Category: Asia

Business

Sulu Sea Gas Prospect Triples to 8 Tcf as Tetragon Hunts for Global Partners — But the Biggest Test Still Lies Beneath the Seabed

MANILA, Philippines — A little-known gas prospect beneath the Sulu Sea has suddenly become one of the most closely watched exploration plays in the Philippines after its estimated mid-case resource more than tripled to 8 trillion cubic feet. But there is a catch. The company leading the project is now looking for international oil and gas partners willing to help finance the expensive drilling campaign needed to determine whether the enormous gas estimate actually exists underground in commerc

September 5, 2026

Business

PH Business Confidence Sinks Back Below Zero as Inflation and Oil Risks Rattle Firms — But One Signal Says Companies Haven’t Given Up

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine businesses have turned pessimistic again, reversing a brief improvement just one month earlier as high inflation, oil-price risks and renewed Middle East tensions cloud the outlook for companies already facing a slower domestic economy. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ latest Business Expectations Survey showed the overall business confidence index plunging to -20.3 percent in July from 0.0 percent in June. A negative reading means pessimists outnumber optimist

September 5, 2026

Philippines

Duterte Camp Makes New Move Before ICC Trial—And It Could Put Digital Evidence Under the Microscope

MANILA, Philippines — The legal battle surrounding former President Rodrigo Duterte’s International Criminal Court (ICC) case is taking another turn, with his defense team asking judges to impose stricter verification requirements on digital evidence before his trial begins. Duterte’s lawyers have asked the ICC Trial Chamber III to amend its E-Court Protocol, particularly for open-source and user-generated materials that could be presented as evidence in the case. The defense argues that simpl

September 5, 2026

Business

SM Cares Set to Make Waves With Its Biggest Coastal Cleanup Yet—32 Malls Join Nationwide Drive

MANILA, Philippines — A massive nationwide push to protect the country’s coastlines is about to get even bigger as SM Cares prepares to bring together volunteers from 32 SM malls for this year’s International Coastal Cleanup. The initiative, scheduled for September 19, 2026, is expected to become one of the largest mall-led coastal cleanup efforts in the country, building on SM Cares’ growing environmental campaign and its record participation in the previous year. The 2026 International Coast

September 5, 2026

Business

GCash Gets Green Light for Record ₱92.3-Billion IPO — But Most of the Money Won’t Actually Go to GCash

MANILA — The long wait is almost over. GCash is preparing for what could become the biggest initial public offering the Philippines has ever seen, after regulators cleared a share sale worth as much as ₱92.32 billion. The Securities and Exchange Commission has approved the registration statement of Mynt Inc., the company behind GCash, bringing one of the country’s most valuable financial-technology businesses within weeks of a planned Philippine Stock Exchange debut. Under the latest timetable

September 5, 2026

Asia

The World Map We Grew Up With Is Misleading—Now the UN Wants It Changed

NEW YORK — The United Nations General Assembly has backed a resolution encouraging the world to move away from distorted representations of continental size, putting a spotlight on one of the most familiar images in classrooms, offices and digital maps: the Mercator world map. The resolution, spearheaded by Togo and supported by the African Union, passed overwhelmingly on Friday, September 4, with 164 countries voting in favor, one against and six abstaining. The United States was the only coun

September 5, 2026

Philippines

₱210 BILLION PAID OUT: One Medical Procedure Alone Took the Biggest Share of PhilHealth’s Claims

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) released a striking picture of the country’s healthcare needs in the first half of 2026: the state health insurer paid ₱210.09 billion in healthcare claims from January to June, with hemodialysis emerging as the single biggest medical procedure in terms of payments. PhilHealth paid approximately ₱48.76 billion for hemodialysis claims during the six-month period, substantially higher than the amounts recorded for the other

September 5, 2026

Philippines

Police Swarm QC Court After Sara Duterte Arrest Warrant—But What Happens Next Could Be Even Bigger

QUEZON CITY, Philippines — Police were deployed to the Quezon City Hall of Justice early Saturday following the issuance of an arrest warrant against Vice President Sara Duterte, adding another dramatic turn to the high-stakes legal and political battle surrounding the country's second-highest elected official. Members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) arrived at the courthouse after building security requested additional personnel, according to a GMA News report published Saturday mornin

September 5, 2026

Business

ACEN Is Putting ₱9.24 Billion Behind Zambales Solar and Batteries — But the Bigger Bet Begins After Sunset

MANILA — ACEN Corp. is putting another ₱9.24 billion of financing behind two major renewable-energy projects in Zambales, accelerating an emerging solar-and-battery complex that could become one of the Philippines’ most important tests of whether massive amounts of daytime solar power can be made useful when the sun is no longer shining. The Ayala-led energy company has executed loan agreements with two wholly owned subsidiaries: up to ₱6 billion for SanMar Solar Inc. and up to ₱3.24 billion fo

September 5, 2026

Philippines

CEBU MOURNS: National Artist Resil Mojares Dies at 83 — His Legacy Leaves an Enduring Mark on Philippine Literature

CEBU CITY — The Philippines has lost one of its most influential scholars, writers and cultural historians. National Artist for Literature Resil B. Mojares, a towering figure in Cebuano and Philippine literature, died in the early hours of Saturday, September 5, 2026, his family confirmed. He was 83. The news of Mojares’ death was first reported by Cebu Daily News, which said the National Artist died early Saturday. His passing marks the end of a remarkable intellectual career that helped pla

September 5, 2026