Seoul braces for the BTS Army as the world's biggest band returns
RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook will perform together for the first time since October 2022.
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OpenClaw AI goes viral in China, raising cybersecurity fears
OpenClaw, an open-source artificial intelligence (AI) agent formerly known as Moltbot and Clawdbot, has gone viral in China in recent weeks, partly boosted by promotional campaigns from Tencent and Alibaba. More than a chatbot, it can handle emails, schedules and payments on a
Sinking of Iran warship: 5 questions on US strike and whether Southeast Asia should be concerned
The shadow fleet of tankers carrying sanctioned Iranian oil and operating off the coasts of Singapore and Malaysia could become targets of the US and other actors as part of the Middle East war, say analysts.
Commentary: Mending ties with India and China, Canada hopes to step out of US’ shadow
US President Donald Trump’s upending of long-held alliances has made Canada realise that it must engineer new frameworks to survive the disintegration of the world order, says former foreign correspondent Nirmal Ghosh.
Commentary: A delayed Trump-Xi summit is not all bad for China
A delayed summit between the two leaders allows Beijing to better lay the groundwork on the issues it’s pressing Washington on, says Karishma Vaswani for Bloomberg Opinion.
Australia’s north-east braces itself for severe tropical cyclone Narelle
The storm could unleash winds of up to 250km per hour, strong enough to uproot trees and send debris airborne.
Australia's northeast braces for severe tropical cyclone Narelle
SYDNEY, March 20 - A severe tropical cyclone neared Australia's northeast coast on Friday as residents braced for destructive winds, heavy rain, flash floods and power outages, while authorities urged them to take immediate shelter.
Holy ube! The Philippine convent struggling to feed a global craze
It faces pressure to produce more purple yam jam amid growing demand.
AC/DC guitarist Stevie Young hospitalized in Buenos Aires
BUENOS AIRES, March 19 - Stevie Young, who plays guitar for legendary Australian rock band AC/DC, has been hospitalized in Argentina's capital Buenos Aires, but is still expected to perform next week, a spokesperson for the band told Reuters on Thursday.
Trump compares attack on Iran to Pearl Harbor in meeting with Japanese PM
In a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister, US President Donald Trump was asked why he didn't inform allies about his plan to attack Iran.
UN shipping agency IMO calls for safe corridor to evacuate seafarers from Gulf
LONDON, March 19 - Countries at the UN’s shipping agency agreed to work towards a safe maritime corridor to evacuate commercial ships from the Gulf to protect seafarers during the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
The A-10 is reborn in the Iran war
Despite years of effort by the Air Force to get rid of the A-10 fleet, the A-10 is playing a major role in the Iran war. Unlike its predecessors used in the Iraq wars, the A-10 has been reborn with new equipment and better weapons, and significantly enhanced networking
Killer refused family plea before death - inquest
Bradley Murdoch, who murdered British backpacker Peter Falconio, never revealed where his body was.
Trump draws parallel between Pearl Harbor and US strikes on Iran in meeting with Japanese PM
WASHINGTON, March 19 - President Donald Trump on Thursday drew a parallel between U.S. strikes on Iran and Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor decades ago, as he defended the war against Tehran at a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Washington.
Israeli military says it 'took out' Iran’s Caspian Sea naval capabilities
TEL AVIV/JERUSALEM, March 19 - Israel carried out strikes targeting the Iranian navy in the Caspian Sea for the first time on Wednesday, an Israeli military spokesperson said on Thursday, telling reporters that Iran's naval capabilities in the inland sea had been largely
Pentagon wants over $200 billion to fund Trump’s Iran war
The Pentagon reportedly wants Congress to approve more than $200 billion in supplemental funding for US President Donald Trump’s unauthorized and deeply unpopular war on Iran as the administration weighs deploying thousands of additional troops to the Middle East, signaling a
Price rises due to Iran war dampen Eid festivities in Pakistan
Fuel supply pressures have seen prices rise at the pump and government austerity measures.
3d strike for Microsoft defending against Chinese, Russian hackers
This story was originally published by ProPublica. In late 2024, the federal government’s cybersecurity evaluators rendered a troubling verdict on one of Microsoft’s biggest cloud computing offerings. The tech giant’s “lack of proper detailed security documentation” left
Newly minted Thai Prime Minister Anutin has energy crisis on his hands
Patience among ordinary Thais could wear thin if the country continues to face economic pressures, said analysts.
Hired guns hijacking Myanmar’s narrative in the Western press
In the fifth year of Myanmar’s civil war, a curious pattern has emerged in the opinion pages of Western publications. Well-crafted essays in Forbes, The Hill, The Washington Times, and Modern Diplomacy have begun arguing, with varying degrees of sophistication, that the United
Cambodia unveils ancient Shiva statue restored from 10,000 pieces
The statue “was toppled in the 14th century and shattered into more than 10,000 fragments by looters”.
New Macau security law allows for trials behind closed doors
Defence lawyers will be required to obtain clearances before appearing in national security cases.
China-ruled Macau approves national security law allowing closed-door trials
HONG KONG, March 19 - Lawmakers in Macau, a city under Chinese rule, unanimously approved a bill on Thursday that allows court proceedings to be held behind closed doors when deemed necessary to protect national security interests.
Fuel crunch in Thailand hits emergency medical vehicles in 39 provinces
Rescue missions in some areas have been restricted due to fuel shortage.
Asian airlines pick up Europe-bound traffic amid Middle East route disruptions
Several carriers said they have scheduled additional flights on Asia-Europe routes and demand is strong.
Iran calls for regional coordination in calls with Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan
DUBAI, March 19 - Iran's foreign minister called for vigilance and regional coordination in separate calls with counterparts in Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan as the military warned of a tougher response to any further attacks on its energy infrastructure, state media reported on
China cracks down on fentanyl networks in move long sought by Washington
BEIJING, March 19 - China has arrested seven people and subjected 12 more to \"criminal compulsory measures\" in a campaign targeting traffickers in fentanyl precursor chemicals, state media said on Thursday, a move long urged by the United States.
US intel doubts China will invade Taiwan in 2027
China may be preparing to take Taiwan, but not through a near-term invasion, as new US intelligence suggests it is prioritizing coercion, pressure and political absorption over outright war. The March report, entitled 2026 Annual Threat Assessment of US Intelligence Community,
Iran conflict looms large over Trump's meeting with Japan PM
The meeting with Sanae Takaichi comes days after Trump criticised Japan for not answering his demands for help in the Strait of Hormuz.
Myanmar junta touts surrender of over 500 rebel fighters
A Mandalay People’s Defence Force spokesman suggested the event was propaganda.
Iran war’s terrifying logic means no one can back down
The primary danger in the escalating Iran war is no longer the risk of expansion but a complete collapse of restraint. The conflict has surged past a contained bilateral US-Israel versus Iran exchange and become a wider regional crisis fueled by a dangerous conviction that
Russia vows compensation for culled cattle after farmers protests
MOSCOW, March 19 - Russian officials promised compensation to farmers in the Novosibirsk region on Thursday, where authorities have ordered thousands of cattle to be culled, sparking Russia's largest non-political protests since the start of the war in Ukraine.
Iran crisis lifts India bottled water prices, erasing Modi tax cut gains
Clean water is a privilege in the country of 1.4 billion people.
Children’s headphones on Temu, Amazon found with chemicals exceeding safety limits in South Korea
35 per cent of those tested contained substances at levels up to 200 times over the safety standard.
Iran considers levying transit fees on ships in Hormuz Strait, lawmaker says
DUBAI, March 19 - Iran is considering a proposal to levy transit fees on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a lawmaker said on Thursday, a potential bid to monetise Tehran's newfound grip over the critical waterway through which a fifth of global oil and liquefied
Weddings in South Korea reach highest number since 2018
The number of marriages had fallen for 11 consecutive years from 2012 before turning upwards in 2023.
Seoul braces itself for 260,000-strong BTS crowd with sweeping security plan
Entry will be restricted to designated pathways, while ID and bag checks may be conducted.
Billionaire Indonesian bank owner Michael Hartono dies at 86
He died in Singapore on March 19, according to the corporate secretary of one of his companies.
China calls killing of Iran’s Larijani, leaders ‘unacceptable’
"We have always opposed the use of force in international relations," said a foreign ministry spokesman.
To feed or fuel? Economists urge Indonesia to downsize free meals programme as oil prices soar
Fiscal strain on the economy is set to mount rapidly, especially since fuel at pump stations is government-subsidised.
From chemical producers to sento baths, Japan feels the heat from Middle East supply crisis
Japan may seek to purchase oil from non-Gulf destinations, including the US.
Fuel shortage hits taxi service at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport
Taxis have gradually begun suspending services, especially for long-distance trips.
2 Japan primary school teachers convicted for sharing voyeuristic student images on social media
The educators exploited pupils, sharing illicit images in a wider ring.
Thousands of Philippine jeepney drivers protest as rising fuel prices drive up costs
Local diesel prices more than doubled after global oil prices surged because of the Iran war.
Baby monkey Punch acclimatising, making new friends at Japan zoo
Punch became an internet sensation after clips of him clinging to a plush orang utan toy for comfort were shared.
India's ceramic hub grinds to a halt as Iran war chokes gas supply
Manufacturers stopped operations after supplies of propane and natural gas reduced sharply in recent days.
Tokyo’s cherry blossoms officially in bloom, 5 days earlier than average year
Blossoms will be in full bloom in about a week if warm temperatures continue.
Nepal investigating burning of Xi Jinping's book at university
KATHMANDU, March 19 - Nepal is investigating how some copies of a book authored by Chinese President Xi Jinping were burned at a university in the east of the country after the Chinese embassy expressed concern over the incident, officials said on Thursday.
China offers to work with Southeast Asia on energy security
BEIJING, March 19 - China, home to the world's biggest oil refining sector, said it was ready to work with Southeast Asia in addressing energy problems stemming from the war in Iran and called on the parties involved to immediately cease military operations.