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Wed, Apr 01, 2026 02:48 PM All times are UTC

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Oil Prices Steady as U.S.-Iran Nuclear Talks and Fed Outlook Shape Market Sentiment

Feb 18, 2026 05:41 am UTC| Economy

Oil prices were largely unchanged in Asian trading on Wednesday after posting sharp losses in the previous session, as progress in U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations eased concerns about potential supply disruptions. The...

Christine Lagarde Reportedly Set to Exit ECB Before End of Term

Feb 18, 2026 05:39 am UTC| Economy Central Banks

Christine Lagarde is expected to step down as President of the European Central Bank (ECB) before completing her full eight-year term, according to a report published Wednesday by the Financial Times. The report cited a...

Asian Currencies Steady in Thin Lunar New Year Trade; NZ Dollar Drops After RBNZ Holds Rates

Feb 18, 2026 05:36 am UTC| Economy

Asian currencies were largely unchanged on Wednesday as subdued Lunar New Year trading kept market activity light across the region. With major financial centers such as China and Hong Kong closed for the holiday, foreign...

Japan’s Exports Surge 16.8% in January, Narrowing Trade Deficit Amid Import Decline

Feb 18, 2026 00:22 am UTC| Economy

Japans exports rose sharply in January, marking a fifth consecutive month of growth and signaling continued resilience in the countrys external sector. According to data released Wednesday by Japans Ministry of Finance,...

Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Strong Dollar Weighs; Investors Eye Key U.S. Data

Feb 18, 2026 00:21 am UTC| Economy

Gold and silver prices extended their losses on Tuesday as a stronger U.S. dollar pressured precious metals and investors turned cautious ahead of major U.S. economic data releases. Reduced trading activity during Chinas...

IMF Urges Japan to Continue Interest Rate Hikes and Avoid Consumption Tax Cuts

Feb 18, 2026 00:15 am UTC| Economy

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has urged Japan to continue raising interest rates and avoid further fiscal stimulus, warning that cutting the consumption tax could weaken the countrys ability to withstand future...

Japan Bond Issuance Set to Surge 28% by 2029 Amid Rising Debt Costs

Feb 17, 2026 07:03 am UTC| Economy

Japan is projected to face a sharp increase in government bond issuance over the next three years as rising debt-financing costs strain public finances, according to a finance ministry estimate reviewed by Reuters. The...

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Economy

Oil Prices Hold Near Multi-Year Highs Amid Iran Conflict and Hormuz Supply Fears

Oil prices remained elevated during Asian trading on Wednesday as markets processed mixed signals surrounding the ongoing conflict with Iran. Brent crude futures for June climbed 0.5% to $104.47 per barrel, while West...

Asian Stocks Surge on Trump's Iran War Comments and Dip-Buying

Asian equity markets posted strong gains on Wednesday, driven by U.S. President Donald Trumps remarks signaling a potential end to military operations against Iran within two to three weeks. Renewed investor optimism,...

Japan Business Sentiment Rises as Iran War Fuels Inflation Fears, BOJ Rate Hike Looms

Japans corporate confidence strengthened for the fourth consecutive quarter through March 2026, reinforcing expectations that the Bank of Japan (BOJ) may raise interest rates as early as this month. However, mounting...

Japan's Business Confidence Rises Despite Iran War Uncertainty, BOJ Rate Hike Expected

Japans large manufacturers reported improved business sentiment in the three months to March, according to the Bank of Japans closely watched Tankan survey released Wednesday. The headline index for big manufacturers...

South Korea Manufacturing PMI Hits 4-Year High in March 2025 Driven by Semiconductor Demand

South Koreas manufacturing sector delivered a standout performance in March, with factory activity accelerating to its strongest level in over four years. Data from SP Globals Purchasing Managers Index showed a reading of...

Politics

U.S.-Iran War: Rubio Says Finish Line Is Visible as Diplomatic Talks Begin

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed cautious optimism on Tuesday, stating that Washington can see the finish line in its ongoing military conflict with Iran, now entering its fifth week. Speaking on Fox News...

Trump Signs Executive Order Tightening Mail-In Voting Rules Amid Legal Backlash

President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order Tuesday aimed at tightening mail-in voting regulations across the United States, setting off immediate legal threats from voting rights advocates and Democratic...

Trump Attends Supreme Court Hearing on Birthright Citizenship Restrictions

President Donald Trump made a rare personal appearance at the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday to witness oral arguments in a landmark case centered on his executive order restricting birthright citizenship marking one of...

Rubio Calls for Democratic Transition and Free Elections in Venezuela

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared Tuesday that Venezuela must undergo a political transition leading to free and fair elections, while urging both patience and vigilance from Washington. Speaking on Fox News...

U.S. Senator Pushes to Permanently Block Chinese Automakers from American Market

Republican Senator Bernie Moreno announced plans to introduce legislation next month that would permanently and comprehensively ban Chinese automakers from the U.S. automotive market. The proposed bill would expand on an...

Science

NASA's Artemis II Crew Arrives in Florida for Historic Moon Mission

The four astronauts chosen for NASAs Artemis II mission have touched down at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking the beginning of final launch preparations for the first crewed lunar journey in over 50 years. NASA...

SpaceX Pivots Toward Moon City as Musk Reframes Long-Term Space Vision

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has revealed a significant shift in the companys near-term space exploration strategy, announcing that SpaceX is now prioritizing the development of a self-growing city on the Moon rather than focusing...

SpaceX Prioritizes Moon Mission Before Mars as Starship Development Accelerates

Elon Musks SpaceX is shifting its near-term space exploration strategy, choosing to prioritize a return to the Moon before pursuing missions to Mars, according to a recent Wall Street Journal report citing sources familiar...

NASA and SpaceX Target Crew-11 Undocking From ISS Amid Medical Concern

NASA has confirmed that the agency, in coordination with SpaceX, is targeting no earlier than 5 p.m. Eastern Time (2200 GMT) on Wednesday, January 14, for the undocking of the SpaceX Crew-11 mission from the International...

Neuralink Plans High-Volume Brain Implant Production and Fully Automated Surgery by 2026

Elon Musks brain-computer interface company Neuralink is preparing for a major expansion, announcing plans to begin high-volume production of its brain implant devices and transition to a fully automated surgical procedure...

Technology

TSMC Japan's Second Fab to Produce 3nm Chips by 2028

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the worlds leading contract chipmaker, has confirmed plans to begin equipment installation and mass production of 3-nanometre wafers at its second fabrication plant in...

Apple Turns 50: From Garage Startup to AI Crossroads

In early 1976, engineer Steve Wozniak finished designing a computer circuit board he planned to share with fellow hobbyists at a local California tech club. His friend Steve Jobs recognized a commercial opportunity, and...

Rubio Directs U.S. Diplomats to Use X and Military Psyops to Counter Foreign Propaganda

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has instructed American diplomats to leverage social media platform X and collaborate with Pentagon psychological operations units as part of a broader strategy to combat foreign...

Microsoft Eyes $7B Texas Energy Deal to Power AI Data Centers

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) is reportedly in exclusive negotiations with Chevron Corp (NYSE: CVX) and investment firm Engine No. 1 to develop a massive energy complex in West Texas dedicated to powering its...

California's AI Executive Order Pushes Responsible Tech Use in State Contracts

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a landmark executive order Monday, setting new standards for artificial intelligence governance in state contracting. The directive requires companies seeking government contracts to...