Philippines

Leila de Lima looks at a flower given by her supporter upon arrival at a local court in Quezon city, metro Manila, in March 2017: her fate demonstrates how vulnerable Philippine democratic institutions have become to coercive political influence.
Opinion

Why is Philippine Senator Leila de Lima still behind bars?

Fierce opponent of Rodrigo Duterte's anti-drug campaign should be freed immediately

26 November 2021
Universal Robina now owns Munchy’s, a leading snack brand in Malaysia. (Source photos from Universal Robina and Munchy's websites)
Business deals

Universal Robina buys Malaysia biscuit brand for $453m

Deal by Philippine food company follows exit from New Zealand and Australia

26 November 2021
Commonwealth High School in Quezon City, Metro Manila, put solar panels on its roof last year. (Photo courtesy of Quezon City Government)
Climate Change

Asian cities search for ways to finance climate projects

Underdeveloped municipal bond markets hinder green action, experts say

26 November 2021
Ikea will sell 8,200 products -- everything from picture frames, lamps and sofas, to desks and kitchenware -- at its first store in the Philippines. (Photo by Cliff Venzon)
Retail

Ikea opens first outlet in Philippines -- its largest globally

Swedish retailer rides home furnishings boom as it fights supply crunch

25 November 2021
Chinese President Xi Jinping, center, takes part in a virtual summit with ASEAN leaders on Nov. 22 -- with an empty space for Myanmar. (Courtesy of Thai government)
International relations

Xi courts ASEAN at summit as Duterte hits out over South China Sea

Myanmar missing as Chinese president vows more trade and vaccines

22 November 2021
Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will be the first foreign leader received by his Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida, who took office in October.
Your Week in Asia

Vietnam PM visits Japan, Asia-Europe summit, Marcos Jr. in focus

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

21 November 2021
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte alleged Thursday that a candidate for next year's presidential election, whom he did not identify, is a cocaine user. (File photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Philippine elections

Duterte claims Philippine presidential candidate uses cocaine

Allegation against unidentified contender comes as leader criticizes Marcos

20 November 2021
The Philippines is closely watching large e-commerce companies to block sales of mobile transmitters. (Photo by Yuichi Shiga)
Philippine elections

Philippines cracks down on 'text blaster' sales as election looms

'Emergency' alert sent to phones touted a specific presidential candidate

19 November 2021
A Philippine flag flutters from the BRP Sierra Madre, a grounded Philippine Navy ship at the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.
South China Sea

Philippines slams Beijing for blocking ships in South China Sea

Chinese Coast Guard fired water cannons on transport vessels, Manila says

18 November 2021
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte speaks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida by telephone at Malacanang Palace on Nov. 17. (Photo courtesy of the presidency)
Indo-Pacific

Kishida and Duterte discuss holding 2+2 security talks

In phone call, Philippine president lauds Japan as 'unrivaled' bilateral partner

18 November 2021
Sara Duterte, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's daughter, registered her candidacy on Nov. 13 for vice president in next year's elections.
Philippine elections

Sara Duterte to ally with Marcos for 2022 Philippine elections

President's daughter to seek vice presidency as running mate to dictator's son

17 November 2021
Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. poses for pictures after filing his certificate of candidacy for president in Pasay City, Metro Manila, on Oct. 6: Marcos has emerged as the de facto standard-bearer of the Duterte administration.
Opinion

Son of ex-dictator Marcos now has Philippine presidency within reach

Duterte legacy on the line as daughter Sara settles for vice presidential run

16 November 2021
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte speaks in Manila on Aug. 24.
Philippine elections

Philippines' Rodrigo Duterte files senator bid on deadline day

Sara Duterte to run for vice president in possible team-up with Marcos

15 November 2021
A power plant in northeastern China. The country made several commitments at COP26 but backed weakening the final agreement to "phase down" rather than "phase out" coal.
COP26

COP26: What Asia pledged, from China to Vietnam and Philippines

Sideline deals on 'coal, cars, cash and trees' set to impact growth strategies

15 November 2021
U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to meet for the first time online on Tuesday morning, Asia time. This signals a bid by both countries to ease tensions, which have increased recently.
Your Week in Asia

Biden-Xi meet online, Malaysia's partial reopening and Macao gaming licenses

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

14 November 2021
Sara Duterte, daughter of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, will run for vice president in next year's election.
Philippine elections

Sara Duterte to run for Philippine vice president

Rodrigo Duterte may face daughter at polls while his longtime aide runs for president

13 November 2021
Tonik is one of six digital banks courting 70% of Filipino adults who do not have bank accounts. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Finance

Philippine digital banks target $140bn retail deposit market

Six online-only upstarts set to challenge big financial institutions

12 November 2021
The coronavirus pandemic has added further fuel to Southeast Asia's rapidly growing digital economy. (Source photo by AP)
Business trends

ASEAN's digital economy projected to hit $1tn by 2030

Google-led report says retail and finance to fuel growth as internet use surges

10 November 2021
Sara Duterte, Davao City mayor and daughter of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, attends a political rally in Davao City, southern Philippines on May 9, 2019.
Philippine elections

Sara Duterte drops Davao mayor bid amid calls for national run

President's daughter leads polls to succeed her father as Philippines leader

9 November 2021
A health worker walks out to get an oxygen tank for a COVID-19 patient in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, on August 20.
Economy

Philippines GDP growth slows to 7.1% in Q3 amid delta onslaught

Loosened COVID curbs set to boost economy in fourth quarter

9 November 2021
Unloading coal in Ahmedabad, India, in October: Decommissioning coal facilities is considered more complex than adding renewable infrastructure.
COP26

Climate fund to back India, Indonesia, Philippines coal phaseout

$2.5bn program unveiled by multilateral Climate Investment Funds at COP26

4 November 2021
Mynt owns GCash mobile wallet, a widely used app for merchant payments and money transfers in the Philippines. (File photo by AP)
Startups

Philippine fintech Mynt hits $2bn valuation after fundraising

$300m funding round is company's largest ever, underscores its unicorn status

2 November 2021
Narendra Modi, left, embraces Mark Zuckerberg at Facebook's headquarters in Menlo Park, California, in September 2015: Facebook plays right into Modi's hands in the company's biggest market.
Opinion

Nothing to 'like' about Facebook's impact on Asian democracy

Social media platform gives strongmen leaders power to silence opposing voices

27 October 2021
Two teenagers show their plasters after being inoculated against COVID-19 during a vaccine rollout for children with comorbidities in Metro Manila, Philippines, on Oct. 15.
COVID vaccines

Philippines tackles vaccine stockpile as Duterte warns of wastage

Nation is aiming to triple daily inoculation rate to 1.5 million shots

26 October 2021
The NGCP has the Philippines' electricity transmission network all to itself. (Photo from NGCP's Facebook page)
Energy

Philippines' China-backed power grid operator avoids IPO

Owner of National Grid Corporation of the Philippines chooses to sell shares

25 October 2021