Global May Day Protests Erupt Over Energy Costs and Middle East Conflict ISTANBUL — A wave of Global May Day protests swept across continents on Friday, as millions of workers mobilized to denounce the crippling rise in energy costs they link to the ongoing US-Israeli military conflicts involving Iran. The demonstrations, which spanned from the … Read more
Local government units in Metro Manila have urged residents to wear face masks as air quality worsens following a fire at the Navotas Sanitary Landfill. The fire, which broke out in Barangay Tanza on the evening of April 10, has since shrouded several cities in unhealthy smog. Air quality levels in the National Capital Region … Read more
A magnitude-6.0 earthquake was felt in parts of Indonesia and the Philippines on Saturday evening. The quake’s epicenter was located approximately 139 kilometers off Sarangani, Davao Occidental, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). Earthquake Details Phivolcs reported the tremor occurred at 6:34 p.m. on Black Saturday and was tectonic in origin, … Read more
ASEAN+3: Building a Financial Fortress Against a World in Flux Global economic shocks are no longer outliers; they are the new normal. From pandemic-induced recessions to geopolitical instability and escalating climate risks, the need for robust regional financial cooperation has never been greater. The Philippines’ recent push for stronger ties within the ASEAN+3 framework – … Read more
The Philippines aims to secure approximately ₱1 billion in private sector investment through an upcoming national investment forum next month, as the country seeks to enhance the competitiveness of its key commodities in the global market. Hand-in-Hand National Investment Forum Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced Monday, March 16, that the Hand-in-Hand (HIH) National … Read more
Beyond $100 Oil: How Iran’s Disruptions Are Reshaping Global Supply Chains and Southeast Asian Economies A staggering $41 billion wiped off the Australian stock exchange in a single day. Offices shuttered and travel curtailed across Southeast Asia. Oil prices surging past the $100 mark – and climbing. These aren’t isolated incidents; they’re symptoms of a … Read more
The Philippines’ Literary Renaissance: How the Book Festival is Fueling a New Golden Age Despite global challenges to traditional publishing, the Philippines is experiencing a surge in literary activity. A recent report by the National Book Development Board (NBDB) indicates a 15% increase in book sales over the past two years, a figure defying industry … Read more
The ICC and the Philippines: A Turning Tide for Impunity in Southeast Asia? Over 7,000 documented deaths. That’s the estimated toll of the Philippines’ “war on drugs” under former President Rodrigo Duterte, a campaign now facing intense scrutiny at the International Criminal Court (ICC). While Duterte’s defense team argues the killings were not a state-sponsored … Read more
Global Privacy Authorities Warn Against AI-Generated Non-Consensual Imagery February 26, 2026 – Hong Kong and 60 international data protection agencies have issued a stark warning regarding the escalating misuse of artificial intelligence to create damaging and non-consensual images, particularly those targeting vulnerable individuals. Hong Kong’s Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) joined … Read more
A single bat. That’s often all it takes. Recent confirmed cases of Nipah virus in Bangladesh, coupled with heightened surveillance in Australia, aren’t isolated incidents. They’re flashing red lights, signaling a future where zoonotic diseases – those jumping from animals to humans – pose an increasingly significant and unpredictable threat to global health security. While … Read more