Fuel shortages disrupt Thailand’s sacred Buddhist funeral rites
Roughly 10 per cent of gas stations had shut down due to shortages, according to a survey.
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Israel’s Iron Beam and the laser future of missile defense
A laser is far cheaper as a weapon than a kinetic kill interceptor. Moreover, there are no supply issues to replace interceptors. Iron Beam can work for a thousand hours before any components need to be replaced. Israel is using its Iron Beam laser defense system in the
Indonesian police detain three Europeans accused of producing porn
Two French nationals and an Italian were arrested.
Cash handouts, fare hikes as Philippines battles soaring fuel costs
Officials have unveiled a series of price hikes across a range of local transport.
Hong Kong cannot extradite Tates without UK or Romania requests, lawmakers say
Online influencer brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate, who both face rape and human‑trafficking charges in Romania and the United Kingdom, were reported to have entered Hong Kong over the weekend, sparking heated discussion online.
Family of Bondi shooting accused fear for their safety, court hears
SYDNEY, March 17 - The family of a man accused of killing 15 people at a Jewish festival on Sydney's Bondi Beach last year fear for their safety after a spate of alleged vigilante attacks, a court heard on Tuesday.
Bondi shooting: Family of alleged gunman fear for their safety, court hears
The family has received death threats on several occasions in person and via phone and text message.
Philippines rejects Beijing's claim to sovereignty over entire South China Sea
MANILA, March 16 - The Philippines said on Monday it rejected Beijing's assertion of sovereignty over the entire South China Sea, disputing a claim by China's embassy that a Filipino diplomat had once conceded the disputed Scarborough Shoal was not part of Philippine territory.
Explainer-From sponsor to enemy: What's behind Pakistan's attack on Afghan Taliban?
ISLAMABAD, March 17 - Pakistan has been the Afghan Taliban's closest friend for decades. It was Islamabad that helped give birth to the Taliban in the early 1990s – as a way to give Pakistan \"strategic depth\" in its rivalry with India. What's gone wrong?
Trump criticises allies over rejection of Hormuz request, as Iran and Israel trade airstrikes
March 17 - U.S. President Donald Trump accused some Western allies of ingratitude after several countries rebuffed his demand to send warships to escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as Iran continued to target oil facilities in the Gulf.
Thick smoke from Riau forest fires disrupts Hari Raya travel for Indonesians
Although firefighters brought the blaze under control, smoke was still rising from the burned peatland.
Japan to strengthen screening of foreign investments with US-style panel
The panel will aim to prevent leakage of critical technologies and intelligence.
Indonesia weighs response to price pressures from Middle East war
It could cut fuel subsidies or slash spending on the President's signature school meals programme.
Sri Lanka declares Wednesdays off as Asian countries try to conserve fuel
This is the latest in a series of measures undertaken by Asian countries which rely on oil from the Gulf.
Hong Kong to see oil shocks and volatility from Middle East war, says Chief Executive John Lee
Chief Executive Lee said he was “very concerned” about the rise in oil prices due to the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Hong Kong to see oil shocks and volatility from Middle East war
HONG KONG, March 17 - Hong Kong's leader John Lee said he was \"very concerned\" about the rise in oil prices due to the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and that the financial hub, along with the rest of Asia, would see shocks and volatility due to the disruption of supply and oil
Tour bus operators in Malaysia warned to comply with speed limiter rule
About 12 per cent of active registered express buses have yet to complete the verification process.
Taiwan says sale of second package of arms from US is proceeding on schedule
Mr Xi Jinping told Mr Trump in February that arms sales to Taiwan must be handled with “prudence”.
Young Malaysians find themselves in growing debt trap
Financial commitments, such as repayment of credit cards, eat into the bulk of their monthly budget.
India's outsourcing industry is worth $300bn. Can it survive AI?
Indian IT stocks have plunged as fears grow of AI disrupting back offices. But some say these are overblown.
As Iran war shakes global air travel, Malaysia sees both risks and opportunities
Some Southeast Asian destinations are feeling the strain from flight cancellations and rising prices, but others such as Malaysia may be better positioned to weather – or even benefit from – the upheaval, say industry players.
Sri Lanka announces four-day work week over fears war will drag
The measure is a bid to conserve Sri Lanka's scarce fuel reserves as it prepares for a prolonged war in the Middle East, officials say.
Philippine police thwart teenagers’ alleged plan to attack school with Molotov cocktails, bombs
They allegedly shared images and videos of school shootings in other countries with one another.
Trump seeks to delay meeting with Xi in China
The escalating war in Iran has overshadowed many of the US' foreign policy objectives
Dozens killed after Afghanistan rehab hospital struck
The BBC visited the hospital and saw more than 30 bodies being carried out on stretchers.
Nvidia chip curbs turn Singapore into AI hub for China
The United States’ export controls aimed at restricting China’s access to Nvidia’s advanced artificial intelligence chips are unlikely to stop Chinese firms from upgrading their AI models, according to some data‑center experts. When the Trump administration announced last
North Korea’s new legislature to convene March 22
It will also deliberate on the implementation of a five-year national policy plan.
North Korea to convene new assembly on March 22 to consider constitutional revision, KCNA says
SEOUL, March 17 - North Korea's newly elected Supreme People's Assembly will convene its first session on March 22 to deliberate on a constitutional revision and on the implementation of a five-year national policy plan, state news agency KCNA said on Tuesday.
Rubio, South Korea Foreign Minister Cho agree Strait of Hormuz key to global economy, Seoul says
SEOUL, March 17 - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on a phone call with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on Monday that cooperation among countries to secure safety in the Strait of Hormuz is more important than ever to stabilize the global economy and oil prices,
‘Be the one in control’: Why are more countries leaning towards banning social media access for kids?
When it comes to social media bans, governments are willing to absorb criticism on feasibility, privacy and civil liberties, experts tell CNA.
Win or lose big? Hong Kong’s hub status a double-edged sword amid Middle East war
The conflict exposes the city to many risks, but some are seeing opportunities too.
Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of deadly air strike on drug rehab centre in Kabul
A Pakistani air strike purportedly hit a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul, killing civilians.
With US distracted in Iran, N Korea’s opportunistic, not suicidal
North Korea over the weekend fired a barrage of long-range missiles and rockets into the sea off its east coast. This show of force came as the United States military had its hands full in Iran. The article below analyzes Pyongyang’s strategy. -Eds. When the United States
Trump-Xi meeting could be delayed, White House says
WASHINGTON, March 16 - Donald Trump's highly anticipated meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping could be postponed as the U.S. president remains focused on the Iran war, the White House said on Monday.
Trump on Iran: we don't know if new leader is still alive
WASHINGTON, March 16 - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that it was unclear whether new Iranian leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei was still alive, given reports he had been injured in an air strike.
Trump says some countries are not enthusiastic about helping unblock Hormuz strait
WASHINGTON, March 16 - President Donald Trump on Monday repeated his call to nations to help unblock the Strait of Hormuz, and appeared to criticize countries he said were not enthusiastic about providing aid.
Singapore, 9 other countries back permanent ban on tariffs on digital transmissions ahead of WTO meeting
The ten members of the Future of Investment and Trade Partnership expressed support for such a measure after convening virtually ahead of the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference, scheduled for Mar 26 to 29.
The Gulf’s expat El Dorado faces a costly recovery after the war
To this visitor, the desert cities of the Gulf such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha have long felt like the closest equivalent on Earth to colonies on the Moon. With labor imported, raw materials imported and many of the residents imported, the main difference is that one can
UN Afghan mission gets limited extension after US review call
March 16 - The U.N. Security Council voted on Monday to extend the mandate of the UNAMA assistance mission in Afghanistan for a shorter-than-usual three-month period, after Washington called last week for a review of assistance and engagement in the Taliban-ruled country.
Pakistan-bound oil tanker passes through Hormuz Strait amid Iran war
KARACHI, March 16 - Ship-tracking data shows a Pakistan-bound oil tanker passing through the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, indicating that some countries are able to negotiate safe passage for their vessels despite the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
Nepal welcomes first transgender lawmaker
Bhumika Shrestha on March 16 became Nepal’s first transgender woman lawmaker.
Kyrgyzstan accuses sacked security chief of corruption as purge widens
BISHKEK, March 16 - Kyrgyzstan’s tax authority on Monday published a video accusing ex-security chief Kamchybek Tashiev of corruption, amid a widening purge of his allies.
Japan’s Takaichi faces Iran war test at Trump summit Thursday
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s visit to the United States for a summit with President Donald Trump on March 19 was never going to be easy. Now, with Trump calling upon Japan and other countries to send warships to ensure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz, she