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Oil prices jump, stocks retreat on US-Iran deadlock

Oil prices rallied and stock markets fell Tuesday as investors braced for further volatility after talks appeared to stall on ending the war in the Middle East and re-opening the Strait of Hormuz to tanker and cargo ship traffic.

South Korea official floats AI profit social tax as tech giants boom

A top South Korean official has proposed a tax on AI profits to be redistributed among society as a semiconductor boom drives massive earnings for tech giants Samsung Electronics and SK hynix.

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Two die in 'respiratory illness' outbreak on Atlantic cruise ship

An outbreak of "severe acute respiratory illness" on board a cruise ship in the Atlantic has left at least two people dead, with a third in intensive care in Johannesburg, South Africa's health ministry told AFP on Sunday.

OPEC+ hikes oil production quotas but stays mum on UAE pull-out

Saudi Arabia, Russia and five other OPEC+ countries increased their oil production quota on Sunday in an expected move aimed at demonstrating continuity at the cartel after the shock withdrawal of the United Arab Emirates.

More Nepalis drive electric, evading global fuel shocks

As global fuel markets reel from the Middle East war, motorists in Nepal are increasingly turning to electric vehicles, with high demand putting a strain on dealerships.

Latecomer Japan eyes slice of rising global defence spending

Long-pacifist Japan has shed its self-imposed ban on lethal weaponry exports, gunning for a prominent place in the global defence trade -- a challenging feat that analysts say could take years to achieve.

German fertiliser makers and farmers struggle with Iran war fallout

As Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz roils the global economy, one German town has been scrambling to help make up the shortfall in essential supplies of fertilisers.

OPEC+ to make first post-UAE production decision

Seven OPEC+ members are meeting Sunday to make their first decision on oil-production quotas since the United Arab Emirates' departure from the cartel, which added to the soaring price pressure unleashed by the Mideast war.

Massive crowds fill Rio's Copacabana beach for Shakira concert

Latin pop queen Shakira kicked off her free mega-concert on Rio's famed Copacabana beach under a full moon Saturday, with drones forming the image of a she-wolf -- her nickname -- overhead as she took the stage over an hour late.

US airlines step up as Spirit winds down

US air carriers on Saturday mobilized to help passengers and crew members stranded by the overnight shutdown of Spirit Airlines, after the low-cost carrier's last-minute talks with creditors and the White House collapsed.

'Bookless bookstore': audio-only book shop opens in New York

Audiobook giant Audible opened what it billed as the first "bookless bookstore" in New York on Friday as industry statistics show more American consumers embracing the format.

S&P 500, Nasdaq end at fresh records on tech earnings strength

The Nasdaq and S&P 500 soared to fresh records Friday, cheering mostly strong earnings from tech giants and continuing to shrug off the prolonged US-Iran war that has lifted oil prices.

Pope names former undocumented migrant as US bishop of West Virginia

Pope Leo XIV on Friday named a former undocumented migrant as bishop of West Virginia, weeks after a high-profile clash with US President Donald Trump.

Trump says will raise US tariffs on EU cars to 25%

President Donald Trump said Friday that he will hike US tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union next week, charging that the bloc is not complying with an earlier trade deal.

ExxonMobil CEO sees chance of higher oil prices as earnings dip

US oil giants reported lower earnings Friday with accounting effects muting the benefits of the Middle East oil shock, as ExxonMobil's CEO cautioned that crude prices could still increase.

After Madonna and Lady Gaga, Shakira set for Rio beach mega-gig

Latin pop queen Shakira will bring the heat to Rio de Janeiro on Saturday for her biggest concert to date -- an outdoor party on Copacabana beach.

Baguettes take centre stage on France's Labour Day

French bakeries sold crusty baguettes and flaky croissants with government backing Friday, defying labour unions arguing that May 1 should remain a sacred day of compulsory rest.

Oil steady after wild swing, stocks diverge in thin trading

Oil prices steadied and stocks diverged Friday in thin holiday trading, as investors awaited the next move in the Middle East crisis and digested corporate earnings.

Chinese swimmer Sun Yang reports cyberbullying to police

Three-time Chinese Olympic champion swimmer Sun Yang filed a police report after being subjected to "large-scale" cyberbullying, his team said Friday.

Iran activates air defences as Trump faces congressional deadline

Tehran's air defences were activated to counter small aircraft and drones late Thursday, as the White House signalled that it will not be reined in by a congressional deadline on the Iran war.

Formerra Appoints Matt Borowiec as Chief Commercial Officer

CLEVELAND, OH / ACCESS Newswire / May 1, 2026 / Formerra, a leading distributor of performance materials, today announced the appointment of Matt Borowiec as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). Borowiec will lead the company's commercial organization to support continued growth and global expansion while strengthening sales execution and customer success.

Global Experts call for Paradigm Shift in Medicine, Health and Education to Save Lives and Fight Escalating Health Crisis

INNSBRUCK, AUSTRIA / ACCESS Newswire / May 1, 2026 / A global consortium of 64 experts (72 entities, 5 continents) unveiled two coordinated consensus plus policy brief reports, outlining a science‑driven roadmap to confront escalating health crises and to tackle the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs-including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, etc.: 75% of global deaths; 82% in low-/middle income countries; 90% of all death in European region).

Oil slumps after hitting peak, US indices reach new records

Oil prices struck a four-year high Thursday on worries about a resumption of hostilities in the Middle East, before slumping to end the day.

Venezuela leader hikes minimum wage package by 26%

Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez on Thursday hiked the minimum wage package by 26.3 percent, to $240, in an attempt to quell growing discontent over difficult living conditions.

Bangladesh signs biggest-ever plane deal for 14 Boeings

Bangladesh on Thursday signed a deal with US aircraft manufacturer Boeing to buy 14 planes for its national carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the two sides announced -- the airline's biggest-ever order, in a deal valued at $3.7 billion.

Venezuela opens arms to world with Miami-Caracas flight

A relaunched Miami-Caracas flight after seven years of a standstill is paving the way for Venezuela to reclaim its status as a bustling aviation hub.

US Congress votes to end record government shutdown

The US Congress on Thursday approved funding for most of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ending a record-breaking partial government shutdown that has disrupted critical agencies for more than two months.

First direct US-Venezuela flight in years arrives in Caracas

The first direct flight between the United States and Venezuela in seven years landed Thursday in Caracas, a new sign of a thaw after Washington deposed leftist leader Nicolas Maduro.

Oil strikes 4-year peak, stocks rise

Oil prices struck a four-year high on Thursday on worries over a resumption of hostilities in the Middle East, while US and European stock markets mostly rose as investors turned to central bank decisions and corporate earnings.

ECB warns of risks from Mideast war as it holds rates

The European Central Bank held interest rates steady on Thursday and warned of growing risks to the growth and inflation outlook thanks to the war in the Middle East.

Iran's supreme leader defies US blockade as oil prices soar

Iran's supreme leader declared Thursday that the United States had suffered a shameful defeat, defiantly rejecting a warning from President Donald Trump that an economically-punishing US naval blockade could be enforced for months to come.

White House against Anthropic expanding Mythos model access: report

The White House is opposing Anthropic's plans to expand access to its new artificial intelligence model Mythos to 120 companies, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.

Nigerian airlines avert shutdown as Mideast war hikes fuel prices

Nigerian airlines continued flying on Thursday despite threatening a shutdown over sky-high jet fuel prices roiling the industry in Africa's top crude producer and most populous nation.

ArcelorMittal boosts sales but profits squeezed

Steel giant ArcelorMittal said Thursday that while first-quarter sales had risen, adverse exchange rates hit net profits, but added that it was well placed to benefit from European restrictions on imports.

The Japan Times - Economy (English)