A region spanning East, South and Southeast Asia and Oceania
A mounting body of studies shows climate hazards are increasingly disrupting data centers worldwide, raising costs and threatening reliability. Insurers warn of higher premiums; operators push for water-efficient cooling and location strategies. With heat waves intensifying, a systemic rethink of cooling, water use, and siting is underway.
UBS reports 2025 global wealth rose 10.8%, fueled by stock markets and tech gains. The number of millionaires surged worldwide, led by the United States; median wealth fell in many markets, widening the rich-poor gap. Australia saw a rise in millionaires, though median wealth declined. The report highlights how assets and housing influence millionaire status and global inequality.
Ocado has sealed a deal to build a large customer fulfilment centre for a fast-growing European national retailer. The automated site, due to go live in 2028, features Ocado’s robotics and new technology. The agreement follows a recent downturn in Ocado’s stock amid broader market weakness and signals rising demand for its automation solutions.
A UNODC report shows Asia-Pacific losses from scams reaching up to $114 billion in 2025. Authorities have raided scam centers in Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia, while criminals shift operations to new hubs or shrink scale. The U.S. and partners are coordinating to hold operators and complicit officials accountable, with Cambodia planning an international conference on cyber scams in September.
The International Organization for Migration says scam centres employing up to 300,000 workers across Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos lure victims through fake job ads, seize documents, and force participation in online scams. Victims come from over 80 countries and include graduates with strong English. IOM has assisted thousands and is calling for cross‑border action and awareness.
A wave of Chinese automakers is expanding into Europe and the UK, challenging traditional premium brands. Zeekr, BYD and others are pursuing UK launches while major players like Geely, Volvo and Lucid push into premium segments. European and US automakers are restructuring to cope with China’s rising export power and shifting supply chains.
BP has announced it is marketing its North Sea business for sale as part of a portfolio simplification. The unit comprises five hubs and about 1,100 staff. The move follows political and policy debates on North Sea drilling and energy funding, with potential proceeds around £2 billion. BP is seeking an owner to back the next chapter of a Slimmed-down BP while focusing on higher-value opportunities.
North Korea has criticised Japan's military modernization, accusing Tokyo of moving toward preemptive capabilities with U.S. backing. The NK rhetoric follows Tokyo's deployment of long-range missiles and a White Paper warning of regional risks, while allied talks and drills intensify in the Indo-Pacific.
Tui has seen a sharp drop in pre-tax profits in its third quarter as fuel costs rise amid the Middle East conflict. The group reports weaker bookings and higher costs, but notes some signs of recovery in demand and continued price pressure.
Typhoon Dolphin has tracked west from the Pacific toward Okinawa and Kyushu with sustained winds near 144–162 km/h, forcing Naha Airport to close and cancelling flights. Evacuation centres are hosting hundreds; authorities are warning of heavy rain, storm surge and gusts that will threaten damaged homes and infrastructure as the storm heads toward China’s eastern coast.
AI-enabled cyberattacks are accelerating as frontier models push attackers toward autonomous capabilities. OpenAI, Anthropic and Meta have disclosed incidents where their models hacked or tested breaches in third-party systems. Security vendors warn the threat will rise, prompting a broader cybersecurity investments and the rollout of defensive AI tools. Experts say organizations must strengthen threat detection, incident response and governance now.
Mark Zuckerberg has published a manifesto arguing AI should be widely accessible and accompanied by personal AI agents. Meta launches Muse Glimmer, a downloadable AI model, and outlines safeguards and privacy protections while signaling a shift toward distributed power and entrepreneurial opportunity. The piece synthesizes perspectives from other tech leaders and frames the debate around control, jobs, and governance.
Nvidia has enlisted six Wall Street firms to finance a $500 billion buildout of AI infrastructure, treating compute as a new asset class. The plan centers on financing data centers and GPU clusters for customers unable to pay upfront, with OpenAI-related projects and neoclouds in focus. Executives cite long-term value and revenue generation, while cautions focus on depreciation risk and China’s potential price competition.
IHG reports half-year results showing a 10% rise in operating profits to $665 million and a global RevPAR growth of 4.1%, driven by the Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe. The Middle East conflict weighs on performance, with RevPAR in the region falling about 19% in Q2, while UK and other markets show resilience.
European nations and the UK are intensifying efforts to disrupt Russia’s shadow fleet, with new EU sanctions allowing the sale of seized Russian oil cargoes. Putin warns that seizures amount to piracy and promises a response, while Western and Russian officials describe a growing maritime confrontation surrounding sanctioned oil shipments.
The USS Abraham Lincoln has made a brief port call at Laem Chabang, Thailand, allowing about 5,000 sailors and Marines to rest after a record, months-long deployment supporting US operations against Iran. Thai authorities are managing transport, security and restrictions in Pattaya while US officials deny widespread failures in shipboard conditions.
Lego has reported a 21% rise in revenue for the first half of 2026, reaching 41.9 billion Danish kroner, with profits up and a broad product line expanding among adults and kids. The company is investing in sustainability, renewable energy, and packaging changes while expanding in the U.S. with new facilities.
Gap has named Michael Francis as the new chief executive of Old Navy, with Haio Barbeito moving to an advisory role. The shift comes as Old Navy’s quarterly sales lag and the company pursues a path to restore momentum while maintaining its broader strategy.
Indonesian fires on Borneo and Sumatra have blanketed parts of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore in toxic haze. Authorities say thousands of personnel and aircraft have been deployed to fight the blazes, which are linked to El Niño, climate change, and peatland degradation. Schools have closed and air quality is worsening as smoke drifts across borders.
Oil prices have risen above $100 a barrel, with Brent trading around the $105 level and WTI around $103-$107 after Middle East tensions and supply disruptions in Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb. Analysts warn supply concerns could keep pressure on energy costs; diesel and gas prices are climbing, and bond yields are rising on inflation worries.