live U.S. Embassy in Baghdad targeted by rockets and drones: Middle East conflict - 17 March
The U.S. Embassy in the Iraqi capital Baghdad came under fire from rockets and drones early on Tuesday (17 March), as the the Middle East conf...
The U.S. unexpectedly recorded a $27 billion budget surplus in June, reversing last year’s deficit. This improvement reflects stronger customs collections and significant cuts in education spending amid ongoing fiscal challenges.
The U.S. federal government posted a $27 billion budget surplus in June, the Treasury Department reported, thanks largely to a surge in customs revenues and reduced education expenditures.
For the first nine months of fiscal year 2025, running from October 2024 to June 2025, government revenues rose 13% to $526 billion, while expenditures dropped 7% to $499 billion. This contrasts with market expectations of a $41.5 billion deficit and a $71 billion deficit in June last year.
Customs duty revenues, aligned with President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, jumped 301% year-on-year in June, reaching $27 billion and surpassing $100 billion for the fiscal year to date at $113 billion.
Education spending fell by 91% in June compared to the same month last year.
Despite the June surplus, the overall fiscal deficit for the first nine months grew by 5% to $1.34 trillion, compared to $1.3 trillion last year. Revenues for this period increased 7% to $4 trillion, while expenditures rose 6% to $5.35 trillion.
The other evening, I was fuelling my car at a petrol station in Kenya’s capital. It was one of those small moments most motorists barely notice. The attendant filled the tank, I glanced at the pump price, paid, and drove off.
President Trump called on countries to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while Starmer said the UK is working with allies to restore navigation and stabilise oil markets. It comes as a strike near Iraq’s western border killed several Hashed al-Shaabi fighters, raising regional tensions.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 15 March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials launched a new round of talks in Paris on Sunday (15 March) to resolve issues in their trade truce. The discussions aim to smooth the way for U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of March.
The process of evacuating foreign diplomats and citizens from Iran to Azerbaijan through the Astara state border crossing continues on Sunday (15 March), ensuring smooth and efficient transit for those arriving.
Senior officials from the United States and China met in Paris this week for a new round of trade talks, as the world’s two largest economies attempt to manage their economic rivalry and avoid further tensions.
Court documents released on Monday (16 March) revealed that the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has asked a U.S. judge to dismiss President Donald Trump's $10 billion defamation suit over a 2024 documentary, arguing his re-election proves the edited 2021 speech did not harm his reputation.
Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea on Friday (13 March), according to Poland’s Operational Command.
Russia has imposed a fine of 35 million roubles (around $432,366) on the messaging platform Telegram for failing to remove content deemed illegal by the authorities, according to the Interfax news agency.
Madagascar's president, Michael Randrianirina announced the appointment of anti-corruption chief Mamitiana Rajaonarison as prime minister, six days after dismissing the previous premier along with the entire cabinet.
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