Posts by Tom

Reuters reported Tuesday that International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol called the current conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel the biggest energy crisis in history. In remarks carried by Reuters and mirrored by The Hindu BusinessLine, Birol said the crisis combines a global oil shock with a gas shock already worsened by Russia’s war with Ukraine. The IEA says the war in West Asia has choked maritime traffic in the Strait of

Reuters reported early Monday that the already fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire is now at risk after American forces seized an Iranian cargo ship that the U.S. said tried to run its blockade. Tehran responded by accusing Washington of armed piracy, refusing for now to join new peace talks, and insisti…

Sunday’s Hormuz escalation made clear that the stand-off is no longer just a diplomatic talking point. Al Jazeera reported that President Donald Trump said U.S. forces seized the Iranian-flagged cargo ship Touska after it tried to get past the American blockade near the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said a U.S. Navy destroyer ordered the ship to stop, that the crew refused, and that Marines took the vessel into custody after the engine room was disabled. Iran called the move armed piracy and warned that its forces would retaliate.

The Trump administration on Friday renewed a waiver allowing countries to buy sanctioned Russian oil at sea for about another month, even after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had suggested the waiver would not be renewed. Reuters reporting carried by WTVB and CNBC said the new waiver runs through May 16 and covers Russian oil and petroleum products loaded on vessels as of Fri

Reuters reported that Indian refiners are paying for rare cargoes of Iranian oil in Chinese yuan through ICICI Bank’s Shanghai branch under a temporary U.S. sanctions waiver. The Hindu BusinessLine, carrying the Reuters report, said state-run Indian Oil bought 2 million barrels of Iranian crude earlier this month in In

The Strait of Hormuz is back at the center of the global economy, and not because diplomats settled anything. On April 18, U.S. Central Command said American forces had turned back at least 23 vessels as part of a blockade on Iranian ports and coastal areas that began on April 13. Coverage carried by The Business Standard said all 23 vessels complied, while the U.S. military described the operation as active enforcem

Reuters reported on April 17 that China has stepped up diplomacy around the Iran war while trying to keep a mid-May summit between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump on track. Beijing relies on the Middle East for about half of its fuel imports and wants to protect energy flows even as it avoids openly alienating Tehran. Reuters said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has held nearly 30 calls and meetings in search of a ceasefire, while envoy Zhai Jun has toured Gulf and Arab capitals. Xi also broke his silence this week with a four-point peace plan.

NPR reported on April 16 that Hennepin County prosecutors in Minnesota charged ICE officer Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr. with two counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon after a February highway incident during the federal immigration surge around Minneapolis. According to the complaint, two motorists told authorities they were stuck in traffic when an unmarked black SUV drove up on the shoulder. After they briefly moved to block the maneuver, the officer allegedly pulled alongside them, rolled down the window, pointed a black handgun at both of them, and shouted something they could not make out. Investigators later used video of the vehicle’s Utah license plate to identify the SUV as one rented by another ICE officer working with Morgan.

Reuters reported on April 16 that U.S. officials have told European governments to expect delays in some previously contracted weapons deliveries because the Iran war is consuming American weapons stocks. A Reuters mirror in The Straits Times said several countries in the Baltics and Scandinavia are likely to be affected and that some of the delayed equipment was purchased through the Foreign Military Sales program but has not yet been delivered. The White House, Pentagon, and State Department did not immediately comment.

Reuters reported on April 13 that Ramsey County officials are investigating whether federal agents committed kidnapping, burglary, and false imprisonment during a January raid in St. Paul, Minnesota. According to county officials, agents entered a home with guns drawn, handcuffed ChongLy “Scott” Thao, forced him outside in the snow in his underpants and sandals, and drove him around for about an hour before returning him after realizing they had the wrong man. Thao has said the officers had no warrant.