High fuel costs driven by geopolitical conflict in the Middle East hammered the Philippine labor market in March, forcing hundreds of thousands of agricultural and manual workers out of job as operating expenses became untenable. Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Undersecretary and National...
SM Investments Corp. (SMIC), the conglomerate controlled by the Philippines’ wealthiest family, is pushing ahead with a multi-billion-dollar reclamation project despite geopolitical headwinds in the Middle East, even as its banking unit opts for a “wait-and-see” approach on liquidating...
BEIJING — China is stepping up its push to harmonize the Asia-Pacific’s two largest trade blocs, seeking to bridge the gap between competing frameworks to finally realize a long-delayed vision for a unified regional free trade zone. As the current chair of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation...
China Bank Savings (CBS) Inc. posted a record net income of ₱2.4 billion in 2025, marking a fourth consecutive year of growth driven by the 13 percent surge in its loan portfolio. In a statement, CBS reported that the retail arm of China Banking Corp. saw full-year earnings rise more than 10...
PANAMA CITY (AP) — The U.S. State Department accused China of violating Panama 's sovereignty over a port dispute in the Central American nation, triggering another fierce back-and-forth on Wednesday as the Chinese government called the Trump administration hypocritical. The most recent...
China is exploring the possibility of asking the Philippine government to expand its visa-free entry policies for its nationals to other key tourist destinations such as Boracay and Bohol, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said. Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan raised the proposal during the Love Boracay...
Filipino and American forces have successfully integrated advanced air defense systems to counter “drone warfare” during the 41st interation of Exercise Balikatan, just as reports revealed a massive new Chinese dredging project in the South China Sea (SCS). The four-day Integrated Air and...
By Badette M. Cunanan Preparing for a trip to Chongqing often conjures images of ultra-spicy hotpot, neon-lit streets, a monorail weaving through residential towers, and futuristic skyscrapers rising from the mountainous terrain. The city’s unique blend of tradition and modernity makes it one...
BEIJING, China — The trade relationship between two of the world’s largest economies is expected to expand significantly in the near term as China looks to secure bilateral commitments with the United States (US) at the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. Ambassador Chen...
BANGKOK (AP) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Friday during a visit aimed at strengthening the countries’ strategic partnership and expanding cooperation. The two agreed to strengthen collaboration in fighting transnational crime and...
China Banking Corp. (Chinabank), the second financial services unit of the SM Group, posted a four-percent improvement in net income to ₱6.8 billion in the first quarter of 2026 on the back of strong core business growth. The firm reported to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) on Thursday, April...
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. fired back at Beijing on Tuesday, April 21, as China criticized the ongoing Exercise Balikatan between the Armed Forces of the Philippines, United States, and other allied forces, saying the drills are part of a “collective...
