Asia

Asian countries tighten precautions against Ebola after WHO declaration

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

War turmoil drains Asian reserves with India, Philippines among hardest hit

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 braces for second wave of energy shocks as US-Iran peace talks falter

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 ...

Japan can help Asia navigate reduced US role in Indo-Pacific region

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

India, China boosts LPG imports from US to replace West Asia supply

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

Trump may be remembered as the US president who lost Asia to China

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

Japan deploys its first long-range missiles to boost offensive capability

Japan's first long-range missile was deployed at a southwestern army camp, officials said Tuesday, as the country pushes to bolster its offensive capabilities. The upgraded Type-12 land-to-ship missiles, developed and produced by Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, became operational at Camp Kengun in Kumamoto prefecture. "As Japan faces the most severe and complex security environment in the postwar era ... it is an extremely important capability to strengthen Japan's deterrence and responsiveness," Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told reporters. "It demonstrates Japan's firm determination and capability to defend itself." The upgraded Type-12 missile has a range of about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), a significant extension from the 200-kilometer (125-mile) range of the original that would allow it to reach mainland China. The deployment of the long-range missile gives Japan a "standoff" capability, meaning it can strike enemy missile bases from afar, marking a break from the

Asia braces for LNG shock as Strait of Hormuz blockade chokes supply

With a cutoff in shipments imminent, Asian countries, the biggest importers of liquefied natural gas from the West Asia, are already burning more coal and reducing consumption

Asia boosts coal use as West Asia war squeezes global LNG supplies

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

West Asia war jolts Indian markets, but is this the best time to invest

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

India's crude supply secure, LPG production increased: Hardeep Puri | West Asia war | LPG crisis

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

Ships loaded with Reliance diesel, jet fuel turn to Asia instead of Europe

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

Japan election: What to know as PM Takaichi's coalition eyes big win

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

India's success is Malaysia's success, Asia's success too: PM Modi

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

Here's why Asia's pivot to political satire is no laughing matter

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

India 2nd most congested in Asia; Delhi 3rd among metro cities: Study

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 signs built-to-suit office deal with JPMorgan Chase in Powai

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

Easy money defined Asia in 2025, but tightening curbs hint at harder times

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 plans ₹6,000 crore fund for Asian tech firms, India in focus

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 boosts euro borrowing as US funding edge weakens under Trump policies

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