Stanford University wins battle to keep diaries of Mao Zedong's secretary

Stanford said the papers, which mentioned the Tiananmen Massacre, would be banned if returned to Beijing.

Body of Singaporean man found cast in cement in Indonesian river; 2 men arrested

Police suspect his murder is linked to a love triangle involving another man and woman.

Malaysian driver in fatal Klang crash charged with murder of motorcyclist

Saktygaanapathy Ravichandran was reportedly driving at a high speed and is believed to have overtaken several vehicles before veering into the opposite lane and hitting father-of-three Amirul Hafiz Omar on Sunday (Mar 29).

China opposes Philippines renaming disputed South China Sea islands

Manila will rename more than 100 reefs, islands and other features in the Spratly archipelago.

India hikes jet fuel, commercial LPG cost

Trump Fed pick Warsh eyes a ‘family fight’ shakeup

Since President Donald Trump named Kevin Warsh as his choice for Federal Reserve chair on January 30, 2026, financial markets have focused on one question: Is he still the inflation hawk he once was, or is he now more comfortable with the lower interest rates that the president

Jailed ex-South Korea president Yoon received over $1 million in inmate funds: Data

The total amount he received is about 4.6 times the annual presidential salary for 2025.

Billionaires step in as Thailand battles rising living costs

It underscored both the urgency of inflation pressures and the outsized role of big business in the country’s economy.

Iran war pushing India to edge of a currency crisis

TOKYO — In Asia, no national leader has been more effective in spinning an underperforming economy than India’s Narendra Modi. Anytime the numbers disappoint, the prime minister rolls out the latest version of his party’s ad campaigns. Most recently, this has been a Goldilocks

India begins counting over 1 billion people in digital census

The government describes it as the world’s largest of its kind.

Australia’s Albanese says war’s economic shock will be felt for months; urges using public transport

The prime minister urged all Australians to "do their bit" to ease pressure on fuel supplies.

What’s behind a double whammy of US$318 million loss and Skytrax rating downgrade for Garuda Indonesia?

Garuda Indonesia's financial loss last year was almost five times the loss it recorded in 2024.

Rights group condemns Hong Kong company tests on severed animal heads, limbs

Thirty-eight such experiments had been conducted by Hong Kong Technology Venture since 2022.

Macron lauds Europe’s ‘predictability’ in seeming contrast to Trump

Mr Macron criticised countries that said they were “going much faster” than their allies.

World does not need a crisis over Taiwan, opposition leader says ahead of China trip

Chairwoman of the Kuomintang Cheng Li-wun said she is seeking reconciliation.

Diesel price doubles in Cambodia on Middle East war fallout

The price rose to 7,500 riel (S$2.40) per litre as of midnight on April 1, up from 7,200 riel the previous day.

S. Korean students avoiding school-related group chats over cyberbullying concerns

Some teachers in Gyeonggi Province have banned group chat use over concerns about school violence.

Petrol station checks, diesel limits: Malaysia tightens enforcement on subsidised fuel sales

Action will now also be taken against drivers and owners of foreign-registered vehicles who purchase RON95 petrol.

At least 18 dead after migrant boat sinks off Turkey's Aegean coast

ANKARA, April 1 - At least 18 people were killed when an inflatable boat carrying migrants sank off Turkey's western province of Mugla on Wednesday, the coastguard said in a statement, adding that search and rescue efforts continued in the area.

Cambodia extradites accused cyberscam boss to China

Li Xiong, the former chairman of the Huione Group under the Prince Group, is a core member of alleged scam kingpin Chen Zhi's "criminal gang", according to Chinese state media.

China is trying to play peacemaker in the Iran war - will it work?

It's a turnaround for Beijing, whose official response has been muted so far. Why is China stepping in now?

No joke: Thai government warns of jail time for April Fool’s hoaxes

The current global climate makes social panic a serious risk, said a government spokesperson.

Prabowo and Anwar dial into the Gulf to protect energy and political standing

They are showing they are present, even if their ability to shape outcomes in the Mid-East is limited.

South Korea will use AI to speed up responses to digital sex crimes

One new system automatically scans about 20,000 websites and submits deletion requests.

Guidebooks on how to respond to sexual violence distributed to foreign students in S. Korea

The brochures are available in seven languages, including English, Chinese, Uzbek and Nepali.

Malaysia bans foreign cards at fuel pumps, but S’poreans still free to swipe for RON97

The ban is meant to prevent the misuse of subsidised petrol RON95.

EU lawmakers press China on unsafe products on rare Beijing visit

It marks the first European parliamentary visit to the world’s No. 2 economy in eight years.

China expects severe flooding, drought in 2026

Areas in the Pearl River Delta, Fujian, and the middle reaches of the Yangtze River may experience floods.

Chinese robotaxis stall in apparent 'malfunction': Police

Preliminary findings suggested that the cause was system malfunction - but did not specify how many cars had been impacted.

India raises jet fuel, commercial LPG prices as Middle East crisis drives global surge

India, the world’s second-largest LPG importer, is battling its worst gas crisis in decades.

All but 1 of BTS’ new songs chart Billboard’s Hot 100

Only one track from the new album, Arirang, failed to debut on the main songs chart.

Malaysia’s Energy Commission says natural gas and coal supplies secure despite rising costs

Malaysia has been able to secure coal based on existing contracts.

Baidu robotaxis freeze in China’s Wuhan, sparking flurry of police calls

The freeze raised concerns about the safety and reliability of autonomous driving technology.

Alleged Chen Zhi associate Li Xiong extradited from Cambodia to China

Chen founded the Prince Group, a Cambodian conglomerate tied to cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes.

Japan allows joint child custody after divorce

Parental authority can now be split on major issues, like new home addresses and school choices.

S. Korea to offer up to $850 in annual subsidies to households that adopt retired service dogs

Pet insurance, pet products and animal hospitals also offer discounts for retired service dogs.

Australia PM Albanese to address nation over Iran crisis

SYDNEY, April 1 - Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will deliver a rare address to the nation on Wednesday about the war in the Middle East, with media reporting he will encourage Australians to conserve fuel.

South Korea and Indonesia discuss energy security, sign agreements on minerals and tech

SEOUL, April 1 - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung held talks on Wednesday with Indonesian leader Prabowo Subianto, discussing energy security and agreeing to expand cooperation in areas such as defence, Lee's office said.

Australia PM Albanese to address nation as Iran war pushes oil prices higher

He will likely ask for cooperation from Australians, including saving fuel for areas and industries that need it.

Australia passes law to trade, stock fuel alongside rare earths amid energy shortages

The country has suffered energy shortages triggered by the Middle East conflict.

Drunk driver in viral fatal Klang crash charged with murder

The impact caused the victim to somersault multiple times in the air before landing on the roof of a passing car.

Divorced couples in Japan can now share custody of their children

Japan was, until recently, the only G7 country to not recognise the legal concept of joint custody.

Shared energy stakes call for greater China-India cooperation

Speaking in Beijing on March 26, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of “immeasurably serious consequences” if energy and nuclear facilities are targeted amid the expanding Middle East conflict. The

Trump underestimated Iran’s resilience, gutting his exit options

For all their claims of military success in their war with Iran, the United States and Israel have yet to clearly define their rationale for starting the conflict, their goals and their exit strategy. With the Iranian regime having mounted a robust response, the Middle East has

Vietnam braces for thunderstorms, strong winds, hail during seasonal transition

Devastating thunderstorms, whirlwinds, lightning and hail have slammed parts of Vietnam recently.

Indonesia calls for investigation into peacekeeper deaths

YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia, April 1 - Indonesia has called on the United Nations to investigate the the deaths of three of its UNIFIL peacekeepers following Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon, a foreign ministry official said on Wednesday as relatives at home mourned their deaths.

'My six-year-old has nosebleeds': Chiang Mai air pollution sparks health fears

It's peak fire season in the Thai city, which now ranks as one of the world's most polluted.

Japan moves to approve commercial flying car passenger service as early as 2027

Operations are expected to begin with sightseeing flights, before expanding to point-to-point services.

Hong Kong’s ‘hero trees’ lose their glory as climate warms

Green leaves that should shed during winter are increasingly staying put even as seasons change.

Iran war shows dollar’s grip starting to slip on Asia

For years, markets have treated geopolitical tension as a one-way trade: buy dollars, sell Asia. The logic has been simple and, until now, largely reliable. Conflict pushes oil higher, capital rushes into US assets and Asian currencies weaken under the combined weight of