Philippines Business News

The MTV VMAs are here with Taylor Swift making history and Madonna leading the nods

NEW YORK — The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards are here and Swifties, it looks like the night is already yours. Earlier this week it was announced that Taylor Swift will receive the inaugural Artist Director Honors, becoming the most awarded artist in VMA history. Swift is currently tied with Beyoncé for the title of most-awarded musician in VMA history. They have 30 each. (Eminem is the male artist with the most VMAs with 15.) The new award, which according to the VMAs is meant to reco

Jennifer Lopez brings diva wattage as Dolce & Gabbana refreshes its Sicilian inheritance

MILAN — Jennifer Lopez brought diva wattage to Dolce & Gabbana’s runway show for Spring Summer 2027 on Saturday, taking her front-row seat in a dark velvet suit with matching cap and equestrian boots while fans outside screamed to catch just a glimpse of her. The collection treated the house's Sicilian codes as an inheritance to be updated rather than abandoned: a trousseau passed from grandmother to granddaughter, including nubby tweed suits updated with leopard trim and skirt, yout

Weightlifter Kristel Macrohon settles for 4th in Asian Games

MANILA, Philippines — Kristel Macrohon narrowly missed out on a podium finish after early execution missteps dashed her medal hopes in the 2026 Asian Games weightlifting competition on Sunday at the Nagoya City Trade and Industry Centre in Japan. Macrohon finished fourth overall with a total lift of 227 kg, placing just two kilograms behind bronze medalist Ingrid Grueso of Bahrain, who logged a 229 kg total (101 kg snatch, 128 kg clean and jerk). The Filipina lifter delivered a strong star

2026 Global Open-source AI Challenge Grand Finals and Awards Ceremony Held in Hangzhou

Hangzhou, China, Sept. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- From September 22 to 23, the Global Open-source AI Challenge Grand Finals and Awards Ceremony was held at the Cloud Valley Center in Hangzhou. The Competition is hosted by the Hangzhou Open Source Artificial Intelligence Foundation, with the Agentic AI Foundation (AAIF) and LF AI & Data Foundation serving as global open-source partners. Joint organizers include Zhejiang Lab, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence Group, Ant Group, Hangzhou AILume Future Te

Alas Pilipinas falls to South Korea in Asian Games opener

MANILA, Philippines — Errors proved costly for Alas Pilipinas as the men’s volleyball team pushed South Korea to the limit late in the match before succumbing in straight sets, 25-16, 27-25, 25-23, to open its 2026 Asian Games campaign on Sunday afternoon at the Park Arena Komaki in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Following a slow start in the opening frame, the 115th-ranked Nationals found their rhythm and nearly stole the second set against World No. 25 South Korea. Offensives led by Brya

Marcos declares special non-working days in five towns

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared special non-working days in five municipalities to ensure residents will participate in their respective local festivities. Marcos issued Proclamation No. 1450 declaring September 28 a special non-working day for the town of Luna in Isabela for its 77th founding anniversary. On September 29, a special non-working day was declared in the town of Argao, Cebu to commemorate their Araw ng Argao, under Proclamation No. 1451. Meanwhil

2026 Beijing International Week for Science Literacy Launched in Beijing

BEIJING, Sept. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2026 Beijing International Week for Science Literacy opened at the Beijing Science Center, running from September 22 to 26. Representatives of international organizations, universities, science museums and centers, and science communication institutions from 11 countries gathered in Beijing. Focusing on science communication and science education, they exchanged views on issues of shared interest, strengthened platforms for international cooperation, p

WATCH: Lapid: Fixed term for barangay, SK officials to save billions in public funds

Sen. Lito Lapid backed the new law fixing the term of office of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials to five years, saying the measure could save the government billions of pesos that could instead be used to provide assistance to sectors affected by rising fuel and commodity prices. Lapid made the statement during his visit to three villages in Batangas City, where he distributed grocery packs to around 600 residents. Republic Act 12326, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on T

Duterte trial to proceed Monday unless Supreme Court issues restraining order

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate Impeachment Court will proceed with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, Sept. 28, unless the Supreme Court issues a restraining order or status quo ante order, court spokesman Reginald Tongol said. Tongol said the Office of the Solicitor General will represent the Impeachment Court before the high tribunal as provided by law, following the filing of separate petitions by lawyers Victor Rodriguez and Ernesto Francisco challenging

Rent or Buy a Water Purifier for a One-Year Delhi Stay in 2026: ₹4,788 in Rent Against a ₹15,000 Purchase and Up to ₹6,000 in Yearly Upkeep on Plans Like Rentomojo's

Delhi water purifier rental plans start at ₹391 a month for the DriftGo RO+UV+UF and ₹292 for the Nirapure non-RO, on minimum tenures from three months up to thirty-six. Each plan carries a refundable security deposit, digital KYC with a PAN card and a selfie, free cancellation before delivery, and online booking. Filter changes, repairs, annual maintenance and relocation within Delhi are included in the rent on Rentomojo, the largest organised furniture and appliance rental platform in India ac

Cone says Brownlee ‘intends’ to return, no timetable yet

MANILA, Philippines — While there had been many speculations on Justin Brownlee’s health status, Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone stressed that the beloved Gin Kings import “intends to return.” “We're in communication with him. He intends to return, but no date yet,” Cone told The Manila Times over the weekend. The American mentor did not say what has made the four-time PBA Best Import, except to reply in the affirmative that Brownlee continues to recover from

Alex Eala faces Thai Patcharin Cheapchandej to start Asiad gold bid

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino tennis ace Alex Eala faces Thai Patcharin Cheapchandej to start her 20th Asian Games women's singles gold medal bid in Nagoya, Japan. Seeded No. 1 in the continental meet with a first-round bye, WTA world No. 18 Eala takes on No. 510 Cheapchandej in the second round likely on Monday. The order of play for Monday's matches wasn't revealed yet as of writing. Cheapchandej dominated Pakistani Mahin Aftab Qureshi, 6-1, 6-1, in their first-round clash that lasted f

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.

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

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