IT-BPM companies continue to account for most office requirements in the Philippines, while non-BPO occupiers such as government offices and local banks are relocating to newer buildings. JLL Philippines notes that lower rents make such moves more attractive, and that improving real estate transpare
Ayala Land is constructing a seawater reverse osmosis facility at its Lio Estate in El Nido, Palawan, to provide up to 500 cubic metres of potable water daily from August 2027. The plant will diversify water sources and support new projects including the Balai Adlao Expansion, Sitio Aplaya and a wat
Artificial intelligence will trigger a realignment in office space allocation in the Philippines, favouring specialised office laboratories over traditional back offices, according to JLL Philippines. Workers in routine roles such as call centre agents are expected to transition into tech-testing jo
Belgian cybersecurity firm Aikido has released an open-weight AI model, Altar, designed for cybersecurity applications. The model allows companies to deploy defensive AI tools locally without sending sensitive code to external providers, meeting rising demand amid growing use of AI by criminals.
North Korea has rejected new sanctions efforts, saying no measures can block its development or defense of core interests. The statement from a Foreign Ministry spokesperson, carried by state media KCNA, follows a report by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) accusing Pyongyang of send
Astoria Hotels and Resorts is promoting its events venues in Pasig City and Puerto Princesa, Palawan, for MICE and social gatherings. The Chardonnay Events Hall in Pasig offers function rooms for up to 512 guests, while the Mangrove Conference & Convention Center in Palawan provides eco-friendly spa
Growing demand for padel and pickleball courts is reshaping Malaysia’s property landscape, with operators converting warehouses, open land and shopping malls into sport venues. Location, ceiling height, cost and supporting facilities are key considerations, while rental rates vary from RM2 psf for w
Setia Awan Land has launched its first industrial project, the 447-acre Tanjong Malim Hi-Tech Park in Perak, with an estimated gross development value of RM1.4 billion. Phase 1 has achieved 50% take-up, with investments from Ningbo Fresh Technology and Sheentech Automotive Systems totaling about RM5
South Korea's Pebblestone Asset Management has signed a preliminary agreement to acquire Hyde Park Myeongdong, a mixed-use complex housing Apple's flagship Korea store, for about KRW 500 billion (US$363.4 million). The deal follows the firm's selection as preferred bidder for the 19-storey complex l
The Silver Valley Technology Park (SVTP), a 2,700-acre master-planned industrial and innovation hub on the outskirts of Ipoh, has moved into active construction. The first phase of 816 acres is slated for completion by 2030, with the full build-out by 2034 targeting RM14 billion in private investmen
Older stratified malls in Klang Valley struggle to fund renovations due to fragmented ownership, inadequate sinking funds and vague legal processes, industry experts say. While some malls like Sungei Wang Plaza and The Summit USJ have succeeded, reform is underway to address commercial governance ne
DLF's rental arm will open a 700,000 sq ft premium shopping mall in Goa by March 2027, investing about ₹500 crore. The company expects annual rental income of over ₹150 crore and has already leased 70-75% of the space, including a five-screen PVR cinema and a Shoppers Stop outlet.
Italian cable maker Prysmian has partnered with Rio Tinto to supply electrical cables made with low-carbon aluminium for an Amazon data centre in Ohio. The cables will use ELYSIS inert-anode technology, which eliminates direct greenhouse gas emissions from the smelting process. It is the first known
STARLUX Airlines projects triple-digit passenger growth in 2026, up from 75% the prior year, driven by aircraft expansion and route upgrades in the Philippines. The carrier sees no demand impact from rising fuel surcharges, which the CAB recently raised to Level 14.
The Land Transport Authority will only determine the additional cost from the two-year delay to the North-South Corridor after the project is finished. The S$7.47 billion road project was delayed due to unexpectedly challenging ground conditions, with LTA saying it will assess whether costs will be
Sunway Healthcare Group has started construction on its RM800 million Sunway Medical Centre Iskandar Puteri in Johor, targeting completion in 2030. The 400-bed tertiary hospital will serve southern Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, and is part of the group’s plan to operate eight hospitals with ove
Southeast Asian investors have become the largest foreign buyers of Hong Kong commercial property this year, accounting for more than 11% of total transactions, according to Savills. Their share has risen to roughly two-thirds of all non-local investment, outpacing mainland Chinese buyers.
The number of Indian white-collar professionals returning from overseas grew 24% in 2024 and 5% in 2025, with 205,000 more returnees so far in 2026. Industry experts warn that gaps in compensation, research funding and cutting-edge work compared to the US could make retaining these workers a challen
An Argentine federal judge has ordered British and Israeli companies to stop developing the Sea Lion oilfield off the Falkland Islands, pending an environmental review. The injunction targets Navitas Petroleum and Rockhopper Exploration, though enforcement depends on international cooperation and th
The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines aims to complete six transmission projects worth about P23.5 billion by the end of 2026. The grid operator has already finished five projects valued at P7.18 billion, and the new projects are intended to improve transmission reliability amid power supply co
Nearly three in 10 hotel rooms projected to open by 2026 were cancelled, according to a report by PHOA and LPC. The country's accommodation pipeline has expanded to 45,884 room keys across 213 projects backed by P387 billion in committed capital through 2032.
The Land Transport Authority has delayed the North-South Corridor's completion to 2029, prompting businesses in Novena to report revenue declines of up to 75 per cent. Some tenants are considering not renewing leases, while residents brace for continued noise, dust and travel disruption.
GlobalFoundries and Marvell Technology have expanded their multi-year agreement to increase production capacity for silicon germanium semiconductors used in high-speed optical connections in data centers. The deal will boost capacity at GlobalFoundries' Vermont facility to meet surging demand from A
Residents and environmental groups in San Jose are organising against a wave of proposed AI data centre projects, citing concerns over energy, water and pollution. City officials have courted the developments for tax revenue, while state lawmakers weigh new transparency and cost measures.
Japan and the United States are discussing the construction of a semiconductor factory as part of their US$550 billion investment agreement, Nikkei reported. The plant, valued at ¥2 trillion to ¥3 trillion, would be operated by GlobalFoundries and focus on logic semiconductors.
IOI Properties Group has completed its S$2.47 billion acquisition of the indirect owner of Asia Square Tower 2 in Singapore. The deal includes repayment of shareholder loans and was settled via a Bursa Malaysia filing on Sept 17.
Lumina Commercial Park, a 35-acre freehold mixed development in Iskandar Puteri, has opened for sale with commercial units starting at RM2.5 million. The project, developed by Iskandar Seafront Assets and BCB Bhd, targets the growing demographic and cross-border traffic from the Johor-Singapore Spec
SK Hynix is in talks with Intel about a deal that would see it manufacture memory chips in the US for the first time, with scenarios including leasing part of Intel's Ohio facility or forming a venture with cloud firms. Potential opposition from Seoul over sensitive technology could be a major hurdl
Vietnam’s durian industry is pivoting from volume-driven growth to a value-based model, with Dak Lak Province leading the shift. The province has secured new export approvals from China, adding 140 growing-area codes and 31 packing facilities, while national traceability systems are being rolled out
Some 166 senior executives gathered at the Four Seasons Sydney for the inaugural Mingtiandi Australia Forum, featuring 31 speakers across nine sessions on cross-border real estate opportunities. The event, sponsored by Yardi, drew delegates from Singapore, Hong Kong, London and the UAE, with more th
Xiaomi Corp. launched the REDMI Note 17 Series in the Philippines on Tuesday, featuring four models with large batteries and enhanced durability. Prices start at P14,999 for the base REDMI Note 17, with early bird discounts available until Oct. 1.
Fujifilm Corp. has unveiled two new instax products: the Pal 2 palm-top digital camera and the Link WIDE 2 smartphone printer. Both devices will go on sale in Japan next month, with a Philippine release expected after a local teaser. The Pal 2 features a 10-megapixel sensor and upgraded design.
The Labs at Bukit Bintang City Centre (BBCC) in Kuala Lumpur has launched The Labs: Artist Series, featuring six Malaysian creative talents from Sept 12, 2026 to January 2027. The programme includes physical installations, immersive digital experiences, murals and merchandise tied to Merdeka, Mid-Au
Aboitiz Construction and Spain's ACCIONA have formed a joint venture, ACCIONA Facility Management Philippines, to provide integrated facilities management services. The venture targets the pharmaceutical, industrial, corporate and transport sectors, combining local expertise with global capabilities
Aboitiz Equity Ventures has expanded its LIMA Estate in Batangas from 384 hectares to approximately 1,100 hectares, attracting over P128.9 billion in investment and supporting 75,000 jobs. The company is building integrated ecosystems that combine infrastructure, energy, industrial development, educ
Blackstone-backed Horizon Industrial Parks reported a 36% year-on-year rise in first-quarter EBITDA to INR 1.6 billion, while net loss narrowed sharply. The Mumbai-based warehouse developer raised INR 42.5 billion in total primary equity through its IPO and pre-IPO placement, and reduced pro forma n
CK Asset Holdings has leased three floors totalling 51,762 sq ft to Susquehanna International Group in Cheung Kong Center II, pushing occupancy to about 70%. The deal adds to Hong Kong’s Central office rebound, with vacancy falling to 10% in August.
AstraZeneca Philippines and Ayala Healthcare Holdings Inc. have signed a partnership to strengthen clinical trial capabilities and expand patient access to innovative therapies. The agreement combines AstraZeneca's global research expertise with AC Health's hospital network and its subsidiary Health
Petronas and PTT subsidiaries have secured government approvals for a new production sharing contract for Block A-18-01 in the Malaysia-Thailand Joint Development Area. The 35-year PSC extends development beyond the current contract's expiry in 2029 and includes an adjacent exploration area.
Tesla has formally entered Vietnam by registering a subsidiary, Tesla Motors Vietnam Limited Liability Company, in Ho Chi Minh City with charter capital of 77.667 billion dong (US$3 million). The new entity will handle wholesale and retail sales of vehicles and parts, along with related import and e
Kerjaya Prospek Group Bhd's wholly owned subsidiary has accepted a RM37.82 million contract from Persada Mentari Sdn Bhd for piling and substructure works on an affordable apartment project at Pulau Andaman, Penang. The 24-month fixed lump-sum contract is slated to start on Oct 1, 2026.
NFD Korea has begun full-scale development of a 300MW AI data center campus in Dangjin, South Korea. The first 200MW phase has secured permits, a power supply agreement, and a general contractor, with construction starting in November 2026 and Q1 2028 targeted for service readiness.
Industry leaders at Data Centre Nexus 2026 urged Malaysia to measure data centre growth by local capabilities and supply chains, not just investment size. Mida recorded RM385.7 billion in data-centre investments from 2021 to H1 2026, with calls for greater SME participation and resource efficiency.
Booking Holdings has leased 111,525 sq ft of office space at RMZ Ecoworld in Bengaluru, increasing its total footprint at the commercial tower to about 2.65 lakh sq ft. The five-year lease, which began on 3 July, carries a monthly rent of Rs 1.33 crore and a 15% rental escalation every three years.
GLP has begun developing a 200MW hyperscale data centre campus in Foshan, Guangdong, with an expected investment of RMB 4 billion (S$595.6 million). The purpose-built facility will serve the AI training and advanced compute needs of a leading Chinese internet and cloud services company expanding its
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has urged AI companies to moderate the pace of model advancement, proposing a three-step framework to slow development and create more time to manage associated risks.
Construction of Singapore's North-South Corridor has entered its most technically demanding phase, with tunnelling taking place as close as 1m beneath the operational North-South Line at Novena. The Land Transport Authority said ground conditions have been more challenging than expected, requiring a
Taiwan and Paraguay have launched a pilot carbon credit project covering five hectares of woodland in Paraguay's Chaco region, the Climate Change Administration said. The project explores verification and transfer methods for carbon credits. Two universities also signed a separate MOU on talent deve
True Fitness and True Yoga in Singapore are set to close, with parent company Kontafarma China Holdings citing intense competition and rising customer acquisition costs. Insolvency practitioners have been provisionally appointed and creditors' voluntary winding-up will be proposed at an extraordinar
Singapore billionaires Raj Kumar and his son Kishin have acquired the Scotts Square retail mall in the Orchard Road area for S$310 million through a share purchase. The freehold mall has a gross floor area of 130,875 sq ft and a net leasable area of nearly 76,660 sq ft.