Politics 11 February 2026 - 2 April 2026

Iran Says Lavan Oil Refinery Hit, Israel Denies Role as Ceasefire Faces Early Test
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Iran Says Lavan Oil Refinery Hit, Israel Denies Role as Ceasefire Faces Early Test

Iran reported an "enemy attack" on its Lavan Island oil refinery Wednesday, igniting a fire but causing no injuries, days after a U.S.-Iran ceasefire was announced. Israel denied involvement. Brent crude fell 16% to $91.80 as traders anticipated Hormuz reopening, despite ongoing strikes on energy sites in the region. Shipping firms said full operations could take weeks to restore, with around 1,000 vessels still stranded.
April 8, 2026
Santos Pushes Ahead With Yarrow Gas Wells as Australia’s Tax Fight Intensifies
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Santos Pushes Ahead With Yarrow Gas Wells as Australia’s Tax Fight Intensifies

Santos will drill two more wells at the Yarrow gas field in South Australia after Red Sky Energy approved project spending and confirmed its 20% stake. Drilling on the first well is set to begin soon. Yarrow 1, online since November, initially produced 2.4 million standard cubic feet per day, above forecasts. The new wells come as Santos faces political scrutiny over gas exports and recent profit declines.
April 2, 2026
Barclays PLC Stock Price Falls After BaFin Fine as Credit Risks Stay in Focus
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Barclays PLC Stock Price Falls After BaFin Fine as Credit Risks Stay in Focus

G7 governments agreed to back international fundraising for urgent repairs to the Chornobyl New Safe Confinement after a 2025 drone strike left the structure unable to contain radioactive material. France confirmed the commitment at a March 26-27 meeting. The estimated repair cost is €500 million, with current funds at just over €70 million. Full restoration is targeted for 2030 if work starts by late 2027.
March 28, 2026
Fed’s Goolsbee Says Rate Hikes Back on Table as Iran War Clouds Cuts
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Fed’s Goolsbee Says Rate Hikes Back on Table as Iran War Clouds Cuts

Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee said Monday the U.S. central bank could cut or raise rates this year, depending on inflation and fallout from the Iran conflict. Oil prices and rate hike odds swung sharply after Trump paused strikes on Iran, but volatility resumed as Iran denied talks. Goolsbee, not a 2024 voter, stressed inflation risks from higher gasoline. The Fed next meets April 28-29.
March 24, 2026
African ministers snub London Africa Energies Summit as local content row deepens
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African ministers snub London Africa Energies Summit as local content row deepens

The African Energy Chamber said Monday that African petroleum ministers will boycott May’s Africa Energies Summit in London over local content and representation concerns. Mozambique’s chamber had already withdrawn. The summit, billed as Africa’s top oil and gas conference, is set to proceed, with organizers still listing major speakers and promoting local content partnerships.
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
Sable Offshore Corp shares jump as Trump weighs emergency powers for stalled California oil restart
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Sable Offshore Corp shares jump as Trump weighs emergency powers for stalled California oil restart

The Trump administration may invoke emergency powers to help Sable Offshore Corp bypass California permitting delays, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said Thursday. Sable’s oil remains stored at Las Flores Canyon, blocked by a court injunction and lacking pipeline or tanker access. Shares jumped 37.3% after the news. No Defense Production Act order has been issued, and legal challenges continue.
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
BP caught in UK windfall tax limbo as Reeves flags Iran war price spike
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BP caught in UK windfall tax limbo as Reeves flags Iran war price spike

UK finance minister Rachel Reeves said Wednesday that the Middle East conflict has made it harder to predict when Britain will end its windfall tax on North Sea oil and gas profits. BP faces renewed uncertainty as the tax remains in place while energy prices surge. Cornwall Insight forecasts the UK household energy price cap will rise about 10% in July, after gas prices jumped more than 70% in a week. BP shares fell 2.38% in London trading.
March 5, 2026
Meta signs White House power pledge as AI data centers put U.S. electricity bills in focus
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Meta signs White House power pledge as AI data centers put U.S. electricity bills in focus

Meta, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle, and xAI signed a White House pledge to cover new power and grid costs for data centers, aiming to prevent higher household electricity bills. The Trump administration announced the agreement as AI-driven data center expansion faces local opposition and scrutiny over energy use. Critics say the voluntary pledge may be difficult to enforce and may not address power supply delays.
March 4, 2026
Heating Oil price surges to two-year high as Hormuz disruption hits diesel supply
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Heating Oil price surges to two-year high as Hormuz disruption hits diesel supply

NYMEX heating oil futures surged nearly 14% to a two-year high Monday after Middle East strikes and retaliation disrupted shipping near the Strait of Hormuz. About 150 ships were stranded and at least three vessels struck, according to Reuters. Diesel outpaced crude gains, with front-month ULSD up 36 cents at $2.9561 a gallon. Traders await Wednesday’s U.S. fuel inventory report.
March 2, 2026
Oil price today: Brent, WTI stay near seven-month highs as Iran talks and tariffs cloud the outlook
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Oil price today: Brent, WTI stay near seven-month highs as Iran talks and tariffs cloud the outlook

Oil prices dipped Tuesday but stayed near seven-month highs, with Brent at $71.24 and WTI at $66.06 by late morning. Traders watched for signals ahead of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks set for Thursday in Geneva. The U.S. imposed a new 10% global import tariff, and shipping costs for crude surged, with VLCC rates to China topping $170,000 a day. The State Department ordered non-essential staff out of the U.S. embassy in Beirut.
February 24, 2026
Silver price jumps near $89 as Trump’s 15% tariff clock ticks down
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Silver price jumps near $89 as Trump’s 15% tariff clock ticks down

Spot silver jumped 4.76% to $88.68 an ounce in late U.S. trading Monday, after the U.S. announced a 15% global import tariff set to begin at 12:01 a.m. EST Tuesday. Investors moved into safe-haven assets as Treasury yields fell and stocks slid. Markets are watching for any last-minute tariff changes and upcoming U.S. economic data, including consumer confidence and jobs figures.
February 23, 2026
Merval’s next test: Milei labor reform vote and fresh INDEC data loom for Buenos Aires stocks
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Merval’s next test: Milei labor reform vote and fresh INDEC data loom for Buenos Aires stocks

Argentina’s S&P Merval index closed Friday up 1.2% at 2,873,248.32, rising 2% for the week as investors watched a Senate vote on President Javier Milei’s labor reform bill. The bill, which eases hiring rules and lowers severance pay, is expected to face a final Senate vote next week. Key economic data on activity and retail sales are due Tuesday and Wednesday. The market reopens Monday at 10:30 a.m. local time.
February 22, 2026
Elevance Health stock bounces as House subpoenas revive Obamacare subsidy scrutiny
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Elevance Health stock bounces as House subpoenas revive Obamacare subsidy scrutiny

Elevance Health shares climbed 1.5% to $330.68 Wednesday after rebounding from an intraday low, as subpoenas from the House Judiciary Committee targeted the company and other insurers over ACA premium subsidies. Trading volume reached 0.67 million shares. Other major managed-care stocks mostly rose. RBC Capital Markets recently downgraded Elevance, citing a softer 2026 outlook and lower margin targets.
February 11, 2026
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