Tue, 21-Oct-2025

Indonesia bans coal exports in January over domestic supply worries

Indonesia

JAKARTA: Indonesia, the world’s biggest exporter of coal used in electricity generation, on Saturday said it has banned January exports of the fuel in a move aimed at safeguarding its domestic power supply. Rising demand for electricity in the country risks widespread blackouts unless more supplies are diverted to power stations, the Ministry of Energy … Read more

Japan unveils record annual budget, defence spending

Japan

TOKYO: Japan’s government on Friday unveiled its biggest ever full-year budget, including record defence spending to counter intensifying regional security threats. Cabinet ministers approved a draft national budget of a whopping 107.6 trillion yen ($940 billion) for the 2022/23 fiscal year, including 5.4 trillion yen for defence. Both figures have been increasing steadily for a decade … Read more