South Korea's birthrate, the world's lowest, rises again amid signs of easing demographic crisis

Padilla's SOTU response attacks Trump for 'out-of-control' immigration enforcement

Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) bashed President Trump's immigration policies and accused the administration of seeking to interfere in the next election in the Democrat's Spanish-language rebuttal to the State of the Union address. The speech from California’s first Latino

Trump claims Iran working on missiles that could hit US

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed Iran is seeking to develop missiles that can strike the United States and accused Tehran of working to rebuild a nuclear program that was targeted by American strikes last year. The United States and Iran are engaged in high-stakes

Indonesia’s green gold: Coastal farmers reap benefits of booming seaweed industry

Seaweed has become one of Indonesia’s most valuable commodities, but despite strong production, it lags in processing capacity, limiting its ability to capture higher-value returns.

UK government to release confidential documents on former prince Andrew's appointment as trade envoy

Lawmakers approved a motion Tuesday demanding publication of the documents, after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on charges related to allegations that he shared government reports with Jeffrey Epstein while he was trade envoy.

China-Indonesia waste-to-power pact neither clean nor green

Indonesia’s growing waste problem has long been viewed as a burden — a mounting strain on landfills, public health and municipal budgets. The waste-to-energy (WtE) initiative led by Danantara Indonesia, now entering its first phase in Bali, Bogor, Bekasi and Yogyakarta,

US forces regret giving Seoul late notice on drills tied to China stand-off

The manoeuvre saw about 10 American fighter jets fly between South Korean and Chinese air defence identification zones.

Indonesia deports US man convicted in Bali ‘suitcase murder’

Tommy Schaefer, 32, boarded a flight late on Feb 24 bound for the US.

Trump's delusional State of the Union address

Trump did the only thing he knows how to do. He talked — and talked, and talked.

Trump says Iran is developing missiles that can reach US

President Trump said Tuesday night that Iran is developing long-range missiles that can reach U.S. territory. “They've already developed missiles that can threaten Europe and our bases overseas, and they're working to build missiles that will soon reach the United States of

Was Trump Hiding His Massive Bruise at the State of the Union?

President Donald Trump kept his bruised right hand out of view Tuesday night during his lengthy State of the Union address. As Trump delivered his address, he grasped the podium with both hands, but kept his right hand out of sight. Since July, the president has been repeatedly

Trump: I'll never allow Iran, world's number-one sponsor of terror, to have nuclear weapon

Trump said Iran has 'already developed missiles that can threaten Europe and our bases overseas, and they're working to build missiles that will soon reach the United States of America,' warning Tehran not to 'ever doubt America's resolve'

South Korea’s birthrate, the world’s lowest, rises again amid signs of easing demographic crisis

The pace of the rebound is faster than the government’s optimistic-case projection.

Lawson opens 1st disaster-support convenience store ahead of Japan quake anniversary

It plans to have 100 of disaster relief stores across the country by fiscal 2030 through March 2031.

Martin Short Postpones Comedy Tour Dates After Daughter Katherine’s Death

Katherine, a licensed clinical social worker, died at the age of 42

Security threat against Australian PM linked to banned Chinese dance group

Anthony Albanese was evacuated from his official residence for several hours.

Pentagon appeals order blocking punishment for Kelly

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is appealing an order barring punishment for Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz) after a video in which Kelly and other Democrats pushed for service members to reject unlawful orders. In a filing Tuesday, the Defense Department said it was appealing an

Tech firms lead Asian markets rally as Seoul, Tokyo hit records

Trump blasts Democrats as 'crazy' after they decline to cheer teen gender transition ban

President Trump on Tuesday blasted Democrats as “crazy” and accused them of “destroying the country” after they refused to stand and applaud his proposal during the State of the Union to bar states from allowing teens to undergo gender transition treatment without consent from

Japan start-up’s ‘flying car’ makes demo flight in Tokyo for first time

The battery-powered aircraft is capable of flying 15km to 40km.

Heavy rains leave at least 28 dead and dozens missing in Brazil’s Minas Gerais

Heavy rains and landslides in southeastern Brazil have killed at least 28 people and left more than 40 missing, with the worst impact reported in the state of Minas Gerais, according to local authorities and rescue teams.

East Africa: Foreign Affairs State Minister Confers With UN Special Envoy for Horn of Africa

[ENA] Addis Ababa -- Hadera Abera, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, held talks today with Guang Cong, the United Nations Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa, at his office.

Months after floods, Indonesian survivors frustrated by slow response

About 26,000 flood survivors are still displaced after a monsoon deluge hit their villages in Sumatra last year.

Japan to deploy missiles on island near Taiwan by 2031

The remote Yonaguni island lies on the frontlines of self-governing Taiwan's growing tensions with China.

Petro signs petition sheet backing a constituent assembly push in Colombia

Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Tuesday signed one of the official sheets being used by a left-leaning citizens’ committee to collect signatures in support of calling a National Constituent Assembly. The move came during a Cabinet meeting livestreamed on the presidency’s

Trump: Iran developing missiles that can reach U.S., has missiles that reach Europe

Kanye West Mansion Trial Opens With Clash Over Demolition of ‘Architectural Gem’

Tony Saxon claims he was injured meeting the music mogul's demands, but Ye's lawyer says Saxon "destroyed" the $57 million house designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando

Democrats Erupt in Trump State of Union: “You’re Killing Americans!”

Several Democratic representatives shouted at President Trump from their seats as he lied about protecting American citizens during his State of the Union speech on Tuesday. “The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens,” Trump

Africa: What Do My Students Know? Using Early Grade Assessment Data to Inform Teaching in the Kingdom of Eswatini

[World Bank] In Eswatini, a new project equips teachers with formative assessment tools to track student progress in English, mathematics, and siSwati. By identifying learning gaps early, educators can adjust instruction immediately. This initiative, part of a broader effort to

Southern Africa: Newly Released 2025 Scorecard Unveils Progress and Setbacks On Health and Gender Equality Across Southern Africa

[WHO-AFRO] Johannesburg -- The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has launched its biennial scorecard, a critical tool that tracks progress on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) across its 16 Member States. New data, including from demographic health

Japan demands swift release of national detained in Iran

TOKYO, Feb 25 - A Japanese national has been detained in Iran and must be swiftly released, the Japanese government said on Wednesday.

Trump lauds his online drug platform as prescription drug win

President Trump boasted proudly of his work on lowering drug costs during his State of the Union address on Tuesday, holding up his "most favored nation" (MFN) policy and TrumpRx.gov as proof of having accomplished what his predecessors did not. "I'm also ending the wildly

German chancellor lands in Beijing for inaugural China trip

Friedrich Merz said it would be a mistake to "decouple" Germany from China shortly before boarding a plane to Beijing.

Trump Touts Economic Record and Slams Immigrants in Divisive State of the Union Speech

President Trump touted his economic achievements and attacked immigrants and Democrats in a divisive State of the Union address on Tuesday. Trump also criticized the Supreme Court, which struck down his emergency tariffs last week, and repeatedly castigated the Democratic side

When feral cats are away, potoroos and bandicoots are more likely to play

All animals need to eat to survive, grow and reproduce. To do so, they also need to avoid being eaten. This is a big challenge for many of Australia's native mammals, because when they search for food, they must also escape the attention of introduced predators, namely, feral

Omar heckles Trump during comments about Somali community

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) loudly heckled President Trump as he made a number of divisive comments about Somali immigrants during the State of the Union address. Omar could be heard calling Trump a liar as the president said he would ignite a “war on fraud” he pinned on the

Shein's elusive boss hails Chinese roots in rare public appearance

His speech follows years of the firm focusing away from China as it moved its headquarters to Singapore.

Elusive Shein boss hails Chinese roots in rare public appearance

His speech follows years of the firm focusing away from China as it moved its headquarters to Singapore.

New Zealand mayor swims to allay sewage contamination fears

Despite bringing in experts from Australia, the cause of the issue remains unknown.

Africa: Ivermectin Was Touted As a Cure for Covid, Now It's Being Tested for Cancer. but What Can It Actually Treat?

[The Conversation Africa] Ivermectin was originally celebrated as a revolutionary treatment for parasitic disease in humans and animals. It has since evolved into a focal point of misinformation and heated debate.

Trump says US hockey goaltender will get Presidential Medal of Freedom

President Trump announced at the State of the Union address Tuesday that he would give the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Team USA hockey goaltender Connor Hellebuyck after he recorded 41 saves in the gold medal game against Canada. Trump marveled at one of Hellebuyck’s most

Africa: Africa's Militaries Have Always Relied On Imported Weapons - Why a Shift to Homegrown Defence Is Now Under Way

[The Conversation Africa] Africa's militaries are built on imported power. Foreign countries such as China, Russia, the United States, Turkey and France dominate Africa's weapons market. Between them they supply everything from small arms to attack helicopters, unmanned systems

Nepali migrant workers influence polls, but can’t vote

Unable to find jobs at home, some 2.5 million Nepalis – 7.5 per cent of the population – work abroad.

Rep. Al Green escorted out of chamber as Trump begins State of the Union

Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) was escorted out of the House chamber on Tuesday shortly after President Trump began delivering his State of the Union address. Green held up a sign that read, “BLACK PEOPLE AREN'T APES" as Trump entered. Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) went up to talk to

Delving into 'deep time': What NZ's ancient past reveals about its present

We know Aotearoa New Zealand is home to many geographically and biologically special features. Yet few of us know it also has its very own measure of "deep time." Known as the New Zealand Geological Timescale, it has just undergone its most comprehensive revision in 20 years.

Judge says Justice Department may not search Washington Post reporter's seized devices

A judge told the Justice Department in a Tuesday filing that it cannot search a Washington Post reporter’s seized devices. In the filing, U.S. Magistrate Judge William Porter said the U.S. government could not “open, access, review, or otherwise examine any of” Post reporter

Malaysia blocks same-sex dating websites Grindr and Blued

Communications agency mulls over legal options against mobile app.