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The Trump administration on Friday renewed a waiver allowing countries to buy sanctioned Russian oil at sea for about a month, even as lawmakers accused the government of going easy on Moscow as its war on Ukraine grinds on. The Treasury Department’s waiver lets countries purchase Russian oil and petroleum products loaded on vessels as of Friday through May 16. It replaces a 30-day waiver that expired on April 11 and excludes transactions involving Iran, Cuba and North Korea. The move is part of the administration’s effort to control global energy prices that have shot higher during the US-Israeli war with Iran. It came after countries in Asia, suffering from the global energy shock, pressed Washington to allow alternative supplies to reach markets. “As negotiations (with Iran) accelerate, Treasury wants to ensure oil is available to those who need it,” a Treasury Department spokesperson said. Just two days earlier, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington would not be renewing the waiver for Russian oil and another for Iranian oil, which is set to expire on Sunday. Global oil prices tumbled 9% on Friday to about $90 a barrel after Iran temporarily reopened the Strait of Hormuz, an oil choke point in the Gulf. But the war has already created the worst global energy supply disruption in history, the International Energy Agency has said. The war, which enters its eighth week on Saturday, has damaged more than 80 oil and gas facilities in the Middle East, and Tehran has warned it could close the strait again if the recent US Navy blockade of Iranian ports continued. High oil prices are a threat to President Donald Trump’s fellow Republicans ahead of November’s midterm elections. Trump has also faced pressure from partner countries on the oil price. A US source said partner countries on the sidelines of Group of 20, World Bank and International Monetary Fund meetings in Washington this week had requested the US extend the waiver. And he spoke about oil this week in a call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, a big purchaser of Russian oil. The waiver on Iranian oil, which the Treasury Department issued on March 20, allowed about 140mn barrels of oil to reach global markets and helped relieve pressure on energy supply, Bessent said last month. US lawmakers from both political parties had slammed the administration over the sanctions waivers, saying they stood to help the economy of Iran while it was at war with the US and of Russia as it was at war with Ukraine. The waivers could impede the West’s efforts to deprive Russia of revenue for its war in Ukraine and put Washington at odds with its allies. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said now is not the time to relax sanctions against Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy Kirill Dmitriev said an extension of the US waiver will affect another 100mn barrels of Russian oil, bringing the total volume affected by both waivers to 200mn barrels. Dmitriev, who travelled to the US on April 9 for meetings with members of the Trump administration ahead of the previous waiver expiry, said on his Telegram channel that the extension faced “active political opposition.” Brett Erickson, a sanctions expert at the consulting firm Obsidian Risk Advisors, said Friday’s renewal is likely not the last waiver Washington will issue.“The conflict has done lasting damage to global energy markets, and the tools available to stabilise them are nearly exhausted,” Erickson said. Waiver aims to stabilise energy prices amid Iran war and Middle East tensions; Lawmakers criticise waivers for benefiting Russia during war with Ukraine; Analyst warns energy market tools are ‘nearly exhausted’; EU urges no relaxation of Russia sanctions Source link
A man drives as he flashes a victory sign following a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel went into effect, in Nabatieh, Lebanon, April 18, 2026.…
Pope Leo XIV (CL) is welcomed by Angola’s President Joao Lourenco (CR) upon his arrival at the “4 de Fevereiro” Luanda International Airport in Luanda on…
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) reaffirmed its enduring commitment to promoting a stable and secure environment and adopting constructive policies based on development and prosperity rather than wars and conflicts, in a way that strengthens mutual trust with regional and international partners and consolidates its position as a reliable partner on various fronts.Secretary-General of the GCC Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi stated during a session titled ‘A Middle East Beyond Zero Sum Politics,” held on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, that the GCC has always been a partner in solutions based on diplomacy and dialogue.Albudaiwi also addressed the treacherous Iranian attacks targeting GCC countries and their serious repercussions on security and stability, explaining that GCC states made significant efforts to prevent war but were nonetheless surprised by these unjustified and unlawful attacks.He stressed that the GCC has played a proactive role in several regional issues, particularly the Palestinian cause, supporting international efforts to achieve a two-state solution, alongside providing humanitarian aid and political initiatives in many areas. He emphasized that these roles reflect the GCC countries’ belief that regional and international stability is a shared responsibility.He added that the role of regional organizations is no longer optional but has become an imperative necessity. Their success, he said, is measured not only by internal cohesion but also by their ability to build bridges of cooperation, establish partnerships, and actively contribute to global stability.In this context, he pointed out that the GCC has embraced this responsibility seriously by establishing 28 strategic partnerships with countries worldwide, in addition to its cooperation with eight regional organizations, thereby reinforcing its regional and international standing as an effective link that promotes dialogue, supports peace, and advances stability and prosperity.He also praised the achievements of GCC countries not only in economic growth but also in resilience and their ability to face challenges, noting that joint action has proven capable of exceeding expectations and strengthening their global position.In conclusion, Albudaiwi affirmed that these collective Gulf efforts have contributed to building a regional system based on cooperation and integration, serving as an active force in achieving regional and international security and stability. Source link
This handout photograph taken and released by Turkish Foreign Ministry on April 17, 2026, shows Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan greeting Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa…
Six Iranian airports have resumed operations and airlines are readying domestic and international flights, an aviation industry official said yesterday. Maqsoud Asadi-Samani, secretary of the Association of Iranian Airlines, told the semi-official Tasnim news agency that the reopened airports include Tehran’s two main hubs along with those serving Mashhad, Birjand, Gorgan, and Zahedan — all located in the east of the country. Iran had closed its airspace following US-Israeli airstrikes that began on February 28. The country’s Civil Aviation Organisation confirmed earlier yesterday that parts of the airspace and a number of airports had been cleared to reopen. Source link
Pakistan’s powerful military chief and prime minister concluded yesterday separate visits aimed at ending the Iran war, with Field Marshal Asim Munir leaving Tehran and premier Shehbaz Sharif headed home from Turkiye. Munir met Iran’s top leadership and peace negotiators during a three-day visit to Tehran, a Pakistani military statement said. The visit showed Pakistan’s “unwavering resolve to facilitate a negotiated settlement… and to promote peace, stability, and prosperity”, the military said ahead of expected US-Iran talks in Islamabad in the coming days.The Pakistani military chief held negotiations with the country’s president, foreign minister, parliament speaker and the head of Iran’s military central command centre. Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi led the Iranian delegation to Islamabad for peace talks with the US last week, the highest level face-to-face contact between the two countries in decades. Those talks ended without an agreement, but diplomacy continued thereafter, with Pakistan’s prime minister undertaking a three-country tour to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye to push the peace process. That visit also concluded yesterday, with Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar departing a diplomacy forum in Antalya, according to statements from both officials. A second round of talks between the United States and Iran is expected in Islamabad this coming week. In Tehran, “the Field Marshal underscored the need for dialogue, de-escalation, and peaceful resolution of outstanding issues through sustained diplomatic engagements”, the Pakistani statement said. Source link
China has issued fines totalling 3.6bn yuan ($527mn) to seven major e-commerce platforms for food safety violations, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) said on Friday. The regulator said platforms, including Alibaba-owned Taobao, JD.com, Meituan, Temu-owner Pinduoduo and Douyin — China’s version of TikTok — had failed to check the licenses of stores on their apps and allowed “ghost food deliveries” from unverified vendors. SAMR said in a statement it had “ordered seven e-commerce platforms to rectify their illegal activities… and imposed fines and confiscations totalling 3.597bn yuan”.The legal representatives of the companies were also fined a total of 19.7mn yuan ($2.9mn), the market regulator said. An investigation showed the platforms had “not strictly reviewed and checked the licenses of food operators entering their networks, and failed to fulfil the obligation of qualification review in accordance with the law,” SAMR said. They had also signed agreements with order-transfer platforms, which infringed on consumers’ rights, SAMR said. Source link
A fire that broke out Sunday morning destroyed approximately 200 stilt houses in the Kampung Bahagia water village of Sandankan, Malaysia.Sandakan Fire and Rescue Station chief, Jimmy Lagung, said that firefighting operations are still underway and the blaze has not yet been brought under control. He noted that firefighters are facing difficulties reaching the site due to narrow access roads which hindered the movement of fire engines.Strong winds and the close proximity of the houses contributed to the rapid spread of the fire, while low tide conditions made it difficult to obtain an open water source, he added.Meanwhile, Sandakan District Disaster Management Committee chairman Datuk Walter Kenson declared a disaster following the fire, noting the activation of a temporary relief center to accommodate affected residents. He added that the affected homes are no longer safe to live in following the fire incident.According to unofficial figures, approximately 445 people from 89 families were displaced. Source link
Russia’s Andrey Rublev reacts after winning his Barcelona Open semi-final against Serbia’s Hamad Medjedovic Saturday. (AFP) Russian Andrey Rublev fought back to beat Hamad Medjedovic 3-6 6-2 6-2 in the Barcelona Open Saturday to reach his first final of the season where he will play Arthur Fils. Medjedovic, who came through the qualifiers, had stunned third seed Alex de Minaur in the last 16 and the Serbian came out swinging in the opening set, saving five break points to put one foot in the final. But Rublev recovered in the second set, improving on his second serve to level the match before dominating the third set on the back of a superb first serve as Medjedovic’s unforced error count climbed. After three semi-final exits this year, former world number five Rublev will play his first final since he lost in Hamburg 11 months ago. “Of course, I would like to (win the title). If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t happen, we keep working, what can I do? Not much to say,” he said in an on-court interview. Fils was also forced to make a comeback as he beat Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar 3-6 6-3 6-2 to register a landmark 100th victory on the ATP Tour. Jodar, who won the Grand Prix Hassan II title this month, was on an eight-match win streak but he could not stop Fils from reaching his second final of the year. Fils lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the Doha final in February. Related Story Source link