LiveLive Updates May 17, 2026Share to FacebookShare to XArticle printing is available to subscribers onlyPrint in a simple, ad-free formatSubscribeComments: Zen reading is available to subscribers onlyAd-free and in a comfortable reading formatSubscribeKey EventsMay 17, 2026May 17, 2026UpdatesU.S. allows Iran-war waiver on Russian oil sanctions to expire amid attempt to calm marketsSignage is seen at the United States Department of the Treasury headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S., 2020. Credit: Andrew Kelly/Reuters Signage is seen at the United States Department of the Treasury headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S., 2020. Credit: Andrew Kelly/Reuters Sanctions on Russian oil are set to return after the United States allowed a waiver that eased restrictions on Russian oil to lapse, amid rising energy prices caused by the Iran war.In April, the U.S. Treasury issued a waiver authorizing the delivery and sale of Russian-origin crude oil and petroleum products loaded onto vessels as of April 17. The waiver was set to expire on Saturday. As of late on Saturday, no amended orders appeared on the agency's website.Russia's oil sector has been targeted by U.S. sanctions for years. With the April exemption, Washington sought to calm global energy markets. The U.S. had already granted such a waiver in mid-March, which expired on April 11.Critics said the measure strengthened Russia financially. The Kremlin uses revenue from the oil industry to finance its war against Ukraine.Democratic senators Jeanne Shaheen and Elizabeth Warren on Friday called on the Trump administration not to extend the waiver."Treasury must finally end its ill-conceived policy of helping Russia make even more money from President [Donald] Trump's reckless war in Iran," they said in a joint statement.The senators also said there was no sign that the measure was reducing costs for US families, pointing to petrol prices in the country.Petrol prices in the U.S. have risen significantly since the start of the Iran war. On Saturday, Americans paid an average of $4.52 per gallon (3.785 litres), according to a breakdown by the automobile association AAA. At the start of the war launched by the U.S. and Israel in late February, the average price was $2.98 per gallon.Noam Bettan takes second place as Bulgaria tops Israel in Eurovision 2026Israel's Noam Bettan walks onto the stage carrying his country's flag ahead of the Grand Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, Saturday. Credit: Martin Meissner/AP Israel's Noam Bettan walks onto the stage carrying his country's flag ahead of the Grand Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, Saturday. Credit: Martin Meissner/AP Bulgaria won the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest overnight into Sunday with 516 points, marking the country's first victory in the competition.Israel's Noam Bettan placed second with his rendition of "Michelle" at the contest in Vienna, Austria.Israel received 343 points overall, 220 from the audience and 123 from the judges, including 12 points from Poland. Read the full articleAircraft carrier USS Ford returns to U.S. after 326 days at sea supporting Iran, Venezuela missionsThe USS Gerald R. Ford heads toward port at Naval Station Norfolk, as seen from Fort Monroe, Va., on Saturday. Credit: Peter Casey/AP The USS Gerald R. Ford heads toward port at Naval Station Norfolk, as seen from Fort Monroe, Va., on Saturday. Credit: Peter Casey/AP The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, returned home to Virginia on Saturday after an 11-month deployment, the longest since the Vietnam War, that saw it support the U.S. war with Iran and the capture of Nicolás Maduro when he was Venezuela's president.The most advanced U.S. warship and two accompanying destroyers docked at Naval Station Norfolk with about 5,000 sailors waiting to see their families for the first time since June. Besides combat operations and traversing continents, the sailors aboard the carrier faced a noncombat-related fire that left hundreds without places to sleep and forced lengthy repairs on the Greek island of Crete.Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was on hand for the arrival of the warships, which included the destroyer USS Bainbridge.Hegseth commended the crew of the Bainbridge for a "job well done.""You didn't just accomplish a mission, you made history," Hegseth said on the destroyer's deck. "You made a nation proud."Hegseth also spoke to the crews of the USS Mahan, a destroyer, and the Ford. Pete Hegseth greets people on Pier 11 as aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford arrives at Naval Station Norfolk on Saturday in Norfolk, Virginia. Credit: Mike Kropf/Getty Images via AFPPete Hegseth greets people on Pier 11 as aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford arrives at Naval Station Norfolk on Saturday in Norfolk, Virginia. Credit: Mike Kropf/Getty Images via AFPIn recognition of their service during the Iran war, the Ford and the accompanying ships were awarded the prestigious Presidential Unit Citation, lauded for "outstanding performance in action" against "a determined enemy." It's the highest award a unit can receive and one typically reserved for significant achievement in combat.The Ford's 326 days at sea are the most for an aircraft carrier in the past 50 years and broke the record for the longest post-Vietnam War deployment, according to U.S. Naval Institute News, a news outlet run by the U.S. Naval Institute, a nonprofit organization. The only longer deployments were the 1973 deployment of USS Midway at 332 days and the 1965 deployment of USS Coral Sea at 329 days.The Ford's long time at sea has raised questions about the impact on service members who are away from home for long periods, as well as about increasing strain on the ship and its equipment beyond the fire, which started in one of the carrier's laundry spaces.When the Ford first left Virginia's coast in June, it headed to the Mediterranean Sea. It was then rerouted to the Caribbean Sea in October as part of the largest naval buildup in the region in generations.The carrier took part in the military operation in January to capture Maduro. Then it would see more battle, heading toward the Middle East as tensions with Iran escalated. The Ford participated in the opening days of the Iran war from the Mediterranean Sea, then transited the Suez Canal and entered the Red Sea in early March.Technically, the crew of the USS Nimitz was on duty and away from home for a total of 341 days in 2020 and 2021. 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