Category: Business

Business

Robina Gokongwei-Pe Backed UP When Almost Nobody Believed—Then the Fighting Maroons Changed Everything

For years, the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons were better known for heartbreaking losses than championship celebrations. But when business leader and UP alumna Robina Gokongwei-Pe first threw her support behind the men's basketball program in 2010, she saw something that went beyond the scoreboard. She saw potential. And she decided to stay—even when the wins were almost impossible to find. Gokongwei-Pe's story of standing behind the Fighting Maroons has resurfaced through In

September 3, 2026

Business

Singapore Is Adding a New Green Charge to Air Tickets in 2027 — But Cargo Gets a Major Reprieve

SINGAPORE — Air travellers departing Singapore are set to face a new sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) levy from January 2027, while the government has given the air-cargo industry another year to prepare for its own charge. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) announced on Thursday, September 3, that the SAF levy on air cargo shipments will be deferred by one year following feedback from industry players. Under the revised timeline, the cargo levy will apply to services sold from Oc

September 3, 2026

Business

Megawide Gets a Major Upgrade as Housing Bet Gains Momentum—Here’s What First Metro Sees Coming Next

MANILA, Philippines — Megawide Construction Corp. is gaining renewed attention from investors as its aggressive push into affordable housing begins to reshape the company’s growth outlook amid a challenging Philippine construction and property market. First Metro Securities has upgraded its valuation view on Megawide, raising its price target to ₱7.50 per share from ₱4.50, while maintaining a “Buy” rating. The brokerage said the company’s participation in the government’s Expanded Pambansang Pa

September 3, 2026

Business

Seiko Turns 145 With Six Striking “Edo Purple” Watches Inspired by Tokyo’s Heritage

Seiko is marking its 145th anniversary with a collection that looks firmly to Japan’s past while keeping one foot in modern watchmaking. The Japanese watchmaker has unveiled six new limited-edition timepieces united by a distinctive color theme: “Edo purple,” a traditional shade associated with the cultural heritage of Edo, the historic name for present-day Tokyo. The new releases represent the third series of Seiko’s 145th-anniversary celebrations and span several of the brand’s best-known co

September 3, 2026

Business

Japan’s New ¥30 Million Visa Rule Is Pushing Foreign Entrepreneurs Out — And the Numbers Are Rising

Japan’s crackdown on its Business Manager visa is now showing a striking consequence: 953 foreign residents holding the status left the country during the first half of 2026 without completing the procedures needed to return, nearly four times the number recorded during the same period last year. The figures, based on Immigration Services Agency data and reported by The Japan Times, indicate that the impact of Japan’s tougher immigration rules is extending beyond prospective applicants and is i

September 3, 2026

Business

She Lived With Severe Pain for More Than 10 Years Without a Diagnosis — Her Story Is Raising Questions About Fibromyalgia in Japan

A Tokyo woman’s long struggle to find an explanation for severe, persistent pain is drawing renewed attention to fibromyalgia and the challenges faced by patients whose symptoms can be difficult to recognize through routine medical tests. Reina Serikyaku, a 30-year-old certified care worker, says her symptoms began when she was a junior high school student on Ishigaki Island in Okinawa. During class, she suddenly experienced intense chest pain and was taken to a hospital by ambulance. But the

September 3, 2026

Business

Aboitiz Construction Takes Safety Drive Across 22 Sites — But Its Bigger Achievement Goes Beyond the Quill Award

MANILA, Philippines — Aboitiz Construction is turning workplace safety from a rulebook requirement into a company-wide behavior—and its latest recognition suggests the strategy is gaining traction far beyond individual construction sites. The company received an Award of Excellence at the 22nd Philippine Quill Awards on August 27, 2026, at Solaire Resort Entertainment City for its “SHES First. Excellence Always.” campaign, a behavior-driven safety communication program deployed across 22 projec

September 3, 2026

Business

LG Wants Your Home to Think for You — But ThinQ Claw’s Biggest Test Comes After IFA 2026

BERLIN — LG Electronics is pushing artificial intelligence deeper into the home, moving beyond AI-powered refrigerators, washing machines and air conditioners toward something far more ambitious: an intelligent system capable of coordinating the entire household. At the center of that strategy is ThinQ Claw, a new text-based AI agent that LG plans to showcase at IFA 2026 in Berlin from September 4 to 8. Instead of forcing users to manually control individual devices or build complicated automa

September 3, 2026

Business

Thomson Reuters Hit by Cybersecurity Breach Affecting Court Records in 11 U.S. States and Canada—Here’s What May Have Been Exposed

A cybersecurity incident involving a Thomson Reuters court-management platform has raised fresh concerns over the security of sensitive digital court records after an unauthorized party accessed files connected to court systems across the United States and Canada. Thomson Reuters said its C-Track case management platform was affected by unauthorized activity that was detected on June 30, 2026. The company's subsequent investigation determined that an unauthorized party had obtained certain C-Tr

September 3, 2026

Business

PITX Wants Metro Manila Reachable in Just Two Transfers — But the Bigger Plan Could Change More Than Commuting

Workers miss shifts. Businesses lose customers. Deliveries slow down. Retailers see foot traffic disappear. And for employees paid only for days they actually report for work, a transport disruption can quickly become lost income. That is the bigger argument now being pushed by the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX): the Philippines should treat reliable transportation not simply as a commuter issue, but as part of the country’s economic resilience strategy. At the PITX Media Forum

September 3, 2026