Grim haze threat as Indonesia battles early forest fires ahead of El Nino
The country is bracing itself for an unusually harsh and prolonged dry season this year.
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Trump's signature on $100 bill to put him in small circle of sitting presidents
March 28 - When U.S. President Donald Trump's signature appears on $100 bills in June, it will end 165 years of the U.S. Treasurer signing banknotes and place Trump among a small band of sitting global leaders, most heads of developing economies, whose autographs or images have
Four family members arrested over death of eight-year-old girl in Perak, Malaysia
Suspicious injuries were also found on the victim’s body.
Australia-EU trade deal seeks to forge critical minerals alliance in hedge against China
EU commitment to buy rare earths could unlock sorely needed investment in Australian mining and processing.
India opens second international airport in capital
The Noida International Airport is 75km from the city.
S’pore Govt to address concerns over impacts of Middle East conflict: PM Wong
Updates will be provided at the next parliamentary sitting on April 7, he said.
Can the star power of Jay Chou and Shu Qi help Chinese brands escape price war trap?
In the especially competitive EV sector, over 20 carmakers have engaged brand ambassadors over the past year.
India opens second international airport in capital New Delhi
Noida International Airport is 75km from New Delhi and will serve 12 million passengers a year in its initial phase, with the potential to grow to as many as 70 million.
Pakistan to host talks with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt amid Iran war diplomacy
ISLAMABAD/ ISTANBUL, March 28 - Pakistan will host Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt for talks from Sunday on the Iran war as Islamabad positions itself as a potential venue for U.S.-Iran negotiations on the month-old conflict.
Pakistan to host Saudi, Turkey, Egypt for talks on Mid-East war
Pakistan’s prime minister said he had a “detailed” call with Iran’s president on March 28.
Thai PM Anutin says reached deal with Iran for vessels to transit Hormuz Strait
He said the development would alleviate concerns over fuel imports.
Seven Malaysian ships will leave Strait of Hormuz soon, says foreign minister
A Malaysian cargo ship carrying fertiliser had been given the green light to sail through earlier.
ASEAN countries won't take sides in US-China rivalry, want region kept open and inclusive: PM Wong
While major powers may have difficulties in their own relations, Singapore wants to remain friends with all of them and it should be possible to do so, says Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
Thailand says reached deal with Iran for vessels to transit Hormuz Strait
"With this agreement in place, there is greater confidence that disruptions like those seen in early March will not recur," says Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
Trump mulls 10,000 more Mideast troops as escalation fears grow
The Trump administration is reportedly considering sending 10,000 additional US troops to the Middle East amid mounting fears of an invasion of Iran, which is mobilizing its forces ahead of a possible ground assault. The Wall Street Journal reported that the new US troop
India’s calculated silence on the Iran war
The escalating confrontation in the Gulf is entering uncertain territory, with risks extending well beyond the region. For India, the stakes are unusually high—economically, strategically and politically—sparking calls for India to step in as a mediator. Given its deep economic
Singapore ‘increasingly’ seeing people from ‘different parts of Malaysian society’ wanting to intervene in its politics, policies: Shanmugam
Malaysian activist Fadiah Nadwa Fikri – who was refused entry to Singapore on Mar 22 – had “incited” activists in Singapore to break the law and use violence, said Singapore’s Coordinating Minister for National Security K Shanmugam.
Why US hasn’t dared try to take the Hormuz Strait
Since the United States and Israel launched their war against Iran in late February, Iran has retaliated by targeting commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, effectively shutting down the narrow channel of water. It’s caused a global fuel crisis, even though some ships are
Indonesia first in South-east Asia to curb social media use for children under 16
The policy is among the most aggressive efforts yet to police how minors use digital platforms.
Philippines first nation to declare energy emergency amid Iran war
In an unprecedented move underscoring the global reach of Middle East tensions, the Philippines has formally declared a national energy emergency. This marks the first and most direct emergency declaration by any nation in response to the geopolitical ripples caused by the
Thailand will have new government next week: Thai PM
Mr Anutin Charnvirakul apologised for the turmoil caused by the way oil prices have been managed.
Ghost of Suez haunts Trump’s Iran war
There is a particular kind of strategic catastrophe that announces itself dressed in the garb of bold necessity. History’s statesmen rarely declare that they are about to blunder into an unwinnable quagmire; they speak instead of existential threats forestalled, of windows of
Tourists raped in Bali in two separate cases
Police have arrested a suspect in one of the cases, while still pursuing the other.
Indonesia starts implementing social media restrictions for children under 16
The restrictions began on Mar 28, making Indonesia the first country in Southeast Asia to ban children from having accounts on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live and Roblox.
Narelle still disrupting Australia LNG as it weakens from tropical cyclone
Australia became the world’s second-largest LNG exporter after Qatar shut down production in March.
Malaysian singer-actress Bella Astillah engaged to politician Syed Saddiq
The couple’s engagement ceremony is expected to be held in Kuala Lumpur on the evening of March 28.
Nepal's ex-PM arrested over alleged role in protest crackdown
The arrests of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and ex-Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak come a day after PM Balendra Shah and his Cabinet were sworn in.
Malaysia’s nuclear energy plan under review
Deputy PM Fadillah Yusof said this covers areas such as policy development and project feasibility.
Nepal’s ex-prime minister arrested over alleged role in protest crackdown
Mr K.P. Sharma Oli’s Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) party called for a “nationwide protest”.
Nepal's ex-PM Oli held over deaths during Gen Z protests
KATHMANDU, March 28 - Nepal's former prime minister, K.P. Sharma Oli, was taken into custody on Saturday as police investigate whether he was negligent in failing to prevent dozens of deaths during Gen Z protests last September.
Australia to amend export-finance laws to boost fuel security, PM Albanese says
SYDNEY, March 28 - Australia will amend its export-finance laws in an effort to bolster fuel security as the Iran war continues to affect the nation's supply chain, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Saturday.
I escaped North Korea with my mum. Now I'm terrified she might be sent back
Geumseong survived a dangerous journey to South Korea, but his mother is stuck in a Chinese prison and may be forcibly repatriated.
From friends to foes: Pakistan, Taliban and the makings of a bigger war
A primary driver in the current war is the rise in terror attacks from the Pakistani Taliban.
After border clashes with Thailand, Cambodia’s economic time bomb ticks louder
The economic realities have raised questions over the performance of Cambodia’s leadership.
Transactional diplomacy and strategic ambiguity on Taiwan
An earlier version of this article was published by Pacific Forum. When Donald Trump told reporters in February 2026 that he had discussed Taiwan arms sales with Xi Jinping, the headlines wrote themselves. Commentators warned of betrayal; Taiwanese talk shows speculated about
China targets US trade barriers amid Section 301 probes
China has launched two trade-barrier investigations into US practices and measures that Beijng suspects disrupt global production and supply chains and restrict Chinese exports, particularly in green technology sectors. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce said on Friday (March 27)
A major disaster for Russia in shipyard attack
On March 25, during a massive drone attack in the Leningrad region, the Ukrainian General Staff announced that its “joint forces” had damaged the Vyborg Shipbuilding installation. Whoever carried it out and how, the attaack’s success was a huge disaster for the Russians, with
Iran's response to US peace proposal expected Friday, source says
WASHINGTON, March 27 - Iran's response to a U.S. peace proposal aimed at ending the war in the Middle East is expected later on Friday, according to a source briefed on the matter.
Malaysia and Indonesia to intensify diplomatic efforts to de-escalate Middle East war: Anwar
The Malaysian PM met Indonesian President Prabowo in Jakarta to discuss addressing the conflict.
US uses hundreds of Tomahawk missiles on Iran, alarming some at Pentagon, WaPo reports
March 27 - The U.S. military has fired over 850 Tomahawk cruise missiles in four weeks of war with Iran, burning through the precision weapons at a rate that has alarmed some Pentagon officials and prompted internal discussions about how to make more available, the Washington
Myanmar military signals leadership change ahead of presidential vote
March 27 - Myanmar's military leadership is set for a reshuffle following an annual armed forces parade on Friday, state media reported, in a rare public signalling of transition by the secretive institution that has dominated the Southeast Asian nation.
Gulf states tell US ending the war is not enough, Iran’s capabilities must be degraded
DUBAI, March 27 - Gulf Arab states are telling the U.S. that any deal with Tehran should do more than end the war, and must permanently curb Iran's missile and drone capabilities and ensure global energy supplies are never again \"weaponised\", four Gulf sources said.
Chinese ships halt attempt to exit Hormuz despite Iran safe passage assurances
LONDON, March 27 - Two Chinese container ships turned backed after trying to exit the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, ship-tracking data showed, despite assurances from Iran that Chinese vessels could pass.
UN rights chief urges US to conclude probe into deadly Iran school strike
GENEVA, March 27 - The U.N. rights chief urged Washington to conclude its investigation into a fatal strike on a primary school in Iran at a U.N. Human Rights Council meeting on Friday, with some states voicing outrage over the incident.
Ukraine closes on Mideast deals to help counter Iranian drones
VAUX-DE-CERNAY, France, March 27 - Ukraine is close to clinching several security agreements — including with the UAE and Qatar — to counter Iranian attacks, its foreign minister said on Friday, adding that he saw scope to draw China into peace efforts to end the war with Russia.
More important than ever for Singapore and Hong Kong to collaborate amid competition: PM Wong
The leaders of the two cities discussed ways to expand bilateral cooperation including in emerging areas.
Afghan jailed for 15 years in the UK for raping 12-year-old girl
LONDON, March 27 - An Afghan national was on Friday jailed for 15 years for raping a 12-year-old girl in Britain, a case that sparked local protests and a political row when his status as an asylum seeker was not initially disclosed by police.
‘Korea (South)’ on arrival cards? Taipei hits back at Seoul, Copenhagen over ‘China’ labels
In the face of mounting pressures, the island needs to proactively assert its identity and be seen.