People ride motorcycles near the site where a building collapsed, following the earthquake in Hualien, Taiwan, on April 4.
Natural disasters

Taiwan earthquake kills at least 9; TSMC plants recovering

World's top chipmaker reports no damage to most advanced equipment

4 April 2024
From left, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, U.S. President Joe Biden and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will discuss cyberdefense at their April 11 summit in Washington. (Source photos from Kyodo)
Defense

Japan, U.S., Philippines to form joint cyberdefense network

Biden, Kishida and Marcos to agree on measures guarding against China, Russia

3 April 2024
The Singapore financial regulator’s announcement on Tuesday on tightened rules for crytocurrency providers came as the city-state continues to investigate the biggest money laundering case in its history.
Cryptocurrencies

Singapore tightens anti-money laundering rules for crypto players

Financial regulator MAS demands digital payment token services get licensed

2 April 2024
A Chinese coast guard ship fires water at a Philippine resupply vessel as it approaches the Second Thomas Shoal in the disputed South China Sea on March 23. (Armed Forces of the Philippines via AP)
Indo-Pacific

First U.S.-Japan-Philippines trilateral to address China's 'gray zone' tactics

Leaders seek to deepen economic ties as Beijing tests American treaty commitments

1 April 2024
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., center, signs the Maharlika sovereign wealth fund into law in Manila in July  2023. (Philippines' Presidential Photographers Association)
Interview

Philippines wealth fund will 'avoid' fate of Malaysia's 1MDB, chief says

Fund to launch in Q3; China investment welcome despite maritime tensions

26 March 2024
The Bataan nuclear power plant in the Philippines has sat idle since plans to put it into operation were abandoned in 1986.
Energy

Thailand, Philippines embrace nuclear power to cut emissions

Small modular reactors seen as solution to meet energy demand, promote safety

26 March 2024
Philippine Coast Guard personnel prepare rubber fenders during an earlier confrontation with Chinese Coast Guard vessels in the South China Sea on March 5.
South China Sea

China's defense ministry warns Philippines after South China Sea incident

Beijing vows 'decisive measures' if Manila challenges 'bottom line'

24 March 2024
A beach on the Philippine island of Palawan: For one recent group of Indian holidaymakers, Palawan offered the natural beauty of such popular tourist destinations as Mauritius or the Maldives but without the crowds and higher prices. 
Life

'Dupe destination' boom hits social media

Travel trend gathers momentum as vacationers seek copycat locations

23 March 2024
InfiniVAN holds a cable pulling ceremony on the island of Boracay in November 2022. The Philippines consist of over 7,100 islands, meaning submarine cables are key to stable internet access. (InfiniVAN)
Telecommunication

Philippines' undersea cable network to boost call center industry

Project expected to bring stable internet and new jobs to more remote islands

23 March 2024
Deputy U.S. Secretary of State Kurt Campbell spoke to Nikkei and other media outlets in Tokyo on March 21. (U.S. Embassy in Japan)
Interview

U.S., Japan to discuss how Tokyo can work with AUKUS: Kurt Campbell

April summit's agenda to include potential technological cooperation, says U.S. official

22 March 2024
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida are to meet on April 11. (Source photos by Reuters and Tomoki Mera) 
International relations

U.S., Japan, Philippines' leaders to meet for April summit

High-level talks at White House come as South China Sea tensions flare

19 March 2024
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Manila in August 2022. The two will meet again this week.
Your Week in Asia

BOJ monetary policy, Blinken meets Marcos in Manila, GoTo earnings

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

17 March 2024
RedDoorz's Jakarta office. London-based Grant Thornton interviewed executives at 4,891 midsize companies in the fourth quarter of 2023. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Gender

Philippines tops women business executive ranking of 28 countries

Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia place in top 10; Japan, South Korea fall to bottom

16 March 2024
For his 2022 presidential election campaign, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s PR team portrayed him as a youthful "cool uncle" who would bring unity to a divided nation.
Opinion

Prabowo followed Marcos' election playbook, for better or worse

Indonesians now must wait to see if next president takes authoritarian path

15 March 2024
A Sandakan market vendor in 2020: The town is part of the territory that was previously under the control of the sultan of Sulu. (VWPics via AP Images)
Opinion

Malaysia does not have the law on its side in $15bn Sulu dispute

Government's quandary result of failure to engage in talks or legal process

14 March 2024
The Ortigas business district in Pasig City, Philippines. A U.S. delegation will visit the archipelago nation this week, aiming to spur U.S. investment in various sectors, such as energy, critical minerals and infrastructure.
Your Week in Asia

U.S. delegation in Philippines, Japan wage talks, Foxconn earnings

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

10 March 2024
SM Group operates dozens of malls across the Philippines, including SM Mall of Asia in metro Manila.
Retail

Philippine retail empire SM expands reach outside major cities

Group targets fast-growing middle class ahead of incoming foreign competition

10 March 2024
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, left, meets with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Canberra on Feb. 29. The two countries are enhancing security cooperation. (AAP via Reuters)
Comment

U.S. allies in Indo-Pacific tremble at prospect of Trump return

Middle powers Japan, Philippines and Australia explore security cooperation

9 March 2024
Not being able to receive merchandise even though it has arrived at port is a common problem faced by retailers in the Philippines. (Photo by Hirofumi Yamamoto)
Trade

Philippine retailers frustrated as customs backups delay imports

Waits for products stuck in ports can last upward of a year

8 March 2024
Philippine Coast Guard personnel inspect the hull of their ship after the Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Sindangan and a Chinese Coast Guard ship collided in the South China Sea on March 5.
South China Sea

Philippines blames China Coast Guard for South China Sea collisions

Manila says Chinese vessel's 'dangerous maneuvers' caused incident in waterway

5 March 2024
Nitori has opened stores in several Asian markets, including this location in Thailand. (Photo by Kosuke Inoue)
Retail

Japan furniture seller Nitori to open first Philippines store in Manila

Retailer aims for 50 shops in country by 2032 amid Asia-focused overseas push

5 March 2024
In June 2023, the Court of Appeal of Paris upheld Malaysia's challenge against an order recognizing a purported award of $14.9 billion to self-proclaimed heirs of the last sultan of Sulu.
Opinion

Malaysia has the law on its side in $15bn Sulu legal case

Outcome of Sabah challenge should lead to scrutiny of litigation funders

29 February 2024
China Coast Guard personnel on duty near Taiwan's Kinmen Islands. (China Coast Guard)
International relations

China flexes maritime muscle with bigger, tougher coast guard ships

Navy-style operations raise alarm in Taiwan, Japan and Philippines

28 February 2024
A counselor arranges chairs inside a family counseling room at the Center for Family Ministries in Quezon City: Dissolving a Philippine marriage is a complex, discouraging process.
Opinion

For the health of its families, the Philippines needs a divorce law

Current system deprives non-Muslim women of equal choice

25 February 2024
Gashapon machines at the Mitsukoshi BGC shopping mall in Manila. The capsules that customers draw at random contain characters from popular Japanese anime and games. (Photo by Yuichi Shiga)
Consumer

Gashapon capsule toy shop in Manila has fans flocking

Store is Japanese toymaker Bandai's first in the Philippines

24 February 2024