Manila / AFP Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday he would seek closer economic ties with China and Russia, as the local currency and stock market extended declines following Western criticism of his deadly war on crime. The peso hit a seven-year low to the dollar on Monday and foreign investors pulled out from local shares for a …

  Singapore / AFP A Singapore firm headed by a scion of one of Asia’s richest families has bought a 49 percent stake in Rolling Stone, with plans to diversify the iconic magazine into new business including live events and merchandising. BandLab Technologies, a music and technology start-up headed by 28-year-old Kuok Meng Ru, bought the stake for an undisclosed …

  CANBERRA / AFP Australia’s trade minister will lead the country’s first business delegation to visit Iran in 14 years after sanctions over Tehran’s nuclear program were eased. Steven Ciobo said he will leave on Tuesday for the visit that will include reopening an Australian trade office that closed in 2010. Ciobo said he will be accompanied by 20 representatives …