Headlines

San Juan, PR. Nov.1 (DPnet).– In late August 2025, the United States initiated a naval buildup in the southern Caribbean, citing the intention to address the issue of drug trafficking. US President Donald Trump authorized the United States Armed Forces to employ military force against specific Latin American drug cartels, labeling these smugglers as narcoterrorists. The Trump administration has accused Nicolás Maduro, the President of Venezuela, of facilitating the trafficking of drugs into the United States. Earlier in August, the administration also increased the bounty for Maduro's arrest to $50 million, alleging his involvement in drug trafficking activities.

On 30 September, President Trump told reporters his administration would "look very seriously at cartels coming by land" and he formally declared to Congress on 1 October that the US was in a "non-international armed conflict" with "unlawful combatants" regarding drug cartels operating in the Caribbean. Trump said on 22 October that he planned to also order strikes on land targets.

The Trump administration announced in October 27 that the Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group (CSG) will deploy to the Caribbean to help “dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations and counter narco-terrorism in defense of the Homeland.” The CSG had been in the Mediterranean for exercises with allies and to respond to potential hostilities around Israel, Gaza, and the Red Sea. This task force includes 1 Carrier, 2 Cruisers, 7 Destroyers, 3 amphibious ships and one submarine.

The elected President advocates a unified Cyprus under United Nations supervision to establish a federated bi-communal republic with the Greek Cypriots

Nicosia, Oct. 19.– Casting his vote earlier, Tufan Erhürman, leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), said, "This election is about our children. That’s the consciousness we’ve acted with. The decision made here will impact our future." He secured a decisive victory in the presidential elections of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), by a wide margin according to preliminary results announced by the Supreme Election Board.

Voter turnout stood at 62.83% in the election, which featured seven candidates, including five independents.  As of 7:40 p.m. local time (GMT+3), results from 753 of the 777 ballot boxes had been counted. Erhürman achieved 62.80% of the vote, while incumbent President Ersin Tatar, who ran as an independent candidate, garnered 35.77%. The remaining votes were distributed among five other candidates, including independents. Voter turnout stood at 62.83%.

Under Northern Cyprus’s electoral system, a candidate who obtains 50% plus one vote in the first round is declared the winner, meaning Erhürman’s victory is secured without the need for a runoff.

Buildings in Ortigas business district dwarf houses as seen from Bonifacio Global City in Taguig

Manila, Oct. 19.– The Philippine economy must prepare for potential disruptions from political instability and intensifying natural hazards that could undermine growth amid persistent inflation and global uncertainty, a study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) warned.

In its report titled “Macroeconomic Prospects of the Philippines in 2024-2025: Toward Upper Middle-Income Status,” authors John Paolo Rivera, Mark Gerald Ruiz, and Ramona Maria Miral said political uncertainties may result in policy shifts, delayed reforms, and reduced investor confidence.

Washington DC, Oct.16 (AP).– This grim warning from Trump came after he previously downplayed the internal violence in the territory since a ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas went into effect last week in the two-year war.

Trump later clarified he won’t send U.S. troops into Gaza after launching the threat against Hamas.