POLITICS

The U.S. Treasury Department extended Thursday a sanctions waiver that allows Russian oil company Lukoil to keep its service stations open.

Discussions on the matter follow President Donald Trump's temporary suspension of sanctions on Russian diesel.

A study by the Urban Institute found that 17.6% of adults aged 65 and older reported that they or a family member had medical debt by December 2025.

Although the survey did not establish why respondents feel less hopeful, other recent polling points to mounting concerns about the cost of living, political divisions, and the country's economic future.

Roughly 8 in 10 voters believe the United States needs either "substantial change" or "complete upheaval" in how it is run.

The average monthly retirement benefit will climb from $2,095 to $2,170.

The crisis began when Denys Sienik, Ukraine's top diplomat in Washington, contacted U.S. lawmakers to warn that restrictions had been imposed on military-grade Starlink terminals without explanation.

"He will die, as scheduled, by firing squad, but this event will not be streamed," Trump said.

Researchers, tech workers and individual donors are backing Democratic and Republican candidates who support stronger AI safeguards as industry-funded political groups compete to shape federal policy.

Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said the United States and China must address structural imbalances that are putting increasing pressure on global financial markets.

Musk directed $158 million to the Senate Leadership Fund, the principal super PAC supporting Republican Senate candidates.

Trust in the executive branch of government now stands at 33 percent, seven points below the previously recorded low point of 40 percent.

The Democrats need a net gain of four Senate seats to win a majority.

"Congress explicitly banned Russian energy imports in 2022 to prevent American dollars from financing Putin's brutal war against Ukraine," Senators said in a letter.

Almost two thirds of Republicans and 76% of independents assign at least some responsibility to the White House for rising costs.

Abdul El-Sayed, who is running for Senate against Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan, said that his opponent's only strategy was attacking his Muslim beliefs.

Palestinian President Abbas said that long-awaited legislative elections, due to be held in November, would be postponed till September 2027 and held concurrently with presidential elections.

The U.S. reportedly wanted Israel to attack without its backing in a move that would benefit both Trump and Netanyahu politically as both face key electoral tests.

Maine leads the country in Senate advertising spending per voting-age resident, followed by Alaska.

Trump's approval rating remains at a record low of 32%.

Federal prosecutors allege that Maduro personally authorized the torture of suspected opponents.

14 of the 20 largest donors and donor groups this election cycle have contributed exclusively or overwhelmingly to Republican candidates and conservative organizations.

National Compute, a new company pooling computing capacity from major technology and infrastructure providers, plans to donate credits to the Trump administration's Genesis Mission.

Candidates are challenging the president selectively on issues that could hurt them with swing voters.

An Economist/YouGov survey found that only 21% of registered voters believed Trump would "definitely" or "probably" follow through on the $5,000 payments.

32% of Americans approve of Trump's performance as president, unchanged from a September poll that also registered a career low for Trump.

The administration is also deferring collection of the federal excise tax on highway diesel through the end of the year.

Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, finished Sunday's vote with about 47% of valid ballots, compared with roughly 45% for his opponent and current Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

The separatist Parti Québécois won Quebec's provincial election on Monday. However, it fell short of a majority to govern on its own.