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Japan Expands Defense Aid to 12 Countries as China Pressure Grows—Is the Philippines Set for More Support?

TOKYO — Japan is significantly expanding its security assistance program, planning to provide defense equipment and other support to about 12 countries in fiscal year 2026, up from eight recipients the previous year. The move comes as Tokyo seeks to strengthen security cooperation with like-minded partners amid growing strategic tensions in the Indo-Pacific. The expansion is being carried out through Japan’s Official Security Assistance (OSA) program, a framework launched in 2023 to help partne

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DILG Urges LGUs to Act Fast as Flood and Landslide Threats Persist Across Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is pressing local government units (LGUs) to move quickly once disaster warnings are issued, stressing that timely decisions and early action can make the difference between preventing casualties and responding after tragedy strikes. The warning comes as several parts of the country continue to deal with flooding, landslides and other hazards associated with heavy rains. The Philippine News Agency reported that th

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Metro Manila Air Improves as Indonesia Haze Shifts to Visayas and Mindanao; Some Areas Hit Dangerous Levels

MANILA, Philippines — Residents in Metro Manila may finally have some relief from the recent haze, but the country’s air-quality problem is far from over. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) reported that air quality in the National Capital Region has improved, with the latest monitoring showing generally good conditions at listed monitoring stations. However, the improvement in Luzon has been accompanied by worsening conditions in par

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52 Singaporeans Arrested in China Over Suspected Pyramid Scheme as Authorities Probe Alleged “Business Opportunity

SINGAPORE/CHINA — A major cross-border investigation has put 52 Singaporeans in the spotlight after Chinese authorities arrested and detained them in Guangxi over suspected involvement in pyramid scheme activities and related offences. The arrests, announced on Friday, September 4, by Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and Singapore Police Force (SPF), are part of a wider Chinese law-enforcement operation targeting suspected pyramid-selling activities in the southern Chinese region.

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Toyota, Honda Face Fresh Tariff Shock as Trump Targets Canadian Auto Imports

A new trade threat from Washington is putting Toyota and Honda in an increasingly difficult position, with analysts warning that proposed U.S. tariffs on vehicles imported from Canada could force major changes to their North American manufacturing strategies. U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed a 50% tariff on Canadian vehicle imports, potentially doubling the current 25% levy. The measure, if implemented as proposed on January 1, 2027, could hit Toyota and Honda particularly hard because

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Samsung, SK hynix Hold Top NAND Spots as AI Demand Sends Memory Market Soaring

SEOUL — Samsung Electronics and SK hynix remained the two biggest players in the global NAND flash memory market in the second quarter of 2026, but a rapidly strengthening Chinese competitor is adding a new layer of pressure to the industry. According to Counterpoint Research, global NAND market revenue jumped 70% quarter-on-quarter in Q2 2026, following a 90% increase in Q1. The latest surge was fueled largely by a sharp increase in NAND prices, with average prices rising 55% from the previous

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Thailand’s ‘Friend-for-Hire’ Trend Takes Off as Solo Living Reshapes Social Life

BANGKOK — In Thailand, friendship is becoming an unexpected part of the gig economy. A growing number of people are now paying for companions to join them on trips, take photographs, go shopping, exercise, visit cafés or simply provide company—reflecting wider changes in Thai lifestyles and the country's increasingly large population of people living alone. The emerging “friend-for-hire” industry does not necessarily revolve around romance or loneliness. For many customers, it is simply about

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PNP Steps Up Coordination Across Mindanao as Security Forces Push to Protect Hard-Won Peace

MANILA — The Philippine National Police is strengthening coordination with security forces, local governments and peace stakeholders across Mindanao as authorities work to preserve stability and prevent renewed violence in the region. The move comes at a particularly important moment for the Bangsamoro, with the first regular Bangsamoro parliamentary elections scheduled for September 14, 2026 and security preparations already involving the PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Commission on Ele

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Taiwan Adds US$4.6 Billion to Defense Plans as Drones, Missiles and Unmanned Systems Take Center Stage

TAIPEI — Taiwan’s government has approved a NT$145.7 billion (about US$4.6 billion) defense allocation as part of a much larger supplementary budget, putting drones, missiles, ammunition and other military capabilities at the center of Taipei’s latest effort to strengthen its defenses. But there is an important catch: the additional defense spending still needs approval from Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan. The proposal comes as Taiwan faces sustained military and political pressure from Beijing and

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Seoul’s Taekwondo Spectacle Returns This Fall as Foreign Visitors Fuel Record-Breaking Interest

SEO is bringing back one of its most dynamic free cultural attractions, with the 2026 Seoul Taekwondo Performance returning this weekend after its summer break—and this time, the numbers show that international visitors are taking notice. The city’s Taekwondo performance series resumes September 5, bringing high-energy martial arts demonstrations back to Namsangol Hanok Village and the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) as Seoul continues to turn the traditional Korean martial art into a major K-cul

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