Politics 31 March 2026 - 15 May 2026

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

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
Shell Plc Reveals $23.8 Billion Government Payments Before AGM Climate Vote
····

Shell Plc Reveals $23.8 Billion Government Payments Before AGM Climate Vote

Shell reported $23.84 billion in 2025 payments to governments for oil, gas, and mineral extraction, with Brazil, Oman, and Norway receiving the most. The disclosure comes five days before Shell’s annual meeting, where investors will vote on a climate resolution. The report excludes refining and joint ventures. Shell’s effective tax rate was 39% for 2025, nearly double the OECD average.
May 14, 2026
FTSE 100 Holds Flat as UK Political Risk Hits Banks, Mid-Caps and Sterling
···

FTSE 100 Holds Flat as UK Political Risk Hits Banks, Mid-Caps and Sterling

The FTSE 100 closed down 4.11 points at 10,265.32 after recovering from a 1.1% drop, while the FTSE 250 slid 1.5% to 22,466.20, its sharpest fall in over six weeks. UK 30-year gilt yields hit 5.81%, the highest since 1998, as investors reacted to political turmoil and a weaker pound. Nearly 80 Labour MPs reportedly called for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign. Banks and housebuilders led the declines.
May 12, 2026
NatWest Stock Falls as UK Political Risk Overpowers a Stronger Income Story
···

NatWest Stock Falls as UK Political Risk Overpowers a Stronger Income Story

NatWest shares fell 4.1% to 561.6p in London on Tuesday, mirroring a broader drop in UK bank stocks amid surging gilt yields and political turmoil. Thirty-year gilt yields hit 5.81%, the highest since 1998. Pressure mounted on Labour leader Keir Starmer to resign after poor local election results, fueling concerns over potential tax hikes on banks. JPMorgan analysts now expect the UK banking surcharge could rise to 5% from 3%.
May 12, 2026
Lloyds Slides as UK Political Risk Turns a Bank Stock Into a Gilt Trade
···

Lloyds Slides as UK Political Risk Turns a Bank Stock Into a Gilt Trade

Lloyds Banking Group shares fell 4.2% to 94.21p as UK bank stocks dropped amid surging gilt yields and pressure on sterling. The 30-year gilt yield hit 5.81%, the highest since 1998. Investors cited fiscal risk, oil-driven inflation, and speculation over Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s future. Lloyds’ buyback and capital moves failed to stem the broader selloff in UK banks.
May 12, 2026
Barclays Shares Drop as UK Political Risk Hits the Bank Re-rating Trade
···

Barclays Shares Drop as UK Political Risk Hits the Bank Re-rating Trade

Barclays shares fell 4.19% to 411.05p on Tuesday, outpacing the FTSE 100’s 0.41% drop, as investors sold UK bank stocks amid rising gilt yields and a weaker pound. Thirty-year UK gilt yields hit 5.81%, the highest since 1998, while tax and political risks weighed on sentiment. J.P. Morgan warned a higher bank surcharge and changes to reserve remuneration could sharply cut Barclays’ future profits.
May 12, 2026
Livingston County’s Cheap Gas Hunt Gets Tougher As Trump Floats Pump-Tax Break
···

Livingston County’s Cheap Gas Hunt Gets Tougher As Trump Floats Pump-Tax Break

Michigan’s average gas price hit $4.711 a gallon Tuesday, topping the national average of $4.504, according to AAA. President Trump called for a federal gas-tax suspension, but Congress must approve it. AAA expects 39.1 million Americans to drive over Memorial Day, despite prices at their highest since 2022. Wholesale gasoline in the Great Lakes region remains volatile.
May 12, 2026
India Rejects Sanctioned Russian LNG, Stranding Tanker as Energy Crunch Deepens
···

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
Oil Shock Returns as Trump Rejects Iran Peace Offer and Stocks Stall Near Records
···

Oil Shock Returns as Trump Rejects Iran Peace Offer and Stocks Stall Near Records

European shares were flat and Brent crude climbed above $105 after President Trump rejected Iran’s response to a U.S. peace proposal, dimming hopes for a swift reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway remains mostly closed, fueling inflation concerns as oil supply stays tight. The FTSE 100 edged higher, while France’s CAC 40 slipped 0.7%. Trump called Iran’s reply “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!” after mediation via Pakistan.
May 11, 2026
Lynas Rare Earths Stock Is Back in Focus Before Trump-Xi Summit
···

Lynas Rare Earths Stock Is Back in Focus Before Trump-Xi Summit

Lynas Rare Earths shares last closed at A$19.44, down 2.46%, after a strong 2026 run. The U.S.-China rare-earths deal remains in effect ahead of May 14-15 talks in Beijing, keeping attention on non-Chinese suppliers like Lynas. The company reported A$265 million in March-quarter sales, more than double a year earlier. Lynas recently signed a U.S. supply deal backed by $96 million from the Pentagon.
May 10, 2026
UK Stock Market Today: FTSE 100 Drops for Third Week as Gulf Tension and UK Politics Bite
···

UK Stock Market Today: FTSE 100 Drops for Third Week as Gulf Tension and UK Politics Bite

The FTSE 100 closed 0.4% lower at 10,233.07 on Friday, marking its third straight weekly loss, while the FTSE 250 slipped 0.2%. Political uncertainty grew after Labour’s local election losses, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer naming Gordon Brown as an adviser. IAG shares dropped on a profit warning tied to higher jet fuel costs. UK 10-year gilt yields eased to 4.895% after Starmer pledged to serve his term.
May 9, 2026
Oil Below $100 as Trump’s Hormuz Pause Puts Iran Deal Back in Play
···

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
Bitcoin Breaks $80,000 as CLARITY Act Deal Turns Washington Into Crypto’s Next Test
····

Bitcoin Breaks $80,000 as CLARITY Act Deal Turns Washington Into Crypto’s Next Test

Bitcoin traded above $81,000 Tuesday, reaching $81,304 after hitting an intraday high of $81,656. The rally followed progress on the U.S. CLARITY Act, which advanced in the Senate after a compromise on stablecoin rewards. U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs saw $532 million in inflows Monday. Major banking groups continued to oppose the bill, warning of risks to lending.
May 5, 2026
Japan’s Russian Oil Cargo Arrives as Hormuz Crisis Forces Tokyo’s Hand
···

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
Trump Crypto Today: Justin Sun Lawsuit Hits World Liberty as USD1 Push Faces Scrutiny
···

Trump Crypto Today: Justin Sun Lawsuit Hits World Liberty as USD1 Push Faces Scrutiny

Justin Sun sued World Liberty Financial, the Trump family’s crypto firm, in California federal court, alleging his $320 million WLFI token holdings were illegally frozen and threatened with deletion. Sun claims the company secretly blocked sales after WLFI became tradable in September 2025. World Liberty’s CEO called the lawsuit “entirely meritless.” The White House did not comment.
April 23, 2026
Trump Mobile T1 Phone Gets a New Look, but Buyers Still Have No Launch Date
···

Trump Mobile T1 Phone Gets a New Look, but Buyers Still Have No Launch Date

Trump Mobile unveiled a redesigned gold T1 smartphone and updated its website but gave no shipping date. The new images show vertically stacked rear cameras, and the $499 promotional price remains, with deposits accepted. The phone received FCC approval in January, but the company now describes it as “shaped by American innovation” rather than U.S.-built. A trademark filing for “The 47 Plan” appeared on April 6.
April 15, 2026
Iran Says Lavan Oil Refinery Hit, Israel Denies Role as Ceasefire Faces Early Test
···

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
···

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
1 2 3

Stock Market Today

  • Shaver Shop Group Offers 11% Dividend Yield with Growth Potential on ASX
    May 29, 2026, 8:11 PM EDT. Shaver Shop Group Ltd (ASX: SSG) is emerging as a compelling dividend stock with a 11.1% trailing grossed-up dividend yield, including franking credits. The retailer has a history of stable and growing payouts since 2017, with no dividend cuts. The FY25 dividend was 10.3 cents per share, and FY26 is expected to maintain similar levels. Trading below 12 times FY26 estimated earnings, Shaver Shop shows earnings growth potential with projections of EPS rising from 11.6 cents in FY26 to 14.1 cents in FY28. Growth drivers include store expansion, improved margins, online sales, exclusive brand products, and diversification into oral health and beauty categories. Investors should weigh these positives against broader market and company risks.