European leaders talked up independence on defence and closer ties with Canada on Monday (May 4, 2026), as they gathered in Armenia for a summit clouded by U.S. threats to cut military support.

U.S. President Donald Trump loomed large over the meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) in Yerevan, which was for the first time attended by a non-European leader: Canada’s Mark Carney.

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On May 1, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) officially exited the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and OPEC+. While OPEC is a permanent intergovernmental organisation founded in 1960 to coordinate the petroleum policies of its member countries and stabilise global oil markets, OPEC+ is a broader alliance formed in 2016 that includes the core OPEC members along with 10 additional major oil-producing nations, most notably Russia. The UAE’s decision dealt a heavy blow to the oil exporting groups and their de facto leader, Saudi Arabia, at a time when the Iran war has caused a historic energy shock and unsettled the global economy.

France’s top diplomat on Friday (May 1, 2026) said a new U.S.-led coalition to reopen the Strait of Hormuz would complement and not compete with a similar mission spearheaded by France and Britain.

Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, speaking in Abu Dhabi following a regional tour, said he briefed Gulf allies on the U.K.-France initiative which was now at an “advanced” stage.

The government on Thursday (April 30, 2026) said domestic urea production has reached 37.49 lakh tonnes in March-April, nearly matching last year’s levels despite the West Asia crisis, while securing 37 lakh tonnes of imported urea to meet the shortfall ahead of the Kharif season.

Total domestic fertiliser production stood at 62.37 lakh tonnes during March-April, while imports were at 15.39 lakh tonnes.

The United States is pressing ahead with plans for an international coalition to open the Strait ‌of Hormuz, according to a State Department cable seen by Reuters, as oil prices surge on fears of ​lengthy disruptions to global fuel supplies.

Two months into the war that started with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, the ⁠vital sea channel remains closed, choking off 20% of the world’s supplies of oil and gas. That has sent global energy prices surging and heightened concerns about the risks of an economic downturn.

U.S. President ‌Donald Trump said on Tuesday (April 21, 2026) ​that he ⁠was extending the Iran ceasefire until an Iranian ‌proposal is submitted, and discussions ‌are concluded.

Mr. Trump, in a ‌post ⁠on Truth Social, ⁠said he was acting at the request of ​Pakistan to ‌hold off attacks until Iranian leaders and representatives could come ‌up with what ​he called a unified proposal.