India let Iran warship dock the day US sank another off Sri Lanka, officials say

India received the docking request for the Lavan on Feb 28, the day the Iran war started

China vows to safeguard jobs and boost hiring as AI reshapes labour market

With a record 12.7 million graduates entering the workforce this year amid slowing growth and AI disruption, youth employment took centre stage at a Two Sessions press conference.

Malaysia detains 6 locals aged 16 to 21 in Islamic State-linked extremism probe; warns of more arrests

Arrested in February across several states, the youths were part of messaging groups that discussed plans to target police stations, government installations and places of worship in Malaysia, said the police chief in revealing the arrests on Friday (Mar 6).

Iran drives $104B surge in sanctions-busting crypto flows

Sanctions evasion has traditionally been viewed as a game of financial shell companies and hidden bank accounts. While those opaque traditional structures remain the bedrock of illicit finance, the mechanism has expanded to the blockchain at scale. Nation-states have upgraded

Claims Russia helping Iran target US assets are credible

The Washington Post, AP and others have reported that Russia is providing Iran with intelligence to target US forces, including the locations of American warships and aircraft in the Middle East. This is plausible even if the disclosure is part of a broader gambit to rally

China quietly eclipsing a weakened Russia in Central Asia

For much of the post–Cold War period, Central Asia operated as a “managed condominium”—a geopolitical arrangement where Russia supplied the hard-security umbrella and China functioned as the dominant economic partner. The war in Ukraine has not broken this Sino-Russian

China’s missile reach forces Japan back to Iwo Jima

Japan is considering a significant expansion of its military presence on remote Iwo Jima as growing Chinese naval activity beyond the First Island Chain raises concerns about the vulnerability of Pacific bases such as Okinawa. Japan’s Defense Ministry plans to study upgrades to

Japan asked US not to disadvantage Tokyo under new tariff rules

Prabowo’s proposed trip to Iran hinges on acceptance of mediation offer by all parties: Foreign ministry

A minister in Prabowo Subianto’s Cabinet said separately that the president has received the backing from several Middle Eastern and other Islamic countries for the undertaking.

Malaysia PM Anwar, police chief sued over calling out alleged plot to topple government

The family of Daim Zainuddin, an influential two-time finance minister who died in November 2024, said in a statement it was "public knowledge" that the investigation targeted Daim's widow Na'imah Abdul Khalid and their sons.

Taiwan ramps up space-defense drive amid Beijing threats

To develop surveillance and defense systems that could be deployed in the Taiwan Strait, the Taiwanese government is working with dozens of international space‑technology startups while nurturing local firms. Supported by the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Small and Medium

Muted Iran war stance fits concerned onlooker China’s priorities

China has perfected the role of concerned onlooker as the Middle East conflict spreads across the region. Situated some 4,200 miles (6,800 kilometers) away from the action and with no direct role in the conflict, Beijing has a little more breathing room to work out the calculus

Ustaz got talent: Where Indonesia turns 3am into Ramadan prime-time TV

From sermons on AI to elimination rounds before dawn, sahur in Indonesia now includes must-watch TV during Ramadan.

Escapees from Syrian camp raise fears of ISIS-linked returnees to South-east Asia

The breakout followed the withdrawal of Kurdish forces overseeing the facility in January.

China to import more to balance trade as surplus causes friction with partners

Its push for domestic spending will exceed efforts in 2025.

A technocrat wants to uplift China’s slowest-growing province. Can he succeed?

Corruption, red tape and entrenched officialdom has Liaoning one of the country’s toughest places to do business.

That torpedo that sank Iran ship: old tech, hard to defend against

A US submarine sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena off the southern coast of Sri Lanka on Wednesday, killing 87 people. The submarine struck the ship with a torpedo, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said, resulting in “quiet death”. The event marks the first time a US submarine

Is Nepal's ex-rapper mayor on track to be new PM?

Votes counted so far show Balendra Shah and his Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) are on track to win the general election.

Fatbikes are wreaking havoc in Sydney's wealthy beach suburbs

Teens are infuriating locals by riding over golf courses and doing wheelies on the Harbour Bridge.

White House says US well on way toward controlling Iran airspace

WASHINGTON, March 6 - The United States is well on its way toward controlling Iranian airspace, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Friday, adding that Washington expects the achievable U.S. objectives to be completed in four to six weeks.

US pressing Sri Lanka not to repatriate Iranian crew and survivors from sunken ship, memo says

WASHINGTON, March 6 - The United States is pressing Sri Lanka's government not to repatriate the survivors from the Iranian warship it sank this week, as well as the crew of a second Iranian ship that is in Sri Lankan custody, according to an internal State Department cable

Fast-fashion garments pile up in South Asia as Middle East conflict grounds planes

Fast-fashion brands around the world rely on South Asia for a steady stream of new T-shirts, dresses and jeans.

Overseas votes in Denmark election may not arrive in time due to Middle East turmoil, government says

STOCKHOLM, March 6 - Denmark's government said on Friday that the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East may prevent some overseas votes in the country's March 24 general election from arriving in time to be counted.

Missile fire hinders Middle East rescue flights as airspace edges open

US-Israel war with Iran cancels flights, stranding passengers as airlines scramble and fuel prices surge.

China unveils measures to become ‘best export destination’ amid global turmoil and surplus scrutiny

Speaking on Friday (Mar 6), Chinese commerce minister Wang Wentao outlined incentives aimed at drawing global businesses into China’s vast domestic market.

Sri Lanka denounces war deaths, houses Iran sailors

The Iranian ship IRIS Bushehr sought port entry in Sri Lanka after the vessel reported engine trouble.

EU's Costa, von der Leyen talk to Middle Eastern leaders on Monday, spokesperson says

BRUSSELS, March 6 - EU leaders Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen will hold a video conference with Middle Eastern leaders on Monday to discuss the situation in the region, a spokesperson for Costa said on Friday.

Philippines shifts to four-day work week as Iran war pushes oil prices up

"We are victims of a war that is not of our choosing," said President Ferdinand Marcos, adding: "But we control how we will protect the Filipino (people)."

Prudence or backsliding? China’s new climate target mirrors shifting realities

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has affected China's energy security, prompting a reassessment.

Indonesia to ban social media and other online platforms for under 16s

It is the latest country to curb young people's access to digital spaces to try and protect them from abuse.

Iran war could ultimately weaken US and benefit China

The widening conflict between the United States and Iran is already reshaping the Middle East’s geopolitical landscape. Supporters of Washington’s military campaign argue that weakening Tehran will restore deterrence and protect regional allies. Yet the broader strategic

Singapore ready to enter new chapter in relations with Japan, deepen ties with China and South Korea: Sim Ann

Singapore hopes Japan will find ways to resolve its outstanding wartime issues, says the Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

Russia and Ukraine swap 300 soldiers each on second day of exchange

KYIV, March 6 - Ukraine and Russia exchanged 300 service personnel each on Friday in the second day of a two‑day prisoner swap, with some of those released having been held since 2022 in the war.

Malaysian PM Anwar, police chief sued over calling out alleged plot to overthrow government

Anwar and Mahathir have been locked in an on-off rivalry that has shaped Malaysia’s politics for decades.

Malaysia PM, police chief sued over calling out alleged plot

KUALA LUMPUR, March 6 - The family of Malaysia's influential former finance minister filed a lawsuit on Friday against the prime minister, chief of police and the government to halt what they said were false claims of a plot to overthrow the government allegedly involving his