Oil prices slide 5% as Trump says the Iran war will end 'very quickly' | The National
Oil prices fell about 5 per cent on Wednesday as US President Donald Trump's claimed that the Iran war would end “very quickly”.
· Alvin R Cabral
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Newest first · UTC+11:00GCC strikes milestone $5bn free-trade deal with UK | The National
Britain has become the first G7 country to agree to a free-trade agreement with the Gulf Co-operation Council, marking a major milestone in the UK’s post-Brexit trade strategy opening the country up to billions in investment.
· Thomas Harding
Nominee for U.S. envoy to S. Korea stresses commitment to security, prosperity through stronger alliance
WASHINGTON, May 20 (Yonhap) -- The nominee for the top U.S. envoy to South Korea on Wednesday highlighted her commitment to enhancing America's national security and economic prosperity by strengthening the Seoul-Washington alliance.
· Song Sang-ho
Business closure process simplified by tax bureau
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· Niña Myka Pauline Arceo
Peso gains a centavo, PSEi slips 0.06%
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· nazylen joy mabanglo, nina myka pauline arceo
DTI wants manufacturers to put off price increases
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· The Manila Times Staff
‘No immediate impact’ from China swine ban
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· Philippine News Agency, Giselle P. Jordan
New DBM chief: Budget won’t be ‘abused again’
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· Niña Myka Pauline Arceo
Insurance industry performance in 2025
IN a statement published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Insurance Commissioner Reynaldo Regalado said that insurance penetration, or the ratio of insurance premiums to gross domestic product, rose to 2.03 percent from 1.89 percent in the same period last year. Insurance density, which measures average spending on…
· Herminia Jacinto
UK announces 'historic' trade deal with Gulf states in G7 first
The U.K. on Wednesday hailed a "historic" trade deal with the Gulf states that marks the first such agreement among Group of Seven (G7) nations.
· Holly Ellyatt
Jeff Bezos calls Amazon’s $40m Melania film ‘a good business decision’
The Amazon founder has denied any personal involvement in the film, which failed to recoup its budget on release
· Benjamin Lee Film
Japan's NTN to mass-produce EV bearings in China
Insulated EV bearings are designed to protect from damage caused by electric currents. (Source photos by NTN, China Daily via Reuters)
· Staff Writer
Israel needs a Suez alternative, the Ben-Gurion Canal offers one - opinion
In a world searching for stability, it is dangerous to leave one of the world’s most critical trade routes in the hands of Egypt. The geopolitical reality of the Middle East is unstable, and Egypt is part of the problem.
· ELI AVIDAR
Trump investment comes as Kura Sushi pursues US expansion
The Kura Sushi location in the Mall of America in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The company is focusing on expanding in North America. (Kura Sushi)
· Staff Writer
The AI Economy, Part 1: Looking Beyond The Facade
Authored by Michael Lebowitz via RealInvestmentAdvice.com,
· Tyler Durden
Brooklyn chef hailed for inflation-busting videos turning Dollar Store ingredients into luxury family meals — for only $5
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· Marissa Matozzo
Thailand to shrink visa-free stays to 30 days, citing abuse
Passengers walk through Suvarnabhumi Airport, which serves the Bangkok area. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)
· Staff Writer
Bond tremors from Washington to London to Tokyo upend Asia
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· William Pesek
NGCP extends Yellow Alert for Visayas grid
MANILA, Philippines — The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) on Wednesday, May 20, extended the Yellow Alert of the Visayas electricity grid as some power plants continue to remain offline.
· Ed Paolo Salting
How Labor’s budget hit the brakes on Australia’s housing market
Economists believe home values are set for their first national slump since 2022, though Australia’s persistent housing shortage means any fall would be short term
· Luca Ittimani
Death, taxes and scare campaigns: here’s the truth about Labor’s budget changes | Greg Jericho
Conservative media is stoking unfounded fears on reform. If Albanese wants an easy win, he should prioritise a popular tax on gas exports
· Greg Jericho
French presidential hopeful de Villepin probed over gifts received as foreign minister
PARIS — Dominique de Villepin, a former French prime minister expected to run in next year’s presidential election, is being investigated over gifts he received while serving as foreign minister, the country’s top financial prosecutor said Wednesday.
· Victor Goury-Laffont
Oil retreats, stocks rise on cautious Mideast war hopes
LONDON, United Kingdom — Oil prices slid and stock markets advanced Wednesday as Iran said it had allowed around two dozen ships to transit the Strait of Hormuz, easing concerns about the apparent impasse on ending the war in the Middle East.
· Agence France-Presse
Barakah drone attack showed 'clear disregard for civilian lives', Dr Al Jaber says | The National
Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, on Wednesday said a drone strike on the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in Abu Dhabi was a “dangerous escalation”.
· Kyle Fitzgerald
Barney Frank, one of first openly gay members of Congress, dies aged 86
Pelosi hails Frank as ‘pioneering’ LGBTQ+ voice and key architect of financial reform
· Anna Betts
Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta kicks off major bloodbath with 8,000 layoffs as AI roils tech giant
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· Taylor Herzlich
LIV cash crunch hits Asian Tour, as Korea Open cuts planned US$500,000 prize money boost
Move comes after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund announces it will stop bankrolling breakaway golf circuit after the 2026 season
· Agence France-Presse
LIV cash crunch hits Asian Tour, as Korea Open cuts planned US$500,000 prize money boost
Move comes after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund announces it will stop bankrolling breakaway golf circuit after the 2026 season
· Agence France-Presse
Fintech firm Mercury hits $5.2 billion valuation after funding round, up 49% in 14 months
Mercury, a fintech firm that provides banking services to startups, has raised $200 million in funding at a $5.2 billion valuation, CNBC has learned exclusively.
· Hugh Son
Barney Frank, a liberal congressman and trailblazer for gay rights, dies
House Financial Services Committee Chairman Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington, July 22, 2010. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
· Steven Sloan
Corporate billionaires are China’s latest live-streaming influencers | South China Morning Post
EV executives such as Xiaomi’s Lei Jun and NIO’s William Li have live-streamed themselves on road trips featuring their brands’ vehicles.
House bill allowing faster gov't response vs fuel-driven inflation hurdles 2nd reading
MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on second reading the proposed Kalinga Act, which seeks to enable a faster government response to fuel-driven inflation and other economic shocks.
· Reina C. Tolentino
Black Cube doubles office space in Tel Aviv
Israeli private intelligence agency Black Cube will double the office space it is leasing in Tel Aviv. "Globes" has learned that the company has leased the 19th floor in Tel Aviv's Discount Tower, in addition to the 26th floor, where it already has its offices.
· ARIK MIROVSKY/GLOBES/TNS
Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping praise high-level ties, growing energy trade at Beijing meeting days after Trump’s visit
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· Associated Press
Emirates debuts first retrofitted two-class A380 with Premium Economy cabin | The National
Emirates airline's first reconfigured two-class Airbus A380 completed its inaugural commercial flight between Dubai and Birmingham on Wednesday.
· David Tusing
College career path ‘over’ as skilled trade get 30% pay bump, recruitment giant says
The days of going to college to secure a lucrative career are over, as skilled trade workers have seen a 30% wage bump in the past few years, the CEO of the world's largest recruitment firm told CNBC.
· Sawdah Bhaimiya
Meta Axes 8,000 Workers As Zuckerberg Admits AI Is Watching, Replacing Labor
Welcome to another day of corporate America hemorrhaging engineers and other white-collar workers with insurmountable student debt as AI adoption accelerates. This era will likely be remembered in history as the great "white-collar purge," and the response will be continued hatred of data centers.
· Tyler Durden
‘Phantom limb’: report blames China shock for Germany’s industrial malaise
Berlin urged to back stronger European trade instrument against a backdrop of ever-expanding economic problems
· Finbarr Bermingham
‘Phantom limb’: report blames China shock for Germany’s industrial malaise
Berlin urged to back stronger European trade instrument against a backdrop of ever-expanding economic problems
· Finbarr Bermingham
Futures Rise Ahead Of Critical Nvidia Earnings As Oil, Bond Yields Drop
US equity futures are higher led by tech as the selloff in bonds eased and traders awaited earnings from Nvidia after the close. As of 7:30am ET, S&P futures are up 0.3% while Nasdaq futs rose 0.7% showing optimism heading into the release and overlooking weakness in tech during APAC trade. In premarket trading, NVD…
· Tyler Durden
Why are nearly 50,000 Samsung workers about to strike in South Korea?
South Korean chipmaker Samsung Electronics is facing one of the most serious workers’ strikes in its history, with a protest which could affect the overall economy and the group’s global supply of semiconductors.
· Priyanka Shankar
Samsung Union Authorizes Massive Strike At Memory-Chip Plants After Mediation Talks Collapse
Asian equities extended losses for a fourth straight session, with South Korea's benchmark KOSPI falling about 1% as the market priced in the shock of an imminent labor action at Samsung Electronics.
· Tyler Durden
Putin and Xi hail their high-level ties and growing energy trade as they meet in Beijing
BEIJING — Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed their strategic ties and growing energy trade as they met in Beijing Wednesday only days after a visit by US President Donald Trump to China.
· Associated Press
A "Rubbish, Knee-Jerk Reaction": UK Treasury Pushes Food Price Caps As Inflation Re-Accelerates
UK supermarkets are being urged by the government to limit food prices in return for easing regulations.
· Tyler Durden
EU leaders hope Trump trade truce will hold
European leaders struck a triumphant tone early Wednesday after the EU finally clinched a deal to implement its long-delayed trade pact with the United States, ending months of tariff threats and transatlantic brinkmanship.
· Milena Wälde
Syria’s investment boom: Real opportunity or political mirage? | The National
Syria is becoming part of the economic conversation again.
· Salim A. Essaid
Target reports stronger-than-expected quarterly sales amid turnaround
Target CEO Michael Fiddelke speaks at Target’s Financial Community Meeting at Target headquarters in Minneapolis, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Tom Baker, File)
· Anne Dinnocenzio
EU overcomes fierce internal debate to agree on tariff deal with the US
President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen shake hands after reaching a trade deal at the Trump Turnberry golf course in Turnberry, Scotland, on July 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)
· Sam Mcneil
Japan feels the squeeze as China’s rare earth magnet exports only partly recover
China’s exports of rare earth magnets to Japan recovered only modestly last month, with Japanese firms warning of ‘severe’ shortages
· Alice Li
Japan feels the squeeze as China’s rare earth magnet exports only partly recover
China’s exports of rare earth magnets to Japan recovered only modestly last month, with Japanese firms warning of ‘severe’ shortages
· Alice Li