International Finance Corp. (IFC) has approved its planned investments in two private equity (PE) funds that are eyeing investments in the Philippines and the broader Southeast Asian region. In disclosures last May 7 and April 24, respectively, the World Bank Group’s (WBG) private-sector lending...
BALI, INDONESIA—Southeast Asia is taking bold steps to professionalize its sporting landscape, with regional leaders affirming the Bali Declaration on Youth and Sports and unveiling plans to elevate the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) to global standards. The initiative includes the creation of...
The ASEAN Foundation launched Scam Ready ASEAN, a regional initiative aimed at strengthening prevention against online scams across Southeast Asia. The programme was unveiled at the Google 2026 Online Safety Dialogue in Kuala Lumpur earlier today, a forum bringing together policymakers, industry...
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Saturday, April 18, confirmed the release of 78 Filipinos who had been detained in Myanmar for immigration-related offenses after being trafficked to work in scam centers. In a statement, the DFA said the Filipinos had been serving sentences for illegal...
It comes as a bit of a surprise that Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba—China’s largest private company—names Southeast Asia, rather than China, as the world’s next global economic juggernaut. Ma recently returned to Alibaba following years of Chinese government crackdowns on major tech firms that...
Aboitiz Economic Estates continues to set the benchmark for industrial development in Southeast Asia, earning the title of Best Industrial Developer at the 2025 Dot Property Southeast Asia Awards. This distinction is further reinforced by TARI Estate’s recognition as Southeast Asia’s Best...
The Dot Property Southeast Asia Awards 2025 brought together leading developers, agency heads, investors, and industry influencers from across Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and beyond—celebrating both established market leaders and rising stars shaping the future of real estate in Southeast...
Philippine Ambassador to Thailand Millicent Cruz-Paredes assured that Filipino tourists may continue visiting Thailand despite its recent clashes with Cambodia near their shared border. In a video released by Philippine Olympic Committee-Media Pool on Saturday, Dec. 13, the official said that...
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and United States Coast Guard (USCG) on Tuesday, Nov. 18, brought together senior maritime officials from four other nations for high-level discussions aimed at strengthening coordination against cross-border maritime threats. PCG Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan...
Some 170 distressed Filipinos are still waiting for repatriation from scam hubs across Southeast Asia, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Wednesday, Nov. 12. DFA spokesperson Angelica Escalona said these Filipinos in scam hub areas have “active requests for assistance” from the...
Some 118 rescued Filipinos who are victims of human trafficking in scam hubs in Southeast Asia await repatriation, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. According to the DFA, the embassies “are always ready to provide repatriation assistance and are closely coordinating with the...
Rescue and repatriation efforts are being initiated by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for all Filipinos allegedly trapped in different scam centers in Southeast Asia. The DFA revealed that it continues to receive reports of alleged Filipino human trafficking victims (HTVs) in Thailand,...
