The state news agency WAM reported that the United Arab Emirates will exit the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on May 1.
This choice is consistent with the United Arab Emirates‘ long-term economic and strategic vision and the growth of its energy sector, including boosting investment in local energy production.
OPEC is an organization of significant oil-producing countries that aligns production strategies to impact worldwide oil supply and pricing.
Three weeks have passed since President Donald Trump declared a ceasefire in the conflict between the US and Iran.
Yesterday, sources informed Xenix News that Trump indicated he probably will not accept Iran’s recent proposal to resolve the conflict, following Tehran’s suggestion of a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz while deferring discussions about its nuclear program.
Here’s an overview of the developments in discussions between Tehran and Washington since the ceasefire was declared:
April 7: Trump alerts that “a complete civilization will perish tonight” if Iran fails to cease the conflict and allow the Strait of Hormuz to reopen. A two-week ceasefire is announced hours later.
April 11: Officials from the US and Iran engage in in-person discussions in Islamabad, Pakistan, for a duration of 21 hours.
April 12: US Vice President JD Vance states that the parties have “not come to an agreement,” mainly due to Iran’s unwillingness to give up its nuclear program. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the head of the Iranian negotiators, asserts that the US was unsuccessful in earning the Iranian side’s trust. Later in the day, Trump states the ceasefire is still “holding strong.”
April 13: The US enforces a blockade on Iranian ports, while a US official informs Xenix News that discussions between the US and Iran are ongoing. Trump additionally states that if an agreement is not achieved by the ceasefire’s conclusion, “it will not be agreeable” for Iran.
April 17: Following Iran’s announcement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz due to a separate ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, Trump states that the US blockade of Iranian ports will persist until a conclusive deal to conclude the war is reached. Iran has stated it will shut the strait once more if the blockade persists.
April 18: Iran announces it will once more close the Strait of Hormuz, accusing the US of “breaching trust.” Trump states that talks are still in progress but expresses irritation, claiming Iran “got a bit clever” when re-blocking the strait. Ghalibaf states in an interview with state television that the US and Iran are “still distant from a final agreement.”
April 19: Trump announces that US officials will be heading to Islamabad, Pakistan, for a second round of talks with Iran. Sources in Iran knowledgeable about the discussions inform Xenix News that a team from Tehran will also journey to Pakistan for discussions, although Iranian state media indicates that Iran’s attendance in Islamabad is unverified.
April 20: Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for the Iranian foreign ministry, states that they “currently” have “no plans for the upcoming round of talks,” and adds: “We do not subscribe to deadlines or ultimatums to safeguard Iran’s national interests.” Trump states it’s “very improbable” he will prolong the ceasefire, which he claims will end in two days.
April 21: Trump states he anticipates ongoing bombings of Iran if an agreement to prolong the ceasefire isn’t achieved by tomorrow. Pakistan’s information minister states he is still working to persuade Iran to join discussions. In the afternoon, Trump announces he will prolong the ceasefire until Iran provides a plan to resolve the conflict indefinitely.
April 22: Ghalibaf asserts that a “complete ceasefire” would hold significance only if it is not hindered by the US’ naval blockade. Masoud Pezeshkian, the President of Iran, emphasizes this again.
April 23: Trump states he has “all the time in the world” to finalize an agreement to conclude the conflict, also informing reporters at the White House, “don’t rush me,” when questioned about a timeline.
April 24: Sources inform Xenix News that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is anticipated to reach Islamabad in the evening. Officials from the Trump administration have informed Xenix News that Trump intends to dispatch a US delegation to Pakistan for discussions with Araghchi, but Baghaei states, “no meeting is scheduled between Iran and the US.”
April 25: In Islamabad, Araghchi has a meeting with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and departs the country later in the evening. Trump announces the cancellation of the US delegation’s planned visit to Pakistan, citing “infighting” within Iran’s leadership.
April 27: Fars, Iran’s state media, reports that Araghchi presented a list of Iran’s “red lines” to be communicated to the US during his visit to Pakistan. An informant knowledgeable about the situation informs Xenix News that Iran has提出 a new suggestion to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, yet the status of discussions regarding essential US demands remains uncertain. Sources inform Xenix News that Trump indicated he is unlikely to agree to the new proposal.
Xenix News Aileen Graef, Kit Maher, Sophia Saifi, Lauren Said-Moorhouse, Sophie Tanno, Kevin Liptak, Tim Lister, Aida Karimi, Riane Lumer, Alayna Treene, Elise Hammond, Nadeen Ebrahim, Adam Pourahmadi, Donald Judd, Alejandra Jaramillo, Mitchell McCluskey, Betsy Klein, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Nic Robertson, Max Saltman, and Lex Harvey were involved in this reporting.
The preliminary hearing has started for the individual charged with attempting to assault senior administration officials during Saturday night’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
The 31-year-old individual, Cole Tomas Allen, faces accusations of breaching Secret Service security while armed with a shotgun, pistol, and knives during Saturday’s dinner. Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and several important cabinet officials were dining on another floor of the Washington Hilton.
US Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, announced over the weekend that Allen would be charged with two offenses, one of which includes assaulting a federal officer with a lethal weapon. A federal officer was struck in a protective vest during the gunfire exchange on Saturday night and has since been discharged from the hospital.
Officials stated that Allen took a train from California to DC, where he served as a part-time tutor.
In a document that investigators claim Allen sent to his relatives on Saturday, he expressed frustration towards the administration, mocked the Secret Service for poor security at the hotel, and stated he did not “anticipate forgiveness.”
Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, responds to inquiries at the press briefing on Monday. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
The White House did not eliminate the possibility of altering Donald Trump’s timetable after Saturday’s shooting at a gala in Washington, which might involve making sure the president and Vice President JD Vance do not attend events at the same time.
“I certainly wouldn’t claim that changes are impossible,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt informed reporters when questioned about potential protocol modifications for events held outside the White House.
“We consider it a significant duty to guarantee the utmost safety of the president, the vice president, and the whole Cabinet,” she stated. “We continuously seek methods to enhance security.”
She stated that Trump felt content with the security measures taken Saturday night at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, yet reevaluating protocols remained a wise move.
She mentioned that if the dinner is moved, as Trump has asked, there would be a discussion about Vance’s attendance.
“I can guarantee that the president plans to be at the event, as he has communicated to all of you openly.” “I’m not looking to confirm or deny the vice president’s presence, but undoubtedly, that discussion will occur,” she stated.
According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, it was unnecessary to choose a designated survivor for the evening of the White House Correspondents’ dinner since multiple Cabinet members were absent.
Leavitt noted that discussions prior to the dinner focused on appointing a specific survivor, “but several Cabinet members in the succession line were absent for different personal reasons.”
She stated, “Therefore, appointing a single survivor was unnecessary, since we had multiple members who were absent already.”
On Monday, reporters engage with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Alex Brandon/AP
The White House called on congressional Democrats to allocate funds for the Department of Homeland Security following the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
“The Democrats’ hindrance is imposing a huge and completely unnecessary strain on the Secret Service, potentially leading to more fatalities.” Sufficient is sufficient. “Enough discussions on this matter,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated to reporters Monday in the White House briefing room.
“Democrats must follow President Trump’s call for funding the Department of Homeland Security, which he has made for 73 consecutive days.” “This is a national crisis, and all members of Congress must prioritize their country over their party and ensure funding for the Department of Homeland Security,” Leavitt stated.
She referred to the expired funding as a “national disgrace” that warrants greater focus.
“If Republicans cut funding for DHS, and there was another attempted assassination on a Democrat president, I would expect the media coverage to be unyielding and severe, and I wish that it remains that way with the World Cup, America 250, the 2028 Olympics, and an upcoming presidential election,” she stated.
House Speaker Mike Johnson stated that security protocols for major events need reassessment after Saturday’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner, claiming the shooting highlighted the necessity of a White House ballroom.
“Secret Service performed excellently; brave individuals present.” “Clearly, we have to consider security precautions,” Johnson said to reporters on Monday upon arriving at the US Capitol.
He emphasized the significance of the event: “The president, the vice president, and the speaker of the House were present, which are the first three in the line of succession … at least half the Cabinet was also there.”
Johnson stated that Saturday night’s episode illustrated why President Donald Trump ought to build a White House ballroom, reflecting the arguments presented by the administration.
“This is the reason we require the ballroom.” It truly is. The president is correct about that. “We require a venue that is sufficiently secure to hold events of this nature without significant national security issues,” the Louisiana Republican stated.
DHS funding: In the wake of the shooting, pressures are increasing on Capitol Hill for Congress to finally approve funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which has been non-operational since mid-February.
Earlier this month, the Senate passed a bill to fund the department, excluding Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol, but House Republican leaders have not brought it to the floor for a vote.
The speaker was vague when questioned by Xenix News’ Lauren Fox about when he would present DHS funding for a vote. However, he stated that the issue was “urgent.”
On his April 23 show, Jimmy Kimmel participated in a parody of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Randy Holmes/Disney
First lady Melania Trump suggested that late-night host Jimmy Kimmel ought to be fired due to a parody of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner featured on his show last week.
In the skit, Kimmel shared a variety of jokes, including one remarking that the first lady had “a radiance like an awaiting widow.”
Kimmel joked on Thursday during “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” just days before the suspected gunman tried to access the event where President Donald Trump, Melania Trump, and other high-ranking officials were evacuated.
The first lady described Kimmel as “a coward” and stated: “Enough is enough.” “It is time for ABC to make a decision.”
Here are some of the newest updates following the shooting that occurred this past weekend:
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated it was “rapidly evaluated” that “the continuity of government” was ensured after the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday.
Authorities are looking into a message dispatched by the alleged shooter to relatives, in which he reportedly referred to himself as the “Friendly Federal Assassin,” stating his aim was to attack officials from the Trump administration.
Attorneys representing the historic preservation organization that is suing Trump regarding his proposal to construct a large new White House ballroom informed the Justice Department yesterday that it was “incorrect and irresponsible” for a high-ranking official to imply that the lawsuit endangers the president’s life.
The state visit of King Charles and Queen Camilla to the US will proceed as scheduled. The British king is anticipated to speak to Congress and hold a private meeting with Trump.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, FBI Director Kash Patel, and US Attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro intend to hold a press conference following the court appearance of the suspected gunman from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
The event will take place at 3 p.m. ET.
The suspected shooter, named Cole Allen, is set to face a DC federal court for the first time this afternoon.
He is anticipated to be brought to court on allegations that consist of utilizing a weapon in a violent offense. The investigation is ongoing and the charges have not been disclosed yet.
By Kristen Holmes, Casey Tolan, Alayna Treene, John Miller, Holmes Lybrand, and Kyung Lah
Officials are examining a communication sent by the alleged shooter connected to Saturday’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner incident, attempting to comprehend what supposedly drove him from being a well-regarded California educator to an attempted murderer.
“Please allow me to begin by expressing my apologies to all those whose trust I misused,” states a message that officials claim was transmitted by the accused, Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old resident of Torrance, California, who worked as a part-time educator and also created video games, as per public documents.
In the message Allen reportedly sent to relatives prior to the assault, he referred to himself as the “Friendly Federal Assassin,” expressed plans to target Trump administration officials, and shared his political frustration, stating, “I don’t expect forgiveness.”
Investigators are examining the statement that Allen purportedly sent along with his social media history — which President Donald Trump referred to as “anti-Christian” — interviewing family members and trying to understand what motivated him to allegedly execute the violent assault.
The note detailed various complaints in general terms that might indicate a motive to the authorities, including frustration over detention camp conditions and seeming to label Trump as a “traitor.”
Allen often made extreme remarks as he engaged in leftist activism in Los Angeles, obtained firearms, and started practicing regularly at a shooting range, his sister informed authorities, as reported by the White House.
