The color red has deep cultural significance for the Japanese. Even today, children wear red at shrine rituals to ward off evil spirits, and brides paint their lips crimson to protect against misfortune. Of all red dyes beni, made from safflower, is considered the most precious. The Mogami River area in Yamagata has grown safflowers since the 16th century and is now Japan's largest producer. There's also a traditional beni lipstick that instead of red, produces a shimmering green effect loved for centuries by fashionable Japanese ladies.

Oil prices were mixed on Tuesday as support from China's measures to shore up its economy vanished, offsetting expectations of an extension in supply cuts by two leading OPEC+ members Saudi Arabia and RussiaShare Market Live NSEBrent crude futures for November fell 10 cents, or 0.11 percent, to $88.90 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) October futures rose 33 cents, or 0.39 percent, to $85.88 at 0029 GMT. Saudi Arabia is widely expected to extend voluntary oil cuts into October and Russia will unveil a new OPEC+ supply cut deal this week, according to its deputy prime minister. On the downside, markets have overall priced in China's recent measures to boost the country's faltering economy, offsetting support from the expected oil supply cuts. Also Read: Asia stocks fall as China property back in focus

MANILA (Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network): A Senate panel issued a warrant of arrest against the 18-year-old daughter of a couple from Occidental Mindoro for allegedly being involved in the maltreatment of a 44-year-old maid. Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada moved to issue the arrest warrant because the teenager did not show up during Tuesday’s (Sept 5) Senate committee hearing on justice and human rights. The Senate panel previously issued a summons for the members of the Ruiz family, who allegedly abused Elvie Vergara. Nevertheless, Estrada moved to issue a warrant of arrest against the 18-year-old daughter of the Ruiz couple. INQUIRER.net opted to keep the teenage children, in this case unnamed, considering the explanation of the DSWD official in the Senate hearing.

An airbridge collapsed at the Hong Kong International Airport on Monday night, but fortunately, no one was injured in the incident. The airbridge, attached to the airport’s T1 Midfield Concourse, collapsed Between 8 pm and 9 pm last night, according to reports. The Airport Authority said an initial investigation found that the air bridge fell because of a short circuit in its control panel due to water damage from the typhoon during the weekend. The short circuit triggered a safety mechanism that “slowly descended” the bridge onto the ground, the authority said, adding that the bridge had since been restored to its normal position for further checking. The authority noted that the airbridge in question - located at the airport’s T1 Midfield Concourse has been closed since the epidemic and has not affected the airport’s operations.

Speaker Martin Romualdez on Monday said he had asked House appropriations panel chair Rep. Elizaldy Co to coordinate with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on the allocation for rice retailers. ADVERTISEMENTCo said his committee would sit down with Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman to explore fund sources for the P2-billion aid to rice retailers. “We will promptly engage with the DBM to expedite the release of the P2 billion funds for our rice retailers,” he added. The President said the DA and the DTI would identify and list the rice retailers affected by the price cap, adding that the DSWD would soon prepare the assistance for them. “After we calculate the losses of our rice retailers, we will give the equivalent assistance,” Mr. Marcos said.

RM awardee Rakshand: A room full of dreamsMANILA, Philippines — In a small, bare classroom in Bangladesh, something extraordinary was taking shape with just a piece of carpet, a whiteboard and 17 children. “When we started, you can’t even call it the classroom,” Korvi Rakshand said of the start of his unusual school. Recognizing the importance of the English language in a country where many sought employment abroad, he initiated English language classes for children. Rakshand’s English classes did not merely impart language skills; they ignited dreams of a school within the young learners. “The program is to equip young students to be competitive, to be part of the workforce in this growing industry,” Rakshand said.

Diesel prices up by P1.20/liter, gasoline by P0.50In separate advisories yesterday, oil companies said prices would increase by P0.50 per liter for gasoline and a heftier P1.20 per liter for diesel and P1.10 per liter for kerosene. MANILA, Philippines — Prices of petroleum products continue to rise today, as oil firms implement another round of price hikes. In separate advisories yesterday, oil companies said prices would increase by P0.50 per liter for gasoline and a heftier P1.20 per liter for diesel and P1.10 per liter for kerosene. These now bring the price hikes for diesel and kerosene to a ninth consecutive week, and that of gasoline to its eighth straight week. This week’s adjustments reflect the movement in the international oil market, as global prices continue to rise as a result of OPEC+ reducing supply until September.

NBA star Karl-Anthony Towns no doubt, had a wonderful time competing in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, which saw the Dominican Republic top the group stage en route to reaching the second round. Karl-Anthony Towns AFP PHOTOThe Dominican Republic though saw its World Cup title campaign come to an end after losses to Italy, 102-97, followed by a 112-79 humiliation at the hands of Serbia on Sunday night. Towns, the Minnesota Timberwolves superstar, admittedly was saddened by his team's exit, yet, was consoled by the fact that they represented their country well in the World Cup. I'm proud of everyone of the guys in the locker room," he added. "I'm so proud of them, all of them, I mean some of the finest basketball in my life I played in this tournament.

A drunk man who was trapped near stone barriers on the Tsing Yi shores was rescued and hospitalized early Monday morning. Around 2 am today, an approximately 40-year-old man who was drinking near the shores of the Maritime Square located on Tsing King Road crossed the fence and went to the stone barriers near the shores. He could not get back to the pedestrian path, and passersby who noticed the incident, contacted the police for assistance. The paramedics arrived and assisted the man in returning to a safe location. The man then lost consciousness due to the effects of alcohol and was taken to the hospital for medical attention.

'Omakase' is a special way of ordering things in Japan. It comes from the Japanese word meaning "to entrust." In a sushi restaurant, for example, it means you leave it to the chef to decide what to serve – they skillfully select items they think will most appeal to your taste. A recent development is the growth of Omakase services. Omakase is more than simply curating services, it's about building relationships of trust.

Taking mobile livestreaming to a whole new level, Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) and US-based Radisys® Corporation, a subsidiary of Jio Platforms Limited, successfully ran its beta test of the Smart LiveStream App boasting groundbreaking features at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. Jordan Clarkson PHOTO BY RIO DELUVIOAs FIBA's official global partner, Smart, the wireless unit of PLDT Inc. collaborated with Radisys in tapping select Filipino personalities to experience the future of mobile streaming as they watched the much-anticipated FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 match of Philippines versus Italy last August 29. The successful beta test of the new Smart LiveStream App is among Smart's efforts to bring the best on-ground and online basketball experiences to Filipinos during the country's hosting of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 from August 25 to September 10. Smart has made history as the first and only Philippine mobile operator to be recognized as the country's Best Mobile Network for three consecutive reporting periods by Ookla, the global leader in mobile and broadband network intelligence. To earn the prestigious recognition, Smart won both Ookla's 'Fastest Network' and 'Best Mobile Coverage' categories within the same reporting periods - first in Q1-Q2 2022, Q3-Q4 2022, and most recently in Q1-Q2 2023.

A 13-year-old boy was taken to hospital after a fall from height at his Tsuen Wan home on Monday morning - the first day of the new academic year, with reports suggesting that stress from school pushed him over the edge. The boy was found to have fallen from a height and lying unconscious at Kapok Mansion in Tsuen Wan this morning at around 7 am. Police suspected the boy had jumped from his home and that the 13-year-old had been “unhappy” due to study-related issues. Dial 2896 0000 for The Samaritans or 2382 2007 for Suicide Prevention Services. You can also call Suicide Prevention Services at 2382 0000 or CEASE Crisis Centre of Tung Wah Groups of Hospitals at 18281.

President Marcos off to Jakarta today for ASEAN SummitMarcos will hold bilateral meetings with his ASEAN counterparts and other world leaders aside from attending the summit, according to Assistant Secretary Daniel Espiritu of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Office of the ASEAN Affairs. MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos will head to Jakarta, Indonesia today to attend the 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit and related summits, running from Sept. 5 to 7, and will include meetings with several ASEAN dialogue partners. Marcos will hold bilateral meetings with his ASEAN counterparts and other world leaders aside from attending the summit, according to Assistant Secretary Daniel Espiritu of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Office of the ASEAN Affairs. Among those scheduled to meet Marcos in Jakarta are Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, Timor-Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. In May, Marcos attended the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara in Indonesia.

President Marcos issued Executive Order 39 on Aug. 31, setting a price ceiling on regular-milled rice at P41 per kilo and well-milled rice at P45 per kilo. The National Economic and Development Authority also expressed support for EO 39, which it claimed will address hoarding, profiteering, smuggling and cartelization. The government should assist retailers in complying with EO 39, according to rice traders’ group Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders Movement (PRISM). Based on the DA’s monitoring, local regular milled rice is sold as high as P55 per kilo, local well-milled rice at P57 per kilo, local premium rice at P60 per kilo and local special rice at P65 per kilo. Imported well-milled rice is sold as high as P52 per kilo, imported premium rice at P56 per kilo and imported special rice at P65 per kilo.

Jordan Clarkson has nothing but respect for Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes, who following the Philippines' 96-75 rout of China, announced that "he's stepping down" from his post. Like he said, his family and for the country as well," Clarkson told media men, moments after Gilas closed the 2023 FIBA World Cup with a 21-point victory over China on Saturday night. Clarkson capped his World Cup stint with a 34-point explosion, knocking down five three-pointers that allowed Gilas to pull away and trample China in the final day of the classification round. The Philippines went on to finish 24th place in the World Cup based on the ranking released by FIBA after Saturday's games. The win also allowed the Philippines to snap a nine-game losing skid in the World Cup since the 2019 edition in Foshan, China.