Philippines

A man fixes his mask as he walks past a mural dedicated to health care workers fighting the coronavirus in Manila.
Economy

Philippines warns of worst postwar GDP contraction due to COVID

Forecast flags deeper-than-expected decline of up to 9.5% before rebound in 2021

3 December 2020
Internet giants are the target of efforts to tighten the tax net for digital services.
Economy

From Thailand to Indonesia, taxes tighten for digital businesses

E-commerce has boomed in Asia during pandemic but new levies challenge profits

27 November 2020
The Philippines has decided to allow online-only banks in a bid to boost financial inclusion. (Source photos by Reuters and AP)
Finance

Philippines greenlights 'digital banks' as pandemic drives demand

Central bank says branchless lenders will boost financial inclusion

26 November 2020
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte created the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict in 2018 to supposedly counter communist propaganda, but it has been criticized as a tool for cracking down on political opponents. (Photo courtesy of Government of the Philippines)
Politics

Philippines to raise anti-insurgent budget elevenfold

'Red-tagging' task force draws fire from critics at home and abroad

26 November 2020
Philippine Airlines, the nation's flag carrier, is fighting for its survival amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Transportation

Philippine Airlines plans to seek court protection from creditors

Flag carrier pursuing job cuts, fleet reductions and fresh $505m lifeline

25 November 2020
A BrahMos supersonic cruise missile launcher rolls past during a Republic Day parade in New Delhi in January 2015.
International relations

Philippines set to be first buyer of India-Russia cruise missile

BrahMos will boost Manila's coastal defenses, raising concern for China

22 November 2020
Pfizer's vaccine uses a synthetic version of coronavirus genetic material known as mRNA.
21 November 2020
The Philippines' call center agents are threatened by automation and the rise of artificial intelligence, trends expected to accelerate amid the pandemic.
Economy

Philippine outsourcing cuts targets as virus spurs automation

Vital industry that reeled from Trump and Duterte has yet to weigh Biden impact

20 November 2020
Duterte will likely drive a hard bargain. (Handout photo from Presidential Communications Operations Office of the Philippines)
Opinion

Watch Duterte tighten the screws when Biden takes over

New US president will have to move quickly to stabilize relations with Manila

20 November 2020
Both Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and Bank Indonesia cut rates on Thursday. (Source photos by Takaki Kashiwabara and Reuters) 
Economy

Indonesia and Philippines cut rates as recessions bite

Both Southeast Asian economies have been battered by the coronavirus

19 November 2020
Narendra Modi, center, during a victory celebration for Bihar state assembly election at the BJP's headquarters, pictured on Nov. 11: Asia's tub-thumping leaders retain widespread support.
Opinion

Asia's populists are here to stay

Tub-thumping leaders rewarded despite incompetent pandemic response

18 November 2020
This property, located in Shibuya, Tokyo, was handed over to the Philippines after World War II as part of a war reparations package.
Politics

Philippines' plan to sell its Japanese real estate hits a wall

Premium properties seen as 'symbol of Filipino blood' from World War II

17 November 2020
Health workers prepare to give a man a flu shot at a drive-thru vaccine center in Goyang, South Korea on Oct. 26.
Coronavirus: Free to read

Coronavirus: Week of Nov.8 to Nov. 14, South Korea logs most daily cases since Sept.

Brazil suspects hackers targeted COVID data; US Secret Service fights cluster

14 November 2020
Sailors prepare aircraft on the carrier USS Ronald Reagan in the Philippine Sea on Nov. 2. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has extended a troop deal with the U.S., giving President-elect Joe Biden more time to negotiate. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy)
South China Sea

Duterte extends Philippines' military deal with US

Extension will give Biden time to renegotiate current agreement

11 November 2020
Filipinos queue for cash subsidies from the government amid the coronavirus disease outbreak, in Quezon City, Metro Manila in August.
Economy

Philippines' GDP slump eases to 11.5% in Q3

Worse than expected performance makes annual target 'no longer feasible'

10 November 2020
Philippine malls have gone from centers of daily life to all but deserted amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Kimberly Dela Cruz)
Business Spotlight

'Mini economies': Pandemic tests the Philippines' mighty malls

Retailers and consumers go digital in blow for major developers

6 November 2020
People watch live news report of the U.S. Presidential elections at a shopping mall in Hong Kong. 
US elections 2020

China seeks to work with next US president, but mocks poll 'farce'

Trump's claim of fraud reminds Indonesians of elections at home

5 November 2020
Two women use their mobile phones in Manila. President Duterte wants mobile carriers to improve services. 
Business deals

KKR invests in Philippine telecom tower builder

US fund bets on a sector under pressure from Duterte to improve services

3 November 2020
Women from the Asian and Vietnamese community participate in a rally supporting Donald Trump on October 10 in Bellevue, Washington. 
US elections 2020

Trump factor spurs Asian Americans to switch political allegiance

Vietnamese and Filipinos still lead in supporting Republican incumbent

3 November 2020
The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant in the northern Philippine province of Bataan never started operations since it was completed in 1985. (Photo by Jun Endo)
Energy

Philippines weighs starting dormant nuclear plant

Duterte hopes to solve power shortages, but needs to obtain public understanding

27 October 2020
Philippine conglomerate San Miguel withdrew a bid to purchase a rival cement company over after concerns over antitrust laws were raised. Those laws have now been loosened.
Business trends

Philippines eases corporate buyout rules to suppress bankruptcies

Move raises concerns over monopolies and rise of megaconglomerates

24 October 2020
The traditional Filipino martial art of arnis was an official event at the 30th Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines in 2019. Here, Vietnam's Thai Viet Phu, in red, takes on Mike Banares of the Philippines in the men's 65 kg and over final in Clark City on Dec. 1, 2019. Banares won gold.
Life

Filipino martial art stages comeback in its native land

Local revival of indigenous sport follows growing popularity overseas

24 October 2020
A volunteer takes part in a vaccine trial in Johannesburg, South Africa.
24 October 2020
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte at the Philippine Stock Exchange in 2017. There have been 15 initial public offerings on the exchange since he took office in 2016.
Market Spotlight

Philippines' faltering stock market throws open the doors

Manila exchange to relax start-up listing rules to catch up with neighbors

19 October 2020
A volunteer receives an experimental Chinese COVID-19 in Turkey. U.S. drugmaker Pfizer says it is nearing " an important data"  readout its own coronavirus vaccine program.
Coronavirus: Free to read

Coronavirus: Week of Oct. 11 to Oct. 17, Pfizer sees November end as earliest for vaccine

US budget deficit hit record $3.132tn; Wimbledon may not have spectators next year

17 October 2020