METRO MANILA – The House leadership will be decided on Oct. 14 between incumbent Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco. The two house representative have been trading blows on who should be the house speaker after the agreed on  a term-sharing agreement in 2019. Velasco is supposed to assume the position this month but Cayetano indicated …

METRO MANILA – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has once again defies expectations as his performance rating rose to 91% in a first major nationwide survey during the health crisis. According to Pulse Asia survey, Duterte’s approval rating rose to 91% from 87% in December. The survey was conducted nationwide of 1,200 adults from Sept 14 to 20. There were no …

After Cambodian netizens were angered by their use of Cambodian cultural symbols, including the iconic Angkor Wat, as building decorations, which they found unacceptable, a hotel in Koh Phangan issued an apology. The Koh Phangan Le Palais Hotel was inspired by the grandeur of Angkor Wat, located in Cambodia. Cambodia is our founder’s motherland and always holds a special place …

Following the planned deliberation of the omnibus bill on job development this week, the government is pinning its hopes on foreign investment and state spending to accelerate economic growth next year, the country’s top officials have said. On Oct. 2, the head of the Fiscal Policy Agency of the Finance Ministry, Febrio Kacaribu, said that economic reforms through the bill, …

Former National Mandate Party (PAN) patron Amien Rais, a staunch critic of the administration of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo,  after his departure in the midst of an internal split within the PAN, announced his newly formed party called Partai Ummat, or the Ummah Party. Amien declared the new party via a broadcast on Amien Rais Official, his Youtube channel. Amien, …

GEORGE TOWN – State exco Jagdeep Singh Deo announced today that the state is aiming to build around 220,000 units of affordable housing by 2030. The intial plan of the government is to build 180,000 affordable housing units but was increased to additional 40,000 units. Jagdeep said that the 220,000 units will consist of three types of affordable housing ranging …

KUALA LUMPUR – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad appears to retract his claim that he will not be participating in the 15th general election, saying his supporters still want him to continue as a elected official. The 95-year-old said that he may consider leading his newly form party Pejuang Tanah Air in the next election as his supporters ‘want him not …

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha denied rumors that Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, the former transport minister, will be made the new finance minister. He submitted a new minister ‘s name, he said, without revealing who the individual was. The PM declined to reveal information when asked if the next minister would be Mr Arkhom, saying the next appointee would carry out the work …

JAKARTA – The Indonesian government is preparing measures such as electronic visa system and special counters at the airports for the proposed “reciprocal green lane” with Singapore. According to Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly, the measures are being discussed following discussions on a “reciprocal green lane” to allow essential travel. The minister added that immigration officials would …

METRO MANILA – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said yesterday that businesses in the wholesale and service sector will be allowed at full capacity, while fastfood and restaurants may operate beyond 50% capacity on areas under general community quarantine (GCQ). On a Memorandum Circular 20-52 issued by the agency, It states that businesses under Category 2 and 3 …