A 26-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly carrying out a robbery in Hengqin, Zhuhai, which left one person dead, police said. ADVERTISEMENT SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENTAuthorities said the suspect, surnamed Chen, broke into a residential unit at Logan Supreme Residential Estate on the night of March 21 and attacked two victims. The Macau University of Science and Technology confirmed that the deceased was one of its students. The residential estate is a relatively upscale development near the Macau border, home to middle-class families, business professionals, and students who commute daily to Macau. Unverified online reports suggested the two victims, both female students, may have been followed prior to the incident.

Two Chinese companies kicked off book building for their Hong Kong initial public offerings, aiming to raise up to HK$1.1 billion in total. The company plans to offer 12 million shares, raising at most HK$600 million. The offer price ranges from HK$40 to HK$50, with each lot containing 100 shares and about HK$5,050.43 in entry fees. It has drawn HK$154 million from margin loans, with plans to offer 7.41 million shares, raising at most HK$500 million. Each lot of shares is 100, and the entry fee is HK$6,868.6.

The International Energy Agency is consulting with governments in Asia and Europe on the release of more stockpiled oil “if necessary” due to the Iran war, Executive Director Fatih Birol said on Monday. ADVERTISEMENT SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT“If it is necessary, of course, we will do it. We look at the conditions, we will analyse, assess the markets and discuss with our member countries,” Birol told the National Press Club in Canberra. IEA member nations agreed on March 11 to release a record 400 million barrels of oil from strategic stockpiles to combat the spike in global crude prices. There would not be a specific crude price level to trigger another release, Birol added.

Hong Kong will implement the revised HK$2 transport fare concession scheme for the elderly and eligible persons with disabilities starting from next Friday (Apr 3), under which the flat HK$2 rate will only apply to trips with an adult fare of HK$10 or below. He said the revised scheme preserves the policy’s original intent while striking a balance between sustainability and minimizing impact on beneficiaries. The government estimated the revised scheme will save around HK$550 million in the coming financial year. Sun believed that the new arrangement would greatly reduce the problem of riders “taking short trips on long‑distance routes”. Elderly passengers who used to take long cross-district routes for short trips can switch to local short routes, which usually cost HK$10 or less.

The Hang Seng Index fell below 25,000 points on Monday at the opening due to the escalating Middle East conflict. ADVERTISEMENT SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENTThe benchmark Hang Seng Index dropped 488 points, or 1.93 percent, to 24,789. Zijing Mining (2899) opened 2.4 percent lower on the falling gold price, despite its profit showing improvement last year. Sinopec (0386) slid 2.1 percent after posting a narrowed profit. Tech heavyweights fell at the opening, with Alibaba (9988), Tencent (0700), and Kuaishou (1024) dropping 2.3 percent, 2 percent, and 2.8 percent, respectively.

Emergency crews work around an Air Canada Express jet that had collided with a ground vehicle at New York's LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York, U.S. March 23, 2026.

People walk past a bull and bear sculpture in front of the Korea Exchange building in Seoul on April 7, 2025. Asian equities collapsed on a black Monday on April 7 for markets after China hammered the United States with its own hefty tariffs, ramping up a trade war many fear could spark a recession. (Photo by ANTHONY WALLACE / AFP)

Ping An investment arm questions US allocationThe logo of Ping An Insurance seen at a Beijing event in April, 2018. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

Castro seeks P500M damages vs LevisteMANILA, Philippines — Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said she is seeking P500 million in damages from Rep. Leandro Leviste (Batangas) as part of her counterclaim in an ongoing libel case. "Yes, P500 million damages is part of my compulsory counterclaim… I believe that I deserve and I’m entitled of such damages," she said. She added that the complaint filed against her affected her standing as a Palace official. "Humihingi si USec Claire Castro na bayaran ko siya dahil sa 'sleepless nights and anxiety' na dulot umano ng kasong isinampa ko laban sa kanya. The dispute stems from a libel complaint Leviste filed in January 2026, accusing Castro of making defamatory statements about his solar business.

BARMM police gun down 2 ‘hired killers’ in Maguindanao clashThe two wanted persons, who allegedly resisted arrest by policemen in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte, died instantly from gunshot wounds sustained in the shootout they allegedly provoked. COTABATO CITY — Policemen shot dead two individuals long wanted for murder and other crimes during an operation in Barangay Rebuken in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte before dawn on Monday, March 23, after an attempted peaceful arrest went awry. The two wanted persons, Peter Osorio and Edwin Mallorca, died from multiple gunshot wounds sustained in a brief shootout with personnel of the Sultan Kudarat Municipal Police Station, led by their chief, Lt. Col. Esmael Madin. Osorio, a resident of Antipas town in Cotabato, had been hiding in Barangay Rebuken after the Regional Trial Court Branch 17 in Kidapawan City ordered his arrest on March 11, 2024, for multiple murder and other heinous crimes. Local officials and traditional Moro leaders said Mallorca, a known trafficker of shabu and marijuana, had been providing Osorio sanctuary in his hideout in Barangay Rebuken.

LaGuardia airport to stay shut until at least 1800 GMT: port authority chiefPlanes sit at gates after a ground stoppage was issued following a collision between an Air Canada Express CRJ-900 and a Port Authority fire truck at LaGuardia Airport in New York, on March 23, 2026.

ICI turns over documents on flood control anomaly to DOJ(Left to right) Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida, ICI Chairperson Andres Reyes and NBI Director Melvin Matibag at the Department of Justice on March, 23, 2026. MANILA, Philippines — The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) turned over documents related to its investigation into alleged anomalous flood control projects to the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday, March 23. In an interview with reporters, DOJ Spokesperson Polo Martinez said the Justice Department will review all the documents handed over. On March 14, Reyes said it will wrap up its operations on March 31 and will turn over all relevant documents concerning the alleged anomalous flood control projects to the DOJ and the Office of the Ombudsman. One of the flood control cases filed before the Sandiganbayan was recommended by the ICI to the Office of the Ombudsman, involving the P289 million Oriental Mindoro flood control project.

Philippines may lose $200 million banana exports to warThe Gulf war has rattled the local banana industry, particularly big exporting companies, as it derails efforts by the Philippines to strengthen its foothold in the growing Middle Eastern market. Iran, Middle East among biggest marketsMANILA, Philippines — Banana exporters in the country stand to lose almost $200 million (around P12 billion) in revenues due to trade disruptions in the Middle East as the war in the region escalates. Banana exports to Iran in 2025 surged by 81 percent to $97.52 million from the $53.79 million recorded in 2024, based on PSA data. Volume wise, banana exports to Iran last year reached 242,877.58 metric tons, about 46.7 percent higher than the 165,448.52 MT recorded in 2024. The country’s total banana exports last year rose by 30 percent on an annual basis to 3.04 million MT from 2.33 million MT.

Broad transport coalition set to hold 2-day strikeCommuters ride passenger jeepneys along Kamias Road in Quezon City as they head to their respective destination on March 11, 2026. MANILA, Philippines — Different transport groups will hold a transport strike this week in protest against what they deem as insufficient government response to the rising oil prices. In a statement on Monday, March 23, the No To Oil Price Hike Coalition said drivers and operators will stop plying routes from March 26 to 27. “Kaya po mahal na pangulo, hindi na namin kayang tiisin, sa pamamagitan ng transport strike baka mapakinggan mo kami,” MANIBELA chairman Mar Valbuena said. We are holding this transport strike in the hope that you will finally hear our plea.)

Marcos orders crisis committee as Palace insists 'no oil crisis'MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the creation of a crisis committee to manage the fallout from the Middle East war on fuel and food supplies, Malacañang confirmed Monday, March 23. The committee's main task, Castro said, would be to ensure that supplies of petroleum products and food are not disrupted. The Palace official also disagreed with criticism that the government has been minimizing the severity of the crisis. She insisted that supplies of crude oil, fuel, and food remain sufficient and said Marcos wants Filipinos to feel "the government is here for the people and will not abandon them." Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said last week the Philippines is not in an oil crisis because fuel supply remains adequate while drawing a distinction between price and supply.