Southeast Asia

The regional economy is under severe pressure from a jet fuel shortage, disrupting aviation and prompting corporate consolidation. Airlines are cutting flights to Singapore, while President Marcos warns of possible plane groundings. In response, Thailand secured a deal with Iran for safe oil tanker passage, and Platts included a Malaysian terminal in its Singapore fuel pricing mechanism.

• 6Thailand's Banpu Power plans $90m energy storage project in US
• 4Marcos: Plane groundings ‘distinct possibility’ due to jet fuel shortage
• 4Platts includes Pengerang Terminals 2 Sdn Bhd in Singapore gasoline, gasoil and jet fuel/kerosene MOC from March 20
• 4Malaysian billionaire Jeffrey Cheah's Sunway Healthcare surges 37% on market debut
• 4Etihad Airways, Emirates set to resume limited flights from UAE to Singapore amid Middle East conflict

Thailand completed a major political transition with Anutin Charnvirakul elected as prime minister and his new cabinet receiving royal endorsement. In the Philippines, the impeachment process against Vice President Sara Duterte advanced, with a House panel declaring the complaint sufficient and subpoenaing records, while Duterte skipped the first hearing.

• 3INQToday: Duterte impeachment: House panel subpoenas threat probe record, SALNs
• 3Prabowo says Indonesia never pledged US$1 billion to Board of Peace, reaffirms peacekeeper role
• 2VP Sara Duterte skipping first impeachment hearing
• 2Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh leaves for official visit to Russia
• 2Ex-Gov. Singson set to testify in Senate flood control probe - newsinfo.inquirer.net

Security is dominated by maritime threats in the Strait of Hormuz and a visible US military presence. A Thai cargo ship was attacked in the strait, while a US warship carrying Marine troops was tracked off Singapore. Domestically, a brutal kidnapping and murder occurred in Bali, and Thai officials seized a diesel truck in a cross-border smuggling case.

• 3Thai worker Chaiwat Vallnil killed in overnight Iranian strike in central Israel
• 3Snatched in Bali, this Ukrainian pleaded for his ransom. Then police found his head
• 1US airport wait times worst in history after 480 officers leave
• 1Police looking into TOC article on parliamentary replies about Singaporeans allegedly serving in IDF
• 1Bali police arrest Swiss citizen over Nyepi insult post

Public anger over rising fuel costs is the dominant societal tension, manifesting in political criticism and government-imposed austerity. Politicians Natthaphong and Rangsiman lashed the government over fuel hikes, while the Department of Education ordered simple graduation rites nationwide. This frustration is compounded by environmental stressors, including earthquakes in Indonesia and severe haze in Thailand.

• 2Amid rising fuel costs, DepEd orders simple graduation rites nationwide
• 1Heatwave: KL placed under 'warning' level by MetMalaysia
• 1Cagayan de Oro transpo group sets strike on Monday as fuel prices soar
• 1Prabowo Marks Eid in Aceh with Visit to Flood Survivors’ Housing
• 1Is Netanyahu dead? Figuring out misinformation and how to counter the damage