Hungary's MOL to buy Serbia's Russia-owned NIS oil company if US approves

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Hungary's MOL Group energy company said on Monday they have signed a preliminary agreement to buy a 56.15% stake in Serbia's Russia-owned main oil supplier that has been sanctioned by the United States.

MOL Group said in a statement that a “binding Heads of Agreement with Gazprom Neft" will need the approval of the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control before it can be completed. The parties aim to sign the sales and purchase agreement by March 31, the statement said.

Naftna Industrija Srbije, or NIS, almost entirely controls Serbia's oil market and operates the Balkan country's only oil refinery. MOL Group said the purchase would further strengthen the Hungarian company's presence in the regional energy market.

“As a reliable regional energy provider, we would like to contribute to the development of Central and Southeastern Europe," said Zsolt Hernadi, Chairman and CEO of MOL Group.

Hernadi said that MOL Group and ADNOC, the national oil company of the United Arab Emirates, are also in negotiations for ADNOC to possibly join as a minority shareholder.

Serbia's Energy Minister Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic said Monday that the expected agreement would also increase Serbia's stake in NIS by 5% from the 29.87% it now owns.

Washington imposed sanctions on NIS as part of a crackdown on Russia’s energy sector last year and the sanctions went into effect in October. NIS has a license from OFAC to negotiate the sale by March 24.

Serbia is formally seeking European Union membership but the country has maintained strong ties with Moscow and refused to join Western sanctions imposed on Russia because of the invasion on Ukraine.

Serbia sold the majority stake in NIS to Russia in 2008.

A raven flies over the Gazprom company logo at a petrol station in Belgrade, Serbia, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

The Gazprom company logo at a petrol station and a traffic sign are seen in Belgrade, Serbia, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

A raven stands on a petrol station roof in front of the NIS "Naftna industrija Srbije" (Petroleum Industry of Serbia) company logo on an office building in Belgrade, Serbia, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

A raven flies between the NIS "Naftna industrija Srbije" (Petroleum Industry of Serbia) on an office building and the Gazprom company logo at a petrol station in Belgrade, Serbia, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

A view of Petroleum Industry of Serbia (NIS) oil refinery in Pancevo, Serbia, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

HOUSTON (AP) — Aaron Judge doubled and Pete Crow-Armstrong and Brice Turang each had two hits as the United States beat Canada 5-3 on Friday night to reach the World Baseball Classic semifinals.

The U.S. squad rebounded after an 8-6 loss to Italy in pool play left them needing help to advance to this round.

The Americans move on to face the Dominican Republic in a semifinal on Sunday in Miami, with Paul Skenes starting against the Dominicans' Luis Severino. It will be the team’s third straight appearance in the semifinals and the fourth overall.

It’s another big win for the U.S. over its neighbors to the north, coming after the U.S. hockey team beat Canada 2-1 in overtime to win the gold medal at the Milan Olympics last month.

Bo Naylor hit a two-run homer in Canada’s three-run sixth that cut the deficit to two runs. But the U.S. bullpen closed it out, capped by Mason Miller striking out the side in the ninth for the save.

Canada, which was in the quarterfinals for the first time, fell to 1-5 against the U.S. in the WBC.

Canada trailed by five runs when Owen Caissie walked with one out in the sixth and moved to second on a groundout by Abraham Toro. Tyler Black’s RBI single off Brad Keller cut the lead to 5-1.

Naylor’s shot to the second deck in right field came on Gabe Speier’s fifth pitch and got Canada within 5-3. It was the 10th home run the U.S. has allowed in five games in the tournament.

Canada had a shot to close the gap in the seventh when it had runners on second and third with no outs. But David Bednar retired the next three batters, with two strikeouts, to escape the jam.

U.S. starter Logan Webb allowed four hits and walked one with five strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.

Bobby Witt Jr. was on with one out in the first when Judge doubled before Witt scored on a groundout by Kyle Schwarber to give the U.S. an early lead. The double by Judge was the only extra-base hit of the night for the U.S.

Canada had a runner on first with two outs in the second when Witt made a leaping catch on a ball hit by Edouard Julien to end the inning.

The bases were loaded with two outs in the third when Alex Bregman singled on a ground ball to Toro. His throw to first sailed over Josh Naylor’s head and into the dugout and two runs scored to make it 3-0.

Roman Anthony singled with one out in the sixth before a walk by Cal Raleigh. Brice Turang singled on a grounder to center field to score Anthony and push the lead to 4-0. Crow-Armstrong sent the next pitch into center field for an RBI single before Witt grounded into a double play to end the inning.

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United States pitcher Gabe Speier delivers a pitch against Canada during the sixth inning of a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game, Friday, March 13, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

United States pitcher Logan Webb reacts after striking out Canada third baseman Abraham Toro (31) to end the first inning of a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game, Friday, March 13, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Canada catcher Bo Naylor, hits a two-run homer against the United States during the sixth inning of a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game, Friday, March 13, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

United States right fielder Aaron Judge celebrates his double against Canada during the first inning of a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game, Friday, March 13, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

United States second baseman Brice Turang (13) hits an RBI single against Canada during the sixth inning of a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game, Friday, March 13, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)