Rubio Says U.S. Would Not Target School After Deadly Iran Strike Reports 
Israel-Hezbollah Escalation Deepens Lebanon’s Role in Middle East Conflict 
Middle East Air War Triggers Massive Flight Cancellations and Global Airline Disruptions 
U.S. Middle East Strikes Raise Indo-Pacific Security Concerns for Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan 
U.S. Military Strikes on Iran Complicate Xi-Trump Summit and Expose China’s Energy Risks 
Trump Says U.S.-UK Relationship Has Deteriorated After Starmer Hesitates on Iran Strikes 
Suspected Iranian Drone Hits CIA Station at U.S. Embassy in Riyadh Amid Rising Middle East Tensions 
AI is already creeping into election campaigns. NZ’s rules aren’t ready 
European Allies Deploy Air Defenses to Cyprus After Drone Attack on RAF Akrotiri Base 
Trump Offers U.S. Insurance and Naval Escort for Tankers as Strait of Hormuz Crisis Disrupts Global Oil Trade 
Iran Detains U.S. Citizens Amid Escalating Conflict With the United States and Israel 
Trump and Merz Meet at White House Amid Iran Strikes and Trade Tensions 
U.S. Interior Department Responds to Leak of Trump Administration Plans to Revise National Park History 
Trump’s Iran Strikes Spark War Powers Clash in Congress 
Trump Defends Extended U.S.-Israel Military Campaign Against Iran 
U.S. Begins Charter Evacuations as Iran Conflict Disrupts Middle East Air Travel 
Supreme Court Backs GOP Lawmaker in New York Redistricting Fight Ahead of Midterms 
The G7 countries and Australia agreed on a price cap for Russian oil at $60 last week. The agreement followed the approval of holdout Poland which would be up for formal approval.
The G7 and Australia gave their approval on the price cap on Russian crude oil Friday last week. The European Union agreed on the price after Poland gave its support. The G7 countries and Australia later said the implementation of the price cap would take effect by Sunday, December 5, or even sooner.
The countries said they anticipated that any changes made to the price would include some form of grandfathering for compliant transactions to be concluded before the change. The price cap aimed to reduce Russia’s revenue from selling oil while preventing the increase in global oil prices after the EU embargo on Russian crude oil would take effect on Sunday.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the price cap would significantly reduce Russia’s revenues from oil.
“It will help us stabilize global energy prices, benefiting emerging economies around the world,” tweeted von der Leyen, adding that over time, the price cap would be adjusted in response to market developments.
The G7 price cap will also allow non-EU countries to continue importing seaborne Russian crude oil, but will not allow shipping, insurance, and re-insurance firms from handling cargoes of Russian crude oil around the world unless sold for less than the price cap. As the leading shipping and insurance firms are based in G7 countries, the price cap would make it difficult for Russia to sell its oil at a higher price.
On Saturday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin accused Russia of “deliberate cruelty” in the war it is waging on Ukraine, saying that Moscow was purposely targeting civilians in its relentless strikes across the country in response to significant losses on the ground.
“With deliberate cruelty, Russia is putting civilians and civilian targets in its gunsights,” said Austin in his remarks at the Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley, California over the weekend. “Russian attacks have left children dead, schools shattered, and hospitals smashed.”
