Latest news with #Asia-based
The Star
15 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Cautious outlook for retail sector in 2H25
PETALING JAYA: Industry experts remain cautious about the outlook for Malaysia's retail industry in the second half of 2025 (2H25), amid ongoing global and domestic pressures. Malaysia Shopping Malls Association president Phang Sau Lian noted that geopolitical tensions and tariff wars have redirected more foreign businesses and goods to Malaysia. 'While this presents opportunities, it also intensifies competition. Local retailers and mall operators must improve competitiveness and productivity to stay resilient,' she told StarBiz. Domestically, Phang said the rising cost of doing business continues to weigh heavily on the sector. 'The upcoming expansion of the sales and service tax (SST) next month to cover rental and leasing of commercial spaces, construction services, beauty services and selected food items is particularly concerning. 'These areas are core to mall operations and tenant services. The added tax burden could lead to margin erosion, delayed tenancy, higher consumer prices and, ultimately, inflationary pressure across the retail sector.' Malaysia Shopping Malls Association (PPKM) president Phang Sau Lian hopes to bring more new players and brands into local retail market Phang said additional cost pressures from electricity tariff hikes, higher minimum wages and subsidy removals are forcing many retailers and mall operators to cut back on marketing and expansion plans, which will impact overall mall vibrancy. 'At the same time, concerns are rising over the labour market, especially with recent announcements of staff layoffs by key companies like Petroliam Nasional Bhd, which could reduce consumer confidence and spending,' Phang said. Sunway Malls chief executive officer HC Chan concurred that businesses will adopt a cautious stand, given that cost pressures remain elevated, in particular due to the expanded SST and a host ofupcoming national rationalisation measures. 'Certainly, consumer sentiment is foreseen to be continuously muted and subdued, given the heavy presence of uncertainty. It is certainly a very challenging time for all. 'However, there are bright spots in the retail sub-sectors, as some Asia-based intellectual property-related toys and homegrown food and beverage (F&B) brands have shown resilience and bucked the trend. 'They have fared tremendously well and registered high growth. These categories are expected to continue to drive retail sales performance.' On the sector's performance so far, Phang said the retail industry began 2025 on a cautious footing. 'Chinese New Year sales were softer due to the short festive gap following Christmas and year-end promotions, limiting consumer spending recovery. 'Hari Raya sales also fell below expectations, as many households prioritised back-to-school expenses that coincided with the festive season, tightening overall disposable income.' Chan concurred that businesses will remain cautious, especially with cost pressures staying elevated – notably due to the expanded SST and a host of upcoming national rationalisation measures. Phang said a major challenge has been the continued rise of unregulated online platforms offering ultra-low prices without the same tax or compliance obligations, putting physical retailers at a disadvantage. 'At the same time, the rising cost of doing business – driven by electricity tariff hikes, subsidy rationalisation and higher wage commitments – has placed significant pressure on profit margins, particularly for small and mid-sized retailers.' She added that global uncertainties such as tariff hikes and supply chain disruptions have further impacted business strategies, prompting a shift toward market diversification and operational efficiency. 'Despite these challenges, retail segments such as F&B, entertainment and lifestyle experiences have remained resilient, particularly in malls that have invested in asset enhancement, refreshed tenant mix, targeted consumer engagement activities and continuous effective marketing programmes.' On the performance of the retail industry in 1H25, Chan said the sector faced strong headwinds from two fronts, namely rising business costs and lacklustre consumer spending, both of which had dampened retail performance. 'With Chinese New Year falling earlier in January, the shortened sales period and the lower-than-expected Hari Raya sales performance had left the retail sector without much buffer or room to manoeuvre. 'As the second quarter saw the escalation of the tariff wars, the volatility and uncertainty sent shockwaves across the globe, fuelling further cutbacks on discretionary spending by corporations and consumers,' he said. Nevertheless, Chan said Malaysia's tourism sector has been a bright spot for the country and a boon for the retail industry. 'There has been a 21% year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in visitor arrivals for the first four months of this year. This has been a major catalyst. 'Sunway Malls is seeing some benefits of these arrivals, depending on the mall's locality, with Sunway Velocity Mall seeing a large influx of Chinese travellers.' For Sunway Putra Mall, Chan said the group is seeing a significant increase in Indian travellers, as well as other nationalities at its Sunway Pyramid mall. 'However, the retail industry is predominantly driven by domestic consumption. Tourism (impact) is still very location-specific,' he says. Phang also acknowledged that Malaysia recorded a strong increase in tourist arrivals in early 2025, with 6.7 million international visitors in the first two months alone - a 31.3% y-o-y increase. 'This growth has been supported by visa-free access for Chinese nationals and continued visa exemptions for Asean and selected Western countries. 'While the increase in arrivals is encouraging, the boost to retail spending has been moderate and selective.' Phang noted that malls located in prime tourism zones – such as city centres, hotel districts and border-entry areas – have seen some uplift, particularly in categories like wellness, souvenirs and F&B. 'However, the overall impact on nationwide retail has been limited. There are two main reasons: first, a substantial number of Malaysians are travelling overseas and they tend to spend more while abroad, diverting domestic consumption. 'Second, not all tourist arrivals translate into meaningful spending. Many are short-stay visitors or budget-conscious travellers. 'In short, while tourist arrivals have improved, the retail sector has seen only modest gains, concentrated mainly in key tourist areas. 'Broader retail growth is still driven by domestic demand,' she concluded.
Japan Today
a day ago
- Health
- Japan Today
E.coli can turn plastic into painkillers, chemists discover
Paracetamol can be made by combining the bacteria and plastic waste, scientists have discovered Scientists have found a way to use the bacteria to convert plastic waste into a popular painkiller, a study said, though outside experts doubted the technique would make a dent in the fight against plastic pollution. Paracetamol, which is one of the most commonly used drugs worldwide, is made from the derivatives of fossil fuels, often by Asia-based subcontractors using cheap, polluting methods that contribute to climate change. The world is also facing an escalating crisis of plastic pollution, with countries set for another bruising round of negotiations in August in the hope of sealing an international treaty to reduce plastic waste. The British team of researchers behind the new study sought to find a solution to the two problems by roping in a third -- which is normally known for making people sick when they eat contaminated food. First the chemists used a molecule derived from PET plastic, which is used in bottles and many other plastic products the world over, to spark a chemical reaction in a strain of This created a molecule they called PABA, according to the Nature Chemistry study, which was partly funded by drug firm AstraZeneca. By genetically modifying the bacteria, the chemists were able to transform their molecule into acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol. "This work demonstrates that PET plastic isn't just waste or a material destined to become more plastic -- it can be transformed by microorganisms into valuable new products, including those with potential for treating disease," lead study Stephen Wallace said in a statement. Singaporean researchers not involved in the study praised how it combined synthetic and biological chemistry. But "several practical considerations remain" to take this idea beyond the proof-of-concept stage, they wrote in a linked commentary in the journal Nature Chemistry. The chemical reaction produces only a limited amount of PABA molecules, which "may be insufficient for industrial applications", they wrote. Melissa Valliant, communications director of the Beyond Plastics project of Bennington College in the United States, expressed skepticism. "A new 'plastic-eating bacteria' pops up in the news every few months and has been doing so for years," she told AFP. "These discoveries never scale up to anything significant enough to tackle the massive plastic pollution problem." This "crisis needs to be stopped at the source," she added, which means "companies and policymakers must reduce the amount of plastic being produced and used in the first place". © 2025 AFP
AsiaOne
3 days ago
- AsiaOne
Chaos for thousands of passengers stranded at Doha airport, long queues in Dubai, World News
DUBAI/DOHA — Operations at two of the world's busiest airports in Doha and Dubai slowed to a crawl on Tuesday (June 24) as thousands of travellers queued for hours, facing long delays and flight cancellations after the temporary closure of airspace a day earlier. Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait shut their airspace late on Monday after Iran's strike on a US military base in Qatar's capital Doha, forcing airlines to cancel or reroute hundreds of flights and creating a backlog of stranded passengers. Airports across Dubai in the United Arab Emirates briefly halted operations. US President Donald Trump said a ceasefire between Israel and Iran was in place and asked both sides not to violate it, raising hopes of an end to the 12-day war, but hostilities continued, with deadly attacks reported in both countries. "I haven't slept for 19 hours. And I've been in this line over nine hours," said Lily Rogers, 21, who was in an around 200 metres queue in Doha's Hamad International airport. The psychology student, en route to an holiday in Southeast Asia, said those in line were only given water during the wait. Virgin Australia estimated that over 25,000 passengers were stranded at Doha airport. Lines were so long that arguments broke out as some passengers jumped queues, according to a Reuters witness. Around 250 flights were cancelled at Hamad airport, while another 238 were delayed, according to flight tracking website FlightRadar24. Long queues formed also at Dubai International, the busiest airport in the world, where about 145 flights were cancelled and over 450 delayed, FlightRadar24 data showed. Qatar Airways said it was "making progress in restoring its schedule" with possible disruptions until June 26. Dubai Airports and the Dubai government media office were not immediately available for comment. Busy hub Airports in the Middle East are some of the busiest in the world, covering an area stretching from Iran and Iraq to the Mediterranean and serving as a connecting hub for flights between Europe and Asia. The region has also taken on a more important role since the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine, which has forced airlines to avoid airspace over both countries. Dubai transported 92.3 million passengers last year, with a daily average of over 250,000. Israel's strikes against Iran on June 13 already prompted airlines from British Airways to Lufthansa to halt flights to some Middle East destinations due to air space closures and safety concerns. Following the US attacks on Iran on Sunday, many have also cut flights to typically resilient hubs such as Dubai. The restrictions and closures have created ripple effects beyond the region, as most passenger traffic transits through Hamad airport to other destinations, said Asia-based independent aviation analyst Brendan Sobie. Only 22 per cent of passengers travelling through the airport had Qatar as their final destination in 2024, airport data shows. On Monday, Air India suspended flights to and from the US East Coast, Canada and Europe, which involve a tight corridor between those destinations and the Indian subcontinent. That poses a challenge for Indian carriers because they do not have access to Pakistani airspace, analysts say. The two neighbours blocked access to each other's airspace in April after a brief military conflict. Air India said on Tuesday it would resume those flights as soon as airspaces reopen, while other carriers such as flydubai warned that delays would persist due to airspace congestion. "It's very frustrating," said Julien Moutte, a Paris-bound passenger who had been stuck at Doha's airport for around 15 hours. [[nid:719458]]
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Chaos for thousands of passengers stranded at Doha airport, long queues in Dubai
By Luke Tyson, Amr Alfiky and Mark Bendeich DUBAI/DOHA (Reuters) -Operations at two of the world's busiest airports in Doha and Dubai slowed to a crawl on Tuesday as thousands of travellers queued for hours, facing long delays and flight cancellations after the temporary closure of airspace a day earlier. Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait shut their airspace late on Monday after Iran's strike on a U.S. military base in Qatar's capital Doha, forcing airlines to cancel or reroute hundreds of flights and creating a backlog of stranded passengers. Airports across Dubai in the United Arab Emirates briefly halted operations. U.S. President Donald Trump said a ceasefire between Israel and Iran was in place and asked both sides not to violate it, raising hopes of an end to the 12-day war, but hostilities continued, with deadly attacks reported in both countries. "I haven't slept for 19 hours. And I've been in this line over nine hours," said Lily Rogers, 21, who was in an around 200 metres (656 feet) queue in Doha's Hamad International airport. The psychology student, en route to an holiday in Southeast Asia, said those in line were only given water during the wait. Virgin Australia estimated that over 25,000 passengers were stranded at Doha airport. Lines were so long that arguments broke out as some passengers jumped queues, according to a Reuters witness. Around 250 flights were cancelled at Hamad airport, while another 238 were delayed, according to flight tracking website FlightRadar24. Long queues formed also at Dubai International, the busiest airport in the world, where about 145 flights were cancelled and over 450 delayed, FlightRadar24 data showed. Qatar Airways said it was "making progress in restoring its schedule" with possible disruptions until June 26. Dubai Airports and the Dubai government media office were not immediately available for comment. BUSY HUB Airports in the Middle East are some of the busiest in the world, covering an area stretching from Iran and Iraq to the Mediterranean and serving as a connecting hub for flights between Europe and Asia. The region has also taken on a more important role since the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine, which has forced airlines to avoid airspace over both countries. Dubai transported 92.3 million passengers last year, with a daily average of over 250,000. Israel's strikes against Iran on June 13 already prompted airlines from British Airways to Lufthansa to halt flights to some Middle East destinations due to air space closures and safety concerns. Following the U.S. attacks on Iran on Sunday, many have also cut flights to typically resilient hubs such as Dubai. The restrictions and closures have created ripple effects beyond the region, as most passenger traffic transits through Hamad airport to other destinations, said Asia-based independent aviation analyst Brendan Sobie. Only 22% of passengers travelling through the airport had Qatar as their final destination in 2024, airport data shows. On Monday, Air India suspended flights to and from the U.S. East Coast, Canada and Europe, which involve a tight corridor between those destinations and the Indian subcontinent. That poses a challenge for Indian carriers because they do not have access to Pakistani airspace, analysts say. The two neighbours blocked access to each other's airspace in April after a brief military conflict. Air India said on Tuesday it would resume those flights as soon as airspaces reopen, while other carriers such as flydubai warned that delays would persist due to airspace congestion. "It's very frustrating," said Julien Moutte, a Paris-bound passenger who had been stuck at Doha's airport for around 15 hours.
GMA Network
4 days ago
- GMA Network
Chaos for thousands of passengers stranded at Doha airport, long queues in Dubai
Passengers queue at Dubai International Airport in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, following Iran Monday's attack on a US military base in Qatar, June 24, 2025. REUTERS/ Stringer DUBAI/DOHA — Operations at two of the world's busiest airports in Doha and Dubai slowed to a crawl on Tuesday as thousands of travelers queued for hours, facing long delays and flight cancellations after the temporary closure of airspace a day earlier. Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait shut their airspace late on Monday after Iran's strike on a US military base in Qatar's capital Doha, forcing airlines to cancel or reroute hundreds of flights and creating a backlog of stranded passengers. Airports across Dubai in the United Arab Emirates briefly halted operations. US President Donald Trump said a ceasefire between Israel and Iran was in place and asked both sides not to violate it, raising hopes of an end to the 12-day war, but hostilities continued, with deadly attacks reported in both countries. "I haven't slept for 19 hours. And I've been in this line over nine hours," said Lily Rogers, 21, who was in an around 200-meter-long queue in Doha's Hamad International airport. The psychology student, en route to a holiday in Southeast Asia, said those in line were only given water during the wait. Virgin Australia estimated that over 25,000 passengers were stranded at Doha airport. Lines were so long that arguments broke out as some passengers jumped queues, according to a Reuters witness. Around 250 flights were cancelled at Hamad airport, while another 238 were delayed, according to flight tracking website FlightRadar24. Long queues formed also at Dubai International, the busiest airport in the world, where about 145 flights were cancelled and over 450 delayed, FlightRadar24 data showed. Qatar Airways said it was "making progress in restoring its schedule" with possible disruptions until June 26. Dubai Airports and the Dubai government media office were not immediately available for comment. Busy hub Airports in the Middle East are some of the busiest in the world, covering an area stretching from Iran and Iraq to the Mediterranean and serving as a connecting hub for flights between Europe and Asia. The region has also taken on a more important role since the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine, which has forced airlines to avoid airspace over both countries. Dubai transported 92.3 million passengers last year, with a daily average of over 250,000. Israel's strikes against Iran on June 13 already prompted airlines from British Airways to Lufthansa to halt flights to some Middle East destinations due to air space closures and safety concerns. Following the US attacks on Iran on Sunday, many have also cut flights to typically resilient hubs such as Dubai. The restrictions and closures have created ripple effects beyond the region, as most passenger traffic transits through Hamad airport to other destinations, said Asia-based independent aviation analyst Brendan Sobie. Only 22% of passengers traveling through the airport had Qatar as their final destination in 2024, airport data shows. On Monday, Air India suspended flights to and from the US East Coast, Canada and Europe, which involve a tight corridor between those destinations and the Indian subcontinent. That poses a challenge for Indian carriers because they do not have access to Pakistani airspace, analysts say. The two neighbors blocked access to each other's airspace in April after a brief military conflict. Air India said on Tuesday it would resume those flights as soon as airspaces reopen, while other carriers such as flydubai warned that delays would persist due to airspace congestion. "It's very frustrating," said Julien Moutte, a Paris-bound passenger who had been stuck at Doha's airport for around 15 hours. — Reuters
