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DUBAI (Reuters) - The United States said on Monday it is committed to defending Saudi Arabia following drone and missile strikes claimed by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement, including on a Saudi facility vital to oil exports. Saudi authorities said there were no casualties or property losses from Sunday's attacks targeting an oil storage yard at Ras Tanura, site of a refinery and the world's biggest offshore oil loading facility, and a residential compound in Dhahran used by state-controlled oil giant Saudi Aramco. [L1N2L502H] The attacks, which drove Brent crude prices above $70 a barrel to their highest since January 2020, come at a time of friction in the decades-old alliance between Saudi Arabia and the United States as President Joe Biden puts pressure on Riyadh over its human rights record and the ruinous Yemen war. "The heinous Houthi assaults on civilians and vital infrastructure demonstrate lack of respect for human life and disregard for peace efforts," the U.S. ... » Learn More about U.S. commits to Saudi defence after Houthi attacks on oil heartland

Hi all, In today's bulletin: Two people were killed and several others injured when Myanmar police fired on protesters in northern Myitkyina town; American and Chinese spacecraft reach Mars in quick succession last month, sparking talk of a space race between the two major powers; Indonesia eases rules to attract foreign investment; and more. Reading this on the web or know someone who might enjoy receiving Asian Insider? Our sign-up page is here . More killed in Myanmar protests as unions call for economic shutdown Two people were killed  and several others injured when Myanmar police fired on protesters in the northern town of Myitkyina on Monday (March 8), witnesses said. This was as shops, factories and banks were closed in Myanmar’s biggest city Yangon on Monday (March 8), after major trade unions called for a shutdown of the economy as part of the uprising against the country’s military rulers who had ousted the civilian government in a Feb 1 coup. ... » Learn More about Asian Insider, March 8: More deaths in Myanmar protests; US-China rivalry extending to space

SANAA: Yemen's Houthi forces fired drones and missiles at the heart of Saudi Arabia's oil industry on Sunday, including a Saudi Aramco facility at Ras Tanura vital to petroleum exports, in what Riyadh called a failed assault on global energy security. Announcing the attacks, the Houthis, who have been battling a Saudi-led coalition for six years, also said they attacked military targets in the Saudi cities of Dammam, Asir and Jazan. The Saudi energy ministry said an oil storage yard at Ras Tanura, the site of an oil refinery and the world's biggest offshore oil loading facility, was attacked with a drone coming from the sea. The defence ministry said the armed drone was intercepted and destroyed prior to reaching its target. Shrapnel from a ballistic missile fell near a residential compound in Dhahran used by state-controlled Saudi Aramco, the world's biggest oil company, the ministry said, adding that neither attack resulted in casualties or loss of property. "Such acts of ... » Learn More about Yemen’s Houthis attack Saudi oil heartland with drones, missiles

Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) said its customers saved P14 billion as the power company’s average electricity rate reached its lowest level in 2020, mainly because of the “significant decrease” in generation charges. The average retail rate stood at P7.96 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), representing a 10-percent decline from the P8.87 per kWh registered in 2019, Meralco First Vice President and Regulatory Management head Jose Ronald Valles said in a media briefing last week. The power distributor accounted last year’s lower overall charges to the 16.1 percent decrease in generation charges due to the implementation of new power supply agreements (PSA). Lower PSA charges provided P8.4 billion savings to consumers and slashed the average system loss charge by 12.6 percent. The reduction in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) prices and the peso appreciation, as well as the invocation of force majeure claims during the community quarantine that slashed fixed costs and charges ... » Learn More about Meralco customers save P14 billion

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang defended Monday President Duterte’s sex jokes during a situation briefing in Camarines Sur, saying that the Chief Executive was just “lightening the mood” as the country reels from the effects of typhoons. According to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Duterte was just channeling a Filipino trait to “lighten a problem” when he issued the jokes. “Ugali na ng Pilipino na bagamat marami tayong pagsubok eh sinusubukan pa rin nating i-lighten iyong problema. So hindi lang naman po iyan gawain ng Presidente bagamat matagal na po iyang nangyayari,” Roque said in a televised Palace press briefing. “Talagang hindi maipagkakait sa kanya na dahil sunud-sunod ang trahedya e kahit papano humanap ng dahilan para kahit papano magkaroon ng kaunting break from yung mga kalamidad na binibisita niya,” he added. Roque further said the public shouldn’t “read anything beyond the fact that the President wants to more or less lighten the mood.” “(B)uong araw ... » Learn More about Duterte sex jokes at typhoon briefing meant to ‘lighten the mood’ — Palace

SEN. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go has urged the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) and other electric companies to show more compassion to small consumers and study the possibility of extending their no-disconnection policy. He made the call after the company issued disconnection notices to its consumers who have not completely settled their bills after having been allowed to defer payment last year because of the pandemic. Go asked Meralco not to further burden the poor who could not settle their bill because they had lost their jobs or livelihood. “Wala na nga makain, mawawalan pa ng kuryente (They no longer have food, now their electricity will be cut),” he said in a statement. “Magmalasakit tayo sa ating kapwa Pilipino (Let’s show some concern to our fellow Filipino).” Go also urged the government to prioritize the welfare of ordinary Filipinos “by finding ways to avoid putting any additional burden on those who are already struggling to make ends meet.” The senator has ... » Learn More about Show compassion, Go asks Meralco, other power firms

MANILA Electric Co. (Meralco) is likely to cut its rates in March, according to Vice President for Corporate Communications Joe Zaldarriaga, who is also the company spokesman. “Based on initial projections, there is a strong likelihood that power rates for March 2021 will go down which was earlier projected and this will be the second consecutive month of decrease for the year,” Zaldarriaga said. “Early indications of generation charge show a possible downward movement due to lower average capacity on outage in Luzon, which may be tempered by the recent peso depreciation,” he told reporters. The main contributor to the rate reduction will be the inclusion of the average refund rate of P0.1528 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), as part of Meralco’s distribution rate true-up. In February, Meralco reduced its overall charges by P0.0704 per kWh to P8.6793 per kWh. Meralco’s refund rate will be reflected as a separate line item in customers’ bills. It shall be applied in 24 months beginning ... » Learn More about Meralco likely to cut rates in March