Blast at India firecracker factory kills 21: media

Explosion at Dubai landmark The Palm, as Iran launched strikes across the Gulf

There was an explosion in Dubai's The Palm luxury area, and fallen debris killed a Pakistani civilian in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates capital, as Iran launched strikes on all the oil-rich Gulf countries except for Oman, after US-Israel strikes on Iran.

The Mort Report: Hogs of war

TUCSON — ICE terrorizes parts of America. Ice paralyzes much of the rest. Polls turn against a corrupt, climate-denying autocrat who sees the White House as his Versailles Palace and runs roughshod across the globe jabbing big sticks into hornets’ nests. Reporters close in on

More than 200 people have been killed across Iran by Israel-US strikes, state TV

Iran's state TV reported on Saturday evening, citing the Red Crescent, that more than 200 people had been killed and 747 people wounded in US and Israel strikes against Iran.

Global reaction to US, Israeli attacks on Iran

Feb 28 - Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran on Saturday, plunging the Middle East into a renewed military confrontation.

Afghan labourers say Pakistani strikes hit migrants' site

Iranians in Istanbul jittery but jubilant at US, Israeli strikes

Many Iranians living in exile in neighbouring Turkey are worrying about their families, but are happy with the strikes, which US President Donald Trump had threatened in January over Iran's protest crackdown that left thousands dead.

UN Security Council to meet on Saturday on Iran conflict

Feb 28 - The U.N. Security Council will meet on Saturday after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, plunging the Middle East into a new conflict.

US-Israel attack Iran when peace was within reach

US and Iranian negotiators met in Geneva earlier this week in what mediators described as the most serious and constructive talks in years. Oman’s foreign minister, Badr Albusaidi, spoke publicly of “unprecedented openness,” signaling that both sides were exploring creative

Blast at India firecracker factory kills 21, officials tell media

Fireworks are hugely popular in India, particularly during the Hindu festival of Diwali and wedding celebrations.

Before Trump bombing, Oman FM called US-Iran deal ‘within reach’

Hours before President Donald Trump announced his decision to bomb Iran and pursue the overthrow of its government, the foreign minister of Oman appeared, in person, on one of the most prominent US television news programs to declare that a diplomatic breakthrough was possible.

Global reaction to Israeli, US attacks on Iran

Feb 28 - Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran on Saturday, plunging the Middle East into a renewed military confrontation.

India opens its first semiconductor assembly facility

The plant will convert advanced semiconductor wafers from Micron’s global network into finished memory and storage products.

US, Israel strike Iran; Iran threatens retaliation

WASHINGTON — US forces have launched “major combat operations” on targets in Iran, President Donald Trump said in a video posted to social media at 2:30 a.m. Eastern Saturday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacks were conducted in conjunction with

Russia says Trump and Israel are plunging the Middle East into the abyss with Iran attack

MOSCOW, Feb 28 - Russia on Saturday criticised U.S. President Donald Trump and Israel for embarking on a dangerously irresponsible attack on Iran which Moscow said was plunging the entire Middle East into the abyss.

Japanese firm designs portable stuffed wolf robot to drive away bears while hiking, fishingv

Ohta Seiki Co. plans to sell Monster Wolf Mini on a trial basis around October.

Russian Rosatom evacuates people from Iran, keeps staff at Bushehr plant

MOSCOW, Feb 28 - Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom has evacuated nearly 100 people from Iran, but its personnel remain at the Bushehr nuclear power plant, the company said on Saturday, citing CEO Alexei Likhachev.

Four people killed in Syria after an Iranian missile falls on building, state media reports

DAMASCUS, Feb 28 - Four people were killed and several others wounded when an Iranian missile struck a building in the southern Syrian city of Sweida on Saturday, the state news agency SANA said.

Iran fires missiles at Gulf Arab states, one killed in Abu Dhabi

DUBAI, Feb 28 - Several Gulf Arab states said they were targeted by Iranian missiles on Saturday after Tehran pledged to retaliate against strikes by the United States and Israel, bringing conflict to a part of the Arab world that prides itself on relative safety.

In Indonesia, non-Muslims join race to buy Ramadan bazaar snacks

Snacks that are popular and hard to come by sell out quickly, so one strategy is to get to the stalls early.

Russia suspends flights to Iran and Israel

MOSCOW, Feb 28 - The Russian Ministry of Transport said on Saturday that Russian air carriers had suspended flights to Iran and Israel.

UK says Iran must never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons

LONDON, Feb 28 - Britain said on Saturday that Iran must never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons and stood ready to defend its interests, following strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran.

Have car, still stuck: Why Klang Valley’s traffic woes keep getting worse

Data and experts point to a system stretched to its limits.

Lebanon's prime minister warns against dragging country into 'adventures'

BEIRUT, Feb 28 - Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Saturday said he would not accept anyone dragging \"the country into adventures that threaten its security and unity\", in an indirect message to the Iran-backed Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.

Two Malaysia Airlines flights turned back to avoid Middle East airspace amid Israel-Iran tensions

Both flights have returned to Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Japanese students perform kabuki scene in English in front of international audience

The audience comprised professional tour guides from 47 countries, including Singapore.

Effort to grow bananas in snow bears fruit in Fukui; Japanese farmer does the ‘impossible’

After an initial struggle with pests, he now expects an annual harvest of 20,000 bananas.

Israel and US launch strikes on Iran

WASHINGTON, DUBAI, CAIRO, Feb 28 - Israel launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran on Saturday, and a United States attack is underway, plunging the Middle East into a renewed military confrontation and further dimming hopes for a diplomatic solution to Tehran's nuclear

Israel says it launched pre-emptive attack against Iran

Feb 28 - Israel said it launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran on Saturday, pushing the Middle East into a renewed military confrontation and further dimming hopes for a diplomatic solution to Tehran's long-running nuclear dispute with the West.

Exiled activist Anna Kwok vows to keep fighting after Hong Kong jails her father

Kwok's 69-year-old father, Kwok Yin-sang, was sentenced to jail for eight months for attempting to withdraw roughly US$11,000 from her insurance policy.

Afghanistan says Pakistan fighter jet down as cross-border strikes flare

The United States "expressed support for Pakistan's right to defend itself against Taliban attacks", a US official said.

Cambodian authorities detain 81 scam suspects in capital raid; claim more than 220,000 have fled

Over the past eight months, the authorities have dismantled more than 200 online scam networks.

Trump’s Iran ultimatum raises questions he can’t answer

The Islamic Republic of Iran may be entering its most precarious moment since the 1979 revolution. US naval deployments and escalating rhetoric have turned a long-running standoff into a strategic countdown. President Donald Trump has given Tehran roughly ten to fifteen days to

Pakistan, Afghan Taliban forces clash as diplomatic efforts intensify

The international community expressed increasing concern over the conflict and called for urgent talks.

F-35 trainer arrest exposes China’s hunt for US airpower secrets

The arrest of a former US Air Force pilot for allegedly training Chinese military aviators exposes a widening shadow war over airpower expertise, where Western know-how has become as strategically contested as stealth jets themselves. This month, the US Department of Justice

Sri Lanka detains ex-spy chief over Easter bombings

The order lets the authorities to hold the retired army major general for questioning for 90 days.

Sri Lanka detains ex-spy chief over 2019 Easter bombings

The order lets the authorities hold the retired army major-general for questioning for 90 days.

Crypto winter: survival demands real-asset reform

At the time of writing, Bitcoin was hovering just above $65,000, down again from a short-lived rally earlier this week. The price represents a massive 48.5% drawdown from the all-time high of $126,272 last October, with no end in sight. We’re now in the fourth crypto winter

North Korea unveils image of leader's daughter firing rifle

Kim Jong Un's daughter, Ju Ae, has long been seen as the next in line to rule North Korea.

North Korean leader presents new sniper rifles to party officials

SEOUL, Feb 28 - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has presented new sniper rifles as ceremonial gifts to party and military officials, calling them a \"wonderful weapon\" and a sign of his trust, state media KCNA news agency said on Saturday.

South Korean president to make state visit to Singapore, with trade and tech on agenda

The visit comes four months after PM Lawrence Wong’s first official trip to South Korea in November 2025.

North Korea unveils image of leader Kim Jong Un’s daughter firing rifle

Kim Ju Ae has long been seen as the next in line to rule the secretive, nuclear-armed state.

Deep in China’s mountains, a revival of nuclear weapons takes shape

China had more than 600 nuclear warheads by the end of 2024 and is on track to have 1,000 by 2030.

Malaysian authorities urged to curb new wave of ‘upgraded’ beggars

Costumed beggars are becoming more visible at petrol stations and night markets in Johor Bahru.

Indonesia tightens rules for Airbnb-style rentals

The Indonesian government expects all operators to start processing the required permits.

Arrest of Western Australia man over alleged terror plot ‘deeply shocking’, PM Albanese says

The 20-year-old had written a manifesto with plans for a mass casualty event.

Arrest of Western Australia man over alleged terror plot 'deeply shocking', PM Albanese says

SYDNEY, Feb 28 - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Friday's arrest of a Western Australian man over an alleged terror plot targeting mosques, police and a parliament building was \"deeply shocking\".