Category: Business

Business

Vietnam’s Coffee Farmers Are Chasing China’s Durian Gold Rush—But Will the Boom Last?

DAK LAK, Vietnam — For generations, Vietnam’s Central Highlands have been synonymous with coffee. Today, however, a growing number of farmers are looking beyond the coffee bean and toward a far more lucrative crop: the spiky, pungent durian. Driven by soaring demand from China, Vietnam’s durian industry has exploded into one of Southeast Asia’s biggest agricultural success stories. Farmers who once relied almost entirely on coffee are planting durian trees in hopes of earning significantly high

August 30, 2026

Business

Singapore Is Building 1,200+ Faster BTO Flats in Sin Ming and Toa Payoh — But Buyers Are Still Waiting for One Crucial Detail

SINGAPORE — Home buyers hoping to secure a new flat in two highly sought-after central locations have been given an important new option: more than 1,200 Build-to-Order flats are being developed in Sin Ming and Toa Payoh with waiting times of less than three years. National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat announced on Sunday, August 30, that the two upcoming developments will be part of Singapore's growing supply of Shorter Waiting Time, or SWT, flats. Unlike conventional BTO projects where

August 30, 2026

Business

NORWAY MOURNS KING HARALD V: THOUSANDS FLOOD ROYAL PALACE AS A NEW KING TAKES THE THRONE—WHAT COMES NEXT?

OSLO, Norway — Norway has entered a new chapter following the death of King Harald V, as thousands of mourners gathered outside the Royal Palace in Oslo to pay tribute to the monarch who reigned for more than three decades. King Harald V died on Friday, August 28, 2026, at the age of 89. His death immediately triggered a royal succession, with his 53-year-old son, Crown Prince Haakon, becoming King Haakon VIII. The transition happened automatically under Norway's constitutional system, meaning

August 30, 2026

Business

China Sends Record 244 Government Ships Around Taiwan as Undersea Mapping Raises New Security Fears

TAIPEI — China dramatically increased its government-vessel presence around Taiwan in July, setting a new monthly record and adding to concerns that Beijing is steadily expanding its ability to operate around the self-governed island without triggering an outright military confrontation. Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration recorded 244 Chinese coast guard, scientific research and other government vessels around Taiwan's main island in July 2026, according to figures reported by AFP and the Taip

August 29, 2026

Business

Why Is Protein Becoming Harder to Put on the Filipino Table? The Answer May Start With Corn

For many Filipino families, inflation is not a number discussed in economic reports. It is a question asked at the market: Can we still afford eggs? Chicken? Pork? And behind those everyday decisions is an ingredient most consumers rarely think about—corn. Corn may not always appear on the Filipino dinner plate, but it plays a crucial role in getting affordable chicken, pork and eggs there. As a major component of animal feed, changes in the cost and supply of corn can ripple through the lives

August 29, 2026

Business

This Sentosa Cove Home Was Once Ageing and Mismatched — Then Its Entire Look Went Black

A nearly 20-year-old waterfront bungalow in Singapore’s Sentosa Cove has been given a dramatic new identity after architect Pan Yi Cheng transformed its ageing exterior with charred black timber inspired by the traditional Japanese technique of shou sugi ban. SINGAPORE — From the street, the house makes a bold first impression: dark, textured and almost monolithic behind lush tropical greenery. But this striking black façade is more than a design statement. The waterfront residence in Sentosa

August 29, 2026

Business

Meralco Crews on Alert as Heavy Rains Threaten New Power Outages—Will Your Area Be Next?

MANILA, Philippines — With heavy rains continuing to threaten parts of Luzon, Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has placed its crews on alert as severe weather raises the risk of power interruptions in areas across its franchise territory. The move comes as the southwest monsoon, or Habagat, continues to bring rains to large parts of the country. PAGASA said monsoon rains are expected over several areas in Luzon, while Metro Manila and nearby provinces, including Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna

August 29, 2026

Business

The Big One Could Hit Anytime—But Are the Philippines’ Lifeline Systems Ready?

MANILA, Philippines — The question is no longer simply whether Filipinos can survive the shaking of a massive earthquake. A growing concern is what happens after the ground stops moving. As the Philippines prepares for the possibility of the long-feared “Big One,” disaster resilience experts are raising alarms over gaps that could disrupt the country's ability to restore electricity, water, telecommunications and other essential services when they are needed most. Atty. Michael Toledo, an advi

August 29, 2026

Business

Peso Back Below ₱60? BSP Governor Remolona Has a Blunt Message for Filipinos

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos hoping to see the Philippine peso quickly return below the ₱60-per-dollar level may have to temper their expectations. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli Remolona Jr. has made it clear that the central bank is not prepared to exhaust the country's dollar reserves simply to force the peso back to a preferred exchange rate. The message is straightforward: the BSP can step into the foreign exchange market when conditions become disorderly, but it will n

August 29, 2026

Business

Philippine Airfares Expected to Rise in First Half of September as Fuel Surcharge Returns to Level 13

MANILA, Philippines — Travelers planning to fly in the first half of September may need to prepare for higher airfare costs after the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) raised the allowable passenger fuel surcharge to Level 13. The higher surcharge will apply for the period September 1 to 15, 2026, replacing the Level 12 surcharge implemented from August 16 to 31, according to the aviation regulator. For domestic flights, airlines may impose a passenger fuel surcharge ranging from ₱423 to ₱1,237, d

August 29, 2026