S’porean man charged in Phuket after crashing into barricades that hit a police officer
The man was charged with reckless driving, causing injury and failing to stop to provide assistance.
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Olympic cyclist who ran over wife under fire over Porsche post
The post was criticised for being "deeply offensive" by a victims' rights commissioner.
Independent Hong Kong panel starts hearing into devastating inferno
HONG KONG, March 19 - Human factors rendered ineffective almost all the fire safety measures at the site of a Hong Kong blaze that killed 168 people in November, the lead lawyer for a panel led by a judge that is investigating the inferno said on Thursday.
In Seoul square of protest and history, BTS fans welcome grand comeback
The South Korean landmark, built in 1395, has weathered centuries of destruction and restoration.
Mount Fuji viewing train for inbound tourists starts operation
The tour will be held on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays through Dec 22.
Indonesia detains four soldiers over acid attack on activist
Andrie Yunus, who criticised the army's role in government, suffered burns to 20% of his body.
Hong Kong fire: Panel hears safety measures failed on day of deadly blaze
The judge-led committee will investigate whether fire safety standards were inadequate.
Wild possum shelters with plush toys in Australian airport shop
Airport employees were returned the animal to its rightful place in the great outdoors.
Voters rocked by war and tariffs could add to market angst in upcoming elections
LONDON, March 19 - Voters grappling with unprecedented turmoil head to the polls in more than 50 countries this year, with the opportunity to make clear their views on their governments' strategies for wars, tariffs and economic strife.
Trump may push Japan for help with Iran war in White House meeting
WASHINGTON, March 19 - President Donald Trump may use a White House meeting with Japan’s prime minister on Thursday to press for help in the war on Iran, placing Sanae Takaichi in an awkward position as Tokyo weighs how much support it can provide.
Mystery AI model suspected to be DeepSeek-V4 is revealed to be from Xiaomi
The mysterious free model, Hunter Alpha, surfaced on the AI gateway platform OpenRouter on March 11.
More Hong Kong drivers head north into mainland China for cheaper petrol - but at what cost?
As conflict in the Middle East drives up global fuel prices, Hong Kong drivers are looking north for relief - but will the savings add up?
Singapore remembers past with Japan but can still move forward to forge mutually beneficial relationship: PM Wong
On his first visit to Japan as Singapore's prime minister, Mr Wong spoke about the importance of maintaining strong relationships with other countries amid a more complex geopolitical environment.
World’s first quantum battery is well within reach
You’re late for an important appointment. Just as you are leaving your house, you realize your phone is flat. Imagine you could charge it almost instantly by exploiting the strange rules of quantum physics. That’s the promise of quantum batteries. My colleagues and I at CSIRO
Indonesia’s closing window for a demographic dividend
Indonesia is often seen as one of Asia’s great demographic opportunities. With a population of more than 275 million and a still-expanding working-age cohort, it has long been expected to ride the same labour-driven growth wave that powered East Asia’s rise. But that window is
Japan rejects US intelligence assessment of a ‘significant shift’ in its Taiwan stance
PM Sanae Takaichi has maintained that her stance was consistent with longstanding Japanese policy.
Japan rejects US intelligence assessment of a 'significant shift' in its Taiwan stance
TOKYO, March 19 - Japan has not changed its position on how it determines an existential threat, its top government spokesperson said on Friday, rejecting an assessment by U.S. intelligence agencies of a \"significant shift\" in its stance on Taiwan.
Japan trades its shield for a sword sharpened for China
In the early hours of a quiet morning in March 2026, a tightly guarded military convoy moved through Kumamoto Prefecture in southern Japan. Its destination was Camp Kengun, a base operated by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. The vehicles carried launch units of the upgraded
China steps up push for marriage and childbirth amid shifting social attitudes
Authorities have rolled out incentives to boost marriages and births, but shifting attitudes and economic pressures among young Chinese pose deeper challenges.
Vietnamese trio caught setting up ecstasy lab in S. Korea after learning how to make it via ChatGPT
They are accused of importing key precursor chemicals from Vietnam and using them to make the drug.
Afghan evacuees in limbo in Qatar camp accuse US of betrayal
More than 1,100 Afghans evacuated by the US fear their route to promised resettlement is closed for good.
Heavy social media usage erodes young people's wellbeing, report finds
HELSINKI, March 19 - Heavy social media usage appears to contribute to a drop in wellbeing among young people, especially girls, in some English-speaking countries, the World Happiness Report published on Thursday found.
India's young are more educated than ever. So why are so many jobless?
India’s educational enrolment has surged but jobs, especially good ones, are not keeping pace, a new report finds.
Labubu film is official with Paddington director at the helm
The film will combine live action and computer-generated animation and is in "early development".
Thailand’s Anutin re-elected PM after crushing rival in parliamentary vote
His alliance is expected to control 292 of the current 499 seats in Parliament.
The Iran war is causing a global energy crisis - can China withstand it?
With oil supply disrupted, Beijing's oil reserves and renewable energy push are being put to the test.
From kampung to Golden Globes: How Malaysian label Khoon Hooi became a global occasion wear brand
Nearly three decades in, Malaysian designer Lee Khoon Hooi has dressed Golden Globes red carpets, built a loyal following across the Middle East – and still picks up his own phone.
Iran’s nuclear materials and equipment by no means ‘obliterated’
Before launching his war on Iran, President Donald Trump said his most important goal was that Iran would “never have a nuclear weapon.” Yet it is not clear what, if anything, his administration has planned for dealing with Iran’s stock of enriched uranium that could be used to
Hari Raya gridlock: How Middle East war heightens road risks for millions in Indonesia, Malaysia
Rising fuel prices due to tensions in the Middle East, along with other factors, could compound an already arduous and risky journey for millions returning to their home towns this Hari Raya season.
Commentary: Why firms are pivoting from 'China shedding' to 'Chinamaxxing'
Some of China’s most successful global companies have spent years masking their origins to sidestep Western scrutiny. That has changed, says Juliana Liu for Bloomberg Opinion.
The Korean Peninsula’s role between two cold wars was pivotal
Between the end of the Cold War in 1989 and dawn of the New Cold War in the early 2020s, the Korean Peninsula served as the ultimate testing ground for a peaceful international order that ultimately failed to materialize. The “Grand Strategic Triangle” of Washington, Beijing
QatarEnergy reports 'extensive damage' after missile attacks on Ras Laffan industrial city
March 18 - Qatar's state oil giant QatarEnergy said on Wednesday that \"extensive damage\" has been caused after the Ras Laffan Industrial City was subjected to missile attacks, shortly after the country's interior ministry reported a fire resulting from an Iranian attack on
Spy chief grilled on Trump claim Iran nuke threat was ‘imminent’
US Senator Jon Ossoff on Wednesday cornered Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard over President Donald Trump’s false claims that he launched a war with Iran because it was an “imminent” threat to US national security. During a Senate Select Intelligence Committee
US assesses China not planning to invade Taiwan in 2027
WASHINGTON, March 18 - China does not currently plan to invade Taiwan in 2027 and seeks to control the island without the use of force, the U.S. intelligence community said on Wednesday, striking a measured tone on one of the world's biggest potential flashpoints.
China not planning to invade Taiwan in 2027: US intelligence report
US President Donald Trump has played down the risk of Chinese military action while he is in office.
Kabul rehab centre patients fear for their future after attack that killed scores
KABUL/KARACHI, March 18 - Former heroin user Nazar Mohammad said the Kabul rehabilitation centre bombed by Pakistan cured him of his drug addiction two years ago and helped keep him alive. He even stayed on to work there as a live-in carer for the 2,000 patients.
White House says China agreed to postpone Trump's Beijing trip
WASHINGTON, March 18 - The White House said on Wednesday that China had agreed to postpone U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing, originally scheduled in just two weeks.
Three private planes at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport damaged by Iran missile debris
TEL AVIV, March 18 - Three private planes parked at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv suffered \"severe\" damage after being hit by debris from Iranian missiles that were intercepted by Israeli air defence systems, the Israel Airports Authority said on Wednesday.
Cambodia turns to Singapore, Malaysia for fuel as Vietnam, China restrict supplies
The US-Israeli war on Iran has choked LNG shipments to Asia.
What does a war win look like for US, Israel and Iran?
As the Middle East war enters its third week, there is no sign from either Iran or the United States and Israel that they will stop the fighting any time soon. It is getting more violent and nasty by the day. The Iranian Islamic regime is fighting for its survival, while the US
‘Business as usual’ for Iranian shadow fleet passing through South-east Asia, say analysts
Malaysia has been identified as a hub for illegal ship-to-ship transfers of crude oil in recent years.
China’s Belt and Road caught in the Afghan-Pakistan crossfire
Escalating clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan are quickly turning the Durand Line dispute into a wider regional security crisis. What began as cross-border strikes and retaliatory operations has devolved into sustained fighting along the frontier, drawing the attention of
Iranian women's soccer team arrive back in Iran after some withdrew asylum claim
GURBULAK, Turkey, March 18 - The Iranian women's soccer team crossed the Turkish border into Iran on Wednesday to complete a fraught return journey from Australia, after five members withdrew asylum claims they had lodged there.
Singapore and Japan upgrade ties to Strategic Partnership, expand cooperation in five areas
Both countries will enhance cooperation in trade, digitalisation and technology, defence, green transition and energy, as well as other people exchanges.
USS Tripoli warship to pass through Malacca Straits en route to Middle East
US officials said the warship was deployed to the region, without disclosing its destination or mission.
Japan deploys upgraded Type-12 missiles, spiking China tensions
Japan’s quiet deployment of upgraded Type-12 missiles marks a decisive shift from defensive posturing to operational counterstrike capability, with implications for the balance of power in the East China Sea and around Taiwan. This month, multiple media outlets reported that