Asia

El Niño-driven heat, dryness may trigger severe haze in Southeast Asia

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

A wave of oil from the Persian Gulf set to leave Asian refiners swamped

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

Hormuz reopening would offer relief for Asia, but economic scars may linger

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

Asia faces rate-hike pressure as energy shock, AI boom fuel inflation

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

As US leadership wavers, Japan is stepping up as Asia's new powerbroker

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

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