27 h. ago Was Philippine police chief sacked for rejecting ‘overpriced’ gun deal?

A controversy over an alleged overpriced firearms deal has intensified in the Philippines, with insiders claiming that national police chief Nicolas Torre III was removed from his post for rejecting a proposed procurement of 80,000 assault rifles – a transaction some believe was padded by billions of pesos. While officials framed Torre’s dismissal as an administrative matter, multiple sources told This Week in Asia he was sacked for rejecting the “overpriced” 8 billion Philippine peso (US$140...

Economics

33 h. ago Citi Pulls Out Of UnionPay As Retail Exit From China Nears Completion

Citi Pulls Out Of UnionPay As Retail Exit From China Nears Completion  Stocktwits

Politics

36 h. ago Citi Exits UnionPay Network in China After Retail Bank Closure

Citi Exits UnionPay Network in China After Retail Bank Closure  Bloomberg.com

Economics

36 h. ago Asylum seeker convicted in UK of sex assault on teen that sparked protests

An Ethiopian asylum seeker, whose arrest in July sparked angry protests outside the hotel near London where he and other migrants were being housed, was found guilty on Thursday of sexually assaulting a teenage girl and another woman. The protests outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, about 30km (20 miles) north of the British capital, became a touchpaper for a string of country-wide demonstrations amid rising tensions over immigration. Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu was convicted at Chelmsford...

Events

36 h. ago Asylum seeker convicted of sex assault on teen that sparked UK protests

An Ethiopian asylum seeker, whose arrest in July sparked angry protests outside the hotel near London where he and other migrants were being housed, was found guilty on Thursday of sexually assaulting a teenage girl and another woman. The protests outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, about 30km (20 miles) north of the British capital, became a touchpaper for a string of country-wide demonstrations amid rising tensions over immigration. Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu was convicted at Chelmsford...

Events

48 h. ago Chinese Navy holds "routine patrol" in South China Sea after joint Philippine drills

Chinese Navy holds "routine patrol" in South China Sea after joint Philippine drills  Baird Maritime

Politics

54 h. ago While the PLA was on parade in Beijing, its navy patrolled the South China Sea

China’s navy conducted a “routine patrol” in the contested waters of the South China Sea as “deterrence” on the same day the PLA mounted a massive military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of China’s victory over Japan in World War II. The patrol on Wednesday took place in the wake of Exercise Alon, the biggest-ever joint drill between Australia and the Philippines, which ran from August 15 to 29. A Canadian frigate also took part in the exercise, while several countries, including the United...

Politics

56 h. ago In too deep? Filipino couple under scrutiny in flood control scandal

As public furore mounts over the revelation of widespread corruption in flood control projects in the Philippines, few names have captured public attention more than Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya and her husband Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya. The couple, once virtually unknown, emerged in the spotlight after Sarah Discaya ran against popular Pasig City mayor Vico Sotto in the May midterm elections – only to lose by a landslide. Her biography has since become a lightning rod for scrutiny. Born in London in...

Events

3 d. ago Tipping point: foreign gratuities upend Japan’s tradition of gracious service

On a bustling evening in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district, a handful of coins left behind by an American tourist creates confusion at a popular izakaya. In a nation where omotenashi – selfless hospitality – is a point of pride, the growing custom of tipping as millions of foreign visitors pour into the country is catching Japan off guard. “It’s not common to tip for services such as those provided in bars, cafés, restaurants, taxis and hotels,” the Japanese National Tourism Organisation reminds...

Politics

3 d. ago ‘Nothing will change’: why Gen Z Filipinos’ faith in the future is fading

On humid afternoons in Balanga, a few hours west of Manila, 23-year-old communication arts major Aron Josh Santos often imagines life beyond the streets of his provincial hometown. He dreams of becoming a professional photographer – capturing images for the Philippines’ most prestigious publications, perhaps landing projects with the country’s leading creative agencies. But like many Gen Z Filipinos, Santos’ ambitions too often collide with the weight of economic reality in a country where...

Politics

3 d. ago ‘Nothing will change’: Gen Z Filipinos’ faith in the future is fading

On humid afternoons in Balanga, a few hours west of Manila, 23-year-old communication arts major Aron Josh Santos often imagines life beyond the streets of his provincial hometown. He dreams of becoming a professional photographer – capturing images for the Philippines’ most prestigious publications, perhaps landing projects with the country’s leading creative agencies. But like many Gen Z Filipinos, Santos’ ambitions too often collide with the weight of economic reality in a country where...

Politics

4 d. ago Sinking fund: Philippines lost up to US$2 billion in 2 years to flood corruption

The Philippines loses up to 70 per cent of government funds for flood-control projects to corruption, with losses as much as US$2 billion crimping economic growth in the past two years, according to a top official. Average economic losses from corruption in flood control projects under the Public Works Department reached about 42.3 billion pesos (US$738 million) to 118.5 billion pesos from 2023 to 2025, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said at a Senate budget hearing on Tuesday. The estimate was...

Events

5 d. ago Hong Kong retail recovery rolls on for third month as July sales rise 1.8%

A recent improvement in Hong Kong’s retail sector spilled into July, with sales rising by 1.8 per cent year on year in a sign that the industry had stabilised, the government said on Monday. According to the Census and Statistics Department, the increase marked the third month in a row of growth following 14 consecutive months of decline. The 1.8 per cent increase in retail sales, to HK$29.7 billion, was bigger than the revised 0.7 per cent year-on-year rise in June. A government spokesman said...

Politics

5 d. ago Tesla sees exodus of South Korean retail investors as crypto’s allure rises

South Korea’s retail investors are losing faith in Tesla’s stock, ramping up their selling last month amid growing disillusionment with the electric carmaker and rising interest in cryptocurrencies. Individual investors in South Korea sold a net US$657 million of Tesla stock in August, the largest outflow since at least early 2023, according to Bloomberg calculations of depository data. Investors have instead favoured even more volatile bets such as Bitmine Immersion Technologies, seen as a...

Economics

5 d. ago Flood of anger: why Filipinos are turning to social media to expose corruption

As public scrutiny intensifies over anomalous flood control projects in the Philippines, Filipinos have turned to social media spaces such as Reddit to expose the lavish lifestyles of the children of the contractors and public officials linked to the ongoing investigations. Social media accounts and online communities have emerged over the past week, reuploading and collecting videos and posts of certain individuals flaunting their lavish lifestyles, from riding private jets and expensive...

Events

5 d. ago Flood of anger: why Filipinos turn to social media to expose ‘nepo babies’

As public scrutiny intensifies over anomalous flood control projects in the Philippines, Filipinos have turned to social media spaces such as Reddit to expose the lavish lifestyles of the children of the contractors and public officials linked to the ongoing investigations. Social media accounts and online communities have emerged over the past week, reuploading and collecting videos and posts of certain individuals flaunting their lavish lifestyles, from riding private jets and expensive...

Events

5 d. ago Will China boost defence posture as Vietnam deepens footprint in Spratlys?

Beijing may be prompted to fortify its defences in the disputed South China Sea, observers have warned, after new satellite images showed Vietnam had stepped up island-building in the Spratly Islands. Vietnam occupies the most features on the contested Spratlys, which China claims as the Nansha Islands. Rival claimants over all or part of the archipelago include Malaysia, the Philippines and Brunei. Satellite images released on August 22 by the US think tank Centre for Strategic and...

Politics

6 d. ago China decries Taiwanese foreign minister’s visit to the Philippines

China decries Taiwanese foreign minister’s visit to the Philippines  PBS

Politics

7 d. ago China protests Taiwan foreign minister’s visit to the Philippines

China protests Taiwan foreign minister’s visit to the Philippines  The Seattle Times

Politics

7 d. ago China ‘PhD village’ reaches 33 doctorates, celebrates another doctoral student

A village in southeastern China has earned the nickname “PhD Village” due to its remarkable achievement of producing 33 offspring who have obtained doctoral degrees from prestigious universities, both domestically and internationally. Pengdao Village, part of Nanan City in Fujian province, gained widespread attention at the end of August after a video showcasing a grand scholarship presentation held at the local ancestral clan hall went viral, as reported by the Xiaoxiang Morning Herald. This...

Science