Category: Business

Business

China’s “Worst” Movie Became a Stock-Market Meme — Then Regulators Had to Step In

A bizarre Chinese animated film that was initially mocked as one of the country’s worst movies has transformed into an unlikely box-office sensation — and its title has even helped trigger a speculative frenzy in China’s stock market. The film, “Niu Lai” (牛来), roughly translates as “The Bull Comes” or “Here Comes the Bull.” That wording has taken on a second meaning in a country where “bull” is commonly associated with a rising stock market. Released on Aug. 5, 2026, the 86-minute animated fil

August 21, 2026

Business

A Tiny Pest Has Hit 7,021 Hectares of Iloilo Sugarcane—But the Bigger Threat May Not Be the Damaged Crops

ILOILO CITY — A tiny insect is creating a potentially massive problem for Iloilo’s sugar industry. The provincial government is intensifying efforts to contain the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) after the pest spread across roughly 7,021 hectares of sugarcane farms, equivalent to about one-third of Iloilo’s 20,749.88 hectares planted to the crop. The infestation has become serious enough for Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. to describe the province as moving into “disaster mode,” as a

August 21, 2026

Business

DTI Says 25 Bulacan Businesses Are Now ‘ASEAN-Ready’—But Getting Certified May Be the Easy Part

MALOLOS, Bulacan — The Department of Trade and Industry is pushing more Bulacan-based micro, small and medium enterprises into Southeast Asia’s wider market after identifying the province’s first 25 “ASEAN-ready” MSMEs — businesses that have moved beyond local selling and started meeting the regulatory, certification and digital requirements needed to compete outside the Philippines. But becoming “ASEAN-ready” may be only the beginning. According to DTI Bulacan Provincial Director Atty. Coco C

August 21, 2026

Business

Disney Wanted to Stop the FCC Fast—Now a Judge Has Pushed the Showdown to October

WASHINGTON — Disney’s legal fight with the Federal Communications Commission has hit a new roadblock after a U.S. federal judge rejected the company’s request for an expedited hearing over the agency’s early review of licenses for eight ABC-owned television stations. U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan declined Disney’s request for a hearing as early as Tuesday on its motion for a temporary restraining order. Instead, the court ordered the parties to complete legal filings by September 24, with a

August 21, 2026

Business

Malaysia Could Spend RM7.5 Billion to Take Control of Its Passport and MyKad Supplier — But What Happens Next?

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s government is exploring a potential takeover of Datasonic Technologies Sdn Bhd, the company at the heart of the country’s passport and national identity-card supply chain, in a move that could reshape how some of Malaysia’s most sensitive identity documents are produced. Datasonic’s parent company, NexG Bhd, said the government has asked it to provide an indicative price for a possible acquisition of the wholly owned subsidiary. NexG’s preliminary internal assessment p

August 21, 2026

Business

Singapore Can’t Stop Queuing For This Chinese-Muslim Beef Roti—But There’s One Detail Diners Should Know

A crispy Chinese-Muslim pastry that was once served at Ramadan bazaars has become one of Singapore’s latest food sensations, with customers reportedly willing to wait up to an hour for a taste. At the centre of the buzz is Ameen Roti, a Muslim-owned business founded by Harun Min, a 36-year-old former middle-school teacher from Linxia in China’s Gansu province. What began as an unexpected business venture has grown into two permanent Singapore outlets, one at Haji Lane and another at Century Squ

August 21, 2026

Business

Sydney Airport’s Fourth Near-Miss in a Month: Two Qantas Jets Sent Toward the Same Point—What Went Wrong?

SYDNEY — Australia’s aviation safety watchdog has launched an investigation into another aircraft incident at Sydney Airport, marking the fourth safety-related near-miss under investigation at the nation’s busiest airport in less than a month. The latest incident involved two Qantas passenger aircraft that were directed toward the same taxiway intersection on Tuesday. A Qantas Airbus A321 preparing to depart and a Qantas Boeing 737 that had just arrived were both cleared to continue along taxiw

August 21, 2026

Business

Singapore Police Probe Radiant World as Iron Ore Trader Faces Mounting Global Scrutiny

Singapore police are looking into Radiant World, one of the world's largest iron ore traders, after receiving reports concerning the commodities company, adding a new layer of pressure to a business already facing scrutiny from banks, trading houses and regulators in several countries. The Singapore Police Force confirmed on Thursday, Aug. 20, that it had received reports involving Radiant World and was looking into the matter. Police did not disclose who filed the reports or the nature of the

August 20, 2026

Business

Capiz Vegetable Farmers Are Changing How They Farm—But the Bigger Test Is Coming

CAPIZ, Philippines — Vegetable growers in Capiz are being urged to change the way they farm as climate pressures, production risks and market demands continue to reshape the country’s agricultural sector. A total of 30 vegetable growers representing cluster associations from various municipalities in Capiz recently completed a three-day training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and lowland vegetable production conducted by the Department of Agriculture (DA) Western Visayas in Roxas City. T

August 20, 2026

Business

Ant Group Profit Is Growing Again—But Its US$5.17 Billion AI Gamble Could Decide What Happens Next

BEIJING — Ant Group has returned to year-on-year profit growth, but the modest increase may matter less than the transformation now taking place inside the Chinese fintech giant. Ant Group, the financial technology affiliate in which Alibaba Group holds a 33% stake, generated an estimated RMB4.7 billion, or about US$698 million, in quarterly profit for the three months ended June 30, 2026, according to Reuters calculations based on Alibaba’s latest earnings disclosure. That represents an incre

August 20, 2026