Philippine lawmakers advance impeachment of Vice-President Duterte

If convicted, Ms Duterte would be removed from office and disqualified from holding any future government position.

Ahmad Samsuri’s PN chairman role does not make him opposition coalition’s prime ministerial pick: Muhyiddin

Former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin also said he will oppose all efforts for his former Bersatu deputy, Hamzah Zainudin, to rejoin Perikatan Nasional (PN) under a new party.

Why Iran isn’t attacking America’s bases in Turkey

Iran has attacked US bases in the Gulf States on the pretext that they were used to some extent by the US in its joint campaign with Israel against Iran. By that standard, however, it’s notable that Iran hasn’t attacked the two US bases in Turkey, namely its airbase in Incirlik

Philippine lawmakers advance impeachment of Vice President Duterte

MANILA, March 4 - Philippine lawmakers ordered Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday to respond to impeachment complaints against her after finding substance to allegations involving unexplained wealth, the misuse of public funds and making public threats against President

Kathmandu empties as about 800,000 Nepalis head home to vote

Authorities have reported hours-long jams over the weekend while photos show buses lining highways.

Indonesian teen killed during police response to street game

The fatal shooting comes amid heightened scrutiny of police conduct and use of force in the country.

South Korea woman and doctors guilty of murder of newborn baby

The case has gripped South Korea, where there is no regulation on how far into pregnancy an abortion can take place.

Myanmar junta to ration fuel for private vehicles, blaming Middle East shipping disruptions

Myanmar is heavily reliant on refined fuel imports from Singapore and Malaysia, which serve as regional processing hubs.

China says it seeks communications with US but vows to hold its ‘red lines’

China will resolutely defend its sovereignty, security and development interests, a spokesman said.

Japanese court upholds order to dissolve Unification Church

The church popularly known as Moonies came under scrutiny after the 2022 killing of ex-PM Shinzo Abe.

Indonesian governor returns $642,000 luxury official car amid public backlash

Budget cuts have forced many regional administrations to scale back programmes and tighten spending.

Taiwan indicts 62 over suspected scam centre operator Prince Group

Authorities in Singapore and Hong Kong have also seized assets or detained individuals linked to the Prince Group.

US-based Japanese doctor arrested upon extradition for allegedly vandalising shrine

He is accused of leaving oily smears at Katori Shrine in Chiba.

U.S., Kurds discuss potential Iran military operation, sources say

WASHINGTON, March 3 - Iranian Kurdish militias have consulted with the United States in recent days about whether, and how, to attack Iran's security forces in the western part of the country, according to three sources with knowledge of the matter.

South Korea overhauls immigration policy to attract more highly skilled workers

A new agriculture and fisheries skilled worker visa will also be introduced for seasonal workers.

Australian state to enshrine work-from-home rights in law

This will make Victoria the first jurisdiction in Australia to introduce work-from-home rights.

Hormuz doesn’t need to close to cripple Asia’s economies

If the Strait of Hormuz remains threatened and constrained by the war on Iran, Asia will face its most serious test of energy security since the 1973 oil embargo. For decades, policymakers understood the vulnerability, but few likely believed it would ever be realized on such a

Nepali women still sidelined in post-uprising polls

Those who contest must confront gendered stereotypes, biased media coverage and online abuse.

Indonesia will keep budget deficit below 3% of GDP as Middle East conflict lifts oil prices, minister says

A quarter of Indonesia's crude oil imports come from the Middle East, while the region also accounts for 30 per cent of the country's liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) imports.

South Korea's Kospi tanks as Asian stocks tumble on Middle East worries

The Kospi plunged 12 per cent on Wednesday (Mar 4), extending a steep selloff from the previous day as the escalating war in the Middle East rattled investor sentiment.

Japan high court upholds dissolution order for Unification Church

The order was requested by the government on the grounds that it unlawfully solicited financially ruinous donations.

US court convicts Japanese yakuza for trafficking nuclear material

North Korea to elect delegates to legislative assembly

Iran regime change a fantasy without US boots on the ground

After raining thousands of bombs on Iran, the United States and Israel are outsourcing the task of overthrowing the government to civilians who are unarmed and otherwise ill-equipped to take on the heavily armed oppressive forces they would face. US President Donald Trump and

Indonesia pauses talks on Board of Peace amid Iran conflict

President Prabowo held a rare late-night briefing with senior political leaders amid rising tensions in the Middle East.

EU’s burial in a Belgian castle

EU elite retreated to a Belgian castle on February 12 to formalize what other powers had long priced in: Europe is losing. Not a policy debate or a trade dispute, but the century itself. The get-together was billed as a consequential competitiveness summit. The outcome—pledging

British woman who reported Hong Kong rape convicted of blackmail

Prosecutors accused her of threatening to “make a false report to the police”.

What to know about the 'two sessions', China's biggest political meeting

The carefully choreographed annual meetings signal the priorities of the world's second-largest economy.

Nepal to vote in first election since Gen Z-led protests toppled government

KATHMANDU, March 4 - Nepal is heading to a general election on Thursday, the first after youth-led protests last September demanding an end to corruption, more jobs and cleaner politics led to the deaths of 77 people and forced the government to resign.

Australian girl, 8, killed in snowmobile accident in Japan

It is the fourth Australian death at a Japanese ski resort this year.

UK to stop issuing study visas for Myanmar, Afghanistan, Cameroon and Sudan

"Britain will always provide refuge to people fleeing war and persecution, but our visa system must not be abused," said Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.

Breaking: Khamenei son reportedly named Iran’s new supreme leader

Opposition channel IranIntl reports that the Assembly of Experts has elected Mojtaba Khamenei to be the next Supreme Leader. Mojtaba is the eldest son of the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. While we await confirmation and elaboration of this report, here is an earlier article setting

Does India's new AI model live up to claims of rivalling China's DeepSeek? CNA puts it to the test

Launched at a landmark event in India recently, homegrown firm Sarvam AI claims its new 105-billion-parameter model can rival China’s DeepSeek at a fraction of the computational cost. CNA tests how it stacks up against global peers.

DeepSeek power, but at lower cost? India’s new AI model prompts scrutiny, scepticism

Launched at a landmark event in India recently, homegrown firm Sarvam AI claims its new 105-billion-parameter model can rival China’s DeepSeek at a fraction of the computational cost. CNA tests how it stacks up against global peers.

France sending aircraft carrier to Mediterranean, Macron says

PARIS, March 3 - President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday said France was sending its aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to the Mediterranean and working to build a coalition that would help secure maritime traffic imperiled by the escalating crisis in the Middle East.

Trump says US will cut all trade with Spain over military bases, defence spending

WASHINGTON/MADRID, March 3 - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the United States would cut off all trade with Spain after the European country refused to let the U.S. military use its bases for missions linked to strikes on Iran.

Iran’s missile capability is significantly degraded

Most of Iran’s air defenses have been neutralized in key areas. On March 2, US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Dan Caine announced that local air superiority had been established over western Iran and Tehran. The IDF reported on March 2 that it has successfully targeted

Trump says US has knocked out many Iranian naval and air targets

WASHINGTON, March 3 - President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the U.S. military had been successful against many Iranian naval and air targets, saying \"just about everything has been knocked out.\"

US Troops were told Iran war is for ‘Armageddon,’ return of Jesus

This article was originally published on Jonathan Larsen’s Substack. A combat-unit commander told non-commissioned officers at a briefing Monday that the Iran war is part of God’s plan and that President Donald Trump was “anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to

China’s Foreign Minister tells Israeli counterpart that attacks on Iran must end

Mr Wang Yi has not spoken to his US counterpart since the launch of the US-Israeli attack.

China's foreign minister tells Israeli counterpart that attacks on Iran must end

BEIJING, March 3 - China opposes the military strikes launched by Israel and the U.S. against Iran and demands an immediate cessation of hostilities, Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar on Tuesday, according to his ministry.

UK rapper Ghetts jailed for killing Nepali student in hit-and-run

LONDON, March 3 - British rapper Ghetts was jailed for 12 years on Tuesday for killing a Nepali student in a hit-and-run while driving dangerously and over the drink-drive limit.

Khamenei killing plays into Shiite Islam’s reverence for martyrs

The day Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed, the Iranian government called for 40 days of public mourning in line with Shiite tradition. It also praised the supreme leader for his martyrdom – a concept considered sacred and significant in the Islamic Republic and Shiite Islam.

US struggling to de-risk Congo's 'war zone minerals' even after pact, sources say

DAKAR/KINSHASA, March 2 - The U.S. has made progress in its push to prise Congo's strategic minerals from China's orbit, but conflict, contested licences and compliance demands are still slowing Washington's advance into a region its rival dominates, diplomats and industry

Iran betting Gulf pain will force Trump to seek a deal

Washington’s allies in the Persian Gulf have found themselves in a position they have long sought to avoid: on the front line and bearing the brunt of a widening Middle East conflict. Having been dragged into a war of choice by the US – one which many around the world are

UN warns 200,000 more Afghan children face acute malnutrition in 2026

International aid to Afghanistan has fallen sharply since 2021.

Israeli military says Iranian missiles hit central Israel

JERUSALEM, March 3 - Israel's military on Tuesday reported strikes in the Tel Aviv area of Israel from Iranian missiles.

Malaysia Airlines to resume Jeddah, Madinah flights from March 4-8

Flights to Doha remain suspended until March 7 as the airline assesses situation in the Middle East.