Asian shares mostly gain as focus turns to a deadline issued by President Trump on Iran

TOKYO (AP) — Asian markets that are open for trading are mostly rising as investors continue to closely watch the war in Iran, oil prices and what U.S. President Donald Trump might say next. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 and South Korea’s Kospi gained Monday. Brent oil continued to rise, but the benchmark price eased. Trading was closed in Australia, Hong Kong and Shanghai for holidays. Trump threatened to hit Iran’s critical infrastructure hard if the country’s government doesn’t reopen the Strait of Hormuz by his Tuesday deadline.

From digging coal to selling noodles? China’s mining workers face change

DATONG, China (AP) — As China runs away from the rest of the world in developing renewable energy, its coal mining industry is facing the prospect of major change. That includes the northern province of Shanxi, which turns out nearly one-third of China's coal and would be the world's largest producer if it was its own country. Officials in Shanxi and the city of Datong don't want miners to be left behind. They're pinning some of their hopes for new jobs on growing tourism to sites like the Yungang Grottoes, an ancient and significant area of caves and Buddhist carvings. Some miners are making the transition while others are fearful of leaving good jobs. And few think that Shanxi will leave coal behind entirely because it's an important safety net for energy security.

Tailors and dressmakers retire their pincushions as US demand for skilled sewers grows

NEW YORK (AP) — The ranks of tailors, dressmakers and custom sewers are shrinking in the U.S. even as their skills and services are finding fresh demand. Fashion industry experts say younger shoppers are enlisting tailors and seamstresses to give off-the-rack purchases a custom fit, to revive secondhand finds or to extend the lives of their wardrobes. A veteran tailor in New York says weight-loss drugs like Zepbound and Wegovy have more Americans wanting their clothes resized. But there are fewer professionals doing alternations as skilled sewers age out of the workforce. The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York has teamed with Nordstrom to launch a training program to help address the growing labor shortage.

Menopause products are having a hot minute. But doctors urge women to be wary of the marketing surge

DALLAS (AP) — Women suffering through the hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes and sleep problems that can come with menopause — all while looking in the mirror and noticing signs of aging — are being bombarded with products. More open conversations about menopause and the period leading up to it — called perimenopause — are happening just as marketing has been supercharged by social media. Doctors say that before spending money on products that make big promises, it’s important for women to talk to their doctors about what has actually been proven to help — and what could be harmful.

Workers plan to halt strike at major US meatpacking plant and resume negotiations

Workers at one of the nation’s largest meatpacking plants plan to return to work next week and halt a three-week strike in order to resume negotiations with the plant's owner. The strike by thousands of workers at the Swift Beef Co. plant in Greeley, Colorado, began on March 16 in coordination with the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 union. A JBS representative said the company is preparing to ramp up the Greeley plant without yet reaching a new labor agreement. It was the first major strike at a U.S. slaughterhouse since 1985. Surging beef prices have added to economic anxiety in the U.S..

Meloni hails arrest of top crime family suspect after raid at an Italian resort

ROME, Italy (AP) — Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has praised police after the arrest of alleged organized crime boss Roberto Mazzarella. He is one of Italy’s most wanted fugitives. Authorities captured the 48-year-old Mazzarella during a raid on a luxury villa on the Amalfi Coast where he allegedly used false documents to stay. Mazzarella is wanted in connection with a 2000 fatal shooting in Naples. Meloni called the arrest “an important blow" against Naples-based crime syndicate Camorra.

Housing market trends favor home shoppers, but Iran war clouds the outlook for mortgage rates

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The economic fallout from the war with Iran is driving up the cost of buying a home, even as other housing market trends in many parts of the country favor home shoppers this spring. Mortgage rates, which had been trending lower heading into this year, have been rising as the conflict stokes inflation fears. That threatens to put a damper on home sales during what’s traditionally the busiest time of the year for the housing market. At the same time, home shoppers who can afford to buy this spring are likely to benefit from more properties on the market and lower prices than a year ago in many metro areas.

European ministers call for profit caps on energy companies as Iran war drives price surge

Finance ministers from five European Union member states are urging the bloc to introduce a windfall tax on energy companies as surging oil and gas prices raise inflation fears. Spain, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Austria warned of market distortions linked to the Iran conflict that are driving up costs for households and businesses. The proposal would revive profit caps used during the 2022 energy crisis after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Inflation in the eurozone has already risen to 2.5% in March. With Iran disrupting tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, officials warn fuel prices may stay elevated.

US employers added a surprisingly strong 178,000 jobs last month, rebounding from a weak February

WASHINGTON (AP) — American employers added a surprisingly strong 178,000 new jobs last month, rebounding from a dismal February. And the unemployment rate dipped to 4.3%. The Labor Department reported Friday that hiring marked a rebound from the loss of 133,000 jobs in February. The job gains were about three times what economists had forecast. The unemployment rate was down from 4.4% in February. But uncertainty surrounding the war with Iran — and its impact on energy prices — is clouding the outlook for the labor market.

Trump unveils 100% tariff on some patented drugs on 'Liberation Day' anniversary

NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that could slap long-threatened pharmaceutical tariffs of up to 100% on some patented drugs from companies that don’t reach deals with his administration in the coming months. Companies that have signed a “most favored nation” pricing deal and are actively building facilities in the U.S. to onshore production of patented pharmaceuticals and their ingredients will have a 0% tariff. For those that don’t have a pricing deal but are building such projects in the U.S., a 20% tariff will apply but increase to 100% in four years. Companies still have months to negotiate before the 100% tariffs kick in. Also Thursday, Trump rolled out an update on his 50% tariffs on imported steel, aluminum and copper.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says an attack has killed the head of intelligence for the paramilitary organization

Iran and US presented with draft proposal that includes 45-day ceasefire, Strait of Hormuz opening, 2 officials tell AP

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