Category: Asia

Philippines

Legarda Sounds the Alarm on PH’s Creative Economy: ₱2.12 Trillion Industry Needs More Than Applause

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino creativity is no longer just a source of cultural pride—it is becoming a major economic force, and Sen. Loren Legarda is calling for stronger government support to ensure that the people behind the country’s music, films, crafts, designs, stories, food and traditions benefit from the industry’s growth. As the Philippines observes Philippine Creative Industries Month this September under the theme “We Are a Creative Nation,” Legarda said the country must go beyond

September 5, 2026

Singapore

Singapore’s Haze Just Eased — But the Smoke Threatening the City May Not Be Over Yet

Singapore’s air quality improves after unhealthy haze levels — but regional fires remain a threat Singapore's air quality has improved after several parts of the city-state briefly entered the unhealthy range, but authorities are warning that transboundary haze could persist as dry conditions continue across parts of Southeast Asia. By Saturday night, all five regions of Singapore had returned to the moderate range. The central region's 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) stood at 96 at 10

September 5, 2026

Philippines

DHSUD Gives Itself 30 Days to Resolve Homebuyer Complaints—But These 3 Regions Face the Biggest Test

MANILA, Philippines — Homebuyers and homeowners’ associations with long-pending complaints before the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) may soon see faster action after the agency ordered its regional offices to resolve outstanding cases within 30 days. DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling directed regional offices, as well as the department’s central-office Homeowners Associations and Community Development Bureau, to immediately act on pending complaints involving hom

September 5, 2026

Business

Trump’s Venezuela Oil Gamble Just Got Bigger — The U.S. Is Taking a 35% Stake in a 65-Billion-Barrel Prize

Trump’s Venezuela oil deal gives Washington a huge stake — but the real battle may be just beginning President Donald Trump’s sweeping Venezuela oil agreement is turning into one of the most consequential energy deals in the Western Hemisphere, giving the U.S. government a 35% stake in a major Venezuelan oil venture while opening Washington’s path to preferential access to billions of barrels of crude. At the center of the agreement is North American Blue Energy Partners (NABEP), a Venezuelan

September 5, 2026

Business

China Tightens Its Mineral Grip — Now the U.S. and Japan Are Racing to Protect the Chips That Power the World

U.S. and Japan race for critical minerals as China tightens grip on chip supply chains The next major battle in the global technology race may not be fought inside a semiconductor factory — it may begin with the minerals needed to make the chips in the first place. The United States and Japan are accelerating efforts to build alternative supplies of critical minerals and rare earth materials as China's export controls continue to create uncertainty for semiconductor, defense, aerospace and oth

September 5, 2026

China

Miss World 2026 Coronation Night Underway in Vietnam—Then the Philippines’ Asia Rose Simpson Makes the Cut

NHA TRANG, Vietnam — The highly anticipated Miss World 2026 coronation night has officially begun in Vietnam, with 111 delegates from around the world competing for the coveted blue crown in the pageant's 75th Anniversary Edition. The grand finale is taking place at April 2 Square in Nha Trang, where thousands of spectators are watching the outdoor spectacle unfold. The event marks the culmination of weeks of competitions, advocacy activities, cultural showcases and challenges involving contest

September 5, 2026

Entertainment

Luka Modrić Was Supposed to Be Near the End — Now Croatia Has a Stunning Nations League Decision

The legendary midfielder remains available for international duty, keeping alive his remarkable career with the national team even as questions continue to surround how much longer he will remain at the highest level. Modrić, who turned 40 in September 2025, has already established himself as one of the most decorated players in Croatian football history. According to the Croatian Football Federation, he has made 202 appearances for Croatia and scored 29 goals since making his senior debut in 2

September 5, 2026

Philippines

Supreme Court Challenges Ombudsman Remulla: File the Case, Show the Evidence—What Happens Next?

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has challenged Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla and other concerned parties to take allegations of judicial bias, misconduct and corruption out of the public arena and into the proper legal process: file a formal complaint and present evidence. The High Court's position came after Remulla publicly called for a closer examination of the judiciary, citing what he described as a troubling pattern in which decisions of the Office of the Ombudsman and, previous

September 5, 2026

Philippines

PH Debt Hits Record P19.39 Trillion—But the Bigger Problem May Be What Comes Next

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines’ national government debt has climbed to a fresh record of P19.39 trillion, putting renewed pressure on policymakers to tighten fiscal discipline, strengthen revenue collection and make sure every peso borrowed delivers measurable benefits to Filipinos. The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) reported that outstanding national government debt reached P19.39 trillion by the end of July 2026, up P323.53 billion, or 1.7 percent, from the P19.07 trillion recorded at t

September 5, 2026

Business

Global Banks Back San Miguel’s ₱740-B Bulacan Airport — But Foreign Financing Comes With a Tougher Test

MANILA, Philippines — San Miguel Corp.’s massive New Manila International Airport in Bulacan is drawing financial and technical support from some of the world’s biggest banking and engineering groups, giving one of the Philippines’ most ambitious infrastructure projects a significant international vote of confidence. But the foreign money comes with something else: intense scrutiny over whether the airport can meet global environmental, social and climate-resilience standards while rising from

September 5, 2026