This Month
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.
Wesfarmers switches Kmart boss John Gualtieri into Officeworks role
After more than six years in the top job at Officeworks, Sarah Hunter will be succeeded by Gualtieri, who has worked at Wesfarmers since 2008.
May
‘Rich and naive’: Why Singapore is engulfed in scams
City-state residents who spend a lot of time online and are naturally compliant with authority are especially vulnerable.
Kmart chief plots global expansion to deliver $20b sales target
The discount department store took centre stage at a strategy day hosted by its owner, Wesfarmers, outlining plans for new store formats and more Anko stores.
April
Beijing’s flag-planting in South China Sea revives tensions with Manila
The Philippines sent navy, coastguard and maritime police officers to Sandy Cay and two neighbouring sandbanks in the Spratly Islands “uphold sovereignty”.
China seizes disputed reef in the South China Sea
China’s official declaration of sovereignty over the land near the Philippines will raise fears that Beijing intends to build up unoccupied reefs and banks.
China’s factories face disaster in Trump’s trade war
Thousands of small factories with tiny profit margins have played a central role in China’s international competitiveness. Many could now struggle to survive.
Vale Gwen Robinson, intrepid journalist who could tame huge egos
The Asia expert was known for her network of contacts, bold reporting and extraordinary kindness to young journalists and anyone needing help.
March
Former Philippine leader Duterte arrested over drug killings
Rodrigo Duterte was arrested after arriving from Hong Kong and police took him into custody on orders of the International Criminal Court.
Hegseth hits back after China declares ‘we’re ready’ for war
The US defence secretary says “those who long for peace must prepare for war”.
January
These 10 charts show how our region is preparing for war
Alarm over China’s ‘one-sided’ surge in military spending has prompted a regional arms race – and Australia is part of it.
December 2024
The Kmart wizard who wants to take Anko to the world
The discount store’s own brand was founded in 2019 and now sells more than a billion items every year. Ian Bailey is about to take it global.
Bigger than sport: PNG’s PM on getting an NRL team
James Marape, Papua New Guinea’s prime minister, says the bid to join the NRL goes way beyond sport and commerce for the country, and will also benefit Australia.
Australian-based bishop among Pope’s new cardinal picks
At 44 years of age, Mykola Bychokthe, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Melbourne, is also the youngest cardinal.
Demand for offshore white-collar workers triples firm’s revenue
ConnectOS specialises in hiring and managing low-cost staff in the Philippines on behalf of other companies.
November 2024
Trump’s tariffs mean crony capitalism is coming
The tariffs pledged are far higher than anything seen the first time around – and the potential for political favouritism will be far greater.
Accountants ramp up offshoring to bring down costs
Up to a third of staff at some of the nation’s top firms work in countries such as India and the Philippines as leaders cut costs and search for hard-to-find skills.
Have a listen to this AI sales call – it’s getting scarily realistic
When it came to selling a new range of drinks to schools, supermarkets and petrol stations, a Brisbane entrepreneur succeeded with artificial intelligence.
October 2024
Is ‘heartbreak leave’ the new workplace concession?
A bill in the Philippines is trying to secure time off for workers after a break-up. Companies worldwide are also helping employees going through divorce.