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Through Etiqa’s Project Firefly, Etiqa is taking proactive steps to preserve and sustain the ecosystem by planting 130 Sonneratia Caseolaris or locally known as Berembang saplings and 200 Sonneratia Caseolaris seeds, undertaking habitat restoration works, and mobilising 50 Etiqa volunteers for a community-driven initiative along Sungai Panjang, covering a total stretch of 10 kilometres. In addition, an awareness session was conducted by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Faculty of Science which aimed to educate participants on the ecological importance of fireflies and the need for long-term conservation.

Fireflies play an important role as indicators of mangrove ecosystem health, which in turn supports environmental balance and benefits surrounding communities. However, across Malaysia, firefly populations are declining due to rapid habitat loss caused by river pollution, deforestation, and increasing light pollution along mangrove-lined rivers. These threats not only endanger native species but also affect the livelihoods of local fishermen and villagers who rely on healthy river ecosystems and firefly-based eco-tourism. Protecting congregating firefly zones through the preservation of adequate vegetation buffers along riverbanks is therefore critical to ensuring the long-term survival of these species and the sustainability of local livelihoods.

Fukhairudin Mohd Yusof, CEO of Etiqa General Insurance Berhad (EGIB) said, “We initiated Etiqa’s Project Firefly as conserving native firefly species is deeply connected to the well-being of the communities that co-exist around them. By conserving firefly habitats, we are not only protecting an irreplaceable part of Malaysia’s biodiversity but also helping sustain the eco-tourism and river-based livelihoods of Sungai Panjang residents. This reflects Etiqa’s purpose in Making the World a Better Place that includes meaningful environmental action which strengthens both nature and society, creating long-term value for future generations.”

Mr. I.S Shanmugaraj, Executive Director of Malaysia Nature Society says, “Fireflies are natural indicators of a healthy mangrove ecosystem, and their presence reflects the overall condition of our rivers and surrounding environments. We commend Etiqa for taking proactive steps through Etiqa’s Project Firefly to address the growing threats of habitat degradation along fireflies corridor. Meaningful conservation requires collective action, and we hope this initiative will inspire more companies to collaborate with environmental organisations and local communities to protect biodiversity while supporting sustainable livelihoods for the long term.”Hashtag: #Etiqamy

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About Etiqa

Etiqa is a multi-channel distributor of Insurance and Takaful products via its 10,000 agency force, 44 branches and 17 offices, over 490 bancassurance network (via Maybank branches, third-party banks, as well as co-operatives and brokers) through its presence in Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia and Cambodia.

In striving to make the world a better place, Etiqa’s Sustainability journey focuses on internal initiatives that reduces its carbon footprint and increases its social impact, as well as external solutions that allow its clients to do the same.

China’s consumer prices climbed at their fastest pace in nearly three years in December while factory-gate deflation eased, adding to evidence that price pressures are stabilising even as demand remains uneven across the economy.

China prices show firmer momentum

Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics showed annual consumer price inflation accelerating to its strongest level since early 2022, driven by higher food costs and a gradual recovery in some service categories. At the same time, producer prices fell at a slower pace, marking a further moderation in factory-gate deflation that has weighed on corporate margins for much of the past year.

The figures offer a nuanced picture for policymakers in Beijing. Households have faced prolonged price weakness amid a sluggish property sector and cautious consumer spending, while manufacturers have struggled with excess capacity and weak external demand. December’s readings suggest those deflationary forces may be losing intensity, though not disappearing altogether.

Food prices were a key driver of the headline consumer inflation increase. Pork prices rose on a low base after earlier declines, while seasonal demand pushed up costs for fresh vegetables and other staples. Core inflation, which strips out volatile food and energy components, also edged higher, pointing to tentative improvement in underlying demand rather than a one-off spike.

Economists noted that service prices, including travel and leisure, showed firmer momentum as domestic tourism and entertainment spending improved toward the year-end. However, discretionary retail categories remained mixed, reflecting ongoing household caution and the lingering impact of earlier job-market softness.

On the production side, the producer price index stayed in negative territory but posted a smaller year-on-year decline than in previous months. The easing was linked to stabilising commodity prices, modest improvement in industrial demand and policy efforts to curb destructive price competition in sectors facing overcapacity. Heavy industries such as steel and chemicals continued to face pressure, while technology manufacturing showed more resilience.

The data come as authorities seek to balance growth support with financial stability. The government has rolled out targeted fiscal measures, including infrastructure spending and tax relief for smaller firms, while encouraging banks to channel credit toward advanced manufacturing and green industries. Monetary policy has remained accommodative, with the central bank signalling readiness to fine-tune liquidity conditions if deflation risks persist.

Officials at the People’s Bank of China have repeatedly stressed the need to avoid both deflation and excessive stimulus that could inflate asset bubbles. The December inflation readings strengthen the argument that incremental measures are gaining traction, though the pace of recovery remains modest by historical standards.

Market reaction to the data was measured. Equity investors focused on the prospect of improving corporate pricing power, while bond yields remained anchored by expectations that policy support would continue. Currency markets showed little volatility, reflecting the broader view that China’s recovery will be gradual rather than abrupt.

Structural factors continue to shape the inflation outlook. Demographic changes, a high household savings rate and productivity gains have all contributed to subdued price growth over the past decade. Analysts argue that reversing entrenched deflationary expectations will require sustained income growth and clearer signals of confidence in the labour market.

At the same time, external factors could influence the trajectory. Global energy prices have been volatile, and geopolitical tensions have the potential to disrupt supply chains. Any renewed surge in commodity costs would feed into producer prices first, with a lagged effect on consumers.

Republic of Korea delivered its largest current account surplus ever recorded for a November, underpinned by a sharp rebound in exports led by semiconductors, according to data released by the central bank, reinforcing signs that Asia’s fourth-largest economy is benefiting from a global technology upcycle.

Figures published by Bank of Korea showed the surplus widened markedly from a year earlier, driven primarily by goods exports as overseas demand for memory chips and advanced components strengthened. The milestone November result adds to a sequence of solid monthly balances this year and signals improving external resilience after a period of volatility linked to energy prices and weaker global trade.

Exports rose at a double-digit pace year on year, with semiconductors once again the dominant contributor. Chip shipments, which had slumped during the global downturn in memory prices, rebounded strongly as inventories normalised and orders increased from data-centre operators and manufacturers deploying artificial intelligence workloads. Analysts said demand for high-bandwidth memory and advanced logic chips has been particularly supportive for Korean producers.

The current account surplus, which measures the balance of trade in goods and services alongside income flows, was also supported by a narrower energy import bill. Lower prices for crude oil and liquefied natural gas compared with last year reduced the cost of imports, amplifying the positive effect of export growth. Services remained in deficit, reflecting outbound travel by residents, but the shortfall was smaller than earlier in the year.

Economists link the export recovery to the improving cycle in global technology spending. Korean chipmakers, led by Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, have benefited from rising prices for dynamic random-access memory and NAND flash products, as well as from long-term contracts tied to AI infrastructure. Both firms have announced higher capital expenditure plans focused on advanced memory and packaging technologies, moves that are already filtering through trade data.

Beyond semiconductors, shipments of automobiles, machinery and petrochemical products also contributed positively. Vehicle exports remained robust despite softer demand in some advanced economies, reflecting competitive pricing and the growing popularity of electric and hybrid models produced by Korean manufacturers. Machinery exports gained from infrastructure and energy projects across the Middle East and parts of Southeast Asia.

Income from overseas investments added another layer of support. Dividend and interest receipts from Korean companies’ foreign assets increased, offsetting profit repatriation by foreign firms operating domestically. This helped keep the overall current account firmly in surplus despite the persistent services deficit.

Policy makers view the November outcome as confirmation that the economy is on a steadier footing. The central bank has previously signalled that a sustained export-led recovery would ease pressure on monetary policy, even as it remains cautious about household debt and property-market risks. A strong external balance also provides a buffer against currency volatility, a concern earlier in the year when the won weakened amid global interest-rate uncertainty.

Still, officials and analysts warn that risks remain. The export outlook is closely tied to the durability of the global technology rebound and to geopolitical developments that could disrupt supply chains or dampen investment sentiment. Slower growth in major trading partners or renewed trade frictions could weigh on momentum in coming months. Services exports, particularly tourism, have yet to return to levels seen before the pandemic, limiting diversification of the external balance.

Produced in collaboration with Flagship Advisory Partners, the guide shares the essential steps to design and scale debit, credit and prepaid card programmes, from pilot to launch.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 January 2026 – Paymentology, the leading global issuer processor, has shared a new ‘Quick Start Guide’ that gives fintechs, banks and brands a clear route to launching card programmes in the Philippines. Created with consulting firm Flagship Advisory Partners, the guide turns market structure, operating models, regulatory roles and delivery steps into a practical path from idea to go-live.

Card adoption in the Philippines is accelerating at pace. New virtual banks are launching, and rural banks are expanding their models with modern payment methods, all to meet the needs of hundreds of millions of transactions and a rapidly digitising population. In 2025, Filipinos used 283 million cards to move PHP 11.3 trillion, with debit driving five billion annual transactions, prepaid topping 100 million cards and commercial cards surging at 21% growth a year. That mix creates prime conditions for new programmes, provided issuers set clear responsibilities, choose a model that fits and plug into local rails like BancNet.

Minh Ha Truong, Head of Growth Asia Pacific at Paymentology, said: “Launching cards in the Philippines isn’t just about speed to market, it’s about building a sustainable model that can scale within a highly localised ecosystem. This guide distils the practical decisions issuers need to make around operating models, compliance and local rails like BancNet, so they can focus on delivering differentiated products and sustainable growth.”

Paymentology’s Quick Start Guide for New Card Programmes in the Philippines shows issuers how to pick the right operating model – whether technical processing, programme management or co‑branded – and how to define responsibilities across the ecosystem. It also explains how licence sponsors and programme managers can reduce compliance burden while maintaining control of the customer experience. What’s inside the Quick Start Guide for New Card Programmes in the Philippines:

Erik Howell, Partner at Flagship Advisory Partners, also commented: “Launching a card product here involves a specific mix of licensing, scheme requirements, operating decisions and the use of local rails. Working with Paymentology, we’ve brought these elements together in a way that helps issuers approach the market with clarity and confidence.”

The Quick Start Guide to Card Programmes in the Philippines is available to download now at: https://www.paymentology.com/guide/issuing-new-card-programmes-philippines

Hashtag: #CardProgramme #Payments #NextGenerationPayments #Fintech

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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.