sea. This development underscores Manila’s pivot toward deeper defense ties with Washington, reinforcing its maritime…
The Asia-Pacific Policy Strategy Dialogue (APPSD) concluded in London with a resounding call for a new organising principle: “America First, Allies Always.” The summit, attended by defense and policy leaders from the U.S., U.K., Japan, Australia, and South Korea, emphasized the need for integrated deterrence against the rising influence of the China-Russia-Iran-North Korea axis —…
The U.S. Supreme Court’s July 15 ruling has cleared the path for President Trump to dismantle the Department of Education without congressional approval, triggering a seismic shift in federal oversight of public schooling. The decision, delivered unsigned but backed by the conservative majority, allows the administration to lay off over 1,400 federal employees and redirect…
In a show of growing military coordination, the Pacific Alliance Naval Coalition (PANC) — comprising Australia, Japan, the United States, and the Philippines — launched a series of joint naval drills in the Coral Sea, marking the largest coordinated maritime exercise in the region since 2021. The drills, dubbed Operation Sovereign Wake, are designed to…
In a sweeping move that rattled global markets and reignited debates over trade nationalism, former President Donald Trump announced a new wave of tariffs targeting imports from the European Union, Mexico, and Brazil. The 30% duties, set to take effect August 1, are part of what Trump called a “One Big Beautiful Bill” — a…