Alcohol sales in the Philippines are projected to sustain a single-digit annual growth despite the 6 percent increase in excise tax for alcohol products in January. “Despite the annual increase in excise tax, traders are optimistic that sales of alcohol products, both local and imported, will grow 5 percent to 7 percent each year,” the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said in a report. Under Republic Act No. 11467, the excise tax on distilled spirits increased by 6 percent on Jan. 1 this year and will continue to rise at a fixed rate of 6 percent annually. Article continues after…
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The City of Raleigh has opened the fourth and final application cycle for its 2025 Facade Rehabilitation Grant Program, a long-standing initiative designed to support exterior improvements to commercial properties across the city. Applications for this round opened on Thursday, April 3, and will be accepted through Sunday, April 27. Award notifications are expected by Friday, May 16. Originally launched in the 1980s, the Facade Rehabilitation Grant Program provides matching reimbursement grants of up to $10,000 for eligible small business owners and property owners to enhance the exteriors of their buildings. The program aims to stimulate economic activity and revitalize…
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His race engineer Gianpiero “GP” Lambiase called it “perfection.” His team principal Christian Horner called it “inspirational.” One rival called it “magical,” while another said that “nothing is a surprise anymore.” In a career running out of superlatives, Max Verstappen’s performance at the Japanese Grand Prix left those around him searching for the best way to describe what they just witnessed, as he first took pole position and then captured his first win of the season. Verstappen and Red Bull arrived in Suzuka facing more questions than answers. The team was third in the Constructors’ Championship race and made the…
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Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. It’s not often you can deliver your team an exciting piece of software at $15 a head. But with this Windows 11 Pro upgrade, you can add a new lifetime license to each PC on your team for just $14.97 (reg. $199). Tap into the enhanced user interface (UI) and improved productivity to bring your team to the operating system that 35.5% of…
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Fil-Am Nation Select-USA’s Angelino Mark during the 2025 Smart-NBTC National Finals. – (NBTC/Hero Dela Pena) MANILA, Philippines—FilAm Nation Select-USA remained the king of the Smart-NBTC National Finals following its win over Phenom Blue Fire-Pasay at Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday. The FilAm Nation squad defeated Pasay, 64-59, in the 2025 Final to win its second title in two years in the annual 19-under basketball tournament. Despite being ejected in the second half of the all-important ball game, Angelino Mark’s 32-piece was more than enough to steer Select-USA to the title. The duo of Cody Shen and Caelum Harris also…
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The past week has been a whirlwind for Apple Inc. AAPL, with the tech giant facing significant challenges and predictions. From the potential impact of President Trump’s tariffs to the feasibility of manufacturing iPhones in America, there’s a lot to unpack. Here’s a recap of the top stories that shaped Apple’s week. Trump’s Tariffs Could Skyrocket iPhone Prices President Donald Trump’s recently enacted tariffs could lead to a significant price hike for Apple’s iPhones. If Apple decides to pass these costs onto consumers, we could see a price surge of 30% to 40%. This is primarily because most iPhones are manufactured in…
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Duke’s coronation was all but written late in the second half against Houston in the 2025 men’s Final Four. The Blue Devils led by 14 points with just over eight minutes left, putting the program on the doorstep of the national championship game. Duke’s talent advantage was overwhelming: Cooper Flagg was living up to the generational hype with a brilliant performance, Kon Knueppel knocked down outside shots to show why he’s a lottery pick, and Khaman Maluach towered over everyone on the court to show why he’s one, too. Duke’s latest freshman super team was too good to fail. Just…
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The Kansas Department of Commerce has introduced a new grant program aimed at enhancing the appearance and economic appeal of downtown districts across the state. The Supporting Innovative Growth through New Signage (SIGNS) grant, launched today, will provide $250,000 in total funding to support high-quality, creative signage projects for retail and commercial businesses. The SIGNS grant is open to a wide range of applicants, including businesses, building owners, municipalities, Main Street organizations, economic development groups, chambers of commerce, foundations, tribal organizations, and other nonprofit community entities. Funding awards will range from $1,000 to $50,000, with a cash match required based…
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While researching investments like stocks and mutual funds, you’ve probably come across terms like alpha and beta. These two measurements are among the many essential factors that help investors understand the risk and performance related to an investment, so it’s important for investors to learn how they can use them to their advantage. Alpha is used to measure the amount of excess returns generated by an investment relative to its benchmark, meanwhile beta tells us about the level of volatility in the fund relative to the market. All of this might sound technical right now, but don’t worry! By the…
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(From left) Buboy Villar and Angillyn Gorens. Images: Screengrab from YouTube/GMA Network, Facebook/Angillyn Gorens Even though Buboy Villar stressed that he is doing his best to provide financial support to his two children with ex-girlfriend Angillyn Gorens, Villar admitted that he has been struggling to fulfill his required amount due to financial-related concerns. Villar revealed during a “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” interview on Friday, April 4, that he and Gorens agreed that he would provide financial support worth P120,000 every month to their children but he struggled in giving his share due to job insecurity during the height of…