Philippine financial markets were closed on Tuesday along with government offices and schools as heavy overnight rains flooded parts of the capital Manila and nearby provinces.Currency, stocks and bonds trading were suspended after the office of President Rodrigo Duterte halted work in government offices, BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) Governor Nestor Espenilla said.

Rebuilding the besieged Philippine city of Marawi could cost about 56 billion pesos ($1.1 billion), according to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.Months of fighting between Philippine troops and Islamic State-led militants have left the once vibrant city on the southern island of Mindanao a virtual ghost town, displacing more than 230,000 people.“There’s a need to rebuild the infrastructure, provide social assistance to those traumatized by the war, restock armed forces ammunition and reple

Malaysia celebrates the end of the 29th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) with a glittering, colourful and sparkling closing ceremony at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil. The biennial games, also known as Kuala Lumpur 2017, ran between August 19 and 30, 2017. The game coincides with the celebration of Malaysia’s 60th Independence Day. It is the sixth time that Malaysia has hosted the biennial competition.

Australia Tuesday offers to help train the Philippines military to tackle Islamic militants terrorising parts of the country, calling the threat "deeply concerning".Philippine forces have been besieging militants in the southern city of Marawi for almost 100 days.