Asia

Asian countries are turning to coal as the Iran war disrupts oil and gas shipments. The continent is exposed because it relies on imported fuel, much of it passing through the Strait of Hormuz - a chokepoint for about a fifth of global oil and natural gas trade. LNG is a natural gas cooled to liquid form for easy storage and transport. It has been promoted as a bridge fuel in the shift from oil and coal to cleaner energy sources. The US has sought to expand exports of LNG across Asia. It burns cleaner than coal, but still emits climate change-causing gases, especially methane. The war has countries shifting back to coal to cover LNG shortfalls. India is burning more coal to meet higher summer demand. South Korea has lifted caps on electricity from coal. Indonesia is prioritising using its domestic supply. Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam are boosting coal-fired power. Burning more coal risks worsening smog in major cities, slowing the transition to renewable energy and increas

As the West Asia crisis rattles markets, investors are panicking. SIPs are being stopped, indices are falling, and volatility is rising.

Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri told Parliament on Thursday that India is not facing any shortage of crude oil or LPG, even as tensions in West Asia

Asian buyers are rushing to secure fuel supplies to offset production losses from expected refinery run cuts as the near-halt in traffic in the Strait of Hormuz constrains oil supply to the region

Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, known as Ishin, could capture around 300 seats in the 465-seat lower house of parliament, polls showed

Emphasising people-to-people ties as the foundation of the relationship, PM Modi spoke of shared geography and cultural connections across the Indian Ocean

Satire has become a barometer of a deeper dysfunction in governance as traditional channels to hold elected officials accountable are breaking down

India emerged as the second most congested country in Asia, with New Delhi being the third most jam-packed metro city in the nation last year. According to data released by Netherlands-based location technology firm TomTom, the commuters in the national capital lost an average of 104 hours last year due to traffic congestion, equivalent to four days and eight hours. Among all Indian cities, Delhi ranked fourth with a congestion level of 55.4 per cent last year, 1.7 per cent higher than in 2024, it said. According to the report, globally, the national capital placed 23rd with 60.2 per cent congestion, while in Asia, it ranked seventh. India emerged as the second most congested country in Asia. Nationally, Bengaluru was ranked the most congested city in India and second globally, followed by Pune, Mumbai and New Delhi. Among metro cities, Mumbai topped the list, followed by Bengaluru and Delhi. The study showed that the total time lost last year was five hours and six minutes more t

Brookfield Properties has signed a 20-year built-to-suit lease with JPMorgan Chase for a Powai campus, part of a $1 billion investment to develop the bank's Asia's largest GCC

The real hit - if there is to be one - from the barriers erected by the White House will only be truly felt in 2026

Krafton's investment in the form of the new investment fund comes at a time when the company is accelerating its presence in the region

Asia Pacific borrowers increased euro-denominated issuance to a record 23% of the total across both currencies this year, up 6% points from 2024, according to Bloomberg-compiled data

Severe floods triggered by cyclones and monsoon rains have killed more than 1,300 people across South and Southeast Asia and caused economic losses of at least $20 billion.

Scientists have pointed to the aggravating impact of climate change on flooding, along with factors including deforestation, failures in flood defences and a lack of disaster resilience funds

The monsoon belt from Southeast Asia to West Africa is at the same time the swath of the globe that is urbanising fastest, and the one where catastrophic rainfall is set to increase most dramatically

A deep freeze would likely mean higher prices for power and natural gas, adding to the cost burden for ratepayers as inflation remains stubbornly high and major economies show signs of persistent weak

In the past three months, Carney has signed a trade deal with Indonesia, moved to boost Canada's gas exports to Asia, and shortlisted a Korean firm for a submarine contract worth tens of billions

With Asia and the Pacific among the most climate-vulnerable regions, WHO's new blueprint aims to build resilient health systems and protect millions from rising risks.

Trade tensions between US and China have intensified after Beijing expanded its rare earth export controls

A Standard Chartered report shows over 40 per cent of global firms plan to increase trade and investment in India, citing its fast-growing economy, large market, and favourable business reforms