Economy

Leaders and trade ministers from the 15 Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership countries pose for a virtual group photo during the signing ceremony hosted by Vietnam on Nov. 15.
Trade

Asia forms world's largest trading bloc RCEP after years of talks

After signing, focus turns to ratification; China to hold sway in India's absence

16 November 2020
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand is following a monetary policy of "least regrets" -- meaning it would prefer to do too much too soon rather than too little too late.
Economy

New Zealand weighs negative interest rates as COVID rages overseas

Despite economic bounce, RBNZ tees up cheap cash and eyes 2021 rate cut

10 November 2020
Kaikoura Seafood BBQ which is usually full of international tourists in Kaikoura, pictured on June 10: hospitality business is not coming back anytime soon.
Opinion

New Zealand slump a red alert for world economy

Canary in the coal mine of Asian trade on worst trajectory since Great Depression

21 September 2020
Commonwealth flags in London: Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the U.K. share a common language and democratic norms, though this does not guarantee smooth sailing toward closer ties.
International relations

'CANZUK' alliance idea makes waves with Indo-Pacific in flux

Assertive China and unpredictable US revive calls for tight-knit 'Anglosphere'

4 September 2020
The symbol of the Islamic State terrorist group on a smartphone: when it comes to extremist content online, time is of the essence.
Opinion

Tech companies continue evading accountability for violent content

Governments must step in to stop platforms allowing pro-terrorist material

5 July 2020
Asia is exercising an advantage over the "wild" West, remaining more cautious about reopening stores and restaurants amid the risk of additional novel coronavirus outbreaks. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
The Big Story

Exits from coronavirus lockdown split 'wild' West from 'cautious' East

Economies are impatient to reopen. Experts say it will trigger a second wave of infections

27 May 2020
Shanghai Disneyland will reopen this week since it closed on January 25 amid China's coronavirus lockdown. 
Your Week in Asia

Shanghai Disney, Sony results and Bitcoin 'halving'

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

10 May 2020
Governor Shaktikanta Das at a news conference in Mumbai, pictured on Feb. 6: in return for handing its wallet to Team Modi, the RBI should extract reform pledges.
Opinion

World watches as India's central bank prepares to fund government

Direct financing of fiscal deficits is looking attractive despite inflation risks

4 May 2020
A soldier guards an empty street following the lockdown in Manila on Apr. 24: policymakers need to cushion the current impact, even if it entails costs later on.
Opinion

Stimulus-driven inflation is the least of Asia's problems

Cost of inaction is much higher than putting too much money into system

3 May 2020
Meat, fish vegetables and fruit are among the items covered under a mutual supply initiative signed by Singapore and New Zealand.
Trade

TPP countries defy protectionist trend to maintain supply chains

Singapore teams with New Zealand and Japan to keep food and medical gear flowing

2 May 2020
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on April 20 announces plans to ease the country's lockdown, saying the chain of coronavirus transmission has been broken.
Coronavirus

New Zealand to ease lockdown after 'breaking' coronavirus chain

Construction and manufacturing to restart but tourism remains crippled

20 April 2020
Despite doubts about China's transparency, analysts give it credit for its aggressive pandemic response, including in Wuhan where the outbreak started.
Coronavirus

South Korea and China earn high marks in pandemic safety ranking

Israel leads while Philippines and Indonesia lag on venture fund's list

14 April 2020
AI is creating unfamiliar possibilities.
Opinion

It is time for G-20 to give way to tech-driven AI-20

Multilateral body based on harnessing artificial intelligence is way forward

28 February 2020
A staff member wearing a face mask stands in front of a restaurant on Valentine's Day in Beijing.
15 February 2020
The University of Melbourne campus. Thousands of Chinese students have been unable to attend class at schools in Australia because of the government's harsh response to the new coronavirus outbreak. (Photo by Jason Koutsoukis) 
Coronavirus

Australian universities stung by absence of Chinese students

Billions of dollars at risk as travel ban interrupts return of tens of thousands

14 February 2020
Imported Australian beef at a supermarket in Shanghai: Australia's red meat is well-regarded as premium products in China.
Opinion

Australia's farmers welcome competition from US-China trade deal

From beef to peaches, Beijing is keen on Australian exports

5 February 2020
Public discussion about Huawei's role gets stuck between two unhelpful extremes.
Opinion

Asia must step up tech security as it hands Huawei 5G green light

Governments around world set to follow UK stance on Chinese telecoms giant

29 January 2020
Chan Chun Sing, Singapore's minister for trade and industry, center, holds the signed joint statement for the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement with counterparts from New Zealand and Chile.
International relations

Singapore and TPP trailblazers now turn to digital rule-setting

Partners seek to draw global standards for AI, fintech and personal data

22 January 2020
Is this bush fire season presenting the kind of national crisis Australia needs to shake it from its climate malaise?
Opinion

Why should anyone trust Australia when it comes to climate change?

Politicians have been humiliated by lackluster response as country burns

20 January 2020
Technical staff inject chickens with the bird flu vaccine in Shangsi, China in April 2013: we must continue to strengthen collaboration between the animal and human health sectors.
Opinion

Coronavirus outbreak shows Asia needs to step up infection preparation

Region is safer after epidemic lessons but new diseases always arising

15 January 2020
Unprecedented wildfires have affected every state across Australia, the world's biggest exporter of coal and gas. Australia was recently ranked 57th out of 57 countries on climate-change action by a group of think tanks.
Natural disasters

Australia's fossil fuel giants discover charity as fires rage

Government sees no direct link between climate change and bushfires

10 January 2020
In this Sunday, Jan. 5 photo provided by Australian Department of Defense, the flight deck of a C-130J Hercules aircraft has a warm glow from wildfires, as they prepare to land at Merimbula airfield to deploy Fire and Rescue crews.
Natural disasters

Australia fire burns area 20 times the size of Tokyo

Prime Minister Morrison scrambles to contain political and economic damage

7 January 2020
Prices for rare earths like Neodymium surged in the middle of 2019 as importers feared China would take the crucial elements hostage.
Commodities

Why Asia weaponized rare earths, soybeans and palm oil in 2019

Resource nationalism took hold amid trade war tensions and environmental risks

28 December 2019
The benefits of whatever Trump brings home are likely to be modest relative to the extent of the harm.
Opinion

2020 look ahead: Trade turbulence will continue, worsened by Trump

World Trade Organization is unraveling and US growing even more protectionist

25 December 2019
A traffic signal outside the WTO headquarters in Geneva. The U.S. has vetoed appointments of appellate judges at the WTO since 2017.
Trade

US forces standstill of WTO appeals body

Lack of judges leaves 14 trade cases hanging in the balance

12 December 2019