Economy

A pedestrian walks past a real estate agency in Sydney's central business district on Nov. 15.
Politics

Australia's Albanese faces immigration heat as house prices soar

First-time buyers getting squeezed out of property market

6 December 2023
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, left, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Nov. 6.
Comment

Australia's Albanese tackles China paradox with shrewd diplomacy

Premier carefully juggles trade and security to achieve long-term deterrence

27 November 2023
Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, speaks to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in California on Nov. 17.
Opinion

Australia's Albanese paid a high price for his trip to China

Canberra no longer seems willing to stand up for rules-based international order

22 November 2023
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meets with China's President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Nov. 6.
International relations

China and Australia agree to improve trade ties at summit

Xi and Albanese discuss CPTPP pact, Taiwan and more as tensions ease

7 November 2023
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will visit New Delhi this week for the annual 2+2 ministerial dialogue with their counterparts S. Jaishankar and Rajnath Singh.
Your Week in Asia

U.S.-India 2+2, Pacific Islands Forum, China Singles Day 'war'

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

5 November 2023
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will travel to China from Nov. 4 to 7 to meet with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.
Your Week in Asia

BOJ policy meeting, Hong Kong FinTech Week, Australia PM visits China

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

29 October 2023
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing next month, as the two countries cast aside some noisy prior disagreements over trade and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Big Story

China-Australia thaw reveals limits of Beijing's economic coercion

Ahead of Albanese's first China visit, relaxation of punitive trade measures proves Xi will not sacrifice economy for politics

25 October 2023
Australian tourism development has been held back by a lack of investment outside existing major centers, high costs, increasing airfares and overreliance on the China market.
Opinion

Australia's challenges are no mystery but take courage to tackle

Country's economic imbalances only set to get worse

23 October 2023
Argyle pink diamonds are especially prized for their deep hue. (Photo by Rurika Imahashi)
Business trends

Australian pink diamonds catch eye of affluent amid inflation

Rio Tinto's Argyle mine closure adds extra novelty to rare gems

22 October 2023
BHP Group, the world's largest miner based on market capitalization, is carefully watching China's efforts to stabilize a key sector of its economy.
Commodities

BHP chief counts on China taming property crisis to lift economy

CEO of mining giant sees chance of Chinese 'momentum' gaining pace

20 October 2023
The Malaysian Health Minister will table an amendment to the Tobacco Act, which is part of the Generational End Game policy, aiming to restrict tobacco products to people born after 2007.
Your Week in Asia

Malaysian tobacco ban bill, Singapore GDP, New Zealand election

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

8 October 2023
A lithium-processing plant near Bunbury, Australia. The country looks to attract investment in mineral-processing facilities to supply the electric-vehicle industry.
Supply Chain

Australia looks to EV boom to transform economy

Lithium-rich nation seeks to become key link in battery supply chain

27 August 2023
While global leaders make the trek to Port Moresby to court PNG's leader, rising debt, inflation and sluggish growth could derail Prime Minister James Marape's plan to make his country the world's "richest Black Christian nation."
Asia Insight

Papua New Guinea's Marape: Pacific power broker or PM in peril?

Amid U.S.-China balancing act, PNG leader faces mounting pressure at home

22 August 2023
A clothing store in Sydney: Consumers demand instantaneous access to goods and services at low prices, which requires substantial capital and global reach.
Opinion

'Greedflation' is an unhelpful concept

Elevated profits stem in part from overwhelmed supply chains

11 August 2023
Michele Bullock has worked at the Reserve Bank of Australia since 1985 after joining as an intern. (AAP/via Reuters)
Economy

Australia picks Michele Bullock as its first female central bank head

RBA veteran expected to ensure continuity as nation battles soaring costs

14 July 2023
Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with then-Papua New Guinean Prime Minister Peter O'Neill in Port Moresby in 2018. 
International relations

China woos Papua New Guinea with free trade push

Beijing leverages frustrations over economic ties with U.S., Australia

12 July 2023
Indonesian President Joko Widodo, left, speaks as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese listens during a joint statement in Sydney on July 4.
International relations

Australia extends business visas for Indonesians

Leaders Albanese and Widodo promote economic ties at Sydney meeting

4 July 2023
Indonesian leader Joko Widodo's tenure has seen improved diplomatic and economic ties with neighbor Australia. (Source photos  by AP, Reuters and Getty)
International relations

Indonesia's Jokowi eyes EV lithium deals on Australia visit

Boosting trade in focus at meeting with PM Anthony Albanese

3 July 2023
True reform requires governments taking full responsibility for monetary and fiscal policy as well as bank regulation. Central banks should assume an instrumental role.  
Opinion

Australia's central bank review missed its mark

Real RBA reform is needed, beginning with a rethink of its independence

5 June 2023
People load shopping into a car in New Zealand. The nation's central bank has remained singularly focused on curbing inflation, lifting rates by 525 basis points since October 2021.
Economy

New Zealand central bank ups rates to 14-yr high, signals hikes done

RBNZ raises interest rates by 25 basis points to 5.5%

24 May 2023
China closed its doors to Australian timber imports in 2020 amid growing tensions over COVID-19.
Trade

China resumes imports of Australian timber in sign of thaw

Uncertainties remain over Beijing's restrictions on barley, wine and more

19 May 2023
A Lockheed Martin missile is showcased at a U.S. Army expo in Huntsville, Alabama in March: While America still leads in many areas of technological innovation, it is not the sole source of cutting-edge advances.
Opinion

U.S. technology controls fail to account for Pacific allies

Shift from outdated mindset needed to support collective regional security

15 May 2023
Air New Zealand is launching bunk beds in economy class on its Auckland-New York and Auckland-Chicago flights. (Photo courtesy of Air New Zealand)
Travel & Leisure

Air New Zealand to offer beds in economy class from $250 each

Skynest available on Auckland to New York or Chicago flights

13 May 2023
Australia posted a budget surplus of AU$4.2 billion for the year to June 2023, its first since the 2007-2008 fiscal year. (Source photos by Reuters and Getty Images)
Economy

Australia budget surplus likely a one-off as spending surges

Canberra's finances face 'downside shock' after commodity price windfall

10 May 2023
The Virginia-class USS North Dakota is seen in this photo provided by the U.S. Navy. The United States intends to sell Australia three Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines in the early 2030s.
Politics

Australia expands defense budget ahead of submarines purchase

Canberra lifts nuclear ambitions in light of China's growing heft in Indo-Pacific

9 May 2023