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U.S. Seizure of Russian-Flagged Tanker Heightens Global Tensions

The ship, currently between Iceland and the British Isles, has been accused of breaking US sanctions and shipping Iranian oil. It has historically transported Venezuelan crude oil. The United States has seized a Russian‑flagged oil tanker linked to Venezuela after a prolonged pursuit across the Atlantic, marking one of the most assertive enforcement actions under Washington’s sanctions program. The vessel, previously known as Bella‑1 and later renamed Marinera , was intercepted after evading an earlier boarding attempt near Venezuelan waters. U.S. military aircraft and naval units tracked the ship for weeks as it traveled across the Atlantic, at times shadowed by Russian naval vessels. Officials say the tanker was part of a network used to transport sanctioned Venezuelan and Russian oil. Its capture underscores Washington’s efforts to disrupt what it describes as illicit energy shipments that help sustain both governments. The operation comes at a delicate geopolitical moment, wit...

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Tariff Shock: Overnight Gas Prices Set to Jump by At Least 10%

 

New U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican oil imports are poised to hit the gas pump hard. President Trump’s recent move—imposing a 10% duty on Canadian energy products and a steeper 25% tariff on Mexican oil—is expected to drive refining costs upward, with consumers likely to bear the brunt.

Experts warn that as U.S. refineries, particularly those in the Midwest and Gulf Coast, struggle to adjust to higher input costs from a trade-disrupted oil market, gas prices could spike by at least 10% overnight. “Expect fuel prices will rise noticeably if oil and refined products are not exempt,” said a leading analyst, emphasizing that the cost pressures will quickly transfer to consumers at the pump citeturn0search2.

The tariffs, intended to pressure trade partners on issues like illegal immigration and drug smuggling, come at a time when the U.S. imports roughly 4 million barrels per day of Canadian oil and over 450,000 barrels per day from Mexico. With refineries largely set up to process these specific types of crude, finding alternative sources won’t be an easy fix.

While some industry insiders hope that temporary exemptions might be negotiated to alleviate consumer pain, many remain skeptical. As the tariffs take effect, American drivers may soon notice a significant, immediate impact on fuel prices, adding a new challenge to an already complex economic landscape citeturn0search0.

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