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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).
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Five EU Finance Ministers Call for Tax on Windfall Profits of Energy Companies
In response to fuel prices rising due to the Iran War, five?European Union Finance Ministers have called for a tax to be placed on the 'windfall profits' of energy companies. This was revealed in a letter sent to the EU Commission on Saturday. In a joint letter dated on Friday, the finance ministers from Germany, Italy Spain Portugal and Austria called for such a move, stating that it would "signal" to others that they are united and capable of taking action. They wrote: "It will also send a message that those who benefit from the war's consequences must do their part in easing the burden of?the public." Since the U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran began on 28 February, oil and gas prices have risen dramatically. This is similar to the energy crises Europe experienced after Russia invaded Ukraine - in '2022 - despite the fact that EU countries are now getting more of their energy from renewable sources. LETTER HIGHLIGHTS 'MARKET DISTORTIONS' In a letter addressed to EU Climate commissioner Wopke Hekstra, the Ministers referred to the possibility of a similar tax to be implemented in 2022 as a way to combat high energy prices. They wrote: "Given current market distortions, and fiscal constraints the European Commission must develop quickly a similar EU wide contribution instrument based on a sound legal basis." The letter did not specify the level of windfall taxes that ministers would propose, nor which companies should be affected. The energy chief of the bloc said on Tuesday that it is considering reviving measures taken in response to the energy crisis in 2022. This includes proposals to "curb grid rates" and taxes on electricity. After Russia cut off gas deliveries, the EU implemented a series of emergency policies. These included a?EU-wide gas price cap, a tax imposed on windfall profits of energy companies, and targets to?reduce gas demand. The Middle East conflict has a significant impact on the global energy prices. Since the U.S. and Israel war against?Iran started on February 28, European gas prices have risen'more than 70%. Dan Jorgensen, EU Energy Commissioner, said that Brussels is particularly worried about the supply of refined petroleum in Europe such as diesel and jet fuel. Reporting by Andreas Rinke, Writing by Tom Sims, Editing by Alison Williams
As production increases, Simandou's mega-mine in Guinea is being overshadowed by mass layoffs
Guinea's Simandou Mega Mining Project, promoted by the government's military as a symbol for the country's transformation in terms of economics, is now laying off tens of thousands of workers as it finally begins to export iron ore, after years of delays and scandals.
Simandou, the first election since the 2021 military coup that brought Mamady to power, was launched in November with pomp and?a public holiday.
Political analysts believe that the junta's leader will be the favorite to win and could stay in power for seven more years.
Guinea, even without Simandou - the largest untapped iron ore reserve in the world - is the biggest exporter of aluminium bauxite. Its mining wealth, however, has not improved the lives of many people.
World Bank data from 2025 revealed that more than half of the population lives in poverty.
We interviewed 12 workers, former employees and senior sources from the company. They asked not to be identified because the matter was sensitive. They said that the process of firing thousands of employees had already begun.
Simandou's plans to produce 120 million metric tonnes of iron ore per year, or 7% of the global demand, is a disappointment for all those who had hoped that their lives would improve in the long run.
EMPLOYMENT RISES TO MORE THAN 60 000
Companies and government sources said that the number of jobs created by Simandou would peak at over 60,000 in 2024-2025. This was because contractors were racing to meet the deadlines set forth by Guinea's ruling military to speed up iron ore exports, which had been delayed for nearly 30 years.
The mines, ports and 670 km (416 miles) of railway, which was built specifically to facilitate exports from this landlocked project, will require less than 15,000.
Two consortia are involved in the project - the Winning Consortium Simandou (WCS), which is mainly composed of Chinese companies, and Rio Tinto.
The way that the work is organised, the reduction in the workforce is extreme.
The executive said that the project was "simultaneous spread", meaning all sections were built simultaneously, and the construction workforce was boosted to the peak. "Then, everything finishes, so the whole thing falls off the cliff."
WCS, who manages the majority of the rail via more than 12 subcontractors did not respond when asked for comments on its workforce.
Rio Tinto is responsible for two mine blocks and 78 km of rail that connects them to the main railway network. It also manages the transshipment facilities in the new port located on the Atlantic coast of Guinea. It has employed around 25,000 people, 82% of whom are Guineans, during the construction phase.
A spokesperson for Rio Tinto stated that the Simfer project would require "a workforce of approximately 6,000 people to work at a terminal for transshipment vessels at the port and in the mine." The mine construction and rail construction are scheduled to be finished next year. Work at the port is expected to continue until 2027.
Chris Aitchison said that he was concerned about the risks posed by sudden job loss, also known as demobilisation in the industry.
It's what's coming next? He said. He said.
In similar projects, like Mongolia's Oyu Tolgoi Copper Mine, former mining workers had more job options.
Risk of Social Unrest and Accidents
Sources in the workforce said that job cuts had already begun. In Dantilia (a hub near the border with Sierra Leone) 8,000 out of 10,000 workers lost their jobs in the past three months. The remaining 2,000 workers have been informed that their jobs are going to end in the next few months.
The workers in Kamara, which is part of the same district said that around 1,500 workers had already been fired.
"We're waiting in hope, but they don't yet have any solutions and haven't made any promises," said a Winning Consortium Simandou pick-up driver, who asked not to be identified. "There's no other job."
According to three Western companies, there is growing concern that a reduction in staffing may increase the risk of accidents and social unrest.
They were concerned about possible community protests, which could take the form of blockades on the Simandou Railway, where trains had already killed cattle and angered local residents who depended on their livestock.
Sources at the company said that risk assessments conducted by consortia over the past six months highlighted the areas where people or animals could wander onto tracks and derail them, leading to the construction of fences, which the original design had not provided for.
Reports in March stated that 12 workers died as a result of accidents while working on the railway project at Simandou between June 2023 to November 2024. At least five locals were also killed in traffic accidents caused by vehicles used for the construction.
Rio Tinto reported five more worker deaths.
Bouna Sylla, the Minister of Mines, said that the government is strict with partners regarding safety and environmental protection.
GOVERNMENT PROMISES FOR FUTURE WORK
The impact of job losses is magnified by Guinea's narrow skill base and lack of income buffers.
Sylla, who spoke to the media days before Simandou's launch on 11 November, acknowledged that the layoffs will be painful.
Sylla stated that it is not easy to lose a job after earning a good salary and waking up every morning for work. He described the government's plans for new infrastructure, such as roads, refineries, and power plants. However, he didn't give a time frame.
The official launch of the new export terminal at Morebaya, on Guinea's Atlantic Coast, was full of energy, featuring brass bands, honor guards, traditional dancing and visiting dignitaries. Doumbouya, wearing a white Guinean Boubou tunic, watched from the sidelines.
Guinea's military-led government is promoting "Simandou 2020" as a 15 year strategy for transforming the country into an economy based on investments in agriculture, transportation, technology, finance, and health.
The government owns a 15% stake and has estimated that the cost of the plan will be $200 billion. This would be partially funded by mining revenue, but the majority should come from private capital.
Sylla stated that the Administration et Controle des Grands Projets, Guinea's infrastructure agency was currently working on feasibility analyses. Two sources confirmed that the government had also commissioned KPMG to produce a report on reemployment programmes. The report will be released after the elections.
KPMG declined to comment on a request. The agency for infrastructure said that the plans include 3,000 km of new highways, which will be built over 15 years.
The Long Wait for Prosperity
Nearly 30 years after Rio began exploring the deposit, there is still no answer to the question whether Simandou will bring prosperity to most of Guinea.
In its May publication "Selected Issues" on Guinea's Economy, the IMF published a paper entitled "Guinea's Economy: A Selective Issues Paper". The macroeconomic effects Simandou will have on 2024 were modelled.
The report found that it could increase the real GDP of the country by 26% by 2030. However, it said that the reduction in poverty would be minimal - only 0.6 percentage points - without policies to manage the change.
It said that the project's effect on increasing the number skilled workers "could even worsen inequality, particularly in rural areas." Clara Denina, Maxwell Adombila Akalaare and Barbara Lewis contributed to the report.
(source: Reuters)