A French court has found cement manufacturer Lafarge guilty of financing terrorism, delivering a landmark verdict stemming from the company's conduct during the Syrian civil war. The ruling results in a financial penalty for Lafarge and custodial sentences for executives involved in the decision-making. The case centers on Lafarge's operation of a cement plant in Syria during the conflict, during which the company allegedly channeled payments to armed groups, including designated terrorist organizations, to keep the facility running. That arrangement, paying militants for safe passage and continued operations, forms the core of the criminal liability established by the court. The verdict is one of the first of its kind in which a major multinational corporation faces criminal conviction for directly funding terrorist organizations through operational decisions. For corporate governance and compliance functions globally, the ruling sharpens liability exposure for executives who authorize payments to sanctioned or designated groups in conflict zones, regardless of business continuity rationale. The sentencing of individual executives alongside the corporate entity reinforces personal criminal accountability at the leadership level.
Qatar's foreign ministry said mediators including Qatar, Pakistan, and Oman have reached "very progressive stages" in efforts to end the US-Iran war, pushing Brent crude down more than four percent.
Qatar confirmed it is mediating between the US and Iran but said no direct talks are currently planned. The clarification follows conflicting statements from President Trump, who claimed talks are under way, and Tehran, which denied any dialogue is happening.
Saudi Aramco reported sharply higher second-quarter 2026 profits as the Iran war restricts global oil supply and pushes crude prices up. Other oil supermajors also posted outsized earnings, raising concerns about sustained fuel cost pressure for importing economies.
President Trump called current Iran negotiations the "last chance" to end five months of conflict, pushing oil prices higher. Tehran denied formal talks are taking place, raising the risk of a diplomatic breakdown with direct consequences for global energy markets.
