Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.This mistake almost cost me my GST refund at Changi Airport; Buy these Charles & Keith handbags in India insteadA simple mistake at Changi Airport nearly cost us our GST refund after a
The United States and Cuba held talks this week on a U.S. offer of $100 million in assistance, which Washington has dangled as an incentive for reforms, a U.S. official said on Tuesday (May 19, 2026). Mike Hammer, the acting U.S. ambassador to Havana, met on Monday (May 18
The legendary GTI badge goes electric for the first time. The Volkswagen ID Polo GTI Electric was originally previewed as the ID. 2all concept in 2023. It has a 0 to 100km/h sprint time of 6.8 seconds. Volkswagen has unveiled an electric version of its famous ID. Polo hatchback. While the new
Mouni Roy brings India to Cannes with chic patola print gown, dazzles the night in midnight blue dressAt Cannes, Mouni Roy donned two striking looks, including a chic midnight-blue gown and a stunning patola-embroidered dress. Published on: May 20
Bengaluru techie explains why life in Germany felt calmer than India: ‘Never opened laptop after work’A Bengaluru techie said life in Germany felt quieter and more balanced than his daily routine in Bengaluru. Published on: May 20, 2026 10:05 AM IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Share via Copy link
Oil rises above $115 and Asia stocks slide as Iran war escalates
Global oil prices jumped and stocks fell sharply on Monday morning in Asia as the US-Israel war with Iran escalates.
The price of Brent crude rose by more than 3% to above $115 (£86.77) a barrel, while US-traded oil climbed to $103 after gaining around 3.5%. It puts Brent on track for its biggest monthly gain on record.
Stock markets in Asia opened lower, with Japan's Nikkei 225 down by 4.5% and the Kospi in South Korea 4% lower.
It comes after Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen joined the conflict by striking Israel over the weekend and Iran threatened to expand retaliatory strikes against universities and the homes of US and Israeli officials
US President Donald Trump said in an interview with the Financial Times on Sunday that he could "take the oil in Iran" and possibly seize its major fuel hub of Kharg Island.
When asked about Iranian defence on the island he said: "I don't think they have any defence. We could take it very easily."
Trump compared the potential move to Venezuela where the US plans to control the oil industry "indefinitely" after the seizure in January of then-President Nicolás Maduro.
Also over the weekend, Iran's parliament speaker warned that his country's forces were "waiting for American soldiers" as a further 3,500 US troops arrived in the Middle East.
Global energy markets have been hugely volatile after Tehran retaliated to US and Israeli strikes by threatening to attack ships that try to cross the Strait of Hormuz.
Oil and gas shipments through the a crucial waterway for global energy have largely come to a standstill, pushing up prices of oil and gas.
The price of Brent was at around $72 a barrel on 27 February, the day before the US and Israel struck Iran.
On 18 March, the benchmark oil contract hit $119.50, the highest level since June 2022.
Source: BBC
Related Posts: Gold Prices Fall Sharply On Monday Woman and child jumped off roof to escape deadly Louisiana shooting Try These 4 Whiskey-Based Cocktails To Prepare For The Monday Morning Blues MGNREGS coverage and workdays fell sharply in 2025–26 Ganesh Dongre of Anand Rathi recommends 3 stocks to buy on Monday Sumeet Bagadia recommends three stocks to buy on Monday — 20 April Sensex, Nifty Open Sharply Lower Amid Weak Global Cues Global Cyber Monday online sales hit $17 Why Are Gold Prices Not Rising Sharply Despite Middle East Tensions Silver prices drop sharply on December 15
The All-India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), which represents nearly 12.4 lakh chemists, pharmacists and drug distributors across India, has announced a nationwide strike on 20 May. The protest is expected to disrupt the supply of medicine in several parts of the country for the
1 hours ago
One of the most expensive Korean films ever made, this epic sci-fi begins as a "breathless rollercoaster ride" and mashes up The Terminator, Predator, Aliens and Avatar. The films that compete for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival are known for their depth
1 hours ago
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday chaired meeting to assess preparations for the forthcoming NEET (UG) Re-Examination and demanded a foolproof conduct under strict security protocols. During the high-level meeting, Pradhan stressed on the need for complete integrity and
1 hours ago
Cornell professor talks AI chaos, and dismissing AI writersThe biggest AI developments, decoded. 20 May 2026. Published on: May 20, 2026 8:00 AM IST By Vishal Mathur Share via Copy link Cognitive warmup. Actor, comedian and filmmaker Seth Rogen has some choice words for creatives using AI to
1 hours ago
England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt could miss next month’s T20 World Cup after the all-rounder was ruled out of her side’s warm-up series against New Zealand and India. Sciver-Brunt tore her left calf while playing for the Blaze in domestic cricket earlier this month and was subsequently ruled
1 hours ago
Congressman Thomas Massie, one of the most vocal Republican critics of Donald Trump, has lost his fight for re-election to a challenger endorsed by the president. Ed Gallrein, a former Navy Seal, will now compete in November's midterm election after his victory in the Kentucky primary on Tuesday
1 hours ago
CHSE Odisha Class 12 Result 2026 LIVE: The Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE), Odisha, will declare the Class 12 (+2) examination results for 2026 today, May 20, at 12:30 PM. Students who appeared in the 12th board examinations can check and download their results from the official
1 hours ago
Qatar said on Tuesday (May 19, 2026) that U.S.-Iran negotiations, mediated by Pakistan, required more time to reach a deal, a day after President Donald Trump said he had postponed planned attacks to give the process a chance. "We are supportive of the diplomatic effort by Pakistan that has shown
1 hours ago
Stars are often photographed everywhere they go, but Salman Khan seemed to completely lose his cool after paparazzi surrounded him outside Mumbai’s Hinduja Hospital in Bandra on Tuesday night. The actor had reportedly visited the hospital to see a family member when photographers gathered outside
1 hours ago
May 20, Birthday Horoscope: Here's what the tarot cards have in store for youIf your birthday falls on May 20, here’s what your year ahead looks like, as per Tarot. Updated on: May 20, 2026 11:02 AM IST By Kishori Sud Share via Copy link If you were born on May 20
1 hours ago
Aaron Rodgers seen with wife Brittani ‘Starlight Leszczyński’? Viral post-marriage pic, Coyote Ugly claims fact-checkedA photo has gone viral allegedly showing Pittsburgh Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers with wife Brittani, and the caption identified her as ‘Starlight’ Leszczyński
1 hours ago
For over two decades, Chef Kunal Kapur has been one of the most recognisable faces of Indian cuisine from judging MasterChef India to championing regional flavours on global platforms. But today, the celebrity chef, restaurateur, author and television personality believes the future of dining is
1 hours ago
The ongoing war in West Asia and the rising costs of fuel and fertilizers give India an opportunity to enhance fertilizer use efficiency and moderate demand. India produces 80% of its urea requirement domestically and imports the rest while also boosting domestic production capacities to become
1 hours ago
For more than two decades, football fans of a certain vintage relied on a specific piece of cultural shorthand whenever the red-and-white half of North London let them down. In the classic The IT Crowd episode “Are We Not Men?", a pair of socially awkward computer nerds used an automated web
1 hours ago
Saiju Kurup is ecstatic. With Bharathanatyam 2: Mohiniyattam, which he acted in and co-produced,trending on streaming after raking in crores at the box office, the actor says he is still not able to process it. “I ask myself if this is all for real
1 hours ago
Bhopal dowry death victim's co-actor Swetaa Varma ‘in shock’, doubts suicide angleSwetaa Varma, who acted with the victim in a Telugu film, has reacted to her sudden death and said she is still in shock. May 20, 2026, 10:33:34 IST By Abhimanyu Mathur Share via Copy link A former co-star of the
1 hours ago
The Indian rupee slumped to a record low of 96.9 against the United States dollar on Wednesday. The currency had opened at 96.8. The Indian currency had closed at an all-time low of 96.5 against the US dollar on Tuesday. The slump has come amid elevated global oil prices and economic headwinds
1 hours ago
The Directorate of Government Examination, Tamil Nadu (TNDGE) has declared the SSLC Class 10th results 2026. Students who had appeared for the Tamil Nadu TNDGE SSLC 10th Result can go to the official website of tnresults.nic.in or dge.tn.gov.in and check their results
1 hours ago
Sebastian Stan recalls when Donald Trump tried to stall The Apprentice's Cannes premiere, calls out censorshipSebastian Stan, who played Donald Trump in his biopic The Apprentice, has slammed the US President and his policies. May 20, 2026, 10:21:54 IST By Abhimanyu Mathur Share via Copy link
1 hours ago
In recent days, Trump has repeatedly warned that if an agreement is not reached quickly, Iran will face difficult consequences. Iran, on the other hand, has said that it will respond strongly to any attack. New Delhi: In a significant development
1 hours ago
US President Donald Trump has endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in his bid to unseat incumbent Senator John Cornyn in next Tuesday's Republican primary run-off race. By siding with Paxton, Trump is supporting a Texas politician who has long been a close ally of the president – but also
1 hours ago
BMW has revealed a manual-only M3 CS with rear-wheel drive and 543 bhp as a farewell model for the sixth-generation M3, targeting enthusiasts still wanting an old-school performance sedan experience. BMW making a manual-only BMW M3 CS in 2026 feels almost rebellious at this point
1 hours ago
Referring to the notices issued by the civic body, Paul alleged that several properties linked to Banerjee, his family and Leaps and Bounds company had come under scrutiny. New Delhi: In a significant development, the TMC-run Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has issued notices to several
1 hours ago
Rupee Weakens Further: The Indian rupee fell by 33 paise in early trade on Wednesday to touch a fresh record low of 96.89 against the US dollar, extending its losses for the past several sessions. It further weakened in the early trade session to drop to 96
1 hours ago
DRDO successfully tests ULPGM-V3 missile | All about the indigenous weaponThe defence ministry informed in a statement that the trials were conducted at a DRDO test range near Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh using an integrated GCS. Updated on: May 20
4 hours ago
The Trinamool Congress’ Falta candidate Jahangir Khan on Tuesday announced that he has withdrawn from the repolling in the Assembly constituency, two days ahead of voting. “This decision is for Falta’s development and the public good, following the chief minister’s special package
4 hours ago
Who is Andrej Karpathy? OpenAI cofounder and one of AI’s most influential figures joins AnthropicAndrej Karpathy, a founding member of OpenAI, has joined Anthropic. The 39-year-old announced his move to Anthropic on Tuesday. Updated on: May 20
4 hours ago
