Recording the sound of Shiraito Falls, echoing through a mountain of ascetic practice: the 23rd release in the “Sounds of Ehime” sauna outdoor relaxation BGM series [Ehime Prefecture, Kisuke no Yu]
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
The 23rd release in the “Sounds of Ehime” series
Aug. 1, 2026 (Sat.)
A waterfall with a drop of approximately 15 meters
[Immersive LED space becomes a cosplay photography stage] B.B.S. Event Dining to hold its first photography and dance stage in partnership with popular cosplay event “acosta!@ATC” on Sunday, August 2!
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
Classic-modern space covering approximately 300 m²
A refined silver barrel makes everyday photography even more enjoyable. Silver model of the full-frame-compatible AF prime lens “SG-image AF 35mm F2.2” now available in L-mount
The garment you “PASSTO” can help build a waste-free future. The “1Buy→1PASSTO Action” collected the equivalent of 220,000 garments (56,190 kg) and donated 168,570 yen to ゼロ・ウェイスト・ジャパン
[Free event on August 21] 4th online event of the “Small Towns’ Future Forum,” bringing together staff from small municipalities with populations of up to 50,000
[Survey results] 95.5% of local governments face challenges in document and file management. “Server capacity is strained” (67.7%); “Can’t find the file they need” (65.4%) — 94.0% report an impact on their work
うるる launches a recruitment business to promote workforce mobility between the public and private sectors, combining knowledge of government operations with the vitality of private companies to encourage movement of talent between sectors
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
The number of departing employees under 35, in junior and mid-career positions, rose from 2,282 in Heisei 25 to 7,639 in Reiwa 5
45.0% of companies participating in bids said they “lack specialized bidding staff internally”
71.6% of companies see significant challenges in “understanding needs” and “providing information to help develop specifications” for public-sector contracting authorities
July 31 is Harry Potter’s birthday! A special preview of iconic scenes from the lavish book The Official Storyboards and Art of the Harry Potter Film Series, scheduled for release in October
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
Price: 12,000 yen (before tax)
From 2027/2/1, price: 13,000 yen (before tax)
Scheduled for release in early October 2026
Limited-time special price through January 31, 2027
AI adoption among small and medium-sized businesses stands at 20.4%, but a “lack of people to consult” remains a challenge. 株式会社ユニークポイント to launch “Everyone’s AI Help Desk” for AI beginners on August 3
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
AI adoption among small and medium-sized businesses stands at 20.4%
82.6% of companies that have adopted AI use generative AI
83.3% of companies said they “lack information on success stories and use cases”
79.8% said they “lack information to choose the right products and vendors”
“Things I could do until yesterday are becoming impossible…” Cleanup support for women working in caregiving launched by オカタシ!, a hoarding cleanup company
Held a “management talent development seminar” for transport company presidents | 株式会社船井総研サプライチェーンコンサルティング
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
株式会社船井総研サプライチェーンコンサルティング (headquartered in Chuo Ward, Tokyo; representative: 橋本直行) held an online seminar, “Management Talent Development Seminar,” on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, for executives of transport and logistics companies.
Two years have passed since the 2024 issue (the application of limits on overtime work), and the environment surrounding the transport industry remains challenging.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day loses! Taiwan’s 10 most-discussed foreign-language films revealed; the 3-hour winner has no dull moments, and it would be a shame to miss it in theaters
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Taiwan’s 10 most-discussed foreign-language films online in July 2026 revealed: Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey topped the list with 72,945 mentions, followed by Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Ghost Stain.
Liao Hung-hsiang’s take: Don’t be fooled by “encirclement drills”! Analyzing the Chinese Communist Party’s misdirection and blind spots in a “blockade of Taiwan”
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Liao Hung-hsiang says China’s frequent “Taiwan encirclement and blockade drills” are actually a cognitive warfare tactic designed to divert attention, with the real aim of covering a surprise attack rather than imposing an actual maritime blockade. Taiwan should avoid misjudging the situation and focus resources on countering rapid attacks and internal infiltration.
Louisa and 85度C lose! The hottest chain coffee shop in Taiwan is “this brand”: rich coffee aroma and a layered taste
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Taiwan’s online review rankings for chain cafes have been released, with ルイシャ in 2nd place and Starbucks in 1st. The companies’ strategies and market trends are also analyzed.
Chieh Chung’s column: Why is the military rehearsing a rapid response to Orchid Island after 30 years?
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Taiwan’s armed forces held an exercise involving the deployment of troops to Orchid Island for the first time in 30 years. The importance of defending outlying islands is growing as a countermeasure to Chinese military advances in the east.
Ching Yuan-chou’s take: Beijing’s approach to Taiwan—swallowing it whole remains the goal, but nibbling away comes first
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Beijing is pursuing a strategy of “wholesale annexation remains an option, but gradual encroachment comes first,” gradually expanding its de facto control over Taiwan through coast guard activity and diplomatic pressure while leaving open the possibility of unification by force. Most Taiwanese favor dialogue but oppose unification.
Lu Wen-hao’s take: Analyzing the recent live-fire drills by the PLA in five sea areas, including Dongshan Island, and the national security leadership’s misreading
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Lu Wen-hao analyzed the PLA’s live-fire drills in five sea areas, saying senior national security officials underestimated the risk. Large-scale military exercises may still take place after the election, posing a threat to Taiwan, Japan and the Philippines.
Hsia Chen: Chiang Wan-an’s “weakness” is Lee Teng-hui’s “masterpiece”
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an again proposed a no-confidence motion against the premier, but the Blue-White coalition has no common position and political gridlock continues. The Cho Jung-tai Cabinet has been criticized for effectively neutralizing the Legislative Yuan.
Opinion submission: The farce of the 10th anniversary of the South China Sea arbitration—the one left red-faced was not China
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Ten years after the 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling, the United States and the Philippines reaffirmed support for the ruling alongside 14 countries. China criticized it as a “political farce” and hit back over the Okinotorishima and Batanes Islands issues.
Opinion submission: The “Germany” nomination becomes a liability, leaving the DPP with a dilemma over whether to replace Lai Jui-lung
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
In the Kaohsiung mayoral election, KMT candidate Ko Chih-en has overtaken DPP candidate Lai Jui-lung, leaving the DPP with a difficult choice over whether to replace Lai. The decision affects Lai Ching-te’s political authority and his path to reelection in 2028.
Lin Chih-chung’s take: From Heisenberg’s grammar-school education to the Nobel Prize
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
This article analyzes the educational background of Nobel Prize-winning physicist Werner Heisenberg and its influence on him. It notes that the German Gymnasium education system had a major influence on the foundations of Heisenberg’s quantum mechanics theory.
Chang Ching-wen’s column: Should food safety rely on “workers’ ingenuity”? The social cost of sovereign AI in Taiwan, seen through the carcinogenic oil incident
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
A food safety incident in Taiwan revealed the shortcomings of digital governance, as the government relied on frontline civil servants to process data manually. AI technologies such as Digital Twin could improve the efficiency of food safety management.
Huang Shih-hsiu’s take: Your humanities degree does not need rescuing
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
The Ministry of Education is promoting an interdisciplinary program to rescue the humanities. Author Huang Shih-hsiu argues that the humanities need no rescue and should instead realize their unique value.
Shangguan Luan’s take: A lifetime in isolation, a lifetime of stigma—the surviving mainland Chinese spouses of veterans under the shadow of “forced deportation”
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Fanglan Villa, a military dependents’ village in Taipei’s Da’an District, is a place seemingly forgotten by time. Many elderly surviving family members of mainland Chinese spouses live there, facing forced eviction, hardship and nowhere else to go.
Opinion submission: The NCC should not become a sacrificial pawn in an extended round of political bickering
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Taiwan’s NCC is mired in a personnel deadlock amid political fighting between the ruling and opposition camps. It may be unable to operate normally from August 1, affecting the review and decisions on multiple important cases.
Opinion submission: High-dividend ETFs vs. AI-themed ETFs—which will prevail?
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Retail investors are shifting from high-dividend ETFs to AI-themed ETFs. Based on the 5-layer structure of the AI industry, the article selects 44 stocks using criteria including asset size and number of beneficiaries, and presents practical investment strategies.
Chien Hai-ping’s book review: Reading Chou Chien-hsin’s graphic novel Paper Frog: Goodbye, 1987—Taiwan’s lost history
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Chou Chien-hsin has released the graphic novel Paper Frog: Goodbye, 1987, using a cross-generational narrative to explore Taiwan’s history and the White Terror. The work is also connected to an upcoming 公視台語台 series, prompting deep reflection on Taiwanese identity.
〈Precious metals after the close〉Dollar weakens, inflation eases; gold prices rise for a second straight day
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Gold prices rose for 2 consecutive days amid a weaker U.S. dollar and easing inflation. Uncertainty over Fed policy is bolstering investor demand for gold.
Microsoft and Meta stocks tell different stories, perfectly illustrating how the market values AI investment
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Microsoft and Meta are both investing in AI data centers, but the market reaction to each is sharply different. Microsoft is winning praise for clear monetization and cash flow, while Meta faces doubts over ballooning spending and shrinking cash flow.
Fed’s anti-inflation credibility questioned as 30-year Treasury yield hovers near its 2007 high
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
The yield on 30-year U.S. Treasuries climbed to 5.21%, hovering at its highest level since 2007. Markets are questioning the Fed’s resolve to curb inflation, and investors are demanding a higher term premium to hold long-term bonds.
Companies mentioned:Bank of America、Deutsche Bank、Federal Reserve
SanDisk surges nearly 26%, its biggest one-day gain since January, but July could still be its worst on record
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
SanDisk shares surged 25.99%, marking their biggest single-day gain since January, but are forecast to fall 45% for July overall, potentially making it the worst monthly performance on record. Expectations of sustained semiconductor demand fueled the rebound.
〈New York forex market〉Dollar weakens, yen suddenly surges; market suspects Japanese government intervention
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
The U.S. dollar fell and the yen surged. Markets suspect intervention by the Japanese government. The currency market is seeing major moves ahead of the Bank of Japan’s policy decision.
700,000 South Korean retail investors hammered by leveraged blowups! KOSPI falls 40% for the month as government rushes out five “market rescue” measures
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
A crash in leveraged ETFs in South Korea caused about 700,000 retail investors to incur losses, while the KOSPI fell 40%. The government announced emergency market rescue measures. This is the most serious market crisis since 2008.
〈Earnings〉Explosive AWS growth helps Amazon Q2 profit rise more than 3 times; shares surge 9% after hours
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Amazon’s profits surged to more than 3 times their year-earlier level in the second quarter of 2026, driven by AWS and returns on AI investment. Its shares rose more than 9%, far exceeding market expectations.
〈Earnings〉Cook’s final report as CEO delivers mixed news! Apple Q3 revenue beats expectations, but services and Greater China disappoint; shares plunge after hours
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Apple revenue beat expectations in the final quarter of CEO Cook’s tenure, but its shares fell amid slowing growth in services and Greater China. iPhone and Mac performed well.
AI and memory chip stocks rebound strongly as market points to Situational Awareness completing its sell-off
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
The surge in AI and memory-related semiconductor stocks is thought to have been driven by the easing of selling pressure after Situational Awareness, a hedge fund founded by a former OpenAI researcher, sold its entire stock holdings. The move affected market sentiment and spurred a rebound.
〈U.S. stocks after the close〉Microsoft sets record for the largest one-day market-cap gain globally; Nasdaq ends six straight losing sessions, while Philadelphia Semiconductor Index surges more than 8%
〈Key news before Taiwan stocks open〉Night-session TAIEX futures signal a rebound, rising more than 1400 points; unusually, 2 central bank directors directly take a hawkish stance
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Summary not yet available
Facts
Taiwan stocks fell 105.88 points on the 30th
Original外資連續第三天站在賣方,賣超 483.12 億元
Night-session TAIEX futures surged more than 1400 points
【Yuan Chih-feng’s column】Mainland Chinese funds have been net sellers of Hong Kong stocks for 6 consecutive days
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Southbound funds were net sellers of Hong Kong stocks for 6 consecutive trading days as markets diverged. The Hang Seng Index edged up, while the tech index fell. Concerns over slowing economic growth are making investors more cautious.
〈Energy after the close〉Saudi Arabia proposes Red Sea escort alliance; oil prices top $93 intraday before turning lower, while market keeps close watch on the Strait of Hormuz
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Saudi Arabia proposed a multilateral defense alliance to ensure the safety of Red Sea shipping routes, but the U.S.-Iran standoff over the Strait of Hormuz is destabilizing oil prices. Geopolitical risks are dominating markets.