
-
Taiwan says US tariffs 'highly unreasonable'
-
Lawson says ruthless Red Bull axing was 'tough to hear'
-
Heat humble Celtics for sixth straight win, Thunder roll on
-
Trump escalates trade war with sweeping global tariffs
-
Japan says US tariffs 'extremely regrettable', may break WTO rules
-
South Koreans anxious, angry as court to rule on impeached president
-
Juve at in-form Roma with Champions League in the balance
-
Injuries put undermanned Bayern's title bid to the test
-
Ovechkin scores 892nd goal -- three away from Gretzky's NHL record
-
Australian former rugby star Petaia signs for NFL's Chargers
-
China says opposes new US tariffs, vows 'countermeasures'
-
Athletics world watching as 'Grand Slam Track' prepares for launch
-
Heat humble Celtics for sixth straight win, Cavs top Knicks
-
Quake-hit Myanmar's junta chief to head to Bangkok summit
-
New Spielberg, Nolan films teased at CinemaCon
-
Shaken NATO allies to meet Trump's top diplomat
-
Israel's Netanyahu arrives in Hungary, defying ICC warrant
-
Shiny and deadly, unexploded munitions a threat to Gaza children
-
Stocks tank, havens rally as Trump tariffs fan trade war
-
Altomare hangs on to tie defending champ Korda at LPGA Match Play
-
Paraguay gold rush leaves tea producers bitter
-
Health concerns swirl as Bolivian city drowns in rubbish
-
Syria says deadly Israeli strikes a 'blatant violation'
-
Financial markets tumble after Trump tariff announcement
-
Starbucks faces new hot spill lawsuits weeks after $50mn ruling
-
Europe riled, but plans cool-headed response to Trump's tariffs
-
'Shenmue' voted most influential video game ever in UK poll
-
New coal capacity hit 20-year low in 2024: report
-
Revealed: Why monkeys are better at yodelling than humans
-
Key details on Trump's market-shaking tariffs
-
'A little tough love': Top quotes from Trump tariff talk
-
US business groups voice dismay at Trump's new tariffs
-
Grealish dedicates Man City goal to late brother
-
US tariffs take aim everywhere, including uninhabited islands
-
Trump sparks trade war with sweeping global tariffs
-
Israeli strikes hit Damascus, central Syria; monitor says 4 dead
-
Slot 'hates' offside rule that gave Liverpool win over Everton
-
US stocks end up, but volatility ahead after latest Trump tariffs
-
Barca oust Atletico to set up Clasico Copa del Rey final
-
Mourinho grabs Galatasaray coach's face after losing Istanbul derby
-
Grealish strikes early as Man City move up to fourth in Premier League
-
Reims edge out fourth-tier Cannes to set up PSG French Cup final
-
Liverpool beat Everton as title looms, Man City win without Haaland
-
Jota wins bad-tempered derby as Liverpool move 12 points clear
-
Inter and Milan level in derby Italian Cup semi
-
Stuttgart beat Leipzig to reach German Cup final
-
Trump unveils sweeping global tariffs
-
Italian director Nanni Moretti in hospital after heart attack: media
-
LIV Golf stars playing at Doral with Masters on their minds
-
Trump unveils sweeping 'Liberation Day' tariffs

Climate change cooks up Japanese 'cabbage shock'
Japan's much-loved "tonkatsu" pork cutlets come with a mound of freshly shredded cabbage, but a surge in the price of the humble vegetable has prompted chef Katsumi Shinagawa to skimp on servings.
The culprit is a changing climate. Last year's record summer heat and heavy rain ruined crops, driving up the cost of the leafy green in what media have dubbed a "cabbage shock".
It is the latest pain point for shoppers and eateries already squeezed by inflation, with energy bills up along with the price of staples from rice to flour and cooking oil.
Shinagawa's Tokyo restaurant Katsukichi offers free cabbage refills alongside its juicy, deep-fried cutlets -- a common practice with tonkatsu, a national comfort food.
But with cabbage now over three times more expensive than usual, according to the agriculture ministry, the restaurant has had to make each serving slightly smaller.
"I was ready to cope when the price of flour started rising, but not cabbage," Shinagawa told AFP, explaining that "tonkatsu and cabbage are like inseparable friends".
"Cabbages sold at supermarkets are now mind-blowingly expensive," he added. "Half-sized ones used to be around 100 yen ($0.60) per head, but they are now like 400 yen."
It has become a hot topic on social media, with many users aghast after a head of cabbage was recently given an eye-popping price tag of 1,000 yen at a supermarket in the Hyogo region.
"I never imagined cabbage would ever become so expensive that it's basically a delicacy," one user lamented on X.
- Extreme heat -
Climate change has made extreme weather more frequent and heatwaves more intense worldwide.
Last year Japan sweltered through its joint hottest summer since records began, followed by its warmest autumn.
"It was so hot that some cabbages were seared to death. The heat dehydrated them and made them wither," said Morihisa Suzuki from a federation of agricultural cooperatives in Aichi, one of Japan's largest cabbage-growing regions.
Days of intense localised rain, then a prolonged dry period with little sunshine have made things worse.
As a result, farmers in Aichi are grappling with yields an estimated 30 percent lower than usual, the groupsays.
Neighbouring South Korea -- where a different variety of cabbage is fermented to make the all-important side dish kimchi -- has also suffered.
Government data shows that in mid-January, cabbage prices soared 75 percent there compared to the same period last year.
Shin Mi-ja, a shopkeeper in Seoul, told AFP that cabbage prices were high "because of the heatwave and heavy rains".
"Overall prices for vegetables have risen, so people don't really want to buy" cabbage, even with the Lunar New Year holiday approaching, she said.
- Inflation -
In Japan, the heat has also made lettuce, green onion and "daikon" radish more expensive at the checkout.
And rice prices are soaring after harvests were hit by high temperatures and water shortages.
Official inflation data released Friday showed that the grain jumped a whopping 64.5 percent in December year-on-year.
Overall consumer prices were up 3.6 percent, or 3.0 percent when adjusted for food prices. The Bank of Japan was expected to raise interest rates later Friday.
Meanwhile bird flu outbreaks have created supply shortages for eggs, pushing up their price too.
The weak yen as well as labour shortages and rising transport costs have also created a perfect storm for Japanese restaurants.
Japan saw a record 894 restaurant bankruptcies last year due to inflation, the cheaper yen and the end of pandemic-era government subsidies, according to research firm Teikoku Databank.
Teikoku expects price rises in 2025 for around 6,000 food items, from bread to beer and noodles.
And convenience chain 7-Eleven said this week it would raise prices nationwide for onigiri rice balls, sushi and other rice-based items.
Chef Shinagawa does not want to pass on the price increases to his customers, however.
For now, "we're persevering," he said.
P.M.Smith--AMWN