Oceania

The Voice proposal lacked cross-party support, without which Australian constitutional referendums almost never succeed.
Opinion

Australia Inc.'s big-money campaign for the 'Voice' was tone-deaf

Divisive referendum has made corporate leaders look out of touch

1 November 2023
While Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government has ducked some battles with China, it has not conceded to Beijing on any top-tier national interest. (AAP Image via Reuters) 
Opinion

Xi's global agenda will restrain improvement in Australian ties

Albanese has changed Canberra's diplomatic tone, not its policy stance

30 October 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
South African president Cyril Ramaphosa lifts The Webb Ellis Cup as South Africa celebrate winning the world cup final
Sports

South Africa beat New Zealand to claim record fourth Rugby World Cup title

Siya Kolis became only the second captain after All Black McCaw to lift the trophy twice

29 October 2023
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met Chinese President Xi Jinping for the first time in Bali, Indonesia, at the G20 Leaders' Summit in November 2022.
Editor-in-Chief’s Picks

Letter from Nikkei Asia's editor: Better together

Shin Nakayama shares his weekly reflections and recommendations

27 October 2023
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, right, and U.S. President Joe Biden depart a joint news conference in the Rose Garden at the White House on Oct. 25.
Indo-Pacific

U.S. and Australia agree to cooperate with Japan on military drones

Biden and Albanese discuss defense partnership under complex challenges

26 October 2023
A lithium mine in Australia's Northern Territory. The country is a major producer of the critical mineral, used in electric vehicle batteries.
Supply Chain

Australia doubles critical minerals funding with $1.2bn boost

PM Albanese pursues stronger supply chain to reduce China risk

26 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
Canva staff at work in Sydney. The company has added a string of AI-powered functions to its design software.
Startups

Australia's Canva takes deep dive into AI to help regain valuation

Design software maker's co-founder says tech is key to avoid 'real opportunity cost'

23 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
An Australian air force fighter during a demonstration. The country looks to boost its jets' surveillance capabilities with Mitsubishi laser tech.
Aerospace & Defense Industries

Mitsubishi Electric lands Australia defense contract in industry first

Laser surveillance deal marks first by Japanese company with foreign government

20 October 2023
The expansion at the Tangguh facility had been delayed from the initial timeline of 2020, in part by COVID-19. (Photo obtained by Nikkei)
Energy

Japan-backed LNG project in Indonesia boosts output 50%

Mitsubishi, Inpex among investors in BP-operated Tangguh facility

20 October 2023
Indigenous women sit on a bench at a polling place in Sydney on Oct. 14: The referendum campaign had an energizing effect on Indigenous Australians around the country.
Opinion

'Voice' vote shows Australia has to rethink constitutional change

Country must still also find way forward for Indigenous people

19 October 2023
New Zealand's new government, to be led by the National Party's Christopher Luxon, is expected to ease a ban on foreigners buying homes despite criticism of its plans.
Opinion

New Zealand voters may get more change than they bargained for

National-led government set to walk back many of Jacinda Ardern's reforms

17 October 2023
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks during an official campaign launch for the upcoming referendum, in Adelaide on Aug. 30.
Politics

Australians head to Indigenous recognition vote: 3 things to know

Proposed constitutional amendment aimed at addressing long-standing disparity

14 October 2023
New Zealand Prime Minister and Labor leader Chris Hipkins, left, during a demonstration in Wellington on Oct. 6, and opposition leader Chris Luxon campaigning for the National Party on Oct. 11.
Politics

New Zealand awaits Saturday election as opposition coalition looms

Center-right National Party leads in polls but needs support of smaller parties

13 October 2023
Fishermen in Fiji, one of many island nations concerned about rising sea levels: Indonesia aims to amplify the collective voice of such countries at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai.
COP28

Indonesia seeks to lead island nations at Dubai climate summit

Jakarta wants unified voices with countries most threatened by rising seas

11 October 2023
After tourists see Sheridan Beaumont's Broken Bay aquaculture farm north of Sydney, they can eat the oysters she grows. (Photo by Rurika Imahashi)
Travel & Leisure

Australian oyster farmer bets on tourism amid climate risks

Post-COVID tourism recovery offers hope to anxious farmer

11 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 "No to the Voice" rally in Melbourne on Sept. 23: The tone of the "Yes" campaign has been a big reason for its unpopularity. (Sipa via AP Images)
Opinion

Australia's 'Voice' campaign has failed to quiet doubts

Proponents' tone has rubbed many voters the wrong way

8 October 2023
Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson has apologized for a lost of public trust in the world's second-oldest airline.
Companies

Scandal-hit Qantas fights to overcome its 'lying kangaroo' repute

New CEO Vanessa Hudson relents, offers refunds for canceled flight tickets

7 October 2023
Tamika Upton, right, a fullback for the Newcastle Knights in Australia's elite National Rugby League Women's competition, has been described as the best female player in the world. Her pay, however, is below that of even the lowest-paid male Knights NRL player.
Life

Sports pay highlights glaring gender disparity in Australia

Elite female footballers win accolades, but not top salaries

7 October 2023
The amount of space debris that is orbiting the earth has become a liability for satellites in operation.
Aerospace & Defense Industries

Japan-Australia team tapping lasers to find peanut-sized space debris

EX-Fusion and EOS to test tech that can detect objects as small as 3 cm

7 October 2023