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Japan has unveiled a bold $10 billion plan to support Southeast Asian nations facing rising oil prices. The move comes as global energy markets feel pressure from war in the Middle East. Leaders across Asia are working together to secure stable fuel supplies and protect key industries.   Japan Steps in With Major Energy Funding Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed the funding after a high-level virtual meeting with region...

Central Asia is seeing a rapid rise in cryptocurrency use, and countries like Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan are emerging as key players. What looks like a tech trend is actually a deeper economic shift.   Crypto is becoming a workaround for slow banking systems, sanctions pressure, and cross-border trade limits. In a region where moving money has long been difficult, digital currencies are now filling critical gaps.   Kyr...

Fisheries across Southeast Asia are under growing pressure as millions of kilos of fish disappear each year. In the Philippines, annual fish losses have reached around 45 million kilos. Experts warn this is not just an environmental issue, but a serious threat to food security and livelihoods.   A study by Oceana shows that Philippine fisheries are in “freefall.” National fish production dropped from 2.6 million metric tons in ...

When the Strait of Hormuz shut in February, the Philippines felt the shock almost immediately. Speaking by teleconference at the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Plus Online Summit hosted by Japan, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the disruption had laid bare how vulnerable the country remains as an archipelagic economy heavily dependent on imported petroleum.   Diesel and liquefied petroleum gas prices have skyrocketed...

India has officially launched its ambitious 2026 census, marking the first time since independence in 1947 that caste data will be formally collected. This two-phase exercise will be the world’s largest population count, offering critical insights into a country of over 1.4 billion people.   Caste refers to India's long-standing social classification system that continues to influence access to jobs, education, and political represen...