Economy

Facebook's plan to create a virtual currency called Libra has prompted some emerging nations to consider developing their own.
Cryptocurrencies

Libra threat spurs small nations to create own digital currencies

Cambodia and Marshall Islands look to safeguard monetary sovereignty

16 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
Foreign students in Japan are allowed to work in unskilled-labor positions, such as convenience store work, for up to 28 hours per week. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi) 
Japan immigration

Japan intensifies crackdown on student visa overstayers

Number of countries subject to stricter checks to increase tenfold

11 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
Governor of the Bank of Korea Lee Ju-yeol speaks during a press conference: central bank policymakers must avoid becoming ATMs for complacent governments.
Opinion

South Korea's quantitative easing would be road to nowhere

Japan shows how QE discourages deep corporate reform

12 December 2019
Even after the suspension of APEC Leaders' Week in Chile, can-do attitude of participants remains.
Opinion

APEC shows virtues of multilateralism despite Chile cancellation

New host Malaysia will aid efforts to push forward free trade pacts

9 December 2019
China will continue some of Taiwan's projects, such as the construction of the main stadium for the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara. (Photo by Fumi Matsumoto)
Opinion

Pacific islands avoid China's 'debt-trap' diplomacy for now

Beijing's interest in region sparks fears it is making unsustainable loans

27 November 2019
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, left, with Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. It is unclear whether India will return to the RCEP talks.
International relations

RCEP trade deal can take effect without India, Thailand confirms

China, Japan, ASEAN and others to write up treaty for ratification by June

8 November 2019
The RCEP talks are expected to continue next year, but some political analysts and economists fear it may be difficult to regain momentum.
International relations

16 Asia-Pacific nations fail to seal RCEP trade deal

India blocks agreement; talks pushed to next year in blow for trade-war-weary China

5 November 2019
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who holds the key to the world's largest trade deal, will attend several summits in Bangkok.
International relations

China, Japan and ASEAN await India's nod to seal RCEP trade deal

Negotiators in last-minute effort after ministerial talks ended without breakthrough

2 November 2019
An ASEAN summit kicks off five days of meetings in Bangkok that will conclude on Monday evening with a summit of the 16 nations trying to put together the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
International relations

RCEP: Five things to know about Asia's mega trade talks

India frustrates China, demanding its farmers and industries be protected

31 October 2019
Cattle stir up dust in a drought-affected paddock on the outskirts of Dubbo in New South Wales.
Economy

Australian farm exports wither under 'worst drought in 50 years'

Wheat shortage hits Indonesian noodle makers while bushfires rage in Queensland

15 October 2019
Tsai Ing-wen rejuvenated the New Southbound Policy in 2016 while Beijing launched its measures to bring Taipei back into line.
Opinion

Taiwan's New Southbound Policy is decreasing its reliance on China

Looking to regional neighbors for closer trade relationships is bearing fruit

4 October 2019
Lockheed-Martin says more than 50 Australian companies are involved in the entire F-35 program.
Politics

Australia turns to military spending for jobs and growth

$135bn spree has analysts wondering if 'defense dividend' will materialize

30 September 2019
Fonterra's normalised earnings per share for the year was 17 cents, above the last forecast for the year of 10-15 cents.
Food & Beverage

New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra posts record annual loss

Shares rise despite writedowns totalling NZ$826 million

26 September 2019