4 out of 30 urns stolen from Malaysian memorial park found, say police

The police have recorded statements from 10 individuals related to the case.

Thai tanker safely transits Strait of Hormuz after talks with Iran

Exotic pet trade thrives in China despite welfare concerns

Approximately 17.07 million people in China have exotic pets, state news agency Xinhua reported in 2025.

Asia looks to Covid-era playbook to tackle fuel crisis

Asia buys more than 80 per cent of the crude that transits the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blocked.

Asia looks to COVID-era playbook to tackle fuel crisis

Thailand at risk of losing 3 million visitors if Iran war persists

The tourism industry is looking to court more wealthy Middle Eastern travellers seeking refuge.

How is the Philippines reacting to its energy emergency?

BBC News Asia Business Correspondent Suranjana Tewari reports from a petrol station in Manila.

Indian man whose life support was removed after court go-ahead dies

Harish Rana, 31, had been in a comatose state since 2013 after he fell from a fourth-floor balcony.

Philippine House orders submission of V-P Duterte’s asset records

She has denied accusations of threatening to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and misusing public funds.

When missiles aren’t enough, America still calls its Marines

Not many years ago, Marine Corps strategists and the Commandant declared that long-range precision weapons and ubiquitous satellite surveillance had made amphibious operations too risky, if not obsolete. Any amphibious fleet, the argument went, would be spotted and sunk. The

Thailand orders nationwide crackdown on fuel and goods prices

Those who hoard supplies or manipulate prices could face up to 10 years in prison.

Rights group warns of ‘dystopian’ Hong Kong after bookstore arrests

Officers searched the bookshop as its owner faced allegations of selling seditious publications.

Japan’s cherry blossom fans face record-high food prices

Steamed sweet buns saw the biggest price increase among 14 items tracked.

Japan says Chinese embassy break-in ‘regrettable’

The suspect, Kodai Murata, 23, was arrested on March 24 on suspicion of trespassing.

Seibu department store in Tokyo’s Shibuya to close in September: Sources

The operator failed to reach a lease agreement with the land and building owners amid redevelopment.

Thailand braces itself for blistering heat as temperatures top 40 deg C in North and Central regions

Bangkok and surrounding areas are expected to remain hot with daytime haze.

Giant pipe rising out of ground in Osaka cut off; cause still under investigation

The city plans to continue using the pipe for a new sewer pipe about 30m underground as a measure against flooding.

Belarus leader visits North Korea for first time

The two-day visit was to deepen ties and identify key areas of mutual interest.

Roblox to introduce new controls in Indonesia to comply with child social media block

Indonesia will require platforms to deactivate “high risk” social media accounts for under 16s.

'Major player' in alleged mistaken identity kidnap of Sydney grandfather charged

The 23-year-old is the third man to be charged in connection with the death of Chris Baghsarian.

Iran military spokesperson says US is negotiating with itself, state media

March 25 - The United States is negotiating with itself, an Iranian military spokesman said according to state media on Wednesday, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump said Tehran wants to make a deal to end the war in the Middle East.

Schools in Malaysia told to step up measures as hot weather persists

All outdoor activities must be postponed if temperatures exceed 35 deg C.

15 heat-related cases, one child death reported in Malaysia

Between Jan 1 and March 24, there were 11 cases of heat exhaustion, three cases of heat stroke and one case of heat cramps.

Stop all open burning activities, urges Malaysia’s Fire and Rescue Department

Firemen have to attend to more than 400 cases daily involving open burning, forest and shrub fires nationwide.

South Korea enters emergency mode as Middle East crisis bites

“The impact on South Korea could linger on, and the damage from it will gradually swell," said an official.

Diesel price more than doubles in Vietnam since Middle East war

The finance ministry has proposed halving the environmental protection tax on petrol and diesel.

Ex-Japanese police officer convicted of leak to crime group

The former officer is believed to have leaked images taken by police-installed cameras.

Israel strikes Tehran as Trump says US negotiating to end war

CAIRO/WASHINGTON March 25 - Israel struck the Iranian capital Tehran on Wednesday, Israeli military and Iranian media said, as President Donald Trump said the U.S. was making progress in its efforts to negotiate an end to the war, with reports of a 15-point plan sent to Tehran.

‘Nappy ending’: Dirty diapers born again in Japan recycling breakthrough

The collected diapers are shredded, washed and separated into pulp, plastic and SAP.

China steps into Iran breach as investments face fire

Tehran has promised to ensure safe passage for vessels from all countries except those at war with it in the Strait of Hormuz, after Beijing intervened in the US-Iran conflict. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Tuesday told Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during a

Seaweed prices surge in Japan due to poor harvests amid rising sea temperatures

The domestic production of nori for fiscal 2024 was about half the fiscal 2001 figure.

Taiwan says US has ‘high’ urgency in speeding up weapons deliveries

Deliveries of many of the weapons systems ordered have already begun or arrived.

Taiwan says US has 'high' urgency in speeding up weapons deliveries

TAIPEI, March 25 - The United States has \"quite a high\" sense of urgency in helping Taiwan strengthen its military capabilities and is working to help speed up delayed weapons deliveries, the island's Defence Minister Wellington Koo said on Wednesday.

BTS comeback concert on Netflix draws 18.4m global viewers

The livestreamed show saw the band perform together for the first time since October 2022.

Zhang Xuefeng, China exam tutor turned influencer, dies at 41

He was widely recognised for his expertise in college application and postgraduate admission counselling.

Vietnam’s Vietjet budget airline adjusts schedules over potential fuel shortages

It said it will maintain services on all of its 64 international routes.

How Pakistan became the Iran war’s indispensable mediator

When Pakistani Field Marshal Asim Munir addressed Pakistan’s parliamentary security committee in March 2025, he asked a question that had been hanging over the country for years. “How long will we continue to sacrifice countless lives in the style of a soft state?” The question

South Korean politicians are shaving their heads again. Does anyone care?

Experts say such protests, once a powerful political tool, have been exploited.

‘Hero’ Australian dog who saved 100 koalas retires

Bear saved over 100 koalas as the Black Summer bushfires raged from late 2019 to early 2020.

Phuket’s water supply will last till June if current dry weather persists, say authorities

The Thai province's governor has instructed all relevant agencies to urgently gather water-related data.

Australia public broadcaster staff strike over pay for first time in 20 years

SYDNEY, March 25 - Hundreds of staff at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation began a one-day strike on Wednesday, the first walkout in 20 years, over pay and working conditions, disrupting live news coverage at the public broadcaster.

Philippines working with Washington to obtain oil from US-sanctioned countries

The Philippines on March 24 declared a state of national energy emergency.

Malaysia border agency nabs 17, including 2 S’poreans, at JB checkpoint over immigration offences

Inspections revealed they had entered the checkpoint area and failing to produce valid travel documents.

Australia's public broadcaster ABC hit by staff walkout

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation was forced to replace live programming with pre-recorded shows.

Philippines says working with Washington to obtain oil from US-sanctioned countries

South Korean alleged ‘drug lord’ running ring from Philippines jail extradited

This allows the suspect to be investigated and face trial in South Korea.

South Korean alleged 'drug lord' running ring from Philippines jail extradited

SEOUL, March 25 - South Korean police on Wednesday took into custody an alleged \"drug lord\" accused of running a narcotics ring in the country from a Phillipines prison, officials said on Wednesday.