UNITED STATES: US President Joe Biden called for a “fair deal” for Hollywood’s striking writers on Monday as he hosted a White House screening of the forthcoming streaming series “American Born Chinese” to mark Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Mr Biden was making his first public comments on the strike over improved pay, terms and conditions, which hit the one-week mark yesterday. 

NEW ZEALAND: Authorities in Auckland declared a state of emergency today as flooding again hit New Zealand’s largest city.

Further north in the city of Whangarei, a secondary school student was missing after a school group that was exploring caves got into trouble when floodwaters hit.

Fire and emergency crews said they had responded to more than 200 calls, most of them in Auckland. 

CHINA: Chinese exports grew 8.5 per cent in April, customs data showed today, despite weakening overall global demand.

Showing a robust economic performance, exports from China grew to $295.4 billion (£234bn).