Category: Business

Business

Taiwan Just Changed Its Stock Market Rules — But What Happens Next Could Surprise Millions of Investors

Taiwan is preparing for a major adjustment to its stock market operations, with a new trading schedule designed to make it easier for smaller investors to participate. Starting December 7, 2026, the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE) will move the execution time for intraday odd-lot trading to 9:00 a.m., bringing it 10 minutes earlier than the current schedule. Brokerage firms will also begin accepting odd-lot orders from investors at 8:30 a.m., 30 minutes earlier than before. The TWSE said the chan

August 23, 2026

Business

Everyone Thought AI Would Destroy Jobs — But What Companies Are Doing Instead Is Changing the Future of Work

For years, the biggest fear surrounding artificial intelligence was simple: AI would take millions of jobs and leave workers behind. But a new regional workplace report suggests the future may be far more complicated. Instead of cutting employees because of AI adoption, many companies are preparing for a different workplace revolution — one where humans and artificial intelligence work side by side. The report found that 61% of senior executives across the region expect employee numbers to co

August 23, 2026

Business

Thailand’s “Rent an Uncle” Trend Is Taking Off — But What’s Really Driving People to Hire Older Companions?

BANGKOK — A surprising new trend in Thailand is putting older adults in the spotlight: people are increasingly paying for the company, conversation and experience of older men through so-called “rent an uncle” services. The phenomenon, highlighted by the Bangkok Post on Aug. 23, 2026, reflects a broader change in how companionship, ageing and social connection are being viewed in Thailand. The concept is not simply about hiring someone to perform a task. For some participants, it offers somethi

August 23, 2026

Business

Hyundai Workers Just Staged Their First Full-Day Strike in 10 Years—But the Biggest Fight Isn’t Really About Their Pay

SEOUL — A long-running labor dispute at Hyundai Motor has escalated into the automaker’s first full-day union strike in a decade, shutting down major South Korean production lines and exposing a much bigger battle over wages, retirement, artificial intelligence and the future of factory jobs. Around 39,000 to 40,000 Hyundai Motor union members were expected to take part in the eight-hour walkout on Friday, August 21, after months of wage negotiations failed to produce an agreement. Production w

August 23, 2026

Business

South Korea Just Opened a New Route to Europe—But There’s a Problem

South Korea has launched its first commercial trial voyage through the Arctic to Europe, testing whether the increasingly navigable Northern Sea Route (NSR) can become a practical alternative to traditional Asia-Europe shipping corridors. The container ship PanStar Acro departed from Busan on Aug. 22 and is scheduled to travel north along Russia’s eastern coast, cross the Bering Sea and enter the Northern Sea Route before continuing to Europe. Its planned European stops include Felixstowe in Br

August 23, 2026

Business

The Philippines Is Buying More Thai Rice—But the Real Reason Bangkok Is Chasing Manila’s Orders Goes Far Beyond Prices

MANILA/BANGKOK — The Philippines is becoming an increasingly important market for Thai rice as concerns over food security, El Niño and tightening regional supplies push Manila to keep its import channels open — even as Vietnam remains its dominant supplier. Thailand has been actively courting Philippine buyers in 2026 as Bangkok tries to revive rice exports after a difficult first half marked by intense price competition from India and other producers. Thai rice exports reached 3.28 million m

August 23, 2026

Business

Alibaba Makes a Massive AI Bet—But There’s a Catch Investors Can’t Ignore

HONG KONG — Alibaba is making an enormous bet on artificial intelligence, planning to raise HK$80 billion (about US$10.2 billion or S$13 billion) through a new share placement in Hong Kong as the Chinese technology giant accelerates spending on AI. The proposed fundraising, announced on Aug. 23, would be the largest-ever primary follow-on share offering by a company already listed in Hong Kong, according to Reuters. It would also rank as the world's third-largest primary follow-on offering so f

August 23, 2026

Business

You Can Buy a Thailand Condo for a Fraction of Singapore Prices — But One Detail Could Turn the Cheapest Deal Into the Biggest Headache

Thinking of buying property in Thailand? Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Hua Hin offer very different prices, rental prospects and resale risks. Here’s what foreign buyers need to know in 2026. For Singaporeans looking at Thailand as a retirement base, second home or property investment, the first temptation may be to compare price tags. But in Thailand’s increasingly complicated property market, the cheapest condominium may not necessarily be the best deal — especially when resale demand, foreign own

August 23, 2026

Business

Fishmonger Punched a Man at Least 6 Times at Limbang Shopping Centre—What Doctors Found Around His Eye Made the Case Far More Serious

SINGAPORE — What began as an ordinary afternoon at a neighbourhood wet market turned violent when a fishmonger repeatedly punched a 52-year-old man in the face, leaving him with a fracture around his eye and two weeks of hospitalisation leave. Malaysian national Mok Siaw Yong, 35, was sentenced to 12 weeks in jail on Aug. 20 after pleading guilty to one charge of voluntarily causing hurt. He was also ordered to pay S$872.65 in compensation, according to court documents reported by Mothership.

August 23, 2026

Business

Etihad Said ‘Taiwan’ in English—But Three Extra Words in the Chinese Announcement Triggered a Diplomatic Backlash

TAIPEI — Etihad Airways has apologized and changed the wording of an in-flight announcement after a passenger said the airline welcomed travelers to “Taiwan, China” in Mandarin while using simply “Taiwan” in its English-language announcement — a discrepancy that quickly escalated from a passenger complaint into a diplomatic dispute. Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration said it received a letter from Etihad’s headquarters apologizing for the controversy after Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affai

August 23, 2026