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'Your vote can solve our problems!' - Massive crowd rallies for Quiroga in Cochabamba ahead of Bolivia's presidential runoff

"Jorge 'Tuto' Quiroga and his running mate, Juan Pablo Velasco, ended their campaign in Cochabamba on Monday, rallying supporters ahead of Bolivia's presidential runoff. Footage shows thousands attending the Alianza Libre campaign closing, with live music, candidate speeches, and appearances by elected officials. Quiroga addressed the crowd, emphasising the need for economic reforms and national unity, and criticising the current government’s policies. "Why are we asking for your vote? Because we want to respond to the people's problems. Today, we are all distressed because prices are skyrocketing, and when you go to the market, your money isn't enough, your basket comes out empty, and your family goes hungry," he said. He pledged to attract foreign investment and create jobs, particularly in sectors such as hydrocarbons, lithium, agriculture, and mining. He also proposed measures to address inflation and fuel shortages. Vice-presidential candidate Juan Pablo Velasco focused on promoting unity and rejecting negative campaigning. "In our hearts and minds, there is no space for hate. There is no space for resentment. We are focused on building a dignified Bolivia for young people, for the elderly, for the miners, for the workers, for everyone who makes up this society," he added. It comes after the first round of voting on August 17, which ended two decades of left-wing rule. Rodrigo Paz moved from the bottom of the polls to first place with 32 percent of the vote, ahead of former president Jorge 'Tuto' Quiroga, who obtained 26.70 percent of the vote. The runoff election, scheduled for October 19, will pit the PDC, led by Paz and his running mate Edman Lara, against the Libre Alliance, headed by Quiroga and his vice-presidential candidate, tech entrepreneur Juan Pablo Velasco. Both parties will conclude their national campaigns on Wednesday, October 15, with the PDC hosting its final rally in Tarija, while the Libre Alliance wraps up in La Paz. Meanwhile, Bolivia continues to face rising inflation, fuel shortages, and foreign-debt concerns. Economists predict the next president will face a tough choice: seek international credit with conditions or rapid domestic reforms that could be politically risky."

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'From vision to action' - Philippines ramps up national defence efforts under new revitalised SRDP law amid tensions with China

"The Philippines is strengthening its local defence industry under the revitalised Self-Reliant Defence Posture (SRDP) law, aiming to boost domestic weapons production in response to escalating tensions with China in the South China Sea. Speaking at the SRDP Forum in Quezon City on Friday, Defence Undersecretary Ireneo Cruz Espino said the government is shifting "from vision to action" in building a self-sufficient defence sector. "The Philippines is being recognised as a strategic defence hub, opening doors for co-production, local manufacturing, and licensed defence technologies," Espino said. "The Self-Reliance Defence Posture Revitalisation Act [is] a bold step toward a stronger, more self-sufficient national defence," he added. Signed into law on October 8, 2024, Republic Act No. 12024, or the SRDP Revitalisation Act, removes key restrictions that previously limited local manufacturers from supplying the military. The measure promotes technology transfer, incentivises local defence production, and seeks to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers. Espino added that the revitalised SRDP law paves the way for future production of more advanced weapon systems within the Philippines through government incentives and contracts to domestic firms. The two-day forum highlighted local military innovations, from small arms to next-generation drones and unmanned aerial and surface vehicles (UAVs and USVs), highlighting the growing role of domestic production in national defence. "The importance of having a drone manufacturing company in the Philippines is that it offers innovation, self-reliance, and dependency in our country," said aeronautical engineer Andry Annah Jane Lanuza. "If it is manufactured here, for sure, we will become a drone hub of Asia. Mark my word, Philippines," said Tjader Regis, president of Davao UAV. The Philippines' renewed defence push comes as the country's military faces growing concerns over China's potential use of drone swarms for surveillance and attacks, particularly in the disputed territories of the South China Sea. "