Marcos on South China Sea row; anger in Thailand over iron cage beds: 7 Asia highlights

South China Morning Post - Oct 13, 2026

We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Marcos says Philippines ‘resigned’ to managing South China Sea dispute The Philippines is “resigned” to managing its long-standing dispute with Beijing in the South China Sea and avoiding dangerous escalations, President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr said. 2. ‘A show of...

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Defense reporters reject Chinese's embassy swipe at Filipino journalists

Oct 18, 2026

Defense reporters reject Chinese's embassy swipe at Filipino journalists

The Defense Press Corps rejected remarks made by the Chinese Embassy in Manila against Filipino journalists, whom it said have “very limited comprehension” and are only “creating hype.”

Floodwaters submerge graves in South Cotabato cemetery ahead of Undas

Oct 18, 2026

Floodwaters submerge graves in South Cotabato cemetery ahead of Undas

BANGA, South Cotabato — Several graves at the Banga Public Cemetery remain submerged in floodwaters on Sunday following several days of rain, posing a challenge to families preparing to clean and tidy the burial sites of their loved ones ahead of Undas. Some parts of the cemetery have also become muddy and difficult to walk

How The Clifford Clinic approaches Hifu skin lifting for a more defined face and jawline

Oct 18, 2026

How The Clifford Clinic approaches Hifu skin lifting for a more defined face and jawline

[The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] A softer jawline or the first signs of jowling can prompt a deceptively simple question: can the face look firmer without surgery? The answer starts with understanding what has changed, rather than choosing a treatment by name. For people with mild to moderate skin laxity, high-intensity focused ultrasound, or Hifu, is one non-surgical face-lifting option. It delivers focused energy beneath the skin to encourage tissue...

2 alleged fixers nabbed over disorderly behavior in LTO central office

Oct 18, 2026

2 alleged fixers nabbed over disorderly behavior in LTO central office

MANILA, Philippines — Two suspected fixers were arrested by Highway Patrol Group (HPG) personnel assigned to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) over their disorderly behavior in the agency’s central office. According to the LTO on Saturday, the two men were arrested after they were not allowed to proceed with their transactions in changing license plates

Lifts at 74 more buildings serviced by Taizoom lack safety parts, taking total to 152

Oct 18, 2026

Lifts at 74 more buildings serviced by Taizoom lack safety parts, taking total to 152

Hong Kong authorities have said lifts at 74 more private buildings installed by Taizoom Elevator are missing crucial door frame components, taking the total of affected properties to 152. The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department provided the updated figures on Sunday night as citywide inspections of all lifts handled by Taizoom were carried out. The door frame components help protect lift occupants against flames and smoke in the event of a fire, an expert earlier explained. According...

PDEA seizes P415.6-M illegal drugs, arrests 126 suspects

Oct 18, 2026

PDEA seizes P415.6-M illegal drugs, arrests 126 suspects

MANILA — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) seized P415.63 million worth of illegal drugs and arrested 126 suspects in 81 nationwide operations Oct. 8 to 14. In a news release Sunday, the PDEA said the operations included buy-busts, interdiction activities, marijuana eradication, search and seizure operations, and the implementation of search warrants. Of those

AFAB, Bataan officials seek solution to long-standing housing row

Oct 18, 2026

AFAB, Bataan officials seek solution to long-standing housing row

MARIVELES, Bataan — A long-standing housing dispute affecting hundreds of residents, mostly former employees of the Bataan Export Processing Zone (BEPZ) and their dependents, may soon be resolved following discussions between the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) and local officials. AFAB Administrator and Chief Executive Officer Hussein Pangandaman met with Bataan third

LTFRB: Over 600 TNVS partners under ‘tempo’ status to be regularized

Oct 18, 2026

LTFRB: Over 600 TNVS partners under ‘tempo’ status to be regularized

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Sunday said 638 transport network vehicle service (TNVS) partners would be granted regularized status, having already been issued provisional authority. According to the LTFRB, it had received 9,036 applications from TNVS partners with “tempo” status, a practice in which transport network companies (TNCs)

No winner of major lotto games on Sunday as Ultra Lotto jackpot reaches P410 million

Oct 18, 2026

No winner of major lotto games on Sunday as Ultra Lotto jackpot reaches P410 million

There were no winners of either of the major lotto games played on Sunday, October 18, 2026, with one jackpot now well over P400 million.

Gen Z workplace communication sparks friction in Korean offices

Oct 18, 2026

Gen Z workplace communication sparks friction in Korean offices

"This new hire is really strange. Even when calls come in, they do not answer, and when given instructions, they do not respond. They ignore most KakaoTalk messages and only reply to things that benefit them." Senior employees in their 30s who work with new hires in their 20s with impressive credentials frequently voice this grievance. They complain that open communication with junior staff remains difficult despite considerable effort. However, the 20-somethings targeted by this criticism counter that their true intent — exchanging precise information and avoiding getting hurt while communicating — is not getting across. Why young workers avoid office phones Participant 4: Why do people in their 20s avoid phone calls these days? Participant 2: We prefer text messages because they let us reply after preparing our thoughts. That is especially true for work-related matters. Because text leaves a written record, we can check details directly from the message without having to ask again later. Even if a phone call is recorded, it is more inconvenient because we have to go back and listen

Tradition isn't everything: Foreign nationals say cafes are most Korean places of all

Oct 18, 2026

Tradition isn't everything: Foreign nationals say cafes are most Korean places of all

Not long ago, I asked Conrad, a British participant on a food tour, what he considered the most quintessentially British food. I expected him to name the famous fish and chips or a full English breakfast spread. But without hesitation, he answered, “curry.” Seeing my puzzled expression, he smiled and explained. While Britain has its traditional signature dishes, curry is one of the foods Britons eat most frequently today. That got me wondering: What food or food culture best represents Korea today? When I posed the same question to Conrad, his unexpected answer was “coffee and cafe culture.” The other participants on the tour nodded in agreement. When I take foreign visitors on food tours, I often hear the same questions: “Why are there so many cafes in Korea?” and “Why are cafes still so crowded late in the afternoon?” I could explain that Koreans simply love coffee. But a look at Seoul's cafes suggests there is more to it than that. Cafes line nearly every alley, stay lit late into the night and draw long queues outside popular spots on weekends. This is less a matter

3 Seoul architectural gems where art meets everyday life

Oct 18, 2026

3 Seoul architectural gems where art meets everyday life

What might it look like if gentle waves rippled across the surface of the sea? The sky shimmers and the grass seems to undulate across an uneven metal surface. The wall of this building, stretching horizontally at a height of 3.6 meters and reflecting the surrounding scenery, looks strangely familiar. Then it becomes clear: It resembles "bangjja yugi," traditional Korean hammered brassware often seen on carefully arranged tables at Korean restaurants. The intricate patterns, painstakingly hammered into the metal, refract light to create its distinctive sheen. This place wrapped in a long bangjja yugi on its exterior is the Seoul SeMA Seo-Seoul Museum of Art. Built this year in Geumnarae Central Park near Geumcheon District Office Station in Geumcheon District, it won the Grand Prize at the 44th Seoul Architecture Awards last month. Seoul selects and awards city buildings every year. This year, it selected one Grand Prize winner, two Top Excellence Prize winners, four Excellence Prize winners and three New Architect Prize winners. Among these, public buildings that anyone can freely visi

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