Author: Elon Mark

With strong government backing and billions of dollars at their disposal, Middle Eastern oil giants are aggressively expanding into the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) market, aiming to nearly double their LNG capacity within the next decade. Companies like Saudi Aramco, Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC) and QatarEnergy are investing heavily in LNG production and trading, driven by the growing demand for natural gas as a transition fuel and a desire to diversify their portfolios beyond crude. “LNG seems to be still the best bet across all different hydrocarbon commodities,” Ogan Kose, managing director at business consulting firm Accenture, told Bloomberg, adding…

If you invest in stocks, mutual funds, or real estate, you have likely come across the term “capital gains.” So, what exactly are capital gains? Think of them as the profits you earn from an investment. When you sell a capital asset for a higher price than what you paid for it, you realise capital gains. Consequently, you are required to pay taxes on these realised gains. Since you have tax obligations related to capital gains, it is vital to understand the different types of capital gains, how they are calculated, the amount of capital gains tax you need to…

Cruise robotaxis are back on the road… well, kind of. Though General Motors pulled the plug on its self-driving taxi business last year, the automaker has been quietly repurposing a few of the vehicles as it seeks to develop new driver-assistance technologies.This week, WIRED spotted a GM Bolt electric hatchback on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, and later saw a similar vehicle on Interstate 880 near Oakland. In each instance, the car was being driven by a human. But it held equipment on the roof such as lidar sensors that resembled the setup from the Cruise ride-hailing system. The vehicle…

The ARA clean petroleum product (CPP) barge freight market closed out June with a week of contrasts. While freight rates slipped early, they ultimately stabilized amid low volumes and persistent terminal congestion. Spot market participation was inconsistent, shaped by cautious buying sentiment, operational bottlenecks, and broader macro uncertainty. 1. Freight Rates: Declining Midweek, Stabilizing Into July From 25 to 27 June, freight rates across most routes experienced slight to moderate reductions, driven by weak barge demand and excess vessel availability: Cross Harbor, Rotterdam–Antwerp/Amsterdam, and Ghent routes all recorded declines between €0.07–€0.10/ton, particularly for middle distillates. By June 30 and July…

Congressional Republicans just passed President Trump’s sprawling domestic policy bill that extends and expands tax cuts, while slashing Medicaid, food benefits and clean energy initiatives to pay for them — but only partly. The bill favors the wealthy, and low-income Americans stand to lose the most.What could the bill mean for your pocketbook? Answer these questions to learn more about the individual impacts of the wide-ranging legislation. (Your answers are not tracked by The Times.)Jump to a section: General tax policyFamiliesHealth careEducationClean energyImmigration 0 of 33 questions answered At the heart of the bill is a roughly $4 trillion tax…

US attorney general Pam Bondi has told at least 10 tech companies, including Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, that they have “incurred no liability” for supporting TikTok despite the federal ban on providing services to the popular video-sharing app, according to letters disclosed on Thursday.Under orders from President Donald Trump, Bondi has refused to enforce a law passed by Congress last year that classifies TikTok as a national security risk because of its ties to China and bars companies from distributing the app to US consumers.TikTok can dodge the ban by reducing the ownership Chinese entities have in its US…

The Rhine barge freight market closed out June with a sense of equilibrium. While earlier in the week saw some modest price corrections upward—driven by limited barge availability and concerns over falling water levels—the market soon shifted into a state of stasis. By July 1, rates across all destinations had flattened, underscoring a broader sentiment of supply abundance, weak demand, and cautious forward planning. 1. Freight Rates: Short Burst, Then a Plateau At the start of the period (June 25–26), freight rates climbed across key routes, with noticeable increases for Upper Rhine destinations: Basel rose more than 5% on June…

With over 165,000 cases selected for tax scrutiny, there has been a significant increase in income tax notices for the financial year 2024-25. The reasons for this surge are varied, ranging from unusual cash deposits and unexplained bank credits to mismatches with GST data, among others. As you prepare to file your income tax return (ITR) this year, remaining vigilant is crucial. To ensure transparency in the system, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has released guidelines outlining the parameters for selecting ITRs that will undergo complete scrutiny in the financial year 2025-26. These guidelines focus on specific categories…

TVs can be tricky to buy. Whether you read our exquisite guide to the Best TVs or not, you probably won’t find every top model at your local Walmart, Best Buy, or Costco. And when you’re browsing retail websites, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by marketing speak like HDR, QLED, or “local dimming.” That’s why we’ve collected a few tips, tricks, and terms to help you shop smarter when buying a new TV. Think of this as a checklist to consider before you buy your next big screen.Be sure to check out our guide to the Best Bookshelf Speakers, Best…

Small Chinese refineries face trouble if their supply of cheap Iranian crude is restricted. The conflict between Israel and Iran has already led to a sharp rise in global oil prices. Chinese refineries, long used to cheap Iranian crude supplies, are unlikely to escape the pain. China and Iran’s economic ties have grown closer in recent years, particularly since the two countries signed a 25-year comprehensive cooperation plan in 2021 — China is now Iran’s top trading partner, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, which monitors global commerce. Total China-Iran.  By Dean Minello — June 22, 2025 The post How The Iran…