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 Indonesia’s richest man has begun selling small stakes in his listed companies as tighter ownership rules push firms to increase shares available to public investors. Billionaire Prajogo Pangestu sold a 0.56 per cent stake in coal and mining holding Petrindo Jaya Kreasi to boost the company’s free float, according to a stock exchange filing late Thursday. Prajogo-affiliated Green Era Energy this week also sold a fraction of its stake in his Barito Renewables Energy. Regulators are fast-tracking... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349623/indonesias-richest-man-loosens-grip-petrindo-barito-amid-tighter-ownership-rules?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349623/indonesias-richest-man-loosens-grip-petrindo-barito-amid-tighter-ownership-rules?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 06:36:48 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The Pentagon and the Vatican denied allegations of a rift following Pope Leo’s criticism of the Trump administration and a news report of a contentious meeting between a papal envoy and a top US defence official. In separate statements, the two sides both professed an eagerness to get along, saying the meeting that occurred in January was frank but polite. The Defence Department issued a statement that said “we have nothing but the highest regard and welcome continued dialogue with the Holy... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3349613/pentagon-plays-down-rift-vatican-despite-pope-leos-criticism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3349613/pentagon-plays-down-rift-vatican-despite-pope-leos-criticism?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 05:15:07 +0000 Bloomberg,Reuters Bloomberg,Reuters Economic growth across Asia is likely to slow even if oil prices stabilise in the coming months, as the impact of war in the Middle East ripples through industries from manufacturing to tourism, according to the Asian Development Bank. The US and Israeli war on Iran is projected to halt developing Asia’s economic upswing, with the region’s gross domestic product expansion seen moderating to 5.1 per cent this year from 5.4 per cent in 2025, the ADB said in its outlook report on... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349591/asian-economies-face-formidable-test-middle-east-conflict-drags-adb?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349591/asian-economies-face-formidable-test-middle-east-conflict-drags-adb?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 02:32:16 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Thai authorities have seized assets worth 8.3 billion baht (US$260 million) belonging to people behind an alleged money-laundering network linked to transnational cyber scam operations in Cambodia. The latest seizure by the Anti-Money Laundering Office included cash, cars, bank deposits and other securities, bringing the total value of assets confiscated in the widening probe to more than 20 billion baht, officials said at a briefing in Bangkok on Thursday. The network of offenders included... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349581/thailand-snatches-us260-million-cross-border-scammers-decisive-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349581/thailand-snatches-us260-million-cross-border-scammers-decisive-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 01:14:54 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg US President Donald Trump said he plans to impose a 20 per cent tariff on all cars imported from the European Union unless the trade bloc “soon” removes import duties and other barriers to US goods, escalating global trade tensions. “Based on the Tariffs and Trade Barriers long placed on the US and it great companies and workers by the European Union, if these Tariffs and Barriers are not soon broken down and removed, we will be placing a 20% Tariff on all of their cars coming into the US. Build... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3349566/trumps-tariff-threat-european-cars-escalates-global-trade-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3349566/trumps-tariff-threat-european-cars-escalates-global-trade-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:44:44 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Russia is seeking to leverage a global natural gas supply crunch to lure energy-starved South Asia into purchasing shipments from its US-sanctioned facilities, according to people familiar with the matter. The shipments were being offered at a 40 per cent discount to spot prices last week via little-known intermediary companies based in China and Russia, said the people, who asked not to be named as they were not authorised to speak to the media. The sellers said that they could provide... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3349479/russia-tempts-energy-starved-south-asia-40-discounts-us-sanctioned-lng?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3349479/russia-tempts-energy-starved-south-asia-40-discounts-us-sanctioned-lng?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 05:37:09 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Across much of the world, young people are turning away from military service. In Thailand, they are queuing up. Voluntary enlistment in the Southeast Asian nation has climbed steadily over the past five years – so much so that in some districts, annual conscription quotas, which happen in April, are being filled from ranks of willing men alone. It is somewhat paradoxical, considering the recent, lethal border clashes with Cambodia have made clear that military service is no longer a distant... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349449/thai-men-sign-military-driven-prospect-steady-pay-amid-sluggish-economy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349449/thai-men-sign-military-driven-prospect-steady-pay-amid-sluggish-economy?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 02:15:22 +0000 CNA,Bloomberg CNA,Bloomberg Government facilities in Singapore will take steps to reduce electricity consumption to boost the nation’s energy resilience as the conflict in the Middle East tightens global energy supplies. Immediate measures include setting the air-conditioner at 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit) or higher, managing operating times for air-conditioning, lighting and lifts and unplugging or turning off non-essential equipment when not in use, the Ministry of Sustainability and Environment (MSE) and... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349443/singapore-raises-air-con-temperatures-public-spaces-save-energy-amid-fuel-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349443/singapore-raises-air-con-temperatures-public-spaces-save-energy-amid-fuel-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 01:12:14 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg North Korea conducted a slew of new weapons tests, the state-run Korean Central News Agency said, including one involving an electromagnetic weapon system and a carbon fibre bomb. The tests, which were conducted over three days from Monday to Wednesday, were overseen by General Kim Jong-sik, the KCNA report said. The weapons tests come at a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty. Pyongyang has moved closer to Moscow in recent years, supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine, and is now... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3349440/tests-electromagnetic-weapon-and-carbon-fibre-bomb-state-media?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3349440/tests-electromagnetic-weapon-and-carbon-fibre-bomb-state-media?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 23:57:27 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The Philippine call centre industry is a juggernaut, employing over a million and generating billions in revenue. Its workers’ voices are a familiar sound for callers from around the world, the nation’s deep pool of English speakers underpinning the country’s rise into a global hub for customer service outsourcing. Artificial intelligence is shaping up to be a huge disruptive force but another, more insidious problem is emerging – an education system that is producing graduates who were never... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349321/could-philippines-declining-literacy-affect-its-status-help-desk-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349321/could-philippines-declining-literacy-affect-its-status-help-desk-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 03:29:06 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Nasa’s four Artemis astronauts swung behind the moon and were headed back to Earth, in a journey that shattered space travel distance records and brought people the closest they have been to the lunar surface in more than 50 years. “All of your flight controllers and your flight director have flipped their Artemis II patches around. We are Earth-bound and ready to bring you home,” Jenni Gibbons, a Canadian space agency astronaut and backup crew member for Artemis II, told the astronauts as they... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3349192/nasa-artemis-ii-astronauts-fly-moons-far-side?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3349192/nasa-artemis-ii-astronauts-fly-moons-far-side?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 14:55:46 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Israel has assessed that Iran still has more than 1,000 missiles capable of reaching it, while Hezbollah’s arsenal in Lebanon includes as many as 10,000 shorter-range rockets, according to military briefings cited by Israeli media on the weekend. In an interview with Channel 12, an Israeli air force officer provided the tally of remaining Iranian ballistic missiles in what appeared to be an official break from earlier refusals to disclose estimates of Tehran’s arsenal. The estimate of 8,000 to... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3349128/israel-estimates-1000-iranian-missiles-threaten-it-war-grinds-second-month?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3349128/israel-estimates-1000-iranian-missiles-threaten-it-war-grinds-second-month?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:43:00 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Australia’s government has received guarantees from major fuel exporting nations in Asia that supplies will proceed as normal despite the disruptions caused by the war in Iran, Assistant Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said. In an interview with Sky News on Sunday, Thistlethwaite said that he had sought and received pledges from Japan, South Korea and Singapore that shipments of fuel to Australia would continue, amid concerns that some countries might curb exports to... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3349087/australia-receives-fuel-export-guarantees-singapore-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3349087/australia-receives-fuel-export-guarantees-singapore-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 10:31:34 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The Iranian military said Iraq is exempt from shipping restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz that have strangled global energy flows for weeks. “Brotherly Iraq is exempt from any restrictions we have imposed on the Strait of Hormuz,” Iran’s military spokesman said in an Arabic-language video statement published by state-run Islamic Republic News Agency. The declaration has the potential to unleash as much as 3 million barrels a day of Iraqi oil cargoes. It also comes just days after a French... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3349069/iran-says-brotherly-iraqs-ships-can-use-strait-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3349069/iran-says-brotherly-iraqs-ships-can-use-strait-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 05:26:43 +0000 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