Asian markets mostly rose on Monday as investors monitored the ongoing war in Iran, rising oil prices, and upcoming statements from President Donald Trump. Japan’s Nikkei 225 and South Korea’s Kospi both posted gains, while some regional markets remained closed for holidays. Oil prices continued to climb, with both U.S. crude and Brent crude increasing amid concerns about prolonged conflict and disruptions to the Strait … Continue reading Asian shares mostly gain while oil prices keep rising

Businesses across the U.S., including College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving co-founder Nick Friedman, are facing rising costs due to higher fuel prices, insurance, and economic pressures tied to the U.S.-Iran war. While large companies like airlines and Amazon have introduced surcharges or raised fees to offset costs, smaller businesses say they have less flexibility to pass those increases on to customers. Higher energy prices … Continue reading U.S.-Iran war ‘tax’ begins to hit American businesses and consumers

Federal officials issued a public health alert for certain frozen dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets sold at Walmart due to possible unsafe levels of lead. The alert applies to 29-ounce bags of Great Value Fully Cooked Dino Shaped Chicken Breast Nuggets with specific lot and expiration codes. The issue was identified during routine testing, and the product may still be stored in consumers’ freezers even though it … Continue reading Dinosaur chicken nuggets sold nationwide at Walmart may contain lead

A pharmaceutical company, K.C. Pharmaceuticals, has recalled over 3 million bottles of over-the-counter eye drops due to concerns about a “lack of assurance of sterility” identified by the FDA. The recall affects multiple products sold under various brand names at major retailers like CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid. The FDA classified the action as a Class II recall, meaning the products may cause temporary or … Continue reading Eye drops recalled over safety concerns, FDA says

Raw Farm is recalling several raw milk cheddar cheese products after an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to nine illnesses across California, Texas, and Florida. Three people have been hospitalized, including one who developed a serious complication, and more than half of the cases involve children under five. The FDA says all interviewed patients reported consuming raw dairy products, though testing has not yet confirmed … Continue reading California dairy recalls raw milk cheese linked to E. coli outbreak

Amazon is introducing a 3.5% “fuel and logistics-related surcharge” on fees for third-party sellers using its fulfillment services, effective April 17 in the U.S. and Canada. The company said the move is in response to rising transportation and operating costs driven by higher oil prices tied to the ongoing Iran-related conflict. Amazon emphasized that the surcharge is temporary and meant to offset increased costs, and it claims … Continue reading Amazon to add 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge for sellers

United Airlines is raising checked bag fees by $10 for tickets purchased starting Friday, with increases applying to first, second, and third bags across most routes. The airline said the first bag will rise from $35 to $45 and the second from $45 to $55, while the third bag will increase to $200, with higher prices for last-minute payments. The move follows similar increases by competitors … Continue reading United Airlines checked bag fees climbs $10-50

Tesla shares fell more than 5% after its first-quarter report showed lower deliveries and production compared with the previous quarter, despite modest year-over-year growth. The company delivered about 336,681 vehicles in Q1, slightly above last year but below analyst expectations. Overall vehicle sales have been declining in recent years, and Tesla’s stock is down roughly 20% in 2026. The bulk of deliveries still comes from its Tesla Model … Continue reading Tesla’s stock suffers steepest drop of 2026 on disappointing deliveries report

Hershey announced it will return all Reese’s products to their classic recipes starting next year, following criticism over the use of cheaper ingredients in some items. The company said that by 2027, products that currently use alternative coatings will switch back to traditional milk chocolate and dark chocolate. It also plans to make additional changes, including introducing natural colors and improving the creaminess of Kit-Kat, … Continue reading Hershey says it will shift back to classic recipe for all Reese’s products

Oil prices surged amid volatile trading after U.S. President Donald Trump warned of further military action against Iran within the next two to three weeks, raising concerns about prolonged conflict. U.S. West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude both rose sharply as markets reacted to the prospect of continued instability. Trump also claimed Iran was responsible for attacks on oil tankers, while reiterating that the U.S. … Continue reading Oil prices surge with Brent rising 5% as Trump vows to hit Iran ‘extremely hard’

Oracle has begun notifying employees of thousands of job cuts as it faces financial pressure tied to heavy investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure. The company’s stock has fallen about 25% this year, reflecting investor concerns over rising debt, declining cash flow, and competitive risks from generative AI. Oracle has been spending heavily to expand data centers and AI capabilities, including large contracts such as a … Continue reading Oracle cutting thousands in latest layoff round as company continues to ramp AI spending

Asian stock markets rose sharply on Wednesday following strong gains in U.S. markets and renewed hopes that the Iran war may be nearing an end. Major indexes across the region, including those in South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, China, Australia, and Taiwan, posted significant gains. The rally was fueled by comments from Donald Trump suggesting the U.S. could end its attacks on Iran within weeks. … Continue reading Asian stocks jump on renewed hopes of Iran war ending

U.S. gas prices have risen above an average of $4 per gallon for the first time since 2022, reaching about $4.02 nationally. The increase is driven largely by the ongoing war involving Iran, which has disrupted global oil supplies. Crude oil prices have surged past $100 per barrel as production and supply chains in the Middle East have been affected. The jump marks the largest … Continue reading Gas prices eclipse $4 a gallon in the US, the highest since 2022

Blackstone announced the close of its largest life sciences private fund, raising $6.3 billion through its Blackstone Life Sciences (BXLS) platform. The fund is significantly larger than its predecessor and is part of a platform that has grown to manage about $15 billion in assets since launching in 2018. Blackstone said its investments have helped support the development of 34 approved medicines and devices, with a … Continue reading Blackstone closes $6.3B fund for life sciences investing

The International Monetary Fund warned that an ongoing Middle East conflict disrupting oil, gas, and fertilizer supplies could lead to higher global prices and slower economic growth. It said rising energy and food costs would reduce living standards, strain businesses, and potentially force central banks to raise interest rates to control inflation. The IMF noted that heavily indebted countries may struggle to provide financial support to offset … Continue reading IMF warns Middle East conflict will lead to higher prices and slower global growth

About 12 tons of Nestlé KitKat chocolate bars—roughly 413,000 bars—were stolen after leaving a production site in Italyen route to Poland. The shipment disappeared while in transit, and the vehicle carrying it has not been found. The missing products were intended for distribution across Europe, raising concerns they could enter unofficial sales channels. Nestlé said the bars can be tracked using unique batch codes, allowing retailers and consumers to identify … Continue reading Over 400,000 KitKat candy bars stolen en route from Italy to Poland, Nestlé says

A federal judge in California temporarily halted the $6.2 billion merger between Nexstar Media Group and Tegna after a legal challenge raised antitrust concerns. The ruling followed a lawsuit by DirecTV and a coalition of state attorneys general, who argued the merger could raise costs, reduce competition, and harm local news coverage. The judge issued a 14-day restraining order and scheduled a hearing to further consider the case. Although the merger had already … Continue reading Judge pauses blockbuster merger between TV station owners Nexstar and Tegna

Oil prices rose on Sunday as tensions escalated after Iran warned against a potential U.S. ground invasion, despite statements from Donald Trump that negotiations to end the conflict would continue. Brent crude and U.S. crude both posted gains as markets reacted to fears of supply disruptions in the Middle East. Iran’s parliament speaker said Iranian forces are prepared for the arrival of U.S. troops, further heightening concerns about direct confrontation. … Continue reading Oil prices climb after Iran warns against US ground invasion

Sony announced it will raise prices for its PlayStation 5 lineup in the U.S. for the second time in less than a year, citing global economic pressures and rising component costs. The standard PS5 disc and digital editions will each increase by $100, while the more powerful PlayStation 5 Pro will see a $150 price hike. The company pointed to surging memory prices and supply constraints, … Continue reading Sony hikes PS5 prices by $150 citing ‘pressures’ in global economy

The Transportation Security Administration announced that its officers, who have been working without pay during a partial government shutdown, are expected to begin receiving paychecks as early as Monday. The move comes amid ongoing congressional negotiations over funding for the Department of Homeland Security and related agencies. Donald Trump said the executive branch would take action to ensure TSA workers are paid despite the funding impasse. The Department of Homeland … Continue reading TSA officers will start getting paychecks as early as Monday, DHS says

U.S. markets fell sharply on Friday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping into correction territory amid rising geopolitical tensions and energy supply concerns. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite also declined, extending recent weekly losses across major indices. Oil prices surged, with Brent crude topping $110 per barrel following disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz, intensifying fears about global energy supplies. Market sentiment was further pressured by uncertainty over U.S. … Continue reading Dow tumbles almost 800 points and enters correction

The U.S. Postal Service will introduce its first-ever fuel surcharge of 8% on packages starting April 26, affecting Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage, and Parcel Select shipments, lasting until January 17, 2027. The move comes as diesel prices in the U.S. have surged to $5.37 per gallon, partly due to recent geopolitical tensions and oil price spikes. USPS says the surcharge is lower than … Continue reading US Postal Service to introduce 8% fuel surcharge on packages

U.S. stocks rose Wednesday as investors reacted to a proposed 15-point peace plan aimed at ending the Donald Trumpadministration’s war with Iran, though markets remained volatile after reports of a negative Iranian response. The S&P 500 gained 0.4%, the Nasdaq rose 0.7%, and the Dow jumped 305 points, while U.S. crude fell 1.4% to about $90 per barrel amid oil supply concerns. Pakistan has offered to mediate talks, … Continue reading Stocks rally, oil prices fall amid talk of Iran ceasefire

A Los Angeles jury found Meta Platforms and YouTube negligent in the design and operation of their platforms, awarding K.G.M., a former minor, $3 million in compensatory and punitive damages for social media-related harm. Meta was found 70% responsible and YouTube 30%, with the jury concluding the companies failed to warn users about the addictive nature of Instagram and YouTube. The trial is the first in a wave of lawsuits, representing over … Continue reading Jury finds Meta and YouTube negligent in landmark lawsuit on social media safety

Precious metals saw sharp swings Monday as hopes of easing tensions in the Iran conflict briefly boosted investor sentiment. Spot gold fell over 5% to $4,262.50 before recovering to $4,482, while futures dropped around 1.5% after an earlier 10% plunge, extending losses that have totaled roughly 25% since January’s record high. Silver, platinum, and palladium also plunged, with silver hitting a year-to-date low of $63.76 … Continue reading Gold and silver losses ease as Trump postpones Iran energy strikes