New Zealand opposition leader Chris Hipkins says he would raise the goods and services tax (GST) registration threshold to help small businesses if elected. A tax expert, however, warns the change would merely shift the compliance problem rather than resolve it.
Small businesses in regional Western Australia say sponsoring skilled foreign workers for visas has become increasingly expensive, as the federal government vows to curb overall migration numbers. One cafe owner is struggling to cover the cost of securing a visa for a Taiwanese barista.
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India two years ago, used her first public appearance since then not to address the charges for which she has been sentenced to death, but to signal her ongoing influence as a political contender.
North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile over the Sea of Japan, according to Japan's and South Korea's militaries. The launch came a day after Pyongyang criticised Japan's military build-up in the region.
A growing number of Tuvaluans are making the difficult decision to leave their homeland as rising sea levels threaten the low-lying Pacific nation. One family, including a couple named Poeva and Akesa, described the hard choice of resettling in Australia and starting a new life away from their islands. The trend highlights how Pacific island nations are confronting the pressures of climate change.
Simcoa, Australia's only silicon producer, said it will exit the US market entirely next week after Washington imposed additional tariffs on its exports. The Australian federal government said the move does not undermine the broader critical minerals agreement between the two countries. The company said the tariffs had made its US sales margins unsustainable.
New official data from Stats NZ shows most New Zealanders are not receiving pay rises large enough to keep pace with inflation. The figures add to signs of financial strain on households already facing high living costs and a weakening labour market.
New Zealand lender ASB is raising its six-month home loan rate to 4.79% and its one-year rate to 4.99%. The move follows similar increases from ANZ and BNZ, adding to borrowing costs for homeowners across the country.
New Zealand's National Aerospace Centre is seeking private overseas investment to fund the country's second rocket launch pad. The agency says it expects to tap into intense global demand for rocket launches in the years ahead.
New Zealand's BNZ has raised its home loan interest rates, following a similar move by rival lender ANZ, which cited rising wholesale rates. The increases signal continued upward pressure on mortgage costs for New Zealand borrowers.