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- UAE Exits OPEC to Secure Strategic Autonomy and Strengthen Israeli Ties
- Golders Green Stabbing Suspect Identified as Essa Suleiman | UK News
- Uttar Pradesh farmer files complaint after 140 chickens die from loud music
- Belgium begins takeover of nuclear power plants from Engie to secure energy supplies
- US Indicts Sinaloa Governor and Officials for Drug Cartel Links
- Trump Urges Iran to ‘Give Up’ as Conflict Enters Day 62 Amid Tensions
- Abandoned £4m Chelsea mansion engulfed by Japanese knotweed jungle | News UK
- Ukraine claims to capture Russian positions using unmanned systems for the first time
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UAE Exits OPEC to Secure Strategic Autonomy and Strengthen Israeli Ties
3:03 pm
UAE Exits OPEC to strengthen Israel ties
The United Arab Emirates has officially announced its withdrawal from OPEC and OPEC+ to pursue its national interests and strategic autonomy, amid rising tensions linked to the US-Israel-Iran conflict and ongoing regional realignments.
UAE’s move signals a major shift away from collective oil production quotas whilst positioning itself to be the main Arab state and deepening cooperation with Israel, underscoring a new phase in Gulf regional politics and energy strategy.
There are long-standing plans and a preliminary agreement regarding a pipeline to transport oil from the UAE to Israel, which has gained renewed, intense focus in 2026 due to regional tension
UAE’s Withdrawal reflects national strategic and economic vision
The United Arab Emirates confirmed on Tuesday that it will leave the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and OPEC+ effective May 1, 2026. The decision, according to state media, aligns with the country’s “long-term strategic and economic vision and evolving energy profile.”
UAE Energy Minister Suhail Mohamed al-Mazrouei described the move as a policy decision taken after careful consideration of current and future energy production strategies. Notably, the UAE did not consult other OPEC members, including Saudi Arabia, before making its decision.
Since becoming a founding OPEC member through Abu Dhabi in 1967, and then as the UAE post-independence in 1971, the country has been a significant oil producer contributing roughly 4.8 million barrels per day capacity. Its exit is expected to dilute OPEC’s ability to manage supply and prices collectively.
Strategic Autonomy and Reduced Bloc Dependence
The UAE’s OPEC exit fits a broader pattern of distancing from regional blocs and asserting strategic autonomy. Diplomatic adviser Dr Anwar Gargash highlighted that this autonomy is the UAE’s “enduring choice,” which is reflected in foreign policy decisions and other sectors.
Examples of this autonomy include the UAE’s historic Abraham Accords normalising relations with Israel in 2020 and shifting its weekend to Saturday and Sunday in 2022 to synchronise with global markets like London and New York.
The Israeli-installed mass civil surveillance system of Abu Dhabi, Falcon eye was step one. The UAE has also concluded the Barakah Nuclear Plant, the Arab world’s first nuclear power station, supplying around a quarter of domestic electricity.
Energy analyst Jorge Leon of Rystad Energy stated the withdrawal represents a “significant shift” for OPEC. He noted that with global demand nearing its peak, producers like the UAE see more value outside quota systems, allowing for faster responses to disruptions such as Strait of Hormuz tensions.
Elevated ties with Israel was always the plan
As regional conflicts intensify, particularly between the US-Israel coalition and Iran, the UAE’s decision underscores its evolving defence strategy. Unlike other Gulf states that are eyeing Pakistan as a long term defence partner shifting away from the US for military support, the UAE plans to rely on Israel for defence and security in return for stability and investment in the UAE markets, cementing Dubai’s position as the New York of the Middle East.
Tehran targeted UAE military infrastructure during the ongoing Iran war, prompting the Emirates to label the attacks as “unprovoked and terrorist.” The UAE withdrew its diplomatic staff from Tehran and called for decisive measures against Iran’s ballistic missile programme, reflecting a hardened stance unlike previous Gulf responses.
Saudi and UAE have not seen eye to eye this century
The departure of the UAE risks increasing fragility within OPEC at a time when Gulf producers already face challenges, such as shipping disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz caused by Iranian threats and attacks.
Saudi Arabia, has always been the de facto leader and dominant force within OPEC and the Gulf region, wielding unparalleled influence due to its role as the world’s largest oil exporter and swing producer.
Competition between the UAE and Saudi Arabia has also become more pronounced. Their coalition in Yemen fractured in late 2023 after Saudi Arabia targeted shipments allegedly bound for UAE-backed separatists. This deterioration adds complexity to Gulf cooperation within OPEC.
Breaking OPEC up was always Israel’s plan
In 2020, following the Abraham Accords, Israel’s state-owned Europe Asia Pipeline Company (EAPC) signed a memorandum of understanding with MED-RED Land Bridge, a joint Israeli-Emirati company, to transport oil from the UAE to Europe via Israel.
The plan involves tankers bringing oil from the Gulf to the Red Sea port of Eilat in southern Israel, where it would travel through an existing EAPC pipeline across the Negev desert to the Mediterranean port of Ashkelon, which is less 15km from the Gaza strip. Conveniently the Russia-Ukraine war also destroyed the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines.
With the UAE adopting a more flexible approach, Saudi Arabia now shoulders greater responsibility in upholding oil price stability. The shifting alliances and strategic calculations reflect a Gulf region undergoing profound transformation.
Golders Green Stabbing Suspect Identified as Essa Suleiman | UK News
3:00 pm
Get you up to speed: Golders Green Stabbing Suspect Identified as Essa Suleiman | UK News
VIOLENT ATTACK
Essa Suleiman, a 45-year-old British national, was arrested by the WTXpolitan Police after stabbing two Jewish men in Golders Green.
Essa Suleiman, a 45-year-old British national, was arrested by the WTXpolitan Police after stabbing two Jewish men in Golders Green.
COMMUNITY PROTECTION
Shloime Rand’s mother urged for increased security, stating the Jewish community needs more protection amidst ongoing investigations by counter-terrorism officers into the attack.
Shloime Rand’s mother urged for increased security, stating the Jewish community needs more protection amidst ongoing investigations by counter-terrorism officers into the attack.
CURRENT STATUS
Essa Suleiman remains in custody while counter-terrorism officers from the WTXpolitan Police investigate his prior altercation and the circumstances of the stabbings in Golders Green.
Essa Suleiman remains in custody while counter-terrorism officers from the WTXpolitan Police investigate his prior altercation and the circumstances of the stabbings in Golders Green.
What we know so far
Essa Suleiman, the 45-year-old suspect in the Golders Green stabbings, has been arrested following attacks on Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Ben Baila, 76, in north London. Suleiman, who is originally from Somalia, became a British citizen after arriving in the UK as a child in the early 1990s.
Police confirmed that Suleiman, who was apprehended by two officers, has a history of ‘serious violence and mental health issues’ and was previously referred to the government’s anti-extremism programme, Prevent, in 2020. This case was closed without further action.
The mother’s of victim Shloime Rand reported that he is recovering in hospital from a stab wound to the chest, having been attacked while attending a religious studies class. She expressed concern for the safety of the Jewish community, stating, ‘The Jewish community needs more protection for the danger we face.’
Counter-terrorism officers are currently investigating the incident, searching a property in south-east London linked to Suleiman. The investigation is ongoing as police gather more details related to the attacks.
Read in full
Golders Green stabbing suspect named as Essa Suleiman | News UK
This is the first picture of the suspected Golders Green knifeman named as Somali-born former school security guard Essa Suleiman.
The 45-year-old British national was arrested after Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Ben Baila, 76, were attacked in north London.
He was born in Somalia, but arrived in the UK as a child in the early 1990s.
He arrived legally before becoming an official British citizen.
Police have confirmed the suspect pinned to the floor by two officers had a history of ‘serious violence and mental health issues’, and was previously referred to Prevent.
He was referred to the government’s anti-extremism programme in 2020, but the case was closed.
It is understood Suleiman once worked as a school security guard and a Somali interpreter.
It came after mother of victim Shloime Rand today described how the ‘gentle soul’ was still in hospital recovering from a wound to the chest.
He described how Jewish friends had alerted her with a phone call ‘no parent ever wants to receive’.
She told WTX she had been at her son’s bedside and that he had been attacked while in Golders Green to attend a religious studies class.
Latest London news
To get the latest news from the capital, visit WTX’s London news hub.
She said: ‘Some Jewish friends rang me, not the police.
‘My son was in the area for religious studies. He was attacked for no reason. He was stabbed in the chest and is still in hospital.’
She added: ‘The Jewish community needs more protection for the danger we face.’
In London, counter-terrorism officers investigating the attack said they were also searching an address in the south east of the city after it was reported the suspect had been involved in a prior ‘altercation’ with another person
This is a breaking news story… More to follow…
Uttar Pradesh farmer files complaint after 140 chickens die from loud music
2:00 pm
Get you up to speed: Uttar Pradesh farmer files complaint after 140 chickens die from loud music
Sabir Ali, a poultry farmer in Uttar Pradesh, has lodged an official complaint with the police after 140 of his chickens died due to loud music from a wedding procession. The procession, which was for the daughter of local resident Babban Vishwakarma, passed by Ali’s farm around 9.30pm on April 25.
Sabir Ali has filed a police complaint after 140 of his chickens died from distress caused by loud music during a wedding procession for Babban Vishwakarma’s daughter on April 25 in Uttar Pradesh. Authorities are investigating the DJ, Kavi Yadav, to determine if the sound levels exceeded permitted limits.
Sabir Ali’s complaint has sparked an investigation by local police in Uttar Pradesh into DJ Kavi Yadav’s use of bass speakers during the wedding procession. The inquiry seeks to determine if the sound levels exceeded legal limits, following the distress and subsequent death of 140 chickens on Ali’s farm.
140 chickens die after wedding DJ cranked up the volume during procession | News World
Sabir Ali has lodged an official complaint with the police in Uttar Pradesh (Picture: Contributed)
A poultry farmer has issued a complaint after 140 of his chickens died from ‘loud music’ at a wedding nearby.
On April 25, a wedding was underway in Uttar Pradesh for the daughter of local resident Babban Vishwakarma, with the procession walking through the small village.
Sabir Ali, who operates a poultry farm right near the village, told police the procession walked past his farm around 9.30pm, panicking his chickens.
‘The noise was so intense that the chickens got frightened and died,’ he said.
After his complaint, police said they are investigating the wedding DJ, Kavi Yadav, to see if his bass speakers were above the sound limit.
Ali said 140 of his flock died from distress (Picture: Contributed)
DJ Yadav and the farmer haven’t commented further on the ongoing investigation, but Ali says that 140 of his chickens died as a result of the loud music.
Loud music, especially at a high pitch, can kill animals, cause hearing damage and cause them to enter a state of severe distress.
In fact, it’s believed nearly 80% of pets have suffered anxiety symptoms, triggered by things such as traffic and people, to being left home alone, loud noises, or changes to their own environment.
The Humane Slaughter Organisation identifies a few things that can cause animals to enter distress.
These include unfamiliar surroundings, noise, isolation, other animals making noise, overcrowding, lack of food, extreme cold and heat, confinement, and lack of water.
‘Although many animals might be able to tolerate a single stressor for a short period of time, multiple stressors over a long period of time may lead to distress and suffering,’ it added.
Most pets, like dogs and cats, are afraid of loud noises like fireworks. Even wild animals can experience severe stress from loud noises.
In 2016, an animal rights group said a live music event at a zoo left the lions stressed out.
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Bristol Zoo Gardens’ recent ‘Big Night Out’, which involves loud live music and alcohol and gives guests access to the animals, was under fire after the allegation.
The lions were filmed pacing back and forth inside of their zoo enclosure, clearly stressed.
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Belgium begins takeover of nuclear power plants from Engie to secure energy supplies
1:00 pm
Belgium begins takeover of nuclear power plants from Engie to secure energy supplies
Nuclear Control
Belgium plans to take control of all nuclear power plants from Engie, seeking management of all nuclear activities currently owned by the French energy group.
Belgium plans to take control of all nuclear power plants from Engie, seeking management of all nuclear activities currently owned by the French energy group.
Nuclear Control
Belgium’s acquisition of its nuclear power plants marks a decisive shift towards energy sovereignty amid rising geopolitical tensions and fluctuating energy prices in Europe.
Belgium’s acquisition of its nuclear power plants marks a decisive shift towards energy sovereignty amid rising geopolitical tensions and fluctuating energy prices in Europe.
Official Statement
“An agreement has been reached with ENGIE to define the conditions and initiate the necessary studies for a full takeover of the Belgian nuclear park,” said Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever.
“An agreement has been reached with ENGIE to define the conditions and initiate the necessary studies for a full takeover of the Belgian nuclear park,” said Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever.
Key developments
Belgium intends to seize control of all nuclear power plants from French energy group Engie, aiming to secure its energy supplies amid current geopolitical tensions.
The Belgian government and Engie have initiated discussions to transfer management of all nuclear activities under Engie and its Electrabel subsidiary, according to a press statement.
Prime Minister Bart de Wever confirmed that plans to decommission nuclear operations initiated by Engie are now halted. Final agreements are expected by October.
Belgium seeks to take control of nuclear reactors in move to control energy supplies
Belgium plans to take control of all nuclear power plants in the country from French energy group Engie, in an effort to secure control of its own energy supplies.
Negotiations between the Belgian government and the energy giant have now begun, with Belgium seeking to take over all nuclear activities currently owned and managed by Engie and its Electrabel subsidiary, according to a press statement.
“An agreement has been reached with ENGIE to define the conditions and initiate the necessary studies for a full takeover of the Belgian nuclear park,” Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever wrote in a post on X.
“This government chooses safe, affordable and sustainable energy. With less dependence on fossil imports and more control over our own supply,” he added.
Five out of the seven power plants, which are spread across Doel, near Antwerp, and Tihange in the Liège region, closed between 2022 and 2025.
Two of the reactors remain active as they had their operating licenses extended for 10 years until 2035, under an agreement reached in 2023 by the previous government.
In contrast with the country’s previous policies, De Wever pledged to increase Belgium’s use of nuclear energy and pushed back against the closure of its reactors.
The plans to do so faced signficant opposition from Engie, which would rather invest in solar, batteries and gas-powered stations.
“Engie has made a decision to leave nuclear. We respect that, but a country with nuclear ambitions and an operator wanting to get out is not a good combination,” de Wever said, in comments carried by the Flemish public broadcaster VRT.
Pending the final agreement of the negotiations, which are expected to conclude in October, the Belgian prime minister confirmed on X that plans to decommission nuclear operations in Belgium, which had been initiated by Engie, are “halted with immediate effect.”
The topic of nuclear power as a key source of energy had already gained momentum following the energy crisis which came about following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
It has again reemerged to the centre of the debate in Europe as the ongoing war in Iran and resulting closure of the Strait of Hormuz has caused energy prices to soar across the continent.
US Indicts Sinaloa Governor and Officials for Drug Cartel Links
11:39 am
Get you up to speed:
US charges Sinaloa state governor, 9 others over Mexican drug cartel links
United States prosecutors have charged Sinaloa state Governor Ruben Rocha Moya and nine other officials with links to the Sinaloa drug cartel. The indictment alleges that they collaborated with cartel leaders to facilitate the movement of narcotics into the US in exchange for political support and bribes.
The Mexican government stated that the US documents requesting arrests and potential extraditions “lacked sufficient evidence.”
Sinaloa state Governor Ruben Rocha Moya has rejected the accusations against him, stating they are baseless and part of a political attack, and he plans to confront the claims “with dignity.”
US Indicts Sinaloa Governor and Officials for Drug Cartel Links
News|CorruptionUS charges Sinaloa state governor, 9 others over Mexican drug cartel links
Indictment alleges that Governor Ruben Rocha Moya and nine other current and former Mexican officials worked with cartel leaders.
Sinaloa Governor Ruben Rocha Moya speaks at an event [File: Rashide Frias/AFP]
United States prosecutors have brought charges against Mexico’s Sinaloa state Governor Ruben Rocha Moya and nine current and former officials, accusing them of links to the Sinaloa drug cartel in a move that could strain relations between the two countries.
An indictment unsealed on Wednesday in New York alleges that Rocha Moya, 76, and nine others worked with cartel leaders to move large quantities of narcotics into the US in exchange for political support and bribes.
Prosecutors say that support extended to Rocha Moya’s 2021 election campaign, when members of the cartel’s “Chapitos” faction allegedly helped secure his victory. According to the indictment, cartel operatives kidnapped and threatened opposition candidates and stole ballot papers cast for his rivals to help secure his victory.
Authorities said the scheme was aided by another defendant, Enrique Diaz Vega, who later became Rocha Moya’s secretary of administration and finance, who allegedly provided the cartel with a list of opponents’ names and addresses so they could be pressured into dropping out of the race.
The US Justice Department said most of the suspects were aligned with the sons of the Sinaloa cartel cofounder Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, who is serving a life sentence in the US.
“The Sinaloa Cartel is not just trafficking deadly drugs, it is a designated terrorist organization that relies on corruption and bribery to drive violence and profit,” said Terrance Cole, administrator of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
“This indictment exposes a deliberate effort to undermine public institutions and put American lives at risk,” Cole said in a statement. “The defendants allegedly used positions of trust to protect cartel operations.”
Rocha Moya has rejected the charges, calling them baseless and without evidence. In a statement, he said the accusations were part of a broader political attack, not just against him, but against the governing Morena movement and its leadership.
The state governor also told residents of Sinaloa that he would confront the claims “with dignity” and demonstrate that they lack any foundation.
Translation: I categorically and absolutely reject the accusations made against me by the Southern District of New York Federal Prosecutor’s Office, as they lack any truth or foundation whatsoever. And this will be demonstrated, with full force, at the appropriate time.
The Mexican government said in a statement that the US documents requesting the arrests and potential extraditions lacked sufficient evidence.
Rare move signals shift in US strategy
Indictments against sitting senior Mexican politicians are rare, and the case could point to a shift in Washington’s approach to tackling drug cartels, with increased attention on alleged links between organised crime and political figures.
“It certainly is a change in US strategy to go after a sitting government official,” said Vanda Felbab-Brown, an expert on non-state armed groups at the Brookings Institution think tank in Washington, DC.
“It’s long been considered a very big step, almost a ‘nuclear option’,” she said.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if we see more indictments to follow,” Felbab-Brown told WTX News.
“Although Rocha is the eye of the storm, the storm is much wider than him,” she said, describing the case as part of a broad sweep against the alleged crime-politics nexus in Sinaloa.
Among those indicted, at least three officials, including Rocha and a Mexican senator, were affiliated with President Claudia Sheinbaum’s Morena party, while others held roles outside formal party structures, she added.
Translation: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has received requests for provisional arrest for the purposes of extradition, which will be forwarded to the Attorney General’s Office. No evidence is attached to the documents.”
‘A political headache for Sheinbaum’
The case adds pressure on Sheinbaum, given Rocha Moya’s ties to the governing Morena party and his close relationship with former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
Rocha Moya, a longtime Morena figure and former senator, won the Sinaloa governorship in 2021 and has remained politically aligned with Lopez Obrador.
“It’s a real political headache for Sheinbaum,” Felbab-Brown said, adding that how she responds in the coming days, including whether to act against the governor, could have significant diplomatic and domestic consequences.
“If she does not act against him, including potentially arresting or extraditing him to the US, the US will feel very alienated at a time of USMCA negotiations,” she said, referring to the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.
“If she does act against him, it could undermine her ability to control the Morena party and perhaps even jeopardise her political position,” she added.
The case comes as Mexico’s government has stepped up efforts to confront powerful drug cartels, with a series of high-profile operations targeting organised crime figures in recent months, including the killing by security forces of Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, who led the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
Trump Urges Iran to ‘Give Up’ as Conflict Enters Day 62 Amid Tensions
11:37 am
Get you up to speed: Iran war latest
What’s happening on day 62 as Trump asks Iran to ‘give up’?
United States President Donald Trump stated that the US blockade of Iranian ports has been successful and urged Tehran to “just give up.” Concurrently, Iran‘s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf dismissed the blockade’s effectiveness, contending that no oil wells have been adversely affected.
US President Donald Trump stated that Washington’s blockade of Iranian ports has been effective, urging Tehran to “just give up” amid escalating tensions. In response, Iran‘s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf dismissed the impact of the blockade, arguing that global oil prices have merely increased without affecting Iran’s oil production.
The US plans to maintain a long blockade of Iran’s ports to compel Tehran to abandon its nuclear programme, as stated by President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, oil prices have surged, with Brent crude surpassing $119 a barrel amid concerns over the blockade’s impact on global markets.
Trump Urges Iran to ‘Give Up’ as Conflict Enters Day 62 Amid Tensions
EXPLAINERNews|US-Israel war on IranIran war: What’s happening on day 62 as Trump asks Iran to ‘give up’?
Trump says the US blockade of Iranian ports is working, urging Tehran to ‘give up’ amid tensions.
People chant during a rally in Tehran, Iran [Majid Asgaripour/Reuters]
United States President Donald Trump says Washington’s blockade of Iranian ports has been a success, urging Tehran to “just give up” as pressure mounts in a deepening standoff over the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has pushed back strongly, with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf dismissing the US campaign as ineffective, while the military says its restraint so far has been “intended to give diplomacy a chance”.
Meanwhile, tensions in the Strait of Hormuz are rippling through global markets, sending oil prices above $120 a barrel and driving US petrol prices to a four-year high.
Here is what we know as the conflict enters day 62:
In Iran
Iran speaker dismisses blockade’s impact on oil: Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said no oil wells have “exploded” under the US blockade, arguing the measures have only driven up global prices. He added Iran’s storage has not reached capacity and accused US officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, of acting on “junk advice” over the policy.
Can the blockade force a production halt?
The US says cutting off exports will eventually push Iran’s storage to capacity, forcing output to stop, but analysts say remaining storage may cover only about 20 days of output. As Muyu Xu, a senior crude oil analyst at Kpler, notes, any cuts are likely to be gradual, with a higher chance of acceleration into May.
‘Inappropriate behaviour’: Top Iranian football officials left World Cup cohosts Canada before the start of the FIFA Congress because of “inappropriate behaviour” by immigration officials at Toronto airport, Iranian media said.
War diplomacy
Putin-Trump talks: Russian President Vladimir Putin warned his US counterpart Donald Trump not to resume attacks on Iran. In a phone call between the two leaders, Putin said Trump’s decision to extend the ceasefire was “the right one”, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov told reporters, including from the AFP news agency.
Sticking points in US-Iran negotiations: The two sides remain divided over Iran’s nuclear programme and uranium stockpile, the US blockade, the release of $20bn in Iranian assets, and Tehran’s demand for $270bn in war reparations.
Geopolitical ripple effects: OPEC is reportedly in “crisis mode” amid the energy shock and the UAE’s plan to exit the group. Trump is also weighing a reduction of US troops in Germany after tensions with Berlin.
In the Gulf
Iran condemns Bahrain citizenship revocations: Tehran says Manama violated the rights of 69 people stripped of citizenship for allegedly supporting Iranian attacks. Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior accused them of “colluding with foreign entities”, while Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the move “discriminatory” and an attempt to deflect from support for US-Israeli actions.
In the US
‘$25bn’ cost of the war so far: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was asked during a fiery exchange in Congress about the cost of 60 days of conflict, and replied that it was estimated at less than $25bn so far.
Long blockade: Trump has told national security officials to prepare for a long blockade of Iran’s ports to compel Tehran to give up its nuclear programme, according to the Wall Street Journal.
‘No more Mr. Nice Guy’: “Iran can’t get their act together. They don’t know how to sign a nonnuclear deal. They better get smart soon!” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, alongside an illustration of himself holding an assault rifle, with the caption “NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!”
Economic toll of the blockade: Washington says it has seized nearly $500m in Iranian crypto assets under “Operation Economic Fury” to ramp up pressure. Meanwhile, US Democrats are criticising the war’s $25bn cost, citing higher fuel and food prices for Americans.
In Lebanon and Gaza
Lebanon ceasefire: Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun urged Israel to fully implement a ceasefire before beginning direct talks, after Israeli attacks killed more than 20 people in the last two days.
Gaza crisis deepens: Israeli forces have intercepted a Gaza-bound civilian aid convoy in what a press officer described as a possible “kidnapping on the high seas”, while Palestinians continue to be killed in the Gaza Strip despite a fragile “ceasefire”.
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Global economy
Oil jumps: Global crude prices soared following reports of a possible extended blockade, with Brent jumping above $119 a barrel to its highest level since 2022 and US benchmark WTI above $115.
Record profits: French fossil fuel giant TotalEnergies said net profit rose 51 percent in the first quarter to $5.8bn, boosted by higher oil prices linked to the war in Iran.
Asia hit hard by rising oil prices: The Asia Pacific region, heavily reliant on Middle East oil, is feeling the strain as Brent crude nears $120 a barrel. The Asian Development Bank has cut growth forecasts and raised inflation projections, with higher fuel and food prices hitting millions.
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