Sally Brooks
A decision to align a far-right network with the Voice of America prompts concern, as Beijing-backed media continues to build its radio presence. 2h ago 2 hours ago Tue 27 May 2025 at 3:54am
As the world watches tariff brinkmanship unfold between the US and China, analysts cast doubt on the US president's claim that the Chinese leader called him. Sun 27 Apr Sun 27 Apr Sun 27 Apr 2025 at 2:36am
As leaders from around the world pay tribute to the late Pope Francis, China's President Xi Jinping has not offered his condolences. Wed 23 Apr Wed 23 Apr Wed 23 Apr 2025 at 3:39am
Beijing says Donald Trump's tariffs will increase the divide between rich and poor nations, as countries across the region grapple with what to do next. Tue 8 Apr Tue 8 Apr Tue 8 Apr 2025 at 2:15am
As Beijing silences mentions of the skyscraper building that collapsed in Bangkok, the Chinese company involved in the project faces mounting scrutiny in Thailand. Thu 3 Apr Thu 3 Apr Thu 3 Apr 2025 at 10:34pm
When it comes to the battle of the sexes, new data shows women are still fighting much harder than men on the home front. Here's how some households split their chores. Sat 8 Mar Sat 8 Mar Sat 8 Mar 2025 at 11:00pm
It had a meteoric rise to become the most downloaded shopping app worldwide in 2024, but Temu's expansion plans hit roadblocks in some South-East Asian countries. Fri 28 Feb Fri 28 Feb Fri 28 Feb 2025 at 12:23am
Adult children who live with their parents share the pros and cons of living under one roof, and how they find harmony during Australia's housing crisis. Sat 22 Feb Sat 22 Feb Sat 22 Feb 2025 at 1:11am
US President Donald Trump has cited a need to stop illegal fentanyl flowing into the country as a reason for new tariffs against Mexico, Canada and China. Will it work? Mon 3 Feb Mon 3 Feb Mon 3 Feb 2025 at 7:21am
A decade ago the Chinese government announced plans to transform the country from "a low-cost manufacturing base into a high-tech superpower". Did it work? Tue 21 Jan Tue 21 Jan Tue 21 Jan 2025 at 6:46pm
A series of brutal acid attacks has raised alarm in Indonesia, with women's advocates warning that chemicals have often been used as the weapon of choice when a man wanted to "retaliate" after a relationship ended. Sun 12 Jan Sun 12 Jan Sun 12 Jan 2025 at 9:03pm
One of Australia's closest neighbours proposes 29 locations for nuclear power plants across the archipelago, but critics say the plan is "dangerous". Thu 26 Dec Thu 26 Dec Thu 26 Dec 2024 at 7:14pm
A pristine island in Indonesia is under threat from Indonesia's nickel rush, with some women now having to walk for kilometres just to access clean water. But locals are fighting back. Tue 19 Dec Tue 19 Dec Tue 19 Dec 2023 at 4:21pm
Chinese companies invest billions in Belt and Road nickel refining projects in Indonesia, but for people working on the frontline, conditions can be deadly.
Mon 6 Nov Mon 6 Nov Mon 6 Nov 2023 at 11:02pm
As Indonesia increases the use of electric vehicles at home, it also wants to partner with Australia as it strives to become a global EV hub. Sat 1 Jul Sat 1 Jul Sat 1 Jul 2023 at 10:36pm
As universities grapple with the explosion in generative artificial intelligence, students share their views on the technology. Fri 9 Jun Fri 9 Jun Fri 9 Jun 2023 at 8:28pm
International students say tools to detect AI-generated text are inaccurate, as a US study suggests the detectors are biased against people writing in English as a second language. Thu 1 Jun Thu 1 Jun Thu 1 Jun 2023 at 11:50pm
In a federal court case that could clarify the employment rights of thousands of workers, the Fair Work Ombudsman is defending an accusation that an award classification is "erroneous". Thu 9 Mar Thu 9 Mar Thu 9 Mar 2023 at 6:50pm
They fled war, left families, friends and their homes. But the "universal language" of dance helps connect these Ukrainians and give them a reason to be proud. Sat 25 Feb Sat 25 Feb Sat 25 Feb 2023 at 8:54pm
Natural disasters and the pandemic have thrown a spotlight on how Victorian authorities engage with multicultural communities in a crisis. With the bushfire season underway, what's being done to prepare for the next emergency? Fri 13 Jan Fri 13 Jan Fri 13 Jan 2023 at 10:38pm
One of Victoria's biggest Chinese community language schools is disputing allegations the school failed to correctly pay the wages and entitlements of 12 employees. Tue 20 Dec Tue 20 Dec Tue 20 Dec 2022 at 11:19pm
This picture is said to show millions in cash arriving in Kabul. It's one of several images published by the Taliban-controlled central bank of Afghanistan in recent weeks that has some experts concerned. Sat 10 Dec Sat 10 Dec Sat 10 Dec 2022 at 10:04pm
A group of Chinese language teachers allege they are owed unpaid wages and entitlements for work over decades due to a "grey area" of Victoria's education system. Fri 28 Oct Fri 28 Oct Fri 28 Oct 2022 at 10:45pm
The Pacific looks set to benefit economically, but some island nations may also face "danger" to their democracies, after China's president cements his grip on the country's leadership. Fri 9 Dec Fri 9 Dec Fri 9 Dec 2022 at 5:24am
Hongkongers in Melbourne and Sydney say billboards in the cities proclaiming Hong Kong has entered a "new era" of stability, prosperity and opportunity are humiliating and "very upsetting".
Fri 12 Aug Fri 12 Aug Fri 12 Aug 2022 at 2:05am
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Age
an hour ago
- The Age
Someone's doing the heavy lifting – and it's not the government (any more)
State governments, meanwhile, actually reduced spending in the first three months of the year with most winding back energy bill relief as cost of living pressures have eased. Some of the pullback in spending growth – especially nationally – is probably thanks to the budget's 'automatic stabilisers': government payments such as unemployment benefits which naturally fall as the economy improves (and rise when the economy is in the doldrums and people are losing their jobs). While it's welcome news that private businesses and households seem to be regaining some of their gusto, neither were close to shooting the lights out. But the flat government day-to-day spending and fall in government investment spending (partly due to the completion of projects such as Sydney's metro) certainly seem to suggest they've become happier to sit on the bench and let private businesses and households make more of the runs. This fall in public demand ended up subtracting the most from overall quarterly growth since 2017. The overall picture is also a bit murky after quarterly growth in the economy slowed to the lowest rate since March last year. And GDP per person – generally a better measure of our living standards than total national GDP – slipped 0.2 per cent in the March quarter. While it's welcome news that private businesses and households seem to be regaining some of their gusto, neither were close to shooting the lights out. Household spending is one of the most hotly anticipated pieces of the puzzle because Australian households spending accounts for more than half of the country's GDP. That means what consumers choose to do has an outsized effect on our economy. Turns out we went more gangbusters on holiday sales last year than economists were expecting, but then decided (perhaps as our New Year's resolutions) to rein in our spending. We still splurged on big events including going to see artists such as Billie Eilish. And a warmer-than-expected summer (as well as the pullback in energy bill relief) meant that – whether we liked it or not – we had to splash more cash on keeping ourselves cool. That all contributed to household spending climbing 0.4 per cent. But when it came to spending that isn't strictly necessary, our purse strings tightened a bit, suggesting we're still treading cautiously. Partly thanks to Donald Trump's unpredictability spooking us, we decided to squirrel away a bigger chunk of our income – even though we were generally earning more – in the March quarter. In fact, the saving ratio (which measures the proportion of our disposable income we stow away for a rainy day) climbed from 3.9 per cent to 5.2 per cent: the highest it's been since 2022. Another factor feeding into that higher savings ratio was Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred in Queensland which led to the government (and insurance companies) paying out to those affected – who in turn, ended up stashing a good portion of it away. Investment by the private sector took the podium when it came to the part of GDP with the strongest growth, rising 0.7 per cent in the March quarter. That was largely thanks to a stronger appetite for investment in dwellings, including building houses and making renovations, perhaps helped along by the first cut to interest rates in nearly four years. Businesses were also eager to sink money into manufacturing projects and more digging – not just for gold but for other minerals, too – contributing to the growth in private investment. Net trade – exports minus imports – meanwhile, weighed down our overall growth, wiping 0.1 percentage point from the March quarter. While both imports and exports fell, the drop in exports was bigger. Production and shipments of coal and liquefied natural gas were disrupted by severe weather which, together with subdued growth in the number of international students and less spending per student, drove down Australia's exports. Loading The implications of all this data for the Reserve Bank – and thus for all of us – is not immediately clear. The national accounts are always a delayed set of data (a good deal can change in the following three months), and there are signs of both continued weakness and of renewed strength in the economy. The step back in public spending will probably make it easier for the Reserve Bank to drive forward with another rate cut next month – especially given they were close to slashing rates by 50 basis points at the last meeting, price pressures seem to have faded into the background, and growth is crawling along at snail's pace. With unemployment laying low, the inflation dragon tamed, and the private sector stepping up, there are glimmers of hope that Chalmers and the RBA have struck gold in our economic management. Now it's about safeguarding the spoils by pulling up productivity and getting economic growth well off the ground.
Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Someone's doing the heavy lifting – and it's not the government (any more)
State governments, meanwhile, actually reduced spending in the first three months of the year with most winding back energy bill relief as cost of living pressures have eased. Some of the pullback in spending growth – especially nationally – is probably thanks to the budget's 'automatic stabilisers': government payments such as unemployment benefits which naturally fall as the economy improves (and rise when the economy is in the doldrums and people are losing their jobs). While it's welcome news that private businesses and households seem to be regaining some of their gusto, neither were close to shooting the lights out. But the flat government day-to-day spending and fall in government investment spending (partly due to the completion of projects such as Sydney's metro) certainly seem to suggest they've become happier to sit on the bench and let private businesses and households make more of the runs. This fall in public demand ended up subtracting the most from overall quarterly growth since 2017. The overall picture is also a bit murky after quarterly growth in the economy slowed to the lowest rate since March last year. And GDP per person – generally a better measure of our living standards than total national GDP – slipped 0.2 per cent in the March quarter. While it's welcome news that private businesses and households seem to be regaining some of their gusto, neither were close to shooting the lights out. Household spending is one of the most hotly anticipated pieces of the puzzle because Australian households spending accounts for more than half of the country's GDP. That means what consumers choose to do has an outsized effect on our economy. Turns out we went more gangbusters on holiday sales last year than economists were expecting, but then decided (perhaps as our New Year's resolutions) to rein in our spending. We still splurged on big events including going to see artists such as Billie Eilish. And a warmer-than-expected summer (as well as the pullback in energy bill relief) meant that – whether we liked it or not – we had to splash more cash on keeping ourselves cool. That all contributed to household spending climbing 0.4 per cent. But when it came to spending that isn't strictly necessary, our purse strings tightened a bit, suggesting we're still treading cautiously. Partly thanks to Donald Trump's unpredictability spooking us, we decided to squirrel away a bigger chunk of our income – even though we were generally earning more – in the March quarter. In fact, the saving ratio (which measures the proportion of our disposable income we stow away for a rainy day) climbed from 3.9 per cent to 5.2 per cent: the highest it's been since 2022. Another factor feeding into that higher savings ratio was Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred in Queensland which led to the government (and insurance companies) paying out to those affected – who in turn, ended up stashing a good portion of it away. Investment by the private sector took the podium when it came to the part of GDP with the strongest growth, rising 0.7 per cent in the March quarter. That was largely thanks to a stronger appetite for investment in dwellings, including building houses and making renovations, perhaps helped along by the first cut to interest rates in nearly four years. Businesses were also eager to sink money into manufacturing projects and more digging – not just for gold but for other minerals, too – contributing to the growth in private investment. Net trade – exports minus imports – meanwhile, weighed down our overall growth, wiping 0.1 percentage point from the March quarter. While both imports and exports fell, the drop in exports was bigger. Production and shipments of coal and liquefied natural gas were disrupted by severe weather which, together with subdued growth in the number of international students and less spending per student, drove down Australia's exports. Loading The implications of all this data for the Reserve Bank – and thus for all of us – is not immediately clear. The national accounts are always a delayed set of data (a good deal can change in the following three months), and there are signs of both continued weakness and of renewed strength in the economy. The step back in public spending will probably make it easier for the Reserve Bank to drive forward with another rate cut next month – especially given they were close to slashing rates by 50 basis points at the last meeting, price pressures seem to have faded into the background, and growth is crawling along at snail's pace. With unemployment laying low, the inflation dragon tamed, and the private sector stepping up, there are glimmers of hope that Chalmers and the RBA have struck gold in our economic management. Now it's about safeguarding the spoils by pulling up productivity and getting economic growth well off the ground.
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
'Very disappointed' Trump in stunning live break-up with Musk
Tensions between Donald Trump and Elon Musk exploded into public view Thursday, as the US president said he was "very disappointed" by his billionaire former aide's criticisms and Musk hit back in real time on social media. "Look, Elon and I had a great relationship. I don't know if we will anymore," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office after Musk slammed his tax and spending mega-bill as an "abomination". The world's richest man responded by live-tweeting on his X social media platform as Trump spoke on television, saying that the Republican would not have won the 2024 election without him and slamming him for "ingratitude." In an extraordinary rant as visiting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz sat mutely beside him, 78-year-old Trump unloaded on SpaceX and Tesla boss Musk in his first comments on the issue. "I'm very disappointed, because Elon knew the inner workings of this bill better than almost anybody sitting here... All of a sudden, he had a problem," Trump said when asked about Musk. The clash comes less than a week since Trump held a grand Oval Office farewell for Musk as he wrapped up his time leading the cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). South African-born Musk, 53, hit back minutes later, saying Trump's claims he had advance sight of the bill were "false." "Whatever," he added above a video of Trump saying Musk was upset about the loss of subsidies for electric vehicles. Musk then ratcheted up the public spat even further, saying the Republican would have lost the election without his support. He was the biggest donor to Trump's campaign, to the tune of nearly $300 million. "Without me, Trump would have lost the election," Musk said on X. "Such ingratitude." Tesla shares fell sharply on Wall Street, down eight percent, after his comments, in a sign of the huge stakes for a falling out between the world's richest man and its most powerful. - 'A little make-up?' - A wistful-sounding Trump took reporters through the break-up with Musk on live television, in what at times sounded more like a therapy session than a meeting with a foreign leader. Trump talked about Musk's farewell appearance in the Oval Office on Friday, when he turned up with a black eye that he said was caused by a punch from his son. Musk at the time was also facing reports of drug use on the Trump campaign trail. "You saw a man who was very happy when he stood behind the Oval desk, and even with the black eye. I said, you want a little makeup? We'll get you a little makeup," Trump said. "But he said, 'No, I don't think so,' which is interesting and very nice. He wants to be who he is." Trump said he could understand why Musk was upset with some steps he had taken, including withdrawing a nominee to lead the NASA space agency whom the tech tycoon had backed. Through it all, the visiting German chancellor sat silently. Merz had prepared to avoid a repeat of the ambushes that Trump unleashed on the Ukrainian and South African presidents in the Oval Office -- but in the end it was Musk that the US president ambushed. At the center of the bitter row is Trump's "big, beautiful bill" on tax and spending. The centerpiece of his domestic agenda, it aims to continue tax cuts from his first term -- and could define his second term and make or break Republican prospects in the 2026 midterm elections. Musk however called it a "disgusting abomination" on Tuesday, on the grounds that it will increase the US deficit. A day later, the magnate called for Republicans to "kill the bill," and for an alternative plan that "doesn't massively grow the deficit."
