Category: Asia

Singapore

Singapore Parents Are Getting Up to 12 Days of Childcare Leave — But There’s a Catch Employers and Workers Need to Know

SINGAPORE — Working parents in Singapore are set to receive significantly more childcare leave under a new scheme announced at National Day Rally 2026, but the policy is also raising a difficult workplace question: when parents take leave, who will cover their work? Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced on Aug 23 that childcare leave will be increased and redesigned around the number of Singapore Citizen children a working parent has, rather than the age of the youngest child. Under the new a

August 25, 2026

Philippines

NO FILIPINO VICTIMS: DFA Breaks Silence on Deadly Sweden School Sword Attack — But Police Are Now Probing the Suspect’s Online Trail

MANILA — The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has confirmed that no Filipino has been reported among those involved in the deadly sword attack at a school in Fagersta, Sweden, providing reassurance to the Filipino community as Swedish authorities continue investigating the incident. The Philippine Embassy in Stockholm reached out to Filipino community leaders following the August 21 attack at Brinell High School. According to the DFA, community representatives reported that none o

August 25, 2026

Business

Thailand’s Car Industry Just Staged a Surprising July Comeback — But There’s a Bigger Story Behind the Numbers

Thailand’s automotive industry delivered a notable rebound in July, with vehicle production rising 6.12% year-on-year to 117,383 units, according to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). The July increase marks a sharp turnaround from June, when Thai vehicle production fell 7.55% year-on-year. The latest figures suggest that Thailand’s auto sector is regaining momentum — but the recovery comes as manufacturers continue to face intense competition, shifting export demand and the rapid expansi

August 25, 2026

Philippines

Iloilo Wants to Redesign the Historic Siete Pecados to Fix Capitol Traffic — But One Big Decision Still Stands in the Way

ILOILO CITY — One of the most recognizable road features outside the Iloilo Provincial Capitol could be heading for its biggest transformation in nearly seven decades as provincial officials consider a sweeping redesign aimed at reducing traffic conflicts and creating a safer, more pedestrian-friendly civic district. The proposal centers on the Siete Pecados traffic islands along Bonifacio Drive, a landmark road configuration dating to the late 1950s. Landscape architect and urban designer Paul

August 25, 2026

Business

Singapore Backs Major Overhaul of Global Investor Dispute Rules — But What Happens When Governments Face Investors?

Singapore is backing efforts to strengthen the international system for resolving disputes between foreign investors and governments, as countries work to make investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS) more transparent, consistent and credible. The issue has gained renewed attention as the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) advances a broad reform programme aimed at addressing longstanding concerns over investor-State arbitration. Under ISDS, foreign investors can,

August 25, 2026

Business

Marcos Pushes Filipino-Made E-Jeeps and E-Trikes as PH Targets Homegrown EV Industry

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is stepping up the government’s push to develop a homegrown electric vehicle industry, with Filipino-made electric tricycles expected to come first and locally produced electric jeepneys potentially following. During a visit to MD Juan Enterprises Inc. in Caloocan City on August 25, 2026, Marcos said the government would support the company’s efforts to develop fully Filipino-made electric vehicles. The 60-year-old company is known for manufacturing machine-presse

August 25, 2026

Business

Customer Pays $650 for $6.50 Lor Mee — Then the Hawker Does Something That Restored His Faith in Singapore

A simple lor mee order at a Telok Blangah-area coffee shop turned into an unexpected lesson in honesty after a customer accidentally paid $650 instead of $6.50 for his meal — and did not realise the mistake until weeks later. The customer, identified on Facebook as Aud Chang, said he had mistakenly entered the wrong payment amount before leaving the stall. He only discovered the error about a month later, after returning from an overseas trip. The hawker, meanwhile, had already noticed the unu

August 25, 2026

Business

Canada Prepares New Tariff Retaliation as Trump Escalates Trade War With 50% Auto Threat

Canada is preparing to unveil its latest response to President Donald Trump’s escalating tariffs on Canadian goods, as the once-close U.S.-Canada relationship slides deeper into a damaging trade confrontation. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government is expected to announce additional measures on Tuesday, Aug. 25, after weeks of trade negotiations with Washington collapsed and the United States imposed new 50% tariffs on selected Canadian imports. The latest U.S. duties affect roughly US$20 bil

August 25, 2026

Business

Iloilo Just Trained 263 Frontline Animal-Health Workers — But the Real Test Will Come When the Next Outbreak Begins

ILOILO, Philippines — Iloilo is quietly building a new line of defense against animal diseases — and the people at the center of it are not all veterinarians. The Iloilo Provincial Government has trained 263 barangay vaccinators in 2026, creating a wider community-based animal-health network designed to bring vaccination, disease detection and basic veterinary assistance closer to farms and households across the province. The initiative could prove increasingly important as Iloilo confronts re

August 25, 2026

Philippines

DENR Lifts Binaliw Landfill CDO—But Cebu City Still Can’t Dump Garbage There Yet

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu City's long-running garbage crisis has taken a major turn after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) fully lifted the cease-and-desist order (CDO) against the Binaliw sanitary landfill. But there is a catch: Cebu City still cannot immediately send its garbage trucks back to Binaliw. City officials said the lifting of the environmental order only clears one major hurdle. Before the city can resume paying for waste disposal at the facility, it

August 25, 2026