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Asia Times
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- 1
Europe is preparing for intensified competition with Asia over liquefied natural gas supplies, according to a Financial Times report. As both regions vie for limited cargoes, buyers could be forced to bid up prices, with implications for Europe's energy security and household and industrial costs. The competition centres on securing winter supply and attracting flexible US and Qatari cargoes away from Asian buyers.
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Foreign Affairs argues that Japan is creating an opening for the United States to strengthen its position in Asia. The piece suggests Tokyo's diplomatic and strategic moves are giving Washington a renewed chance to deepen regional partnerships at a time of shifting power dynamics in the region, though the specific policy steps involved are not detailed in the headline.
- 3China to build robot, car and pharmaceutical plants in Kazakhstan▼China to launch robot, car and pharmaceutical plants in Kazakhstan
China plans to open new manufacturing facilities in Kazakhstan, including plants producing robots, cars and pharmaceuticals. The projects deepen economic and industrial cooperation between the two neighbours and fit Kazakhstan's push to attract foreign investment and diversify its economy beyond raw materials. The announcement is drawing attention across regional media as a sign of expanding Chinese industrial presence in Central Asia.
- 4Luckin Coffee hits 100 stores in Singapore●China’s Luckin Coffee marks 100th store, 1.9m app members in Singapore
Chinese coffee chain Luckin Coffee has opened its 100th store in Singapore and reached 1.9 million app members in the city-state, the Straits Times reports. The milestone marks rapid growth for the brand, which has expanded aggressively overseas as it competes with global chains and local players in Southeast Asia's crowded coffee market.
- 5Bangladesh startup funding hits five-year low in first half▼Investor hurdles drag Bangladesh startup funding to 5-year low in Jan-Jun
Startup funding in Bangladesh fell to its lowest level in five years during January-June, according to The Business Standard, which attributes the decline to obstacles facing investors. The report suggests difficulties in raising and deploying capital are squeezing the country's early-stage ecosystem, leaving founders with fewer financing options at a time when startups elsewhere in South Asia are also competing for scarcer venture funding.
- 6Gymnast Carlos Yulo announces engagement ahead of Aichi-Nagoya 2026▼Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026: Two-time gold medallist Carlos Yulo announces engagement
Filipino gymnast Carlos Yulo, a two-time Olympic gold medallist, has announced his engagement. The news comes as the 25-year-old prepares for the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya in 2026, where he is expected to be one of the region's headline athletes. Yulo became a national hero in the Philippines after winning floor and vault gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics, and fans have widely congratulated him on the personal milestone.
- 7Singapore hits joint-highest September temperature of 35.8°C●# Singapore Singapore Records Joint-Highest September Temperature After Woodlands Hits 35.8°C Singapore recorded its joi
Singapore recorded its joint-highest daily maximum temperature for September after the Woodlands Avenue 9 climate station reached 35.8°C at 3.27pm on Saturday, 26 September 2026. The reading ties the national September record and adds to ongoing concerns about rising heat in the city-state, with observers linking the milestone to broader climate change trends in Southeast Asia.