Oil prices declined modestly on August 14 as traders evaluated global supply-demand dynamics. Brent crude fell 4 cents to $88.94 per barrel while WTI dropped 0.16% to $83.14, following OPEC's fourth consecutive monthly downward revision of 2026 demand forecasts by 200,000 barrels daily.
Bulgarian president calls for a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine conflict.
France shows openness to selling SAMP/T missile shield to Türkiye after years of resistance.
North Korea declares its nuclear weapons status as irreversible and finalized.
Trump approves a new counterterrorism strategy, naming Iran, cartels, and extremist groups as key US security threats.
Trump considers reopening the Strait of Hormuz a possible victory in escalating Iran tensions, viewing control of this critical shipping chokepoint as leverage in broader geopolitical negotiations with Tehran.
Following the June US-Iran accord, Hormuz Strait traffic hit its lowest level since the agreement, with only four vessels transiting July 14, comprising one oil tanker and three container ships, both obscuring destination and ownership details.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz hit minimum levels as eight vessels unexpectedly turned back on July 3-4, with only one of 19 ships explicitly using the Omani route, amid Iran's transit route demands.
President Trump revealed the US military executed a secret mission escorting over 200 commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in 100 million barrels of oil reaching markets amid Iran-US tensions.
The EU threatened sanctions against Israeli entities facilitating Russian sanctions evasion, following reports that stolen Ukrainian grain was unloaded at Haifa port, prompting Ukraine to summon Israel's ambassador for clarification discussions.
Germany has deported nearly 400 Russians since the Ukraine war began.
Paris, Damascus to launch joint committees for Syria’s post-war reconstruction
The United States declined to provide strategic bombers and over 50 fighter jets to NATO, aiming to pressure European allies into strengthening their own defense capabilities ahead of July's NATO summit.
China's Foreign Ministry confirmed President Trump will visit Beijing from May 13-15, amid escalating US-China trade tensions, technology restrictions on semiconductors, geopolitical disputes over Taiwan and the South China Sea, and Middle East conflicts.
Iran sets red line on maritime security in Persian Gulf and Oman Sea