Sep 16, 2025

I recently came across news about the Philippines expressing strong opposition to China’s plans for a “national nature reserve” in the South China Sea. Philippine officials engaged in dialogues in the Indo-Pacific region, emphasizing maritime awareness and fisherfolk welfare. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Teodoro highlighted the importance of responsible competition and trust-driven dialogue at the Seoul Defense Dialogue.

China’s actions in the South China Sea have raised concerns about flashpoint management and unilateral measures, with risks of cross-regional flashpoint convergence growing. Philippine defense officials have warned about maritime disinformation and stressed the need for coordinated responses. These developments indicate future policy pathways with broader regional and global implications.

In a separate news piece, financial expert Henry Blodget discussed the parallels between the current AI era and the dot-com bubble, pointing out differences in funding sources and financing. The discussion raised questions about the potential for a boom-and-bust cycle in the AI sector, impacting the broader economy and stock markets.

The line between public and private markets is becoming increasingly blurred, with Robinhood offering a publicly traded fund of privately held startups and Carlyle signing a sponsorship deal with Oracle Red Bull Racing. The shifting landscape between public and private markets could have implications for investors moving forward.

Lastly, I heard about the continued rise in home prices and rents, despite economic softening. Brookfield’s return to the U.S. lower-end residential real estate market and various venture capital deals, such as Lila Sciences’ Series A funding and public offerings like StubHub, indicate ongoing activity and growth in the financial landscape.

Stay Well!