Category: Asia

Business

Inside Japan’s Century-Old Ice Craft That Has Become a Luxury Essential for Top Bars Worldwide

KANAZAWA, Japan — In the historic Japanese city of Kanazawa, blocks of crystal-clear ice are being carefully shaped, sliced and polished before beginning a journey to some of the world's most fashionable cocktail bars. For the craftsmen behind the process, ice is far more than frozen water. It is a luxury product. At Kuramoto Ice, a century-old company based in Ishikawa Prefecture on Japan's Sea of Japan coast, workers spend days producing exceptionally clear blocks designed to chill premium

4d

Business

US Treasury to Auction Record US$100 Billion in Short-Term Bills as Cash Needs Surge

WASHINGTON — The US Treasury is set to auction a record US$100 billion in four-week Treasury bills, underscoring the government's growing need for short-term financing as Washington manages heavy cash requirements and prepares for another round of debt repayments. The auction is scheduled for Tuesday, with the bills set to mature on Oct. 6. The previous record for a four-week Treasury bill auction was US$95 billion, set in March, according to the Taipei Times report. Record Auction Highlight

4d

Business

Taiwan Fuel Prices Remain Unchanged Despite Sharp Rise in Global Oil Prices

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwanese motorists will see no change in fuel prices this week despite a sharp surge in global crude oil prices, as CPC Corp, Taiwan and Formosa Petrochemical Corp announced they would keep domestic gasoline and diesel prices steady. The decision marks the sixth consecutive week that the two major fuel suppliers have maintained their domestic prices, even as renewed hostilities between the United States and Iran sent international crude oil prices sharply higher. Global Oil

4d

Business

Taiwan’s Foreign Exchange Reserves Climb Above US$600 Billion After Two Months of Declines

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan’s foreign exchange reserves climbed back above the US$600 billion mark in August, ending two consecutive months of declines as investment gains, a weaker US dollar and central bank intervention boosted the country’s holdings. Taiwan’s foreign exchange reserves rose by US$7.633 billion from July to US$601.904 billion, marking the largest monthly increase in more than a year, the Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) said. The rebound came after two months of fal

4d

Philippines

DepEd Rushes Hiring of School Counselors as Bullying Cases Raise Alarm—Here’s What Happens Next

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) is accelerating the hiring of school counselor associates as the government steps up efforts to address bullying, mental health concerns and growing safety challenges affecting students. Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the department has shortened the hiring process for School Counselor Associates (SCA) to about 36 days, a major reduction from the previous process that could take nearly four months. The move is intended to put mor

4d

Philippines

Ombudsman Steps In Over Alleged Student Mobilization in Cebu—Now DepEd-7 Is Being Asked to Act

CEBU CITY — The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas is pressing the Department of Education in Central Visayas (DepEd-7) to take action on a fact-finding request involving the alleged mobilization of students to a Cebu City Council session—an issue that has raised questions about student protection, parental consent and the use of minors in a politically sensitive setting. The controversy stems from an April 14, 2026 incident at Cebu City Hall, when buses carrying senior high school students arrive

4d

Politics

Iran Plans New ‘Exclusion Zone’ Near Strait of Hormuz—What Happens to Ships That Enter?

TEHRAN — Iran is preparing to announce a new “exclusion zone” outside the strategic Strait of Hormuz, raising fresh concerns over commercial shipping, global oil supplies and the possibility of a wider escalation between Tehran and Washington. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said Sunday that the new zone would be announced in the coming days. According to Iranian state media, the proposed area would begin around the line of the U.S. naval blockade, extend t

4d

Asia

Asian Stocks Surge Despite Oil Shock — But One Major Risk Could Stop the Rally

The rally highlighted a growing divide in global markets: investors remain optimistic about economic growth, but rising energy costs and expectations of tighter monetary policy are making traders increasingly cautious. Japan and South Korea led the advance, while broader Asian markets also moved higher. However, the gains came as oil prices continued climbing, raising concerns that inflation could once again become the biggest threat to the global economy. Strong U.S. Jobs Report Lifts Asian

4d

Philippines

Remulla Challenges Sara Duterte: “Show the Proof” of Alleged Police Harassment

MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla has challenged Vice President Sara Duterte and her camp to present concrete evidence supporting their allegations that police personnel harassed or intimidated her and her family during the implementation of an arrest warrant. Speaking at a press briefing at Camp Crame on Monday, Remulla rejected the accusation that police officers acted improperly when they served the warrant against Duterte in connection with her grave threats case. “Th

4d

Business

Taiwanese Writer Warns AI-Generated Works Could Destroy Literary Award System

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Artificial intelligence is delivering a serious blow to literature and the people tasked with judging it, Taiwanese writer Chu Yu-hsun has warned, saying that nearly 40 percent of novel submissions he reviewed this year appeared to be AI-generated. Chu said the growing flood of AI-written entries has transformed literary judging into what he described as one of the most difficult experiences of his career. Writing on Facebook on Saturday, Chu said the literary community is now

4d