https://www.scmp.com/rss/265709/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Bloomberg Bloomberg The next steps in the US military campaign against Iran will commit nearly its entire inventory of stealthy JASSM-ER cruise missiles, drawing them from stockpiles devoted to other regions. The order to pull the US$1.5 million weapon from Pacific stockpiles was issued at the end of March, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter. Missiles at US facilities elsewhere, including the continental US, will be moved to US Central Command bases or Fairford in the UK, said the person, who... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3349056/us-commits-nearly-all-stealthy-long-range-missiles-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3349056/us-commits-nearly-all-stealthy-long-range-missiles-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 17:53:38 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg A French container ship and a Japanese-owned tanker have crossed the Strait of Hormuz, in what appear to be the first such transits since the war in Iran closed the crucial waterway. The CMA CGM Kribi container ship exited the strait on Friday, according to ship tracking data compiled by Bloomberg and two people familiar with the situation. That is the first ship linked to western Europe that is known to have made it through since the war began more than a month ago. Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3349004/iran-war-french-and-japanese-owned-ships-make-first-strait-hormuz-crossings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3349004/iran-war-french-and-japanese-owned-ships-make-first-strait-hormuz-crossings?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 16:32:11 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Japan’s order for hundreds of Tomahawk missiles from the US is under threat as the American-Israeli war with Iran burns through inventories, the latest example of how the conflict is drawing in supplies and troops at the expense of defending against Washington’s primary strategic rival, China. Tomahawk missiles are a centrepiece of Tokyo’s new strategy of equipping itself with long-range strike capabilities to deal with challenges from China and North Korea. But Washington has informed Tokyo... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3348914/us-delays-japans-tomahawk-missile-supplies-iran-strikes-take-priority?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3348914/us-delays-japans-tomahawk-missile-supplies-iran-strikes-take-priority?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 06:30:16 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the US-Israeli war on Iran appears to have achieved its key initial aims of curbing Tehran’s nuclear and missile capabilities – and questioned what further goals remain. “We did express support for the original objectives: preventing Iran from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon and degrading its capacity to endanger its neighbours,” Albanese said in a speech on Thursday at the National Press Club in Canberra. “And now those objectives have been... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3348745/australias-albanese-says-iran-war-goals-met-asks-what-more-left-achieve?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3348745/australias-albanese-says-iran-war-goals-met-asks-what-more-left-achieve?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 04:45:10 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim called on enforcement agencies to step up action against what his government sees as false claims about fuel and electricity prices as it seeks to shore up public confidence amid a global energy crunch. The communications regulator has identified 96 posts of misleading content circulating on social media, he said. Anwar urged authorities, including police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, to take action against those spreading what... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3348731/malaysias-anwar-warns-against-sabotage-hatred-over-fuel-prices?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3348731/malaysias-anwar-warns-against-sabotage-hatred-over-fuel-prices?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 02:32:15 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US may need to reassess its relationship with Nato after the Iran war is finished, calling the military alliance’s alleged lack of support during the Middle East conflict “very disappointing”. Rubio assailed Nato members for denying access to military bases, following prior criticism from US President Donald Trump that partners in the security bloc are “cowards” and that the alliance is a “paper tiger”. “The president and our country will have to... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3348486/us-may-reassess-nato-ties-after-iran-war-ends-rubio-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3348486/us-may-reassess-nato-ties-after-iran-war-ends-rubio-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 04:33:44 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Iran is pushing the Houthis to prepare for a renewed campaign against Red Sea shipping, contingent upon any further escalation by the US in its war on the Islamic Republic, according to European officials familiar with the matter. Leaders of the Yemen-based Houthis, a militant group backed by Iran, are weighing options for more aggressive action after launching ballistic missiles at Israel, the people said, asking not to be named discussing sensitive matters. There are divisions within the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3348469/iran-pressuring-houthis-attack-red-sea-ships-european-officials-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3348469/iran-pressuring-houthis-attack-red-sea-ships-european-officials-say?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 02:55:12 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Petron, the Philippines’ only refiner, has procured 2.48 million barrels of crude oil from Russia as the Southeast Asian nation scours the world for alternative suppliers to support domestic energy needs with the war in Iran raging. “If the current crisis persists and alternative crude sources remain unavailable or insufficient, Petron may again be compelled to consider purchases of Russian crude oil to augment the national fuel supply,” parent company San Miguel said in a statement to market... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3348321/philippine-oil-refiner-petron-buys-russian-crude-eyes-alternatives?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3348321/philippine-oil-refiner-petron-buys-russian-crude-eyes-alternatives?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 15:37:36 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Group of Seven counterparts traded barbs over the wars in Iran and Ukraine, casting doubt on Europe bowing to Donald Trump’s demand for military help in the Gulf. “The United States is constantly being asked to help in a war,” Rubio said referring to Ukraine, before taking off for the Friday conclusion of a G7 gathering outside Paris. “But when the US had a need, he didn’t get positive responses,” he added. The Europeans have rebuffed Trump’s bid for... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3348196/rubio-g7-diplomats-duel-over-wars-iran-and-ukraine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3348196/rubio-g7-diplomats-duel-over-wars-iran-and-ukraine?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:06:08 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Almost four weeks of unrelenting US and Israeli air strikes have severely weakened Tehran’s military, but what remains of its vast missile arsenal was being used more efficiently from hard-to-reach bases in eastern Iran. In the latest example, strikes last weekend against Israel injured more than 100. Targets included the city of Dimona, home to the country’s main nuclear research facility, and most likely involved Khorramshahr missiles, which have among the longest ranges and heaviest payloads... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3348072/irans-harder-hunt-long-range-missiles-are-taking-greater-toll?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3348072/irans-harder-hunt-long-range-missiles-are-taking-greater-toll?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 02:43:51 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg US President Donald Trump said he would sign an order to pay Transportation Security Administration officers in a bid to alleviate disruptions at US airports with lawmakers in Congress deadlocked on how to end a partial government shutdown. “I am going to sign an Order instructing the Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullen, to immediately pay our TSA Agents in order to address this Emergency Situation, and to quickly stop the Democrat Chaos at the Airports,” Trump declared in a social... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3348061/trump-says-hell-sign-order-pay-tsa-during-shutdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3348061/trump-says-hell-sign-order-pay-tsa-during-shutdown?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 23:54:52 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Even as Donald Trump pushes for talks to end the war against Iran, the US has ordered thousands of troops to the region, fuelling fears that the American president is gearing up for exactly the sort of risky ground invasion that he once campaigned against. Trump on Thursday warned Iran to “get serious soon” in talks to end the war, as he once again criticised Nato allies for not joining in the conflict. Trump insisted Iran was actively talking with the United States on a deal to end the nearly... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3347971/trump-pushes-talks-us-troop-moves-signal-potential-iran-war-escalation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3347971/trump-pushes-talks-us-troop-moves-signal-potential-iran-war-escalation?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 07:12:19 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The Transportation Security Administration warned that US airport security was under severe strain as a weeks-long Department of Homeland Security funding shutdown drives staffing shortages, long wait times and mounting disruptions across the United States. “This has led to the highest wait times in TSA history, with some wait times greater than 4½ hours,” Acting Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill told lawmakers on Wednesday, adding the agency has already lost more than 480 transportation security... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3347948/us-airport-wait-times-longest-history-after-hundreds-unpaid-officers-leave?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3347948/us-airport-wait-times-longest-history-after-hundreds-unpaid-officers-leave?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 05:05:58 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Japan should consider sending warships to help jointly secure the Strait of Hormuz with other nations and protect both its own vessels and those of other nations – even before a ceasefire, according to a former top national security adviser. A special measures law would be needed to enable such a move, going beyond what Japan has done in past geopolitical conflicts, said Akihisa Nagashima, who served as a national security adviser to the predecessor of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The former... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3347929/enact-special-law-send-japans-warships-secure-hormuz-ex-adviser-tells-takaichi?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3347929/enact-special-law-send-japans-warships-secure-hormuz-ex-adviser-tells-takaichi?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 02:09:14 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Singapore is delaying a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) levy that airline customers were meant to start paying next month, citing the surge in fuel costs spurred by the Iran war. Additional charges will now begin on October 1 as a result of the “impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East on airlines and passengers”, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said on Wednesday. The amount charged will depend on the class of travel or length of flight, and could total as much as... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3347926/singapores-green-fuel-levy-air-travellers-delayed-over-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3347926/singapores-green-fuel-levy-air-travellers-delayed-over-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 01:04:47 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The head of the Philippines’ flag carrier said the Southeast Asian country may need to resort to fuel rationing amid tight supplies due to the war in Iran. “We have countries saying, ‘we need to ration our fuel, we want people to tank fuel in and out.’ The reality is we’re going to have to do the same thing probably in the Philippines,” Philippine Airlines president Richard Nuttall said in an interview on Wednesday. Speaking at the Aviation Festival Asia conference in Singapore, Nuttall said the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3347804/airline-boss-flags-possible-fuel-rationing-philippines-supplies-dwindle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3347804/airline-boss-flags-possible-fuel-rationing-philippines-supplies-dwindle?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 05:55:08 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The Philippines says grounding planes due to a shortage of jet fuel brought on by the war in Iran is a “distinct possibility”, according to President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr. “Several countries have already told our airlines they cannot fuel their aircraft, so they have to carry fuel there and back,” Marcos said in an interview on Tuesday. “Long haul is going to be a much more serious problem.” Asked whether, inevitably, planes may have to be grounded, Marcos said, “We’re hoping not, but it’s a... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3347677/philippines-may-ground-flights-tide-over-widening-jet-fuel-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3347677/philippines-may-ground-flights-tide-over-widening-jet-fuel-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 06:05:28 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Most Japanese people oppose sending warships to the Middle East in response to the war on Iran, according to two polls conducted over the weekend amid continued US pressure on allies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz. In a Yomiuri newspaper survey, 67 per cent voiced opposition to sending the nation’s Self-Defence Forces to the region, while an ANN poll showed 52 per cent against their deployment. The polls also showed elevated approval ratings for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s cabinet, at... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3347548/most-japanese-oppose-helping-trump-fight-his-war-iran-polls-show?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3347548/most-japanese-oppose-helping-trump-fight-his-war-iran-polls-show?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 05:52:43 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Shares in BTS’ agency have plunged as much as 15 per cent after a heavily promoted comeback concert by the K-pop megastars in South Korea drew a smaller crowd than authorities initially expected. Hybe’s stock later recorded its biggest intraday decline since June 2022. The group’s event at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul attracted 104,000 fans vs the 260,000 initially estimated by police, according to the Chosun Ilbo newspaper. Stringent crowd control measures, reflecting in part the authorities’... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3347523/btss-south-korea-comeback-crowd-disappoints-triggering-hybe-stock-sell?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3347523/btss-south-korea-comeback-crowd-disappoints-triggering-hybe-stock-sell?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 02:50:07 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg At least 16 US military aircraft have been lost since the start of the war with Iran, including 10 Reaper strike drones hit by enemy fire and a half-dozen other planes badly damaged in attacks or accidents. The most serious losses were because of accidents: three US F-15s downed by friendly fire in Kuwait, and a KC-135 tanker destroyed during a refuelling operation. All six crew members on the tanker were killed in the accident. Five other KC-135s were reportedly damaged by an Iranian missile... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3347276/us-military-aircraft-losses-mount-iran-war-approaches-fourth-week?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3347276/us-military-aircraft-losses-mount-iran-war-approaches-fourth-week?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 06:26:37 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The Chinese founder of the massive router maker facing national security probes by the Trump administration has applied for an expedited visa under the Trump Gold Card programme, according to people familiar with the matter. California-based TP-Link Systems told the federal agencies scrutinising its operations that founder and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Chao had applied for permanent residency under the programme, the people said. Successful Gold Card applicants must give a US$1 million... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3347222/tp-links-chinese-founder-jeffrey-chao-seeks-us1-million-trump-gold-card-visa?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3347222/tp-links-chinese-founder-jeffrey-chao-seeks-us1-million-trump-gold-card-visa?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 17:59:25 +0000 Reuters,Bloomberg Reuters,Bloomberg A pro-Kremlin figure who unexpectedly denounced Russian President Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine in a social media post this week that went viral has been placed in a psychiatric facility, Russian media reported on Thursday. Ilya Remeslo made a career denouncing Putin’s critics until he became one himself, posting a manifesto late on Tuesday to his 90,000 followers on ⁠Telegram entitled: “Five reasons why I stopped supporting Vladimir Putin.” He said Putin had prosecuted a “failing war”... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3347211/pro-kremlin-russian-blogger-who-turned-putin-sent-psychiatric-unit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3347211/pro-kremlin-russian-blogger-who-turned-putin-sent-psychiatric-unit?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 14:46:04 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Netflix is planning a KPop Demon Hunters world tour, seeking to capitalise on the company’s most popular movie ever. The streaming leader is negotiating with concert promoters to stage a live show featuring performances of the songs from the film, which have topped the Billboard charts and been a massive cultural phenomenon, according to people familiar with the talks. The aim is to perform around the globe next year, ahead of the sequel to the animated film about three Korean pop stars who... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3347149/kpop-demon-hunters-world-tour-it-could-happen-stops-dozens-major-cities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3347149/kpop-demon-hunters-world-tour-it-could-happen-stops-dozens-major-cities?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 11:15:10 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The smoke rising from Babitha Sivadasan’s kitchen in rural Kerala carries a scent that belongs to her grandmother’s era. “I have started cooking with firewood,” said Babitha, who began rationing her half-empty cooking gas cylinder after failing to secure a refill from her Indian Oil distributor. “The agency hasn’t taken bookings in a week.” As the Iran war enters the third week and cooking gas becomes scarce amid a conflict-driven supply shock, some Indian homemakers are turning to practices of... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3346953/plead-hoard-steal-desperate-scramble-cooking-gas-india?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3346953/plead-hoard-steal-desperate-scramble-cooking-gas-india?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 02:34:11 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier is leaving the fight with Iran and heading back to port, a US official familiar with the matter said, after a fire broke out in its laundry area and left at least two sailors with non-life-threatening injuries. The Ford would travel from its current location in the Red Sea to Souda Bay, on the Greek island of Crete, according to the official, who asked not to be identified discussing movements that were not public. The ship had stopped in Souda Bay in late... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3346947/us-aircraft-carrier-involved-attacking-iran-heads-back-port-after-fire-incident?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3346947/us-aircraft-carrier-involved-attacking-iran-heads-back-port-after-fire-incident?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 00:33:07 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Worsening fuel shortages resulting from the war in the Middle East are threatening sacred funeral ceremonies in Thailand, where Buddhist temples are scrambling to obtain diesel for cremations. The abbot of Wat Saman Rattanaram in Chachoengsao province, about 80km (50 miles) east of Bangkok, warned that a suspension of cremation services was a real possibility. Some petrol stations have run out of fuel, while others allow sales only to vehicle operators. “In more than 50 years, I’ve never seen... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346921/even-dead-thailand-cannot-escape-iran-war-fuel-shortages?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346921/even-dead-thailand-cannot-escape-iran-war-fuel-shortages?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 13:33:46 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Thailand will start building fences along a portion of its border with Cambodia next month to boost security after deadly clashes between the countries erupted last year following long-standing tensions. The first barrier will cover 1.3km (0.8 miles) in Chanthaburi province along Thailand’s eastern border, according to Vithai Laithomya, spokesman of the Royal Thai Armed Forces. The fencing off of the area – a small part of the nearly 800km border between the two nations – was not part of... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346913/thailand-build-fence-along-parts-cambodian-border-peace-mind?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346913/thailand-build-fence-along-parts-cambodian-border-peace-mind?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 11:55:55 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Even before the war in Iran sparked a surge in energy prices, Malaysia stood out from its Southeast Asian peers as the new-found darling of global investors. A rare stretch of political stability and investments in higher-value manufacturing and data centres lifted Malaysia’s appeal as some of its neighbours grappled with leadership changes and financial strains. The conflict in the Middle East further burnished the country’s advantage as investors looked for markets better placed to weather... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346859/investors-fleeing-mideast-chaos-find-safe-haven-sweet-spot-malaysia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346859/investors-fleeing-mideast-chaos-find-safe-haven-sweet-spot-malaysia?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 07:20:08 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The news of black rain falling on Tehran felt all too familiar to Iranian researcher Nejat Rahmanian. On March 8, he was scrolling through alerts on social media feeds, trying to contact relatives. Israeli drone strikes had hit giant oil depots and refineries on the outskirts of the Iranian capital a few hours earlier. The strike had set fuel on fire, releasing columns of black smoke that mixed with rain clouds. Later in the day, those clouds would pour toxic chemicals onto the city. The... https://www.scmp.com/yp/news/asia/article/3346759/toxic-black-rain-war-missiles-and-bombs-will-spread-and-last-decades?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/news/asia/article/3346759/toxic-black-rain-war-missiles-and-bombs-will-spread-and-last-decades?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 01:00:11 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Emirates is operating flights to Dubai that are near-empty in some cases as travellers avoid the Persian Gulf, highlighting the challenges for the world’s largest international airline to restore its network amid a protracted war. Flights from destinations in the US and continental Europe have been hit the hardest, with planes returning from Prague or Budapest only about 5 to 10 per cent occupied, according to data compiled by the Dubai-based airline. Several aircraft returning from New York... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3346799/emirates-flies-full-flights-out-dubai-near-empty-ones-back?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3346799/emirates-flies-full-flights-out-dubai-near-empty-ones-back?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:46:50 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The International Energy Agency (IEA) said oil from a record stockpile release will be made available in Asia and Oceania immediately as buyers in the region clamour to replace barrels lost to war-related disruptions in the Middle East. The agency released a statement after it said it received implementation plans from member states. Barrels for Europe and the Americas will only be made available from the end of March. The IEA last week said that the oil market is seeing the biggest supply... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3346685/iea-says-oil-emergency-stocks-flow-asia-immediately?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3346685/iea-says-oil-emergency-stocks-flow-asia-immediately?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 16:02:44 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Energy Secretary Chris Wright signalled the war with Iran may last several more weeks, with oil and petrol prices elevated as the US and Israel seek to destroy Iranian military capabilities. In television interviews on Sunday, Wright defended the Trump administration’s argument that Americans are facing short-term pain at the pump in a midterm election year for the larger goal of eliminating Iran as a threat to the Middle East. “I think that this conflict will certainly come to the end in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3346684/us-energy-chief-signals-iran-war-could-continue-several-more-weeks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3346684/us-energy-chief-signals-iran-war-could-continue-several-more-weeks?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 15:30:14 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has threatened Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with death, in a statement published on Sunday by Iran’s Fars and IRNA news agencies. Netanyahu would be pursued and killed, the IRGC statement said. The announcement followed mutual overnight attacks in the war between Iran, Israel and the United States. The current round of hostilities began when Israel and the US launched a large-scale offensive against Iran on February 28. Tehran... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3346667/irans-revolutionary-guards-issue-death-threat-israels-netanyahu?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3346667/irans-revolutionary-guards-issue-death-threat-israels-netanyahu?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 11:36:25 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Hawaii-based Christine Kim was an early participant in the KPop Demon Hunters travel trend. In fairness, her trip to Seoul with her husband and children was already booked before the Netflix film came out in June 2025. The plan, initially at least, was to visit grandparents. But then Rumi, Zoey and Mira, the movie’s protagonists, became her five-year-old daughter’s idols, and the itinerary got rewritten. They visited a jjimjilbang (Korean spa) and the Namsan Tower – the setting for the rival... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3346455/how-kpop-demon-hunters-travel-trend-shaking-korean-wave-tourism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3346455/how-kpop-demon-hunters-travel-trend-shaking-korean-wave-tourism?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 11:15:07 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg News of black rain falling on Tehran felt all too familiar to Nejat Rahmanian as he scrolled through alerts on social media feeds and tried to contact relatives on March 8. Israeli drone strikes hit giant oil depots and refineries on the outskirts of the Iranian capital a few hours earlier, setting fuel on fire and releasing columns of black smoke, which mixed with rain clouds that poured toxic chemicals onto the city later in the day. The descriptions reminded the Iranian researcher of a... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3346662/black-rain-iran-wars-toxic-pollution-will-spread-and-last-decades?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3346662/black-rain-iran-wars-toxic-pollution-will-spread-and-last-decades?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 10:25:31 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Moonshot AI is seeking to raise as much as US$1 billion in an expanded funding round that would value the start-up at about US$18 billion, more than quadrupling its valuation in just three months and underscoring growing interest in Chinese artificial intelligence developers racing to rival Silicon Valley leaders. The company behind the Kimi chatbot kicked off discussions for the latest round, people familiar with the matter said, after securing more than US$700 million earlier this year, which... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3346659/china-ai-start-moonshot-snags-funds-us18-billion-valuation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3346659/china-ai-start-moonshot-snags-funds-us18-billion-valuation?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 10:00:25 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said he was “pretty surprised” by the US-Israel war on Iran, adding that he did not see any “rationality” in the military campaign. Prabowo, a retired general who now heads the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, said in an interview that Iran recently told him they were wary of entering into negotiations with the US to stop the war because they felt “basically they have been tricked” twice. In an asymmetrical war, he added, “they really just have to... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346646/indonesias-prabowo-surprised-iran-war-says-us-bombing-wont-spark-regime-change?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346646/indonesias-prabowo-surprised-iran-war-says-us-bombing-wont-spark-regime-change?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 06:49:36 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Thai rice exports to the Middle East were halted as the escalating war disrupts shipments to the nation’s largest market for the grain, further straining farmers grappling with rising costs and reduced overseas demand. Two ships carrying a combined 80,000 tonnes of rice bound for Iraq were suspended at a Bangkok port this week, with buyers instructing containers be unloaded and the grain returned to warehouses, Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346518/iran-war-knocks-out-thai-mideast-rice-exports-squeezing-farmers-harder?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346518/iran-war-knocks-out-thai-mideast-rice-exports-squeezing-farmers-harder?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 00:30:08 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg An alleged cocaine boss with a US$2 million bounty on his head was captured by Bolivian forces as the Andean nation renews cooperation with the US after decades of hostility. Dozens of antinarcotics police raided two houses in Santa Cruz in the early hours of Friday, with snipers positioned on nearby rooftops. Their target, Uruguayan citizen Sebastian Enrique Marset Cabrera, was immediately put on a plane to be transferred to the US by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Bolivia’s President... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3346567/cartel-boss-us-most-wanted-list-captured-bolivia-raid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3346567/cartel-boss-us-most-wanted-list-captured-bolivia-raid?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 19:43:26 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Singapore said it ran a trade deficit with the US in 2024, disputing figures published by Washington that showed the city state posted a surplus and challenging suggestions that it is contributing to global manufacturing overcapacity. The dispute surfaced after the Office of the US Trade Representative announced this week that it had launched investigations under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 into the acts, policies and practices of 16 economies, including Singapore. The investigations... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346560/singapore-contests-us-claim-trade-surplus-amid-excess-capacity-probe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346560/singapore-contests-us-claim-trade-surplus-amid-excess-capacity-probe?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 16:02:46 +0000 Reuters,Bloomberg Reuters,Bloomberg Asean should position itself as a safe haven for investment amid worsening global volatility, the host country said as the region’s economic ministers kicked off their meeting in Manila on Friday. “Let us ensure that Asean remains a region where investment is met with certainty and where cooperation creates genuine opportunity for our people,” Philippine Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said in her opening speech. Energy and financial markets worldwide have been upended with the Iran war in its... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346445/philippines-urges-asean-be-global-investment-safe-haven-middle-east-war-rages?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346445/philippines-urges-asean-be-global-investment-safe-haven-middle-east-war-rages?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 04:28:30 +0000 Bloomberg,Agence France-Presse Bloomberg,Agence France-Presse A video showing Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi looking visibly exhausted after a budget committee session on Thursday went viral online, sparking concerns over her well-being ahead of a trip to the US to meet President Donald Trump. Takaichi had cold-like symptoms and was advised to rest by doctors, ultimately skipping some meetings with local Middle Eastern ambassadors on Thursday, according to local media. “Yesterday, the prime minister suspected she had a cold, so she was examined by... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3346437/japan-video-exhausted-takaichi-sparks-health-fears-ahead-us-trip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3346437/japan-video-exhausted-takaichi-sparks-health-fears-ahead-us-trip?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 03:26:41 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The US$599 MacBook Neo proves it is possible to make a laptop that stays true to Apple’s reputation for craftsmanship, performance and reliability – even at roughly half the price of the popular MacBook Air. With that price point, the company is opening up macOS to a completely new market of first-time buyers who previously could not afford to splurge, or preferred not to. The Neo is a product that was once unthinkable from a company that spent years panning the idea of netbooks and never... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3346285/apple-macbook-neo-review-budget-laptop-punches-above-its-weight-eyes-new-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3346285/apple-macbook-neo-review-budget-laptop-punches-above-its-weight-eyes-new-market?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 11:15:08 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Airlines around the world are increasing fares and raising fuel surcharges as the Iran war sends oil prices swinging wildly and stokes fears of jet fuel shortages if the fighting persists. The cost of plane tickets may jump as much as 9 per cent, said Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association industry group. Fuel costs account for about a quarter of the expenses paid by carriers. Demand for alternative routes that bypass the Middle East is also surging,... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3346366/airasia-qantas-airlines-raise-fares-iran-war-fuels-oil-price-surge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3346366/airasia-qantas-airlines-raise-fares-iran-war-fuels-oil-price-surge?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 09:33:14 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg There are no tributes to the conquering heroes at Bodo airport, no banners proclaiming their success hang in the streets outside. But visitors venturing this far north should not let Scandinavian understatement detract from Bodo Glimt’s achievements and the impact on their hometown. The football team from the Norwegian Arctic fishing port have beaten giants Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid and Manchester City already in the Champions League this season. On Wednesday evening, they will host Sporting... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3346225/uefa-champions-league-little-bodo-glimt-take-next-step-giant-killing-journey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3346225/uefa-champions-league-little-bodo-glimt-take-next-step-giant-killing-journey?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:00:09 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg British Airways and Deutsche Lufthansa are adding flights to Asia amid increased long-haul demand as customers seek alternatives to Middle East carriers hamstrung by airspace closures at home. BA will operate more flights from London to Singapore and Bangkok this week, using aircraft that currently are not needed in the Gulf region. The airline has temporarily cut back its Middle East schedule, cancelling all Abu Dhabi flights until at least October and stopping flights to cities including... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3346202/european-airlines-add-flights-asia-amid-high-demand-cancellations-gulf-carriers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3346202/european-airlines-add-flights-asia-amid-high-demand-cancellations-gulf-carriers?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 07:28:22 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Pakistan will come to the aid of Saudi Arabia whenever needed, according to the spokesman for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as Iran retaliates against US-Israeli strikes by hitting Gulf nations. Saudi Arabia and nuclear-armed Pakistan, which shares a border with Iran, signed a defence pact in September last year, elevating their long-standing security partnership, which is being tested by the Middle East crisis. There was “no question we might, we will” come to Saudi Arabia’s aid “no matter... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3346196/pakistan-says-no-question-it-will-help-saudi-arabia-after-iran-strikes-gulf-nations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3346196/pakistan-says-no-question-it-will-help-saudi-arabia-after-iran-strikes-gulf-nations?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 06:54:20 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg BYD Company is examining options to enter competitive motorsport including Formula 1 and endurance racing, in an effort to boost the Chinese brand’s appeal globally, according to people familiar with the matter. The carmaker is looking at several options following its rapid growth outside its home market and competitive racing’s continuing shift towards hybrid engines, the people said, asking not to be named when discussing private information. These range from the World Endurance Championship,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3346180/chinas-byd-explores-entering-formula-1-companys-first-push-motor-racing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3346180/chinas-byd-explores-entering-formula-1-companys-first-push-motor-racing?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 05:13:58 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Canada will allow TikTok to continue operating in the country, a complete reversal after the government had previously ordered the social media company to close its Canadian division for security reasons. In November 2024, under former prime minister Justin Trudeau, Canada ordered ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese owner, to wind down its Canadian subsidiary. That would not have banned the app’s use but would have forced its offices in Toronto and Vancouver to close. But in January, that order was set... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3346025/tiktok-gets-green-light-stay-canada-reversing-earlier-ban?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3346025/tiktok-gets-green-light-stay-canada-reversing-earlier-ban?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 23:31:28 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation intercepted a ballistic missile fired from Iran towards Turkey on Monday, according to a statement by the Defence Ministry, raising the risk that the military alliance could be drawn more directly into the conflict in the Middle East. It follows a similar interception on March 4, after which Nato said it strengthened its missile-defence posture in the region. Debris from the munition landed in Gaziantep province in southern Turkey, around 150km (93 miles)... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3346012/nato-intercepts-iran-missile-fired-towards-turkey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3346012/nato-intercepts-iran-missile-fired-towards-turkey?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 13:47:50 +0000