Manila Times

EU Imposes Record €550 Million Digital Services Fine on AliExpress

Regulators found that the Alibaba-owned marketplace failed to control systemic risks from illegal, counterfeit and unsafe goods, while AliExpress called the penalty disproportionate and prepared an appeal.

Police Block Cockroach Janta Party’s March to Parliament as Education Protests Intensify

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in central New Delhi demanding accountability for examination failures, but police enforced prohibitory orders and began removing supporters before the unauthorized procession could reach Parliament.

Singapore Considers Lower Taxes for Fund Managers as Hong Kong Intensifies Talent Contest

The city-state is examining tax and operating-cost relief for investment firms after Hong Kong proposed broader exemptions on carried interest and performance fees.

Proposed U.S.-Saudi Nuclear Pact Could Permit Limited Uranium Enrichment Under International Safeguards

A draft cooperation framework would open Saudi Arabia’s civilian nuclear market to American technology while potentially allowing sensitive fuel-cycle activities under negotiated restrictions, but no final agreement has been signed or su...

Philippines Sports Development Continues Building National Engagement and International Recognition

Sports programmes and athlete development initiatives continue generating public interest while supporting the Philippines’ broader cultural visibility and international presence.

Philippines Creative Industries Support Tourism, Cultural Visibility and Economic Activity

The Philippine cultural and creative sectors continue contributing to tourism, international recognition and domestic economic activity through entertainment, arts and creative businesses.

Philippines Consumer Economy Balances Growth Momentum With Household Cost Pressures

Consumer spending remains a major driver of Philippine economic activity, while households continue managing affordability concerns as policymakers seek to sustain growth and improve purchasing power.

Philippines Education and Skills Programmes Focus on Preparing Workers for Digital Industries

Government and private-sector initiatives continue expanding digital skills, technical training and workforce development programmes to prepare Filipino workers for technology-driven industries.

Philippines Startup Ecosystem Expands Through Digital Services, Fintech and Innovation Ventures

Technology startups in the Philippines continue developing solutions in fintech, commerce, artificial intelligence and business services as entrepreneurs build a broader innovation ecosystem.

Overseas Filipino Worker Remittances Continue Supporting Household Income and Domestic Consumption

Money sent home by overseas Filipino workers remains a major source of economic support for Filipino families and continues to provide stability for domestic consumption.

Philippines Climate Resilience Efforts Remain National Priority Amid Extreme Weather Risks

The Philippine government continues investing in disaster preparedness and climate adaptation as communities and infrastructure face recurring risks from storms, flooding and other natural hazards.

Philippines Real Estate Sector Adjusts to Changing Demand Conditions Across Major Cities

Property developers in Metro Manila and other urban centres are adapting strategies as housing demand shifts, with affordability, interest rates and infrastructure access remaining key factors influencing the market.

Philippines Strengthens ASEAN Role Through Trade, Connectivity and Regional Diplomacy

Manila continues using ASEAN cooperation to advance trade, infrastructure links and regional resilience while managing relationships with major powers including China, the United States and Japan.

Philippines Defense Modernisation Continues as Military Upgrades Maritime and Security Capabilities

The Armed Forces of the Philippines continues modernisation programmes focused on improving maritime awareness, defence readiness and operational capabilities amid changing regional security conditions.

Philippines Energy Security Efforts Focus on Power Reliability and New Investment

The Philippine government continues prioritising electricity reliability, renewable energy development and energy infrastructure investment as rising demand from households and industries increases pressure on the power system.

Philippines Banking and Digital Finance Growth Supports Wider Financial Inclusion

Philippine banks and financial technology companies continue expanding digital services as the country works to increase access to financial products and strengthen participation in the digital economy.

Metro Manila Transport Projects Remain Central to Efforts to Reduce Congestion and Improve Urban Productivity

The Philippine government continues prioritising transport upgrades across Metro Manila as authorities seek to improve mobility, reduce congestion and strengthen economic efficiency in the country’s largest urban region.

Philippines Tourism Industry Expands Beyond Traditional Destinations Through Connectivity and Promotion

The Philippine tourism sector is seeking broader growth by developing destinations outside major hubs, improving connectivity and expanding international promotion efforts to increase tourism’s contribution to regional economies.

Philippine Aviation Sector Pushes Airport Modernisation to Support Tourism and Economic Growth

The Philippines continues upgrading aviation capacity and airport infrastructure across major hubs including Metro Manila, Cebu, Clark and Davao to improve domestic connectivity, support tourism recovery and strengthen economic links bet...

Philippines Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy Expansion Accelerates Through Technology Investment

The Philippine technology sector continues focusing on artificial intelligence, digital services, fintech and business process outsourcing growth, with infrastructure capacity and investment conditions remaining important factors shaping...

Philippines Semiconductor and Electronics Industry Remains Central to Export Growth Strategy

The Philippine electronics sector continues to anchor export performance as policymakers seek more advanced manufacturing investment and a stronger position in global technology supply chains.

Philippines Advances Navotas Fish Port Rehabilitation to Strengthen Food Supply Infrastructure

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reviewed the rehabilitation of the Navotas Fish Port Complex as the government works to improve fisheries logistics, reduce post-harvest losses and modernise infrastructure supporting the country’s food sup...

Philippines Promotes ASEAN Economic Cooperation as Regional Supply Chains Face Global Disruptions

The Philippine government is pushing stronger ASEAN coordination on trade, energy security, food supply and logistics resilience as Southeast Asian economies respond to external pressures and seek deeper regional economic integration.

Philippines Targets Critical Minerals and Energy Investment Through Expanded Foreign Partnerships

The Philippine government is seeking more international investment in critical minerals, energy and industrial development as Manila aims to strengthen its role in regional supply chains and attract industries linked to future manufactur...

Philippine Ports Authority Advances Nationwide Port Modernisation to Improve Trade and Island Connectivity

The Philippine Ports Authority is expanding port infrastructure upgrades across the archipelago to improve passenger movement, logistics efficiency and tourism access, supporting efforts to connect the country’s widely dispersed islands ...

Philippines Accelerates Infrastructure Spending Recovery as Marcos Administration Restarts Priority Projects

The Philippine government is moving to speed up implementation of delayed infrastructure projects after reviews of public works programmes, with officials expecting renewed infrastructure activity to support economic growth, connectivity...

Philippines Expands Maritime Security Cooperation With International Partners Amid South China Sea Pressure

The Philippine government is strengthening defence and maritime coordination with international partners as tensions continue in contested waters, with Manila maintaining that maritime rights protection and improved operational capabilit...

Philippines Secures New Canada Agreements on Investment, Critical Minerals, Energy and Technology Cooperation

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s visit to Canada resulted in new cooperation agreements covering investment, critical minerals, energy, information technology-business process management, tourism and migration, as the Philippines seeks b...

Philippines Protests China State Media Video as Diplomatic Tensions Continue Over South China Sea Disputes

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs formally protested a China Daily video that Manila said portrayed Filipinos in a racist manner, adding another dispute to already strained Philippines-China relations as both countries continu...

Why Kentucky Fried Chicken Became KFC—and Why the False Explanations Persist

The 1991 rebrand was a calculated effort to modernize the chain, broaden its menu identity and soften the increasingly unfashionable association with fried food—not a response to state licensing demands or genetically altered chickens. :...

Ukrainian Drones Strike Wildberries Warehouses Deep Inside Russia

Attacks on logistics centres in the Tambov and Moscow regions killed eight people, while Kyiv said the facilities supplied restricted components for Russian drone production—a claim not independently substantiated.

Reported CIA Mission Helped Clear the UAE’s Path to Advanced US AI Chips

Veteran intelligence officer Jonny Gannon was reportedly sent to investigate G42’s Chinese connections, then helped the Emirati technology group address security concerns that had threatened its access to American computing power.

Artificial Intelligence Capital Fuels Markets While Governments and Regulators Face Mounting Strategic Tests

Global investment is concentrating around artificial intelligence, driving financial markets, reshaping corporate strategy and intensifying competition between governments, even as regulatory and governance challenges emerge across Asia.

China’s Moonshot’s Kimi K3 Narrows the Gap With Anthropic Through Scale, Openness and Lower Cost

The Chinese start-up’s new open-weight model posts competitive coding and agentic results against leading American systems, challenging the assumption that frontier artificial intelligence remains confined to a small group of United Stat...

Gold and Cash Seizure Puts Indonesia’s Senior Anti-Corruption Prosecutor Under Investigation

Police found seventy-four kilograms of gold and hundreds of billions of rupiah during raids linked to Febrie Adriansyah, intensifying concern that rival law-enforcement institutions are using corruption cases against one another.

The Ledger Will Not Trust on Faith

Artificial-intelligence agents can reconcile accounts, pursue anomalies and draft reports, but finance will accept autonomy only when every action remains visible, reversible and humanly accountable.

Philippine Government Monitors Weather Risks as Rainy Season Tests Disaster Preparedness Systems

Authorities continue preparing for possible weather disruptions as the southwest monsoon brings rainfall risks across parts of Luzon. Disaster resilience and climate preparedness remain major national priorities for the Philippines.

Philippines Uses ASEAN Leadership to Expand Regional Influence on Security and Economic Cooperation

The Philippines is leveraging its ASEAN role to increase involvement in regional security discussions, economic cooperation, and crisis management. Manila’s diplomatic engagement is strengthening its position as an important Southeast As...

Philippine Economic Policy Faces Pressure as Government Balances Consumer Support and Investor Confidence

Economic policymakers are managing competing demands for lower living costs, wage increases, social assistance, and maintaining a favourable environment for investment. These challenges remain central to public expectations and business ...

Philippines Seeks Greater International Support for Maritime Rights Through Diplomacy and Security Partnerships

The Marcos administration continues building support from allies and partners as maritime disputes with China remain unresolved. The government’s approach combines diplomatic engagement, defence cooperation, and ASEAN coordination.

Philippine Public Debate Intensifies Over Inflation Relief, Governance, and Administration Performance

Public attention ahead of President Marcos’ State of the Nation Address is focused on inflation, government assistance programmes, economic management, and leadership performance. The administration faces pressure to demonstrate improvem...

United States–China Competition Increases Philippines’ Importance in Indo-Pacific Strategic Planning

The Philippines is becoming a more prominent player in Southeast Asian security as competition between Washington and Beijing increasingly focuses on maritime security, alliances, and regional influence. Recent diplomatic activity has re...

Philippines Continues Infrastructure and Urban Development Push Ahead of State of the Nation Address

Infrastructure projects, transportation improvements, and urban development remain major priorities for the Marcos administration as officials prepare to highlight government achievements and future plans during the upcoming State of the...