Oil prices down slightly as market assesses U.S.-Iran tensions
Oil prices eased on Thursday, reversing gains made earlier in the Asian trading session, as market participants assessed a U.S. decision to move personnel from the Middle East ahead of talks with Iran over the latter's nuclear-related activity.
Brent crude futures were down 73 U.S. cents, or 1.1 per cent, to US$69.04 a barrel at 5:01 a.m. ET, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was 66 U.S. cents, or 1 per cent, lower at US$67.49 a barrel.
A day earlier, both Brent and WTI surged more than 4 per cent to their highest since early April. U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. was moving personnel because the Middle East 'could be a dangerous place.' He also said the U.S. would not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon. Iran has said its nuclear activity is peaceful.
UN watchdog board finds Iran is not complying with nuclear obligations
Increased tension with Iran has raised the prospect of disruption to oil supplies. The sides are set to meet on Sunday.
'For the oil market, the absolute nightmare is a closure of the Strait of Hormuz,' Global Risk Management analyst Arne Rasmussen said in a LinkedIn post.
'If Iran blocks this narrow chokepoint, it could affect up to 20% of global oil flows,' he added.
On Wednesday, Britain's maritime agency warned that increased tensions in the region may lead to an escalation in military activity that could impact shipping in critical waterways.
It advised vessels to use caution while travelling through the Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Straits of Hormuz, which all border Iran. The U.S., meanwhile, is preparing a partial evacuation of its Iraqi embassy and will allow military dependents to leave locations in the Middle East due to heightened security risk in the region, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing U.S. and Iraqi sources.
Iraq is the second-biggest crude producer after Saudi Arabia in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.
Military dependents can also leave Bahrain, a U.S. official said.
Prices weakened having hit key technical resistance levels during Wednesday's rally, plus some market participants are betting on Sunday's U.S.-Iran meeting resulting in reduced tension, said OANDA senior market analyst Kelvin Wong.
Trump has repeatedly said the U.S. would bomb Iran if the two countries cannot reach a deal regarding Iran's nuclear-related activity including uranium enrichment. Iran's Minister of Defense Aziz Nasirzadeh on Wednesday said Iran will strike U.S. bases in the region if talks fail and if the U.S. initiates conflict. U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff plans to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Oman on Sunday to discuss Iran's response to a U.S. proposal for a deal.
The U.N. nuclear watchdog's 35-nation Board of Governors declared Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations on Thursday for the first time in almost 20 years, raising the prospect of reporting it to the U.N. Security Council.
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CTV News
34 minutes ago
- CTV News
Trump administration gives personal data of immigrant Medicaid enrollees to deportation officials
U.S. President Donald Trump, from left, speaks as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., during an event in the Roosevelt Room at the White House, May 12, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump's administration this week provided deportation officials with personal data -- including the immigration status -- on millions of Medicaid enrollees, a move that could make it easier to locate people as part of his sweeping immigration crackdown. An internal memo and emails obtained by The Associated Press show that Medicaid officials unsuccessfully sought to block the data transfer, citing legal and ethical concerns. Nevertheless, two top advisers to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ordered the dataset handed over to the Department of Homeland Security, the emails show. Officials at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services were given just 54 minutes on Tuesday to comply with the directive. The dataset includes the information of people living in California, Illinois, Washington state and Washington, D.C., all of which allow non-U.S. citizens to enroll in Medicaid programs that pay for their expenses using only state taxpayer dollars. CMS transferred the information just as the Trump administration was ramping up its enforcement efforts in Southern California. Besides helping authorities locate migrants, experts said, the government could also use the information to scuttle the hopes of migrants seeking green cards, permanent residency or citizenship if they had ever obtained Medicaid benefits funded by the federal government. California Gov. Gavin Newsom 's office said in a statement that it was concerned about how deportation officials might utilize the data, especially as federal authorities conduct immigration raids with the assistance of National Guard troops and Marines in Los Angeles. 'We deeply value the privacy of all Californians,' the statement said. 'This potential data transfer brought to our attention by the AP is extremely concerning, and if true, potentially unlawful, particularly given numerous headlines highlighting potential improper federal use of personal information and federal actions to target the personal information of Americans.' Some California lawmakers on Friday also expressed alarm. U.S. Rep. Laura Friedman, a Democrat, wrote on X that 'we should never use a person's need to go to the doctor against them. This will only lead to more chaos and pain in our communities.' U.S. Health and Human Services spokesperson Andrew Nixon said the data sharing was legal. He declined to answer questions about why the data was shared with DHS and how it would be used. 'With respect to the recent data sharing between CMS and DHS, HHS acted entirely within its legal authority — and in full compliance with all applicable laws — to ensure that Medicaid benefits are reserved for individuals who are lawfully entitled to receive them,' Nixon said. An official with DHS, Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, said in a statement that Trump 'promised to protect Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries. To keep that promise after Joe Biden flooded our country with tens of millions of illegal aliens CMS and DHS are exploring an initiative to ensure that illegal aliens are not receiving Medicaid benefits that are meant for law-abiding Americans.' The initiative appears to be part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to provide DHS with more data on migrants. In May, for example, a federal judge refused to block the Internal Revenue Service from sharing immigrants' tax data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to help agents locate and detain people living without legal status in the U.S. A targeted review of millions of immigrant Medicaid enrollees CMS announced late last month that it was reviewing some state's Medicaid enrollees to ensure federal funds have not been used to pay for coverage for people with 'unsatisfactory immigration status.' In a letter sent to state Medicaid officials, CMS said that the effort was part of Trump's Feb. 19 executive order titled 'Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders.' As part of the review, California, Washington and Illinois shared details about non-U. S. citizens who have enrolled in their state's Medicaid program, according to a June 6 memo signed by Medicaid Deputy Director Sara Vitolo that was obtained by the AP. The memo was written by several CMS officials under Vitolo's supervision, according to sources familiar with the process. The data includes addresses, names, social security numbers and claims data for enrollees in those states, according to the memo and two people familiar with what the states sent to CMS and what was shared with DHS. Both individuals spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share details about the data exchange. CMS officials attempted to fight the data sharing request from Homeland Security, saying that to do so would violate federal laws, including the Social Security Act and the Privacy Act of 1974, according to Vitolo's memo. 'Multiple federal statutory and regulatory authorities do not permit CMS to share this information with entities outside of CMS,' Vitolo wrote, further explaining that the sharing of such personal data is only allowed for directly administering the Medicaid program. 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Beyond her legal arguments, Vitolo said sharing the information with DHS could have a chilling effect on states, perhaps prompting them to withhold information. States, she added needed to guard against the 'legal risk' they were taking by giving federal officials data that could be shared with deportation officials. A 'concerning' development All states must legally provide emergency Medicaid services to non-U. S. citizens, including to those who are lawfully present but have not yet met a five-year wait to apply for Medicaid. Seven states, along with the District, allow immigrants who are not living legally in the country to enroll — with full benefits — in their state's Medicaid program. The states launched these programs during the Biden administration and said they would not bill the federal government to cover those immigrants' health care costs. The Trump administration has raised doubts about that pledge. 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Globe and Mail
an hour ago
- Globe and Mail
Who is attending the G7 summit in Alberta this week? A full list of the world leaders attending and invited
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Here's a look at the world leaders who will attend the meetings in Alberta this week, and those who won't: U.S. President Donald Trump The G7 summit will mark U.S. President Donald Trump's first visit to Canada since he returned to the White House in January, launched a trade war and made comments about annexing the country. The summit comes as Ottawa and Washington continue to negotiate toward a new trade and security deal, and many other world leaders will be looking for face time with the President. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer This will be Mr. Starmer's first time visiting Canada and first G7 Leaders' Summit since his party's election victory last year. Mr. Carney announced Wednesday that Mr. Starmer will come to Ottawa for bilateral talks prior to the official summit. The two men previously met in March, during Mr. Carney's first trip abroad as Prime Minister. French President Emmanuel Macron Mr. Macron is currently the longest-serving member state leader in the G7. 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The Prime Minister expressed his hopes for the summit and strengthening bilateral relations with Canada in a Globe and Mail opinion piece earlier this week. 'This summit will be a crucial milestone. To lead the international community from division to co-operation, we must maintain and strengthen an international order based on the rule of law, not power,' he wrote. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney Mr. Carney, who took office in March, is technically the newest of all the member-state leaders coming to Alberta. But he is no stranger to the G7, having attended many conferences and meetings during his time as Governor of the Bank of Canada and then of the Bank of England. The Prime Minister has said the priorities guiding the summit are 'anchored' in building stronger economies. He will be seeking co-ordinated action in three areas: 'protecting our communities and the world,' 'building energy security and accelerating digital transitions,' and securing economic partnerships. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen The European Union is considered a 'non-enumerated' member of the G7 and sends either the president of the European Commission or the European Council to each leaders' summit. Ms. von der Leyen has served as Commission President since 2019, and was a long-serving member of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet before that. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi The decision to invite the head of a government accused of meddling in Canadian democracy — after former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly accused 'agents of the Indian government' of orchestrating the killing of a B.C. Sikh-separatism advocate —has prompted backlash, including from within the Prime Minister's own Liberal Party. But last week, Mr. Carney said it made sense for India to be at the table, as it is one of the largest economies in the world and central to global supply chains. He wouldn't comment on the allegations levelled by his predecessor against India, saying 'the rule of law is proceeding as it should.' He said the invitation to Mr. Modi was extended in the context of continuing dialogue between law enforcement in both countries. Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico Ms. Sheinbaum accepted Mr. Carney's invitation to join the summit, and says her team is working to set up bilateral meetings with G7 leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump. Mexico and Canada have both been targets of Mr. Trump's punishing tariffs, and the three countries are set to begin renegotiating the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade next year. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Mr. Zelensky might get another chance to speak with U.S. President Donald Trump in Alberta, as Washington continues to push for an end to the war that started with Russia's 2014 seizure of Crimea and escalated to a full-scale invasion in 2022. Their last meeting erupted when the U.S. President berated Mr. Zelensky in front of media in the Oval Office. Ottawa and its peers fear the U.S. is too obliging to Moscow and that a bad deal will only create more instability in Europe. Mr. Carney and Mr. Zelensky met for the first time last month in Italy on their visit for the funeral of Pope Francis. NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte Mr. Rutte, the former Prime Minister of the Netherlands, will attend his first G7 leaders' meeting since he assumed office last fall. His visit comes amid rising pressure on some NATO member states, including Canada, to increase their defence spending to meet the organization's targets. President of the World Bank Ajay Banga Last year's G7 summit in Italy was Mr. Banga's first, and the former Mastercard CEO's attendance this year comes at a time of turmoil and instability as Trump's trade war shakes up global economies and markets. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa Mr. Ramaphosa attended his first G7 summit in 2019, the year he took office, and has attended nearly all leaders' summits since then. His participation this year comes amid tensions with Mr. Trump, who ambushed Mr. Ramaphosa in their Oval Office meeting last month, falsely accusing his government of killing white farmers. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva This will be President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's third G7 since taking office in 2023. He has tried to partner with countries across the Global South while advancing democracy and environmental protections. He'll be taking those themes to the COP30 summit in the Amazon this November, which his office claimed this week Carney will be attending, though Ottawa has yet to confirm. United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will come to Alberta at Mr. Carney's invitation. Canada has described the wealthy Gulf country as 'a critical partner' in humanitarian efforts such as foreign aid projects and the resettlement of vulnerable Afghans. Sudanese groups have criticized Canada for not publicly calling out the UAE for its role in arming the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary the U.S. has accused of carrying out a genocide in Sudan. The UAE has strenuously denied involvement in the conflict. South Korea President Lee Jae-myung is eager to present South Korea as a stable, democratic country following a turbulent period that started with the former president declaring martial law last December. South Korea has long aspired to join the G7 and argues that its economic and regional clout is similar to that of G7 member Japan. Ottawa and Seoul have pledged deeper co-operation on maritime security, critical minerals and the environment. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who took office in 2022, is a willing partner for Canada as it tries to shore up its trade and defence links across the Indo-Pacific. In March, Carney announced a deal was in the works to have Ottawa partner with Australia on an early-warning radar detection system to use in the Arctic and across the U.S. border. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto Mr. Subianto will attend the summit after years of Ottawa pursuing deeper ties with Indonesia — a demographic and economic giant in the Indo-Pacific. Canada and Indonesia signed a free-trade agreement last year and Ottawa aspires to sell small-scale nuclear technology to the island nation as it helps to develop small reactors for northern Canadian communities. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith Ms. Smith is set to greet world leaders when they arrive at the Calgary airport for the G7 summit, host representatives from non-member countries at a reception, and hold bilateral meetings throughout the summit. The premier has already made international relations a hallmark of her administration. She made headlines in January when she visited Mr. Trump's Florida home prior to him taking office, in an effort to stave off his tariffs on Canadian goods. Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will not attend the G7 leaders' summit despite an invitation from Prime Minister Mark Carney. The development may ease some of the tension inside Mr. Carney's Liberal caucus, as some MPs were upset by the invitation. The MPs say India and Saudi Arabia are in violation of Mr. Carney's own G7 priority of 'countering foreign interference and transnational crime,' and therefore should not have been invited. China Beijing was not invited to attend the summit. China warned the Group of Seven members on Friday against 'manipulating' issues related to the world's second-largest economy for their own agenda, after they accused Beijing of unfair business practices a year earlier. Beijing's criticism of the G7 and what it represents comes amid a surge in global trade tension between the United States and China this year, as well as within the bloc's membership. Prime Minister Carney is also being urged by 10 pro democracy and human-rights groups in Canada to raise the plight of jailed Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai at the summit, and to join the U.K., U.S. and Australia in calling for his unconditional release from prison over a Beijing-imposed national security law. – With reports from Stephanie Levitz, Steven Chase and The Canadian Press
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
Inside Israel's nighttime attack on Iran's nuclear program
Israel launched an air attack across Iran in the largest escalation between the two powers in decades — targeting critical military assets, senior military officials and key nuclear facilities. Andrew Chang breaks down Israel's operation and how this strike is changing the state of play in the region. Images provided by Getty Images, The Canadian Press and Reuters.
