New Zealand

Chinese visitors at the McGuigan wine tasting counter in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales. (Photo by Geoff Hiscock)
Business

Chinese tourism 'Down Under' soars on Australia-China aviation links

Visitor numbers are rising, but industry must work to leverage Chinese tourism interest

14 March 2017
Sekisui House is building homes in Sydney with an Australian partner.
Japan-Update

Sekisui House forecasts second straight record profit

Looming population decline pushes Japanese developer to seek growth overseas

10 March 2017
People perform a dragon dance at Tiankai Temple in Beijing on Feb. 27. Earnings may be down, but expectations for Asian economies are up.
Economy

Earnings gloom aside, Asia Inc. is positioned for growth

Regional growth outlook is good and M&A appetite remains strong

9 March 2017
People perform a dragon dance at Tiankai Temple in Beijing on Feb. 27. Earnings may be down, but expectations for Asian economies are up.
Economy

Earnings gloom aside, Asia Inc. is positioned for growth

Regional growth outlook is good and M&A appetite remains strong

9 March 2017
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, right, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, center, and South African President Jacob Zuma attend a news conference at the Indian Ocean Rim Association leaders summit in Jakarta on March 7.
Politics

Indian Ocean rim leaders call for closer ties amid globalization backlash

Indonesian host Widodo warns of the 'explosive' mix of technology and populism

7 March 2017
Australia's "One Nation" party leader Pauline Hanson
Politics

With nationalist agenda, 'Australia's Trump' advances ahead of poll

Polls suggest anti-immigrant 'One Nation' party is gaining ground ahead of state elections

6 March 2017
Charter rates for Capesize vessels have jumped more than 80% from their recent low.
Commodities

Bulk carrier shipping rates climb

Strong Chinese demand for iron ore drives Capesize rates higher

4 March 2017
Participants pose prior to the start of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade along Oxford Street in Sydney on March 5, 2016. More than a quarter of a million spectators watched 200 floats and more than 10,000 marchers.
Life

Sydney's Gay Mardi Gras seeks relevance alongside pizazz

Once a symbol of rebellion, the event has become mainstream

3 March 2017
A man crosses a road in central Sydney.
Politics

Experts push for concrete action on obesity in Australia

With one in four children overweight, a public health crisis is looming

2 March 2017
For over 30 years, every child in New Zealand -- including these kids in the 1940s -- was given a free pint of milk. Many schools today still give free milk in smaller cartons. (Alexander Turnbull Library)
Economy

Growing up with New Zealand's 'white gold'

A former milk boy reflects on his nation's nectar

2 March 2017
Indonesian Minister for Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, left, shakes hands with Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop as Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull look on, in Sydney on Feb. 26.
Economy

Australian, Indonesian leaders talk closer military ties, trade pact

Turnbull and Widodo vow to put fractious past behind them

2 March 2017
For over 30 years, every child in New Zealand -- including these kids in the 1940s -- was given a free pint of milk. Many schools today still give free milk in smaller cartons. (Alexander Turnbull Library)
Economy

Growing up with New Zealand's 'white gold'

A former milk boy reflects on his nation's nectar

2 March 2017
BHP Billiton's Olympic Dam copper mine in South Australia. (Courtesy of BHP Billiton)
Business trends

South Australia becomes battleground for renewable energy war

BHP Billiton enters fray over state-wide power outages amid debate over renewables

28 February 2017
CLP Chief Executive Richard Lancaster, center, and Vice Chairman Betty Yuen So Siu-mai, right, announced group earnings on Feb. 27. (Photo by Jennifer Lo)
Business

CLP says Australia power market outperforms China, India

Hong Kong power supplier beats estimates, despite 19% profit slump

27 February 2017
Vietnam's "blue boats" are accused of poaching in South Pacific oceans. (Courtesy of Australian Border Force)
Economy

Vietnamese poachers plunder South Pacific sea cucumbers

Regional nations to meet to discuss crackdown on so-called blue boats

27 February 2017
Milking venom from a Russell's viper, used in production of antivenom. ​(Photo by Julian White)​
Life

Australia brings snake bite expertise to Myanmar

International support focuses on improving emergency care and anti-venom supplies

25 February 2017
Stream article image
Politics

Japan, China play for 'swing states' in regional trade game

Deal gains prominence after TPP's demise, but discord among 16 nations remains

25 February 2017
The World Baseball Classic got off to a rocky start in 2006, when initially reluctant Japan won the championship in the San Diego final, and is now hugely popular in Japan and other Asian countries.
Business

Big in Asia but World Baseball Classic still seeks US home run

Quadrennial baseball event, popular in Asia, wants same respect as World Series

24 February 2017
This artist's rendering shows a CubeSat satellite orbiting the earth with its solar panel arrays extended. (Photo courtesy of UNSW)
Science

Nano-satellites thrust Australia back into space

India, South Korea, Taiwan and China also involved in tiny spacecraft launches

23 February 2017
Higher cheese import prices could hit Japanese consumers.
Commodities

Japan's dairy import prices soar amid output cuts

Strong butter, cheese demand lets EU, Oceania milk the market

18 February 2017
A miner holds a lump of iron ore at a mine located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
Business

China's Citic plans $1bn write-down on Aussie mine

Total losses on the state-owned company's project are set to swell to $4bn

16 February 2017
The Darwin-based Ichthys LNG project’s 336 metre floating production, storage and offloading facility under construction in South Korea, September 2016.
Economy

US set to overtake Australia in LNG exports

America's energy sector to see boom on 'Trump effect '

10 February 2017
A Rio Tinto coal mine in the Australian state of New South Wales (Courtesy of Rio Tinto)
Commodities

Rio Tinto offloads assets while the (coal) price is right

Miner jumps at chance to shift focus to iron ore, other resources

9 February 2017
U.S. President Donald Trump signs an executive order to withdraw the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, in the White House on Jan. 23.
Economy

Editorial: Don't give up on the TPP

Even without the US, the trade pact has a lot to offer

9 February 2017
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, left, met with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Canberra.
International relations

China makes neighborly greeting amid Australia's US strains

Canberra, Beijing enhance economic partnership, teaming on trade

8 February 2017