Geopolitical Energy and Conflict Shiftsactive

The U.S. Treasury Department has announced that it will lift sanctions on Russian crude oil and petroleum products that have been subject to sanctions, and will allow countries to engage in trade with them. This marks a significant shift in policy, as Treasury Secretary Yellen had indicated just two days ago that the sanctions would not be lifted.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury extended, on a temporary basis until May 16th, the suspension of most sanctions targeting the Russian oil industry, at a time when the resumption of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz caused a sharp drop in oil prices. The measure affects all operations related to the loading and delivery of oil originating from Russia. It also applies to ships in the so-called "shadow fleet" that were previously subject to sanctions. The only sanctions that remain in place are those against transactions with Iran, North Korea, Cuba, and the occupied regions of Ukraine, including Crimea. The U.S. government had previously temporarily lifted penalties on Russian oil stored at sea, with the aim of mitigating the rapid rise in the price of a barrel. However, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated last week that this suspension would not be extended beyond the initial period. The U.S. government maintains sanctions on the oil resources of Russia and Iran in order to reduce the revenues of the governments of Moscow and Tehran. "Xi is very happy" The President of the United States, Donald Trump, welcomed the opening of the Strait of Hormuz in anticipation of the upcoming bilateral meeting with China. "President Xi is very happy that the Strait of Hormuz is open or opening..."

The Joint Chiefs of Staff for National Defense (Jedena), which was operating in the Biobío region and headed by Rear Admiral Edgardo Acevedo of the Chilean Navy, announced late Friday evening the end of the constitutional state of emergency declared due to the severe wildfires in January of this year. Consequently, the military personnel deployed in the area were also withdrawn. According to order No. 30, the measure ceased to be in effect as of 11:59 PM on Friday. Therefore, "all members of the armed forces under the jurisdiction of this Defense Command have ceased to exercise the functions granted by the constitutional state of emergency" declared by former President Gabriel Boric on January 18th. The communication further states that the military personnel must "return to their respective institutional commands." Jedena also added that, as of the specified time, all measures enacted in the preceding three months are no longer in effect. "The armed forces cease to exercise the extraordinary functions conferred by this measure, returning to their institutional structures, and all orders, instructions, and administrative provisions issued within the framework of this state of emergency are nullified," Jedena emphasized.

The Trump administration’s decision to carry out a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has raised tensions in the Persian Gulf to new and more perilous levels. The move was announced by the US president, Donald Trump, after negotiations over a ceasefire with Iran broke down on April 11, partly due to Iran wanting […] The post Hormuz standoff sets a tense tone for Trump-Xi meet appeared first on Asia Times.

A total of 75 members of the UK Parliament expressed their support this Friday for a motion calling for comprehensive sanctions against Israel, in the context of the offensive in Gaza and the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories. The initiator of the initiative, MP Richard Burgon, stated that "75 MPs already support my parliamentary motion to impose widespread sanctions on Israel," a proposal that continues to gain support in Westminster, and for which the deadline for endorsements will remain open for another week. In his statement, Burgon linked the initiative to the situation in the Middle East, stating that "in addition to the genocide in Gaza and the war crimes in Lebanon, Israel is intensifying its occupation of the West Bank." In this context, the MP urged citizens to pressure their representatives: "There is only one week left to support this call for sanctions. Ask your MP to do so below." 🚨BREAKING: 75 MPs now back my Parliamentary motion for widespread sanctions on Israel. As well as genocide in Gaza and war crimes in Lebanon, Israel is deepening its occupation of the West Bank. There's just a week left to back this sanctions call. Ask your MP to do so below. pic.twitter.com/2olZAEYiUh — Richard Burgon MP (@RichardBurgon) April 17, 2026 The parliamentary motion emphasizes concern over the Israeli government's decision on February 15 to proceed with the registration...

Iran hours earlier had temporarily reopened the Strait of Hormuz following a separate US-brokered ceasefire agreement by Israel and Lebanon.

On the 17th, a senior official from the U.S. government met with the CEO of Anthropic, a rapidly growing AI company, to discuss the challenges of AI development and other issues related to the military use of AI, a topic that has caused friction between the two sides.

The head of the Foundation for Peace and Friendship Among Peoples says that Ursula von der Leyen is pretending to act on behalf of European countries and trying to "handle issues of their energy independence"

Tehran on Saturday threatened to cut off access to the Strait of Hormuz again if the United States maintains its blockade of Iranian ports, raising fresh doubts over recent progress following a ceasefire in Lebanon. Follow our live blog for the latest updates.

Donald Trump’s latest attack on renewables has reignited calls to drill the North Sea for oil – despite research showing it won’t lower energy bills.

The AI firm Anthropic has emerged as a dominant force in the global technology sector, attracting investor interest that values the company at approximately $800 billion (€678.3bn), but what is behind the success?

The president has opened fissures in his base by starting a war he couldn’t finish with Iran, stoking inflation and offending Christians. Barred from running again, he may feel he has nothing to lose Lance Johnson voted for Donald Trump three times. Now he is feeling buyer’s remorse. “I haven’t been too happy with the third time around,” said the 47-year-old contractor, sitting at a bar in Crescent Springs, Kentucky. “We’re supposed to not start any new wars. Prices were supposed to come down. We were promised a lot of things and we’re not getting them.” Johnson is not the only Trump voter having doubts about a US president who, after defying political gravity for a decade, finally seems to be crashing back to earth. The past two weeks have arguably been the most bruising of Trump’s two terms in office, suggesting that his tried and trusted playbook could finally be falling apart. Continue reading...

Gavin Lee is pleased to welcome Robert B. Murrett, retired Vice Admiral in the US Navy, Professor of Practice and Deputy Director of the Syracuse University's Institute for Security Policy and Law. The Israel-Lebanon and US-Iran ceasefires are at a critical juncture In the evolving geopolitical dynamics of the Strait of Hormuz, where military risk, energy security, and diplomatic recalibration intersect.

Hong Kong's investments in the Middle East will not be disrupted by ongoing conflicts, the commerce minister has said, expressing confidence in the region's economic prospects and urging businesses to take a long-term view. "The geopolitical situation has a temporary impact, but in the long term, we remain hopeful about development in the Middle East," Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau Ying-wah told a radio program on Saturday. "We have many strengths in areas such as...

The official added that "more and more countries," including the US, are recognizing the systemic importance of Russian oil and gas for the global economy

A US appeals court allowed President Donald ⁠Trump’s administration on ⁠Friday night to continue construction ⁠of a US$400 million ballroom on the site of the White House’s demolished East Wing, setting a June hearing to review a Washington judge’s order halting the project. An order by a three-judge ‌panel of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit put the lower court’s preliminary injunction on hold for now, giving the panel time to consider the US Justice Department’s...

North Korea’s missile test from its new Choe Hyon destroyer signals a shift toward a more flexible sea-based nuclear deterrent, as the regime compensates for submarine limitations. This month, multiple media outlets reported that North Korea test-fired two strategic cruise missiles and three anti-ship missiles from its new 5,000-ton destroyer Choe Hyon as part of […] The post North Korea taking its nuclear threat to the high seas appeared first on Asia Times.

Kirill Dmitriev also said that Russia maintained contacts with the US on economic and energy issues

US President Donald Trump said on Friday night he was looking forward to his meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping next month and predicted it would be “special”. Hours after Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz had reopened, Trump posted on social media: “China’s President Xi is very happy that Strait of Hormuz is open and/or rapidly opening; I look forward to meeting Xi. “Our meeting ‌in China will ‌be a special ⁠one and, potentially, Historic. I ⁠look forward to being with President...

Separate from the regular Iranian Navy, with boats that often travel at speeds exceeding 115 miles per hour, it is what a retired U.S. official describes as a "disruptive force."

To leftists abroad, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of Spain is a hero for standing up to President Trump. At home, Mr. Trump is seen as Mr. Sánchez’s political savior from thorny domestic challenges.

Struggles to sell even in popular areas are a timely reminder of the challenges created by high interest rates

The Chicago-born pope has offered an alternative vision of Catholicism — and American power

As the transatlantic alliance falters, Starmer needs to step up

New government tax regime came into force last week but most of those required to sign up by April 6 have yet to do so

Hunger and even famine are foreseeable consequences of the war on Iran. Now the world must act to shield the poorest from effects that will continue long after the fighting stops

Rubber glove makers have raised prices and warned of production cuts as the Iran war chokes supplies of key inputs, raising concerns for the healthcare sector. Glove makers have already hiked the average price of synthetic rubber gloves by around 40 per cent to as high as US$29 for a box ‌of 1,000, according to Oong Chun Sung, an equity research analyst at CIMB Securities. Sustained disruption to supply chains from the conflict could lead to glove shortages by late May, analysts at Malaysia’s...

Gemini was my preferred model for research a few months ago. So, was Grok. Recently, I asked one of them for serious research, accompanied by blunt exhortations on how it has been disappointing me repeatedly of late, along with examples of the quality of answers I needed. The answers that came disappointed even the lowest […] The post Token inequality: AI haves and AI have-nots appeared first on Asia Times.

Iran warned this Friday that it will close the Strait of Hormuz unless the United States lifts its blockade of Iranian ports, according to a statement by the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who also described recent statements by U.S. President Donald Trump as "false." "With the continuation of the blockade, the Strait of Hormuz will not remain open," Ghalibaf wrote on his account on the social media platform X, adding that passage through the waterway will take place through routes determined by Tehran and will depend on Iranian authorization. The parliamentarian, who co-led the Iranian side in negotiations with the United States in Islamabad last weekend, also added that whether the strait is open or closed, and the rules that govern it, "will be determined on the ground, not through social media." 1. The U.S. President made seven claims in one hour, and all seven were false. 2. They will not win the war with these lies, and they certainly will not achieve anything through negotiations. 3. With the continuation of the blockade, the Strait of Hormuz will not remain open. — Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) April 17, 2026 Similarly, in his post, he stated that Trump had made "seven claims in one hour, and all seven were false," although he did not specify which claims he was referring to.

In early April, a unit of the National Guard, Lasar's Group, carried out a special operation in the Luhansk region, destroying a BM-30 Smerch multiple launch rocket system and other Russian military equipment deep behind enemy lines.

The US has renewed a waiver permitting countries to buy Russian oil for another month. The decision came two days after the Trump administration had said it had no plans to extend the waiver.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, issued a license related to Russia on Friday, authorizing the delivery and marketing of crude oil and refined products originating from the Russian Federation, provided they were loaded onto ships starting on April 17, 2026. This is General License 134B, which introduces new exceptions to the sanctions regime related to the Kremlin. According to the document, "all prohibited transactions (...) that are normally incidental and necessary for the sale, delivery, or unloading of crude oil or petroleum products originating from the Russian Federation, loaded onto any vessel (...) on or before 00:01 Eastern Time on April 17, 2026," are authorized, provided they are carried out before 00:01 Eastern Time on May 16, 2026. The authorization also includes logistical and technical operations associated with the maritime transport of these shipments, such as the safe berthing of ships, the protection of the crew, and emergency interventions. In this regard, the license explicitly includes "normal and necessary" activities, such as ship management, fuel supply, piloting, registration, and insurance services, among others. The scope of the measure also covers oil and derivatives produced by entities subject to various regulations...

Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian announced on social media that the strait would be "completely opened," but with certain conditions. Subsequently, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf emphasized that free passage of ships would not be permitted unless the U.S. lifts its naval blockade. Amidst this situation, there is a growing expectation that the next direct talks between the United States and Iran will take place within the next few days.

Sergey Nechayev added: "We are fully ready for dialogue, but we will not impose ourselves"

A quarter featuring multiple eye-popping deals is no longer unusual for China’s pharmaceutical industry – in fact, it may soon be considered a slow season. In recent months, companies including CSPC Pharmaceutical and RemeGen have struck out-licensing agreements worth up to US$18.5 billion and US$5.6 billion respectively, while Haisco Pharmaceutical Group has added two of its own — most recently a deal worth up to US$745 million. Under the terms of the deal, the Beijing-based Haisco granted US...

The Trump administration on Friday reversed course and extended a waiver on sanctioned Russian oil and petroleum products amid the Iran war, just days after a top Cabinet official said the U. S. would not be doing so. A license allowing countries to purchase Russian oil from Friday through May 16 was posted on the Treasury…

A top Iranian official raised hopes of a breakthrough when he said the Strait of Hormuz is “completely open,” while President Trump said a U. S. naval blockade on Iranian ports would remain in force.

The Trump administration made the announcement hours after Iran said that the Strait of Hormuz was open to commercial ships.

A Lebanese man who returned to southern Lebanon removes the Israeli flag from Beaufort Castle (Qalaat al-Shaqif).

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Friday said he demands answers from Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. regarding comments the secretary made in an interview in 2024 about Black children on certain Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) medications being “re-parented.” “We’ve known RFK Jr. has been unfit to serve as Secretary, but…

The US on Friday issued a license letting countries buy more Russian oil that’s already been loaded on tankers, part of the White House’s push to prevent prices from surging.

The US treasury department posted the updated license, permitting transactions involving Russian oil loaded onto vessels from that day through May 16.

The worldwide release of 'Mr. Nobody Against Putin,' which exposes Russian war propaganda from the inside to students at a school in the Urals, brought the film's director, Pavel Talankin, to public attention. In mid-March, his Oscar for best documentary made him famous. But the Kremlin labeled him a 'foreign agent, increasing the threats and discredit against this filmmaker, now living in exile in Prague.

Israel launched its latest offensive against Lebanon in early March, just a few days after the war against Iran began.

Last year, a state jury in Louisiana ordered Chevron to pay $745 million to help restore the wetlands damaged through crude oil production during World War II. Chevron argued that the company was acting as a federal contractor to the US military at the time and the case should be heard in federal court. The Supreme Court agreed.

After announcing that the Strait of Hormuz is open, Iran said it would close the vital waterway again unless the United States lifted its blockade. DW has more.

In Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, 34 children remain in the districts of Sloviansk where the mandatory evacuation of families with children is underway.

According to sources cited by the news outlet, Israel requested clarifications from the White House.

Iran US war news LIVE: In big reprieve for countries across the world threatened with fuel crisis, Iran on Friday said it fully reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels. However, US said the blockade on Iranian ships and ports “will remain in full force”.

The statements were made by the Minister of National Defense, Pedro Sánchez, who also stated that he will not cease his pursuit of this matter.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board invited more than 1,700 influencers from around the world to the city between 2023 and last year, with the internet personalities having a combined following exceeding 1.6 billion. Responding to an inquiry from lawmaker Chan Hoi-yan, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau said the board had invited 1,730 influencers to come to the city over two years, with itineraries tailored to their markets and audiences. “In 2026-27, [the board] will continue to develop themed...

The war in Iran and ensuing closure of the Strait of Hormuz has exposed the risks of over-reliance on the Persian Gulf for oil, turning Beijing’s Mediterranean infrastructure plans from long-term goals into urgent strategic necessities. From Algerian oilfields to Moroccan battery factories and Egypt’s industrial base, China might now fast-track these projects to create a Mediterranean hub for a green-energy supply chain, observers said. Beijing aims to create a strategic backup that protects its...

A Mercedes-Benz was buried as a funerary offering in a village in northeastern China, igniting public outrage over legal violations and environmental safety. A viral video shows some villagers in Liaoyang, Liaoning province, attending the funeral of a septuagenarian on April 9. Sources told the mainland media that the dead person was an avid collector of luxury cars, prompting his children to bury a real vehicle to ensure his soul’s peaceful passage. The car, a black Mercedes-Benz S450L valued...

President Trump is seeking leverage by continuing the naval blockade, while Tehran signals flexibility to opening the strait.

‘This will be a great and brilliant day for the world’ Donald Trump said as Iran fully opens the Strait of Hormuz.

A retrospective rich with vintage prints traces the career of this American who constantly reinvented herself, from surrealist artist to war correspondent.

Two US Army soldiers have been injured after encountering a brown bear in a mountainous training area in Anchorage, according to the military. The incident happened on Thursday as the soldiers were taking part in a “land navigation training event” in Arctic Valley, part of the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson’s training area. The soldiers were receiving medical care as of Friday, a military official told the Anchorage Daily News. Queries sent to base were not immediately returned on Friday. The...

Despite some empty seats, Trump projected confidence in his party’s ability to win the midterm elections. Some in the crowd focused on GOP divisions.

TSMC's first-quarter 2026 earnings call delivered the expected headline numbers — $35.9 billion in revenue, a 66.2% gross margin, and full-year revenue growth guidance raised to above 30% in US dollar terms. The financial story was strong and largely anticipated.

Karol Nawrocki noted that the security situation is changing almost every week

The Israeli military reported this Friday about an operation carried out in southeastern Lebanon "minutes before" the ten-day ceasefire came into effect, which was announced on Thursday by U.S. President Donald Trump. The operation, dubbed "Punishment," took place "minutes before the ceasefire with Beirut went into effect," scheduled for 00:00 local time on Friday (17:00 on Thursday in Chile), and involved the "deployment of special forces in the Christofini mountain range," located in the Lebanese governorate of Nabatiyé. This was announced by the Israeli military's Arabic-speaking spokesperson, Avichai Adrai, on his social media accounts, where he stated that "the operation was approved by the Chief of Staff," Eyal Zamir. In his post on X, Adrai stated that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) remain "on high alert" and will continue to "eliminate threats throughout the area between the border and the line established under the ceasefire agreements." #Breaking: Operation "Punishment": The Israel Defense Forces reveal a military operation that took place minutes before the ceasefire with Lebanon came into effect, involving the deployment of special forces in the Christofini mountain range in eastern Lebanon. 🔸Special forces from the Israel Defense Forces began the operation last night (Thursday)...

A meeting of finance ministers and other officials from the G7, the group of seven major economies, was held in the United States on the morning of the 18th (Japan time) to discuss issues related to critical minerals, including rare earth elements. The participants reaffirmed their commitment to accelerating efforts to diversify supply chains, with a particular focus on China, which holds a dominant share of the market.

Taiwanese automotive electronics leader E-Lead Electronic is reshaping the future of smart cockpits through a combination of deep technological reinvention and production restructuring, as it positions itself as a full-spectrum systems supplier in an increasingly fragmented global supply chain.

Embodied AI is moving out of the lab and into real-world environments at increasing speed. The humanoid robot half-marathon scheduled for April 19 in Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (E-Town) is framed as a public race, but functions more as an industry stress test, compressing a full stack of technologies into a 21-kilometer trial.

The 2026 International Symposium on VLSI Technology, Systems and Applications (VLSI TSA) kicked off on April 14, gathering over 800 semiconductor professionals worldwide. The conference focused on next-generation core areas including GenAI inference acceleration, wafer-level computing, and terahertz wireless communication, while also delving into quantum computer system architectures and extending the reach of semiconductors to AI-driven cardiac analysis and other smart healthcare applications.

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited, China's dominant electric vehicle battery manufacturer, is accelerating its push up the supply chain, pairing strong earnings with an aggressive expansion into upstream mining as it positions for the next phase of growth in electric vehicles and energy storage.

Local media has reported that the former British ambassador to the United States, who had a relationship with the deceased billionaire, Jeffrey Epstein, and was later charged with sexual abuse offenses in the US, was deemed unsuitable during a background check conducted before his appointment. This has once again raised questions about the responsibility of Prime Minister Starmer in his appointment.

The surge in AI data center demand is rapidly accelerating the need for high-speed data transmission, prompting LED manufacturers to target opportunities in optical communications. best-Epitaxy Manufacturing's (bEMC) CEO Evan Wu said the company has focused on data transmission since its inception and recently began proof-of-concept (POC) testing with a leading cloud service provider (CSP). Their short-distance Micro LED transmission currently reaches speeds of 4Gbps, aiming to achieve 8Gbps per chip in 2026.

The age of cheap oil is over and Thailand’s rooftops are reflecting that fact. Across homes, garages and warehouses in the sun-drenched kingdom, the blue-black sheen of solar panels is spreading, as the Iran war has done what years of climate summits could not: turn solar power into a necessity. Demand for solar panels has swamped companies like Wayso, whose managing director is colouring in Thailand’s rooftops as fast as he can find technicians to do it. “We can’t hire quickly enough,” Suwat...

Tens of thousands of people forcibly displaced by Israeli attacks on Lebanon use first day of ceasefire to return home.

The president of the NPT (Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons) Review Conference, which discusses the global direction of nuclear disarmament, held a press conference. He stated that, with nuclear arms control treaties between the United States and Russia set to expire, the NPT is "the only remaining hope," and expressed his determination to reach an agreement.

President Trump on Friday teased at a Turning Point USA event in Phoenix that he will direct Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to release government files on UFOs and unexplained aerial phenomena (UAPs). “I recently directed the Secretary of War … to begin releasing government files relating to UFOs and unexplained aerial phenomena,” Trump said. “And…

Jaden Pierre has been identified as the 15-year-old who was shot dead yesterday at Roy Wilkins Park in Queens, New York and cops have released suspect photos.

Transportation costs for World Cup fans traveling to US stadiums could be more than 10 times higher than regular fares. Local officials and FIFA bosses are trading blame for the increased prices while fans feel fleeced.

President Trump was met with an at times a roaring ovation from a crowd at a Turning Point USA event in Arizona on Friday during several opportunities where he detailed his policies on Iran. It marked a window into how some young conservatives are receiving Trump’s message on the international conflict. “Would anybody like to…

The impending three-day visit of President Lee Jae-myung to India is not routine diplomacy – it is a strategic inflection point for both countries and the wider Indo-Pacific. The regional order that once underpinned stability is fragmenting. Economic interdependence is increasingly a liability, and long-standing security guarantees are under strain. In this shifting landscape, India […] The post Recalibrating the India-South Korea strategic partnership appeared first on Asia Times.

At a Turning Point USA rally, Kirk lauded Trump's leadership. Meanwhile, Druski's impersonation of Kirk gained traction on social media.

"Balance of Power: Late Edition" focuses on the intersection of politics and global business. On today's show, Representative Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) shares his disbelief when discussing President Trump saying the Strait of Hormuz is open. Neil Bradley, US Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President, talks about the impact the Middle East conflict is having on small businesses. (Source: Bloomberg)

WASHINGTON, April 17 (Yonhap) -- Iran said Friday that it reopened the crucial S...

Two of the six vessels that have been stranded since early March have remained in the Persian Gulf

The speaker of Iran’s Parliament, Mohammad-Bagher Qalibaf, said Friday that Iran will close the Strait of Hormuz again amid the U. S. blockade on Iranian ports, contradicting President Trump, who said the strait was “open for business” earlier in the day. His remarks came as Trump was on stage delivering a speech in Arizona at a…

The president's strong statements are intended to increase pressure on Tehran, but some U.S. allies and officials involved in the negotiations are questioning whether Iran has truly conceded, as Trump claims.

The intelligence department reported the Rome prosecutor's office after news reports were published about the head of Meloni's office.

Tehran aims to reach a memorandum of understanding that would solidify the truce and provide an additional 30-40 days for more in-depth negotiations.

Araghchi: "The agreement concerns the duration of the ceasefire. Permission from the Pasdaran (Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps) is still required." Twenty ships are currently in motion. Washington will only ease its restrictions on Tehran with a comprehensive agreement.

The meeting in Paris on the security of the Strait of Hormuz involved Starmer and Merz. China and India were connected to the discussion, but not the Americans. The Élysée Palace believes that Trump should not be involved, while Berlin and London support his inclusion. The discussions focused on mines, military aid, and intelligence.

In Paris, amidst hugs and smiles, a new understanding was reached with the French leader. Italy wants to act within a European framework or under the auspices of the United Nations. A vote in both houses of parliament is expected to take place quickly.

The president of Copasir (the Italian parliamentary committee for the evaluation, verification and control of the secret services) stated: "The relationship with the United States must be maintained, but Meloni's strategy will need to be adjusted. Trump will not abandon NATO."

With the reopening of the Strait of Bosporus, Brent and WTI crude oil prices fell by approximately 10% in a single day. Investors are once again turning to riskier assets, such as cryptocurrencies. The yield spread is decreasing.

Iran war’s impact has been larger on short-term expectations but 2022 serves as a cautionary tale

The president will direct federal agencies to boost research into the drugs and support clinical trials, moves championed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

President Trump on Friday sprinted ahead to take a victory lap celebrating what he said was Iran’s agreement to open the Strait of Hormuz and a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.  But conflicting statements from Iranian officials and Israeli pushback on the terms of the ceasefire with Lebanon are raising doubt about the president’s actual…

Ex-US NSA moots Hippocratic oath for corporates to prevent Chinese takeover

Prices plummeted after Iran said it would open the Strait of Hormuz for the duration of a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Under the "Tacos of the World" project, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico is supporting Mexican citizens who were in an undocumented immigration situation in the United States. At the UNITEC (Technological University of Mexico) Cuitláhuac campus, Mexican nationals Jaime, Luis Alberto, and Carlos prepared ribeye tacos, Cajun shrimp tacos, and huazontle ranch tacos, as part of the training, mentorship, and support programs offered by the embassy to those returning to Mexico, in collaboration with Migraflix. This initiative, led by Ambassador Ronald Johnson, aims to create opportunities and improve the future for returning individuals, as well as to strengthen local economies. Also read: U.S. Trade Representative to meet with Ebrard on Monday; also with companies and organizations in the private sector. "We are investing in the talent and creativity of each individual," commented the diplomatic representation. Highlighting that gastronomy tells the stories of regions and brings people together, the embassy mentioned that 150 entrepreneurs have received training to start their own businesses. This is a concrete initiative to address undocumented migration, and it is an investment in people. By creating opportunities, we help save lives, the embassy stated. In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States' independence and in anticipation of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the creations of the returning Mexicans will be available for tasting at the Globa Village…

The numbers are the first to quantify the effect of the Trump administration’s shutdown and restarting of a program that has saved millions of lives worldwide.

Representative Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) shares his disbelief when discussing President Trump saying the Strait of Hormuz is open, stating markets “would be wise to put the President on mute.” He goes on to explain how Trump has now given Iran a different strategic deterrent in chokehold control of the Strait, and whether or not he believes the president can talk peace into existence with Iran. Rep. Auchincloss speaks with Kailey Leinz and Joe Mathieu on the late edition of Bloomberg's "Balance of Power." (Source: Bloomberg)

Iranian officials did not confirm most of Mr. Trump’s claims and disputed several of them.