SEOUL -- South Korean exports hit an all-time monthly high in March, government data showed Wednesday, as companies rushed orders for semiconductors due to fears of supply chain disruptions caused by the conflict in the Middle East.

HONG KONG -- Higher fuel prices brought on by the war in Iran are intensifying a cat-and-mouse game between Hong Kong authorities and oil smugglers.

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan and China late on Tuesday announced a five-point initiative aimed at restoring peace in the Middle East, as Islamabad seeks to strengthen its mediation efforts between the U.S. and Iran by bringing Beijing into the process.

BRUSSELS -- The British government's decision to block a proposed factory by Chinese wind turbine maker Ming Yang Smart Energy Group has drawn criticism from energy developers and local politicians, but some analysts say it offers a "fighting chance" for Europe's wind industry.

TOKYO --Mitsubishi Materials will invest in a U.S. company that recovers rare earths from industrial waste in a second attempt to enter the field, the company announced Tuesday, betting on advanced refining technology that reduces the cost of recycling.

CANBERRA -- U.S. artificial intelligence frontier lab Anthropic will work with Australia's government on AI safety and understanding the technology's impact on economics -- and will consider investing in data centers in the country.

TOKYO -- Business sentiment among large Japanese manufacturers improved for a fourth consecutive quarter in the January-March period, according to the Bank of Japan's latest survey released on Wednesday.

TOKYO -- Business sentiment among large Japanese manufacturers improved for a fourth consecutive quarter in the January-March period, according to the Bank of Japan's latest survey released on Wednesday.

TOKYO -- Traders are snapping up Japanese power futures listed on the European Energy Exchange (EEX) as the war in Iran sends energy prices higher, with trading volume surging to a record high in March.

TOKYO -- Japanese automakers struggling from U.S. tariffs and strategic missteps are closely watching Kevin Warsh, President Donald Trump's pick for Federal Reserve chair, trying to read how he would steer the central bank on interest rates, which directly impact their profitable financial arms.