Starbucks Starbucks, along with its partner Delek Group of Israel, closed all six of its locations in Israel, citing "on-going operational challenges" and a "difficult business environment." The Starbucks location in the former imperial palace in Beijing closed in July 2007. The coffee shop had been a source of ongoing controversy since its opening in 2000 with protesters objecting that the presence of the American chain in this location "was trampling on Chinese culture." In July 2008, the company announced it was closing 600 underperforming company-owned stores and cutting U.S. expansion plans amid growing economic uncertainty. On July 29, 2008, Starbucks
The Hows of Us in the Philippines, including being the first locally produced movie to reach $11 million (₱600 million) in domestic box office earnings, which it achieved in 20 days. The film also breached the ₱800 million mark worldwide. "The Hows of Us" is a story of a young couple Primo (Padilla) and George (Bernardo) who have to answer and fix the "hows" of their relationship. "The Hows of Us" premiered on cinemas in the Philippines on August 29, 2018. On September 6, 2018, eight days after the domestic release of "The Hows of Us", the film started its international screenings in Brunei,