BP returned to profit in the second quarter, the British energy giant announced Tuesday, having posted a hefty loss one year earlier as the pandemic crushed oil prices.

Asian markets were mixed Tuesday and oil extended losses as the impact of the fast-spreading Delta coronavirus variant on the global recovery fuelled concerns the outlook might not be as rosy as initially hoped.

Shares of Tencent and other major Chinese gaming companies plummeted Tuesday after a state-run media article described online games as "spiritual opium", prompting the tech giant to consider a playing ban on children under 12 altogether.

Climate activists briefly blocked the entrances to the UBS and Credit Suisse headquarters in Zurich on Monday in protest against fossil fuel funding by Switzerland's two biggest banks.

The Israeli government agreed Monday on a state budget for the first time in three years after a political crisis that saw four general elections.

In a key test for the coalition government, the budget must be approved by parliament by November 4 and garner at least 61 votes in the 120-seat Knesset.

Tokyo stocks opened higher on Monday in cautious trade with investors eyeing corporate earnings due this week.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index was up 0.81 percent or 221.02 points at 27,504.61 in early trade, while the broader Topix index advanced 0.88 percent or 16.78 points to 1,917.86.

Asian markets mostly rose Monday but investor optimism over the global recovery was being kept in check by worries over the spread of the Delta Covid variant as well as China's regulatory crackdown.

Signs that US lawmakers were edging towards agreement on Joe Biden's $1 trillion infrastructure bill were unable to provide much of a boost, while eyes are on the release of US jobs data at the end of the week as firms struggle to fill positions despite unemployment remaining high.

Residents of the Austrian capital have queued for more than 130 years to sample the Italian ice cream of the Molin-Pradel family, one of Vienna's oldest gelato dynasties.

Workers at the world's biggest copper mine, Chile's Escondida, have approved a strike after rejecting the latest offer proposed by Anglo-Australian owners BHP. 

Millions of Americans could find themselves homeless starting Sunday when a nationwide ban on evictions expires, even as billions in government funds meant to help them go untapped.