I escaped North Korea with my mum. Now I'm terrified she might be sent back

Geumseong made it safely to South Korea, but his mother is stuck in a Chinese prison and may be forcibly repatriated.

From friends to foes: Pakistan, Taliban and the makings of a bigger war

A primary driver in the current war is the rise in terror attacks from the Pakistani Taliban.

Cambodia counts cost of border conflict with Thailand amid leadership transition

The economic realities have raised questions over the performance of Cambodia’s leadership.

Transactional diplomacy and strategic ambiguity on Taiwan

An earlier version of this article was published by Pacific Forum. When Donald Trump told reporters in February 2026 that he had discussed Taiwan arms sales with Xi Jinping, the headlines wrote themselves. Commentators warned of betrayal; Taiwanese talk shows speculated about

China targets US trade barriers amid Section 301 probes

China has launched two trade-barrier investigations into US practices and measures that Beijng suspects disrupt global production and supply chains and restrict Chinese exports, particularly in green technology sectors. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce said on Friday (March 27)

A major disaster for Russia in shipyard attack

On March 25, during a massive drone attack in the Leningrad region, the Ukrainian General Staff announced that its “joint forces” had damaged the Vyborg Shipbuilding installation. Whoever carried it out and how, the attaack’s success was a huge disaster for the Russians, with

Iran's response to US peace proposal expected Friday, source says

WASHINGTON, March 27 - Iran's response to a U.S. peace proposal aimed at ending the war in the Middle East is expected later on Friday, according to a source briefed on the matter.

Malaysia and Indonesia to intensify diplomatic efforts to de-escalate Middle East war: Anwar

The Malaysian PM met Indonesian President Prabowo in Jakarta to discuss addressing the conflict.

US uses hundreds of Tomahawk missiles on Iran, alarming some at Pentagon, WaPo reports

March 27 - The U.S. military has fired over 850 Tomahawk cruise missiles in four weeks of war with Iran, burning through the precision weapons at a rate that has alarmed some Pentagon officials and prompted internal discussions about how to make more available, the Washington

Myanmar military signals leadership change ahead of presidential vote

March 27 - Myanmar's military leadership is set for a reshuffle following an annual armed forces parade on Friday, state media reported, in a rare public signalling of transition by the secretive institution that has dominated the Southeast Asian nation.

Gulf states tell US ending the war is not enough, Iran’s capabilities must be degraded

DUBAI, March 27 - Gulf Arab states are telling the U.S. that any deal with Tehran should do more than end the war, and must permanently curb Iran's missile and drone capabilities and ensure global energy supplies are never again \"weaponised\", four Gulf sources said.

Chinese ships halt attempt to exit Hormuz despite Iran safe passage assurances

LONDON, March 27 - Two Chinese container ships turned backed after trying to exit the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, ship-tracking data showed, despite assurances from Iran that Chinese vessels could pass.

UN rights chief urges US to conclude probe into deadly Iran school strike

GENEVA, March 27 - The U.N. rights chief urged Washington to conclude its investigation into a fatal strike on a primary school in Iran at a U.N. Human Rights Council meeting on Friday, with some states voicing outrage over the incident.

Ukraine closes on Mideast deals to help counter Iranian drones

VAUX-DE-CERNAY, France, March 27 - Ukraine is close to clinching several security agreements — including with the UAE and Qatar — to counter Iranian attacks, its foreign minister said on Friday, adding that he saw scope to draw China into peace efforts to end the war with Russia.

More important than ever for Singapore and Hong Kong to collaborate amid competition: PM Wong

The leaders of the two cities discussed ways to expand bilateral cooperation including in emerging areas.

Afghan jailed for 15 years in the UK for raping 12-year-old girl

LONDON, March 27 - An Afghan national was on Friday jailed for 15 years for raping a 12-year-old girl in Britain, a case that sparked local protests and a political row when his status as an asylum seeker was not initially disclosed by police.

‘Korea (South)’ on arrival cards? Taipei hits back at Seoul, Copenhagen over ‘China’ labels

In the face of mounting pressures, the island needs to proactively assert its identity and be seen.

WTO reform talks face U.S.-India wall in Cameroon, diplomats say

GENEVA, March 27 - Large differences remain between most countries and the U.S. and India as trade ministers meet to discuss reforms at the World Trade Organization, two diplomats told Reuters on Friday.

Russia survived without SWIFT, but that doesn’t mean it won

When Russian banks were cut off from SWIFT in 2022, the goal was clear: deliver a fast financial shock. It didn’t quite work that way. Russia kept exporting, oil revenues surged and before long a different narrative began to take hold — that the sanctions had not worked after

Russia arms Iran, cementing a drone-powered anti-US axis

In a striking role reversal, Russia appears to be preparing to supply its embattled partner Iran with one-way attack drones, just as Iran previously supplied Russia to sustain its fight in Ukraine. The Financial Times (FT) reported that Russia is nearing the completion of

Ukraine and Saudi Arabia sign deal on defence cooperation, Zelenskiy says

March 27 - Ukraine and Saudi Arabia have signed an agreement on defence cooperation that lays the foundation for future contracts, technological cooperation and investments, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday.

Japan firms weigh merging power chip businesses

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's administration has set a new sales target for domestically produced microchips, aiming for an eightfold increase by 2040 compared with 2020 levels.

Iran war restores King Dollar’s crown, for now

TOKYO — News of currency troubles in Thailand has a way of raising blood pressure amongst even the most battle-tested Asian investors. The baht’s dubious honor of being Asia’s worst-performing currency amid surging oil prices is making headlines and triggering more than a

Nepali rapper Shah sworn in as prime minister

Balendra Shah was sworn in a day after he released his first public statement since winning the Mar 5 elections, via a rap song posted on social media.

Is there a silver lining for China as war rages in the Middle East?

With Washington distracted and opportunities in clean energy, Beijing might have the last laugh

China blasts ‘false’ news after report says chipmaker SMIC supplying Iran

Foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said he was “not familiar with the situation”.

Indonesia mulls airlines’ call for 15% fuel surcharge hike, airfare caps over rising costs amid Middle East war

The Indonesian National Air Carriers Association (INACA) urged the government to approve the hikes in fuel surcharge for both jet and propeller aircraft.

Taiwan freezes electricity rates to help price stability, industrial competitiveness

Taiwan is a major producer of the advanced semiconductors used to power the megatrend towards AI.

Indonesia’s social media curbs for kids set to kick in, but few know how they will work

As the clock ticks down to March 28, neither parents nor children have much idea of what will happen.

Indonesia's social media curbs for kids set for Saturday, but few know how it will work

JAKARTA, March 27 - Armed with a smartphone, Anza Zafran Utama, a 9-year-old boy in the Indonesian city of Bogor, is either a dinosaur or a shooter, depending on his mood.

South Korea’s President Lee to pursue wartime command, selective conscription

He also said the government would pursue military reform.

AI drives financial inclusion in India, but risks widening inequality: Industrialist Ajay Piramal

Speaking to CNA, the chairman of Indian conglomerate Piramal Group says artificial intelligence is opening access to credit and public services in underserved areas, but warns it could widen the gap between skilled and unskilled workers.

Malaysia to roll out flexi-work arrangements for civil servants, PM Anwar urges private sector to follow

In his special address on Thursday (Mar 26), Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also announced that the 300-litre monthly quota for subsidised RON95 petrol under the BUDI95 programme has been reduced to 200 litres as an interim measure.

Australia leveraging coal and gas exports to lock in petrol supply from Asia partners

Malaysia is prioritising its domestic needs, while China has suspended some exports of jet fuel and diesel.

China launches two probes into US trade practices

BEIJING, March 27 - China's commerce ministry has initiated two counter-probes into U.S. practices that hamper the flow of Chinese products into the United States, it said on Friday, refraining from immediate retaliation to U.S. measures announced earlier this month.

India slashes fuel taxes due to Mideast war shortages: Finance minister

China’s clean energy offer to Indonesia just got harder to refuse

China’s ambassador to ASEAN recently suggested that the current global energy shock triggered by war in the Middle East should be seen not only as a crisis, but as an opportunity to deepen cooperation on the transition to clean energy. That framing may sound diplomatic. In

South Korea's Lee to pursue wartime command transfer, selective conscription

"The ironclad South Korea-US alliance is an essential pillar of peace and stability on the peninsula but excessive dependence is not desirable," President Lee Jae Myung said.

China demands more than just 'regret' from Japan after embassy break-in

Myanmar military signals leadership changes ahead of parade

General Min Aung Hlaing will make his yearly speech to rally morale at the parade.

Europe’s elites confront a future without US protection

Subscribe now with a one-month trial for only $1, then enjoy the first year at an exclusive rate of just $99. From “European pillar” to post-American NATODiego Faßnacht reports that European defense thinking is shifting from burden-sharing toward preparing for a post-American

China demands more than just ‘regret’ from Japan after embassy break-in

A knife-wielding Japanese military officer broke into the Chinese embassy in Tokyo on March 24.

Trump’s Iran war pushes India to rekindle old friendship with Russia

If India decides to pursue the energy deal with Russia, negotiations could be concluded in weeks.

Trump's Iran war pushes India to rekindle old friendship with Russia

NEW DELHI, March 27 - As India's diplomats negotiated an accord that would ease punitive U.S. tariffs on the South Asian country's exports in January, New Delhi slashed its purchases of Russian crude oil in a move that was widely seen as a painful concession to President Donald

Vietnam police bust multi-billion-dollar crypto scam

The scammers created fake cryptocurrencies and sold them to investors.