A right-wing populist party made big poll gains - and it's shaking up Australian politics

Pauline Hanson's One Nation is riding a wave of popularity driven by voters weary of mainstream parties.

Doubts swirl around US plans for seized $15bn Prince Group crypto

The US Justice Department last October announced the largest asset seizure in American history: a cache of bitcoin then valued at $15 billion tied to the Cambodia-based Prince Group that prosecutors alleged oversaw an empire of human trafficking and industrial-scale scamming.

North Korea's Kim Jong Un welcomed Belarus President Lukashenko to Pyongyang, KCNA says

SEOUL, March 26 - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un welcomed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to Pyongyang on Wednesday, North Korean state media KCNA said on Thursday, touting ties between the two close allies of Russia's Vladimir Putin.

Iran wants Lebanon included in any ceasefire, sources say

BEIRUT, March 25 - Iran has told intermediaries that Lebanon must be included in any ceasefire agreement with the United States and Israel, six regional sources familiar with Iran's position said, linking an end of the war to a halt to Israel's offensive against Hezbollah.

Trump reschedules Iran-delayed China visit for May 14-15

WASHINGTON, March 25 - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he would visit China for a rescheduled state visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on May 14 and 15, rescheduling a closely watched trip that was delayed due to the ongoing Iran war.

Trump to hit Iran harder if Tehran does not accept defeat, White House says

WASHINGTON, March 25 - President Donald Trump will hit Iran harder if Tehran fails to accept that the country has been \"defeated militarily,\" White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday.

A-10 can protect US nuclear and other bases against drone threats

American military bases, especially those situated in the United States, lack air defenses. To the degree that this was regarded as a problem, the issue was framed as defense against ballistic missile attack. The only defense against ballistic missiles is to use integrated air

Ukraine-US fund approves first investment, in navigation producer

KYIV/WASHINGTON, March 25 - The Ukraine-U.S. joint reconstruction fund has approved its first investment project, in Sine Engineering, a Lviv-based communications and navigation technology producer, the Ukrainian prime minister said on Wednesday.

Trump fed a daily propaganda reel of Iran ‘stuff blowing up’: NBC

A Wednesday report from NBC News is raising concerns that President Donald Trump may be getting a rose-colored view of the war he started with Iran. According to NBC News, US military officials show Trump a daily two-minute video montage of operations conducted in the Iran war,

Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026: Hong Kong’s Chairman takes top spot, Odette is Singapore’s top restaurant

Singapore has four restaurants on the list and Odette’s head sommelier Lesley Liu is named Asia’s Best Sommelier.

Are humans becoming data for robots? Questions remain as China makes advances in sector

But China's tech company leaders agree that humans must make the final decisions, not robots.

US eyes swift Middle East return of minesweepers held up in Singapore, official says

The ships had been at sea for quite some time due to military operations.

Any decision to send forces to Strait of Hormuz will be ‘in accordance with law’: Japan PM Takaichi

The Japanese leader also spoke on the diversification of crude oil procurement sources.

Indian singer's drowning was accidental - Singapore coroner

The coroner ruled that there was no evidence of foul play in the death of iconic singer Zubeen Garg.

India buys first Iran LPG cargo in years after US eases sanctions, sources say

India has been hit hard by the disruption of energy shipments via the Strait of Hormuz.

Signs of jet fuel hoarding emerge in Asia on Iran oil shock

Airlines in Asia have begun cutting flights to reduce fuel usage.

Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh worry ahead of food aid cuts

Former Chinese aerospace exec gets suspended death sentence over corruption, insider trading

Tan Ruisong was found guilty on charges of embezzlement, bribery, insider trading and leaking insider information.

Thailand’s pet food exports surge, but rising competition and global risks may slow growth

The country is now the world’s second-largest pet food exporter – trailing only Germany – and is projected to grow exports to US$5 billion by 2030.

Garuda Indonesia trapped in a relentless financial tailspin

The scene inside Garuda Indonesia’s hangars at the end of 2025 was one of stark contradiction. On paper, the airline has just secured a massive capital injection of 23.7 trillion rupiah (roughly US$1.4 billion) from Danantara, the state investment vehicle. In reality, however,

Russia says it remains in contact with US on Ukraine settlement

MOSCOW, March 25 - Russia remains in contact with the United States on a possible settlement of the conflict in Ukraine and hopes Washington will continue its mediation efforts, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday.

How far can Iran’s ballistic missiles really reach?

Iran fired two ballistic missiles on March 20, 2026, at the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia, which hosts a strategically important joint US-UK military base, according to US, UK and Israeli officials. One missile broke apart during flight, and the other appears to have been

N. Korea’s Kim welcomes fellow Putin ally Lukashenko with fanfare

March 25 - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Pyongyang on Wednesday with a white-horse cavalry and 21-gun salute, cementing ties between two close allies of Russia's Vladimir Putin.

China demands Japan punish military officer who breached embassy in Tokyo

BEIJING/TOKYO, March 25 - China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday demanded that Japan conduct an investigation into and severely punish an officer from the Self-Defense Forces who was arrested on suspicion of breaking into the Chinese embassy in Tokyo.

Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City reports first three deaths linked to hand, foot and mouth disease in 2026

Nearly 7,300 cases have been reported citywide since the beginning of the year.

Testing ideas, absorbing criticism: Prabowo defends policy decisions in 6-hour roundtable discussion

President Prabowo Subianto took opportunity to directly defend his policy decisions.

Bus trips home for Songkran delayed by lack of fuel? From Bangkok to Hanoi, fears grow over fuel

Thailand imports about half of its crude oil from the Middle East.

China cashes in on Taiwan’s Mideast evacuation fumble

Following the US-Israel strikes on Iran on February 28, major airlines canceled numerous flights to and from Middle Eastern countries, leaving many travelers stranded. This sparked a race between Beijing and Taipei to evacuate Taiwanese travelers from the region. On March 10, a

Chiang Mai’s Red Line tram aims to cut pollution and improve city transport

The tram is expected to begin operations in 2032.

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

One of the main delays is to a 2019 order for 66 Lockheed Martin F-16V fighters, with deliveries to begin this year.

China says it has right to retaliate against Mexico's tariff hikes

BEIJING, March 25 - China said on Wednesday that Mexico's trade measures against it, including tariff increases, constitute trade and investment barriers and that it had the right to take countermeasures.

Japan Prime Minister Takaichi asks IEA chief for further oil stockpile release

A joint release of 400 million barrels was agreed upon on March 11.

Myanmar’s rice farmers scrounge for diesel as Iran conflict dries up supply

Queues at fuel depots start to form as early as 3am.

6th Singaporean nabbed for murder of Singaporean in JB

The police are still investigating the motive for the murder.

Planned salary cuts in Indonesia for public officials welcomed

The proposal is part of measures to mitigate the economic impact of the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Stray Ukrainian drones hit Estonia, Latvia, including power station, officials say

VILNIUS/RIGA, March 25 - Two stray Ukrainian military drones entered the airspace of Estonia and Latvia on Wednesday morning via Russia, one of which slammed into a chimney at a local power station while the other crash landed, the two Baltic countries said.

Genting Highlands road charge system trial begins April 2

The trial will be conducted at two key entry points and no payment will be imposed during that time.

Philippine purple yam boom under strain from climate pressures

Global demand for ube is rising, but the crop is vulnerable to erratic weather, prompting some farmers to switch to more resilient alternatives.

Graffiti conviction for Australian woman who stuck googly eyes on sculpture

The woman had taken MDMA and three litres of vodka when she vandalised the piece nicknamed Blue Blob.

Philippines says working with Washington to obtain oil from U.S.-sanctioned countries

MANILA, March 25 - The Philippines is working with Washington to secure waivers and exemptions that will allow it to obtain oil from U.S.-sanctioned countries and guarantee supplies, its ambassador to the United States said.

Airstrike in western Anbar kills 7 Iraqi soldiers, wounds 13

BAGHDAD, March 25 - Seven Iraqi soldiers were killed and 13 others wounded in an airstrike on a site belonging to Iraq's Shi'ite Popular Mobilization Forces near an army medical centre in western Anbar, security sources and the defence ministry said on Wednesday.

Taiwan wary that China could exploit US distraction over Middle East war

“This is a moment for China to exercise influence,” said a senior Taiwan security official.

ChatGPT moment for humanoid robots 2 to 10 years away, say Chinese tech leaders

During a panel discussion at the Boao Forum for Asia on Wednesday (Mar 25), experts also cited Singapore as a model for emerging artificial intelligence governance.

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.

Iran’s US radar strike exposes China’s South China Sea gap

Iran reportedly struck and destroyed the US AN/TPY-2 radar deployed in Jordan during its ongoing war with the United States and Israel. What makes the AN/TPY-2 distinctive is that, despite operating in the X-band of the electromagnetic spectrum — which is generally suited for

Thai tanker safely transits Strait of Hormuz after talks with Iran

The tanker crossed the strategic waterway on Monday after successful talks between Thailand's foreign minister and Iran's ambassador to Thailand.

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.