The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

Tokyo—From the slopes of Mount Fuji to the temple streets of Kyoto, tourists are cramming Japan’s prime sightseeing spots, puzzling their way through Tokyo subways, and splashing out cash on cosmetics, sushi and high-tech toilet seats.

Washington—United States President Barack Obama’s trade agenda appears to be back on track after an extraordinary bipartisan rescue operation mounted in the week since it was derailed in the House of Representatives by rebellious Democrats backed by organized labor.

Cleveland—LeBron James pulled off his sunglasses, and there was no hiding the hurt in his eyes. He had given everything he had, the best player turning into a better teammate, and it wasn’t enough. “If I could have gave more, I would have done it, but I gave everything I had,” he said Tuesday after Cleveland’s 105-97 loss to Golden …

Seoul, South Korea—The four power teams of Asian football avoided defeat in their opening World Cup qualifiers, yet none put in performances that will dispel the doubts about the strength of the region’s teams following their combined winless record at the 2014 World Cup.

By Alvin I. Dacanay This week theater lovers are expected to come to the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) to catch the dozen dramatic works that are set to debut at the Virgin Labfest, the annual laboratory festival of untried, untested and unstaged plays that is now on its 11th year.

Twenty-seven women from different parts of the City of Manila are set to compete in the Miss Manila 2015 pageant, with the grand coronation night to be held at the Philippine International Convention Center Plenary Hall at 7 p.m. on June 24.

Summer may be over, but the fun continues in Albay this June, and it’s all because of the festivals in the province that showcase its rich cultural legacy. This month’s merrymaking started with the just-concluded Pinangat Festival, inspired by the pride the inhabitants of Camalig town, Albay province, have for their cuisine. A signature Bikolano delicacy, pinangat is made up …

Since we started living through the four seasons, the end of winter is usually eagerly welcomed in our family. Owing, perhaps, to the fact that we are creatures of the tropics, come late March or April—depending on when the weather becomes blessedly less frigid—we happily start to put away layers and layers of winter clothes and come out of our …

By Lito U. Gagni The Philippines risks becoming an Asian pariah insofar as foreign direct investments (FDI) are concerned because of frequent changes in its investment rules that have bedeviled the entry of foreign investors.

By Luis Leoncio THE Philippines should reconsider its Bank Secrecy Law to enable it to tackle tax evasion and other financial crimes, such as money laundering and corruption, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said.