Amazon will impose new fees later this month on third-party sellers as rising oil prices tied to the ongoing war with Iran ripple through the U.S. economy, a shift that could ultimately push costs onto consumers.

The company said it will begin charging a 3.5% “fuel and logistics-related surcharge” on sellers who use its fulfillment services starting April 17 in the U.S. and Canada, citing higher transportation and shipping expenses.

The move follows a sharp rise in oil prices, which are increasing costs across global supply chains. West Texas Intermediate crude topped $111 on Friday, while global benchmark Brent crude was around $109 per barrel, as investors assessed how long the conflict could disrupt shipments through the Strait of Hormuz – a critical global oil chokepoint.

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A worker near packages in an Amazon delivery vehicle in San Francisco, California, on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Amazon told FOX Business that the surcharge is designed to offset “elevated costs in fuel and logistics.” The company noted it had absorbed those increases until now but is aligning with a broader industry shift toward passing through higher expenses.

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The Amazon logo is displayed on the façade of Amazon Germany’s headquarters in Parkstadt Schwabing, Munich, Bavaria, on Jan. 27, 2026. (Matthias Balk/picture alliance via Getty Images)

The change adds pressure on roughly 2 million third-party sellers that make up a significant portion of Amazon’s marketplace. Many rely on Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) – the company’s logistics network that handles storage, packing and shipping – meaning the new fee directly affects their operating costs.

On average, the surcharge will total about 17 cents per unit, though actual costs vary based on product size and weight, according to reports. While relatively modest per item, the added expense can scale quickly for high-volume sellers, who may pass those increases on to consumers.

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An Iranian national flag flies at the Persian Gulf Star Co. (PGSPC) gas condensate refinery in Bandar Abbas, Iran. (Ali Mohammadi/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Amazon said the surcharge remains “meaningfully lower” than comparable fees charged by major carriers, but the move highlights how rising energy costs are cascading through the broader economy.

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Shipping providers including UPS, FedEx and the U.S. Postal Service have also implemented or announced fuel surcharges in recent weeks, signaling mounting strain across logistics networks as fuel prices climb.

Amazon shares are up 17.5% over the past year and are down 9.1% year to date.

Reuters contributed to this report. 

As the conflict in Iran intensifies with no immediate end in sight, the U.S. Department of Energy is tapping further into the nation’s emergency oil supply.

On Wednesday, officials announced a plan to loan an additional 10 million barrels of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) — part of a 172 million-barrel drawdown that critics say could leave the U.S. vulnerable as West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude prices climb past $111 per barrel.

The crude oil is set to be extracted from the Bryan Mound site in Texas, and the department is also accepting proposals from oil companies until Monday.

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The latest move is part of an agreement with 32 other countries to release a total of 400 million barrels of oil from reserves. The International Energy Agency (IEA) held an emergency meeting at its Paris headquarters last month with energy representatives from the G7 countries to “assess market conditions,” which IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol says “have been significantly affected by the conflict in the Middle East.”

In an aerial view, the Marathon Petroleum Corp’s Los Angeles Refinery is seen on April 2, 2026, in Carson, California. (Getty Images)

“The oil market challenges we are facing are unprecedented in scale. Therefore, I am very glad that IEA member countries have responded with an emergency collective action of unprecedented size,” Birol said after the announcement about the release of the emergency oil reserves.

The Department of Energy did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment, but in a press release, it said the replenishment of the SPR will come “at no cost to the American taxpayer.”

Analysts at Goldman Sachs warned in recent weeks that the 400 million-barrel release, the largest in history, may be insufficient to cover supply disruptions caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, potentially leading to a shortfall of more than 10 million barrels per day.

As of early Friday afternoon, WTI — the U.S. standard for oil prices — topped $112 per barrel, up slightly from the previous day. The national average for a regular gallon of gas is over $4, up more than $1 since the war began, according to AAA.

Federal Reserve Bank of New York President John Williams warned that the effects of the Iran war on energy prices could spread across several sectors of the economy during an interview on “The Claman Countdown” Thursday.

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“There’s a pass-through of energy prices into a lot of things that we buy, including airfares. … With higher fuel costs, airfares are going to go up,” Williams said. “It will spread around. It typically takes us into other goods and services. That typically takes months or maybe a year to have that full effect.”

In a presidential address to the nation Wednesday evening, President Donald Trump indicated that military operations in Iran will continue for weeks, likely adding more pressure to the oil market.

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Fox News’ Alec Schemmel and FOX Business’ Nora Moriarty contributed to this report.

SYDNEY — As the Iran war enters its second month with the Strait of Hormuz largely closed and global oil prices hovering above $100 a barrel, economists are warning that supply-chain shocks will deliver a triple blow to Australia’s economy this year — driving inflation higher, squeezing key industries and raising recession risks.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has acknowledged the government’s fuel-reserve assurances are under severe strain, while Oxford Economics and major banks forecast prolonged disruptions could subtract up to 0.7 percentage points from GDP growth and add as much as 3 percentage points to headline inflation in a worst-case scenario.

Here are three key predictions for how the conflict’s supply-chain fallout will reshape Australia’s economy through 2026, based on the latest Treasury modeling, bank forecasts and industry data as of early April.

Prediction 1: Fuel shortages and soaring energy prices will fuel persistent inflation and erode household spending.

Australia imports more than 80 percent of its refined fuels from Asia, and with crude flows through the Strait of Hormuz — which normally carries one-fifth of global oil — effectively halted, local petrol and diesel prices have already spiked sharply. Hundreds of service stations, especially in New South Wales, have run dry, prompting the government to suspend national fuel-quality standards and allow higher-sulphur blends to boost domestic supply by an extra 100 million litres per month.

Westpac and Westpac economists project a one-month disruption could lift the consumer price index by around 1 percentage point, while a three-month closure might push the peak CPI increase to 1.5-3 percentage points. Petrol prices could rise by as much as A$1 a litre in extreme cases, feeding directly into transport and freight costs that ripple through groceries, construction materials and consumer goods.

The Reserve Bank of Australia is closely watching the pass-through. Higher energy costs are already compounding existing cost-of-living pressures, with trimmed-mean inflation risks staying “higher for longer.” Oxford Economics warns that in a prolonged-war scenario with oil above $150 a barrel, Australia could face quarterly GDP contractions of 0.3-0.8 percent — the sharpest outside the pandemic era — as households cut back on discretionary spending.

Farmers and manufacturers are already feeling the pinch. Diesel-dependent trucking and agricultural operations face higher operating costs, while fertiliser prices — heavily tied to energy inputs — have climbed, threatening the autumn planting season.

Prediction 2: Global shipping rerouting and freight-cost surges will disrupt imports, exports and manufacturing.

Beyond oil, the Iran war is forcing container ships and bulk carriers to avoid chokepoints linked to Houthi activity in the Red Sea and broader Middle East tensions, driving up freight rates and extending delivery times. Australia’s manufacturers posted their first contraction in five months in March, with the S&P Global manufacturing PMI falling to 49.8 as demand weakened and cost pressures mounted.

Supply chains for critical inputs — from petrochemicals used in plastics and packaging to components for vehicles and electronics — are tightening. Australian industry group leaders note that Asia’s refinery disruptions are already lifting fuel prices and tightening supply for the 90 percent of refined liquid fuels Australia imports.

Export sectors are not immune. Agricultural exporters face higher freight costs and congestion risks for grain, beef and live-animal shipments to Europe and the Middle East. Mining and resources, while benefiting from any LNG price spikes as an exporter, still rely on imported equipment and parts whose delivery is now delayed.

Industrial-property analysts in Western Australia report that fuel shortages and diesel-price pressure are already translating into higher warehousing demand and supply-chain uncertainty, with construction projects facing material-cost volatility.

The Australian dollar has weakened against the greenback as markets price in the energy shock, further raising the cost of imported goods and adding another layer of imported inflation.

Prediction 3: A broader economic slowdown or outright recession becomes more likely, with uneven sectoral pain.

Oxford Economics’ prolonged-war scenario paints a stark picture: world GDP growth slows by 1.2 percentage points in 2026, and Australia suffers a sharp recession as fuel rationing and capacity constraints bite. Transport, manufacturing and mining — the sectors most reliant on diesel and global supply chains — would bear the heaviest burden.

Treasury’s own modeling, updated in mid-March, shows the war could subtract 0.2-0.6 percentage points from GDP growth while adding 0.5-1.25 percentage points to headline inflation, depending on how long oil stays elevated at $100 or spikes to $120.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has warned of a potential fuel crisis, and economists note Australia’s low fuel reserves — around 30 days for diesel and 36 days for petrol — leave the economy exposed compared with the International Energy Agency’s 90-day benchmark.

The pain will not be uniform. Energy exporters may see some offset from higher global LNG and coal prices, but domestic gas users and households will face higher power bills. Retail and hospitality sectors, already navigating cost-of-living strains, could see further weakness as consumers tighten belts.

Longer-term, the disruptions underscore Australia’s vulnerability as an island trading nation dependent on open sea lanes. Calls are growing for improved fuel-security measures, diversified supply chains and accelerated investment in domestic refining or alternative energy sources.

As of early April, the government insists fuel deliveries remain assured until mid-April, but analysts caution that panic buying and distribution bottlenecks could accelerate shortages. Markets continue to underprice the risk of a drawn-out conflict, according to State Street Global Advisors strategists.

For Australian businesses and households, the coming months will test resilience. While a swift ceasefire remains the base-case assumption for many forecasters, the longer the Strait of Hormuz stays closed, the deeper the supply-chain scars — and the greater the drag on growth, jobs and living standards.

Economists will watch April inflation data and the next Reserve Bank board meeting closely for signals on how aggressively policymakers respond to the energy-driven price shock. In the meantime, the Iran war’s distant battles are delivering a very real economic hit at home.

Apex Legends players across the globe are asking the familiar question: Is Apex Legends down right now? As of early April 2026, the free-to-play battle royale title from Respawn Entertainment and Electronic Arts is largely operational, though sporadic user reports of matchmaking issues and regional disruptions continue to surface on monitoring sites and social platforms.

Downdetector and similar outage trackers show fluctuating player complaints in the past 24 hours, with some spikes tied to login, matchmaking and server connection errors. However, official status pages from EA and independent monitors like ApexLegendsStatus.com indicate that core systems — including lobby/matchmaking servers in major regions such as US East, US West, EU West and Asia — are running at or near full capacity with low latency readings.

The latest widespread disruptions appear to have peaked around April 2-3, 2026, when thousands of reports flooded in. One monitoring site logged nearly 5,000 reports on April 3 alone, following over 10,000 the previous day. Players described symptoms including “no servers found,” extended matchmaking queues, connection errors to EA servers and occasional crashes during lobby selection. Some attributed the problems to broader infrastructure hiccups possibly linked to Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) or cloud services, echoing similar brief outages reported earlier in the week.

As of Saturday morning KST, major status checkers report “all systems operational” or “mostly operational.” EA’s official server status page lists Apex Legends without active widespread alerts for the game itself, though players are always advised to verify their own platform — PC via Steam or EA App, PlayStation, Xbox or Nintendo Switch — as individual network or account issues can mimic server-wide problems.

Respawn has not issued a fresh public statement on ongoing minor issues in the past day, but the studio and EA typically communicate via the official @PlayApex X account or in-game notices when significant maintenance or fixes are underway. Community-run accounts like @_ApexStatus have noted recent “widespread server issues” but followed up by encouraging players to retry connections once resolutions roll out.

Apex Legends, which launched in 2019, remains one of the most played battle royale games, blending fast-paced hero shooter mechanics with seasonal updates, ranked play and limited-time events. The current Season 28, “Breach,” features new legends, weapon balances and crossover content that have kept the player base engaged despite periodic technical hiccups common to live-service titles.

Historically, Apex has faced criticism for server stability, especially during peak hours or after major patches. Outages often stem from high concurrent player loads, anti-cheat updates or backend infrastructure shared with other EA titles. In early April 2026, some Reddit users in the r/apexlegends community speculated about AWS-related disruptions affecting multiple games, though no official confirmation tied a large-scale cloud outage directly to Apex at press time.

For players still encountering problems:

• Check EA’s server status page directly for real-time updates on Apex Legends, the EA App and platform-specific services.
• Restart the game client, console or router to rule out local network glitches.
• Verify game files through the platform launcher if on PC.
• Monitor Downdetector or ApexLegendsStatus.com for crowd-sourced reports.
• Ensure your anti-cheat software and drivers are up to date.

Developers have improved infrastructure over the years, including better regional server distribution and cross-play enhancements, but live-service games inevitably experience intermittent downtime. Brief outages on April 1 and 2, some lasting 30-60 minutes, resolved relatively quickly without long-term impact on progression or ranked resets.

The game’s dedicated fan base continues to grow, bolstered by competitive scenes like the Apex Legends Global Series and influencer streams. Recent anti-cheat updates have also aimed to clean up lobbies, though they occasionally contribute to temporary compatibility issues during deployment.

As the second split of Season 28 progresses, Respawn has shared ban statistics and teased future content, signaling ongoing investment in the title’s longevity. Players concerned about persistent lag, packet loss or “dead sliding” — common complaints even when servers are green — are encouraged to report specifics on EA’s official forums under the Apex Legends Technical Issues section.

In the fast-moving world of online gaming, server status can shift rapidly. What appears as a full outage for one player may be isolated matchmaking queues for another, especially across different data centers. At the time of this reporting, the majority of global regions show green status with response times under 100 ms in most cases.

Gamers are urged to stay tuned to official channels for any emergency maintenance announcements. If widespread problems re-emerge, Respawn typically acknowledges them promptly and provides estimated resolution times.

For now, the verdict for most Apex Legends enthusiasts is positive: the servers are up and running. Jump back into the arena, drop hot and chase that victory royale — but keep one eye on your ping and another on status trackers just in case.

Barbie is more than just a toy—she is a global business success story. Over the years, the iconic doll has grown into a billion-dollar brand, earning massive sales and staying popular across generations.

Owned by Mattel, Barbie has consistently brought in over $1 billion in annual sales in recent years, proving her lasting power in a fast-changing world.

Today, Barbie is not just found in toy stores. She is in movies, fashion, digital platforms, and even real-life experiences.

This expansion shows how a simple idea can grow into a huge empire when it keeps evolving.

As Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz explained, “Barbie’s not just a toy… She’s a source for inspiration.” That idea has guided the brand’s success.

How Barbie Started: A Simple but Smart Idea

Barbie began in 1959, created by Ruth Handler. She noticed that young girls liked to imagine their future as adults, not just play as children.

This led to a new kind of doll—one that looked like a grown-up and allowed kids to dream big. From the start, Barbie was different. She wasn’t just a toy; she was a way for children to imagine their future.

1. Strong Sales Built the Foundation

Barbie quickly became a hit. Over time, the brand grew into a reliable money-maker.

In recent years:

• Barbie has earned over $1 billion annually
• Sales reached as high as nearly $1.7 billion in a single year
• Millions of dolls are sold worldwide

In fact, more than 100 Barbie dolls are bought every minute. These strong numbers show how powerful the brand has become.

2. Constant Reinvention Keeps Barbie Relevant

One of the biggest reasons for Barbie’s success is change. Instead of staying the same, Barbie keeps evolving.

In 2016, Mattel introduced new body types like tall, petite, and curvy. The brand also added more skin tones, hairstyles, and features.

Today, Barbie includes:

• Dozens of skin tones
• Many hairstyles
• Dolls with disabilities, like hearing aids

These updates helped Barbie connect with more people. It showed that everyone can see themselves in the brand.

3. Barbie Became More Than a Doll

Barbie didn’t stop at toys. She became a full lifestyle brand.

The company expanded into:

• Clothing and accessories
• Home items and collaborations
• Digital games and content

There are now over 50 product categories linked to Barbie. This helped grow the brand far beyond toy shelves, FoxBusinessreported.

4. A Career Role Model for Kids

Barbie is known for her many careers. She has had over 250 jobs, including doctor, astronaut, teacher, and even president.

This variety sends a simple message: you can be anything.

This idea has helped Barbie stay meaningful for decades, especially for young girls dreaming about their future.

5. Big Media Moves Boosted the Brand

According to Forbes, Barbie entered entertainment years ago, but her biggest moment came with the live-action movie starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling.

The film created huge excitement around the world. It brought Barbie back into the spotlight and introduced her to a new generation.

Mattel used this moment to expand even more through partnerships, products, and experiences. The movie was not just entertainment—it was a smart business move.

6. Smart Partnerships Created ‘Barbie Mania’

Barbie teamed up with many brands to stay trendy. From fashion to beauty products, collaborations helped keep the brand fresh.

Fans could buy:

• Barbie-themed clothing
• Accessories and toys
• Even themed homes and experiences

This wide reach made Barbie part of everyday life, not just playtime.

7. Learning From Challenges

Barbie’s journey was not always smooth. At one point, sales dropped, and people questioned if the brand was still relevant.

But instead of giving up, Mattel made changes. They updated Barbie’s image, improved diversity, and focused on what modern audiences wanted.

This comeback shows an important lesson: strong brands listen, learn, and adapt.

The Bottom Line

Barbie’s billion-dollar success did not happen by accident. It came from smart ideas, constant change, and understanding what people want.

From a single doll in 1959 to a global empire today, Barbie has proven that staying relevant is key. She is not just a toy—she is a brand that grows with time.

Originally published on vcpost.com

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet was shot down over Iran on Friday, marking the first confirmed loss of an American manned combat aircraft since the outbreak of direct hostilities between the United States and Iran in late February 2026, U.S. officials and multiple news outlets reported.

The incident, confirmed by U.S. sources to CNN and CBS News, triggered an immediate combat search-and-rescue operation for the jet’s two crew members. Iranian state media claimed responsibility, releasing photos of wreckage that analysts identified as consistent with an F-15E rather than the F-35 initially touted by Tehran. One crew member has reportedly been rescued, while efforts continue for the second, according to CBS News citing U.S. officials.

Here are 10 key facts about the aircraft, the incident and its broader context as the U.S.-Iran conflict enters a dangerous new phase.

1. The Aircraft: A Proven Workhorse Now Lost in Combat The F-15E Strike Eagle is a two-seat, all-weather strike fighter derived from the original F-15 Eagle air superiority jet. Built by Boeing (formerly McDonnell Douglas), it entered service in 1988 and is renowned for its twin Pratt & Whitney F100 engines, allowing speeds over Mach 2.5 and a combat radius exceeding 1,000 nautical miles with external tanks. The “E” model adds conformal fuel tanks, advanced radar and weapons systems for deep interdiction and close air support missions. Prior to Friday, the F-15 family had never been lost in air-to-air combat, a record that made the jet symbolically “undefeated” until this reported engagement.
2. First Confirmed U.S. Manned Aircraft Loss in the Current Conflict U.S. officials described the downing as the initial verified combat loss of a manned U.S. aircraft since Operation Epic Fury commenced in late February. Earlier Iranian claims of F-15 shootdowns near Hormuz Island in March were repeatedly denied by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which stated that more than 8,000 combat sorties had been flown without loss to Iranian fire. Friday’s incident changes that calculus, escalating the stakes in a war that has already involved widespread airstrikes on Iranian targets.
3. Iranian Claim vs. Initial Reporting Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and state media initially asserted they had downed a stealthy F-35 using advanced air defenses. Photos and video released by Iranian outlets, however, showed debris — including tail sections and fuselage components — matching the non-stealth F-15E configuration, according to CNN analysis and aviation experts. The discrepancy highlights ongoing information warfare, with Tehran seeking to portray a major technological victory.
4. Location and Mission Context The jet came down over Iranian territory, with some reports pointing to southwestern or central regions amid active U.S. strike operations. The F-15E was likely conducting a deep-strike or suppression-of-enemy-air-defenses mission when hit, possibly by a surface-to-air missile. Exact details remain classified, but the loss occurred during intensified operations against Iranian military and nuclear-related sites.
5. Crew Status: Partial Rescue Underway The F-15E carries a pilot and weapons systems officer (WSO). U.S. forces launched an urgent search-and-rescue effort involving UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and HC-130J Combat King II tankers, with footage circulating of low-level operations near or inside Iranian airspace. One crew member was rescued by American forces as of Friday afternoon, per CBS reports; the second remains missing, prompting continued operations and Iranian appeals for civilians to assist in a possible capture.
6. Iran’s Air Defense Systems in Play Iran credits its integrated air defense network, including Russian-supplied S-300 systems and domestically developed variants such as the Bavar-373, for the successful engagement. Whether the F-15E was struck by a long-range missile or shorter-range system has not been publicly detailed. The incident raises questions about the effectiveness of U.S. electronic warfare and stealth tactics against Iran’s layered defenses in a high-threat environment.
7. Broader Conflict Timeline The U.S.-Iran war escalated after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting Iranian facilities. Previous F-15E losses occurred in a friendly-fire incident over Kuwait in early March, when three Strike Eagles were mistakenly downed by allied defenses — all crews ejected safely. Friday’s event marks the first direct enemy-action loss inside Iran, shifting the narrative from operational mishaps to combat vulnerability.
8. Strategic and Symbolic Impact Losing an F-15E does not alter overall U.S. air superiority, given the large numbers deployed and advanced capabilities of accompanying F-22s, F-35s and support aircraft. However, it provides Iran with propaganda value and could embolden its proxies while forcing U.S. planners to reassess risk profiles for manned missions over heavily defended territory. Pentagon officials have not yet commented publicly on adjustments to tactics.
9. Human and Operational Costs Both crew members are trained in survival, evasion, resistance and escape (SERE) techniques. If the second airman remains in Iranian hands, the situation could evolve into a hostage crisis with significant diplomatic and political ramifications in Washington. Rescue operations themselves carry risk, as evidenced by videos showing U.S. helicopters operating in contested airspace. No fatalities have been reported, but the psychological toll on aircrews flying subsequent missions is expected to be notable.
10. Ongoing Information Battle and Geopolitical Ripple Effects The incident has ignited a fresh round of competing narratives. Iranian television broadcast images of wreckage and ejection seats while offering rewards for information on the crew. U.S. sources confirmed the loss but provided limited details, consistent with operational security during active conflict. The downing comes as global oil markets react nervously to threats against shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, and as allies monitor potential escalation involving other regional actors. Analysts warn that such losses could prolong the conflict or push both sides toward riskier decisions.

The F-15E’s loss underscores the dangers inherent in sustained air operations against a determined adversary equipped with modern air defenses. While the U.S. maintains overwhelming technological and numerical advantages in the theater, the event serves as a reminder that no platform is invulnerable.

As rescue efforts continue and investigations into the exact circumstances begin, the Pentagon and White House face mounting pressure to balance aggressive campaign objectives with force protection. Iranian claims of further successes will likely proliferate, requiring careful verification amid the fog of war.

Military experts note that the F-15E remains a highly capable platform with decades of upgrades, including the latest APG-82 radar and advanced targeting pods. Its downing does not signal a collapse of U.S. air dominance but highlights the need for continued adaptation in electronic attack, standoff weapons and unmanned systems to minimize future risks to pilots.

The incident also revives debate over the role of manned fighters versus stealthier, unmanned alternatives in peer-level conflicts. For now, however, the focus remains on recovering the missing crew member and supporting the family of those involved.

This developing story has implications far beyond the cockpit. With tensions high and diplomacy stalled, the loss of the F-15E could influence congressional oversight of the conflict, public opinion and long-term U.S. posture in the Middle East.

U.S. Central Command has not released an official statement detailing the cause or full circumstances as of early Saturday. Pentagon spokespeople declined immediate comment beyond confirming search-and-rescue activities.

As Easter weekend observances unfolded in the United States, the news added a somber note to an already volatile global landscape. Further updates are expected as more information emerges from the field and from official channels.