China embraces spring break for schools. Will it boost consumption?
China's local governments hope to spur spending by introducing school holidays. (Photo by Tomoki Mera)
· Staff Writer
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Newest first · UTC+11:00Coinbase clears key regulatory hurdle in bid to bolster its stablecoin business
Coinbase received conditional approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to operate as a trust bank, the company said Thursday.
· Tanaya Macheel
Iran war has a ‘second front’ — and Tehran has already lost it
A few days ago, according to a leaked exchange, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told an Iranian military counterpart that their nation’s economy will face collapse in three more weeks without an immediate cease-fire.
· Victoria Coates
White House scales back plans to dismantle consumer financial watchdog
A security officer works inside of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) building headquarters, Feb. 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)
· Ken Sweet
UK gathers over 40 countries to discuss how to reopen Strait of Hormuz
LONDON (AP) — Britain accused Iran on Thursday of holding the world’s economy hostage as diplomats from more than 40 countries held talks on ways to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route that has been choked off by the US-Israeli war against Iran.
· Associated Press
Revealed: The Sydney suburbs with zero EV chargers
Electricity network providers are lobbying the Minns government to scrap rules preventing them from entering the EV charging market, pointing to a swath of suburbs across Sydney which have little to no access to public chargers as evidence of failure to keep up with surging demand.
· Michael McGowan
Merrylands’ hot brunch spot serves a breakfast board loaded with the lot
For the past dozen or so years, the most popular restaurant I’ve regularly visited in Merrylands, near Parramatta, has been Kabul House – a place of barbecued meats and lamb stock-bolstered rice, qabili palaw. Kids play under tables. Old blokes share skewers next to a large-format photo of Mazar-i-Sharif’s Blue Mosq…
· Callan Boys
These three cars have surged in price in the first fortnight of petrol pain
Pain at the petrol pump is pushing Australians into the second-hand car market where prices are climbing for EVs while dropping for unleaded diesel makes.
· Shane Wright
Berkshire Hathaway deal to supercharge Tokio Marine's M&A
Tokio Marine Holdings is the first Japanese financial institution to receive an investment from Berkshire Hathaway. (Source photos by Nikkei and AP)
· Staff Writer
US imports from Asia fell in February despite rising AI buildout demand
Exports to Asia from the U.S. grew and imports declined in February compared with the month before, shrinking the trade deficit with the region. © Reuters
· PAK YIU
Pete Davidson takes a major loss on his Staten Island condo after 4 years on the market
Pete Davidson is finally parting ways with his Staten Island condo — but the exit comes at a steep cost.
· Mary K. Jacob
Constructing history: The cities where you can find America’s oldest homes
Homeowners living in some of America’s oldest homes are facing a double burden as the housing stock continues to age.
· Realtor.com
Jewish diaspora leaders urge Israeli president to stop West Bank settler violence
Former UK foreign secretary among 3,000 signatories of open letter to Isaac Herzog after spate of killings
· Chris Osuh
LA mansion asking $34.5M comes gut-renovated by Gwen Stefani and Cameron Diaz’s go-to designer
A Holmby Hills mansion that was built in 1939, gut-renovated and redesigned by top interior designer Kelly Wearstler has hit the market for $34.5 million.
· Jennifer Gould
Iran ‘holding global economy hostage’ as Australia joins urgent Hormuz talks
Topic:Unrest, Conflict and War
Top World Bank official 'extremely concerned' by fallout of Iran war
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· Agence France-Presse
One year on from Trump tariffs, Taiwan sees 80% rise in exports to US
The U.S. imported less goods than a year earlier in the period from April 2025 to January 2026 as the Trump administration's tariffs took hold. © Reuters
· Staff Writer
UAE energy minister says no country has right to disrupt international trade | The National
Live updates: Follow the latest news on the Iran war
· The National
More than 40 countries hold talks on ways to reopen the Strait of Hormuz
Britain accused Iran on Thursday of holding the world's economy hostage as diplomats from more than 40 countries held talks on ways to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route that has been choked off by the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.
· AfricaNews
Trump derides NATO over no-show in Iran war
US President Donald Trump has lashed out at NATO and key European leaders, deepening tensions within the bloc over the war against Iran. According to the Financial Times, Washington has also threatened to curb weapons supplies to Ukraine to pressure European countries into involvement in the war in the Middle East.
· RT
READ MORE: Trump derides NATO over no-show in Iran war
US President Donald Trump has lashed out at NATO and key European leaders, deepening tensions within the bloc over the war against Iran. According to the Financial Times, Washington has also threatened to curb weapons supplies to Ukraine to pressure European countries into involvement in the war in the Middle East.
· RT
Why Tiger Woods’ DUI disaster could spell serious trouble for his financial future
When the NFL announced its flag football league this week with Tiger Woods’ TMRW Sports — but left Woods name out of its press release and a piece on NFL.com — sports marketers saw the move as a distancing from the golf icon after his latest DUI arrest in Florida.
· Ian Mohr
Dow futures fall 600 points, US oil surges after Trump vows to hit Iran ‘extremely hard’ in coming weeks
US stock futures plunged Thursday morning as oil prices surged after President Trump vowed to hit Iran “extremely hard” in the coming weeks and failed to provide a timeline on when investors could see the free flow of crude through the Strait of Hormuz again.
· Taylor Herzlich
Looking for Easter holiday inspiration? Here’s what’s happening in Hong Kong
From a coffee festival to a Doraemon show, there’s plenty to do and see for both residents and visitors over the long weekend break
· Ambrose Li
Trump’s ex-China mineral-alliance plan faces cost surge amid Iran war oil shock
Analysts say Middle East turmoil is elevating commodity input costs, affecting processing efforts and prompting push for ‘friendshoring’ to secure resources
· Kandy Wong
Novo Nordisk says Wegovy pill outperforms Lilly’s oral GLP-1 in cross-trial comparison
The Wegovy pill showed more pronounced weight loss and less cumbersome side effects than Eli Lilly's rival pill that was approved this week, Novo Nordisk said Thursday.
· Elsa Ohlen
Trump speech sparks oil price jump, Asia stock slide
In a televised speech on April 1, U.S. President Donald Trump said the war in Iran is nearing its end and that the flow of energy in the Middle East will return to normal soon. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Reuters)
· JADA NAGUMO
Surging ‘Jewish terrorism’ in West Bank condemned but goes unpunished
Tel Aviv-based INSS reports an increase in settler attacks since the start of the Iran war, along with a rise in ‘the severity of the acts’
· Agence France-Presse
Asian central banks largely powerless in face of Iran war energy shock
Central banks cannot pump oil into the global economy in the same way they can flood the financial system with liquidity
· Nicholas Spiro
NRL, AFL brace for impact of gambling advertising reforms
The NRL, AFL and their clubs face the potential of heavy financial fallout from new restrictions on gambling advertising unveiled by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
· Chris Barrett, Dan Walsh, Danny Russell
‘You will be caught’: Ten year ban for Sydney’s highest earning real estate agent
Josh Tesolin, the former star Ray White real estate agent who banked more than $9 million in commissions last financial year, has been slapped with a decade-long ban from the industry.
· Lucy Macken
productronica Shanghai 2026 highlights the future of intelligent electronics manufacturing
SHANGHAI, April 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 27, 2026, the three-day productronica Shanghai 2026 successfully concluded, attracting a total of 67,184 visitors. productronica Shanghai 2026 brought together 1,156 exhibitors across nearly 100,000 square meters, presenting the latest technologies in electronic intel…
· PRNEWSWIRE
Coordinated conflict: how the Ukraine and Iran wars are starting to overlap
Battlefield outcomes are connected by the sharing of weapons and intelligence as well as the damage to the global economy
· Julianborger, Pjotr Sauer
Red line through Greenline: Ambitious park plan abandoned indefinitely
Completion of Greenline, the ambitious $316 million linear park proposed for the north bank of the Yarra River, has been effectively killed off after the City of Melbourne reduced the $9 million allocated to it in its draft budget to $400,000.
· Cara Waters
‘China shock 2.0’ is a false narrative born of Western anxiety: Chinese media
The state-run Economic Daily says the real problem with the global economy is not China’s strong exports, but rising protectionism
· Sylvia Ma
Russia is luring students with large financial packages to join drone units
Students are being offered attractive packages to sign up, with the prospect of ending their contracts after one year
· Reuters
Countdown starts for Chinese rocket maker CAS Space as it sets course for Star Market
China’s commercial rocket champion plans to raise US$600 million on the Star Market after its listing application is accepted
· Wency Chen
Reshoring accounts jump, but capital stays offshore
South Koreans opened nearly 60,000 Reshoring Investment Accounts in the first week of the government’s push to bring overseas investment back home, but actual inflows have lagged as investors remain cautious amid market volatility.
· Choi Ji-won
What six more months of war would mean for Australia
Auto news: Public electric car charging cables cut and stolen at shopping centre
· Yashee Sharma
European stocks poised to lose ground after Trump vows to hit Iran ‘extremely hard’
Europe-listed shares look set to open broadly lower on Thursday, as concerns about the trajectory of the U.S.-Iran war grip global markets once again.
· Chloe Taylor
Premier Li Qiang pushes AI-powered, next-gen energy system amid global shocks
Beijing is moving to modernise the power grid, putting innovation and flexibility at the heart of its strategy
· Mia Nurmamat
Iran war deals a heavy blow to Iraq's oil-dependent economy
Iraqi oil fields once alive with the buzz of workers are nearly deserted. Ports that pulsed with the churn of cargo have fallen still, the din of commerce replaced by the soft rhythm of waves. (AP Video shot by Farid Abdulwahed)
· Samya Kullab
Race-by-race tips and preview for Randwick on Saturday
6. Belvante seemed to really react to the blinkers going on in his trial since his first-up run at Warwick Farm where he was kept safe in betting but didn’t attack the line. If he can settle nicely and get a genuine enough tempo he could surprise. 7. Aryaam has the form on the board from the same day when she was ru…
· Ray Hickson
Clear market uncertainty despite latest Trump attempt to soothe concerns
It was the latest in a series of attempts by Donald Trump to allay voter and investor worries about the war's duration, oil and gas supply and the cost of living concerns.
· Sarah Taaffe-Maguire
Upbit, ICEx join forces to boost Indonesia’s crypto ecosystem
Upbit, South Korea’s largest crypto exchange, has signed a technology partnership with Indonesia's ICEx to help advance the country’s digital asset infrastructure and broader market development.
· Choi Ji-won
Hyundai eyes US pickup market with Boulder concept
Hyundai Motor Company and Kia unveiled a midsized pickup concept and a new Seltos SUV at the New York International Auto Show on Wednesday, signaling a stronger push into higher-margin utility vehicles in the key North American market.
· Byun Hye-jin
China’s JD.com returns to dim sum bond market with 10b yuan offering
The e-commerce giant is issuing the yuan-denominated notes in two tranches of 7.5 billion yuan and 2.5 billion yuan
· Yulu Ao
Trump says S. Korea ‘not helpful,’ pressures allies on Hormuz as Seoul weighs risks
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
Gulf states considering new pipeline amid Iran curb on Hormuz Strait: Report
Gulf countries are revisiting costly plans for pipelines that would allow them to bypass Iran's restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, Financial Times reports.
· Middleeasteye