Category: Asia

Business

China Hits Back at G20 Over Export Pressure as Its Record Trade Surplus Becomes a Global Flashpoint

BEIJING — China is pushing back against an unusually broad challenge to its export-driven economic model, accusing other G20 economies of dressing up protectionism as concern over global trade imbalances. The confrontation erupted after finance ministers and central bank governors met in Asheville, North Carolina, where virtually every G20 member present except China supported language warning that persistent economic imbalances and policies that suppress domestic consumption while relying heav

September 5, 2026

Entertainment

Asia Rose Simpson Emerges as Miss World 2026 Frontrunner—Can She Finally Bring the Crown Back to the Philippines?

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is once again in the Miss World conversation, and this time, all eyes are on 18-year-old Asia Rose Simpson, who has emerged as one of the names being closely watched ahead of the Miss World 2026 coronation in Vietnam. With the grand finale set for September 5 in Nha Trang, international pageant observers have included Simpson among the contenders with a realistic shot at the coveted blue crown. Her growing momentum comes after a series of strong performance

September 5, 2026

Business

TikTok Pushes Back Against Social Media Ban in PH—Then Points to Apple and Google

MANILA, Philippines — TikTok is urging Philippine lawmakers to reconsider a blanket ban on social media for minors, arguing that protecting children online may require a more targeted approach—and a bigger role for app stores, parents, technology companies and government. The proposal comes as Congress weighs tougher restrictions on children's access to social media amid growing concerns over harmful content, online abuse and the use of digital platforms by young people. In a document submitte

September 5, 2026

Business

Apple Hit With $2.7 Billion UK Lawsuit—But the Real Trouble May Be What Regulators Found

Apple is facing a £2 billion ($2.7 billion) collective-action lawsuit in the United Kingdom over its App Tracking Transparency (ATT) system, with app developers accusing the tech giant of using its privacy rules in a way that unfairly favors Apple’s own services. The claim was filed on September 3 at London’s Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) by ATT Collective Action Limited on behalf of thousands of UK app developers. It alleges that Apple imposed stricter tracking and consent requirements on

September 5, 2026

Business

Maria Bartiromo’s Fox Exit Turns Into a Legal Standoff as Her Lawyer Promises ‘Receipts’

NEW YORK — Maria Bartiromo’s sudden disappearance from Fox has taken an unexpected turn. Just one day after Fox News Media publicly declared that its longtime anchor was no longer with the company, Bartiromo’s attorney challenged the emerging narrative surrounding her exit — insisting that reports she had been fired were false and warning that he has evidence and witnesses to prove it. The result is an unusually public employment dispute involving one of the most recognizable names in American

September 5, 2026

Business

Trump Threatens to Cut Off Trade Unless the Fed Lowers Rates — But the Jobs Report Just Sent Markets the Other Way

President Donald Trump escalated his pressure campaign against the Federal Reserve after U.S. employers added a surprisingly strong 162,000 jobs in August. But instead of strengthening the case for lower borrowing costs, the report sent financial markets in the opposite direction — toward growing expectations of another Fed rate hike. WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has dramatically raised the stakes in his battle with the Federal Reserve, threatening to stop trading with countries that run

September 5, 2026

Business

GCash IPO Gets SEC Green Light: ₱92.3-Billion Stock Market Debut Set—But the Biggest Surprise Is Still Ahead

MANILA, Philippines — The long-awaited GCash stock market debut is now one major step closer. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved the registration statement of Mynt Inc., the parent company of GCash, clearing the way for a potential ₱92.32-billion initial public offering (IPO) that could become the largest IPO in Philippine history if completed at the maximum offer size. The SEC’s Commission En Banc approved the registration on September 3, covering up to 66.9 billion com

September 5, 2026

Business

KRX Teams Up With NYSE as Korea Pushes Longer Trading and Faster Settlement — But the Bigger Goal Is Winning Global Investors

South Korea is taking another major step toward remaking the way its stock market operates — and this time, it is turning to Wall Street for help. Korea Exchange Chairman Jeong Eun-bo and New York Stock Exchange President Lynn Martin have signed a cooperation agreement aimed at sharing expertise on longer trading hours, faster settlement and the infrastructure needed to run increasingly global capital markets. On paper, it is a memorandum of understanding. Strategically, however, it comes at

September 5, 2026

Business

South Korea Is Moving to Calm Its Markets as Bond Yields and Oil Prices Rise — But an Unexpected AI Debt Boom Is Adding to the Pressure

SEOUL — South Korea is stepping up efforts to shield its financial markets from a dangerous mix of rising global interest rates, expensive oil and renewed Middle East tensions — just as another unexpected force, the artificial intelligence investment boom, adds pressure to borrowing costs worldwide. Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol convened financial officials on September 4 to review conditions in domestic and global markets and discuss possible stabilization measures as volatility intensifies.

September 5, 2026

Business

Samsung Surges to 33% of Global HBM Market, Cutting SK Hynix’s Lead as HBM4 Battle Heats Up

SEOUL — The global race to supply the memory chips powering artificial intelligence is suddenly looking far more competitive. Samsung Electronics captured 33% of global high-bandwidth memory revenue in the second quarter of 2026, surging from just 21% in the previous quarter and dramatically narrowing the lead of longtime HBM frontrunner SK hynix, according to new data from Counterpoint Research. SK hynix remained firmly in first place with 50% of global HBM revenue, but its share slipped from

September 5, 2026