Fatbikes are wreaking havoc in Sydney's wealthy beach suburbs

Teens are infuriating locals by riding over golf courses and doing wheelies on the Harbour Bridge.

White House says US well on way toward controlling Iran airspace

WASHINGTON, March 6 - The United States is well on its way toward controlling Iranian airspace, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Friday, adding that Washington expects the achievable U.S. objectives to be completed in four to six weeks.

US pressing Sri Lanka not to repatriate Iranian crew and survivors from sunken ship, memo says

WASHINGTON, March 6 - The United States is pressing Sri Lanka's government not to repatriate the survivors from the Iranian warship it sank this week, as well as the crew of a second Iranian ship that is in Sri Lankan custody, according to an internal State Department cable

Fast-fashion garments pile up in South Asia as Middle East conflict grounds planes

Fast-fashion brands around the world rely on South Asia for a steady stream of new T-shirts, dresses and jeans.

Overseas votes in Denmark election may not arrive in time due to Middle East turmoil, government says

STOCKHOLM, March 6 - Denmark's government said on Friday that the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East may prevent some overseas votes in the country's March 24 general election from arriving in time to be counted.

Missile fire hinders Middle East rescue flights as airspace edges open

US-Israel war with Iran cancels flights, stranding passengers as airlines scramble and fuel prices surge.

China unveils measures to become ‘best export destination’ amid global turmoil and surplus scrutiny

Speaking on Friday (Mar 6), Chinese commerce minister Wang Wentao outlined incentives aimed at drawing global businesses into China’s vast domestic market.

Sri Lanka denounces war deaths, houses Iran sailors

The Iranian ship IRIS Bushehr sought port entry in Sri Lanka after the vessel reported engine trouble.

EU's Costa, von der Leyen talk to Middle Eastern leaders on Monday, spokesperson says

BRUSSELS, March 6 - EU leaders Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen will hold a video conference with Middle Eastern leaders on Monday to discuss the situation in the region, a spokesperson for Costa said on Friday.

Philippines shifts to four-day work week as Iran war pushes oil prices up

"We are victims of a war that is not of our choosing," said President Ferdinand Marcos, adding: "But we control how we will protect the Filipino (people)."

Prudence or backsliding? China’s new climate target mirrors shifting realities

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has affected China's energy security, prompting a reassessment.

Iran war could ultimately weaken US and benefit China

The widening conflict between the United States and Iran is already reshaping the Middle East’s geopolitical landscape. Supporters of Washington’s military campaign argue that weakening Tehran will restore deterrence and protect regional allies. Yet the broader strategic

Singapore ready to enter new chapter in relations with Japan, deepen ties with China and South Korea: Sim Ann

Singapore hopes Japan will find ways to resolve its outstanding wartime issues, says the Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

Russia and Ukraine swap 300 soldiers each on second day of exchange

KYIV, March 6 - Ukraine and Russia exchanged 300 service personnel each on Friday in the second day of a two‑day prisoner swap, with some of those released having been held since 2022 in the war.

Malaysian PM Anwar, police chief sued over calling out alleged plot to overthrow government

Anwar and Mahathir have been locked in an on-off rivalry that has shaped Malaysia’s politics for decades.

Malaysia PM, police chief sued over calling out alleged plot

KUALA LUMPUR, March 6 - The family of Malaysia's influential former finance minister filed a lawsuit on Friday against the prime minister, chief of police and the government to halt what they said were false claims of a plot to overthrow the government allegedly involving his

Lithuania prosecutes five people over 2024 parcel blasts

VILNIUS, March 6 - Lithuania's deputy general prosecutor said on Friday he has initiated court proceedings against five persons over detonations of parcels carried by DHL and DPD in Europe in 2024.

India’s ceramics and tiles industry faces shutdown as Middle East conflict disrupts fuel shipments

The industry relies on propane and natural gas to fire its kilns.

Sri Lanka moving 208 rescued Iranian ship crew to naval camp, sources say

GALLE, Sri Lanka, March 6 - Sri Lankan authorities said on Friday they were escorting a second Iranian naval vessel to harbour and moving 208 of its crew to a camp, two days after a U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship in the same area.

Iran war rocks Indian Ocean, torpedoing India’s strategic autonomy

The US-Iran war has reached the Indian Ocean. The sinking of the Iranian navy frigate IRIS Dena, reportedly struck by a US submarine about 40 nautical miles south of Galle, Sri Lanka, has pushed the confrontation far beyond its traditional arena in the Persian Gulf. Iranian

Indonesian court acquits four activists accused of inciting deadly 2025 student protests

JAKARTA, March 6 - An Indonesian court on Friday acquitted an activist accused of inciting the country's worst riots in over two decades in August last year, a ruling described by rights groups as a small victory for civil liberties in the Southeast Asian country.

US allies paying the price for Washington’s war

Subscribe now with a one-month trial for only $1, then enjoy the first year at an exclusive rate of just $99. ‘Epic tag team’ inflicts collateral damage on East AsiaScott Foster reports that the US-Israeli attack on Iran has delivered a severe energy shock to East Asia,

South Korea says in talks with US on possible relocation of weapons

South Korea, a US security ally, hosts US air defence assets, including Patriot missile interceptors, to deter nuclear-armed North Korea.

Azerbaijan says it is evacuating its diplomats from Iran for their own safety

BAKU, March 6 - Azerbaijan is evacuating its diplomats from Iran for their own safety, Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said on Friday, a day after Baku said four Iranian drones had crossed its border and injured four people in the Nakhchivan exclave.

Putrajaya 30 years on: The capital that never quite replaced Kuala Lumpur

Find out why Putrajaya has become a paradox decades after its founding.

How one woman got a sexist Malaysian billboard taken down – and how to stop more from appearing

Complaints can be lodged with watchdogs like Advertising Standards Malaysia.

Indonesia to restrict social media access for children under 16, minister says

JAKARTA, March 6 - Indonesia will restrict access to social media platforms for children under 16, its communications and digital ministry said on Friday, making it the latest country to install online guardrails to reduce the risks of addiction and cyberbullying.

56 Afghan civilians killed in conflict with Pakistan since last week: UN

Japanese film director jailed for 8 years for sexual assualt

Hideo Sakaki pleaded not guilty and appealed the March 6 ruling.

Malaysia can maintain RON95 petrol price for up to two months, says PM Anwar

He noted that the 200 vessels currently stuck at the Strait of Hormuz will have an effect on trade.

Most Asian equities drop as Mideast crisis rages, though oil dips

Pakistani, Afghan border forces clash as UN says war displaces 100,000

KABUL, March 6 - Pakistani and Afghan troops exchanged fire at dozens of points along their border on Friday as the U.N. said their week-old conflict has forced the displacement of more than 100,000 people.

Pakistani, Afghan border forces clash as UN says 100,000 displaced by conflict

The South Asian nations show no signs of rapprochement in their worst fighting in years.

Indonesia to ban social media access for under-16s

The ban will be introduced in stages “until all platforms fulfil their compliance obligations”.

CK Hutchison steps up legal push as Panama moves to seize ports

March 6 - Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison said on Friday it has escalated its legal fight in Panama after the government seized its port operations, petitioning for a review of the decree behind the takeover.

Indonesia to ban social media access for under-16s, says communications minister amid a ‘digital emergency’

Implementation will begin on Mar 28 this year, with Communications Minister Meutya Hafid saying that the regulation makes Indonesia the “first non-Western country” to introduce age-appropriate access restrictions in the digital space.

Nepal counts votes after key post-uprising election

India’s tech state Karnataka bans social media for children under 16

India is the world's second-biggest smartphone market with 750 million devices and a billion internet users.

Body parts found on Bali beach belonged to kidnapped Ukrainian tourist: Indonesian police

Police say the motive for the crime is still under investigation.

Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai will not appeal conviction

Lai was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in jail last month on charges for sedition and collusion with foreign forces.

Australia complains to China after encounter between military helicopters

It is the latest in a series of military encounters involving China that Australia has called out publicly.

Indonesia begins evacuating citizens from Iran as war rages

A first batch of 32 Indonesians was expected to arrive in Jakarta on March 9 or 10.

Malaysia says approved investments hit record high of US$108 billion in 2025

A total of 8,390 projects were approved, with the potential of creating nearly 245,000 jobs for Malaysians, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said.

New Zealand’s ruling party plunges in polls, PM Luxon rules out resigning

March 6 - Support for New Zealand’s ruling National party has fallen to its lowest level in more than four years and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is no longer voters’ preferred leader, polling showed on Friday.

Australia forces porn sites to block under-18s from March 9

Failure to comply can bring penalties of up to A$49.5 million (S$45.5 million) per breach.

Philippines mulls over shorter work week, less air-con to save energy

Some government agencies said they will provide fuel subsidies to fisherfolk, farmers and public transport drivers.

Tokyo says second Japanese citizen held in Iran

New Zealand PM Luxon rules out resignation after poll shock

PM Christopher Luxon is struggling to win over voters ahead of 2026’s election.