AI to power megadeals in global M&A despite Iran worries
App icons of generative AI assistants. Artificial intelligence is expected to be a catalyst fueling large M&A deals. (Photo by Hazumu Urushiyama)
· JADA NAGUMO
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Newest first · UTC+11:00US facilities in Iraq have been hit more than 600 times since war with Iran started | The National
Live updates: Follow the latest news on Iran war
· Thomas Watkins
Seoul shares up 6 pct to over 7,300 late Wed. morning on chip rally, hopes for peace in Middle East
SEOUL, May 6 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks traded 6 percent higher to stay above the unprecedented 7,300-point mark Wednesday led by strong gains in semiconductor shares and rising optimism for a peace deal between the United States and Iran.
· Kim Boram
'No one else can make us surrender': Iran defies US threats
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said “No one can make us surrender” as he responded to US calls for concessions in negotiations to end the war, adding that members of the Shia faith “cannot be coerced by force”.
· Middleeasteye
Eight killed, dozens injured in Iran shopping centre fire
At least eight people were killed and 36 were injured after a fire tore through the Arghavan shopping centre in Andisheh, west of Tehran, on Tuesday, according to Iranian media reports.
· Middleeasteye
US lawmaker says Trump falsely declared Iran war ended
US Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi has accused President Donald Trump of “falsely” telling Congress that the war with Iran has ended, arguing that US military activity in the region continues.
· Middleeasteye
Rubio warns against 'destabilizing' acts on Taiwan
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Tuesday against any "destabilizing" actions on Taiwan before a trip to China by US President Donald Trump and called on Beijing also to raise pressure on Iran.
· Yonhap
Oil prices ease as US seeks reopening of the Hormuz Strait
Oil prices edged lower in early Wednesday trade in Asia after US President Donald Trump raised hopes for an agreement with Iran to end the war.
· Osmond Chia
China’s sanctions pushback marks a new phase in the oil war with Washington
By Sergey Poletaev, information analyst and publicist, co-founder and editor of the Vatfor project.
· RT
China’s sanctions pushback marks a new phase in the oil war with Washington
By Sergey Poletaev, information analyst and publicist, co-founder and editor of the Vatfor project.
· RT
The domestic dynamics driving Japan’s remilitarisation
Sanctions, diplomatic warnings and aggressive rhetoric create a perilous loop, reinforcing the very domestic tendencies China seeks to deter
· Wenran Jiang
The domestic dynamics driving Japan’s remilitarisation
Sanctions, diplomatic warnings and aggressive rhetoric create a perilous loop, reinforcing the very domestic tendencies China seeks to deter
· Wenran Jiang
Gasoline costs 50% more in US than it did before war
NEW YORK (AP) — The price of a gallon of regular gasoline climbed 31 cents in the past week, spiking to an average of $4.48 per gallon Tuesday, according to AAA, hitting the wallets of drivers after rising 50 percent since the war with Iran began.
· AP
CNBC Daily Open: 'Project Freedom' paused, tech rally unleashed
Hello, this is Hui Jie writing to you from Singapore. Welcome to another edition of CNBC's Daily Open.
· Lim Hui Jie
US Defence Secretary 'won't confirm or deny' use of 'kamikaze dolphins'
Auto news: Will Australians spend over $100,000 on a Chinese car?
· Nick Pearson
Trump news at a glance: Marco Rubio, in White House press room, puts a spin on rising gas prices
Secretary of state says US is ‘very fortunate’ as Trump’s Iran war pushes gas price near $4.50 a gallon – key US politics stories from Tuesday, 5 May at a glance
· Guardian staff
Trump puts ‘Project Freedom’ on hold, saying he hopes to finalise a deal with Iran
US president says he is pausing US effort to guide stranded vessels out of the strait of Hormuz but blockade remains
· Guardian staff and agencies
Oil prices fall as Trump pauses Hormuz escort effort
Oil prices fell on Wednesday after President Donald Trump said the U.S. would pause its naval escort effort in the Strait of Hormuz, raising hopes of a potential deal with Iran.
· Lee Ying Shan
Iran’s foreign minister arrives in Beijing for strategic talks
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Beijing on Wednesday at the head of a diplomatic delegation, marking the latest high-level engagement between Tehran and Beijing.
· Middleeasteye
ASEAN leaders under pressure to address economic fallout of Iran conflict
A vendor selling vegetables tends to customers at a public market in Manila, the Philippines. Rising prices of basic goods will be in the spotlight at the ASEAN summit in the Philippine city of Cebu this week. © Reuters
· Staff Writer
ASEAN leaders under pressure to address economic fallout of Iran conflict
A vendor selling vegetables tends to customers at a public market in Manila, the Philippines. Rising prices of basic goods will be in the spotlight at the ASEAN summit in the Philippine city of Cebu this week. © Reuters
· Staff Writer
US pauses Hormuz escorts in bid for deal, as threats continue
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The US will pause escorting commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz barely a day after it began doing so, US President Donald Trump said Tuesday, citing a desire to reach a peace deal with Iran.
· Agence France-Presse
Trump: Project Freedom paused as talks with Iran near final agreement
President Donald Trump said the United States will temporarily pause “Project Freedom”, the military operation guiding commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
· Middleeasteye
Seoul shares top 7,000 at opening bell for 1st time on eased Mideast tensions
South Korean stocks on Wednesday topped the 7,000-point mark for the first time at the opening bell, driven by US President Donald Trump's announcement to pause operations to guide vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz as part of efforts to finalize a deal with Iran.
· Yonhap
KRX issues buy-side sidecar for KOSPI on sharp rise
SEOUL, May 6 (Yonhap) -- The Korea Exchange (KRX) on Wednesday activated a trading halt on the main bourse as shares rallied on hopes for signs of progress toward a U.S.-Iran peace deal.
· Kim Boram
Trump says S. Korean-operated ship 'shot at' by Iran after deciding to 'go it alone'
US President Donald Trump claimed Tuesday that a South Korean-operated cargo ship was "shot at" by Iran earlier this week after deciding to "go it alone."
· Yonhap
Seoul shares top 7,000 at opening bell for 1st time on eased Mideast tensions
SEOUL, May 6 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks on Wednesday topped the 7,000-point mark for the first time at the opening bell, driven by U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement to pause operations to guide vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz as part of efforts to finalize a deal with Iran.
· Kim Boram
US, Bahrain push UN-backed action for Hormuz as Rubio urges against vetoes
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday called a US-proposed UN resolution demanding Iran stop attacks and laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz a test of the utility of the United Nations and urged China and Russia not to repeat vetoes.
· REUTERS
Asia-Pacific markets set to track Wall Street gains as Trump signals de-escalation in Iran conflict
Asia-Pacific markets were set to open higher, tracking Wall Street gains overnight as a drop in oil prices and strong earnings lifted investor sentiment.
· Justina Lee
US Intelligence Only Sees Limited Additional Damage To Iran Nuclear Program Since Last June
A widely circulating fresh report in Reuters has raised eyebrows and serious questions related to the effectiveness of the 38-day aerial campaign which saw US-Israel bombs unleashed in the many thousands (combined: some 20,000+ munitions expended) on the Islamic Republic.
· Tyler Durden
Trump pauses US military escorts in Hormuz
President Donald Trump has temporarily paused a US military operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, but said the blockade of Iranian ports would “remain in full force and effect” until a final agreement with Tehran is reached.
· RT
much-hyped Project Freedom
US President Donald Trump has temporarily paused a military operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, but said the blockade of Iranian ports will “remain in full force and effect” until a final agreement with Tehran is reached.
· RT
Iran's mosquito fleet a 'weapon of mass disruption' in Strait of Hormuz
A US Navy helicopter hovers over Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps speed boats. (Reuters: Hamad I Mohammed)
· Annika Burgess
Ahead of Trump-Xi summit, Rubio urges China to help open Strait of Hormuz
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday he hopes Chinese officials talk to Iran about the Strait of Hormuz during a foreign minister’s visit this week.
· Aamer Madhani
Trump pauses ‘Project Freedom’ initiative in Strait of Hormuz — teases ‘great progress’ in Iran talks
President Trump announced the pause of “Project Freedom” in the Strait of Hormuz Tuesday, indicating that “great progress” has been made toward a peace agreement in Iran. “Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of…
· Victor Nava
Trump pauses U.S. bid to guide ships out of Strait of Hormuz, cites Iran deal progress
President Donald Trump said Tuesday he is pausing "Project Freedom," the U.S. military's effort to guide commercial ships out of the Strait of Hormuz, one day after the operation began.
· Kevin Breuninger
Oil production won’t return to normal until after Midterm Elections — no matter when Iran war ends, new analysis says
It could take at least seven months for the world’s oil production to recover once the Strait of Hormuz reopens, market analysts warn — meaning that higher fuel prices will likely last through the Midterm Elections no matter when the war ends.
· Ronny Reyes
Israel and US preparing renewed airstrikes on Iran’s infrastructure: report
Israel is coordinating with the US to carry out a “short campaign” against Iran if the cease-fire falls apart over escalations in the Strait of Hormuz, officials said.
· Ronny Reyes
La gasolina en EEUU cuesta 50% más que antes de la guerra con Irán
Un conductor llena el tanque de un vehículo en una gasolinera Buc-ee’s de Johnstown, Colorado, el jueves 30 de abril de 2026. (AP Foto/David Zalubowski)
· Cathy Bussewitz
‘Project Freedom’ takes hold with 11 ships transiting Strait of Hormuz as Trump refuses to telegraph his redline on Iran
WASHINGTON — Commercial traffic in the Strait of Hormuz ticked up on Tuesday as the Pentagon’s new “Project Freedom” took hold in President Trump’s latest strategy to test Iran’s will to stay in the fight.
· Caitlin Doornbos
‘Insane in the brain’: Rubio says combat operations ‘over’, mocks Iran’s leaders
Washington: American combat operations in Iran are “over”, Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared, as he pledged US forces were now focused on reopening the critical Strait of Hormuz as a “favour to the world”.
· Michael Koziol
Pope Leo dismisses latest Trump attack, to meet with Rubio Thursday
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expects a "frank" meeting with Pope Leo during a visit to the Vatican on Thursday, the US ambassador said, after US President Donald Trump took a fresh potshot at the pope for criticizing the US-Israeli war in Iran.
· REUTERS
Rubio says US military campaign in Iran ‘done’
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington’s military campaign in Iran, known as “Operation Epic Fury”, is now complete following the ceasefire.
· Middleeasteye
U.S. officials seek to maintain ceasefire with Iran, UAE says it was attacked
WASHINGTON/CAIRO – U.S. officials sought to maintain a shaky ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday while pushing forward an operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, even as U.S. ally the United Arab Emirates said it suffered a new wave of Iranian missile and drone strikes.
· Idrees Ali
Offensive stage of Iran war is over, US Secretary of State Rubio says
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the initial US-Israeli offensive in Iran - known as Operation Epic Fury - is over after it reached its objectives.
· Kathryn Armstrong
Polar blast bringing snow falls to towns across four states
Rare snowfalls are forecast this week for communities outside south-eastern Australia's mountainous regions when a blast of wintry weather sweeps in.From tonight into early tomorrow, a polar air mass will generate snow on the mountains of Victoria, Tasmania, NSW and the ACT, reports weather channel Weatherzone.But, …
· Richard Wood
Thai cabinet approves plans to borrow $12bn to ease Iran war fallout
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, center, has said the emergency borrowing is needed to stave off stagflation. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
· Staff Writer
Rubio insists US is ‘very fortunate’ as Iran war pushes gas price near $4.50
US secretary of state says US is better off than other countries hit by disruption in oil supplies
· Shrai Popat
'A big pact': How the US plans to unite Libya through two ruling families
The US is crafting an agreement to unify oil-rich Libya around the country’s two most powerful families, as the US-Israeli war on Iran chokes global energy flows, current and former western officials, Arab sources briefed on the matter, and analysts, told Middle East Eye.
· Middleeasteye
U.S. Says Cease-Fire With Iran Is Holding, Despite Attacks
President Trump and top American officials said on Tuesday that a shaky cease-fire with Iran was holding despite new attacks by both sides after the American military launched an effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively shut down to most commercial ships.
· Eric Schmitt