Researchers from the University of Birmingham are rethinking one of the world’s most familiar staples and asking a simple but intriguing question. Can ordinary white rice become healthier just by changing how it is cooked?
Retail food prices in the Philippines opened 2026 on a mixed note, with staples such as rice, chicken, and fish edging higher, while red onion prices eased from December spikes—highlighting uneven supply dynamics as the market adjusts after the holidays.
The country closed November with fuller rice granaries, even as corn inventories cooled heading into December—signaling mixed dynamics in staple food supply chains.
Rice stocks in the country rose 3.8 percent year-on-year to 2.55 million metric tons as of November 1, driven largely by the National Food Authority’s aggressive inventory buildup, the Philippine Statistics Authority said.
Listed semiconductor company Cirtek Holdings Philippines Corp. swung to a USD2.8 million net loss in the first half of 2026, from a USD1.1 million profit a year earlier, as a one-time write-off tied to the disposal of its Quintel business compounded higher costs and operating expenses.
Ayala Land’s Crescendo estate is poised to benefit from the expansion of the SCTEX Luisita Interchange, as improved connectivity strengthens Tarlac’s position as an emerging growth center in Central Luzon.
Dugenia, Marayan & Associates Co. (DM&A Co.) has appointed John “JJ” Ibarreta as Communications Director, strengthening its leadership team as a digital-first integrated communications agency.
Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. recognized the Philippine Sugar Technologists Association (PhilSuTech) as a vital partner in driving science-backed growth, higher incomes, and resilience for the country’s sugarcane industry.