Consumer advocates call on gov't to weigh in on new vape tax

GMA Network - Oct 1, 2026

Consumer advocates are calling on the government to reconsider imposing higher excise taxes on vape products.

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Thailand is making AI and semiconductors the focus of its next five-year development plan

Oct 1, 2026

Thailand is making AI and semiconductors the focus of its next five-year development plan

Thailand’s draft 14th development plan covers 2028–2032 and prioritises AI, semiconductors, advanced electronics and clean energy.

PH factory activity contracts for first time in 5 months

Oct 1, 2026

PH factory activity contracts for first time in 5 months

Philippine manufacturing returned to negative territory in September, posting its first contraction in five months as weaker demand weighed on output and new orders, results of the latest S&P Global survey released Thursday showed.

‘China’s Warren Buffett’ adds Moutai shares for 3rd time as baijiu sector seeks bottom

Oct 1, 2026

‘China’s Warren Buffett’ adds Moutai shares for 3rd time as baijiu sector seeks bottom

Chinese-American billionaire investor Duan Yongping, often called China’s Warren Buffett, has added 30,000 shares of Shanghai-listed baijiu maker Kweichou Moutai to his portfolio in his third public stake increase this year amid a deep sector-wide adjustment. Moutai’s premium valuation has long relied heavily on corporate and social gifting demand. Yet stricter supervision, more prudent corporate spending and ongoing anti-corruption efforts in recent years have dented demand, according to...

Digital Economy and E-Commerce: ASEAN’s $1 Trillion Growth Engine

Sep 30, 2026

Digital Economy and E-Commerce: ASEAN’s $1 Trillion Growth Engine

Southeast Asia's digital economy is valued at $300 billion in 2025 and could reach $1 trillion by 2030. Structural shifts in ASEAN countries drive growth, with e-commerce dominating. Policy, platform evolution, and investment opportunities support this growth potential.

Telcos express concern over NTC's sanctions due to alleged poor mobile service

Sep 30, 2026

Telcos express concern over NTC's sanctions due to alleged poor mobile service

The Philippine Chamber of Telecommunication Operators (PCTO) on Wednesday expressed concern after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) imposed sanctions against the country"s three major telco players due to “poor” mobile broadband services monitored this month.

Asian markets hold up despite bond rout as US yields enter a structurally higher regime

Sep 30, 2026

Asian markets hold up despite bond rout as US yields enter a structurally higher regime

The bond-market deterioration reflects several forces acting simultaneously: higher inflation expectations, heavy government borrowing and issuance, concerns over public finances and elevated energy prices linked to the Middle East conflict.

PCO: IBC-13 risks going off the air without gov't subsidy

Sep 30, 2026

PCO: IBC-13 risks going off the air without gov't subsidy

PCO Secretary Dave Gomez asked senators to help restore subsidy for the agency"s attached GOCC IBC-13, saying it risked going off the air without government funding.

Hong Kong banks set golden week lures for mainland Chinese visitors despite new levies

Sep 30, 2026

Hong Kong banks set golden week lures for mainland Chinese visitors despite new levies

Hong Kong commercial banks continue to offer incentives to attract mainland visitors during the first golden week after Beijing tightened cross-border investment rules and enforced the collection of a 20 per cent levy on overseas investment or insurance gains. HSBC would offer up to HK$88,000 (US$11,215) for new high-end clients, as well as experiences including a National Day fireworks dinner and tickets to the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing or a K-pop concert, according to the bank’s...

BSP urges public to check banknotes carefully during 'ber' months

Sep 30, 2026

BSP urges public to check banknotes carefully during 'ber' months

A sari-sari store in Dagupan City received a fake P1,000 bill from a customer who used it to pay for a purchase.

New World Development posts HK$26.8b loss after 11 Skies termination

Sep 30, 2026

New World Development posts HK$26.8b loss after 11 Skies termination

New World Development (NWD) reported a net loss of HK$26.8 billion (US$3.42 billion) for the year ended June, as the developer booked HK$18.3 billion in impairments and provisions tied to the early termination of its flagship 11 Skies mall project. Echo Huang, the firm’s chief executive, said at a Wednesday earnings briefing that the group had “met its targets over the past 18 months”, including focusing on its property business, improving cash flow and enhancing operating efficiency. NWD will...

DFI Retail sells stake in Maxim’s in return for Starbucks business, US$340m

Sep 30, 2026

DFI Retail sells stake in Maxim’s in return for Starbucks business, US$340m

Maxim’s Caterers has struck a deal to buy back its shares from DFI Retail Group for US$340 million plus control of its licensed Starbucks business, according to an exchange filing released on Wednesday. The deal will mark the start of a fresh chapter for Maxim’s, bringing an end to decades of part ownership by the conglomerate Jardine Matheson, which owns DFI Retail. Jardine Matheson bought a 50 per cent interest in Maxim’s in 1972, before transferring the stake to Dairy Farm, now known as DFI...

PH must rethink worker preparation amid AI use -- experts

Sep 30, 2026

PH must rethink worker preparation amid AI use -- experts

Experts called on companies in the country to rethink preparing workers to cope with the rising artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and overseas migration.

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