This Month
Police comb fire-ravaged Hong Kong apartments, death toll at 146
The cause of the blaze that started last Wednesday and quickly fanned across the exterior of the apartments under renovation is still being investigated.
Marles launches biggest Defence overhaul in five decades
To help prevent more multibillion-dollar cost blowouts, an independent agency to run major projects will be created by the government.
November
Amnesia is turning Asia’s tyrants into heroes
Indonesia’s decision to honour former dictator Suharto as a hero is a reminder that when nations forget their authoritarian pasts, they risk inviting them back.
The fight over immigration is just hotting up
It’s a divisive issue in Australia, as it is elsewhere, and the Liberals are determined not to let Pauline Hanson lead the charge.
October
Philippines, China trade blame over South China Sea clash
Manila alleged Chinese maritime forces used water cannons and rammed a Philippine boat near Thitu Island in the latest of a string of clashes.
September
How chaos unfolded again for Australia’s most disaster-prone company
Is Optus underfunded by its Singaporean owners, incompetent or unlucky? The unfolding of its fatal Triple Zero outage suggests it is, at best, a slow learner.
Beijing warns of Australia’s ‘two-faced’ policy towards China
The China Daily said Australia’s pursuit of close economic relations with China and stronger defence ties with the Trump administration was “unsustainable”.
Xi’s military show sparked fears. The real warning was elsewhere
China’s new weapons showed off the country’s military might, as Chinese ships sent a pointed message to joint Australian exercises in the South China Sea.
Social media a ‘weapon of mass destruction’: Nobel winner
Journalist Maria Ressa has (so far) beaten 10 of the 11 criminal warrants issued against her by ex-Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte.
August
Michael Chaney departs Wesfarmers with $1.7b gift to shareholders
The group behind Bunnings and Kmart said Ken MacKenzie would succeed Chaney as chairman as it delivered a solid rise in profit and a special dividend.
James Hardie may be forced to raise capital after shock result
The building products giant’s shares dived 28 per cent after it slashed profit expectations, with investors wiping $7 billion from its market value.
Footage shows Chinese ships colliding during high-speed chase
The collision is the latest confrontation with a Philippine vessel as China steps up its military dominance of the South China Sea.
Philippines would be drawn into Taiwan war, says Marcos
The president said the country’s coast guard, navy and other vessels defending its territorial interests in the South China Sea would never back down.
Trump’s memo to Canberra: America alone can’t deter China over Taiwan
Given the nature of the Trump administration, the confrontation with Australia over committing to defend Taiwan could blow up into a major crisis.
Woolworths and Coles beware, home brands can actually hurt margins
Brokers say there are plenty of opportunities for the country’s big supermarkets to replicate stand-out successes like Kmart’s Anko and Costco’s Kirkland.
July
Inflation slows; Tsunami warning after quake; Aussie rocket crashes
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
Trump’s blitz pushes US levies to highest levels since 1930s
The wall of levies announced by the president since he took office again in January has taken the country’s effective tariff level to an estimated 17.3 per cent.
Thailand, Cambodia ignore Trump’s warning to halt deadly clashes
Attempting to play peacemaker, the US president warned the leaders of both countries would not secure a trade deal with Washington until the conflict ends.
Where the bloody hell are you? Companies pitch overseas for skills
Australia’s beach-going, carefree lifestyle appeals to candidates living abroad, but moving to the lucky country can come with hurdles.
June
Gas giants say they can get Asia off coal – and reduce emissions
New research suggests replacing coal power with Australian gas could deliver cost-effective emissions reductions in Asia.