More than 1,400 Filipinos across the Middle East have asked to be repatriated as conflict in the region intensifies, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Tuesday. Speaking at Malacañang, Marcos said 1,416 nationals had requested assistance, including 10 in Iran, 297 in Israel, 22 in Jordan, 231 in Bahrain and 856 in the United Arab Emirates, covering Dubai and Abu Dhabi. However, he said repatriation efforts were hampered by airport closures and airspace restrictions, with several facilities reportedly targeted in retaliatory strikes.

Marcos hosts South Korea’s Lee for talks on defence and trade

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday received South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Malacañang for a two-day state visit focused on strengthening defence, maritime security and economic ties. The visit is the first by a South Korean leader since the Philippines–Republic of Korea free trade agreement took effect on December 31, 2024. The leaders held bilateral talks with senior cabinet officials and are set to witness the signing of agreements and issue a joint statement. Lee’s trip, marking 77 years of diplomatic relations, comes amid heightened Middle East tensions and follows his visit to Singapore.

Philippines says US-access sites not involved in Middle East conflict

Philippine defence officials said military facilities accessible to US forces under a bilateral pact are not involved in the escalating conflict between Washington, Israel and Iran, dismissing claims they could become targets. Arsenio Andolong, spokesman for the Department of National Defense, said some groups were exploiting the crisis to stoke “fear and apprehension” over sites covered by the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which grants US forces rotational access to nine Philippine bases. He stressed the facilities remain Philippine-owned and are used for joint training, disaster response and national defence. “The Philippines is not a participant in the theatre of conflict,” Andolong said, adding there was no credible direct threat to EDCA locations.

Malaysian, Filipino killed in helicopter crash

A Malaysian national was killed and another injured when a Bell 505 helicopter carrying five people crashed in Pililla, Rizal province, east of Manila, on Tuesday morning. A Filipino passenger also died after the aircraft went down in a vacant lot at about 7.27am while en route from Manila to Quezon province. Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines Datuk Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino said the deceased’s identity had been confirmed and next of kin informed. The embassy is providing consular assistance, while the injured Malaysian is receiving hospital treatment. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has launched an investigation.

Marcos weighs temporary fuel tax cut as oil nears $80

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Tuesday he is considering seeking congressional authority to temporarily reduce excise taxes on petroleum products if Dubai crude rises above $80 a barrel, as prices climb amid the Middle East conflict. Marcos described the plan as an emergency measure, not a permanent policy, to cushion consumers from sustained price shocks. House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III said lawmakers were open to studying possible amendments to grant the President such powers.

He argued that Indonesia ’s steady growth, which is above 5% annually over the past decade, inflation at around 2%, and a deficit below 3% of GDP, reflects deliberate choices.

“Peace and stability in my country did not happen by chance or by luck; it happened because we chose unity over fragmentation and collaboration over confrontation,” he said.

$1 trillion sovereign wealth bet

A major highlight of his speech was the launch of Danantara Indonesia, a sovereign wealth fund with $1 trillion in assets under management. “Danantara means the energy to power the future of Indonesia, and it is designed to finance and co-finance the industries of the future that will transform our economy,” Prabowo explained.

He pledged to overhaul the country’s vast network of state-owned enterprises to meet the highest international standards, adding that foreign professionals would be allowed to lead firms where necessary to attract “the best brains and the best minds in the world.”

Framing Indonesia as a co-investment partner rather than a passive recipient of capital, he declared: “With Danantara, Indonesia can now stand before you as an equal partner, ready to grow with you and create shared prosperity.”

Social policy as economic strategy

Prabowo described Indonesia’s large-scale social programmes as economic investments rather than political gestures. On the nationwide free nutritious meals programme serving nearly 60 million people daily, he said: “This is not a populist programme. It is a rational productivity programme that strengthens our children, supports our small enterprises and improves the long-term health of our nation.”

The initiative has incorporated more than 61,000 micro, small and medium enterprises into its supply chain. “By strengthening human capital and empowering our small businesses, we are laying the foundation for growth that is inclusive and sustainable,” he said.

On education, he underscored efforts to break generational poverty through new boarding schools and digital upgrades. “I am determined to cut the chain of poverty so that the son of a poor farmer or street vendor will not be condemned to the same fate, but will have equal opportunity to rise,” Prabowo stated.

Rule of law and anti-corruption drive

He also argued that legal certainty is central to investor confidence. “There is no investment climate without the certainty of equitable rule of law, because no serious investor will commit capital in a country where laws are ignored or selectively applied,” he said.

In his first year, the government confiscated millions of hectares of illegal plantations and mines and shut down around 1,000 illegal mining operations. Describing entrenched corruption as “greedonomics,” he said: “We cannot allow the economics of greed and rapacious practices to undermine our democracy , our environment and the future of our children.”

He added a direct warning to corrupt actors: “I challenge anyone who believes that Indonesian officials can be bought to test that assumption under my administration, because they will find that we are serious about clean government.”

Trade, integration and the Global South

Prabowo rejected protectionism and reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to fair trade integration. “We do not pursue trade agreements because they are fashionable, but because we believe fair integration into the global economy is a tool for prosperity and not a threat to sovereignty,” he said.

On Indonesia’s foreign policy posture, he said: “Indonesia chooses peace over chaos, friendship over enmity, and we believe that one thousand friends are too few while one enemy is one too many.”

Indonesia is preparing to host an Ocean Impact Summit in Bali, and Prabowo was confident that Indonesia aims to play a more assertive role from within the Global South.

Watch the full speech here: 

The movement, mostly led by Gen Z, began in early August in Indonesia and has now spread across various Global South countries, including Nepal, Morocco, Peru, Madagascar, Bolivia and the Philippines.

While each country’s circumstances differ, the skull-and-straw-hat flag, once a fictional symbol, has now become a representation of dissent and a call for justice and freedom in these countries.

This stems from the late arrival of ballot papers. Initially printed in Port Moresby, the final shipment of ballots was delayed until September 2, well past the original August 23 delivery date.

This compressed timeframe left insufficient margin for packing and distributing the materials for polling on 4 September.

Additionally, quality control concerns emerged regarding the serial numbers printed on the ballots, an essential safeguard against fraud , and prompted officials to take corrective measures before proceeding.

Electoral Commissioner Desmond Tsianai emphasised that the decision was not taken lightly but deemed necessary to uphold a fair and transparent process.

“Every eligible voter should have the opportunity to cast their ballots. Rescheduling polling at this stage is the most responsible decision to ensure that all ballot papers are delivered securely so that all Bougainvilleans can vote on the same day. This step protects the rights of voters and upholds the integrity of the election,” Commissioner Tsianai said.

The Atolls constituency remains an exception, as its ballots were already on track for delivery in time, and hence its polling proceeds as planned on Thursday.

Global South World reported that this year’s general election marks the first-ever one-day polling model for Bougainville. With 46 seats in the House of Representatives up for grabs—including newly added constituencies—and a competitive presidential race, the region is poised for a crucial junction in its political journey.

Over 404 candidates are vying for parliamentary seats, including a record 34 women across both reserved and open-competition seats, while the presidential contest features seven candidates challenging incumbent Ishmael Toroama.

On Friday, 5 September, polling stations across the Autonomous Region will open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Bougainville Standard Time. With over 3,000 electoral staff mobilised to ensure smooth operations, the election is expected to proceed with minimal disruption.

The U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, has sharply criticised the release of Salvadoran immigrant Kilmar Ábrego García from a Tennessee prison on Friday, August 22. Ábrego, accused by U.S. prosecutors of human trafficking, was freed while his trial continues. Noem, writing on X, accused the judge of showing “total contempt for the security of the American people” and vowed that the Trump Administration would keep pressing for his removal. Officials have alleged links to gangs, though these have not been proven in court.

Bukele defends school courtesy regulation amid criticism

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele has defended the new “Regulation for the Promotion of School Courtesy,” which takes effect on September 1. The policy, introduced by Education Minister Karla Trigueros, sets out demerits for students who fail to use basic phrases like “Good morning,” “Please,” and “Thank you.” Penalties range from verbal warnings to the suspension of privileges or, in extreme cases, non-promotion. Redemption measures will allow students to regain points through positive actions. Responding to criticism, Bukele said detractors could “return to the indifference of before, like when they did not care what happened here when they killed 30 Salvadorans daily.”

Bukele tops global popularity rankings

President Bukele has been named the most popular leader in the world , with 91% citizen approval, according to surveys from Morning Consult, WCIOM, and Gallup. He surpassed Vladimir Putin (79%), Narendra Modi (72%), and Donald Trump (45%). Bukele’s enduring popularity is attributed to tough security policies such as the #PlanControlTerritorial and the mega-prison #CECOT, alongside social measures that resonate with parents and teachers.

El Salvador ranked among fastest-growing tourism destinations

The Telegraph Travel has highlighted El Salvador’s emergence as a leading tourism destination, based on UN Tourism data. The country ranked third globally in growth between 2019 and 2024, behind only Qatar and Albania. Once the world’s most violent country with a homicide rate of 106.3 per 100,000 in 2015, El Salvador now records 1.9 per 100,000. Safer streets have driven a record 3.2 million visitors in 2024, including 1.2 million Americans. The UN Tourism barometer ranks El Salvador second worldwide and first in the Western Hemisphere among the best-performing destinations of 2024.

Road safety concerns as motorcyclists, pedestrians dominate fatalities

Data from the National Road Safety Observatory shows 758 deaths in traffic accidents between January 1 and August 22, 2025 — down from 840 in the same period of 2024. However, injuries increased to 8,265.  80% of fatalities were motorcyclists (303 deaths) and pedestrians (302 deaths). Officials reported 13,611 accidents, up 9% from last year, with main causes including distracted driving (261 deaths), speeding (156 deaths), and lane invasion (104 deaths).

Despite numerous calls from the international community to lift the embargo, it remains firmly in place, significantly affecting Cuba's economy and its people.

During a press conference on Thursday, September 13, The foreign affairs minister of the country, Bruno Rodriguez, explained that "From March 1, 2023, to February 29 of this year, the blockade caused material damage and losses to Cuba amounting to 5.056 billion dollars."

In response, he urged the current US President, Joe Biden, to ease the sanctions in the remaining months of his tenure.

"The only honest, responsible, and serious thing the current occupant of the White House (President Joe Biden) could do would be to modify, in the remaining period of his term, the blockade policies he inherited earlier but has applied intensely and strictly."

The island nation's efforts to get the sanctions off its back is reflected in its unrelenting submission of documents of dissolution to the United Nations General Assembly for almost three decades.

In a recent document presented to the assembly, the country stated “It is not permissible, legal or ethical, that for decades a small country be subjected to a criminal policy of suffocation, with economic damages that exceed 164.,141.1 billion dollars at current prices.”