Tencent Shares Slide After WeChat Restricts YuanBao AI Promotional Links 
Trump Backs Nexstar–Tegna Merger Amid Shifting U.S. Media Landscape 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
CK Hutchison Launches Arbitration After Panama Court Revokes Canal Port Licences 
Weight-Loss Drug Ads Take Over the Super Bowl as Pharma Embraces Direct-to-Consumer Marketing 
Alphabet’s Massive AI Spending Surge Signals Confidence in Google’s Growth Engine 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
FDA Targets Hims & Hers Over $49 Weight-Loss Pill, Raising Legal and Safety Concerns 
SpaceX Prioritizes Moon Mission Before Mars as Starship Development Accelerates 
SpaceX Pushes for Early Stock Index Inclusion Ahead of Potential Record-Breaking IPO 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Global PC Makers Eye Chinese Memory Chip Suppliers Amid Ongoing Supply Crunch 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Washington Post Publisher Will Lewis Steps Down After Layoffs 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Baidu Approves $5 Billion Share Buyback and Plans First-Ever Dividend in 2026 
The Philippines’ top soft drink manufacturers confirmed reports of a refined sugar shortage, amid surging commodity prices and a government ban on imports.
According to Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, and ARC Refreshments Corporation, they are facing a shortage of premium refined sugar or bottlers’ grade sugar, “a key ingredient” in their products.
The three companies said they are working closely with other industry stakeholders and the government to address the situation.
The Philippines' projected sugar output of 1.8 million metric tons falls 200,000 tons short of the annual demand of 2.03 million metric tons observed over the last three years.
After the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) attempted to approve 200,000 metric tons of imported refined and bottlers' grade sugar for industrial users in early 2022, local sugar producers obtained a temporary restraining order, fearing that cheaper sugar importation would harm their businesses.
According to an SRA document, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. authorized the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar, but the government denied the authorization.
The Department of Agriculture official who signed the document on behalf of Marcos, Leocadio Sebastian, has since resigned from his post.
SRA Administrator Hermenegildo Serafica also resigned in the aftermath of the scandal.
