Stink of crime hangs over Vietnam chemical plant

Residents living next to the complex coexist with toxic fumes from the factories.

Indonesian UN peacekeeper killed, some injured in southern Lebanon

The Indonesian peacekeeper was killed when a projectile exploded at one of its positions near the southern Lebanese village.

DeepSeek goes down for seven hours in biggest outage since debut

The extended downtime is unusual for DeepSeek, which carries the mantle of China’s AI breakthrough.

Myanmar junta leader nominated for presidential vote by MP

March 30 - Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing was nominated by a lawmaker on Monday for a parliamentary vote that will select the new president of the war-torn Southeast Asian nation, as the powerful veteran general seeks a political role.

Iran war exposing the real cost of Trump’s anti-EV crusade

“Without fuel they were nothing. They’d built a house of straw. The thundering machines sputtered and stopped.” — “The Road Warrior” Here is a chart of US gasoline prices: US$4 per gallon gas isn’t historically that high. If you measure relative to typical American incomes,

Trump calls Iran's current leaders 'very reasonable' as Pakistan prepares to host talks

WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD, March 30 - President Donald Trump said the U.S. and Iran have been meeting \"directly and indirectly\" and that Iran's new leaders have been \"very reasonable\", as more U.S troops arrived in the region and Tehran warned it will not accept humiliation.

Philippines oil refinery secures 2.5 million barrels of Russian crude

The Philippines has seen the price of fuel hit historic highs since the US-Israeli war with Iran.

South Korea weighs first driving curbs in 35 years on oil crunch

Expanding restrictions to the private sector would be the first such move since the 1991 Gulf War.

Indonesian govt urges apps to comply as social media ban comes into force

It said only Bigo Live and X have “fully complied” by setting minimum user ages on their platforms.

Malaysians cutting back on car washes as prolonged heatwave fuels water shortage concerns

One worker says patrons who once washed their cars weekly are now stretching visits to just twice a month.

Malaysia no longer top source of foreign students to Taiwan amid surge in those from Vietnam

Taiwan has been actively recruiting international students to make up for its shrinking university enrolment numbers.

Thailand closes parks with high fire risk, warns of 20 years jail for those who burn illegally

Authorities said the wildfire and haze situation in several areas remains worrying.

Australia to halve tax on fuel, underwrite spot cargoes in wake of Iran war

The government would also pause the road user charge on heavy vehicles for three months.

April showers expected to ease Malaysia’s hot and dry spell: Experts

The current hot and dry spell is forecast to persist for about another week before the weather improves.

Taiwan’s opposition leader to visit China in April, ahead of Trump

Kuomintang said Cheng Li-wun was grateful for the invitation and had “gladly” accepted it.

Taiwan's opposition leader to visit China next month, ahead of Trump

BEIJING/TAIPEI, March 30 - The leader of Taiwan's largest opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), will visit China in April after being invited by Chinese President Xi Jinping, a trip that will come a month before U.S. President Donald Trump goes to Beijing for his own summit.

‘Daddy’: Malaysian actress Bella Astillah’s son warms hearts at mum’s engagement to Syed Saddiq

Malaysian MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and singer-actress Bella Astillah got engaged on March 28.

Oil rises above $115 and Asia shares slide as Iran war enters fifth week

It comes after Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen joined the conflict by striking Israel over the weekend.

Air China resumes flights to North Korea after 6-year pause

The move is another sign isolated North Korea is gradually opening up following the resumption of train services between the capitals.

Australian fugitive Dezi Freeman shot dead after months on the run, police believe

Freeman has been wanted since the fatal shooting of two police officers in Porepunkah in August.

Fugitive accused of killing two Australian police officers shot dead

SYDNEY, March 30 - Australian police have shot dead a fugitive gunman who had been on the run since August after allegedly killing two officers in the state of Victoria, Australian media reported on Monday.

Australian police believe fugitive accused of killing two officers shot dead

Authorities had offered a reward of about $882,550 for information leading to his capture.

Australian sky turns an apocalyptic blood red ahead of Tropical Cyclone Narelle

This took place as dust filled the air ahead of the tropical cyclone's arrival, said a forecasting company.

Stocks slide in Asia, Brent crude heads for record monthly rise

Brent crude has gained 59 per cent this month, topping the jump that followed Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990.

Why Chinese tech companies are racing to set up in Hong Kong

Mainland firms are using the territory to test products and as a springboard for global expansion.

Israeli parliament approves 2026 state budget, spokesperson says

March 30 - Israel's parliament approved the 2026 state budget, a Knesset spokesperson said in a statement early on Monday, allowing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to head off early elections as his country's joint war with the U.S. on Iran continues.

UNIFIL says one peacekeeper killed, one critically injured in southern Lebanon explosion

March 30 - The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said a peacekeeper was killed when a projectile exploded at one of its positions near the southern Lebanese village of Adchit al-Qusayr on Sunday.

CNA Explains: Why Asia will bear the economic brunt of the Iran war

Singapore's Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has described the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as an "Asian crisis".

Asia's EVolution: Building cars is easy, fixing them isn't. Meet the hands behind China's EV boom

Part of CNA’s series on the forces powering electric vehicles in Asia, this piece follows the mechanics, technicians and sales workers scrambling to keep pace with China’s EV boom.

Educated and employed but still struggling: India's middle class under strain

Once aspirational, India's middle class today are finding fewer avenues for their ambition.

Chongqing surpassed Shanghai in consumer spending. Singaporeans played a part

Tourists have helped Chongqing break Shanghai’s seven-year record to claim the pole position.

Tech powerhouse, China gateway, talent magnet: How Hong Kong is coming for the world’s best

Trump calls new Iran leaders ‘very reasonable’ as Pakistan prepares to host peace talks

Initial discussions between regional powers had focused on proposals to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Pakistan prepares to host peace talks as Iran accuses US of ground assault plans

ISLAMABAD/TEL AVIV, March 29 - Pakistan said on Sunday it was preparing to host \"meaningful talks\" to end the conflict over Iran in coming days even though Tehran earlier accused Washington of preparing a land assault while seeking negotiations.

Victory options narrowing as Trump prepares Iran ground assault

President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to launch some kind of ground assault on Iran in the coming weeks, but one prominent military strategy expert believes he’s heading straight for defeat. The Washington Post on Saturday reported that the Pentagon is preparing for

Pakistan says it’s ready to facilitate US-Iran talks within days

The foreign ministers have called for creating conditions for structured negotiations between the relevant parties.

Israeli police block Catholic cardinal from Jerusalem's Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticised the police action, saying that denying entry to religious leaders "constitutes an offence not only to believers, but for every community that recognises religious freedom."

Two Australian states offer free public transport as war pushes up fuel prices

Victoria and Tasmania incentivise commuters not to drive as the Iran war causes the price of petrol to shoot up.

Over 300 Vietnamese arrested after Cambodia scam bust: Police

The arrests of 343 people on internet fraud charges were made on March 27.

UK counter terror officers join probe after car hits pedestrians, injuring 7

LONDON, March 29 - British counter terrorism officers are assisting police after a driver who struck pedestrians in the city of Derby on Saturday night was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, police said on Sunday.

Pakistan hosts regional powers for Iran talks with focus on Hormuz proposals

ISLAMABAD/ISTANBUL, March 29 - Pakistan hosted talks with Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia on Sunday as part of its efforts to broker an end to the Iran war, with initial discussions focused on proposals to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, sources familiar with the matter

Indonesia eyes savings of $3 billion from cut in free meal programme

The measure was taken in response to price pressures from the Iran war.

Nepal’s former prime minister attends court hearing in protest crackdown case

The former home minister, who was also arrested, appeared in court.

South Korea moves to curb social media algorithms for children

A survey showed that smartphone overuse has been on the rise for teens in South Korea.

Malaysia cops arrest four for allegedly setting off fireworks from car

A video showing a man setting off fireworks from a moving vehicle in Bukit Jelutong went viral.

China conducts patrol around disputed South China Sea shoal

BEIJING, March 29 - China conducted naval, air and coast guard patrols around the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea on Sunday, its military and Coast Guard said.

China protests US alert over security rules change in Hong Kong

BEIJING, March 29 - China's top diplomat in Hong Kong has met the senior U.S. diplomat in the city to protest against a U.S. public alert over new security rules in Hong Kong, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

Seoul to boost Wi-Fi access in popular tourist areas

The government will expand high-speed public Wi-Fi to improve convenience for foreign visitors.