US and Israeli authorities arrested four men in two separate fraud schemes on Tuesday that media said were linked to last year's hack of computers at JPMorgan Chase.

The court documents in each of the cases, one an Israel-based ring running a pump and dump scheme for US-traded penny stocks, and the other an illicit US Bitcoin transfer operation, did not tie them to the theft of confidential details on millions of clients at the giant US bank.

Leading oil producer the United Arab Emirates will scrap subsidies on petrol and diesel from August to cut spending as low crude prices hit revenues, the energy ministry said Wednesday.

Pump prices for the two fuels will now be set on the basis of world prices and adjusted each month, the ministry said in a statement carried by the official WAM news agency.

Further interest rates cuts remain "on the table", Australia's central bank chief said Wednesday, as new official data showed that Australian consumer prices rose 0.7 percent in the three months to June, keeping annual inflation subdued.

Reserve Bank of Australia governor Glenn Stevens said weak economic growth had seen the cash rate decline to "very low levels".

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras faced a new test of his authority in parliament Wednesday, where MPs were to vote on a second batch of reforms to help unlock a bailout for Greece's stricken economy. 

The embattled premier last week faced a revolt by a fifth of the lawmakers in his radical-left Syriza party over changes to taxes, pensions and labour rules demanded by EU-IMF creditors. 

Australian farmers Tuesday welcomed a breakthrough which paves the way towards exporting up to one million live cattle to China each year, with the government saying the new market could open up within months.

Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce announced late Monday that Australian and Chinese veterinary authorities were formalizing an agreement on animal health certification requirements, bringing commercial trade one step closer.

Chinese budget carrier Spring Airlines said it plans to buy 21 Airbus A320 planes for 12.45 billion yuan ($2.04 billion), citing growth in both international and domestic air travel.

The Shanghai-listed company intends to fund the purchase in part through a private placement of shares to raise 4.5 billion yuan, according to a statement to the exchange late Monday.

A new $100 billion international bank dedicated to the emerging BRICS countries opened in China's commercial hub Shanghai on Tuesday, officials said, as an alternative to other multilateral lenders.

The "New Development Bank", backed by the so-called emerging BRICS nations Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, has been viewed as a challenge to Washington-based institutions.

Natural wonders it has in abundance, but natural resources are lacking. And now one of Jordan's main money-earners -- tourism -- is being killed off by regional conflicts.

A haven of peace surrounded by war, Jordan is turning to contingency measures to try to revive its tourism industry which is suffering because of the raging violence in its neighbors Iraq and Syria.

World oil prices fell further Monday on a stronger dollar and concerns that a supply glut will worsen following a landmark deal which will allow Iran to increase its crude exports.

Brent North Sea crude for September delivery dropped 48 cents to $56.62 a barrel nearing midday London trade.

Gold slumped Monday to the lowest point in nearly five and a half years, weighed down by reports of massive selling in China, dealers said.

The precious metal tumbled to $1,072.35 in Asian deals, striking the lowest point since February 11, 2010, and breaching the key psychological barrier of $1,100.