Reinventing an ancient spirit with a bad reputation
DENPASAR, Indonesia -- Ask people who have holidayed in Bali about arak -- a colorless alcoholic drink traditionally made in backyard distilleries -- and you will hear stories about drinkers getting sick, going blind and sometimes even dying after patronizing cheap bars that substitute arak for imported spirits to increase profits.
"There have been a number of deaths and cases of serious illness of locals and foreigners in Indonesia caused by drinking alcoholic drinks contaminated with methanol. There have also been cases of methanol poisoning from drinking adulterated arak," warns
Taliban tighten iron grip 1st month in power
NEW DELHI/NEW YORK -- In the first month since the U.S. completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Taliban have taken steps to curtail freedoms and impose their unchallenged authority on the country.
The Taliban have said they will suspend the constitution put in place by the previous government and restore a charter that was last valid in 1973. The constitutional monarchy that ruled at the time granted the king paramount authority.
"The Islamic Emirate will implement the constitution of the era of former King Mohammad Zaher
Japan's COVID-19 state of emergency lifted as infections decline
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's COVID-19 state of emergency was fully lifted on Friday, making it the first time since April that the entire country is not under the measure to curb infections.
The state of emergency, which covered Tokyo and 18 other prefectures, and a quasi-state of emergency ended Thursday following a steady decline in new cases of the coronavirus nationwide and the easing of the strain on the country's medical system.
Businesses, such as restaurants and theme parks, have
Kishida juggles LDP politics to pick leadership ahead of election
TOKYO -- Fumio Kishida, the new president of the Liberal Democratic Party, chose a leadership team for the LDP on Thursday that includes his popular former rivals Sanae Takaichi and Taro Kono as Japan's ruling party shifts gears to the upcoming lower house election.
Kishida is set to be elected Japan's 100th prime minister in an extraordinary parliamentary session on Monday. But while the picks for executive posts largely align with his campaign promise to put more women and junior figures in charge, they also shed light
Japan's business sentiment rises to highest since 2018: BOJ Tankan
TOKYO -- Business sentiment among Japan's large manufacturers has risen to the highest level since 2018, according to the Bank of Japan's latest Tankan survey released on Friday.
The headline diffusion index of sentiment among large manufacturers came to plus 18 in September, compared with plus 14 in June.
Economists had predicted a reading of plus 13, according to a poll conducted by QUICK, a Nikkei group company.
The Tankan came as a coronavirus state of emergency declaration was lifted across Japan
Apple supplier Foxconn to acquire its first EV plant in U.S.
TAIPEI -- Foxconn has struck a deal to acquire its first electric vehicle manufacturing plant in North America, part of $280 million in deals with U.S. electric vehicle startup Lordstown Motors that also include a share purchase.
The Taiwanese tech giant said on Friday morning it will take a roughly 4% stake in Lordstown for around $50 million and also buy the American company's manufacturing complex in Ohio for $230 million. Foxconn will produce Lordtown's Endurance full-size pickup
ThaiBev CEO says beer business IPO still on table
BANGKOK -- Thai Beverage still considers the listing of its beer subsidiary as the most viable way of raising funds for further expansion, Southeast Asia's major brewer said on Thursday, as it sought to make clear its plans while the pandemic roils on.
"The IPO will certainly happen," said President and CEO Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi at Thai Beverage's annual news conference, without specifying when the process will begin. "Based on compliance regulation, we have to seek approval from Singapore Exchange once again. Once we receive
Cambodia charges tanker crew with 'theft' of crude oil
PHNOM PENH -- Cambodia has asked Indonesia to extradite the crew of a tanker who it accuses of stealing $21 million worth of crude pumped from the country's first commercialized oil field.
The ship's manager said earlier this week that the vessel's captain acted to protect the crew's welfare after the company that chartered the tanker failed to resupply it and terminated the charter agreement.
In a statement on Thursday, Cambodia's Ministry of Mines and Energy said "various" criminal charges have been
Indian e-commerce startup Meesho doubles valuation to $4.9bn
TOKYO -- Indian e-commerce startup Meesho on Thursday said it raised $570 million from a group of investors in a funding round that valued the company at $4.9 billion.
It comes less than six months after its previous funding round, when it raised $300 million at a $2.1 billion valuation. The significant rise in its valuation highlights the growing interest in India's tech sector as regulatory uncertainty dents investor appetite in China.
The investment was led by U.
South Korean PM says early Moon-Kishida summit 'needed'
SEOUL -- South Korean Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum on Thursday said Seoul would welcome a summit between President Moon Jae-in and Japan's incoming leader Fumio Kishida, stressing such a meeting is essential for mending frayed ties.
"I think we need a summit between the leaders anytime, if diplomatic officials can discuss this," Kim told Nikkei Asia in an exclusive interview. He expressed hope that such bilateral meetings would "become a platform to establish strong peace in the region, which includes China, North Korea
