Trump officials threaten UN budget cuts as US pushes ‘trade over aid’ agenda
US seeks free-market private investment deals over development assistance as experts warn of ripple effects
· Edwardhelmore
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Newest first · UTC+11:00Self Driver review – driver who signs up for sinister app offers Travis Bickle take on the gig economy
A desperate cabbie joins a service that directs him down a shadowy path in this interesting, less-is-more satirical thriller
· Peterbradshaw
The public sector chief’s wedding official who set tongues wagging
Welcome to Brisbane Times’ Queensland public sector column, Public Circus. This week: the deputy premier’s celebrant services cause a stir, senior figures’ uranium shares, an inflation-driven pay bump amid budget blues, and more.
· Matt Dennien, James Hall
Mark Zuckerberg is trying to wiggle out of testifying in person at a slew of social media trials
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is attempting to wiggle out of testifying in person at a wave of headline-grabbing trials on social media addiction this year — and plaintiffs are crying foul, The Post has learned.
· Thomas Barrabi
Europe Will Lose Billions In Revenue If US Military Bases Shut Down
Europe is in far greater economic trouble that most people realize. In an April 2026 report by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), it was reveled that the UK's GDP per capita is lower than all 50 U.S. states, including the poorest, Mississippi. While the majority of Britons mistakenly believe the UK is as wealt…
· Tyler Durden
EU trade chief to meet with Trump’s top trade official as tensions spike
BRUSSELS — EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič will meet with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Tuesday in Paris, as transatlantic trade tensions spike over Washington’s latest threats to impose steep tariffs on European cars.
· Camille Gijs, Giorgio Leali
Adnoc Drilling finalises $204m deal with Oman’s MB Petroleum Services in Gulf expansion push | The National
Adnoc Drilling, the Middle East’s biggest drilling company by rig count, has completed its acquisition of an 80 per cent stake in Oman’s MB Petroleum Services (MBPS), ahead of its mid-year schedule.
· Shweta Jain
Australians’ Uber obsession nears $15 billion a year
Australians’ spending with Uber jumped more than $2 billion to $14.5 billion last year, as the transport giant boasts of its confidence in overturning a legal decision forcing it to pay tens of millions of dollars in local payroll taxes.
· Elias Visontay
Asean, EU Leaders to tackle energy crisis, sustainable growth at Cebu summit
GOVERNMENT leaders from Southeast Asia and European business executives will gather in Cebu on May 5, Tuesday, for the inaugural Asean-EU Sustainability Summit, where discussions will center on economic resilience, sustainable growth, and the region’s worsening energy crisis.
· The Manila Times
UAE left Opec and Opec+ on 'good terms', energy minister says | The National
The UAE left Opec and Opec+ on "good terms" and will continue to work with members of the group to stabilise oil markets, the Emirates' minister of energy and infrastructure said.
· Fareed Rahman
Presidential policy chief forecasts slower housing price growth beginning in May
SEOUL, May 4 (Yonhap) -- The local housing market may see slower price growth starting in May, when the government is set to end tax benefits to owners of multiple homes, the presidential chief of staff for policy forecast Monday.
· Park Boram
Hong Kong residential property upturn drives recovery in office, retail: Morgan Stanley
Shop rents will ‘turn positive by year-end’ but likely post a 3 per cent decline for the entire year, Morgan Stanley says
· Cheryl Arcibal
Hong Kong residential property upturn drives recovery in office, retail: Morgan Stanley
Shop rents will ‘turn positive by year-end’ but likely post a 3 per cent decline for the entire year, Morgan Stanley says
· Cheryl Arcibal
Ardea lands Japanese Government backing for giant WA nickel play
Ardea has surged onto the strategic stage with its giant Goongarrie Hub singled out in a high-level Australia-Japan joint statement on elevated critical minerals cooperation.
· Penny Taylor
Inside The Old Skydiving Plane Hunting Drones in Ukraine
Inside this old skydiving plane, a crew of Ukrainian volunteers is hunting down Russian drones. Russia is sending thousands of its one-way attack drones into Ukraine every month. Many are shot down, but the country’s air defenses can’t stop them all. On the side of the fuselage here, they’ve mounted this American-ma…
· Michael Anthony Adams
US threatens sanctions over payments to Iran for Hormuz passage
The US has threatened to sanction shipping companies that pay Iran tolls to transit the Strait of Hormuz.
· RT
US threatens sanctions over payments to Iran for Hormuz passage
The US has threatened to sanction shipping companies that pay Iran tolls to transit the Strait of Hormuz.
· RT
China, Indonesia launch cross-border QR payments – a boost for the global yuan?
New initiative lets consumers use home-grown apps like Alipay for cross-border payments – supporting Beijing’s push to expand regional financial links
· Xinyi Wu
China, Indonesia launch cross-border QR payments – a boost for the global yuan?
New initiative lets consumers use home-grown apps like Alipay for cross-border payments – supporting Beijing’s push to expand regional financial links
· Xinyi Wu
Fixing methane mega-leaks could boost energy stock amid crisis, report says
International Energy Agency analysis shows methane leaks remained at near-record highs in 2025
· Agencies
Coalition accused of secretly giving big tobacco lobbyists private platform in parliament
Exclusive: A Senate committee considering the illegal tobacco trade in Australia hears closed-session evidence from cigarette manufacturers
· Tom Mcilroy
Hong Kong tax revenue rises 22% to HK$458 billion
Stamp duty surged 61 per cent as trading and property deals picked up, while profits and salaries tax also recorded solid gains
· Oscar Liu
Hong Kong tax revenue rises 22% to HK$458 billion
Stamp duty surged 61 per cent as trading and property deals picked up, while profits and salaries tax also recorded solid gains
· Oscar Liu
Chinese companies see surge in demand for FIFA World Cup merchandise
World Cup fever is boosting demand for tournament-related merchandise and Chinese producers are working hard to deliver the goods.
· AfricaNews
Energy crisis showcases strengths of China’s data centre market
China’s relative resilience to the energy shock and its cheap and abundant electricity supply are an advantage in the AI race
· Nicholas Spiro
Energy crisis showcases strengths of China’s data centre market
China’s relative resilience to the energy shock and its cheap and abundant electricity supply are an advantage in the AI race
· Nicholas Spiro
‘You can only have one:’ Ex-Blues footy boss on why Carlton shouldn’t trade Cripps
Carlton’s former football boss Brad Lloyd says the Blues should continue to evolve their faltering midfield to find a better mix around Patrick Cripps rather than consider trading their contracted captain.
· Marc McGowan
Asia races to de-risk critical minerals supply chain with new financing tool
Japan, Britain and other nations have pledged millions to the new scheme, as China’s dominance of critical minerals sector faces fresh challenge
· Alice Li
Asia races to de-risk critical minerals supply chain with new financing tool
Japan, Britain and other nations have pledged millions to the new scheme, as China’s dominance of critical minerals sector faces fresh challenge
· Alice Li
All-Time High 55% Of Americans Say That Their Financial Situations Are Getting Worse
Authored by Michael Snyder via The Economic Collapse,
· Tyler Durden
Yen briefly jumps in Asia trade, putting investors on high alert
The yen jumped in Asia on Monday, as traders remained on edge over the potential for Japanese authorities to step back into the market after last week’s intervention to curb declines.
· No Author
Asian currency debt gains favor as investors cut dollar exposure
Hong Kong dollar bond issuance has gained traction in recent years as the market is viewed as relatively low‑risk. (Photo by Shinya Sawai)
· Staff Writer
Presidential chief of staff orders action on biz abuses by ex-public employees
SEOUL, May 4 (Yonhap) -- Kang Hoon-sik, presidential chief of staff, on Monday ordered action on suspected business abuses by retired employees of public institutions and state-run companies.
· Park Boram
OPEC+ countries agree modest rise in production as Iran retains chokehold on key Strait of Hormuz
VIENNA — Seven countries in the OPEC+ grouping of oil-producing countries — including Saudi Arabia and Russia — say they've decided to a modest increase in production starting in June as part of a commitment to "market stability."
· Associated Press
Oil firms to raise diesel, gasoline prices on May 5
MANILA, Philippines—Diesel and gasoline prices will go up on Tuesday, May 5, while kerosene prices will decrease, oil companies said on Monday.
· Ed Paolo Salting
Kia's global sales up in April, outpace Hyundai in home market
SEOUL, May 4 (Yonhap) -- Kia Corp. said Monday its global sales rose slightly from a year earlier, supported by robust demand for its Sportage compact SUVs.
· Kang Jae-eun
‘Sweet dreams’: sleep-deprived South Koreans take part in annual power-nap competition | South China Morning Post
South Korea is one of the most overworked and sleep-deprived nations among Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) members and its people have some of the fewest sleep hours.
Full charge: Xiaomi shares surge on EV sales boost
Xiaomi’s EV unit gathers pace with April deliveries topping 30,000, but analysts say profits may lag as subsidies and costs weigh
· Yulu Ao
Full charge: Xiaomi shares surge on EV sales boost
Xiaomi’s EV unit gathers pace with April deliveries topping 30,000, but analysts say profits may lag as subsidies and costs weigh
· Yulu Ao
For foreign workers in the Mideast, risk from the Iran war collides with economic strain at home
HANOI, Vietnam — He had met his 6-year-old son only once. A few days together in a life otherwise spent apart.
· Associated Press
Singapore, NZ sign world’s first bilateral treaty to protect essential trade
Both governments committed not to impose unnecessary export restrictions on crucial goods such as food, fuel and healthcare products
· CNA
Singapore, NZ sign world’s first bilateral treaty to protect essential trade
Both governments committed not to impose unnecessary export restrictions on crucial goods such as food, fuel and healthcare products
· CNA
Viking preps 63-hole tungsten drilling blitz in Nevada
Viking Mines is officially transitioning from paperwork to power tools at its Linka tungsten project in Nevada, lodging a formal Notice of Intent with the US Bureau of Land Management for an expansive 63-hole drilling campaign.
· Murray Ward
Gold rush: Hong Kong sees sudden jump in bullion imports from Dubai amid US-Iran war
Gold traders from the Middle East and Russia have been selling physical gold in Hong Kong at a discount of 15 to 20 per cent since early April
· Enoch Yiu
Gold rush: Hong Kong sees sudden jump in bullion imports from Dubai amid US-Iran war
Gold traders from the Middle East and Russia have been selling physical gold in Hong Kong at a discount of 15 to 20 per cent since early April
· Enoch Yiu
April's household loans by major banks reach highest level since October
SEOUL, May 4 (Yonhap) -- Household loans by major banks last month increased the most since October on a rise in mortgage loans, financial data showed Monday.
· Park Sang-soo
UAE industrial sector contribution jumps 70% to Dh200bn, Dr Sultan Al Jaber says | The National
The contribution of the UAE's industrial sector to the national economy has grown by 70 per cent to Dh200 billion and investment in strengthening the country's industrial base is no more a choice but a necessity, Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, said on Monday.
· Sarmad Khan
US pressure mounts on Seoul over Hormuz coalition
Since 2017, I have covered South Korea’s political and economic landscape as a reporter, with a focus on foreign affairs, inter-Korean relations and security.As a foreign affairs reporter, I closely follow developments from the Ministry of Unification, the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Ministry, tracking shifts i…
· Jung Min-kyung
Yen surges to the high 155-range against dollar in thin holiday trading
The Japanese yen jumped from the 157-range against the dollar to the high 155-range during holiday-thinned trading on May 4.
· Staff Writer
Kospi hits fresh peak as chip-led rally extends
SK hynix tops W1 quadrillion in market cap, powering gains
· Choi Ji-won