DA stands firm on blocking Vietnam rice shipment

Inquirer.net - Oct 22, 2026

MANILA, Philippines — Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. firmly stated that the agency’s recent decision to block a rice shipment from Vietnam last month aimed to safeguard the farm sector against illicit transactions. Tiu Laurel said he is exploring legal options, such as filing a case, after weeks of a misinformation campaign seeking to remove

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MediCard expects single-digit growth of claims cost

Oct 22, 2026

MediCard expects single-digit growth of claims cost

MANILA, Philippines — MediCard is expecting its healthcare claims cost per member to grow by only single digits this year, as it banks on its upgraded MediGo app to expand access to care and encourage earlier treatment to help keep medical costs in check. This comes as the health maintenance organization launched the upgraded MediGo

Meat importers oppose move for safeguard

Oct 22, 2026

Meat importers oppose move for safeguard

MANILA, Philippines — A group of meat importers has pushed back against an initial inquiry by the Department of Agriculture (DA) on additional tariff measures, saying this will stoke food inflation and disrupt raw material supplies for local food manufacturers. The Meat Importers and Traders Association (Mita) is urging the DA to end its ongoing investigation

Manila, Tokyo seen wrapping up revisions to free trade pact

Oct 22, 2026

Manila, Tokyo seen wrapping up revisions to free trade pact

MANILA, Philippines — Manila and Tokyo might conclude negotiations to update their bilateral trade agreement this month, potentially paving the way for even more favorable tariffs on Philippine exports entering the Japanese market. Among the products Manila is seeking duty-free access for are bananas, which currently face an 8-percent tariff during Japan’s summer season and 18

Receivers to sell mainland developer Shimao’s 2 Hong Kong hotels for US$344 million

Oct 22, 2026

Receivers to sell mainland developer Shimao’s 2 Hong Kong hotels for US$344 million

Receivers of the Sheraton Hong Kong Tung Chung Hotel and the Four Points by Sheraton have agreed to sell the dual-branded complex, which together comprise the city’s third-largest hotel by room count, for HK$2.7 billion (US$344 million), Shimao Group announced on Thursday. In a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange, the distressed mainland Chinese developer said the buyer was Oceanfront Hong Kong Limited. Oceanfront is owned by, among others, investment vehicles associated with ParkCity Group,...

China’s stabilisation pledge did not lift stocks. Why are investors praising it?

Oct 22, 2026

China’s stabilisation pledge did not lift stocks. Why are investors praising it?

A slew of market-stabilising measures unveiled by the head of China’s securities regulator this week has won praise from investors, despite the fact that mainland stock prices did not roar back over the following days. The focus on supporting stocks and investor confidence over the long term, rather than deploying contingency actions to deal with short-term market turmoil, signalled a much-needed shift in Beijing’s strategy, industry players said. Wu Qing, chairman of the China Securities...

Could Hong Kong’s student housing boom lure property giants off the sidelines?

Oct 21, 2026

Could Hong Kong’s student housing boom lure property giants off the sidelines?

Hong Kong’s largest landlords and developers could get their first formal route into the rising student accommodation market after the government announced plans to tender land for a purpose-built student hostel this quarter, according to analysts. Development Secretary Bernadette Linn Hon-ho announced on Thursday the inclusion of a 1,100 square metre (11,840 square foot) site for student accommodation as one of two land tenders in the October to December quarter. The plot – at the junction of...

The fake commute: How China's unemployed save face

Oct 21, 2026

The fake commute: How China's unemployed save face

BEIJING/HONG KONG - A photo of a home-cooked lunch almost exposed Coco Li's secret.

TAT celebrates the launch of Virgin Atlantic’s inaugural flight from London Heathrow to Phuket

Oct 21, 2026

TAT celebrates the launch of Virgin Atlantic’s inaugural flight from London Heathrow to Phuket

TAT celebrated Virgin Atlantic's inaugural London Heathrow–Phuket flight, enhancing UK-Phuket access and encouraging longer stays and regional exploration.

BIR sues two companies for P45 million in unpaid taxes

Oct 21, 2026

BIR sues two companies for P45 million in unpaid taxes

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) filed two criminal complaints before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Oct. 14, 2026, involving combined assessed tax liabilities of ₱45.07 million for taxable years 2017 and 2018. The BIR filed one complaint against Interserve Management & Manpower Resources, Inc. (IMMRI) and its responsible corporate officers,

GSIS offers emergency loans in dengue-, El Niño-hit Bicol areas

Oct 21, 2026

GSIS offers emergency loans in dengue-, El Niño-hit Bicol areas

MANILA, Philippines — The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) is making P1.69 billion in emergency loans available to members and pensioners affected by the dengue outbreak in Albay and Naga and the El Niño phenomenon in Camarines Norte. In a statement, GSIS said 68,506 active members and pensioners in the three areas are eligible for the

Red alert raised anew over Visayas

Oct 21, 2026

Red alert raised anew over Visayas

MANILA, Philippines — Consumers in the Visayas may face power outages on Wednesday as the grid operator declared another red alert due to a tight electricity supply and high demand. In an advisory, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) said the red alert would be in effect from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., while

Tesla signs deal to integrate Alipay into its cars as China competition heats up

Oct 21, 2026

Tesla signs deal to integrate Alipay into its cars as China competition heats up

Tesla has agreed a deal to integrate Chinese fintech giant Ant Group’s Alipay digital payment software into its vehicles in China, as Elon Musk’s firm steps up efforts to offer localised smart features amid intense competition in the Chinese market. The agreement, signed on Tuesday, will see Tesla roll out an Alipay-powered smart parking service across its Chinese fleet, according to the fintech firm. Neither side revealed a launch date or which car models would receive the feature, though...

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