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Trump says some sanctions to be lifted on oil producers amid Iran war
United States President Donald Trump has said his administration will lift some sanctions on oil-producing countries to keep energy prices down amid the US and Israel’s war on Iran.
Trump made the comments on Monday after a rollercoaster 24 hours that saw crude oil prices soar to nearly $120 a barrel before dropping below $90.
“So, we have sanctions on some countries. We’re going to take those sanctions off until this straightens out,” Trump said at a news conference at his golf club in Miami, Florida.
“Then, who knows, maybe we won’t have to put them on – there’ll be so much peace,” he said.
Trump did not specify which countries would be subject to sanctions relief. Washington currently maintains sanctions on the oil sectors of Russia, Iran and Venezuela.
The Reuters news agency, citing multiple unnamed sources, reported on Monday that Trump was considering easing sanctions on Russia as part of his plans to keep oil prices down.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent last week announced a 30-day waiver on sanctions on Russian oil sales to India amid concerns about growing pressure on global supplies.
Crude oil prices continued their retreat after Trump’s comments, with Brent crude hovering at around $84 a barrel as of 02:00 GMT on Tuesday.
Global energy markets have been on tenterhooks since the US and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran on February 28, with crude prices surging as much as 50 percent compared with before the conflict.
Iranian threats have effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the global oil supply transits, forcing major Gulf region producers to cut production amid an accumulating backlog of supply, as shipping has largely halted.
Global energy supplies have also been threatened by Israeli strikes on Iranian oil facilities and drone attacks, widely blamed on Iran, on oil and gas infrastructure in US allies in the region, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.
Analysts have predicted that oil prices could rise to $150 or even $200 a barrel if the strait remains effectively closed for a prolonged period.
“I would say that it is possible for prices to reach new all-time highs in the coming weeks, but this is contingent on the Strait of Hormuz remaining closed in the weeks ahead,” Homayoun Falakshahi, the head of crude oil analysis at global trade intelligence firm Kpler, told Al Jazeera.
“If the strait stays closed through April, then prices could continue to jump,” Falakshahi said.
Trump, who campaigned on ending the US’s so-called “forever” wars in his 2024 election bid, on Monday offered conflicting signals about how long the war on Iran might last.
During his news conference, Trump said he expected the war to be over “very soon”, but that attacks on Iran would not stop “until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated”.
Trump made the remarks shortly after he told Republican lawmakers in a speech that the US had “already won in many ways, but we haven’t won enough”.
Earlier on Monday, Trump said in an interview with CBS News that the war was “very complete, pretty much” and that his military campaign was “very far ahead of schedule”.
[Aljazeera]
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UAE keep semi-final hopes alive after convincing win over Indonesia
A complete performance from UAE’s bowling unit kept their semi-final hopes alive at the 2026 Women’s T20 Asia Cup, skittling Indonesia for 73 and then completing the chase with six wickets to spare. They now have to beat Bangladesh on September 8 and also hope other results go their way.
UAE were on top right from the first ball courtesy offspinner Suraksha Kotte, who starred with 3 for 16. Kotte struck with the first two balls of the innings, dismissing Indonesia opener Maria Corazon and No. 3 Ni Luh Dewi for first-ball ducks. UAE captain Esha Oza (2 for 11) then dismissed the other opener Rahmawati Pangestuti in the fourth over.
Indonesia captainN8 Puu Ayu Nanda Sakarini top-scored with a lone hand of 39 off 52 balls, with four fours and a six, accounting for 53.4% of Indonesia’s runs. But with little support, they could not find a way back in and were bowled out for 73.
Slow left-arm spinner Heena Hotchandani (2 for 6) and seamer Samaira Dharnidharka (1 for 12) also got among the wickets. Legspinner Vaishnave Mahesh struck twice in the 20th over to clean up the tail.
UAE openers Theertha Satish and Oza put on 17 for the first wicket. After losing Theertha in the fifth over, Oza hit two boundaries in each of the sixth and eighth overs. No. 3 Rinitha Rajith then hit three fours off Sofia Velic in the ninth over.
A brief wobble followed for UAE as they slid from 62 for 1 to 68 for 4. Oza fell for a 29-ball 30 at the start of the 11th over to Ni Ariani and Velic grabbed two wickets in the 12th. However, with only six runs needed, UAE wrapped up the chase at the start of the 14th over, the tournament hosts securing two points with 41 balls to spare. This was also Indonesia’s final match of the campaign, bowing out with losses in all three games.
Scores:
UAE Women 75 for 4 8n 13.1 overs (Esha Oza 30, Rinitha Rajith 22; Ni Riani 1-10, Sang Maypriani 1-17, Sofia Velic 2-25) beat IndonesiaWomen 73 in 19.4 overs (N8 Putu Ayu Nanda Sakarini 39, Desi Wulandari 12; Suraksha Kotte 3-16, Heena Hotchandani 2-06, Esha Oza 2-11, Samira Dharnidarkha 1-12 ) by six wickets
(Cricinfo)
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Sun directly overhead Moratuwa, Kesbewa, Handapangoda, Idalgashinna, Yudhaganawa, Kotiyagala and Panama about 12.08 noon today (05)
The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 28th of August to 07th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion.
The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is
overhead today (05) are Moratuwa, Kesbewa, Handapangoda, Idalgashinna, Yudhaganawa, Kotiyagala and Panama about 12.08 noon
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Kusal Mendis, Binura Fernando ruled out of T20I series in England
Kusal Mendis and Binura Fernando have been ruled out of Sri Lanka’s upcoming T20I series against England, with the SLC saying that the two were “still undergoing rehabilitation” after injuries picked up at the 2026 Lanka Premier League.
The update came just over a day after the two were named in the 16-member squad, with Kusal retained as captain of both the T20I and the ODI sides.Charith Asalanka, who had returned to the vice-captain’s position for the series, will now lead the side in the T20Is. Though Kusal hasn’t been ruled out of the ODIs just yet, were he to miss out, Asalanka, as the designated vice-captain, might step in there too.
Kusal has been out of action since July 19 with a right hamstring injury, while Binura hasn’t played since August 5, SLC putting his absence down to a back injury.
Pavan Rathnayake, the 24-year-old top-order batter, has replaced Kusal in the T20I touring party, while Dilshan Madushanka, the fast bowler who was in the squad for the Tests against India recently but didn’t get to play, has come in for Binura.
(Cricinfo)
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