Oceania

25 May 2026
A medical diagnostic imaging center of Australia's I-MED Radiology Network in Sydney: Jardine Matheson is acquiring the company from private equity firm Permira, marking a foray into health care.
Guzman y Gomez had 224 locations in its home market of Australia as of June 2025.
Food & Beverage

Australian fast-food chain Guzman y Gomez says 'adios' to tough US market

Poor profits spur shift in focus to higher-performing Singapore, Japan operations

23 May 2026
Alexander Ong, an activist from the UNDI18 youth activist group, is among the Malaysians unhappy about rare earths processed in the country being supplied to the U.S Department of Defense. (Amy Chew)
Supply Chain

Lynas rare earth deal with Pentagon triggers outcry in Malaysia

Southeast Asian country is the key production base for the Australian miner

22 May 2026
Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar speaks in front of the U.S., Japanese and Australian foreign ministers before a Quad meeting at the State Department in Washington in July 2025.
Opinion

What's the purpose of the Quad?

Group's main challenge comes from America's strategic drift, rather than from China

22 May 2026
Arafura's rare earth project in Australia's Northern Territory underscores the shift by Western governments and major manufacturers to financially back supply chain diversification. (Screenshot from the Arafura's YouTube page)
Commodities

Australia's Arafura rare-earth project to start construction in September

Final investment decision comes amid Western efforts to reduce reliance on China

21 May 2026
BYD has enjoyed sharp sales growth in Australia as drivers seek relief from a cost-of-living crisis and rising fuel prices.
Automobiles

BYD surges, Toyota falters as oil crisis boosts EVs in Australia

Imports from China surge past those from Japan this year

19 May 2026
"[We] will act further if needed to protect national interests," Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers said in a statement on May 18.
Commodities

Australia orders China-linked investors to sell Northern Minerals stake

Canberra cites national interest concerns in critical minerals

18 May 2026
Sumitomo Metal Mining seeks to tap the Philippines' rare-earth resources to step up production. (Sumitomo Metal Mining)
Commodities

Japan's Sumitomo Metal, Sojitz look to Southeast Asia for rare earths

Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam hold promise for building China-free supply chain

18 May 2026
Australia's Gold Coast, once better known for its beaches, is making waves in the global film industry, backed by government grants and a growing reservoir of production talent.
Big in Asia

Australia goes Hollywood with Gold Coast film production boom

Major projects are coming to the coastal city for talent, landscapes and state support

16 May 2026
Matthew Wale, the new prime minister of the Solomon Islands, faces challenges including a rising cost of living and managing relations with China and other countries. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Koji Uema and Kyodo)
Politics

Solomon Island lawmakers pick China-cautious Matthew Wale as new PM

Vote comes after previous leader ousted; security deal with Beijing in focus

15 May 2026
Beijing imposed export controls on seven rare-earth elements in April 2025 as a trade war with Washington intensified. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Reuters)
Supply Chain

How a year of China's rare-earth controls is reshaping supply chains

Users adapt as further supply uncertainty hinges on Xi-Trump summit outcome

15 May 2026
Shinoken looks to operate low-rise buildings with 20 to 100 studio units, catering to single professionals. (Shinoken Group) 
Property

Japanese-style tiny apartments coming to Australia's co-living market

Real estate firm plans 300 units geared to singles in Sydney, other cities

14 May 2026
The Trump Organization signed a deal in February with Altus Property Group to develop a 91-story skyscraper on the Gold Coast of Australia.
Property

Trump Organization quits Gold Coast tower deal

Australian partner Altus accused of failing to meet key financial obligations

13 May 2026
Parliament House in Canberra. Treasurer Jim Chalmers says, "We're delivering a fairer tax system for workers, first home buyers and future generations." (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Economy

Australia takes aim at rising fuel prices with annual budget

Key property tax changes could assist new home buyers

12 May 2026
China's Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt previously acquired this lithium mine in Zimbabwe. Now it is moving to secure interests in Ghana and Ivory Coast.
Materials

China's Huayou to buy Africa-focused Australian miner in lithium rush

$210m deal secures access to EV battery ingredient in Ghana, Ivory Coast

8 May 2026
Australian LNG Tanker Northwest Sandpiper is at anchor in Yokohama port, near Tokyo, on April 12, 2022.
Energy

Australia unveils gas reservation system aimed at lowering domestic prices

Government says plan will help create 'downward pressure' and ward off shortages

7 May 2026
People walk pass by Circular Quay near Sydney Harbour. The Reserve Bank of Australia hiked interest rates on May 5 to curb inflation, which hit 4.6% in March.
Markets

Australia central bank raises rates for third time this year

25-basis-point increase undoes all three rate cuts made in 2025

5 May 2026
Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, right, meets with New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon in Singapore on May 4. (Singapore Ministry of Digital Development and Information)
International relations

Singapore and New Zealand sign deal to keep supply chains open

Leaders say they welcome other countries to take part in framework

4 May 2026
Prime Minister of Japan Sanae Takaichi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese shake hands after making remarks to the press at Parliament in Canberra on May 4.
International relations

Australia and Japan expand ties with focus on economic security

Canberra and Tokyo pledge to counter 'all forms of economic coercion'

4 May 2026
Pro pickleball players Nicola Schoeman, left, and Andie Dikosavljevic pose for a photo. Dikosavljevic describes the sport as "really strategic." (Photo by Sophie Mak)
Sports

Pickleball at the Olympics? Australian advocates' 'crazy' ambition

Sport surges Down Under but hurdles stand in way of vaulting into Brisbane Games

3 May 2026
Japan and Australia are expediting critical mineral procurement projects. Sanae Takaichi and Anthony Albanese are to issue a joint statement next week while Takaichi is in Australia. (Source photos by Ken Suzuki and Reuters)
Politics

Japan and Australia to fast-track six critical mineral projects

Partner nations step up efforts to diversify supply chains away from China

1 May 2026
Securing fertilizer at prices that won't break the bank is becoming an ever greater challenge for Australia's farmers since the Iran war has choked off trade through the Strait of Hormuz.
Agriculture

Australian farmers face hard choices as Iran war hits fertilizer supplies

Crop and livestock yields are on the line as input costs surge

1 May 2026
International remittances and tourism are critical parts of many Pacific island economies.
Finance

Japan to help Pacific island nations create payment processor

Tokyo looks to check spread of yuan as small countries increasingly turn to China

29 April 2026
Lynas Rare Earths CEO & Managing Director Amanda Lacaze speaks during the Nikkei Asia Forum in Perth on April 28. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Commodities

Measures needed to expand 'outside-China' rare earths industry: Lynas CEO

Australian rare earths producer outlines strategy at Nikkei Asia forum

28 April 2026
The logos of Meta and Google. "People are increasingly getting their news directly from Facebook, from TikTok and from Google," Australia's Communications Minister Anika Wells said at a news conference in explaining a new levy on the tech companies.
Media & Entertainment

Australia targets 3 tech giants with tax over news usage to boost journalism

Google, Meta and TikTok would pay 2.25% on revenues unless they sign deals with media outlets

28 April 2026
Western Australia Premier Roger Cook delivers a keynote address at the Nikkei Asia Forum in Perth on April 28. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Defense

Japan vows to deepen defense ties with Australia at Nikkei forum in Perth

Forum to feature discussion of rare earths, mining and trade cooperation

28 April 2026
U.S. President Donald Trump arrives at the G7 leaders summit in Canada in June 2025. This year's summit could see disagreements about how to address the conflict in the Middle East.
International relations

Japan struggles to navigate US-Europe split in G7 over Hormuz

Australia, Canada and South Korea look to diversify ties amid changing dynamic

28 April 2026
The breach has triggered political scrutiny in Colombo, with opposition lawmakers calling for an independent parliamentary inquiry and questioning whether proper authorization procedures were followed in executing sovereign payments.
Cybersecurity

Sri Lanka probes cyber heist of $2.5m debt payment meant for Australia

Fraud detected when second attempt was made on funds intended for repayment to India

27 April 2026
A Maritime Self-Defense Force Mogami-class frigate Kumano is seen during a port call in Australia. The class is being positioned as a template for Japan's push to expand warship exports. (Photo by Rurika Imahashi)
Aerospace & Defense Industries

Japan eyes expanded warship exports with Mogami-class frigate as template

Mitsubishi Heavy's customizable design helps Tokyo pitch durability and cost effectiveness overseas

26 April 2026
French Trade Minister Nicolas Forissier says countries must cooperate to ensure reliable supplies of rare earths. 
Commodities

France pushes creation of clubs to share rare earths information: minister

Paris seeking to bring together 'like-minded countries' for supply chain stability

24 April 2026