“Electric vehicle sales have jumped in Southeast Asia as cost-conscious buyers have poured into dealerships looking to dodge the fuel price spikes driven by the Middle East war…

About 40 percent of cars sold in Vietnam in 2025 were electric, but the trend has been accelerating.”

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20260414-mideast-war-revs-up-electric-car-demand-in-asia

#Climate #Energy #Cars #EV #BEV #Asia #SouthEastAsia #Vietnam #Hormuz #OilCrisis

#malaysia #iran #usa #israel : #warofaggression / #southeastasia / #economiccrisis / #straitofhormuz

„Malaysia’s government is under pressure to contain rising living costs and manage a swelling subsidy bill due to higher #oilprices.

The nation’s monthly subsidies for both petrol and diesel have climbed to RM6 billion (S$1.9 billion), from RM700 million before the conflict.“

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/asean/malaysia-has-fiscal-room-support-industries-amid-iran-war

Menilik semarak perayaan Festival Air Thingyan di Yangon, Myanmar

Festival air Thingyan merupakan perayaan yang populer di Myanmar, yang menandai Tahun Baru Myanmar dan berlangsung ...

https://www.antaranews.com/berita/5525279/menilik-semarak-perayaan-festival-air-thingyan-di-yangon-myanmar

#berita #news #indonesianews #antaranews #dunia #asean #asiatenggara #southeastasia

Two Suspects Arrested In Parañaque City Over Illegal Substances Worth More Than P1 Million

Recently in the City of Parañaque, the local police successfully pulled off a buy-bust operation that resulted in two suspects arrested and the seizure of illegal substances worth over P1 million, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…

Two individuals, including a newly identified big-time drug personality, were arrested in a buy-bust operation launched by the Parañaque City Police Station Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU) early Wednesday morning, April 8.

Parañaque City Police chief Col. Nicolas Piñon identified the suspects as Roy, 33, tagged as a high-value drug dealer, and Rafael, 54, classified as a street-level drug suspect.

They were apprehended at around 12:05 a.m. on Tulips Street in Tramo Uno, Parañaque City.

Police said the operation was carried out in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) after the suspects were placed under monitoring for alleged involvement in illegal drug activities.

An undercover operative was able to purchase suspected shabu from the suspects, which led to their immediate arrest.

Authorities recovered nine heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing approximately 210 grams of suspected shabu, with an estimated value of ₱1,428,000.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, do you think the illegal drug menace will continue to happen in the city?   

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Strong Office Demand In The Philippines During 1st Quarter Of 2026

During the January-March period this year, demand in the office market of the Philippines has been strong as net absorption jumped 77% year-on-year, according to a news report by BusinessWorld.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the BusinessWorld news report. Some parts in boldface…

THE PHILIPPINE office market started 2026 with stronger net demand, as net absorption rose 77% year on year to 133,000 square meters (sq.m.) in the first quarter (Q1), property consultancy firm Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC) said.

Gross demand, however, reached 234,000 sq.m., down 22% from the previous quarter, which LPC said was “consistent with typical first-quarter seasonal patterns.”

LPC Director of Commercial Leasing Mikko Barranda said market conditions remain stable but are becoming more complex.

“At this point, the market remains on track, but the path forward is becoming less straightforward,” he said during a briefing on Tuesday.

He added that “tenants are becoming more discerning and intentional in their real estate decisions, which must be matched by greater flexibility from the market.”

Traditional occupiers drove demand, accounting for 143,000 sq.m., or 61% of total take-up. Information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) firms contributed 79,000 sq.m., or 34%.

Expansion deals dominated both segments, with 112,000 sq.m. recorded for traditional tenants and 51,000 sq.m. for IT-BPM firms. Demand for managed facilities rose to 31,000 sq.m. as occupiers sought “ready-to-use spaces,” LPC said.

The increase in net demand was partly driven by a 62% year-on-year decline in vacated space to 101,000 sq.m. for the quarter.

LPC attributed the improvement mainly to the “absence of Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO)-related exits.”

The firm said occupiers have “largely completed right-sizing and are no longer giving up additional space.”

In Metro Manila, Makati City led office transactions with 76,800 sq.m., equivalent to 54% of its total demand in 2025. LPC said 63% of these transactions were located along Ayala Avenue, with 70% involving semi-fitted or fitted units.

“Makati remains attractive as occupiers take advantage of competitive rents and fitted spaces, while maintaining the prestige of an Ayala Avenue address,” the firm said.

Bonifacio Global City (BGC) maintained the lowest vacancy rate at 8%, compared with the Metro Manila average of 18%.

Outside Metro Manila, demand reached 34,000 sq.m., led by Cebu with 11,700 sq.m., followed by Iloilo with 11,000 sq.m. and Clark with 6,600 sq.m.

LPC said provincial demand remains concentrated in “established IT-BPM hubs and infrastructure-linked corridors.”

Total office stock reached 2.7 million sq.m. in Metro Manila and 723,000 sq.m. in the provinces.

Metro Manila is expected to add 807,000 sq.m. of new office supply through 2028, with Quezon City accounting for 240,000 sq.m.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think demand for offices in the Philippines will remain strong throughout the year?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Il Tempo: Vino, Zoppas: "Obiettivo portare export Italia a quota 10 mld"

Roma, 12 apr. - (Adnkronos) - "L'obiettivo è ambizioso ma raggiungibile: vogliamo portare l'export del vino italiano dai correnti 8 miliardi a 10 miliardi di euro nel più breve tempo possibile. Insieme, stiamo costruendo il futuro del nostro business". Lo ha dichiarato il presidente di Ice, Matteo Zoppas, in occasione dell'Opening di Vinitaly 2026.
"L'impegno di Ice per questa edizione di Vinitaly è straordinario - siega - insieme a Veronafiere portiamo oltre 1.000 buyer strategici provenienti da 53 Paesi, segnando un incremento del 20% rispetto allo scorso anno. Cruciale per il settore resta il consolidamento in Usa, dove l'Italia mantiene saldamente la sua posizione, nonostante i dazi e la debolezza del cambio euro dollaro. Quest'anno Vinitaly Usa si sposta da Chicago a New York per presidiare il cuore del mercato americano con rinnovata forza".
"Stiamo puntando inoltre su nuovi potenziali mercati - aggiunge Zoppas - come Mercosur, India, Sud Est Asiatico e Australia e per il 2026 abbiamo programmato ben 61 iniziative promozionali in 24 mercati prioritari, dai Balcani alla Cina".
“Il Vinitaly si conferma la fiera di riferimento globale - dichiara Zoppas - dove si definiscono i trend di settore. In una fase economica complessa, e in linea con le priorità emerse dal tavolo di crisi voluto dal Presidente del Consiglio Giorgia Meloni, è fondamentale accelerare la promozione e lo sviluppo internazionale del comparto".
"È stata dunque messa in moto una macchina con più risorse e attività per le imprese e per lo sviluppo del business. Questa spinta - continua - si realizza attraverso quella 'Diplomazia della Crescita' voluta dal ministro Tajani, che vede il sistema Italia muoversi in modo compatto anche all'estero".
"Un ruolo centrale in questa strategia è svolto dal lavoro del ministro Francesco Lollobrigida che punta molto sulle esportazioni ed è anche fautore del riconoscimento della Cucina Italiana come Patrimonio Immateriale dell'Unesco".

Wine, Zoppas: “Goal is to bring Italian exports to €10 billion”

Rome, April 12 – (Adnkronos) – “The goal is ambitious but achievable: we want to take Italian wine exports from the current 8 billion to 10 billion euros as quickly as possible. Together, we are building the future of our business.” This was stated by the president of Ice, Matteo Zoppas, on the occasion of the opening of Vinitaly 2026.

“Ice’s commitment for this edition of Vinitaly is extraordinary – he said – together with Veronafiere we are bringing over 1,000 strategic buyers from 53 countries, marking an increase of 20% compared to last year. The consolidation in the US remains crucial for the sector, where Italy firmly maintains its position, despite tariffs and the weakness of the euro/dollar exchange rate. This year Vinitaly USA is moving from Chicago to New York to command the heart of the American market with renewed strength.”

“We are also focusing on new potential markets – adds Zoppas – such as Mercosur, India, Southeast Asia and Australia and for 2026 we have planned a total of 61 promotional initiatives in 24 priority markets, from the Balkans to China.”

“Vinitaly remains the global reference fair – declares Zoppas – where sector trends are defined. In a complex economic phase, and in line with the priorities emerging from the crisis table set up by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, it is fundamental to accelerate the promotion and international development of the sector.”

“Therefore, a machine has been put in motion with more resources and activities for businesses and for business development. This impetus – continues – is realized through the ‘Growth Diplomacy’ wanted by Minister Tajani, which sees the Italian system move together compactly abroad.”

“A central role in this strategy is played by the work of Minister Francesco Lollobrigida who focuses a lot on exports and is also a supporter of the recognition of Italian Cuisine as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO.”

#Zoppas #Italian #MatteoZoppas #Vinitaly #Italy #VinitalyUSA #Chicago #NewYork #American #Mercosur #India #SoutheastAsia #Australia #Balkans #China #GiorgiaMeloni #Tajani #ItalianCuisine

https://www.iltempo.it/adnkronos/2026/04/13/news/vino-zoppas-obiettivo-portare-export-italia-a-quota-10-mld--47252030/

[Time Trowel] What does Austronesian really mean?

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/time-trowel-austronesian-meaning-language-family/