The European Union on Friday reached an agreement to impose its 18th round of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine after Slovakia ended its protest.

EU agrees on 'one of its strongest' Russia sanctions packages after Slovakia lifts veto * UK sanctions Russian intelligence units involved in cyberattacks * Ukrainian drones reportedly attack Moscow for second night in a row * Ukrainian hackers wipe databases at Russia's Gazprom in major cyberattack,

U.S.-based firms Baker Hughes , Hunt Energy and Argent LNG will develop a masterplan for Syria's oil, gas and power sector, Argent LNG CEO Jonathan Bass said on Friday, in a partnership aimed at rebuilding energy infrastructure shattered by 14 years of civil war.

The UK has sanctioned Russian military intelligence officers linked to the 2022 Mariupol theatre bomb attack that killed hundreds of civilians.

The U.K. has sanctioned Russian military intelligence officers and units linked to a deadly 2022 theater bombing in Ukraine

Snapback” sanctions will be triggered by the end of August if Tehran fails to make concrete progress to limit its nuclear program.

A number of Russian spies have been sanctioned for conducting a "sustained campaign of malicious cyber activity" including in the UK, the Foreign Office has said. Three military intelligence units from Russia's GRU espionage agency and 18 officers have had sanctions placed on them for "spreading chaos and disorder on [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's orders".

Crude oil futures were little changed on Friday on mixed U.S. economic and tariff news and worries about oil supplies following the European Union's latest sanctions against Russia for its war in Ukraine.