Upgraded but underperforming: Philippines’ growth lags behind

South China Morning Post - Sep 21, 2026

The Philippines’ rise to upper-middle-income status was supposed to mark a new phase for one of Southeast Asia’s most closely watched emerging economies. Instead, analysts say the milestone has done little to shield the country from short-term pressures weighing on growth: sluggish public spending, delayed infrastructure, high living costs and the fallout from investigations into alleged irregularities in flood control projects. Those strains have left the Philippines looking like a regional...

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No winners of major lotto games on Sunday; Ultra Lotto jackpot at P315 million

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No winners of major lotto games on Sunday; Ultra Lotto jackpot at P315 million

There were no winners of either of the two major lotto games played on Sunday, September 20, 2026, with the Ultra Lotto jackpot now at over P315 million.

US, China seek Xi-Trump summit deliverables in New York talks

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US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer held their final preparatory talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in New York on Sunday to work out deliverables for next week’s summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump in Washington. The leaders are meeting at JP Morgan’s headquarters in the city to discuss possible economic outcomes for the summit and begin their long-awaited dialogue on artificial intelligence safety and...

‘His love for Hong Kong was profound’: Tung Chee-hwa honoured at state funeral

Sep 20, 2026

‘His love for Hong Kong was profound’: Tung Chee-hwa honoured at state funeral

Chinese President Xi Jinping and other top leaders sent condolences from Beijing as Hong Kong bade farewell to the city’s first postcolonial leader, Tung Chee-hwa, at a sombre yet poignant state funeral on Sunday. A report by the official Xinhua News Agency praised Tung, who died on September 8 at the age of 89, as “an outstanding contributor to ‘one country, two systems’, a renowned patriot, an outstanding social activist and a close friend of” the Communist Party of China. “While Tung was...

Lost in translation no more: Gangnam upgrades administrative counters with AI

Sep 20, 2026

Lost in translation no more: Gangnam upgrades administrative counters with AI

In the bustling administrative offices of Gangnam District, the sleek area of southern Seoul famous for its glamour and wealth, public service counters are undergoing a futuristic transformation. Where transparent acrylic panels once merely served as physical barriers between residents and city officials, new artificial intelligence-powered displays are now translating spoken words with real-time subtitles across 130 languages. The Gangnam District Office said that it has deployed a state-of-the-art "Real-Time Transparent OLED Communication Window" as part of its drive to eliminate communication hurdles for foreign nationals and hearing-impaired residents. Developed in collaboration with private tech partners through an open innovation initiative, the system merges transparent organic light-emitting diode (OLED) screens with advanced speech-to-text and machine translation engines. For Gangnam's international and hearing-impaired residents, the technology eliminates the tedious routine of writing notes back and forth or waiting for on-call interpreters. The interface is relatively seamles

Tired of fast fashion trends? 'Elegant minimalism' takes over this fall

Sep 20, 2026

Tired of fast fashion trends? 'Elegant minimalism' takes over this fall

Understated beauty is in. Following the rise of “quiet luxury” and “old money” style in the 2020s, “elegant minimalism” is emerging as a key fashion trend for the fall-winter season this year. According to the fashion industry, elegant minimalism is dominating the market, with brands emphasizing their identity through high-quality materials, precise tailoring and subdued colors rather than flashy embellishments or prominent logos. When minimalism was at its peak in the 1990s, black and white were the norm. This season, however, industry insiders expect neutral colors such as beige, brown and gray to take center stage. Silhouettes, too, are shifting. While slimness was the priority in the past, today’s designs are moving toward softer, more three-dimensional silhouettes. The emphasis is on fluidity that gently follows the contours of the body. The texture of fabrics is also expected to stand out this season. “The density and feel of a fabric are the foundation of elegant minimalism,” an official from the Samsung Fashion Research Institute said. “Lightweight materials

Nobel laureate Mello stresses importance of embracing challenges without fear of failure

Sep 20, 2026

Nobel laureate Mello stresses importance of embracing challenges without fear of failure

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Vietnamese professionals in Korea nearly double over 4 years

Sep 20, 2026

Vietnamese professionals in Korea nearly double over 4 years

The number of Vietnamese nationals holding Korea's E-7-1 professional visa has nearly doubled over the past four years, data showed Sunday. As of August, 3,572 Vietnamese nationals held the visa, up 1.84 times from 1,938 in 2022, according to the data submitted to Rep. Kim Joon-hwan of the Democratic Party of Korea by the justice ministry. The E-7-1 visa is granted to foreign nationals working in government-designated professional fields such as information technology and robotics. Indian nationals saw a similar rise, growing 1.46 times to 1,014 during the same period. Chinese nationals holding the visa, by contrast, declined to 1,566 from 2,213 in 2022. American E-7-1 holders also slipped to 1,355 from 1,471. Meanwhile, Chinese nationals dominate a separate visa category, the semi-professional E-7-2, which covers areas such as caregiving. They accounted for 80.6 percent of all 10,759 E-7-2 holders. The lawmaker called the influx of such tech talent "a positive sign," but said the country needs to improve working and living conditions for those workers to generate "bigger synergy."

Justice minister nominee's withdrawal deals blow to president, ruling party

Sep 20, 2026

Justice minister nominee's withdrawal deals blow to president, ruling party

Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won's withdrawal from candidacy is expected to deal another setback to President Lee Jae Myung and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), as they are already struggling with declining public support. Kim stepped down Saturday, 20 days after his nomination, following controversy over several allegations — including that he used his influence as a lawmaker in 2021 to help a pharmaceutical company get regulatory approval for a COVID-19 clinical drug trial. He withdrew even after the National Assembly approved his nomination. While Kim’s withdrawal eased the immediate pressure on Lee over the appointment, it reinforced concerns over shortcomings in the administration’s personnel vetting system. Kim’s departure also leaves the justice ministry without leadership at a critical time, with pressing tasks piling up ahead of a major overhaul of the criminal justice system, scheduled to take place in October as part of Lee’s signature prosecution reform drive. For the ruling party, Kim’s departure highlighted its political misjudgment. DPK lawmake

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Sep 20, 2026

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Military duty alternative revives for large conglomerates after 14 years amid AI drive

Sep 20, 2026

Military duty alternative revives for large conglomerates after 14 years amid AI drive

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Inside the Seo Hui: A look at Korea's newest submarine

Sep 20, 2026

Inside the Seo Hui: A look at Korea's newest submarine

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Shark sightings draw crowds at Busan's North Port

Sep 20, 2026

Shark sightings draw crowds at Busan's North Port

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