Brent oil price briefly drops under 100 USD
The Brent crude oil futures price for July delivery fell back to less than 100 U.S. dollars per barrel on Wednesday morning as investors reacted to the prospect of the United States and Iran soon ending the war in the Middle East.
West Texas Intermediate crude for June delivery dropped as much as 13.61 dollars, or 13.3 percent, to 88.66 dollars per barrel at one point. Brent crude for July delivery lost 13.12 dollars, or 11.94 percent, to 96.75 dollars a barrel at the low point in the morning session.
The United States and Iran are closing in on a one-page memo to end their war, Axios reported on Wednesday.
Human-to-human transmissible Andes strain detected in 2 hantavirus cases in S. Africa
South Africa has detected the human-to-human transmissible Andes strain in two hantavirus cases in the country who disembarked from a cruise ship linked to an outbreak of the disease, according to the health minister's presentation to parliament on Wednesday.
The Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi was virtually briefing the Portfolio Committee on Health in the National Assembly on the implications of the outbreak.
In a presentation made available to Xinhua, he said the cases were linked to a cluster of severe acute respiratory illness reported by a Dutch-flagged cruise ship carrying 147 tourists. The vessel departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1 and sailed across the South Atlantic with multiple stops. Two deaths and one critical case were reported on board.
U.S., Iran closing in on one-page memo to end war -- Axios
The United States and Iran are closing in on a one-page memo to end their war, Axios reported on Wednesday.
A potential deal would involve Iran committing to a moratorium on nuclear enrichment and the United States agreeing to lift sanctions, with both sides lifting restrictions on transit through the Strait of Hormuz, it said.
The duration of the moratorium on uranium enrichment remains under negotiation, with an estimated period of 12-15 years, said the report, adding that Iran initially proposed a five-year suspension while the United States demanded 20.
Cuba rejects U.S. no-oil-blockade claim
Cuba on Tuesday rejected remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio that there is no oil blockade against the island.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez accused Rubio of lying, saying the statement contradicted an executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump on Jan. 29 that threatens tariffs on countries trading oil with Cuba.
"In four months, only one fuel ship has arrived in Cuba. All our suppliers are intimidated and threatened in violation of free trade rules and freedom of navigation," Rodriguez said.■
