Economy

With rents up nearly 40% in the last five years and vacancies at under 2%, Australia residents are finding it increasingly hard to secure housing. (Nikkei montage/Source photo by Getty Images) 
Wagons filled with iron ore enter Rio Tinto's railyard near Karratha, 1,250 kilometers northeast of Perth, Australia, on Oct. 20, 2023. Australia shipped $138 billion of iron ore in the year through June.
Commodities

Australia warns of $2bn budget hole as iron ore slumps on China woes

Concerns elevated after bleak outlook from largest steelmaker

19 August 2024
Papua New Guinea's national census was initially due to take just two weeks starting in June, but the government has announced it will now not be completed until some time in 2025.
Opinion

Papua New Guinea's census process is a quagmire of epic proportions

International donors must pressure government to be transparent

14 August 2024
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand in Wellington. The central bank signaled more cuts ahead depending on how inflation evolves.
Economy

N.Z. cuts rates for first time in over 4 years, flags more easing

Kiwi dollar tumbles as markets bet on more aggressive easing path

14 August 2024
An Air New Zealand Airbus A320 at Auckland Airport.
Economy

New Zealanders emigrating in record numbers as economy stagnates

80,000 left in a year amid rising unemployment, high interest rates, slow growth

13 August 2024
Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Michele Bullock speaks during a news conference in Sydney on August 6. (Photo by AAP Image)
Economy

Australian central bank 'near-term' interest rate cuts not on agenda

Governor says market volatility needs to be monitored after decision to stand pat

6 August 2024
A thermometer shows a temperature of 44C in Athens, Greece, on July 18.
Opinion

World should take note of a new trade and climate change deal

ACCTS agreement between 4 small nations is a practical model for all economies

31 July 2024
Members of the World Trade Organization released an agreement on e-commerce rules following negotiations that began in 2017.
Trade

WTO members reach digital trade deal to ban tariffs on data

Proposed e-commerce rules also cover cybersecurity and regulatory transparency

27 July 2024
Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting participants pose during their summit in Tokyo on July 18. (Photo by Yuki Kohara)
Indo-Pacific

Japan, Pacific islands to boost security ties as China's influence grows

Summit cites 'increasing complexity' of geopolitics, though views of Beijing differ

18 July 2024
Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. speaks to Nikkei Asia in Tokyo on July 16. (Photo by Takuya Fujiwara)
Interview

Palau says China exerting 'new level' of pressure

President cites rejection of delegation to Macao and suspect cyber assault

16 July 2024
Toyota's electric vehicle bZ4X was on display last August at the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show. Japanese carmakers have long dominated the Indonesian market.
Your Week in Asia

China 'third plenum' meeting, ADB economic outlook, Indonesia Auto Show

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

14 July 2024
Australia's earnings from metallurgical coal, used as a fuel for steelmaking, are forecast to fall in the next 12 months due to weaker prices.
Commodities

China tensions with West a risk for resource exports, Australia warns

Further dips in value expected as U.S., Europe look to reshore manufacturing

2 July 2024
An excavator digs up vines near the town of Griffith in southeast Australia.
Food & Beverage

In vino veritas: Australia wrestles with wine glut

Falling consumption among young, thirst for quality fuels change at wineries

29 June 2024
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, left, and Chinese Premier Li Qiang shake hands in Canberra on June 17. Both men welcomed improved relations between their countries.
International relations

Chinese Premier Li Qiang says ties with Australia are back on track

Meeting with Prime Minister Albanese in Canberra comes as economic ties warm

17 June 2024
Big consulting firms like PwC have come under fire in Australia after a scandal in which PwC was found to have used confidential information from the government for commercial gain.
Economy

Australian senate urges stricter rules for 'Big 4' consultancies

Report calls for tighter oversight of government contracts following scandal

13 June 2024
Winston Peters, New Zealand's deputy prime minister and foreign minister, calls the situation in the Gaza Strip "an absolute humanitarian catastrophe." He was speaking in Kuala Lumpur on June 7. (Photo by Hakimie Amrie)
Interview

New Zealand seeks closer ties with ASEAN on climate change

Deputy PM Winston Peters calls regional cooperation critical in 'complicated' world

11 June 2024
Australia is looking to move up the value chain in the global supply of lithium and other minerals critical for green energy technologies.
Commodities

Australian project 'fingerprints' lithium for green metals trade

Researchers work on trade protocols as EU eyes Australian critical minerals

7 June 2024
Shoppers walk past a store in Sydney: Australia's statistics bureau reported on June 5 that the country's GDP growth slowed to 0.1% in the January March quarter.
Economy

Australia GDP growth slows in Q1, dragged down by high inflation

Rising prices, higher interest rates sap consumer activity

5 June 2024
Australian beef producers are hopeful for an increase in exports to China now that restrictions have been eased. (Photo by Rurika Imahashi)
Trade

Australia's beef producers eye expansion in China as more bans lifted

Country's $7.6bn beef export sector 'parties' as impediments to major market fall

30 May 2024
Australia's government is hoping to benefit from the global green energy transition.
Economy

Australia plans to spend $15bn on green investments over 10 years

Canberra focuses spending on energy transition, inflation as election looms

14 May 2024
Singapore's new leader, currently Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, speaks to media on April 16. 
Your Week in Asia

Wong takes helm in Singapore, Japan economy data, Australia budget

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

12 May 2024
A woman tries to cool down in the Philippines in April 2024. People around Asia should expect more scorching weather as the year unfolds. 
Climate Change

Asia braces for more extreme weather like 2023, world's hottest year

Health fallout set to worsen as severe heat, dryness and rain have already hit region

6 May 2024
A refinery in Marin, Switzerland: Mines in Papua New Guinea now send their gold overseas for processing. 
Opinion

Papua New Guinea's planned gold monopoly will weigh economy down

Key export sector to be damaged by deal with mysterious Singapore company

24 April 2024
A Woolworth's in central Sydney. (Photo by Shaun Turton)
Retail

Australia takes aim at the dominance of two big supermarkets

Top chains Woolworths and Coles face scrutiny as prices rise

22 April 2024
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, fourth from left, poses for a photo with ASEAN leaders at the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne on March 5. 
Comment

Australia shifts focus from ASEAN to individual Southeast Asian nations

Move reflects new international political and economic realities

21 April 2024