United States

Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State, said that the 'likelihood' of a peaceful, negotiated agreement between the United States, and Cuba, is not very high right now. Washington has been stepping up its pressure against Cuba's communist regime. Rubio stated that the United States prefer a negotiated solution. He told reporters, "That is still our preference." I'm being frank with you. The likelihood that this will happen, given who we are dealing with at the moment, is low. If they change their mind, we are here. In the meantime, we will continue to do what we have to." Donald Trump...

SpaceX released its IPO on Wednesday. It revealed to investors how much Elon Musk loses on?artificial Intelligence, while betting on the future of the company by transforming it into a rocket maker that is a powerhouse in AI. SpaceX's future depends on dominating markets and technologies that don't yet exist, from AI data centers to Mars missions. Musk's track record of turning Tesla into the world's most valuable automaker, developing the first reusable rocket and the largest satellite network and making it the most valuable company in the industry is enough for many to justify investing. Musk has tightened his...

The recovery process of PT Freeport Indonesia’s Grasberg copper and gold mine has taken longer than expected. However, the company anticipates that?operations will "approach" their full capacity by the end of 2027. In September of last year, seven workers died when 800,000 metric tonnes of wet material flooded Grasberg Block Cave. The Grasberg Complex is the second largest copper mine in the world and the largest gold mine. Global copper prices rose due to a disruption in production caused by the?mine. Freeport Indonesia CEO Tony Wenas stated in an interview with the company's headquarters in Jakarta that "we found out...

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called on allies on Tuesday to disrupt Iran's.financing network and said that the Treasury would clear its outdated sanctions list to.make it easier for the financial institutions to.root out the most sophisticated terrorist funding schemes. Bessent said that after the G7 finance leaders met at Paris, participants in an anti-terrorism funding conference should "stand in full measure with us" against Iran. Bessent stated that "this will require our European partners, for example to join the United States by taking action against Iran, including by designating its financiers and unmasking their shell and front company, closing its...

Sanjay Khanna, the chairman of India's Bharat Oil Corp. said that it is recalibrating its crude import strategy nearly daily and increasing?spot purchase after the U.S./Israeli conflict in Middle East disrupted Middle East supply. India, which is the third largest?oil?importer and?consumer in the world, has been affected by the rising crude prices as well as supply disruptions after the Strait of Hormuz was closed. South Asian nation raised retail petrol and diesel prices twice in one week. The refiner planned to purchase about 55% of its crude requirements for 2026/27 via annual contracts, mostly from Middle Eastern producers. Khanna stated...

A top government minister announced on Tuesday that Italy would extend a 'cut in fuel excise duty due to expire May 22 as part of efforts to curb the soaring energy prices caused by the Middle East conflict. Matteo Salvini, Deputy Prime minister and Transport & Infrastructure Minister, said during an interview with RTL 102.5 that "we will definitely have to extend the excise reduction." It has spent about?1 billion Euros ($1.16 billion), so far, to reduce?excise duty on?petrol or diesel pump prices. The measure was first introduced in March, and then extended for the first time in late April....

The U.S. Department of Energy reported on Monday that a'record 9.9 millions barrels of oil were shipped from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in the United States last week. This pushed the total volume of the U.S. Government's emergency stockpile to 374 million barils, the lowest level since July 2024. The Trump administration wants to?release 172 million barrels of oil from the reserve, as?part a global deal to calm down the oil markets after prices?spiked due to the U.S. and Israel's war with Iran which began almost three months ago. In April, the?Energy Department offered approximately?92.5 millions barrels of?sweet crudes and...

Santos, Australia’s No.2 oil &?gas producer said on Monday that it had?reached first oil in its Pikka project, located in Alaska, U.S.A. Shares of the Adelaide-headquartered company rose as much as 3.1% to A$8.12, their highest ?since April 13, while the broader S&P/ASX 200 benchmark index ?was down 1.4% by 0450 GMT. Stocks of the Adelaide-based company rose as much as 3.1% to A$8.12, their highest level?since April 13, while the broader S&P/ASX 200 benchmark index?was down 1.4% by 0450 GMT. Craig Sidney is a senior investment advisor at Shaw and Partners. He said, "This announcement is positive in light...

S&P, the credit rating agency, upgraded Nigeria's long term sovereign rating from "B-" to "B" on Friday citing improved creditworthiness. The agency stated that higher oil prices and production, an increase in domestic refining capacity, and the decision to liberalize exchange rates by 2023 will boost Nigeria's economy and improve the balance of payments. It also revised Nigeria's outlook from "positive" to "stable". The World Bank said in April that it expected Nigeria's economic growth to be about 4.2% in 2026, despite the Iran War, and encouraged authorities to conserve windfalls from higher oil prices, to maintain a tight monetary...

U.S. refiners have finally started to make money from renewable fuels. They had been squeezed for years by government mandates on biofuels. The U.S. and Israeli 'war on Iran' has also led to a rise in diesel prices. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandated in late March that refiners mix record volumes of biofuels into gasoline and diesel for this year and the next. The plan calls for a 60% increase of the use of renewable diesel and biodiesel, as well as a requirement that gasoline be mixed with 15 billion gallons ethanol each year. These mandates have forced...

Energy Minister said that Serbia will present its final offer to MOL, the Hungarian oil company, on Friday, in response to the Hungarian bid for NIS, the operator of the Balkan nation’s only refinery. Gazprom and Gazprom, two Russian companies, agreed in January to sell their 56% stake in NIS majority to MOL after the U.S. demanded that Russian shares be divested due to sanctions imposed by the U.S. over Moscow's involvement in the war in Ukraine. We had intensive discussions yesterday and the previous day with representatives of MOL. "We agreed on certain topics," Energy Minister Dubravka Handanovic, was...

Serbia's energy minister said that it will present its final proposal to MOL on Friday regarding the Hungarian company's bid for NIS to be acquired by MOL, the operator of the Balkan nation’s only refinery. Gazprom and?Neft, two Russian companies, agreed in January to sell their 56% stake in NIS majority to MOL after the U.S. demanded that Russian shares be divested due to sanctions imposed by the U.S. over Moscow's involvement in the war in Ukraine. Washington has given MOL and the Russian companies until May 22 for the sale to be completed. This will require the Serbian government's...

Scientists from the U.S. Government said on Thursday that they anticipate a tropical storm season below normal in 2026. This will likely produce one to three hurricanes, with winds sustained at least 111 mph (179 kph). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has released its outlook for the coming season. It begins on June 1 and ends November 30. The forecasters predicted that eight to fourteen named tropical storms will form with winds at least 39mph. Three to six hurricanes, with winds at least 74mph, are likely to follow. Ken Graham, a director of the U.S. National Weather Service, said:...

Captain Chris Welch, of Kennebunk in Maine, has caught fewer lobsters than usual this spring due to the rising diesel prices. To conserve fuel, he checks and re-baits his traps once every seven to ten days. Welch, after fueling his vessel Quality Time on a rainy morning at Kennebunk's Harbor, said, "It reduces your profitability." "We have to pay more attention to the bottom line." Welch, a U.S. fisherman, is "one" of many around the globe whose boats spend more time docked this spring due to soaring fuel prices, driven by the U.S./Israeli war against Iran. This has compromised their...

Russia announced?on Thursday it would provide active support to Cuba, despite efforts by the United States to 'intimidate' and tighten "sanctions" around the Communist island nation. The United States announced a murder charge against former president Raul Castro, Wednesday. This is a major escalation of Washington's war against Cuba. Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, told reporters that "we will continue to provide the most active support to a fraternal Cuban population during this extremely challenging period." "We reaffirm that we are fully united with Cuba. We condemn any attempts to grossly interfere in the internal affairs a...

The price of oil fell on Wednesday, after U.S. president Donald Trump re-assured that the war with Iran would 'end very quickly'. However, investors are still unsure about the outcome of the peace talks due to the continued disruptions in Middle East supply caused by the conflict. Brent crude oil futures dropped 45 cents or 0.4% to $110.83 a bar by 0050 GMT. U.S. West Texas intermediate futures were also down 27 cents or 0.3% to $103.88. The benchmarks both fell by nearly $1 after U.S. vice president JD Vance stated that the U.S. had made progress with Iran in...

Bharat Petroleum Corporation, India's state refiner. Sanjay Khanna, the chairman of Bharat Petroleum?Corp. said on Tuesday that it is recalibrating their crude import strategy nearly daily and ramping up its spot purchases following the U.S./Israeli conflict against Iran which disrupted Middle East supplies. India, which is the third-largest oil importer and consumer in the world, has been affected by the rising prices of crude and the disruption of supply following the closing of the Strait of Hormuz. South Asian nation raised retail petrol and diesel prices twice in one week. BPCL planned to procure about 55% its crude requirements?for 2026/27...

There is a cooking gas shortage in India. Californian motorists pay $6 per gallon for gasoline. Both are symptoms of the biggest ever disruption in energy supply. The two are directly related and show the impact of the U.S./Israeli war on Iran. The near-closure of 'Strait of Hormuz by Iran has caused global oil trade to be in chaos, and cut importers off from?around a fifth of global oil supplies that crossed the waterway prior to the war. Oil buyers have been forced to burn down their stockpiles to deal with the global fuel shortage. The pain is being spread...

Prices of gasoline and diesel at the pumps in 'Cuba almost doubled on Friday. However, filling stations that were 'open to the public' in the capital remained largely closed due to a U.S. oil blockade which has stifled?supply. The Ministry of Finance and Prices announced earlier this week that the new pricing system would be revealed on Friday. It said the update was needed to reflect "actual" import costs of gas and diesel. Some Havana gas stations have posted signs indicating that premium gasoline is now $2.00 per liter, up from the previous $1.30. Diesel went up to $2.00 per...

Oil prices increased on Thursday, as traders remained focused on the Iran war and investors awaited a?meeting?between U.S. president Donald Trump and Chinese president Xi Jinping. Brent crude futures rose 13 cents or 0.12% to $105.76 a barrel by 0015 GMT. U.S. West Texas intermediate futures also gained 12 cents or 0.12% to $101.14. Investors were worried about possible interest rate increases in the United States, which led to a decline of both benchmark oil contracts on Wednesday. Brent crude futures dropped?more that $2 per barrel while WTI futures declined more than $1. Trump landed 'on Wednesday night in Beijing...

Wall Street's major equity indexes fell on Tuesday, and the dollar rose as U.S. inflation increased and oil gained for the third consecutive day. Hopes for a Middle East Peace Deal to allow ships through?the Strait of Hormuz faded. In April, U.S. Consumer Prices (CPI), rose sharply for the second consecutive month. This resulted in the largest increase in annual?inflation? in nearly three years. It boosted expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates the same for some time. Oil prices have risen due to the U.S. War on Iran. This has led to higher gasoline, jet fuel and...

A senior Pentagon official stated on Tuesday that the United States war in Iran has cost $29 billion so far, which is an increase of $4 million from an estimate given late last month. The Democrats have been able to gain a lot of ground in the public opinion polls, as they try to tie the war to cost of living issues. The Pentagon announced on April 29 that the war had already cost $25 billion. Jules Hurst who performs the duties of comptroller told lawmakers that the new costs included updated repair and replacing equipment?and operational expenses. Hurst stated...

Consumer prices in the United States?rose rapidly for a second consecutive month in April. This resulted in?the largest annual increase in inflation for nearly three years, and further reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates at their current level for some time. The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Labor Department reported on Tuesday that the Consumer Price Index rose 0.6% in April after a 0.9% increase in March. The economists polled had predicted the CPI to rise 0.6%. Estimates varied from a gain of?0.4% to 0.9%. Moderation was largely mechanical after the biggest increase since June...

The ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz may not seem to have much in common with the Indian diet cola consumers, but both are at risk. The world economy will be affected by the second and third round effects of the closure. This is because the price of refined fuels like gasoline and diesel has already increased. Electric vehicles (EVs), which allow drivers to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels, are widely considered one of the biggest winners in the current conflict between Iran and the United States. But EVs have a direct connection to the Strait of Hormuz,...