Mickey Bristow

Beijing banned lobsters four years ago, along with other Australian products, including coal and wine. That followed a diplomatic dispute between the two nations, partly over Canberra's call for an independent inquiry into the origins of Covid. China has gradually lifted the sanctions following an improvement in relations. The restriction on lobsters is the last to be removed.

Beijing banned lobsters four years ago, along with other Australian products, including coal and wine. That followed a diplomatic dispute between the two nations, partly over Canberra's call for an independent inquiry into the origins of Covid. China has gradually lifted the sanctions following an improvement in relations. The restriction on lobsters is the last to be removed.

It comes just a month before the Lunar New Year holiday, when lobsters are in great demand in China.

It comes just a month before the Lunar New Year holiday, when lobsters are in great demand in China.

Like many things, the soil was contaminated following the meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear facility in 2011. Much of it is topsoil collected in order to decontaminate vast areas surrounding the plant. Japan plans to use the least radioactive soil in civil engineering projects such as road embankments. More heavily contaminated soil will be disposed of.

Like many things, the soil was contaminated following the meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear facility in 2011. Much of it is topsoil collected in order to decontaminate vast areas surrounding the plant. Japan plans to use the least radioactive soil in civil engineering projects such as road embankments. More heavily contaminated soil will be disposed of.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has approved the proposal, but as with the discharge of water from the plant, some people will not be happy.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has approved the proposal, but as with the discharge of water from the plant, some people will not be happy.

Our Asia-Pacific regional editor, Mickey Bristow, told us more. He was flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing overnight, a regular five-and-a-half-hour flight. But shortly after takeoff, the plane veered, instead of going northeast, it veered westwards over the Malay Peninsula, and then contact was lost with it.

Our Asia-Pacific regional editor, Mickey Bristow, told us more. He was flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing overnight, a regular five-and-a-half-hour flight. But shortly after takeoff, the plane veered, instead of going northeast, it veered westwards over the Malay Peninsula, and then contact was lost with it.

Initially, the search focused around the area where it had been lost, but then it became clear that the plane had actually continued to fly thousands of kilometres off the route which it was intended to fly and had ended up in the Indian Ocean where investigators believe it had crashed. Initially, there was a search there, firstly by the governments of Malaysia, China, and Australia.

Initially, the search focused around the area where it had been lost, but then it became clear that the plane had actually continued to fly thousands of kilometres off the route which it was intended to fly and had ended up in the Indian Ocean where investigators believe it had crashed. Initially, there was a search there, firstly by the governments of Malaysia, China, and Australia.

That was over a vast area, 120,000 kilometers. That ended. There was then a second search by the company Ocean Infinity. That didn't find anything. And so that stopped. And the investigation appeared to have died down. And as you suggested, they're a great aviation mystery because so many people on board, so little knowledge about what could have happened to the plane.

That was over a vast area, 120,000 kilometers. That ended. There was then a second search by the company Ocean Infinity. That didn't find anything. And so that stopped. And the investigation appeared to have died down. And as you suggested, they're a great aviation mystery because so many people on board, so little knowledge about what could have happened to the plane.

Why was it over the Indian Ocean? Why did it get there? So those questions remained. That's perhaps why the investigation has been reopened.

Why was it over the Indian Ocean? Why did it get there? So those questions remained. That's perhaps why the investigation has been reopened.

I think since the last search there's been a lot of work done on actually trying to take the information we do know about the plane to try and pinpoint more accurately where indeed investigators think that it crashed. And if you listen there to the transport minister from Malaysia, he suggested that this new area was 15,000 square kilometres.

I think since the last search there's been a lot of work done on actually trying to take the information we do know about the plane to try and pinpoint more accurately where indeed investigators think that it crashed. And if you listen there to the transport minister from Malaysia, he suggested that this new area was 15,000 square kilometres.

It sounds a big area, but it's far smaller than the initial search area. So I think they feel now they've pinpointed, the area where the plane crashed. Also, there's, as you can imagine, real pressure from the families to try and find out what went on. So the Malaysian government knows that and now it's got this fresh information.

It sounds a big area, but it's far smaller than the initial search area. So I think they feel now they've pinpointed, the area where the plane crashed. Also, there's, as you can imagine, real pressure from the families to try and find out what went on. So the Malaysian government knows that and now it's got this fresh information.