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The new target, for economic growth of between 4.5% and 5%, was set at the annual “Two Sessions” meetings in Beijing
Kenya has revived construction on its multibillion-dollar Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) extension that stalled more than six years ago, replacing heavy sovereign debt with innovative financing after renegotiating its loans with China. According to Kenyan officials, the Chinese firm China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) and its subsidiary, China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), will build the railway’s two remaining sections at an estimated cost of US$5.4 billion. Kenyan President
Count Étienne Davignon is the only surviving member of the 10 Belgians accused of the 1961 killing
Consultancy begins overhaul of pricing and services in face of technology undercutting its business
The White House is considering lifting sanctions on Iranian oil that's at sea to keep oil prices down, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday. Why it matters: The administration is pulling out all the stops — even easing up an economic threat to its enemy in war — to keep down oil prices. The latest: The price of Brent crude, the global benchmark, spiked 10% in just the past 24 hours, driving increasing worries among investors. Brent is now around $111 per barrel — nearly 60% higher than pre-war levels. Zoom in: "In the coming days, we may unsanction the Iranian oil that's on the water," Bessent told Fox Business Thursday morning. He said that would make up about 140 million barrels — about 10 days to two weeks of supply."In essence, we'd be using the Iranian barrels against the Iranians to keep the price down for the next 10 or 14 days, as we continue this campaign. So, we have lots of levers." The big picture: The White House has been able for the past few weeks to contain prices with various assurances and policies — promising tanker escorts through the critical Strait of Hormuz, waiving the Jones Act, and temporarily lifting sanctions on Russian oil. Zoom out Lifting sanctions on Iranian oil would be a remarkable next step — as it was something Iranians were asking for in negotiations last year. The White House referred Axios' questions about Iranian sanctions to the Treasury Department, which didn't immediately respond to a request for comment or more details. The bottom line: The administration appears to be conceding something in war that it was unwilling to give in peace, says Nicholas Mulder, a sanctions expert and professor at Cornell University. "The U.S. has to dial back sanctions to offset the second order effect of war," he says. "It speaks to the instability of the situation."
DUBAI, March 23 (Reuters) - An attack on Iran's southern coast and islands will lead to Gulf routes being cut with the laying of sea mines, the country's Defence Council said on Monday according to state media. The U.S. is considering plans to occupy or blockade Iran's Kharg Island, the country's main oil export hub, to pressure Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to all shipping, according to Axios
Chinese exports surged 22% in the first two months of 2026 compared to the previous year
“This will be so, so, so, so, so bad,” one analyst says
The combat forces would come from a brigade of about 3,000 soldiers capable of deploying anywhere in the world within 18 hours
Senators Rand Paul and Markwayne Mullin during the latter's DHS confirmation hearing
Ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro is set to appear in a New York court on Thursday for the second time since his dramatic capture by US forces in January. Maduro faces multiple charges including drug trafficking and weapons offences, as his lawyers challenge legal and procedural obstacles amid US sanctions
The US-Israel strikes on Iran have sent energy prices soaring and upended global supply chains in a multi-front crisis