Demand

Supporters at the Victorian state library protested against prosecutors dropping a manslaughter charge against the man accused of killing herGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIsla Bell, the 19-year-old whose body was found in a Melbourne tip 18 months ago, has been remembered as a loving, courageous and open-hearted young woman with a green thumb and an “exquisitely beautiful soul”.Friends, family and supporters gathered outside the Victorian state library on Saturday to honour the teenager and protest against prosecutors dropping a manslaughter charge against the man who had been accused of killing her. Continue reading...

• The Producer Price Index (PPI) for final demand increased 1.4 percent in April 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with prices rising 6.0 percent over the 12-month period. • Final demand services advanced 1.2 percent while final demand goods increased 2.0 percent, showing divergence in price pressures across economic sectors. • The April PPI data signals persistent inflationary pressures in producer-level pricing, which often precedes consumer price increases and informs Federal Reserve monetary policy decisions.

Republican leader acknowledges ‘likely consequences’ for resisting US president’s demands to redraw mapSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailSouth Carolina state senators on Tuesday defied pressure from Donald Trump to approve plans to redraw the state’s congressional map after the US supreme court effectively gutted the Voting Rights Act.As Republicans scramble to redraw key districts after the US supreme court rendered ineffective a major section of the civil rights law that prevented racial discrimination, Shane Massey, the Republican majority leader in South Carolina’s senate, argued in an extraordinary address that doing so would be against the interest of his state. Continue reading...

Airport reports 5% decline but transit passenger business rises as fliers use hub to avoid Middle East airportsBusiness live – news updatesThe number of passengers flying from London Heathrow fell last month, as war in the Middle East weighed on demand for international travel.About 6.7 million people flew through the airport in April, a 5% drop compared with the same period last year. Continue reading...

• Ocean Network Express (ONE) posted a US$55 million profit in the fourth quarter of FY2025 as freight rates recovered, though overall cargo movements remained sluggish throughout the year. • The container shipping company faced persistent headwinds from weak cargo demand in 2025, signaling continued challenges in the global freight market. • Industry observers view ONE's modest profitability as reflective of broader shipping sector weakness, with market recovery dependent on improved global trade volumes.

• APAC recorded the fastest regional growth in semiconductor sales at 45.4% year-over-year in 2025, propelled by demand for AI systems and advanced logic chips. • The boom ties directly to expanding AI infrastructure needs and power electronics in the region. • Singapore and Southeast Asia hubs benefit as key players in global supply chains amid rising tech demands.

• Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian declared on May 6, 2026, that 'no one can make us surrender' to US pressure during talks with Iraq's Prime Minister. • He urged Washington to remove military threats from the Middle East, reinforcing Iran's resolve amid ongoing conflict. • The IRGC introduced a new 'Hormuz security plan' to block weapons and supplies to US bases in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating strategic tensions.