US Looking to Increase Gas Products Into Europe Amid Russia Cuts
The United States will keep looking for ways to increase gas products going into Europe in the face of Russian energy cuts after its invasion of Ukraine, the White House said on Wednesday."President Putin again is weaponizing energy," White House national security spokesman John Kirby said at a news briefing.(Reuters - Reporting by Jeff Mason and Doina Chiacu;)
U.S. Slaps Sanctions on Firms Moving Venezuelan Oil to Cuba
The U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday imposed sanctions on four maritime firms and vessels transporting Venezuelan oil to Cuba, amid an acute fuel scarcity in the island that is forcing people to line up for gasoline and public transport.Despite tough U.S. measures against Venezuela's state-owned oil company PDVSA in January, Cuba's state-run oil import and export company Cubametales and other Cuba-based entities "have continued to circumvent sanctions by receiving oil shipments from Venezuela…
US Considering Sanctions Over Nord Stream 2
President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he was considering sanctions over Russia's Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline project -- which the United States has told European companies to avoid -- and warned Germany against being dependent on Russia for the fuel."We're protecting Germany from Russia and Russia is getting billions and billions of dollars from Germany," Trump told reporters at an appearance with Polish President Andrzej Duda at the White House.Nord Stream 2…
Trump Calls for OPEC to Boost Production
U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday called for the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to boost oil production to lower the price of the commodity."Very important that OPEC increase the flow of Oil. World Markets are fragile, price of Oil getting too high. Thank you!" Trump wrote in a post on Twitter.Immediately following Trump's tweet, U.S. crude oil futures fell by more than $1 to $58.33 a barrel and Brent futures were down by more…
U.S. Pushes Allies to Halt Iran Oil Imports
The United States has told countries to cut off all Iranian oil imports. It is unlikely to offer any exemptions, said a State Department official as the Trump administration ramps up pressure on allies to cease funding to Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump said his administration was withdrawing from the "defective" nuclear deal agreement between Iran and six world powers in July 2015. The agreement was aimed to curb Tehran's nuclear capabilities in exchange for lifting some sanctions. Trump ordered the reimposition of U.S.
Trump Renews Attack on OPEC, Says Oil Prices Too High
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday renewed his attack on OPEC and again criticized the coalition of petroleum producing countries for rising oil prices."Oil prices are too high, OPEC is at it again. Not good!" Trump wrote in a post on Twitter.(Reporting by Susan Heavey and Doina Chiacu)
More Fuel on the Way to Puerto Ricans
Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello reported progress in getting fuel supplies to the island's 3.4 million inhabitants on Monday as they faced a 13th day largely without power after the U.S. territory was devastated by Hurricane Maria. "We've been increasing the number of gas stations that are open," Rossello said at a news briefing, with more than 720 gas stations now up and running. Puerto Rico relies on fuel supplies shipped from the mainland United States and distribution has been disrupted by the bad state of roads.
About 5-6 mln Without Power Post-Irma
Five million to 6 million power customers lack electricity after Hurricane Irma swept through the Florida and other parts of the U.S. southeast, leaving about 15 million people without power, federal emergency officials said on Tuesday. "Obviously, power restoration is one of the biggest goals," Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Brock Long told reporters at a news conference. He added that he was traveling to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to meet with their governors later on Tuesday. Reporting by Susan Heavey and Doina Chiacu
Trump Pulling US Out of Paris Climate Deal
President Donald Trump will follow through on a campaign pledge to pull the United States out of a global pact to fight climate change, a source briefed on the decision told Reuters, a move that should rally his support base at home while deepening a rift with U.S. allies. Trump had refused to endorse the landmark climate change accord at a summit of the G7 group of wealthy nations on Saturday, saying he needed more time to decide. He then tweeted that he would make an announcement this week.
Trump, Trudeau to Discuss Trade on Monday
President Donald Trump will host Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday, the White House said on Thursday, a meeting in which trade and a major crude oil pipeline are likely to be on the agenda. The meeting will be the first for the two men since Trump won last November's election. "President Trump and Prime Minister Trudeau look forward to a constructive conversation on strengthening the relationship between our two nations," the White House said in a statement.
China Loses on South China Sea Ruling
The United States urged all parties to avoid provocative statements or actions after an arbitration court ruled on Tuesday that China has no historic title over the waters of the South China Sea. "The decision today by the Tribunal in the Philippines-China arbitration is an important contribution to the shared goal of a peaceful resolution to disputes in the South China Sea," State Department spokesman John Kirby said in a statement. The United States is still…
Obama Calls Xi to Praise China's Role in Climate Talks
U.S. President Barack Obama spoke by telephone Sunday night with Chinese President Xi Jinping to express appreciation for the important role China played in securing a historic climate agreement in Paris, the White House said. The leaders recognized that close coordination of their negotiating teams helped secure Saturday's agreement, it said in a statement released on Monday. "The president emphasized the importance of continuing close U.S.-China cooperation on climate change issues into the future," the White House said. (Reporting by Doina Chiacu)
Obama: Carbon Price Tag Would Drive Innovation
President Barack Obama said on Tuesday the best way to drive innovation and reduce carbon emissions is "to put a price on it" but he does not expect that from the current Republican-dominated U.S. Congress. "If you put a price on it, then the entire market would respond," he told a news conference at the U.N. climate conference in Paris. As people come to realize the costs of climate change, Obama said they will start to put a price tag on the damage it is doing. Insurance companies are beginning to realize that in terms of how they price risk, he said.
House Passes Bill to Repeal US Oil Export Ban, Veto Looms
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill on Friday to overturn the 40-year-old ban on oil exports, but the measure did not get enough support to overturn any veto by President Barack Obama, and similar legislation in the Senate faces an uphill battle. The House bill sponsored by Representative Joe Barton, a Texas Republican, passed the House 261 to 159, failing to reach the 280 votes necessary to overturn a presidential veto. The White House this week threatened to veto the House bill, saying Congress should work to move the country to cleaner sources of energy.
GE to Move US Engine Plant to Canada
General Electric Co said on Monday it will move production of large, gas-powered engines to Canada from Waukesha, Wisconsin, along with 350 jobs, to access export financing no longer available in the United States. In its latest salvo aimed at persuading Congress to renew the U.S. Export-Import Bank's charter which expired in June, GE will invest $265 million in a new state-of-the-art manufacturing plant at a Canadian location yet to be determined. The facility…
S.Arabia Welcomes Iran Nuclear Deal after Obama Meeting
Saudia Arabia is satisfied with U.S. President Barack Obama's assurances about the Iran nuclear deal and believes the agreement will contribute to security and stability in the Middle East, the foreign minister said on Friday. Speaking after a meeting between Obama and Saudi King Salman in Washington, Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said Saudi Arabia hopes Iranians will use any additional income from the lifting of sanctions to fund domestic developments rather than engage in nefarious activities.
Iran Deal Will Survive Despite Congress Setback - Democrats
Democrats said on Friday that they would have enough votes to ensure that the U.S.-led international nuclear deal with Iran survives review by Congress, despite influential Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer saying he would vote against it. A spokesman for Senator Dick Durbin, who counts Democratic votes as the Senate's minority whip and who supports the deal, said Democrats were still confident they could rebuff Republican attempts to sink the agreement in a showdown next month.
US Adds Russian Oil Field to Sanctions List
The United States has added a Russian oil and gas field, the Yuzhno-Kirinskoye Field, to its list of energy sector sanctions prompted by Moscow's actions in Ukraine, drawing a prompt rebuke from the Kremlin on Friday. The federal government said on Thursday the field, located in the Sea of Okhotsk of the Siberian coast and owned by Russia's leading gas producer Gazprom, contains substantial reserves of oil in addition to reserves of gas. "The Yuzhno-Kirinskoye Field is being added to the Entity List because it is reported to contain substantial reserves of oil…
U.S. Congress Receives Iran Nuclear Agreement
The State Department said it sent to members of Congress on Sunday the nuclear agreement reached last week between Iran and six world powers, including annexes and related materials. U.S. lawmakers have 60 days in which to review the agreement. The State Department said in a statement that the 60-day review period begins on Monday, July 20. (Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
Republican Presidential Candidates Denounce Iran Deal
U.S. Republican presidential candidates on Tuesday roundly condemned President Barack Obama's nuclear deal with Iran, with Florida Senator Marco Rubio suggesting he would re-introduce sanctions if elected to the White House next year. The agreement reached between Iran and six major world powers will now be debated in the U.S. Congress, but Obama said on Tuesday he would veto any measure to block it. "It will then be left to the next president to return us…
