Seaweed prices surge in Japan due to poor harvests amid rising sea temperatures
The domestic production of nori for fiscal 2024 was about half the fiscal 2001 figure.
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Taiwan says US has 'high' urgency in speeding up weapons deliveries
TAIPEI, March 25 - The United States has \"quite a high\" sense of urgency in helping Taiwan strengthen its military capabilities and is working to help speed up delayed weapons deliveries, the island's Defence Minister Wellington Koo said on Wednesday.
BTS comeback concert on Netflix draws 18.4m global viewers
The livestreamed show saw the band perform together for the first time since October 2022.
Zhang Xuefeng, China exam tutor turned influencer, dies at 41
He was widely recognised for his expertise in college application and postgraduate admission counselling.
Vietnam’s Vietjet budget airline adjusts schedules over potential fuel shortages
It said it will maintain services on all of its 64 international routes.
How Pakistan became the Iran war’s indispensable mediator
When Pakistani Field Marshal Asim Munir addressed Pakistan’s parliamentary security committee in March 2025, he asked a question that had been hanging over the country for years. “How long will we continue to sacrifice countless lives in the style of a soft state?” The question
South Korean politicians are shaving their heads again. Does anyone care?
Experts say such protests, once a powerful political tool, have been exploited.
‘Hero’ Australian dog who saved 100 koalas retires
Bear saved over 100 koalas as the Black Summer bushfires raged from late 2019 to early 2020.
Phuket’s water supply will last till June if current dry weather persists, say authorities
The Thai province's governor has instructed all relevant agencies to urgently gather water-related data.
Australia public broadcaster staff strike over pay for first time in 20 years
SYDNEY, March 25 - Hundreds of staff at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation began a one-day strike on Wednesday, the first walkout in 20 years, over pay and working conditions, disrupting live news coverage at the public broadcaster.
Philippines working with Washington to obtain oil from US-sanctioned countries
The Philippines on March 24 declared a state of national energy emergency.
Malaysia border agency nabs 17, including 2 S’poreans, at JB checkpoint over immigration offences
Inspections revealed they had entered the checkpoint area and failing to produce valid travel documents.
Australia's public broadcaster ABC hit by staff walkout
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation was forced to replace live programming with pre-recorded shows.
South Korean alleged ‘drug lord’ running ring from Philippines jail extradited
This allows the suspect to be investigated and face trial in South Korea.
South Korean alleged 'drug lord' running ring from Philippines jail extradited
SEOUL, March 25 - South Korean police on Wednesday took into custody an alleged \"drug lord\" accused of running a narcotics ring in the country from a Phillipines prison, officials said on Wednesday.
Packed cinemas and whistling fans: A spy thriller sequel revives Bollywood
Dhurandhar: The Revenge, starring Ranveer Singh, has opened to record demand, with near 24/7 shows nationwide.
Kim vows North Korea’s ‘unshakable’ support for Russia
He said the two countries "are closely cooperating to defend" their sovereignty.
Australia will have floor price for critical minerals reserve, minister says
CANBERRA, March 25 - Australia will \"no doubt\" have an element of a floor price in its strategic reserve for critical minerals, Resources Minister Madeleine King said on Wednesday, as the resources rich nation looks to cement its role as a key supplier to its allies.
Lamborghinis stranded in Sri Lanka as war disrupts Asia's used-car trade
The conflict has halted shipments during what is usually the busiest season for used-car dealers.
Journalists at Australia's national broadcaster strike for first time in 20 years
Staff have walked out for 24 hours over a pay rise offer that was below inflation.
Japanese military officer arrested over alleged entry into Chinese Embassy in Tokyo
The Chinese government said the intruder threatened to kill Chinese diplomats.
Sara Duterte impeachment hearings start as political death match heats up
The Philippines' VP faces another impeachment round with her 2028 presidential run on the line.
China’s Wang Yi pushes Iran to talk with US about ending war
Mr Wang stressed that all parties should resolve disputes through dialogue and negotiation rather than the use of force.
China's foreign minister urges early peace talks in call with Iranian counterpart
BEIJING, March 24 - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on Tuesday on parties to seize all opportunities to start peace talks as soon as possible in a phone call with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi, according to a statement from Wang's ministry.
China is betting on bigger tech hubs for growth, but analysts warn of old risks
Beijing is funnelling resources into scaled-up AI and chip clusters in its next five-year plan but analysts warn that supply-driven expansion could outpace viable market demand.
The Indo-Pacific strategy just sank in Iran
Over the past decade, capitals from Australia to France, India to Japan and South Korea to the UK, have rolled out Indo-Pacific strategies with the confidence of a shared script: that maritime coalitions stabilize the system, secure sea lanes and quietly contain a rising
Trump says Iran made a major energy-related gift to the US
WASHINGTON, March 24 - President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Iran had made a major energy-related concession to the United States, describing it as a positive development, although he did not give details.
'Truly magical woman': Tributes to Married at First Sight's Mel Schilling
The TV dating coach is remembered as "a radiant, shining light" following her death at the age of 54.
Traders placed massive bets minutes before Trump’s post on Iran
Just minutes before US President Donald Trump momentarily boosted the stock market – and sent oil prices tumbling – with his disputed Monday announcement of peace talks with Iran, unknown traders loaded up on positions that allowed them to profit from the resulting movement in
Everyday life in Asia is being upended by Iran war fuel crisis
Asia relies heavily on oil and gas from the Gulf, and shortages and higher prices are starting to bite.
Pakistan leans on US and Iran ties to emerge as potential peacebroker
ISLAMABAD, March 24 - Pakistan's role as a possible host of talks aimed at ending the Iran war builds on its courtship of U.S. President Donald Trump and its reputation as a relatively neutral player with long-standing ties to neighbouring Iran's Islamic Republic.
Should holders of US debt take Iran’s military threat literally?
It’s tempting to see as a clear escalation Iran Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf’’s declaration on Sunday that all those holding US Treasury bonds are now legitimate targets of violent reprisals. Iran has – by attacking US bases in the region as far away as
US detainee Dennis Coyle released by Taliban after more than a year
Coyle, who was working as a language researcher, according to his family, was arrested in January 2025.
Hong Kong police arrest bookstore owner and staff for selling Jimmy Lai biography, broadcaster reports
HONG KONG, March 24 - Hong Kong police arrested a bookstore owner and three shopkeepers on Tuesday for allegedly selling \"seditious\" publications including a biography of jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai, broadcaster TVB reported.
HK police arrest bookstore owner and staff for selling Jimmy Lai biography: Report
A notice outside the bookstore read: "Resting for a day due to emergency, sorry for the inconvenience."
Residents recount guilt, chaos in hearing on deadly Hong Kong fire
The fire at Wang Fuk Court in 2025 was the world’s deadliest residential building fire since 1980.
Modi, Trump discuss importance of keeping Strait of Hormuz open
March 24 - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by phone on Tuesday and discussed the situation in the Middle East, including the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, U.S. envoy to India Sergio Gor and Modi said in separate posts
Philippines declares energy emergency over Iran conflict
The war has caused "imminent danger" to the country's energy supplies, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr says.
Afghan Taliban releases American detainee Coyle after US censure
KABUL/WASHINGTON, March 24 - The Afghan Taliban government on Tuesday released U.S. detainee Dennis Coyle after more than a year in detention, but Washington said the move was not sufficient to lift its recent designation of Kabul as a \"state sponsor of wrongful detention\"
Thailand battles forest fires as hot spots in Myanmar threaten to worsen kingdom’s haze situation
Of the 1,488 hotspots detected across Thailand, 614 were found in conservation forests.
Amid global chaos, interest in China is rising among investors and consumers: Forum
The interest comes amid China’s relative stability and the likelihood that its economic slowdown has bottomed out.
Philippines declares national energy emergency as Iran war fuels oil shock fears
Manila sets aside 20 billion pesos to build a diesel buffer as the Middle East crisis persists.
Qatar is not directly mediating between US and Iran, ministry spokesperson says
March 24 - There is no direct Qatari mediation between the United States and Iran, but Doha supports all formal and informal diplomatic channels to end the war, Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Melaka residents told to limit outdoor activities due to rising UV levels and heat
The current hot spell saw temperatures reaching up to 35 deg C.
BMW recalls 180,000 cars in China over fire risk
It is due to a possible wiring fault in air conditioning units that poses a fire risk.
A million SpaceX satellites will ruin the night sky
More than 10,000 Starlink satellites currently orbit the Earth. We see them crawling across dark skies, no matter how remote our location, and streaking through images from research telescopes. SpaceX recently announced that it wants to launch one million more of these
‘I didn’t want to raise her’: Woman in South Korea confesses to killing 3-year-old daughter
The woman is also accused of burying the child’s body.