Latest News
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Foreign Minister says China is ready to work with Russia to reduce tensions in the Middle East
In a Sunday phone call, Foreign Minister Wang Yi informed his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov that China was 'willing to continue cooperating with Russia at the U.N. Security Council' and to make efforts to "cool down" the Middle East situation. Wang stated that the best way to resolve navigational issues in the Strait of Hormuz was to achieve a cessation of fire as soon as possible. He added that China has always favored a political resolution of hot-spot?issues by dialogue and negotiation. The call was made ahead of next week's U.N. Security Council voting on a Bahraini Resolution to protect commercial shipping around and in the Strait of Hormuz. According to a ministry statement, Wang said that as permanent UNSC members, China and Russia should "adopt a balanced and objective approach" and work to gain greater support and understanding from the international community. In a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry, it was stated that the ministers had discussed how to "achieve a rapid cessation of hostilities" and "launch a diplomatic-political dialogue." It said that "satisfaction" was expressed by the coincidence of Russia and China's 'approaches' on many global issues, including the'situation' around Iran, relating to the unprovoked attack by the U.S. China has repeatedly called on a ceasefire in the Gulf and Middle East region, calling for an end to fighting that has lasted for more than a month, and has largely closed the Strait of Hormuz - a vital shipping artery for gas and oil. Reporting by Shi Bu, Ryan Woo and Mark Porter; Editing Hugh Lawson.
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Phillies Taijuan Walk shoots for Rockies road sweep
The Philadelphia Phillies began their first road trip this season with two impressive victories over the Colorado Rockies. The Phillies will try to complete the sweep on Sunday when they finish the three-game series. Philadelphia, who won 2-1 on Saturday night, will match up Taijuan Walker (0-0, 11.57 ERA), against Colorado's Tomoyuki Sugano (00-0, 1.93 ERA), in a matchup of right-handers. Walker had a tough start for the Phillies in his first game of the year, giving up seven hits on ten in four and a half innings on Monday against Washington. He can improve against the Rockies. Walker is 5-1 in 10 career starts against Colorado with a 2.36 ERA. In 2025, he went 2-0 and had a 2.45 ERA over two appearances against the Rockies. Walker can build on the Phillies' first two starts this weekend. Aaron Nola, Jesus Luzardo and their combined teams struck out 20 batters in each of their respective appearances. Nola was able to benefit from a strong run support during a 10-1 victory on Friday, but Philadelphia only scored two runs Saturday night. The Phillies offense has struggled, except for the 10 runs they scored on Friday. Bryce Harper stated that seasons can sometimes be like this. Some guys have great first months, but then have a horrible rest of the season. They can have a bad month, but then win MVP. You play the entire season because you want to. You shouldn't place too much emphasis on the first few games. You play your own game. It's important to remember that the season is long and it's worth playing all of it. Philadelphia will face a pitcher that it has not faced before. Sugano made a good debut for Colorado on Monday, when the Rockies thrashed Toronto 14-5. Sugano allowed only one run on just two hits, but a high pitch count kept him from going beyond 4 2/3 innings. Colorado signed Sugano (?36) to shore up its rotation, which struggled in 2025. The Rockies' pitching has improved this year, but, like the Phillies, their offense has been a struggle. Colorado has scored 5 runs in its last 4 games. The Rockies scored 15 goals in their Friday home opener and another 13 on Saturday night. This has played a role in the Rockies' 1-4 start in games with one run. After the 2-1 defeat, Warren Schaeffer stated that the "big thing" with Saturday's strikeout was we missed too many pitch in the zone and early in the count. "You can't chase late and miss pitches early, it's a bad combination." Despite the strikeout problems, there have been some positives. Ezequiel Torvar, a rookie, has a.294 average after he went 1-for-4 on Saturday. Troy Johnston is batting.333 and has one of Colorado's first eight home runs. Field Level Media
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Kuwait Petroleum Corp. reports damage to units following Iran drone attacks
On?Sunday?, Iranian drone attacks hit multiple targets in Kuwait. State?energy company Kuwait Petroleum Corporation reported fires and "severe damage" to some units. KPC stated in a press release that teams are working to contain fires at National Petroleum Company and Petrochemical Industries Company affiliates. KPC said earlier that a drone had attacked the complex housing the KPC headquarters and oil ministry in Shuwaikh. Kuwaiti state media, citing Kuwait's finance ministry, reported that an Iranian drone had allegedly 'hit an office complex of government ministries, inflicting significant material damage, but no injuries. Kuwait's Ministry of Electricity and Water said that two power-generating units were taken out after Iranian drones attacked two desalination and power plants. The damage was significant. In all incidents, no injuries have been reported. The U.S. and Israeli 'war on Iran' is now in its sixth weeks, with Tehran attacking Israel and Gulf Arab states that host U.S. military bases. Iran's Revolutionary Guards have claimed responsibility for the attacks on Kuwaiti petrochemical facilities, as well as those in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
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PMI data shows that Saudi Arabia's non oil business activity shrank in March amid conflict.
A 'business survey' revealed that Saudi Arabian non-oil sector activity fell in March for the first time since August 20. The war in the Middle East had slowed down supply chains. S&P Global's?seasonally-adjusted Riyad Bank Saudi Arabia Purchasing managers' Index (PMI) fell to 48.8 from 56.1 in Feb. The readings below 50 indicate contraction. Naif Al Ghaith is the chief economist at Riyad Bank. He said that the drop into contraction was largely due to short-term uncertainties linked with the geopolitical tensions of the region. "The soft reading was mainly?driven by a pause in the new orders, as clients adopted more caution." Export orders experienced a notable drop, and some firms reported a temporary slowdown of cross-border activities. This led to a moderated output, Al-Ghaith explained. For the first time, both output and new orders have declined since August 2020, when the COVID-19 epidemic brought economies to a grinding halt. New orders dropped to 45.2 in March, down from 61.8 in February. Export demand was weakening sharply. New export orders posted their steepest drop?in nearly six years. Exports were 'completely stopped' by some firms, while others experienced greater logistical problems. The conflict has slowed the flow of water through the Strait of Hormuz, but the supply strains have increased. This situation may continue as long as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively blocked. Business expectations for the coming 12 months remain 'positive' despite a 'weakening of their lowest level since June 2020. Some firms are still confident about government spending, the development of infrastructure and the improvement in demand on the long term. (Reporting and Editing by Hugh Lawson).
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South Korea asks Gulf Nations for a steady supply of energy and safety of Korean vessels
The South Korean Ministry of Finance announced that Koo 'Yun-cheol, Minister of Finance, met with envoys of Gulf countries on Sunday to discuss energy security and the safety of 'Korean vessels near the Strait of Hormuz. This is due to the escalating Iran conflict disrupting shipping. The ministry said that during the Friday meeting, Koo requested the ambassadors of the Gulf Cooperation Council to ensure a constant supply of oil, liquefied gas, naphtha and urea as well as other critical resources. He also asked them to ensure the safety and security for Korean vessels and crews near this vital strait. The statement stated that the envoys referred to South Korea as a nation of "top priority". They also pledged to work closely with Seoul in order to maintain a stable supply. Like many Asian economies, South Korea relies heavily upon energy imports. This includes through the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz was the conduit for 20% of 'world oil' before Israel and the U.S. launched their war on the 28th of February. Since then, Iran has effectively closed the waterway. This has pushed up energy prices and raised fears of a global recession. Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait and Oman are the six GCC member states. Reporting by Cynthia Kim, Editing by William Mallard
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Egypt increases electricity prices for households and businesses that use more energy amid energy crisis
The electricity ministry announced on Saturday that Egypt will raise electricity prices for residential and commercial consumers who use more electricity. This increase is due to a global energy crisis caused by the Gulf War. The government has taken a number of measures to reduce energy consumption and curb fiscal pressures as rising import costs put pressure on the finances of the most populous Arab country. The ministry stated that the increase would only affect households with higher consumption and commercial users. This was done to ensure the supply of electricity across residential, industrial and commercial sectors. The report said that electricity rates for residential bands up to 2,000 kilowatt hours per month would remain the same, but tariffs for higher residential brackets will increase by an average 16%. It added that commercial electricity prices in all brackets will increase on average by about 20%. In March, Prime Minister Mostafa. Madbouly stated that Egypt's energy import bills had more than doubled in the last few years since the start of the conflict involving the United States and Israel. This forced the government to increase fuel prices, raise fares for public transportation, and slow down some state projects, to relieve pressure on the public finances. Egypt implemented measures to rationalise its energy consumption in March, including a move towards earlier closing times for commercial venues. This was due to the rise of global oil prices during the conflict. Inflation has been in double digits since September 2023, when it peaked at 38%. The country is already struggling with heavy debts. Reporting by Momen Atallah and Enas Alashray
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Slovak PM: EU should lift sanctions on Russian oil, gas and other energy sources to improve energy security
Robert Fico, the Slovakian Prime Minister, said that the European Union must end sanctions on Russian oil and gas imports and take steps to restore Druzhba pipeline flows, as well as end the conflict in Ukraine, in order to tackle the energy crisis stemming from the war with Iran. Fico stated in a press release after a phone call with Hungarian Premier Viktor Orban, that the EU should re-establish dialogue with Russia to ensure member states get gas and oil from all sources including Russia. Hungary and Slovakia are the only two EU countries that maintain relations with Moscow. Oil prices have risen?since U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran began on February 28, causing a disruption to oil supplies in the Gulf and causing what the International Energy Agency calls the largest oil supply interruption in history. Central European nations have taken steps to reduce the impact of high fuel prices on consumers and businesses. By the end of 2025, only a fraction of EU oil imports came from Russia. This was after a steep decline in imports following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. By January 27, Kyiv reported that a Russian drone attack had hit Ukrainian pipeline equipment, disrupting Russian oil?shipments. Budapest and Bratislava accuse Ukraine of intentionally delaying repairs in order to resume oil flow through the Druzhba pipe. This has triggered a political dispute which?has seen Hungary blocking an EU loan for Kyiv. Ukraine claims it is repairing it as fast as possible. Fico stated that it is not enough to address the energy crisis at the national or only local level. Five other European Union countries are also calling for a windfall profit tax on energy companies in response to rising fuel prices. This was revealed by a letter sent to the EU Commission on Saturday. The energy chief of the bloc said on Tuesday that it was considering reinstating energy crisis measures from 2022. This included proposals to reduce grid tariffs and electricity taxes.
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Taiwan has received assurances from a'major country' about LNG supplies
Taiwan's economy minister announced on Saturday that the energy minister of a "major country" producing liquefied gas had given Taiwan assurances about supply. He was speaking in relation to the?impact of the Iran War on Middle East energy imports. Taiwan, which is a major producer of semiconductors, relied on Qatar to supply around a third its LNG prior to the conflict. It has now said that it has secured alternative supplies from countries such as Australia and the United States for the months ahead. Kung Ming Hsin, Taiwan's Economy Minister, told reporters in Taipei that Taiwan enjoys good relations with its?crude gas and natural oil suppliers. Therefore, adjusting the origin of shipments or purchasing additional spot -cargoes will not be a problem. Kung stated that the energy minister from a "major energy producing country" had contacted him about two weeks prior. The person "explained that they would fully support our natural gas needs. He added that if we had any requests, we could let them know. Kung added: "Another nation even stated that certain countries had released strategic petroleum reserves and could help coordinate the matter if Taiwan needed assistance." He said, "This shows Taiwan has earned considerable international goodwill through the long-term confidence it has built." He refused to identify the countries involved. Angela Lin, spokesperson of state-owned refiner CPC said that at the same?newsconference, crude oil inventories are being maintained at levels prior to conflict and that overall petrochemical supply has remained stable. CPC Chairman Fang Jeng Zen said that a new agreement with the U.S. would see 1.2 millions metric tons of LNG delivered?annually. He added that Taiwan does not intend to import crude oil or LNG from Russia. (Reporting and editing by Ben Blanchard, Roger Tung and Joe Bavier).
What is in the Republican tax plan and spending plan
The Republican-led House of Representatives passed a comprehensive budget package which would meet many of the priorities of President Donald Trump. Next, the Republican-led Senate will take up the package with likely significant changes.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has summarized the main elements of this package. According to them, the deficit would increase by $3.8 trillion over a period of 10 years. The estimates of CBO and Joint Committee on Taxation for some elements below are likely to be revised in the coming weeks.
Tax Breaks and Tax Cuts
(Cost: $2.2 trillion) Makes permanent lower income tax rates that were set to expire in Trump's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. (Cost: $2.2 trillion)
Increases the alternative minimum tax exemption. (Cost: $1.4 trillion)
(Cost: $1.3 trillion) Increases the standard deduction by $1,000 up to $1,500. (Cost: $1.3 trillion)
Increases the tax breaks for "pass-through businesses" such as LLCs and sole proprietorships. (Cost: $809 billion)
Increases the Child Tax Credit from $1,000 to $2,500 until 2029 and then keeps it at $2,000, indexes to inflation. (Cost: $797 billion)
Raising the exemption for estate taxes from $14 to $15 million. (Cost: $212 billion)
Extends tax benefits for multinational corporations. (Cost: $174 billion)
Tax exemptions on overtime pay through 2029. (Cost: $124 billion)
Creates new $4,000 deductions for seniors. (Cost: $72 billion)
Tax exemptions on interest payments for loans to domestic autos up until 2029. (Cost: $58 billion)
Tax exemptions on certain tipped income until the year 2029. (Cost: $40 billion)
Contributions to private school scholarship funds are exempt up to $5,000. (Cost: $20.4 billion)
Parents can contribute up to $5k tax-free per year to a "Trump Account" that will be used to pay for their child's education and other expenses when they become adults. (Cost: $17.2 billion)
Taxpayers can now deduct up $40,000 in state and local taxes (SALT), up from the current $10,000. Benefits will gradually be phased out for households earning more than $500,000. (Cost not known at this time)
SAVINGS AND NEW REVENUES
Extended 2017 deadline for the elimination of personal exemption deduction. (Savings: $1.9 trillion)
Tax breaks for green energy, electric vehicles and clean electricity are eliminated. Savings are unknown at this time.
Restriction of health benefits for certain immigrants. (Savings: $117 billion)
Increases eligibility requirements for Affordable Care Act Exchange coverage. (Savings: $82 billion)
Taxes on private university endowments are raised from 1.4% up to 21%. (New revenue: $22.6 billion)
Imposes a new tax of 5% on money sent home by immigrants. (New revenue of $22,2 billion) Removes firearm silencers from the national registry and eliminates taxes on their sales. (Cost: $1.4 billion)
Tax on firearms manufacturers is eliminated
Gives the government the power to end the tax-exempt status of "terrorist-supporting organizations."
Total cost of tax reductions: $5.6 TRILLION
MEDICAID
Adults who are able-bodied and do not have dependents must work, volunteer, or attend school for at least 80 hours per month beginning in 2027.
The verification process is strengthened to ensure that participants and healthcare providers can participate. Rules that facilitate enrollment are removed.
The program excludes non-citizens and penalizes the states who use their own money to cover illegal immigrants.
The regulations that require minimum staffing in nursing homes and long-term care facilities have been blocked.
Funding for gender-transition therapies for minors is prohibited.
Prohibit payments to large providers such as Planned Parenthood who specialize in birth control and reproductive health services.
Limit state taxes on providers used to raise federal contribution.
Total savings: $715 Billion. Enrollment will drop at least 7.7 millions people from the current level of 71,000,000 people.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT COMMUNICATIONS
Cancels funding of green-energy grant programmes in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. This includes vehicle manufacturing, home energy upgrades, electricity transmission and wind power.
Encourages pipelines, exports of natural gas and exploration.
Rejecting grant programs for electric heavy-duty vehicle purchases
Rejecting grants for reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Rejecting fuel efficiency standards for cars and pickup trucks
More electromagnetic spectrum bands available for communication.
The law prohibits the states from regulating artificial Intelligence.
Total savings: $197 Billion
HOMELAND SECURITY
Cost of border wall construction: $46.5 billion
Cost: $6.3 billion for surveillance towers, drones, and border-security equipment
Cost: $6.2 billion. Increase the number of staff at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Cost: 46,400 employees to 55,000).
Cost: $300 Million)
Reimburse the states for border security costs. ($12 billion)
Total cost: $79 Billion
IMMIGRATION & JUSTICE
Imposes new fees up to $5,000 on immigrants' work permits and court hearings.
The funding will be used to hire 10,000 additional immigration enforcement officers and fund 1 million deportations.
Additional funds are provided to government agencies for the investigation of visa fraud, criminal background checks, DNA testing and supervision of unaccompanied children.
The federal courts are prohibited from issuing contempt citations against the government for injunctions and temporary restraining order.
Total savings of $110 billion
MILITARY
Spending on shipbuilding to increase (Cost: 32 billion dollars)
Air and missile defence (Cost: 24 billion dollars)
Munitions (Cost : $19.5 billion).
Nuclear weapons (Cost : $12.6 billion).
Cost: $5 billion
Total cost: $144 Billion
FOOD ASSISTANCE
Some of the 41 millions participants in the SNAP program will have to work more hours
In 2028, the federal government will begin to shift some costs to the states.
Savings of $230 billion
EDUCATION
Changes to student loan repayment plans: Savings of $295 billion
Limits on borrowing for certain student loan programs
Restrictions on eligibility for Pell Grants
Limits on the government's cancellation of student debt (Savings : $32 billion).
Total savings: $349 Billion (Reporting and editing by Andy Sullivan, Bill Berkrot Alistair Bell, Andrea Ricci, Scott Malone)
(source: Reuters)