Asia

The ADB forecasts inflation for the developing Asia-Pacific region at 4.2% this year and 3.5% next year, both well above the 3% recorded in 2025

Saudi Arabia warned of a "hostile aerial threat" and issued a string of emergency alerts across the kingdom, including in its capital, late Friday and early Saturday. Also Saturday, Iran's state TV reported that a man was executed after being convicted on charges of spying for Israel's intelligence agency Mossad. Here is the latest news from the Middle East on Saturday. Alerts sound across Saudi Arabia for aerial threat ---------------------------------------------------- Saudi Arabia warned of a "hostile aerial threat" after issuing a string of emergency alerts across the kingdom late Friday and early Saturday, and at least one explosion was heard in the capital, Riyadh. The alert heard in Riyadh was first for the Saudi capital since the latest escalation with Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels. No casualties or damage were reported after the alerts were lifted. Saudi authorities didn't say what prompted the alerts or the cause of the audible explosions, but they previously repo

Temasek Trust's Philanthropy Asia Alliance is expanding in India with support for education and rural women ventures, while exploring climate, health and AI-led solutions

India’s stock market has just received a fresh warning from global fund managers. A Bank of America survey puts Indian equities at the bottom of Asia’s preference list

With the agreement pending completion next month, Jain Global is continuing to woo Asia-based portfolio managers with promises of a different structure

Asian central banks are seeking new ways to support weak currencies and preserve forex reserves as West Asia tensions, oil risks and high US rates weigh on markets

The cost of gasoline in the Southeast Asian nation climbed more than 40% after US strikes on Iran in February disrupted energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz

ILO specialist says stronger industrial relations and worker participation are essential to ensure AI-driven change improves jobs without widening inequality

Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore criticised the US for imposing fresh tariffs of up to 12.5% on imports over alleged forced-labour concerns

The developing El Niño, and the likelihood it will reach strong intensity later this year, is expected to raise temperatures and suppress rainfall in Southeast Asia

Around 31 supertankers, capable of carrying about 62 million barrels of crude, are stuck inside the Persian Gulf and set to sail out once the waterway opens up

For months, Asia has suffered a physical supply crunch that will likely drag on its economies long after the crucial waterway reopens

Asia is particularly vulnerable because it sits at the center of global manufacturing and technology supply chains while remaining heavily reliant on imported energy

While the United States reaffirmed its commitment to the Indo-Pacific, it was Japan that delivered the clearest warning on China's growing military assertiveness at Asia's premier security forum

Several govts have expanded screening and reporting requirements for travelers arriving from affected countries, though officials say no cases have been publicly confirmed in Asia

Philippines has led losses with its stockpile sinking 8.1 per cent since the conflict started to $104 billion, while India's dropped 5.2 per cent to $691 billion

Asia's first defences against energy shocks from the Iran war are running short and a more consequential second wave of impacts is beginning to hit. When the war started, governments scrambled to adapt to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for energy flowing to Asia. They made difficult trade-offs: saving power at the risk of slowing businesses, prioritising gas for households at the risk of fertiliser production and dipping into energy stockpiles for temporary relief. But these measures were based on the war lasting only a short time, allowing a quick resumption of energy flows. That has not happened. With no clear end in sight, the fuel crisis is now rippling across economies. Airfare costs, shipping rates and utility bills are climbing, jeopardizing economic growth. About 8.8 million people are in danger of being pushed into poverty and the conflict may cause USD 299 billion in economic losses to the Asia-Pacific region, according to the United Nations ...

With the revision last week of rules to remove restrictions on overseas sales of lethal weapons, Japan can export advanced equipment, including warships and missiles, and support its partners' defence

LPG exports from the West Asia, Asia's top supplier of the fuel used for cooking and feedstock for petrochemical plants, have plunged since the US-Israeli war with Iran started in late February

As US policy grows more erratic, developing nations increasingly see China's steady- if mercantilist- approach as the more reliable bet, reflected in rising adoption of Chinese technology across world