Category: Business

Business

SINGAPORE-US TRADE TALKS ENTER A CRITICAL PHASE — GAN KIM YONG’S WASHINGTON VISIT COULD TEST THE RELATIONSHIP

SINGAPORE — Deputy Prime Minister and Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong is heading to the United States for high-level talks as Singapore navigates a new 12.5% US tariff on a range of its exports, putting the city-state’s carefully built trade relationship with Washington under renewed pressure. Gan will be in the US from Aug. 24 to Aug. 25, beginning his trip in New York, where he is scheduled to meet business and financial leaders. He will then travel to Washington, DC, for meetings wi

August 24, 2026

Business

PSE profit jumps nearly 20% — but a surge in fines is raising eyebrows over what drove the growth

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. (PSE) posted a sharp increase in first-half earnings, with net income climbing nearly 20% year-on-year. But behind the headline growth is a mix of stronger trading activity, higher fees and a notable increase in fines and penalties that has drawn attention to the composition of the exchange’s earnings. The PSE reported ₱608.38 million in net income for the first half of 2026, up 19.8% from ₱508.03 million during the same period last year.

August 24, 2026

Business

San Miguel Removes Nearly 9.4M Tons From PH Rivers—But Ramon Ang Says This Is Still Missing in the Fight Against Floods

MANILA, Philippines — San Miguel Corporation’s massive river-cleanup campaign has removed nearly 9.4 million metric tons of silt, garbage and other obstructions from more than 204 kilometers of waterways since 2020, helping several rivers carry heavy stormwater during recent rains. But despite the scale of the cleanup, San Miguel chairman and CEO Ramon S. Ang is warning that dredging rivers is only one piece of the country’s flood-control puzzle. The bigger challenge, he says, is making sure f

August 24, 2026

Business

Six Villar Companies Face PSE Sanctions Over Late Q2 Reports—What’s Behind the Delay?

Six companies controlled by billionaire Manuel Villar Jr. are facing possible sanctions from the Philippine Stock Exchange after failing to submit their second-quarter 2026 financial reports on the original deadline, putting another spotlight on the Villar Group’s continuing financial-reporting problems. The six companies identified in the report are AllDay Marts Inc., AllHome Corp., Villar Land Holdings Corp., Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc., Vistamalls Inc., and VistaREIT Inc. The companies wer

August 24, 2026

Business

Russia Has Oil, So Why Are Its Gas Stations Running Dry? The Answer Could Change the Ukraine War

Russia, one of the world’s biggest energy producers, is facing an increasingly visible problem at home: a shortage of the very fuel that has long powered its economy and military machine. Long queues have returned to gasoline stations in and around Moscow, fuel purchases have been restricted in several areas, and Russia has taken the unusual step of importing refined petroleum products while limiting fuel exports to protect domestic supplies. The crisis has been driven by a combination of Ukrai

August 24, 2026

Business

Juanito Que Dies at 89: The Low-Key Businessman Whose Wealth Stayed Out of the Spotlight

MANILA, Philippines — Business circles are mourning the death of businessman Juanito Que, who passed away at the age of 89, according to a report published by Bilyonaryo on August 23. Que was known for keeping a remarkably low public profile despite spending decades building his business interests. Bilyonaryo described him as a businessman who made his mark in Manila's hardware trade while largely staying away from the limelight that often surrounds the country's wealthiest families. His passi

August 24, 2026

Business

Xiaomi Just Unveiled Its Next Chip—and Its TSMC Move Could Change the Smartphone Power Game

Xiaomi is making another major push into the high-end smartphone chip market, unveiling its new Xring O3 processor as the Chinese technology giant looks to gain greater control over one of the most critical components inside its devices. The move marks the latest chapter in Xiaomi's effort to reduce its reliance on outside chip suppliers such as Qualcomm and MediaTek. According to Reuters, people familiar with the matter said the new Xring O3 will be manufactured by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufac

August 24, 2026

Business

Nereos Hit With 47 Consumer Complaints Over Undelivered Appliances — But the Refund Battle May Be Just Beginning

SINGAPORE — A growing consumer dispute involving home appliance seller Nereos has moved into the spotlight after dozens of customers complained about delayed or unfulfilled deliveries, repeated installation postponements and difficulties obtaining refunds. The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) said it received 47 complaints against Nereos between January 1 and August 19, 2026, involving products including water dispensers, water purifiers and automated laundry drying racks. According t

August 24, 2026

Business

Three Years After Fukushima’s Treated Water Release, Japan’s Seafood Faces a New Global Test — The Results Are Not What Many Expected

Three years after Japan began releasing treated water from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean, one of the biggest questions surrounding the controversial decision remains: what happened to the seafood? The issue that sparked global protests, import bans, and fears of radioactive contamination is now entering a new phase — one shaped by years of monitoring, scientific testing, and an ongoing battle to restore confidence in Japanese marine products. When Jap

August 24, 2026

Business

India’s First Homegrown Matcha Is Here — But Can Assam Take on the Global Tea Trend?

ASSAM, INDIA — Famous around the world for its bold and malty black tea, India’s Assam is now stepping into an entirely different — and increasingly lucrative — corner of the global tea market: matcha. A tea estate in Assam has produced what has been described as India’s first commercially manufactured matcha, marking a significant diversification for one of the country’s most historic tea-growing regions. The move comes as matcha continues to surge in popularity worldwide, driven by demand for

August 24, 2026