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This Week in Asia /
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US, Israel war on Iran
‘Getting worse each day’: why Southeast Asia is vulnerable to the fuel crisis
From Laos to Thailand, long queues are forming at petrol stations while residents are reeling from surging fuel prices.
23 Mar 2026 - 9:02PM
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Malaysia
Malaysia wanted 43 million tourists this year. Then the Iran war happened
22 Mar 2026 - 8:00AM
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The Philippines
‘It’s really bad’: record fuel prices drive Filipinos off the road
21 Mar 2026 - 1:30PM
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India
India steps up regional energy diplomacy, supplies Bangladesh with diesel
Being a ‘first responder’ in the current energy crisis is in line with India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.
20 Mar 2026 - 8:52PM
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Fuel nozzles at a Bharat Petroleum gas station in New Delhi. Photo: AFP
The Philippines
Why Philippines struggles to tap its US$1 trillion mineral wealth
Without a proper road map to grow its mining sector, the country remains a ‘second-tier mineral economy’.
20 Mar 2026 - 8:30PM
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South Korea
South Korea risks US rift over Iran’s Hormuz Strait squeeze
Any deal with Iran could undermine South Korea’s alliance with the US and their US$350 billion trade deal.
20 Mar 2026 - 8:10AM
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Asean
New US trade offensive threatens to test Asean ties
The trade probes may compel Southeast Asia to continue diversifying away from the US, with analysts predicting recent deals could unravel.
18 Mar 2026 - 6:28PM
Southeast Asia’s trade chiefs pose for a group photo during the Asean Economic Ministers’ Retreat in Manila, the Philippines, last week. Photo: EPA
Artificial intelligence
Too hot to handle? Southeast Asia’s AI data centre gold rush strains power grids
Data centres crave cold. Southeast Asia is anything but. Now, the AI boom is pushing tropical engineering to the limit.
18 Mar 2026 - 6:06PM
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Indonesia
Half of Indonesia is travelling for Eid as US$100 oil threatens state finances
A US$100 oil shock is ballooning fuel subsidies towards a deficit cap breach.
17 Mar 2026 - 6:30PM
Malaysia
Fate of US-Malaysia trade pact rests on Washington’s next move
The US$240 billion deal isn’t ‘null and void’ yet, says the trade minister, as Malaysia waits for Washington to submit updated terms.
17 Mar 2026 - 12:40PM
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Japan
‘Poor’ foreigners not welcome? Japan bets on AI while upping visa fee
Critics say the fee rise is designed to keep ‘poor’ foreigners out, as Japan bets on AI and robots to plug its growing staffing shortfall.
17 Mar 2026 - 12:58PM
People gather at a port in Shizuoka prefecture, Japan, with Mount Fuji in the background. Photo: AFP
Malaysia
Deal or no deal? Malaysia-US trade pact in turmoil after minister ‘misspeaks’
First, a minister called the deal dead. Then his ministry backtracked. Now the opposition is demanding answers.
16 Mar 2026 - 9:53PM
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Asean
Can Asean break free from US-China supply chain grip?
The bloc will look for new markets and deepen regional cooperation to reduce trade uncertainty, economic ministers say.
16 Mar 2026 - 4:17PM
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Iran
Why the Iran war marks a turning point for Gulf-Asia trade
The closure of the Middle East’s important straits – Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb – is forcing Gulf and Asian nations to explore other options.
15 Mar 2026 - 2:00PM
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Thailand
Inside the coconut cartel: how Chinese money squeezes Thai farmers
With Chinese investors seizing the supply chain, Thai coconuts now fetch less than a piece of chewing gum, wiping out profits for growers.
15 Mar 2026 - 10:30AM
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Thai coconut farmer Lamduan Haochareon. Photo: Aidan Jones
Singapore
Malaysian scammers in Singapore pivot to cash handover as online curbs tighten
The warning by Singapore police comes as government official impersonation scams continue to surge in the city state.
14 Mar 2026 - 3:17PM
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Diplomacy
Beyond Pax Silica: Japan, France and Canada seek rare earth autonomy
Wary of both Beijing’s grip and Washington’s whims, three G7 allies are charting their own independent critical mineral course.
14 Mar 2026 - 8:01AM
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Malaysia
Malaysia’s fuel subsidy bill to rise more than fourfold as Iran war drags on
The government will spend about US$812.8 million a month to maintain the price of subsidised petrol and diesel in the short term.
13 Mar 2026 - 6:30PM
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A man fills his vehicle with diesel at a petrol station in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo: EPA-EFE
Malaysia
Cable thefts at key Malaysian train lines soar amid copper’s red-hot demand
Such cases have disrupted services between Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, with offenders thinking of more creative ways to cut cables.
13 Mar 2026 - 8:39PM
Iran
Southeast Asia faces spillover cyber risk from Iran war as ‘blast radius’ widens
Many Asean firms are tied into the global network in the Gulf, Europe and the US, facing the risk of cyberattacks linked to the war.
12 Mar 2026 - 6:06PM
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Singapore
As Iran war fuels oil crisis, Southeast Asia’s small firms could be hit hardest
Observers say SMEs are typically more vulnerable as they have less capital to absorb sudden increases in operating costs.
12 Mar 2026 - 5:51PM
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Energy
Iran war threatens prolonged energy shock, slower growth for Asia
Observers say an extended disruption of energy flows could mean persistently higher fuel costs and widening trade deficits for Asian importers.
11 Mar 2026 - 9:45PM
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A man carries a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder in Mumbai on Wednesday. India has implemented several measures to secure energy supplies and manage demand. Photo: EPA
Malaysia
Malaysia tightens borders to fight fuel smuggling amid global energy crisis
The move comes amid concern that rising fuel prices abroad could make it more profitable to smuggle subsidised fuel out of Malaysia.
11 Mar 2026 - 8:07PM
Thailand
Thailand smashes coconut-profiteering web led by Chinese firms
These firms used Thai nominees to control the coconut sector and resell the fruit by as much as 25 times the price paid to farmers.
11 Mar 2026 - 2:24PM
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The Philippines
Philippines’ fuel shock exposes limits of deregulated oil market
Consumer groups say households are left to absorb rising costs as the government rolls out conservation measures and considers fuel tax relief.
10 Mar 2026 - 8:36PM
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