International Relations 6 February 2026 - 18 May 2026

Starmer’s Russia Oil Sanctions Move Fuels Ukraine Criticism While Energy Prices Jump
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Starmer’s Russia Oil Sanctions Move Fuels Ukraine Criticism While Energy Prices Jump

Britain has issued a licence allowing imports of diesel and jet fuel made from Russian crude if refined outside Russia, effective Wednesday, as fuel prices hit 158.5p a litre amid Strait of Hormuz disruption. The permit is indefinite but subject to review. A separate licence allows LNG shipments from Russia until January 2027. Labour and Conservative politicians criticized the move, citing concerns over support for Ukraine.
May 20, 2026
Japan’s $1.2 Trillion in US Treasuries Is Now a Market Risk for America
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Japan’s $1.2 Trillion in US Treasuries Is Now a Market Risk for America

Japanese investors sold a net ¥4.67 trillion ($29.6 billion) in U.S. government and agency debt in the first quarter, the largest pullback since 2022, official data showed. Rising Japanese bond yields, with the 10-year JGB at 2.73%, are drawing funds back home. Japan remains the largest foreign holder of U.S. Treasuries, owning $1.239 trillion as of February.
May 18, 2026
UK Typhoons to Take On Iranian Drones With Lower-Cost Weapons
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UK Typhoons to Take On Iranian Drones With Lower-Cost Weapons

Britain has deployed the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System on RAF Typhoon jets in the Middle East, aiming to cut costs in drone interceptions. The system, made by BAE Systems, was moved from trials to operational flights in under two months. The Ministry of Defence confirmed test firings but gave no details on combat use. Britain is also sending more military equipment to the Gulf.
May 17, 2026
BAE Systems Named in $992 Million U.S.-Israel Rocket Sale as Defense Demand Stays Strong
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BAE Systems Named in $992 Million U.S.-Israel Rocket Sale as Defense Demand Stays Strong

BAE Systems was named principal contractor in a proposed $992.4 million U.S. sale to Israel of 10,000 APKWS-II laser-guided rockets, according to a Federal Register notice. The deal, not yet final, lists major equipment and support services, with work based in Nashua, New Hampshire. BAE also won a $12.6 million Pentagon sonar contract this week. Competitors are pursuing similar high-volume munitions deals.
May 14, 2026
India Rejects Sanctioned Russian LNG, Stranding Tanker as Energy Crunch Deepens
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India Rejects Sanctioned Russian LNG, Stranding Tanker as Energy Crunch Deepens

India has rejected a Russian offer to sell liquefied natural gas from projects under U.S. sanctions, leaving the tanker Kunpeng without a clear destination after its planned delivery to Dahej was withdrawn, sources told Reuters. The move comes as India seeks to avoid breaching restrictions while maintaining fuel supplies amid Middle East disruptions and a weakened rupee.
May 11, 2026
United’s First UK Boeing 737 MAX Route Gives Glasgow Its New York Link Back
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United’s First UK Boeing 737 MAX Route Gives Glasgow Its New York Link Back

United Airlines resumed daily nonstop flights between Glasgow and Newark on May 9, restoring direct U.S. service to Glasgow for the first time since 2019. The route uses a Boeing 737 MAX 8 and runs seasonally through October 24. United is Glasgow’s only nonstop U.S. carrier and already operates several routes from Edinburgh. Glasgow Airport is seeking more U.S. links but no year-round service is confirmed.
May 11, 2026
Oil Below $100 as Trump’s Hormuz Pause Puts Iran Deal Back in Play
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Oil Below $100 as Trump’s Hormuz Pause Puts Iran Deal Back in Play

Brent crude dropped below $100 a barrel, falling over 9%, after reports that the U.S. and Iran were nearing a preliminary peace deal and President Trump paused a naval operation in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said safe transit could resume under new protocols, though details remain unclear. Global stocks rallied, but shipping risks persisted following an attack on a CMA CGM vessel in the strait.
May 6, 2026
Japan’s Russian Oil Cargo Arrives as Hormuz Crisis Forces Tokyo’s Hand
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Japan’s Russian Oil Cargo Arrives as Hormuz Crisis Forces Tokyo’s Hand

The Oman-flagged tanker Voyager, carrying Russian Sakhalin Blend crude for Taiyo Oil, arrived off Imabari, Japan, on Monday but could not berth due to rough seas. This marks Japan’s first Russian oil delivery since Iran-related disruptions cut Gulf supply. Taiyo said the shipment followed a government request and was cleared by Western authorities as outside Russian sanctions.
May 4, 2026
Standard Chartered PLC Profit Beat Comes With a $190 Million Iran War Catch
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Standard Chartered PLC Profit Beat Comes With a $190 Million Iran War Catch

Standard Chartered posted a 17% rise in first-quarter pretax profit to $2.45 billion, beating analyst forecasts, driven by record wealth and global banking income. The bank booked a $190 million charge linked to Middle East conflict and saw credit impairment increase to $296 million. Shares jumped 4.07% on the results. Wealth Solutions income climbed 32%, with $18 billion in net new money.
May 1, 2026
China Blocks Meta’s $2 Billion Manus AI Deal as U.S. Tech Money Comes Under Fire
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China Blocks Meta’s $2 Billion Manus AI Deal as U.S. Tech Money Comes Under Fire

China on Monday ordered Meta to unwind its $2 billion-plus acquisition of AI startup Manus, citing foreign investment restrictions. Manus, founded in Beijing and later moved to Singapore, had already integrated staff into Meta’s Singapore offices. The National Development and Reform Commission did not publicly name Meta or provide detailed reasons. Meta said the deal complied with all applicable laws.
April 27, 2026
Shell Plc Flags $15 Billion Working-Capital Hit as Iran Conflict Cuts Gas Output, Lifts Oil Trading
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Shell Plc Flags $15 Billion Working-Capital Hit as Iran Conflict Cuts Gas Output, Lifts Oil Trading

Shell warned first-quarter gas output will fall short of guidance and expects working capital between negative $10 billion and negative $15 billion due to volatile prices. The Pearl gas-to-liquids plant in Qatar halted production after March attacks, with repairs expected to take up to a year. Shell raised refining margin guidance to $17 a barrel and said oil trading and fuel marketing have improved.
April 8, 2026
China’s Open-Source AI Boom Raises Fresh Alarms for U.S. Tech Leadership
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China’s Open-Source AI Boom Raises Fresh Alarms for U.S. Tech Leadership

Chinese open-source AI models now dominate developer platforms despite U.S. chip restrictions, the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission said Monday. Tencent integrated OpenClaw into WeChat on Sunday, and Alibaba launched a new agent platform Monday. Siemens reported some developers prefer Chinese models for industrial AI due to lower costs and easier tuning. Chinese models have surpassed U.S. rivals in usage and downloads.
March 23, 2026
Intel under fire: US senators question chip-tool tests tied to China-linked ACM Research
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Intel under fire: US senators question chip-tool tests tied to China-linked ACM Research

U.S. senators pressed Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan for details on tests of ACM Research chipmaking tools, citing national security concerns. Intel said ACM tools are not used in its production processes and that it complies with U.S. law. Lawmakers asked Intel to confirm by March 20 it would not use equipment from firms with Entity-Listed affiliates without government approval. ACM Research did not immediately comment.
March 6, 2026
Intel back in Washington spotlight as senators press China-linked tool tests and 18A plans shift
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Intel back in Washington spotlight as senators press China-linked tool tests and 18A plans shift

U.S. senators Warren and Cotton pressed Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan to explain reports the company tested ACM Research chipmaking tools linked to Chinese firms on a U.S. trade blacklist. Intel said ACM tools are not used in its production and that it complies with U.S. laws. CFO David Zinsner said Intel is reconsidering offering its 18A chipmaking process to outside customers.
March 5, 2026
Korea stocks crash 12% as Iran war spikes oil and rewrites rate-cut bets
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Korea stocks crash 12% as Iran war spikes oil and rewrites rate-cut bets

South Korea’s KOSPI plunged 12% Wednesday, its largest one-day drop on record, as chip stocks tumbled and the Iran conflict sent oil prices higher. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix each fell about 20% this week. Wall Street and Asian markets saw sharp swings, with traders focused on the Strait of Hormuz and inflation risks. Europe stabilized, but Spain lagged after U.S. trade threats linked to Iran.
March 4, 2026
Gold price today: Bullion holds near $5,170 as U.S.-Iran talks test the latest rally
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Gold price today: Bullion holds near $5,170 as U.S.-Iran talks test the latest rally

Spot gold held at $5,168.72 an ounce after-hours Thursday, with U.S. April futures down 0.6% at $5,194.20 as traders watched U.S.-Iran nuclear talks and tariff signals. Oman reported “significant progress” in the talks, with more meetings set for next week. U.S. jobless claims rose slightly, while silver, platinum, and palladium all fell sharply.
February 26, 2026
Brent crude price slips near $71 as Iran talks and Trump tariffs keep traders on edge
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Brent crude price slips near $71 as Iran talks and Trump tariffs keep traders on edge

Brent crude fell 37 cents to $71.39 a barrel Monday after hitting a six-month high, while U.S. WTI dropped 27 cents to $66.21. Traders are watching Thursday’s U.S.-Iran nuclear talks and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down parts of Trump-era tariffs. A winter storm in the U.S. Northeast pushed diesel crack spreads up 5%. Europe’s oil and gas sector index hit a record high as Brent briefly touched $72.44.
February 23, 2026
Slovakia taps emergency oil reserves as Druzhba shutdown shifts pressure to Croatia’s Adria pipeline
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Slovakia taps emergency oil reserves as Druzhba shutdown shifts pressure to Croatia’s Adria pipeline

Slovakia declared an oil supply emergency and authorized the release of up to 250,000 tonnes from state reserves for Slovnaft after Russian crude flows through the Druzhba pipeline were disrupted. Prime Minister Robert Fico said using Croatia’s Adria pipeline would cost over five times more. Croatia signaled limits on routing more Russian oil, citing sanctions and rising costs. EU officials said Slovakia and Hungary hold 90 days of reserves but want a repair timeline from Ukraine.
February 18, 2026
U.S. and China Skip New AI Weapons Pledge in Spain as Only 35 Nations Sign
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U.S. and China Skip New AI Weapons Pledge in Spain as Only 35 Nations Sign

The U.S. and China declined to sign a new declaration on military AI use at a Spain summit, with only 35 of 85 countries backing the voluntary principles. Delegates cited strained U.S.-Europe relations and uncertainty over future alliances as reasons for hesitation. The agreement, reached at the REAIM meeting in A Coruna, is non-binding. Signatories include Canada, Germany, France, Britain, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Ukraine.
February 6, 2026
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