Business

More than $1 billion in well-timed bets were placed on prediction markets and oil futures around Iran-related events, prompting complaints to the CFTC and reported inquiries.

Return-to-office mandates and a surge in AI startups have led companies to cluster in smaller San Francisco neighborhoods such as the Design District, where reported office rents are lower than in the Financial District and Mission Bay.

Reports say Anthropic's private valuation has risen to about $800 billion and its revenue run-rate is reported near $30 billion.

Wells Fargo closed its final outstanding consent order and provided a US$1.75 million grant to support the Norman Commons affordable apartment project in Austin.

Crews are conducting door-to-door damage assessments after an Ann Arbor tornado to collect data for state and federal disaster relief requests. Officials say teams will wear official identification and will not enter homes or collect money.

An AP and Grist analysis found the USDA has not awarded any rural energy grants or loan guarantees this fiscal year, and the agency suspended REAP grant awards on March 31 to update regulations following a presidential executive order.

The New Brunswick government is providing $500,000 a year in new tourism funding: $100,000 annually each for the Indigenous Tourism Association and the Tourism Industry Association, and $300,000 for a product development grant program for operators; applications open June 1.

Gold climbed to its highest level in almost a month after Iran announced the Strait of Hormuz was 'completely open' for commercial traffic, and silver also rose sharply as the dollar and Treasury yields eased.

New electric cars now cost on average £42,620—£785 less than new petrol models, aided by a government Electric Car Grant and manufacturer discounts.

The article mentions Tesco has not yet seen impacts on product availability or food prices, excluding fuel, and said the Iran war is creating uncertainty that has caused it to widen profit guidance for the year.

The IRS on April 16 launched an online 'Tax Debt Help' tool to guide individuals and businesses through options for resolving overdue federal tax bills. The tool provides interactive guidance and does not require users to provide personal information.

Tomatoes are tropical plants that prefer warm soil, so the article reports planting is usually recommended about one to two weeks after the last average frost and when soil temperature is around 18–21°C.

Governments in Asia and Africa are revisiting nuclear power plans after energy disruptions linked to the Iran war; Japan has restarted a major plant and Taiwan is considering returning two reactors to service, subject to inspections and safety checks.

At a Las Vegas event, President Trump promoted a tax credit exempting taxes on tips and downplayed fuel-driven price swings tied to the war with Iran; the city is also experiencing a tourism decline that has raised concerns among service workers.

MacKenzie Scott gave an unrestricted $70 million donation to Meals on Wheels America, which said the gift will help expand capacity and serve seniors; the organization reports a current waitlist of about four months for meals and services.

801 Restaurant Group filed for Chapter 11 on April 10 to restructure debt; the company says the individual restaurant operators are not in bankruptcy and no 801 Chophouse locations had closed as of April 16.

Manitoba premier Wab Kinew visited Peguis First Nation and joined volunteers filling sandbags as the community prepares for rising Fisher River water expected to peak around April 23–28.

The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-1 tornado touched down in Ann Arbor early Wednesday and tracked about 1.7 miles east; city officials say they will conduct door-to-door damage assessments in the coming days.

Alex Ovechkin said he is undecided about returning for a 22nd NHL season and that his children want him to keep playing; he plans to discuss the choice with family and Capitals management.

The IMF says the Middle East war has created an unprecedented shock to regional economies, with five of eight Gulf oil- and gas-producing countries expected to contract this year; recovery projections hinge on how and when the conflict ends.

Brian Snitker will be inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame in a pregame ceremony at Truist Park on April 25, before the Braves face the Philadelphia Phillies; the event will include tribute videos, speeches, and a jacket and plaque presentation.

Zohran Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled New York State’s first pied-à-terre tax, a proposed annual surcharge on secondary homes over $5 million that officials say could raise about $500 million a year; similar measures exist in places such as British Columbia, France and Oakland, California.

Federal auditors told lawmakers that fraud costs the U.S. government an estimated $233 billion to $521 billion annually, and Congress is expected to weigh responses.

Lebanon's NNA reported Israeli airstrikes destroyed the Qasimiyeh Bridge linking Tyre and Sidon, and U.S. and Israeli officials say Israeli and Lebanese leaders are scheduled to speak later Thursday.

The Board of Regents approved a tuition increase for 2026-27 — 1% for in-state and 3% for out-of-state undergraduates — and Sonia Lewis, CEO of "The Student Loan Doctor," suggested strategies to help families manage the higher costs.

IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol told the Associated Press that Europe may have about six weeks of jet fuel left and linked the risk to a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and related Middle East tensions.

Emergency managers and National Weather Service offices issued urgent flood alerts across the Midwest and Great Lakes, including an immediate evacuation order for parts of Waupaca County, Wisconsin. Multiple flood warnings and flash‑flood watches, with concerns about rising rivers and some dam infrastructure, remain in effect across several states.

China's GDP rose 5% year-on-year in Q1 2026, above the 4.8% median forecast; industrial output strengthened while retail sales lagged.

Lincoln, Massachusetts, has introduced AI tools to automate meeting minutes, research, and drafting, which staff say has recovered time for higher-value work. The town treats AI outputs as drafting aids that require subject-matter review before informing official decisions.

Florida International University researchers are developing an experimental nasal spray called CTS2444-32 intended to reach deep brain regions and potentially slow Parkinson's progression; lead researcher Kim Tieu said a therapy could be possible in about five years if development goes well.