Kim vows North Korea’s ‘unshakable’ support for Russia

He said the two countries "are closely cooperating to defend" their sovereignty.

Australia will have floor price for critical minerals reserve, minister says

CANBERRA, March 25 - Australia will \"no doubt\" have an element of a floor price in its strategic reserve for critical minerals, Resources Minister Madeleine King said on Wednesday, as the resources rich nation looks to cement its role as a key supplier to its allies.

Lamborghinis stranded in Sri Lanka as war disrupts Asia's used-car trade

The conflict has halted shipments during what is usually the busiest season for used-car dealers.

Journalists at Australia's national broadcaster begin 24-hour strike over pay

Staff at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation are striking for the first time in 20 years.

Japanese military officer arrested over alleged entry into Chinese Embassy in Tokyo

The Chinese government said the intruder threatened to kill Chinese diplomats.

Sara Duterte impeachment hearings start as political death match heats up

The Philippines' VP faces another impeachment round with her 2028 presidential run on the line.

China’s foreign minister urges early peace talks in call with Iranian counterpart

Talking is always better than fighting, Wang told Araqchi.

China's foreign minister urges early peace talks in call with Iranian counterpart

BEIJING, March 24 - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on Tuesday on parties to seize all opportunities to start peace talks as soon as possible in a phone call with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi, according to a statement from Wang's ministry.

China is betting on bigger tech hubs for growth, but analysts warn of old risks

Beijing is funnelling resources into scaled-up AI and chip clusters in its next five-year plan but analysts warn that supply-driven expansion could outpace viable market demand.

The Indo-Pacific strategy just sank in Iran

Over the past decade, capitals from Australia to France, India to Japan and South Korea to the UK, have rolled out Indo-Pacific strategies with the confidence of a shared script: that maritime coalitions stabilize the system, secure sea lanes and quietly contain a rising

Trump says Iran made a major energy-related gift to the US

WASHINGTON, March 24 - President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Iran had made a major energy-related concession to the United States, describing it as a positive development, although he did not give details.

'Truly magical woman': Tributes to Married at First Sight's Mel Schilling

The TV dating coach is remembered as "a radiant, shining light" following her death at the age of 54.

Traders placed massive bets minutes before Trump’s post on Iran

Just minutes before US President Donald Trump momentarily boosted the stock market – and sent oil prices tumbling – with his disputed Monday announcement of peace talks with Iran, unknown traders loaded up on positions that allowed them to profit from the resulting movement in

Everyday life in Asia is being upended by Iran war fuel crisis

Asia relies heavily on oil and gas from the Gulf, and shortages and higher prices are starting to bite.

Pakistan leans on US and Iran ties to emerge as potential peacebroker

ISLAMABAD, March 24 - Pakistan's role as a possible host of talks aimed at ending the Iran war builds on its courtship of U.S. President Donald Trump and its reputation as a relatively neutral player with long-standing ties to neighbouring Iran's Islamic Republic.

Should holders of US debt take Iran’s military threat literally?

It’s tempting to see as a clear escalation Iran Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf’’s declaration on Sunday that all those holding US Treasury bonds are now legitimate targets of violent reprisals. Iran has – by attacking US bases in the region as far away as

US detainee Dennis Coyle released by Taliban after more than a year

Coyle, who was working as a language researcher, according to his family, was arrested in January 2025.

Hong Kong police arrest bookstore owner and staff for selling Jimmy Lai biography, broadcaster reports

HONG KONG, March 24 - Hong Kong police arrested a bookstore owner and three shopkeepers on Tuesday for allegedly selling \"seditious\" publications including a biography of jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai, broadcaster TVB reported.

HK police arrest bookstore owner and staff for selling Jimmy Lai biography: Report

A notice outside the bookstore read: "Resting for a day due to emergency, sorry for the inconvenience."

Residents recount guilt, chaos in hearing on deadly Hong Kong fire

The fire at Wang Fuk Court in 2025 was the world’s deadliest residential building fire since 1980.

Modi, Trump discuss importance of keeping Strait of Hormuz open

March 24 - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by phone on Tuesday and discussed the situation in the Middle East, including the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, U.S. envoy to India Sergio Gor and Modi said in separate posts

Philippines declares energy emergency over Iran conflict

The war has caused "imminent danger" to the country's energy supplies, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr says.

Afghan Taliban releases American detainee Coyle after US censure

KABUL/WASHINGTON, March 24 - The Afghan Taliban government on Tuesday released U.S. detainee Dennis Coyle after more than a year in detention, but Washington said the move was not sufficient to lift its recent designation of Kabul as a \"state sponsor of wrongful detention\"

Thailand battles forest fires as hot spots in Myanmar threaten to worsen kingdom’s haze situation

Of the 1,488 hotspots detected across Thailand, 614 were found in conservation forests.

Amid global chaos, interest in China is rising among investors and consumers: Forum

The interest comes amid China’s relative stability and the likelihood that its economic slowdown has bottomed out.

Philippines declares national energy emergency as Iran war fuels oil shock fears

Manila sets aside 20 billion pesos to build a diesel buffer as the Middle East crisis persists.

Philippines declares energy emergency over Middle East conflict risks

Qatar is not directly mediating between US and Iran, ministry spokesperson says

March 24 - There is no direct Qatari mediation between the United States and Iran, but Doha supports all formal and informal diplomatic channels to end the war, Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Melaka residents told to limit outdoor activities due to rising UV levels and heat

The current hot spell saw temperatures reaching up to 35 deg C.

Thai court orders firm to pay villagers for mining damages

BMW recalls 180,000 cars in China over fire risk

It is due to a possible wiring fault in air conditioning units that poses a fire risk.

A million SpaceX satellites will ruin the night sky

More than 10,000 Starlink satellites currently orbit the Earth. We see them crawling across dark skies, no matter how remote our location, and streaking through images from research telescopes. SpaceX recently announced that it wants to launch one million more of these

‘I didn’t want to raise her’: Woman in South Korea confesses to killing 3-year-old daughter

The woman is also accused of burying the child’s body.

South Korea expresses ‘regret’ over Japan’s approval of history textbooks, urges rectification

South Korea took issue with matters such as Japan’s claim of sovereignty over the Dokdo islets.

US Democrats risk flubbing Trump’s flailing on Iran

Donald Trump is flailing. Despite easy battlefield victories, the Iran War is quickly turning into a quagmire; the regime has not fallen, and threats against oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz are causing gasoline prices to soar and threatening to reignite inflation. This

Iran war exposing deeper risks of US financial dominance

War exposes truth faster than any policy paper ever could. The US-Israeli confrontation with Iran is stripping away assumptions that have underpinned global capital allocation for decades. Oil above $100 and disruption through the Strait of Hormuz are only part of the story.

PM Wong to visit Hainan, Hong Kong, and speak at Boao Forum

Mr Wong will also meet China’s National People’s Congress Chairman Zhao Leji, the country’s third-ranking leader.

Prabowo hits back at criticism of his frequent overseas trips, says they reap economic gains for Indonesians

Since assuming office, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has attended at least nine international summits and made more than 40 official visits to more than 20 countries.

PM Wong to visit Hainan, Hong Kong in four-day China trip

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will be delivering a keynote address at the Boao Forum for Asia’s annual conference, often touted as Asia’s version of the Davos World Economic Forum.

Forest fires sweep Batam, threatening electrical supply, flights

Even a small spark could ignite a major blaze amid the region’s drying vegetation.

India rice exports hit by Middle East conflict as shipments stall and prices fall

What was expected to be a bumper year for Indian rice exporters – on the back of a strong harvest – has instead been upended by the ongoing war in Iran.

Gas shortages push India’s poor back to wood and coal

It will cause health risks and worsening air quality in highly polluted New Delhi.

Australian petrol stations running dry despite assurances of well supplied market

The government released fuel from its reserve and has 30 days of diesel stored.

Cathay extends Dubai, Riyadh flight suspensions to May 31

It said that it was “monitoring the situation closely and will remain agile”.

Chinese President Xi Jinping urges progress in his 'city of the future' project

Official documents and state media have highlighted Xi’s personal role in planning, making decisions and advancing the Xiongan New Area in Hebei.

Iran’s Hormuz pain is China’s yuan gain

TOKYO — Say what you want about the Iranian regime, it’s a master troller in ways for which US President Donald Trump surely didn’t foresee. Nowhere is that more apparent — or potentially impactful — than Iran’s reported plan to showcase the yuan by requiring all oil tankers

Pakistan seeks to mediate peace talks between US and Iran in Islamabad

Pakistan is leveraging close ties with Mr Trump, together with its longstanding bonds with neighbour Iran.

China protests to Japan about Tokyo embassy break-in

BEIJING, March 24 - China has lodged a strong protest and made representations with the Japanese after what it described as a \"forceful break-in\" at its embassy in Tokyo, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Tuesday.