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An auctioneer calls for bids during a property auction in Bondi, Sydney, on June 13. Photo: Reuters
Australia

Australia’s biggest property downturn since pandemic threatens economic growth

Home prices fell for a fifth month in August, threatening to erode household wealth and curb consumer spending.

Japan

Japan to expand security aid to 12 Indo-Pacific nations

Australia

Shellfish thieves in Australia make off with 400,000 oysters worth US$250,000

Australia

In Australia, Disney’s Ooshies send Woolworths whooshing ahead of Coles

The major grocers are fighting to lure shoppers at a time when cost-of-living pressures and discount scandals are fuelling consumer anger.

Disney’s Ooshies collection includes characters from Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars. Photo: Woolworths
Disney’s Ooshies collection includes characters from Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars. Photo: Woolworths
Australia

Australia’s top music charts ban AI songs to protect human artists

Under the new rules, music must be ‘substantially human made’ but recordings that use AI in a supporting role are still eligible.

New Zealand

New Zealand moves to ban social media for under-16s

Wellington is proposing fines of up to 10 per cent of global turnover for tech firms, but a coalition partner has vowed to block the measure.

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Australia

Australia’s air traffic controller shortage triggers spike in near-misses

Staffing gaps are fuelling safety concerns as Sydney Airport records four aircraft close calls in the past month.

A Qantas plane passes an air traffic control tower at Sydney Airport, Australia, on Friday. There have been four near misses at the airport over the past month. Photo: Reuters
A Qantas plane passes an air traffic control tower at Sydney Airport, Australia, on Friday. There have been four near misses at the airport over the past month. Photo: Reuters
Australia

Albanese: Canberra to join Australia’s gun buy-back programme after Bondi attack

Australia’ capital territory, home of the capital Canberra, has agreed to a scheme which will tighten checks for gun licences and crack down on hate.

Ukraine war

Australia charges dual citizen accused of spying for Russia in Ukraine

The Russian-Australian man who enlisted in Ukraine’s military has been accused of sharing unit locations and troop data with Moscow.

New Zealand

New Zealand passes law blocking climate action against companies

The law was introduced in response to a suit filed by a Maori activist against six firms for their contribution to environmental harm.

The national flag flies in front of the executive wing of the New Zealand Parliament Buildings in Wellington in September 2025. Photo: Reuters
Pacific nations

Cook Islands PM re-elected despite row with New Zealand over China ties

The result shows that local voters are not as concerned about geopolitical issues as claimed in earlier reports, analysts say.

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Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown speaks at a Pacific Islands Forum meeting in 2024. Photo: AP
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown speaks at a Pacific Islands Forum meeting in 2024. Photo: AP
Australia

Australia slows down ‘backpacker visas’ in fresh migration crackdown

The visas, which allow people to work and travel in Australia for a set period of time, are popular with European and Japanese citizens.

Australia

Australian foreign minister defends multiculturalism, attacks far-right

Foreign Minister Penny Wong cited her own experience of moving to Australia from Malaysia, saying the country is ‘more prosperous because of our diversity’.

Australia

Cable ties: Australia urged to lead Indo-Pacific in protecting subsea links

Australia should treat cable resilience not only as a domestic security issue but also as a shared regional project, analysts say.

An underwater cable sits on the sea floor. Australia relies heavily on subsea cables for its data. Photo: Getty Images
Australia

Australian jury convicts ex-Catholic bishop of sexually abusing 2 men

Christopher Saunders, 76, is one of the most senior Australian Catholics to be convicted in a global clergy abuse scandal.

Bishop Christopher Saunders of Broome tries to play a didgeridoo in Sydney, Australia in 2008. Prosecutors alleged Saunders lured young Indigenous men to his church-owned house with free alcohol and cigarettes paid for with church funds. Photo: AP
Bishop Christopher Saunders of Broome tries to play a didgeridoo in Sydney, Australia in 2008. Prosecutors alleged Saunders lured young Indigenous men to his church-owned house with free alcohol and cigarettes paid for with church funds. Photo: AP
Vietnam

Vietnam’s To Lam eyes trade, defence boost during trip to Australia, New Zealand

China’s actions in the South China Sea will be discussed but unlikely to be explicitly condemned, observers say.

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Australia

Albanese refuses to say sorry for ‘insulting’ melon joke about Japan PM

The Australian leader made the remarks about his Japanese counterpart last month, sparking backlash over perceived disrespect.

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Australia

Jetstar plane brakes suddenly to avoid colliding with Boeing 777 in Sydney

An investigation was launched into the ‘near collision’ that also injured a cabin crew member.

A Jetstar plane and a Qatar Airways flight were involved in a near miss at Sydney airport on Sunday. Photo: X/itsdanibrown
A Jetstar plane and a Qatar Airways flight were involved in a near miss at Sydney airport on Sunday. Photo: X/itsdanibrown
Banking & finance

The US helped boost the yen. Can China do the same for the Australian dollar?

Currency traders believe Beijing’s economic policies could give the Australian dollar a boost. Analysts say things are more complex in reality.

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Pacific nations

Solomon port plans mark US reset of ‘anaemic’ Pacific ties

The move aims to ensure Honiara partners with Western allies in sectors with security implications, analysts say.

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Pacific nations

New Zealand’s Pacific defence diplomacy shifts into overdrive

Wellington’s four-month diplomatic blitz aims to lock down regional allies as Washington’s commitment wavers.

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Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka (left) meets with New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on the sidelines of the Pacific Islands Forum summit in Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands, in 2025. Photo: AFP
Australia

Singtel weighs Optus stake sale as Australian watchdog launches court action

Australia’s ⁠communications ⁠regulator has taken Optus to court over last year’s network outages, which were linked to four deaths.

People walk past an Optus store in Sydney on September 29, 2025. Photo: Reuters
People walk past an Optus store in Sydney on September 29, 2025. Photo: Reuters
Australia

Australia weighs first refinery in 60 years as Middle East war strains fuel supply

With only two operating plants left nationwide, Canberra orders a study on a major new Western Australia facility.

Australia

Australia’s far-right Hanson loses appeal in racism case

Federal Court rejects free speech defence and upholds racial vilification finding over comments directed at a Muslim senator.

Australia

Australia ramps up Aukus funding with US$3.2 billion for nuclear submarine yard

Aukus, designed to check China’s military advance in the Indo-Pacific, is expected to cost Canberra up to US$250 billion over 30 years.

US Navy officers stand aboard the Virginia-class submarine USS Minnesota docked at HMAS Stirling in Rockingham, Western Australia, on February 26, 2025. Australia aims to acquire at least three US Virginia-class submarines. Photo: AFP
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