China’s Huafa abandons domestic AAA rating amid Fitch downgrade, bond market jitters

South China Morning Post - Nov 12, 2026

Zhuhai Huafa Group, a heavily indebted state-owned enterprise whose recent troubles rattled China’s bond market, has voluntarily ended its engagement with a major domestic credit assessor, leading to the withdrawal of its AAA rating after an international ratings agency downgraded the firm. Huafa – the largest enterprise owned by the government of Zhuhai, a city in southern China’s Guangdong province – disclosed in a filing to the Shanghai Stock Exchange on Tuesday that it would terminate its...

Read full article

More News

New Ho Chi Minh City chairman pledges to tackle traffic congestion, flooding

Nov 12, 2026

New Ho Chi Minh City chairman pledges to tackle traffic congestion, flooding

Ho Chi Minh City's new chairman Le Quoc Phong has pledged to focus on tackling traffic congestion, flooding, and environmental pollution while improving residents' quality of life.

LOOK: Nxled def. Akari (3-0)

Nov 12, 2026

LOOK: Nxled def. Akari (3-0)

PVL 2026 All Filipino-Siklab Series Akari def. Akari, 3-0 Brooke Van Sickle Player of the Game #PVL2026

Indonesia’s Vice President, Gibran, Resigns

Nov 12, 2026

Indonesia’s Vice President, Gibran, Resigns

Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is stepping down amid a scandal over his academic credentials, was a symbol of the partnership that elevated President Prabowo Subianto into office.

Chinese regulators back investor lawsuits in push to shore up stock market confidence

Nov 12, 2026

Chinese regulators back investor lawsuits in push to shore up stock market confidence

Chinese regulators are stepping up efforts to protect individual investors by backing legal action against listed companies accused of misconduct while fast-tracking compensation for losses. The moves come as authorities seek to restore confidence in a stock market that has tentatively stabilised with support from state buying. The China Securities Investor Services Centre, which represents small investors and is backed by the stock market regulator, has filed a lawsuit against Beijing-based...

Son Heung-min, key South Korean players resolve internal divisions at heart of national team

Nov 12, 2026

Son Heung-min, key South Korean players resolve internal divisions at heart of national team

Son Heung-min and four other South Korean players said Thursday they had put their differences aside after reports of bitter internal divisions at the heart of the national team. South Korean football has been mired in controversy since their hugely disappointing exit in the group stage of the World Cup, after which unpopular coach Hong Myung-bo quit. In the fallout, reports emerged in local media of a split involving the 34-year-old skipper Son and some of the other players, including Bayern...

Connie Sison finds her calling in health and wellness

Nov 12, 2026

Connie Sison finds her calling in health and wellness

Seasoned journalist Connie Sison has been making the rounds of broadcasting for close to 30 years, covering some of the most important political and social issues. But if there is one topic that she is most passionate about, it is health and wellness. So passionate is the “Balitanghali” anchor in delivering news about wellness that

VP Trial Day 43: BPI Senior VP to testify on Duterte-Carpio letters

Nov 12, 2026

VP Trial Day 43: BPI Senior VP to testify on Duterte-Carpio letters

MANILA, Philippines — The Senior Vice President of the Bank of the Philippine Islands will testify as the fifth defense witness in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on Thursday. BPI SVP Atty. Paul Roderick Ysmael is set to testify on the letter requests of Duterte and her spouse, Atty. Manases Carpio through their legal

AMLC: No bank records of contractor, DPWH sending money to Romualdez

Nov 12, 2026

AMLC: No bank records of contractor, DPWH sending money to Romualdez

A witness from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) said Thursday the P560.5-million worth of remittances that went to the bank account of suspended Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez during his tenure as House speaker from 2022 to 2025 were not related to flood control transactions.

National stadium to host France match on Paris attack anniversary

Nov 12, 2026

National stadium to host France match on Paris attack anniversary

PARIS, France — Eleven years to the day since the November 2015 Paris attacks, the Stade de France will on Friday host a sports match for the first time on that anniversary. Three suicide bombers struck outside the stadium shortly after 9:00 pm on November 13, 2015 during an international football friendly between France and Germany. Four people died, including the three suicide bombers, but almost simultaneously, a series of shootings and bombings were launched at restaurants and the Bataclan music venue in central Paris. In total, 130 people were killed, while more than 400 were injured, including close to 100 critically. Two victims later committed suicide. Before Friday night's Nations Championship rugby clash between France and South Africa, a tribute will be held to the victims of those attacks. "We will have a moment's pause for the events of that date and we will think about the families and the victims who are still suffering," France coach Fabien Galthie said on Wednesday. "And we will think about our republic of course, which is also suffering." On Wednesday, on Armistice Day, France captain Antoine Dupont and his half-back partner Maxime Lucu laid flowers at the tomb of the unknown soldier at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris on behalf of the team to remember those who died during World War I. "I'm a citizen of the republic and we are all citizens of the republic. The French team is a citizen of the republic and we have a series of events centred around November 13 -- reflection, remembrance and, above all, a chance to ask questions about our society and the role we have in this society," added Galthie. Twice before, France's football team had played a match on November 13, against Kazakhstan in 2021 and Ukraine last year, but both ties were played at the Parc des Princes in southwest Paris instead of the national stadium.

Tourists Brave a Muddy Jungle Trek to See a Famed World War II Wreck

Nov 12, 2026

Tourists Brave a Muddy Jungle Trek to See a Famed World War II Wreck

Seven Chinese tourists, a dozen villagers and a couple of journalists forded streams and bushwhacked to the downed plane of Isoroku Yamamoto, the Japanese admiral. Machetes proved handy.

PNP on full alert in NCR, Regions 3, 4A starting Nov. 13 for ASEAN Summit 2026

Nov 12, 2026

PNP on full alert in NCR, Regions 3, 4A starting Nov. 13 for ASEAN Summit 2026

The Philippine National Police (PNP) will place its units in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon under full alert status starting Friday in preparation for the country's hosting of the 49th ASEAN Summit.

US withdraws from U17 World Cup in Qatar over security fears

Nov 12, 2026

US withdraws from U17 World Cup in Qatar over security fears

LOS ANGELES, United States — The United States withdrew Wednesday from the upcoming Under-17 soccer World Cup in Qatar due to concerns about security in the Middle East. Players were informed of the decision just over a week before the tournament is due to begin on November 19, in a letter sent by the sport's US governing body. "We are writing to inform you of the difficult decision to cancel our World Cup pre-camp and our planned participation in the World Cup," said the letter, seen by AFP. "We are extremely proud of the preparation by our players and coaches to represent the US in the World Cup. "Unfortunately, in light of current circumstances including the US State Department's Level 3 Travel Advisory for Qatar and related directives for Embassy staff and families, we are no longer able to participate in the tournament. "The well-being of our players and staff will always be our top priority." The war in the Middle East began in February with joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which retaliated by targeting, among others, Gulf countries allied with Washington. Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have been punctuated by repeated threats from the United States and Israel to resume bombardments of Iran. Multiple sporting events in the Middle East have been affected, including the tennis WTA Finals which were scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia -- which neighbors Qatar -- but are instead now taking place at Indian Wells in the US. This season's Formula One Grand Prix in Jeddah was cancelled, while the race in Bahrain was called off and later rescheduled under the same name in Malaysia. Several events in Saudi Arabia have also been cancelled or postponed in recent weeks following attacks on the country by the Houthis in Yemen. The US was one of 48 teams scheduled to play in the Under-17 World Cup, in a group with Montenegro, Chile and Algeria. The Under-17 World Cup shifted to an annual event last year, and is being held in Qatar for five consecutive years. Announcing its host decision in 2024, FIFA said the decision to choose a single host nation for multiple editions centered on the ability to make "use of existing footballing infrastructure in the interest of tournament efficiencies and sustainability". Qatar was the venue for the 2022 men's World Cup.

Recommended