Philippines Business News

Ethiopians celebrate Meskel holiday with pomp, despite recent fighting in Tigray

WELKITE, Ethiopia— Millions of Christians in Ethiopia gathered to celebrate Meskel, a religious holiday that commemorates the discovery of the True Cross by the Roman empress Helena in the 4th century, even as fighting continued in the troubled northern region of Tigray. Meskel holds added significance in Ethiopia, a largely agrarian society, as it marks, along with the Ethiopian New Year, the end of the rainy season and the beginning of spring. This year's celebration comes as Ethiopia is

2026 IMS | IASO Bio Presented First-in-Human Data of BCMA-Targeted In Vivo CAR-T Cell Therapy IASO206

- Late-breaking oral presentation of first-in-human data (LBA-11) showed that a single intravenous infusion of IASO206 generated functional BCMA CAR-T cells in vivo without lymphodepleting chemotherapy. The study demonstrated a 90% objective response rate and a 90% MRD negativity rate in a population in which 90% of patients had high-risk and 70% had ultra-high-risk cytogenetic features; both rates reached 100% in the high-dose cohort. SHANGHAI, NANJING, China and PLEASANTON, Calif., Sept. 27, 2

2026 IMS | IASO Bio Presented FUCASO China Real-World Data

--- In a large China real-world study of 281 heavily pretreated, predominantly high-risk patients with relapsed/refractory plasma cell neoplasms, FUCASO achieved a 95.9% objective response rate, a 77.2% CR/sCR rate, and a 94.1% MRD negativity rate --- with median PFS and OS not yet reached (12-month PFS 71.5%, OS 87.8%) and consistent benefit across high-risk subgroups, validating the efficacy of the pivotal registration study in real-world practice SHANGHAI, NANJING, China, and PLEASANTON, Cali

Veterans face rising stars in fiercely contested Puregold CinePanalo acting awards

MANILA, Philippines — From acclaimed veterans to mainstream stars and fearless newcomers, some of Philippine cinema’s most exciting performers are going head-to-head for Puregold CinePanalo’s top acting prizes. There will be no easy wins at this year’s Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival. Acclaimed veterans, established stars and a new generation of performers are going head-to-head in what is shaping up to be one of the festival’s fiercest acting races yet. During a

Villanueva flags P9.8B cut to free tuition fund

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Joel Villanueva raised concern over a P9.757 billion cut to the government’s free tuition subsidy, warning that the reduction could complicate the implementation of a reform law intended to ensure that tertiary education assistance reaches students who need it most. The free tuition fund was allocated P27.790 billion under the proposed 2027 national budget, down from P37.547 billion in 2026. The cut comes as Republic Act (RA) 12325, which enhances the Unive

Mynt IPO opens investment opportunity for OFWs

MANILA, Philippines — Overseas Filipino workers will get an opportunity to become shareholders in Mynt, the parent company of GCash, when the country’s largest digital financial platform goes public in October. The upcoming initial public offering (IPO) is drawing attention among Filipinos abroad, with international Filipino media and overseas investment communities discussing how OFWs may participate in the offering. Gulf News, which has a substantial Filipino readership in the Midd

Parts of Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Bulacan to have water interruptions this week

MANILA, Philippines — Some areas in Metro Manila, Rizal and Cavite will have water interruptions this week because of maintenance works, Manila Water Company Inc. and Maynilad Water Services Inc. said on Sunday. Manila Water said that in Quezon City, some parts of Brgy. Laging Handa will have no water on September 29-30 between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. because of the installation of a valve. Some portions of Brgy. Culiat will have water interruptions on September 29-30 between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m.

Jeepney fares up to P14 starting Sept. 28; buses, taxis, TNVS also hike rates

Commuters will pay higher fares for public utility jeepneys starting Monday, September 28, with fare increases also taking effect for buses, airport taxis, transport network vehicle services and point-to-point buses.

Daram women find added income in solar salt production

From processing fish and squid to producing salt, women in Daram, Samar are turning the island municipality’s abundant seawater into an additional source of livelihood.

Mynt IPO draws OFW interest

Interest in the upcoming initial public offering of Mynt, the parent company of GCash, is beginning to extend beyond institutional investors and local market participants.

Could Europe’s data centre boom trigger a nuclear power revival?

Burnham hints at new UK taxes for social care, questions Heathrow expansion

North Korea tests swarm attacks combining drones and missiles - WSJ

How AI shopping agents could reshape hardline, broadline and food retail - UBS

U.S. understands Taiwan’s defence needs amid China threat, official says

Today's Weather, 5 A.M. | Sept. 27, 2026

Pope prays at Lourdes after huge Paris mass

LOURDES, France — Pope Leo XIV prayed for France on Saturday at its holy shrine in Lourdes, after riding along the Champs Elysees in the popemobile and holding an emotional open-air mass in front of hundreds of thousands of worshippers in Paris. The leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics is on a four-day trip to France, a secular country with deep Catholic roots, on the first official papal visit there in nearly two decades. In the southwestern pilgrimage town the US pontiff prayed at

China state media says U.S. shares responsibility for managing AI

South Korea tax windfall could top 50 trillion won on chip boom - Yonhap

At UN General Assembly, Global Autism Advocacy Coalition launches new initiatives to accelerate autism action worldwide

Autism Speaks, the coalition’s Secretariat in the U.S., leads its Lived Experience Leadership Council to ensure autistic people and their families help shape global autism priorities. New York, Sept. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- One year after its launch, the Global Autism Advocacy Coalition (GAAC) is moving from commitment to implementation, rolling out new regional hubs and a portfolio of flagship initiatives designed to help countries strengthen autism systems and expand access to effective s

Hurricane Nolo expected to unleash powerful winds, flash flooding on Hawaii

HILO, Hawaii — Heavy rain and powerful winds are expected to bring flash floods and extreme surf to the Hawaiian Islands over the weekend as Hurricane Nolo bears down on areas still recovering from previous storms. Nolo was churning slowly south of Hawaii's Big Island on Saturday with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 kph). The storm's center was about 145 miles (235 kilometers) south of Hawaii's southernmost point and could strengthen into a potentially life-threatening and catastro

Palace rejects VP's claim Marcos admin is 'desperate to bring her down'

MANILA, Philippines — Palace Press Officer Claire Castro on Saturday slammed Vice President Sara Duterte, urging her to present evidence before making accusations against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the administration. This comes after Duterte accused the Marcos administration of being "desperate" to bring her down and stay in power, which she said is “becoming increasingly diabolical. “The people want Marcos to take a public drug test. The people want Marcos to answer f

BI chief says CAISS still under review, no final decision yet

MANILA, Philippines — The proposed Civil Aviation and Immigration Security Services (CAISS) project remains under evaluation, with no final decision reached, Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said on Saturday. Viado said that it was the same matter which he clarified during the Senate budget deliberations in response to a query from Senate Committee on Finance chair JV Ejercito regarding the project's status. Affirming the agency's support for modernizing the count

DMW must stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Mary Jane — Cacdac

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is preparing comprehensive reintegration assistance for Mary Jane Veloso following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s grant of an absolute pardon, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac said. “Our instructions are clear: the DMW must stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Mary Jane, her children, and her parents as they rebuild their lives,” Cacdac said in a statement issued late Friday. Cacdac ordered a DMW team to coo