Category: Business

Business

Japan’s Debt Bill Is About to Hit a Record — and Rising Interest Rates Are Making It Worse

Japan is heading toward a new fiscal pressure point. The country’s debt-servicing costs are expected to climb 17.1% to a record ¥36.6386 trillion (about US$230 billion) in fiscal 2027, according to a report by Kyodo cited by multiple media outlets. The projected increase would add roughly ¥5.3 trillion to the previous fiscal year’s level, putting debt repayment and interest costs under greater pressure as borrowing rates rise. The figure is particularly significant because Japan has spent dec

August 25, 2026

Business

Thailand Moves to Expand Social Security to Farmers, Street Vendors and Domestic Workers — But One Major Step Still Remains

Thailand is moving toward a major expansion of social security protection that could bring previously excluded groups—including agricultural workers, street vendors and domestic workers—closer to the country’s formal social security system. The Labour Ministry is preparing changes to extend Section 33 coverage under Thailand’s Social Security Act to workers in sectors that have historically faced gaps in employment-based protection. The proposal is part of a broader government effort to bring m

August 25, 2026

Business

Mat Yeung’s New Malaysia Restaurant Shut Just 10 Days After Opening — Here’s What Happened

Hong Kong actor Mat Yeung’s new roast-meat restaurant in Petaling Jaya has hit an unexpected setback, just 10 days after officially opening its doors. Six Hub Roast House, the TVB star’s Hong Kong-style roast-meat eatery in the SS2 area of Petaling Jaya, was ordered to temporarily stop operations by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) on Aug. 24. A closure notice was posted at the restaurant, requiring it to cease operations from 1pm that day. The development quickly attracted attention onli

August 25, 2026

Business

P1,200 Minimum Wage Push Gains Momentum in Cebu as Piston Backs Workers’ Demand

CEBU, Philippines — The campaign for a ₱1,200 daily minimum wage across Central Visayas is gaining momentum after transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) Cebu threw its support behind the proposal during the region’s ongoing wage review. Piston Cebu joined labor groups in a picket outside the Department of Education Ecotech Center in Cebu City on August 24, where the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board 7 (RTWPB 7) conducted its first pub

August 25, 2026

Business

India’s Push for Food Warning Labels Faces Big-Food Fight as Supreme Court Demands Answers

India’s plan to put prominent health warnings on popular packaged foods—including chips, sugary drinks and other products high in sugar, salt and saturated fat—has become the center of a growing battle between public-health advocates, regulators and some of the world’s biggest food companies. The controversy intensified in August 2026 after India’s food-safety regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), moved away from the idea of simple, colour-coded warning labels on

August 25, 2026

Business

CEBU CITY WARNS 61 DEVELOPERS: Only 4 of 65 Submitted Flood Plans—Now Legal Action Could Be Next

CEBU CITY — Cebu City is preparing to take a tougher legal route against property developers after only four of 65 developers identified for a flood-mitigation review had submitted the documents requested by the city government. The latest development has intensified scrutiny of hillside and upland developments in Cebu City, particularly amid recurring flooding in low-lying communities following heavy rains. According to Cebu City Chief of Staff Kenneth Siasar, the city had sent formal letters

August 25, 2026

Business

Nvidia Earnings Could Trigger a $280 Billion Stock Swing — Wall Street Is Watching What Comes Next

Wall Street is bracing for another major Nvidia earnings event — and options traders are preparing for a potential $280 billion swing in the company's market value once the AI chip giant reports its latest results. Nvidia is scheduled to release its fiscal second-quarter 2027 earnings after the U.S. market closes on Wednesday, August 26. With expectations for another huge jump in revenue, investors are watching closely for signs that the artificial-intelligence boom can continue supporting the

August 25, 2026

Business

Thailand’s Car Industry Just Staged a Surprising July Comeback — But There’s a Bigger Story Behind the Numbers

Thailand’s automotive industry delivered a notable rebound in July, with vehicle production rising 6.12% year-on-year to 117,383 units, according to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). The July increase marks a sharp turnaround from June, when Thai vehicle production fell 7.55% year-on-year. The latest figures suggest that Thailand’s auto sector is regaining momentum — but the recovery comes as manufacturers continue to face intense competition, shifting export demand and the rapid expansi

August 25, 2026

Business

Singapore Wants to Host a Powerful New Global Tribunal — But What Happens If Its Bid Succeeds?

SINGAPORE — Singapore is stepping forward with an ambitious bid to host a proposed international tribunal that could reshape how investment disputes between foreign companies and governments are resolved. Law Minister Edwin Tong announced on Tuesday (Aug 25) that Singapore will put forward its bid to host the proposed Multilateral Investment Tribunal (MIT), an institution currently being negotiated under the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). If Singapore's bid su

August 25, 2026

Business

Singapore Backs Major Overhaul of Global Investor Dispute Rules — But What Happens When Governments Face Investors?

Singapore is backing efforts to strengthen the international system for resolving disputes between foreign investors and governments, as countries work to make investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS) more transparent, consistent and credible. The issue has gained renewed attention as the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) advances a broad reform programme aimed at addressing longstanding concerns over investor-State arbitration. Under ISDS, foreign investors can,

August 25, 2026