‘What’ll become of our village?’: Johoreans choke on dust, noise as data centres move in next door

Johor is one of the region’s fastest-growing data centre hubs, but land in the state’s major tech parks is scarce.

Israel’s aims likely the key determinant of Iran war’s duration

Since the joint US-Israel war with Iran resumed on February 28, nine months after the previous attacks, many have asked whether President Donald Trump has a strategy for what he wants to achieve and for when he will declare another ceasefire. Those questions, interesting though

Trump says war against Iran is 'very complete,' CBS News reports

WASHINGTON, March 9 - U.S. President Donald Trump thinks the war against Iran \"is very complete\" and that Washington was \"very far ahead\" of his initial four to five week estimated time frame, according to a CBS News interview with him.

US weighs censuring Afghanistan over detained Americans, could ban US travel to the country

WASHINGTON, March 9 - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is considering whether to censure Afghanistan over its detention of American citizens, a move that could lead to a ban on U.S. passport holders traveling to the country, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

Iran conflict hardens North Korea’s nuclear posture

North Korea’s list of close partners keeps shrinking. After the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria in December 2024, Iran became North Korea’s sole ally in the Middle East. Now, after the US-Israel strikes on Iran and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death, it appears that

End Iran war before Trump-Xi summit or encourage a hedgehog world

Iran might have little incentive to concede to US demands until after the March 31 summit between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. Then, it could evaluate the outcomes and seek China’s support. It’s a risky gamble, but it might be a better option than the alternative.

Five Iranian footballers 'in Australian safe house' after Asian Cup protest

Concern has grown for team after one critic called them 'wartime traitors' for failing to salute during the Iranian anthem.

Beijing’s message to HK: Get your act together

Even Chinese Premier Li Qiang raised the issue for the first time in his annual work report.

President Lee Jae Myung thanks Singapore, Turkmenistan for evacuating South Koreans from Iran

South Korean evacuees were allowed to board charter flights from Oman to Singapore on March 7 and 8.

Indonesia says it has entered agreement with India to procure BrahMos missiles

BrahMos is a company co-owned by the Indian and Russian governments.

Penang Hill funicular train service to close for scheduled maintenance June 8 to 14

This bi-annual maintenance will replace the coaches’ bogie and air-conditioning cooling coil.

First Thais evacuated from Iran arrive in Bangkok

The group of 29 included domestic workers, university students and children.

Asia in the crosshairs as oil barrels toward $120

Oil surged to over US$119 a barrel on Monday, levels not seen since 2022, before falling back to around $100 in a whipsaw trading session driven by uncertainties around the escalating US-Israeli war with Iran. The possibility of prolonged shipping disruptions and cut supplies

India offered sanctuary to Iranian ship three days before US sank it

India says Tehran sought permission to dock three ships on the day the US and Israel began a war on Iran.

Four crime families in Myanmar in spotlight as China deepens fraud crackdown

The cases against the four families resulted in immediate executions of 16 members.

Why China won’t hit back over Indonesia’s US trade deal

When Beijing’s foreign ministry issued its now-familiar line that the recent Indonesia‑US trade agreement “should not harm any third party,” some analysts urgently warned of possible economic retaliation. Yet a closer look at the geopolitical economics suggests this framing

Russia wanted a new world order – just not this one

Four years ago, Vladimir Putin escalated his war against Ukraine to an all-out assault. The plan was for a quick and lively campaign and a speedy takeover of a country the Russian president thought shouldn’t exist. Victory would reassert Russia’s status and hasten a shift from

62-year-old Singaporean dies in Batam after being run over by truck

The man was reportedly riding pillion on a motorcycle when the accident happened.

Japan to deploy counter-strike missiles closer to China by end-March

The country is bolstering its military capacity amid rising China naval activity.

A CIA-armed Kurd insurgency in Iran would be risky and reckless

With the Iranian regime weakened by relentless American and Israeli missiles, Washington is eyeing a familiar US ally in the Middle East to help push the Islamic Republic over the edge: the Kurds. Making up between 8% to 17% of the country’s total population, Iran’s Kurdish

Jail for up to 16 years for Australian hitmen who killed compatriot in Bali

Gunmen Paea-I-Middlemore Tupou, 27, and Mevlut Coskun, 23, said they had been hired to collect a debt.

Filipinos race to fill tanks ahead of petrol price jump

Fighting in the Middle East has disrupted shipping and sent global oil prices soaring.

US planes fly out of South Korea as asset redeployment reports grow

The potential redeployment may be an indication of a strained weapons stockpile for the US.

‘Crazy’ Yangon property prices despite struggling economy, civil war in Myanmar

Internal migration, foreign currency curbs and lack of trust in banks have fuelled demand for property as a safe asset.

China says it opposes any targeting of new Iran leader

Beijing is a close partner of Tehran and condemned the killing of Iran's former supreme leader.

China condemns ‘evil designs’ of Taiwan premier’s Japan visit

Cho Jung-tai told reporters in Taipei on March 8 that he was on a private visit to watch the baseball.

New hunt for flight MH370 ends with no clues to 12-year mystery

The latest search, which began in December and concluded in January, scoured an area of around 15,000 sq km.

PM Anwar set to dump Malaysia’s embattled anti-graft chief as pressure over abuses mounts

Allegations of MACC abusing its wide-ranging powers have sparked calls for its chief Azam Baki to be suspended.

US-Israel bombing aims to depopulate Iran’s capital

Residents of the Iranian capital of Tehran awoke on Sunday to an apocalyptic scene after the United States and Israel bombed the city’s oil storage facilities. A towering pillar of fire emerged in the aftermath, toxic smoke clouded out the sun and blackened rain fell on this

Alleged Bondi gunman seeks order to suppress family's identity

Naveed Akram is seeking to prevent media publishing details about his mother, sister and brother.

Johor proposes 12 ‘key’ drop-off points for Singapore cross-border taxis, may require tracking system

The proposed drop-off points include Senai International Airport, JB Sentral, Medini, Southkey, Mount Austin and Eco Botanic among others.

South-east Asia faces sweltering heat as war limits energy supply

Singapore may see power prices spike in the second quarter.

India erupts in celebration after T20 cricket World Cup victory

India defeated New Zealand by 96 runs in the western city of Ahmedabad, on Sunday, to defend their T20 World Cup title.

Attack on Iran a defining moment for the global order

At certain moments in history, the true significance of events lies not in the events themselves but in the rules that emerge afterward. The military attack by the United States and Israel on Iran, accompanied by the assassination of the country’s highest political authority,

Singapore firms in Middle East say staff safe, operations largely unaffected by war

Companies are maintaining regular contact with employees on the ground and have restricted business travel to and from the region.

Unification Church files special appeal to Japan’s top court on dissolution

First case in Japan where a religious group has been ordered to dissolve over Civil Code violations.

Indonesia searches for those missing after landfill collapse kills five

The collapse took place at the Bantargebang landfill in the Bekasi region on the outskirts of Jakarta.

From doxxing to rumour-mongering: China’s cybercrime cases jump 158.5% in five years

Authorities are targeting offences ranging from doxxing and online rumour-mongering to telecom fraud, according to reports released at the Two Sessions meetings on Monday (Mar 9).

Two fronts: Taliban courts India while strategically blasting Pakistan

In the rugged terrain along the Durand Line, the contested border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, a fresh wave of violence has erupted, pitting Pakistani forces against the Taliban government in Kabul. What began as Pakistani airstrikes on February 21 targeting alleged

Lawyers for Bondi Beach shooting suspect seek gag order to protect family

A magistrate extended an interim suppression order, citing global media interest in the case.

Thai PM Anutin seals new coalition after February election: Local media

The bloc commands the support of about 290 freshly elected lawmakers.

Governments’ actions in response to oil price surge and the escalating Middle East conflict

South Korea plans to cap domestic fuel prices for the first time in nearly 30 years.

Sharp drop in Chinese military aircraft near Taiwan raises questions

Only two Chinese aircraft have been recorded in a single 24-hour period near Taiwan since Feb 28.

Vietnam mulls removing fuel duties as war on Iran hits supplies

Indonesia landfill collapse kills five

The collapse took place after hours of heavy rain in the area, local media reported.

4 killed in Indonesia landfill collapse

At least five more people were reported missing.

Japan says no contact with Taiwan PM during visit

The trip follows a sharp deterioration in Japan-China relations.

China condemns 'evil designs' of Taiwan premier's Japan visit

A Chinese official accused Taiwan's prime minister of "running to Japan to engage in little tricks of seeking independence and making provocations".

Seoul govt cracks down on hotels near BTS comeback concert

Some accommodation facilities failed to display price lists or business registration certificates..

Malaysia ready to back credible push for Gulf ceasefire, says Anwar

He said that the situation remains deeply alarming as several countries in the region continue to come under attack.