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People walk to their workplace during the morning rush at Kuala Lumpur city centre, Malaysia. Photo: Reuters

Economics

Malaysians urged to tighten their belts as Iran war fallout starts to bite

Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir warns the effects of the crisis can last until next year, with oil prices expected to remain high.

US-Philippines ties enter ‘more mature’ phase with planned fuel depot

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Asia’s energy supply at breaking point as US blockades Hormuz

Economics

UN warns 8 million in Asia-Pacific risk poverty if Iran war drags on

A new UNDP report has forecast job losses, crippling inflation and food insecurity, with the poorest nations brutally exposed to the oil shock.

A farmer sprinkles fertiliser on crops in a field on the outskirts of Amritsar, India, on April 9. Experts have warned that the fertiliser crunch across Asia-Pacific may have lasting effects. Photo: AFP
A farmer sprinkles fertiliser on crops in a field on the outskirts of Amritsar, India, on April 9. Experts have warned that the fertiliser crunch across Asia-Pacific may have lasting effects. Photo: AFP

Economics

Nepal’s trekking trade looks east as Iran war disrupts Western tourist flow

Flight disruptions through Gulf hubs have cut Western arrivals, prompting tourism operators to chase travellers from Asia-Pacific markets.

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Politics

Israel envoy protests Japanese TV pundit’s remarks on Kushner’s Jewish identity

Critics said his comments suggested that Trump’s son-in-law should not be involved in negotiations with Iran because he is Jewish.

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Economics

Power play: Malaysia races to go green as Iran war squeezes oil supply

To avoid future supply shocks, the government aims to raise renewable generation to 70 per cent of the energy mix by 2050.

A solar farm in Malaysia is seen in this still from a social media video shared by Solarvest Group. Photo: Instagram/solarvestgroup
A solar farm in Malaysia is seen in this still from a social media video shared by Solarvest Group. Photo: Instagram/solarvestgroup

Politics

Why Indonesia’s Prabowo is in Russia – and what he needs from Putin

The visit aims to secure discounted crude as global prices soar, even as Jakarta holds high-level defence talks with Washington.

Politics

What is really behind South Korea’s diplomatic row with Israel?

Lee Jae Myung’s clash was about more than human rights, analysts say – it was about energy security and sending a message to Donald Trump.

Economics

Malaysian bust spotlights shadow fleet oil trade in Southeast Asia

Two tankers were intercepted in waters off Penang on Saturday during an alleged illegal transfer of more than 700,000 litres of diesel.

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The Penang Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency intercepted an alleged illegal transfer of more than 700,000 litres of diesel in waters off Bagan Ajam on Saturday. Photo: Facebook / Agensi Penguatkuasaan Maritim Malaysia

Health & Environment

Japan’s Trump tariff deal faces climate backlash over projects’ 20% carbon surge

Campaigners said the three US projects could generate greenhouse gas emissions equal to about 20 per cent of Japan’s annual total.

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US President Donald Trump met Japan’s economic revitalisation minister Ryosei Akazawa and his delegation in Washington on April 16, 2025. The meeting came as Tokyo sought relief from US tariff pressure. Photo: Reuters
US President Donald Trump met Japan’s economic revitalisation minister Ryosei Akazawa and his delegation in Washington on April 16, 2025. The meeting came as Tokyo sought relief from US tariff pressure. Photo: Reuters

Politics

What Pakistani jets in Saudi Arabia mean for Gulf security in Iran war

Analysts say the Pakistani air force’s presence ‘will complicate Iran’s targeting calculus’ and force it to reconsider its attack strategy.

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People

In Malaysia, some laud car driver’s arrest over ‘world’s most expensive petrol’

The driver of a Singapore-registered vehicle faces a US$252,600 fine, jail or both if he is found guilty of pumping subsidised RON95 petrol.

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Economics

Malaysia faces energy emergency amid Trump’s Hormuz blockade

With six tankers carrying up to 6 million barrels of oil potentially stranded, analysts say Malaysia is on a collision course with crisis.

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The skyline of Kuala Lumpur seen on Friday. Malaysia has leaned heavily on domestic natural gas production and costly subsidies to mitigate the fallout from the Iran war. Photo: EPA

Lifestyle & Culture

Japan’s rural rail crisis hits new low as JR East cuts toilet paper service

JR East’s decision to remove toilet paper at some unmanned stations underscores the financial pressures on rural rail services.

Oshikiri station in Japan’s Niigata prefecture no longer has toilet paper service. Photo: Handout
Oshikiri station in Japan’s Niigata prefecture no longer has toilet paper service. Photo: Handout

Lifestyle & Culture

Songkran is here. So is Thailand’s worst energy crisis in years

Soaring costs for fuel and ice fail to dampen the mood as a wave of ‘revenge travel’ provides a much-needed economic boost.

Lifestyle & Culture

Solo in Seoul? South Korean capital offers helpers for US$4 an hour

The city’s ‘companion service’ aims to help single-person households move house or visit hospital.

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Politics

Japan’s Middle East oil habit gets an Iran war reality check

Almost all of Japan’s oil comes from the Middle East. A closed strait turned that dependence into a trap.

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Storage tanks are seen at an oil refinery in Yokohama, Japan’s Kanagawa prefecture, as Mount Fuji looms in the background. Photo: AFP
Storage tanks are seen at an oil refinery in Yokohama, Japan’s Kanagawa prefecture, as Mount Fuji looms in the background. Photo: AFP

Lifestyle & Culture

Cultural capitals: Southeast Asia seeks soft power to outlast the buzz

The region’s creators are going global, but the structures to sustain them are still catching up.

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Health & Environment

Burning daylight: Asean’s power grid plans get an Iran war jolt

Oil is up, coal is back and so are fuel queues. As the Middle East burns, Southeast Asia dusts off an old plan to rewire its future.

Health & Environment

Mortal combat: Southeast Asia fights fears of death to plan for the end

Birth rates are falling. Populations are ageing. In Southeast Asia, the business of dying has never been bigger.

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Illustration: Huy Truong
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LATEST Asia NEWS

Economics

Malaysians urged to tighten their belts as Iran war fallout starts to bite

People walk to their workplace during the morning rush at Kuala Lumpur city centre, Malaysia. Photo: Reuters

Politics

US-Philippines ties enter ‘more mature’ phase with planned fuel depot

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Soldiers fire a howitzer during the annual joint “Balikatan” military exercises between the US and Philippine troops in Aparri, Cagayan province, in May 2025. Photo: Reuters

East Asia

Japan jails ex-teacher for sharing voyeuristic student images

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Between July and December 2024, Ishikawa secretly took photos and videos of three female students at a junior school in Kanagawa, where he was working at the time, capturing images on his smartphone that included their underwear, and shared them via a social media group chat. Photo: Shutterstock

Economics

Asia’s energy supply at breaking point as US blockades Hormuz

A liquefied natural gas tanker is seen at a port in Yokohama, Japan’s Kanagawa prefecture, on April 8. Photo: AFP

Politics

Israel envoy protests Japanese TV pundit’s remarks on Kushner’s Jewish identity

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US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner (L) and US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff (R) look on as Vice President JD Vance speaks at a news conference after meeting with representatives from Pakistan and Iran in Islamabad on Sunday. Photo: AFP
MORE Asia NEWS
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OPINION
Nguyen Khac Giang

Asian Angle | Who is Vietnam’s new Prime Minister Le Minh Hung?

Nguyen Khac Giang
Joseph Sipalan

Singapore’s refusal to negotiate over Hormuz creates waves in Malaysia

Joseph Sipalan
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Joanne Lin

Asian Angle | Doubts about Trump strain Southeast Asia’s US-China balancing act

Joanne Lin
Flavio Romero Macau

Opinion | Why the ‘Gate of Tears’ may yet make the whole world weep

Dicky Yordan

Asian Angle | Hormuz is sending Southeast Asia a warning – and we can no longer ignore it

Dicky Yordan
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MULTIMEDIA
Video

Filipino fishermen worry about Chinese nature reserve in disputed waters

Filipino fishermen worry about Chinese nature reserve in disputed waters
03:09
Video

Centenarian becomes oldest person to climb Mount Fuji

Centenarian becomes oldest person to climb Mount Fuji
02:34
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Cambodia unveils new Chinese-built airport

Cambodia unveils new Chinese-built airport
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Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra to serve 1 year in jail

Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra to serve 1 year in jail
04:27
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