News Headlines

Speaking on Friday (Mar 6), Chinese commerce minister Wang Wentao outlined incentives aimed at drawing global businesses into China’s vast domestic market. 

The Iranian ship IRIS Bushehr sought port entry in Sri Lanka after the vessel reported engine trouble.

"We are victims of a war that is not of our choosing," said President Ferdinand Marcos, adding: "But we control how we will protect the Filipino (people)."

Singapore hopes Japan will find ways to resolve its outstanding wartime issues, says the Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

Singapore hopes Japan will find ways to resolve its outstanding wartime issues, says the Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

South Korea, a US security ally, hosts US air defence assets, including Patriot missile interceptors, to deter nuclear-armed North Korea.

Implementation will begin on Mar 28 this year, with Communications Minister Meutya Hafid saying that the regulation makes Indonesia the “first non-Western country” to introduce age-appropriate access restrictions in the digital space.

A total of 8,390 projects were approved, with the potential of creating nearly 245,000 jobs for Malaysians, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said.

Preparations are underway for a possible general election later this year, despite Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim previously ruling it out, party insiders and civil servants tell CNA.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the waiver was issued "to enable oil to keep flowing into the global market" after the Iran conflict raised supply concerns. 

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will wrap up his Asia-Pacific tour with talks in Tokyo aimed at deepening economic and security cooperation.

Calls for Indonesia to leave the Board of Peace tasked to oversee Gaza reconstruction efforts are being made by the country’s religious groups, academics and former diplomats.

A long war in Iran will hurt America’s ability to deter China, says Kevin Chen from the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport however, upheld FIFA's US$450,000 fine on the Football Association of Malaysia.

From a lower growth target to bigger bets on technology and consumption, China’s Two Sessions open with a sober assessment of economic challenges and a recalibration of policy priorities.

Authorities will also foster "positive attitudes towards marriage and childbearing", according to an official government report. 

China's tech focus comes amid its rapidly ageing workforce, looming demographic crisis and fierce battle with the United States for supremacy in core technologies.

The Iranian warship was heading towards Sri Lanka's territorial waters a day after a US submarine destroyed an Iranian frigate, killing at least 87 sailors.

With much of India’s oil and gas trade flowing through the Strait of Hormuz, any disruption there could quickly ripple across its economy, observers say.

MFA has deployed crisis response teams to Oman and Saudi Arabia as it works to secure further evacuation options.

Indonesia's participation on the board has drawn criticism from experts and Muslim groups at home, who say it compromises the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation’s long-standing support for the Palestinian cause.

China has set its 2026 economic growth target at 4.5 to 5 per cent, marking the first cut since 2023.

China’s defence outlays are closely watched as a barometer of Beijing’s strategic priorities as it presses ahead with military modernisation.

The move signals a more cautious outlook as the world’s second-largest economy grapples with weak demand, property strains and trade pressures.

The missile incident was the first time that Türkiye, which has NATO's second-largest military, was drawn into the conflict.

The failure to pass the Bill has exposed significant coordination gaps and "uneven political commitment" within the Anwar Ibrahim administration, say analysts.

International diversification has been a major theme this year, but the one-way traffic into North Asian markets has been heavy, says Shuli Ren for Bloomberg Opinion.

Votes open Thursday (Mar 4) for a new parliament in Nepal, as young leaders challenge older politicians following anti-corruption protests.

Votes opened Thursday for a new parliament in Nepal, as young leaders challenge older politicians following anti-corruption protests.

Zhang Youxia, China’s highest-ranking general, was not among the party’s 23-member politburo at the opening of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. 

Global conflicts over the past year have pushed the world towards a watershed moment, a spokesperson for China’s National People’s Congress said ahead of its annual meeting to be held from Mar 5 to 12.

"An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo," said US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Global conflicts over the past year have pushed the world towards a watershed moment, a spokesperson for China’s National People’s Congress said ahead of its annual meeting to be held from Mar 5 to 12.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission said that it was tracking down Chai Jin Shern, also known as James Chai, and had appealed to the public to provide any information on his whereabouts.

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.  

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.

The impact of the Middle East turmoil on markets was felt most in Seoul, where the Kospi tanked more than 12 per cent.

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

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.

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.