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This week, the UK and France will co-host a discussion on a possible defensive naval mission against Hormuz
Britain and France are co-hosting talks this week to restore 'freedom of Navigation in the Strait of 'Hormuz. The aim of the talks is to bring Britain, France, and other countries that are willing to join an international?mission to restore freedom of navigation to the Strait. Macron stated in a X post that "this?strictly offensive mission" will be separated from warring parties and deployed as soon the situation permits. The tensions in the Gulf have intensified since the United States announced it would blockade maritime traffic into and out of Iranian ports. Iran, on the other hand, has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, which carries a fifth or the world's total oil consumption. Keir Starmer, British Prime Minister, said that the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz is a major problem for global shipping and adds to the cost of living pressures. Starmer wrote on X that "This week, the 'UK and 'France will host a summit in order to advance the work on a coordinated independent multinational?plan for safeguarding international shipping after the conflict reaches an end." Britain had previously invited representatives from more than 40 countries who shared the goal of restoring freedom to navigate. The United States did not participate in these talks. (Reporting from Sam Tabahriti and Dominique Vidalon, Paris; editing by Sudip K. Gupta).
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Canada's Carney is set to win a majority government in the special elections
Mark Carney, the Canadian Prime Minister, is likely to win a majority in the parliamentary chambers on Monday. This would allow him to implement the legislative agenda that he believes is necessary to address the geopolitical uncertainty and divisions of today's world. Three special elections will be held in Ontario and Quebec on Monday, two of which are in districts that have voted liberally for many years. Carney will have a majority if he wins just one of these seats. According to polls, they're expected to win at least two seats. Carney said this would allow him to deal with the trade conflict with the U.S., which was started by Donald Trump. Carney's Liberals have 171 seats out of the 343 members of the House of Commons. Carney's Liberals will be able to govern more freely with a parliamentary majority. This will allow him to continue to lead Canada at least until 2029 when the next national elections are scheduled. Andrew McDougall is an assistant professor of Canadian politics at University of Toronto. He said that Carney will be able pass legislation without having to go to opposition parties to get enough votes. The Liberals relied on the Conservatives' selective support to pass legislation relating to?economics and trade in the past year. McDougall stated that a majority government will also allow Carney the ability to determine the timing of the election. Minority governments that last less than 2 years are more likely to be forced into an early election if they fail to win a vote of confidence. Carney should have a slight advantage over a single seat after five opposition lawmakers defected in just five months to Carney's Liberals. Only John A. Macdonald's government, Canada’s first prime minister, as well as Jean Chretien's saw more politicians defecting to the ruling party. 'LARGE LIBERAL TENANT' On Wednesday, longtime Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu joined Carney's Government, saying Canada needed "a serious leader" who could address the 'uncertainty' that had been brought about by the unjustified American Tariffs. Gladu is a former chemical engineering who was criticized for advocating unproven treatments during the COVID-19 epidemic, opposing the ban on conversion therapy, and suggesting that the military could be used to stop Indigenous protests against oil pipes. Carney stated that the core Liberal values, such as inclusivity, diversity and safeguarding Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms have not changed and being a part of the Government Caucus means that you support these principles. Yves Francois Blanchet of the separatist Bloc Quebecois, on the other hand, stated that "the ideological difference between the Liberals, Conservatives, and the Bloc Quebecois are becoming thinner -and thinner -by the minute". The Bloc Quebecois, in Terrebonne Quebec, is currently in a tight race against the Liberals. The Liberals only won by one vote at the last federal elections, but Canada's Supreme Court overturned the results because of an error on the envelopes. Two other seats in Ontario are vacant. One was held by Chrystia?Freeland, former Deputy Premier, and the second by Bill Blair, former Liberal legislator, who resigned when he became ambassador to?the United Kingdom. Both seats are expected to be held by the Liberals. Laura Stephenson is the chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of Western Ontario. She said that Carney is more concerned with the pressing issues than Justin Trudeau who shifted the party leftwards and focused on issues such as reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, minority rights and immigration. She said, "He's focused on helping Canada to survive the economic turmoil and not remaking society." "When we are in difficult times, different calculations are made." Nanos' latest polling shows that more than half of Canadians choose Carney to be their Prime minister. Only 23% prefer the Conservative leader, Pierre Poilievre. Poilievre was projected to win the next elections by over 20 points before Carney became the leader of the Liberal Party in last year. McDougall, from the University of Toronto, said that Carney had done a good job of showing Canadians that he could handle Trump. He said that Carney has shown Canadians that he is a competent manager for the economy and country. "Canadians are not impressed with the alternatives so far."
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MSC transfers ownership of the company to children born after founder Gianluigi Apponte
MSC, the world's largest shipowner, announced on Monday that ownership of its company will be transferred to Gianluigi Aponte's two children by 2025. The Swiss-based firm said that the transfer of Diego and Alexa Apontes, respectively group president and chief finance officer, would provide 'continuity and stability over the long term in a major shift generational' at the privately-held company. The company announced that Italy-born Gianluigi Aponte will continue in his role as executive chair. He founded MSC in 1970 and turned it into a global shipping and logistics powerhouse. MSC will also focus on its core business, maritime freight transportation. Aponte made a statement saying, "I am extremely proud of this momentous occasion." The company said that his 'children Diego and Alexa, both Italian citizens with Swiss residency, have helped steer MSC during years of rapid expansion. MSC operates in 155 different countries and calls at 520 ports worldwide. It does not reveal financial details. (Reporting and writing by Elisa Azolin, editing by Alvise Armelli)
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Russian oil exports to the sea rose in March according to industry data
Data from industry sources show that despite the disruptions caused by drone attacks on key ports in March, Russia's seaborne product exports rose 0.9% compared to February. Drone strikes in late March on the Baltic ports Primorsk, Ust-Luga and the terminal infrastructure caused fires to fuel tanks and storage containers. Meanwhile, persistent storms and further drone strikes forced the port of Novorossiysk at the Black Sea to halt loadings early last month. The traders claimed that a ban on the entry of non-ice class tankers into Russian Baltic ports impacted vessel availability and hampered loadings last month. Data from industry sources show that March oil exports from Russia’s Baltic ports - Primorsk Vysotsk St. Petersburg Ust-Luga -- decreased by 4% compared to the previous month, reaching 5 million tons. The data shows that fuel loadings at Black Sea and Azov Sea ports increased by 10.3% in February to a total of?3.13 millions tons. Exports of oil products from the Arctic ports of Murmansk?and Arkhangelsk grew to 80,100 tonnes in March, from 30,400 tons during the previous month. The data shows that fuel exports from?Russian Far East ports?fell 7.2% last month compared to the previous month, a total of 683,200 tonnes.
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Sources say that the Saudi crude oil supply to China will hit a record low in May.
Saudi Arabian crude oil sales to China will reach a new record low in?May as the U.S./Iran conflict increases prices and disrupts shipping. Saudi 'Aramco will ship approximately 20 million barrels to its Chinese customers for the month of May. This is equivalent to 645,161 barrels a day. Kpler data and Kpler's analysis show that this would be the lowest level ever recorded and less than half the 45 million barrels shipped by the Kingdom to China every month between January and February. According to sources who weren't authorised to speak with the media, major Chinese refiners Rongsheng Petrochemical and?Sinopec have drastically reduced their lifting in May. Sinopec has a lower volume of cargo to be loaded in May, as they expect to receive some of those?cargoes scheduled to be loaded in April. Sinopec, Rongsheng and Saudi Aramco did not respond immediately to comments made about their May allocation. Demand for records is dwindling. Saudi Arabia set its official price for May Arab Light crude to Asia last week at a record $19.50 per barrel over the Oman/Dubai benchmark, an increase by $17 since the previous month. One source said that elevated prices caused some refiners lift less. Since the start of the war, Saudi Arabia has rerouted its oil exports via the East-West Pipeline to the Red Sea?port?of Yanbu. However, it requested that clients submit loading programs for Yanbu and Ras?Tanura in May as preparation for the reopening?of the Strait?of Hormuz. The attacks last week reduced Saudi Arabia's oil production by approximately 600,000 barrels a day, and its throughput on the East-West Pipeline was cut by about?700,000. On Sunday, it said that the East-West Pipeline had been restored to its full capacity of seven million barrels a day. Reporting by Siyi Liu in Singapore, Florence Tan in Bengaluru and Gnaneshwarrajan in Bengaluru. Editing by David Goodman.
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As US-Iran talks fail, major Gulf markets are affected.
The majority of major Gulf stock markets fell on Monday morning after Washington announced that it would block traffic into and out of Iranian ports, following weekend talks which?failed? to reach an agreement to end the conflict. The U.S. action, which is aimed at increasing pressure on Iran leaves a fragile truce in the balance. U.S. Central Command announced that U.S. Forces would begin blocking all maritime traffic entering or leaving Iranian ports as early as 10 am. ET (1400 GMT), on Monday. Dubai's main share index fell 1.8%. This was due to a drop of 3.2% in the top lender Emirates NBD and a decrease of 2.9% in blue-chip developer Emaar Properties. Air Arabia, a budget airline, fell 3.3% among other stocks. Aldar Properties fell 1.9% in Abu Dhabi while Abu Dhabi Ship Building dropped?3.2%. In choppy trading, the Qatari index fell 0.3%, mainly due to a drop of 1.3% in Qatar National Bank, the Gulf's largest lender in terms of assets. Qatar Gas Transport, a maritime transport company, fell by 0.6%. The benchmark index for Saudi Arabia, which is insulated from the region's disruption due to its ability reroute oil exports, edged up 0.1%. This was helped by an increase of 0.7% in the oil giant?Saudi Aramco. Brent crude futures are up 7.3% to $102 per barrel. This is a gain of?more? than 40% since the war interrupted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia announced on Sunday that it had restored the East-West Pipeline to its full capacity of 'about 7 million barrels a day. This comes days after assessing damages to energy infrastructure caused by attacks during 'the Iran conflict. An analysis showed that the kingdom had also benefitted from higher oil prices. Estimated March oil revenues were up year-on-year. The Egyptian stock exchange was closed on a holiday.
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German coalition announces fuel prices relief of $1.9 billion
Germany's ruling coalition announced on Monday a?1.6 billion euro ($1.9 bn) fuel price relief for consumers and business,?following an increase in oil prices due to?the Iran war. A joint statement by the CDU and their centre-left SPD coalition partner said that energy taxes on petrol and diesel would be cut by 0.17 euros for a two-month period. The Iran War has forced countries, including Germany, to deal with the 'biggest ever disruption of?global energy supply. A planned U.S. Blockade against Iranian ports and coastal regions is also driving up crude oil prices. At a press briefing on Monday, Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that the coalition is doing all it can to 'address problems caused by Iran - war, which has been 'put on hold in the meantime, as part of a fragile ceasefire agreement. The coalition partners have also agreed to allow companies to give employees a?relief?bonus of 1,000 euros, free from payroll taxes and social security charges.
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India's largest solar state is awaiting transmission lines for 60 GW of renewable energy projects
A regulatory filing revealed that India's leading solar energy generating state, Rajasthan, has clean energy projects with a capacity of about 60 gigawatts (GW) waiting for transmission links. Planners are struggling to keep up?with the rapid build-out. This problem highlights a major challenge for India as it aims to double its non-fossil-based power generation by 2030 to 500 GW. The systems transport electricity from renewable-rich areas such as Rajasthan to other states. The planner, Central Transmission Utility of India Ltd (CTUIL), informed the national regulator that it was unable to provide transmission systems for 60 GW worth of projects. According to the filing dated April 10, the western desert state has a 179 GW renewable energy potential. More than 85% of these projects are concentrated in four districts: Barmer, Bikaner Jaisalmer, and Jodhpur. Rajasthan has received applications for grid connectivity of about 130 GW, but only 73 GW transmission systems have been planned or are currently being built, the report said. The planner stated that "CTUIL faces challenges and difficulties in identifying a corresponding transmission system? for 60 GW applications". After electricity regulators told Saurya Urja Company of Rajasthan Ltd that it could withdraw their connectivity application, and recover bank guarantees, if necessary, the issue was brought to light. The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission's (CERC) ruling came?in response? to the challenges the company faced in?planning its transmission. The regulator also asked that the transmission planner inform project applicants of the transmission delays so they can withdraw their connectivity applications. (Reporting and editing by Clarence Fernandez; Sethuraman N.R.)
Germany details fuel relief, tax cuts, EU auto policy response
The German coalition government announced on Monday a series of measures to reduce fuel costs, to allow tax-free bonuses for workers, to set a deadline for the overhaul of the "statutory health insurance system" and to push through changes to EU car emission rules.
Following are some key points taken from the coalition paper.
RELIEF FROM FUEL PRICES
- Reduced?Germany?s?energy taxes on petrol and diesel by around 0.17 euros a litre over a period of two months. This is a relief of about 1.6 billion euro ($1.87 billion). Oil companies will be targeted by tax or competition measures to offset the cost. Antitrust reform: Expand powers of the German federal Bundeskartellamt to collect data along the entire motor fuel supply chain.
- Longer-term: Expand the domestic energy supply by tapping into selected German gasfields, increasing renewables, and strengthening power grid links across borders.
Worker Relief
- 2026: Employers may pay a one-off, tax- and social-contribution-free bonus of 1,000 euros. A tobacco tax increase will offset lost tax revenue this year.
- 2027: A major overhaul of the income tax system to "permanently" reduce the burden for lower- and middle-income households.
STATUTORY HELPFULNESS INSURANCE GKV (GKV). Germany's statutory healthcare insurance system, which covers the majority of residents and is backed by contributions from both employers and employees, could face a funding shortfall that could reach up to 40 billion euros by 2030.
- Objective: reduce spending growth, align expenditure with revenues, and stabilize contribution rates. All stakeholders are required to contribute.
Cabinet will approve a law draft on April 29th, and the legislation is expected to be passed before the summer recess.
AUTO INDUSTRY – EU RULES AND GERMAN POSITION A new legislative process has been launched by the European Commission. Germany's response to the Commission draft is:
Germany supports a 'technology-neutral' approach that would allow combustion-engine cars to continue to be registered after 2035, if they met EU regulations.
Germany will try to stop the stricter formula (2027) for plug-in-hybrids (Utility Factor). It will push for the immediate crediting of zero-emission vehicles, which run on only renewable fuels including advanced biofuels. Germany rejects any size-based preference and the Commission's proposal for bonus credits to comply with regulations on small electric vehicles.
Germany supports "banking and borrowing". Carmakers can carry over excess CO2 emissions or bring some forward to the periods 2025-2029, 2030-2034 and with three year compliance periods for 2030 and 2035. This allows flexible compliance and avoids penalties.
(source: Reuters)