It’s no surprise to see US politicians in an open confrontation with the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Major export centres in China that depend heavily on trade with the United States for economic growth may be about to feel more pain as the countries’ trade war expands.

US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said on Tuesday that Washington may grant waivers to the countries that seek relief from strict oil sanctions that the Trump administration intends to impose on Iran from Nov 4.

Britain says it will nearly double the funding it provides to the Western Balkans to help the countries “tackle threats to their progress,” particularly in the fight against organized crime and drug smuggling.

Iraqi Oil Minister Jabar Luaibi said on Tuesday that Baghdad was not considering an increase in oil production in the framework of the OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) and non-OPEC oil output cut deal.

One of the main arguments made in support of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union is that the UK will be able to negotiate better trade deals with other countries – and even with Europe – if it is on its own. According to Brexiteers like British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, because EU member states are too divided and consumed by their own crises to defend the integrity of the European project, “There is only one way to get the change we want – vote to leave the EU.”

As reported by CNN Money, Qatar has ordered retailers to stop selling products from Saudi Arabia and other countries that severed ties with it on June 5 2017, namely Bahrain and Egypt.

Islamic State operatives have infiltrated four countries of the Eastern and Southern Africa, according to intelligence information by the African Union.

The official spokesman of the Palestinian government, Youssef Al-Mahmoud, has called on the countries around the world that believe in freedom, peace and stability as well as those who do care of upholding the resolutions of international legitimacy to declare East Jerusalem the capital of the State of Palestine.

Having set themselves above international law by bombing Syria without UN authorization, the US, the UK and France are now going calling on other countries to unite behind their fait accompli and endorse their actions.

Top officials in the US and the United Kingdom are meeting Thursday to discuss their response to an alleged chemical attack in Syria, as US President Donald Trump doubled down on his threats of a missile strike as a means of sending a message to the countries he holds responsible: Syria and Russia.

The leaders of Russia, Turkey and Iran convened for a summit in Ankara on April 4 ostensibly to discuss Syria. (Putin, Erdogan and Rouhani). Most pundits noted two salient inferences, that the US was conspicuously absent and the conclave would lead to nothing longterm since the countries involved had divergent goals in Syria.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir reiterated on Thursday that Iran was the source of terrorism in the region, accusing it of meddling in the internal affairs of other countries and violating international laws.

Officials from China, the United Arab Emirates and at least two other countries privately talked about ways they could control Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and close adviser, a Washington Post report said on Tuesday, citing current and former U.S. officials.

Oil prices rose by 1 per cent on Monday, recovering at least some of last week’s steep losses as Asian stock markets found their footing after days of chaotic trading. Looming over oil markets, however, was rising production in the United States which is undermining efforts led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Russia to tighten markets and prop up prices.

US sanctions against Russia’s defense and intelligence sectors are intended to reduce Moscow’s profit from deals with other countries, a senior US Department of State official said.