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President Trump Calls Artemis II Astronauts before crew wraps up historic Lunar Flyby [Watch Videos]

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The National Aeronautics and Space Administration launched four astronauts on April 2 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard the Artemis II mission. The crew is set for a 10-day test flight around the Moon, marking the first human lunar flyby since the Apollo era. The mission aims to validate spacecraft systems and pave the way for future Moon landings and Mars exploration.

NASA’s Artemis II mission has marked humanity’s return to deep space, becoming the first crewed journey near the Moon since Apollo 17. Four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft completed a seven-hour lunar flyby, capturing detailed observations of the Moon’s far side. The crew also set a new record for the farthest distance traveled by humans, surpassing Apollo 13. During the mission, they witnessed a solar eclipse from space and observed rare meteoroid impacts on the lunar surface. The spacecraft is now on its return trajectory, while scientists analyze data collected during the flyby.

Aboard the Orion spacecraft were NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen who completed their lunar flyby, broke the Apollo 13 distance record (252,756 miles from Earth), and regained contact after passing the Moon’s far side.

US President Donald J.Trump calls the Artemis II Astronauts in space:

The White House shared video of President Trump phoning the Artemis II crew to congratulate them after breaking the human spaceflight distance record during their lunar flyby. Artemis II astronauts reached about 252,757 miles from Earth on April 6, 2026, surpassing Apollo 13’s 1970 mark of 248,655 miles by over 4,000 miles while passing the Moon’s far side.

Trump told the crew their mission paves the way for America’s return to the lunar surface, highlighting it as a historic step in U.S. space leadership.

Trump further said , “Thank you very much Jared and you are doing a fantastic job and hello very special hello to Artemis II. Today you’ve made history and made all America really proud, incredibly proud. We have a lot of things to be proud of lately, but there’s nothing like what you’re doing, circling around the moon for the first time in more than a half a century and breaking the all-time record for the farthest distance from planet Earth.

“Humans have really never seen anything quite like what you’re doing in a manned spacecraft. It’s really special. I wanted to congratulate each and every one of you. I want to personally salute and congratulate Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, and I also want to thank the entire amazing team at NASA, headed by Jared [Isaacman], who’s a very special guy, by the way. You have made this day possible, you’ve really inspired the entire world, really, everybody’s watching it”, Trump added.

And also there were few question from Trump to Artemis Crew about the mission where Trump asked “about most unforgettable part of this really historic day, and was there any difference in feel between the far side of the moon and the near side of the Moon, to which the Astronauts explained the differences due to Earth’s gravitational pull creating dramatic variations in the lunar landscapes. They described views of the Orientale crater, a solar eclipse from space, and Earthshine.

 

Also Read:

Artemis II Update-17, Day 6: Lunar Flyby Updates

Artemis II Update-8, Day 3 : Crew prepares for first correction burn, readies lunar flyby tasks

Government Holds Inter-Ministerial Briefing On West Asia Developments

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As part of its ongoing efforts to keep the media apprised of developments in West Asia, the Government of India convened a briefing at the National Media Centre today. Representatives from the Ministries of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and External Affairs, shared updates on fuel availability, maritime operations, and assistance to Indian nationals in the region, along with measures to ensure stability across sectors. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution also provided updates on food security preparedness and prices of essential commodities.

Food security and prices update

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution shared an update on the availability of essential food items and the prevailing price situation. It also highlighted measures being taken to ensure adequate supply and maintain market stability. The Ministry said:

Food Security Preparedness

· The Government is closely monitoring the food security situation in view of the ongoing developments in West Asia.

· Adequate buffer stocks of rice and wheat are available to ensure sufficient supplies for the Public Distribution System (PDS) as well as to meet any emergency requirements.

· The National Food Security Act continues to ensure access to foodgrains for vulnerable populations.

Market Intervention – Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic)

· The Government continues to monitor foodgrain prices and undertakes market interventions through the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) (OMSS – D) whenever required.

· Under OMSS (D), FCI releases surplus wheat and rice in the open market to augment supply, stabilise prices and contain inflation.

· Adequate stocks are available with FCI to undertake such interventions if required.

· The scheme also enables sale of rice to State Governments at subsidised fixed prices to meet additional requirements.

Procurement – RMS 2026–27

· Procurement of wheat under MSP operations for Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2026–27 has commenced, primarily through State Government agencies.

· The Department is regularly reviewing preparedness in coordination with States.

· Adequate packaging materials are being ensured for procurement operations.

Foodgrain Packaging

· Proactive steps have been taken to ensure availability of packaging materials during RMS 2026–27.

· In coordination with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, the Department is diversifying packaging sources and maintaining contingency measures to address any potential shortfall.

Edible Oil Scenario

· Domestic availability of edible oils remains comfortable despite global uncertainties.

· Imports from key partner countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Argentina and Brazil continue steadily.

· Improved mustard production has strengthened domestic supply.

· Overall edible oil supply remains stable and the Government continues close monitoring with readiness to intervene if required.

Sugar Sector

· Adequate sugar buffer stocks are available and sugar production in 2025–26 is expected to remain sufficient.

· About 15.80 LMT of sugar has been permitted for export, of which 3.73 LMT has already been exported.

· Major export destinations include Sri Lanka, West Asia and East Africa.

· Retail sugar prices remain stable with inflation remaining around 3% over the past three years.

Prices of Essential Commodities

· The Department of Consumer Affairs monitors daily prices of 40 food commodities reported from 578 centres across the country.

· Price trends are being closely monitored in view of the ongoing developments in the Middle East.

· So far, no unusual volatility has been observed and prices remain stable for most commodities, indicating adequate availability.

· There is no evidence of generalized supply stress or inflationary transmission in essential food commodities.

Availability of Pulses

· Pulses production is estimated to be higher than the previous year at about 266 LMT compared to 257 LMT last year.

· Government stocks of pulses are around 28 LMT, while procurement of Tur and Rabi pulses under the Price Support Scheme is ongoing.

· So far, about 3.21 LMT of Tur and 5.71 LMT of Chana have been procured.

· The import policy for pulses in 2026–27 continues the existing framework of 2025-26 to ensure supply flexibility and stable availability.

· Import of Tur and Urad is allowed under the ‘Free’ category till 31 March 2027, while imports of Chana and Masoor attract 10% duty and Yellow Peas 30% duty.

Availability of Horticultural Crops (TOP)

· Production of major horticultural crops such as potato, tomato and onion are sufficient to meet domestic demand.

· Potato production is estimated at about 584 LMT (against 586 LMT last year), tomato at about 227 LMT, and onion at about 273 LMT.

· The Government of India has set a price stabilisation buffer target of 2 LMT for onion in 2026–27, with National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) and National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Limited (NCCF) initiating procurement preparations.

· Procurement of Rabi 2026 onion for buffer stocking is expected to support mandi prices and moderate volatility.

Monitoring and Enforcement

· The Department of Consumer Affairs has set up a Control Room to facilitate continuous interaction and information exchange with State Governments on prices and supply of food commodities.

· The Control Room also monitors enforcement of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, including action against hoarding and black marketing of essential commodities.

· The Department is also keeping a close watch on the complaints being received on the National Consumer Helpline-1915, available in 17 languages across the country. The helpline is also available through multiple platforms, including WhatsApp and the INGRAM portal ,  enabling consumers to register grievances with ease.

Energy Supply and Fuel Availability

An update on the prevailing fuel supply situation was shared, highlighting the steps being taken to ensure uninterrupted availability of petroleum products and LPG in the context of the Strait of Hormuz closure. It was noted that:

Public Advisory and Citizen Awareness

· Citizens are advised to avoid panic purchase of petrol, diesel and LPG and rely only on official sources for information.

· LPG consumers are requested to use digital booking platforms and avoid visiting distributors.

· Citizens are encouraged to use alternate fuels such as PNG and electric or induction cooktops.

· All citizens are urged to conserve energy during the current situation.

Government Preparedness and Supply Management Measures

· Despite the ongoing geopolitical situation, the Government has prioritised domestic LPG and PNG supply, particularly for hospitals and educational institutions.

· The Government has already implemented several rationalisation measures on both the supply and demand side, including enhancing refinery production, increasing the booking interval from 21 to 25 days in urban areas and up to 45 days in rural areas and prioritising sectors for supply.

· Alternate fuels such as kerosene and coal have been made available to ease pressure on LPG demand.

· The Ministry of Coal has directed Coal India and Singareni Collieries to supply additional coal to States for distribution to small and medium consumers.

· States have been advised to facilitate new PNG connections for domestic and commercial consumers.

· A review meeting chaired by Secretary (MoPNG) with State officials highlighted measures to ensure adequate LPG supply and directed States to prioritise prioritize LPG distribution, especially for domestic and essential needs, while maintaining strict vigilance against hoarding, diversion, and misinformation. On reports concerning FTL LPG supplies to migrant workers, States clarified that there is no disruption in LPG supply affecting migrants and that supplies remain stable. Secretary informed that states may consider managing targeted distribution of 5 kg FTL LPG cylinders, based on local requirements along with OMCs.

Coordinated Efforts with States/UTs and Institutional Mechanisms

· State Governments are empowered under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and LPG Control Order, 2000 to monitor supply and act against hoarding and black marketing of petroleum products.

· All Chief Secretaries, ACS/Principal Secretary/Secretary Food & Civil supply of all the States/UTs are requested –

Ø To issue daily press briefings and issue regular public advisories.

Ø To actively monitor and counter fake news / misinformation on social media.

Ø To intensify daily enforcement drives by District admin and to continue raids and inspections in coordination with OMCs

Ø To issue Commercial LPG allocation orders within their States/UTs

Ø To issue SKO allocation orders for additional SKO allotted to the States/UTs.

Ø To promote PNG adoptions and alternate fuels.

· All States/UTs have established control rooms and district monitoring committees to curb hoarding and black marketing.

· The Government of India vide letter dated 27.03.2026 and 02.04.2026 have requested Chief Secretaries of all States/UTs to intensify proactive & regular public communication, conduct daily press briefs at appropriate senior level along with timely dissemination of accurate information through social and electronic media to effectively counter misinformation and to reassure citizens regarding adequate availability and smooth distribution of LPG.

· Currently, 23 States/UTs are issuing regular press briefings.

Enforcement and Monitoring Actions

· Enforcement actions continue across the country to curb hoarding and black marketing of LPG.

· More than 1 lakh raids have been conducted and over 52,000 cylinders seized.

· Over 850 FIRs have been registered and about 220 persons arrested.

· PSU Oil Marketing Companies have strengthened surprise inspections and issued over 1,500 show-cause notices, imposed penalties on 118 LPG distributorships and suspended 41 distributorships.

LPG Supply

Domestic LPG Supply Status:

· LPG supply continues to be affected by the prevailing geopolitical situation.

· No dry-outs have been reported at LPG distributorships.

· Online LPG bookings have increased to about 97% across the industry.

· Delivery Authentication Code (DAC) based deliveries have increased to around 90% to prevent diversion.

· Domestic LPG cylinder deliveries remain normal, with over 18 crore cylinders delivered to households since 1 March 2026.

Commercial LPG Supply and Allocation Measures:

  • To look into the issues of availability of petrochemicals like propylene, polypropylene, isopropyl alcohol, butadiene, butyl acrylate etc. for department of Pharmaceuticals, Animal Husbandry, Dept. of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, DPIIT etc, a Joint working group has been constituted which has recommended for diversion of certain volume of C3-C4 molecules by Refinery & Petrochemical complexes for these sectors. This group has also given recommendations for availability of feedstock for C2 based derivatives like LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE etc. and their supplies for the downstream units.
  • Total commercial LPG allocation has been increased to about 70% of pre-crisis levels, including 10% reform-linked allocation.

· Since 23 March 2026, about 6.75 lakh 5-kg Free Trade LPG cylinders have been sold.

· PSU OMCs have organised around 550 awareness camps for 5 Kg FTL Cylinders in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Keralam, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Puducherry, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal.

· More than 6,700 – 5Kg FTL cylinders were also sold in these camps.

· A three-member committee of Executive Directors from IOCL, HPCL and BPCL is coordinating with State authorities and industry bodies to plan commercial LPG distribution.

· About 79,909 MT of commercial LPG (equivalent to over 42 lakh 19-kg cylinders) has been sold since 14 March 2026.

Natural Gas Supply and PNG Expansion Initiatives

· Priority sectors continue to receive protected supplies, including 100% supply to domestic PNG and CNG transport.

· Gas supply to operating urea plants is currently around 70–75% of their six-month average consumption and is planned to increase to about 90% from 6 April 2026 (today).

· Gas supply to other industrial and commercial sectors, including City Gas Distribution (CGD) networks, will be increased by an additional 10% from 6 April 2026 (today).

· CGD entities have been advised to prioritise PNG connections for commercial establishments such as hotels, restaurants and canteens.

· CGD companies including IGL, MGL, GAIL Gas and BPCL are offering incentives for domestic and commercial PNG connections.

· States/UTs and Central Ministries have been requested to expedite approvals required for expansion of CGD networks.

· The Government of India vide letter dated 18.03.2026 has offered all States/UTs additional 10% allocation of commercial LPG to States provided they can help in long term transition from LPG to PNG.

· 17 States/UTs are already receiving additional commercial LPG allocation linked to PNG expansion reforms.

· PNGRB has directed CGD entities to connect institutions such as schools, hostels, community kitchens and anganwadi kitchens through PNG within five days where pipelines are available.

· The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has adopted an Accelerated Approval Framework for CGD infrastructure for three months to process applications on priority.

· The Government of India vide Gazette dated 24.03.2026 has notified the Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution (Through Laying, Building, Operation and Expansion of Pipelines and Other Facilities) Order, 2026 under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

· The Order provides a streamlined and time-bound framework for laying and expanding pipelines across the country, addressing delays in approvals and access to land, and enabling faster development of natural gas infrastructure, including in residential areas.

· It is expected to accelerate PNG network growth, enhance last-mile connectivity, and support the transition to cleaner fuels, thereby strengthening energy security and advancing India’s gas-based economy.

· The Ministry of Defence has issued a short-term policy modification till 30 June 2026 to expedite PNG infrastructure installation in defence residential areas.

· PNGRB has extended the National PNG Drive 2.0 till 30 June 2026 to sustain momentum in PNG expansion.

· Since March 2026, about 3.67 lakh PNG connections have been gasified and about 4 lakh additional customers have registered for new connections. 

Crude Position and Refinery Operations

· All refineries are operating at high capacity with adequate crude inventories, while sufficient stocks of petrol and diesel are being maintained.

· Domestic LPG production from refineries has been increased to support domestic consumption.

Retail Fuel Availability and pricing Measures

· Retail outlets across the country are operating normally.

· The Middle East crisis has led to an abnormal increase in crude prices; however, to protect consumers, the Government of India has reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel by ₹10 per litre.

· Export levy has been imposed at ₹21.5 per litre on diesel and ₹29.5 per litre on ATF to ensure adequate domestic availability.

· Retail prices of petrol and diesel remain unchanged with no increase at retail outlets.

· The Government has advised citizens not to believe rumours and requested State Governments to disseminate accurate information through press briefings.

Kerosene Availability and Distribution Measures

· An additional allocation of 48,000 KL of kerosene has been provided to States/UTs over and above regular allocation.

· A Gazette notification dated 29 March 2026 allows distribution of PDS Superior Kerosene Oil (SKO) in SKO-free States/UTs for cooking and lighting purposes through designated PSU OMC service stations.

· 18 States/UTs have issued SKO allocation orders, while Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh have indicated no requirement.

Maritime Safety and Shipping Operations

The current maritime situation in the Persian Gulf, along with measures being undertaken to safeguard Indian vessels and crew, was also briefed. It was stated that:

· The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways continues to closely monitor shipping movements, port operations and the safety of Indian seafarers, while ensuring continuity of maritime trade.

· All Indian seafarers in the region are safe and no incident involving Indian-flagged vessels has been reported in the past 24 hours.

· In the past two days, two Indian-flagged LPG vessels, Green Sanvi and Green Asha, safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz. Green Sanvi is carrying about 46,650 MT of LPG with 25 seafarers onboard, while Green Asha is carrying about 15,405 MT of LPG with 26 seafarers onboard.

· At present, 16 Indian-flagged vessels with 433 Indian seafarers remain in the western Persian Gulf region. The Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) continues close monitoring in coordination with ship owners, RPSL agencies and Indian Missions.

· The DG Shipping Control Room remains operational 24×7 and has handled 5,113 calls and 10,647 emails since activation, including 25 calls and 100 emails in the past 24 hours.

· DG Shipping has facilitated the safe repatriation of over 1,599 Indian seafarers so far, including 120 in the last 24 hours from airports and various regional locations across the Gulf.

· Port operations across India remain normal with no congestion reported. State Maritime Boards of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry have confirmed smooth functioning.

· The Ministry continues to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Missions and maritime stakeholders to ensure welfare of Indian seafarers and uninterrupted maritime operations.

Safety of Indian Nationals in the Region

Recent developments in the region, including assistance through Indian Missions, were shared during the briefing. It was informed that:

· The External Affairs Minister held telephonic conversations with the Foreign Ministers of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates and discussed the evolving situation in West Asia.

· The External Affairs Minister also received a call from the Foreign Minister of Iran, during which both sides exchanged views on the ongoing conflict in the region.

· The Embassy of India in Tehran has so far facilitated the movement of 1,777 Indian nationals from Iran to Armenia and Azerbaijan for onward travel to India. This includes 895 Indian students and 345 Indian fishermen. The fishermen travelled from Armenia to Chennai on 4 April 2026. The Embassy also facilitated the transit of two foreign nationals—one from Bangladesh and one from Sri Lanka.

· Of the total evacuated, 1,545 crossed into Armenia and 234 into Azerbaijan. India has expressed appreciation to the authorities of Iran, Armenia and Azerbaijan for their support in facilitating safe transit of the evacuees.

· The Ministry of External Affairs continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in the Gulf and West Asia region, with the safety, security and welfare of the Indian community remaining the highest priority.

· A dedicated MEA Special Control Room remains operational to assist Indian nationals and their families, with close coordination ongoing with State Governments and Union Territories.

· Indian Missions and Posts across the region are functioning round the clock, maintaining 24×7 helplines, issuing updated advisories and staying in regular contact with Indian community associations, organisations and companies.

· Missions continue to assist Indian nationals, including visa facilitation, consular services, logistical support and facilitating transit through neighbouring countries where airspace restrictions apply. They remain in close contact with local governments.

· Welfare of Indian students in the Gulf countries remains a priority, with Missions coordinating with local authorities, Indian schools, educational boards and the National Testing Agency to ensure that academic schedules and examinations such as JEE and NEET are not adversely affected.

· Missions are also providing support to Indian seafarers in the region, including coordination with local authorities, consular assistance, facilitating communication with families and assisting requests for return to India.

· Since 28 February, around 7,30,000 passengers have travelled from the region to India.

· In the UAE, airlines continue to operate limited non-scheduled flights based on operational and safety considerations, with around 90 flights expected to operate today to India.

· Flights continue to operate from Saudi Arabia and Oman to various destinations in India.

· Qatar airspace remains partially open, with Qatar Airways expected to operate around 8–10 flights to India today.

· Kuwait airspace remains closed, with Jazeera Airways and Kuwait Airways operating non-scheduled flights from Dammam Airport in Saudi Arabia to India.

· Bahrain airspace also remains closed, with Gulf Air operating non-scheduled flights from Dammam Airport in Saudi Arabia to India.

· Due to flight restrictions and airspace closures, travel of Indian nationals continues to be facilitated through alternative transit routes.

Ø From Israel via Egypt and Jordan.

Ø From Iran via Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Ø From Iraq via Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

Ø From Kuwait and Bahrain via Saudi Arabia.

 

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The Gulf Is on Fire, Gas Fields Up In Flames, Arab Nations Wary: Fallout of Diplomacy Failure

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A single Israeli airstrike on the world’s largest gas field has ignited a chain of retaliatory attacks across the Middle East, crippling energy infrastructure from Tehran to Doha and sending shockwaves to petrol pumps from Mumbai to Minneapolis.

The flames that erupted over Iran’s Bushehr Province on the night of March 18 were visible from fishing boats miles out in the Gulf. On shore, they signalled something far more consequential than a military strike: the opening of a new and terrifying chapter in the Middle East’s long war over energy.

Israeli jets had struck the South Pars gas field (the world’s largest, shared between Iran and Qatar) and the sprawling Asaluyeh processing hub on Iran’s southern coast. Within hours, Tehran’s military commanders promised not merely retaliation but systemic destruction. They kept that promise.

In the days that followed, drones and missiles rained down on refineries, liquefied natural gas plants, and export terminals across Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. The Gulf, the artery through which nearly a third of the world’s traded oil flows, was effectively at war with itself. “If strikes on Iran’s energy facilities happen again, further attacks on your energy infrastructure and that of your allies will not stop until it is completely destroyed,” said Ebrahim Zolfaqari, Iranian Military Spokesman.

KEY FIGURES AT A GLANCE

Gul oil and gas field up in flames / AI Generated

The Strike That Started It All

South Pars is not merely a gas field. Shared with Qatar, which calls its half the North Field, the reservoir holds enough natural gas to power civilisations for generations. Disrupting it was not simply a military calculation. It was an economic declaration of war.

Israel’s stated rationale was to sever a critical revenue artery for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. According to Israeli officials, the strike was coordinated with Washington, a claim that put the White House in a diplomatically delicate position. President Donald Trump subsequently said the United States “knew nothing” about the strikes, even as an Israeli official told CNN the two governments had acted in concert. Trump later ruled out further American-sanctioned attacks on Iranian energy sites, though the damage was already done.

The Asaluyeh processing hub took offline approximately 100 million cubic metres per day of gas processing capacity, roughly 14 per cent of South Pars output and close to 12 per cent of Iran’s total national gas production. Eyewitness videos showed the field ablaze in the night sky, an orange glow reflected in the waters of the Persian Gulf.

Iran’s response was swift, coordinated, and designed to demonstrate that the Islamic Republic could exact a symmetrical price. The Iranian military announced it had entered “a new stage in the war,” one in which energy facilities linked to the United States were legitimate targets.

Drone and missile strikes hit refineries in Riyadh, LNG plants in Kuwait and Qatar, and export terminals along the UAE coast. Missile debris alone, intercepted by air defences, forced the shutdown of Abu Dhabi’s massive Habshan gas complex. The Fujairah export terminal, through which significant volumes of oil bypass the Strait of Hormuz entirely, was struck repeatedly.

Bahrain declared force majeure after its Sitra refinery was hit. Iraq sharply curtailed output from its southern oilfields as a precautionary measure, even though no direct strikes landed on Iraqi soil.

Perhaps most significantly for the global energy market, an Iranian strike hit Qatar’s Ras Laffan industrial city, the nerve centre of its LNG export operations.

“The attacks have knocked out a sixth of Qatar’s LNG export capacity, worth $20 billion a year. Repairs will take three to five years.” CEO, QatarEnergy, speaking to Reuters

Qatar accounts for roughly 20 per cent of global LNG supply. A sixth of that capacity gone overnight means dozens of energy-hungry nations, from Japan and South Korea to India and Germany, scrambling for alternative supply in a market with none readily available.

The violence did not spare Israel. Iranian forces struck oil facilities at the port of Haifa, Israel’s largest commercial harbour and a key energy terminal. Israeli media confirmed structural damage, though authorities reported no casualties. The symbolism was unmistakable: in this new phase of the conflict, no energy installation on either side is sacred.

Markets in Meltdown

Global energy markets reacted with a ferocity not seen since the early days of the Russia-Ukraine war. Middle East crude benchmarks hit record highs. In the United States, diesel crossed the $5-per-gallon mark, a politically charged threshold that sends inflationary pressure cascading through the entire economy. Gasoline reached its highest levels since late 2023.

In Asia, refiners from China to South Korea began cutting processing runs, unable to secure adequate feedstock at workable prices. Beijing and Seoul imposed export controls or price caps on refined products, prioritising domestic supply over export revenues. For India, which sources nearly 45 per cent of its crude from the Gulf, the disruption carries particular weight, both at the pump and at the policy table in New Delhi.

The insurance industry moved with unusual speed. Lloyd’s of London and major reinsurers imposed war-risk exclusions on Gulf energy infrastructure almost immediately. War-risk premiums for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow chokepoint through which 21 million barrels of oil pass every day, multiplied tenfold within days.

The International Energy Agency took the extraordinary step of calling for the release of 400 million barrels from global strategic reserves, a scale of intervention that underscored just how severe the shock has been.

The strikes have laid bare two uncomfortable truths. First, that even the most sophisticated air defence systems, American, Israeli and Saudi alike, cannot fully protect the Gulf’s most critical and geographically exposed energy infrastructure. Second, that Iran retains a formidable capacity to impose costs on its adversaries and their regional allies, even as its own installations burn.

The world is watching a war fought not merely with missiles but with energy itself as both weapon and target. The question is no longer whether global supply chains will be disrupted. They already have been. The question is how long the disruption lasts, and whether diplomacy can find a foothold before another salvo makes that question moot.

(Disclaimer: The story has used AI assistance in images and online research but filed by reporter and vetted by human editor entirely.)

Middle East and Global Energy Markets; Why is Strait of Hormuz so important?

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The IEA is reacting to the effects of the conflict in the Middle East on the energy market. The Strait of Hormuz holds significant effects on the world economy and the energy security and affordability through the disruption of oil and gas flows through the Strait of Hormuz, and energy infrastructure in the region.

The conflict in the area which started on 28 February has disrupted the streams of energy trade across the Strait causing the biggest supply shock in the history of the global oil market. The situation has also decreased the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the world by approximately 20%.

On 11 March, the IEA Member countries had unanimously agreed to conduct the largest ever emergency release of their oil stocks as a measure to contain the market shocks.

Current market backdrop

The prices of oil and natural gas have upsurged owing to the war. By 11 March, Brent crude futures have increased more than 25 per cent since the hostilities began on 28 February, and Dutch TTF, the European natural gas market, has increased by nearly 60 per cent. Oil products markets have also been especially hit such as the diesel and the jet fuel markets. The effects are being experienced worldwide.

Flows of crude and oil products via the Strait of Hormuz have fallen to a mere trickle of approximately 20 million barrels per day (mb/d) prior to the war and currently. Traffic paralyzed, little ability to circumvent the waterway of the crucible, and storage is filling, the Gulf Countries have reduced the overall production of oil by no less than 10 mb/d, as we have reported in our latest Oil Market Report, released on 12 March. Unless shipping traffic is quickly restored, loss of supply will continue to expand.

The gulf region is one of the major exporters of the refined oil products to world markets, especially to the middle distillates, used as diesel and jet fuel. In 2025, the gulf producers sold 3.3 mb/d of refined oil products and 1.5 mb/d of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Already more than 3 mb/d of refining capacity in the region has been shut down as a result of attacks and non-existent viable outlets to export.

The middle distillates markets globally have not been very tight in comparison with other products. Consequently, the refineries outside the area seem to have limited scope to pump more diesel and jet fuel to offset such losses in case of losses in supply on a lasting basis.

Global Markets(Wikipedia)

The oil consuming nations have large reserves of oil to overcome short time losses in supply. The international recorded stocks of crude and products are at present estimated to dominate above 8.2 billion barrels, the maximum amount since February 2021. Approximately 50 of these are in the advanced economies with 1.25 billion barrels of these in government emergency stock with an additional 600million barrels of industry stocks obligated by the government. These stocks are the foundation of the emergency collective action which IEA has declared on 11 March to provide more oil supply into the market.

The war has also greatly affected the LNG production in the Gulf region. The global natural gas markets were slowly rebalancing after a massive shock occurred after the invasion of Russia in Ukraine in February 2022. It is projected that a new wave of LNG capacity will be introduced between now and the end of this decade and this will change the dynamics of the markets. But the tightness in gas markets in the first two months of 2026, and empty storage at the end of the heating season in the Northern Hemisphere is poised to drive up the demand on LNG in much of the next few months.

A prolonged outage of production in the Ras Laffan plant in Qatar may further create a serious issue in this market tightness. On 2 March, an attack on the facilities brought about production shutdown. Ras Laffan delivered 112 billion cubic metres (bcm) of LNG, also 300 000 barrels per day of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and 180 000 barrels per day of condensate, making it by far the largest LNG plant in the world.

What is so special about the Strait of Hormuz?

Strait of Hormuz is a slender sea passage, which is located between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran, and, which links the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It is an important trade route and is the main outlet of oil and natural gas that are manufactured in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Iraq, Bahrain and Iran.

It was estimated that in 2025 around 25% of the world seaborne oil trade passed through the Strait, and there are few alternatives to oil flows avoiding the Strait of Hormuz. Crude pipelines only exist in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which would potentially allow the rerouting to avoid the Strait with a capacity of 3.5 mb/d to 5.5 mb/d. Countries such as Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain are also dependent on the Strait to export the large percentage of their oil products.

In 2025, approximately 80 percent of the oil and oil products passing through the Strait was bound to Asia.

Besides that, more than 110 bcm of LNG went through the Strait of Hormuz in 2025. Approximately 93 percent of Qatar and 96 percent of the UAE LNG exports went across the Strait, which constitutes nearly a fifth of the entire LNG trade in the world. It does not have any other option of distributing these volumes to the market.

The majority of the LNG in the UAE and Qatar is shipped to Asia. In 2025, approximately 90 percent of the total amounts that get exported through the Strait of Hormuz was allocated to the Asian market. Just over 10% went to Europe.

Embassies Under Fire: How Iran is Keeping US Diplomatic Missions On Battlefront

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From a smoke-stained guard tower in Baghdad to a backpack bomb in Oslo and gunshots at dawn in Toronto, Iran has increasingly turned the world’s diplomatic consulates into combat zones.
The guard tower at the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center had barely stopped smoking when the State Department alert went out Tuesday night. Six drones had been launched at the facility. Five were intercepted. The sixth found the tower. Somewhere inside the compound, a sprawling logistical hub near the Iraqi capital’s international airport that keeps America’s entire regional diplomatic operation running, a terse internal message ordered staff to “duck and cover,” noting that “accountability is ongoing.”
Nobody in the building was publicly confirmed hurt. Nobody claimed the strike officially. But the culprits, according to a U.S. security official who spoke without attribution, were almost certainly the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella network of Iran-funded and Iran-commanded armed factions that have been carrying out strikes on American positions since February 28th.
That was the day the United States and Israel jointly opened what Washington called Operation Epic Fury and Tel Aviv dubbed Operation Roaring Lion, a joint air strike that, within hours, had killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and gutted the country’s air defence network. Iran’s answer, in the 11 days since, has been to bring the fight somewhere the Pentagon cannot so easily track on radar: the front doors of American embassies, consulates, and diplomatic compounds scattered across four continents.
THE SCORECARD: 11 DAYS OF ATTACKS ON DIPLOMATIC TARGETS
Feb 28  – Baghdad Green Zone — Katyusha rockets; U.S. Embassy, all consular services suspended.
Mar 1–2  Karachi, Pakistan — U.S. Consulate stormed; U.S. Marines fire on demonstrators.
Mar 2–3  Kuwait City — U.S. Embassy hit by drone; smoke reported; operations fully suspended Mar 5.
Mar 3 – Erbil, Iraq — U.S. Consulate and airport area struck; black smoke visible; consulate closed.
Mar 3–4  Dubai, UAE — U.S. Consulate targeted; six people injured by intercepted drone debris in Abu Dhabi.
Mar 3–5  Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — U.S. Embassy hit despite Saudi-Iran 2023 normalisation deal.
Mar 4–5  Bahrain — U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet HQ targeted; 75 missiles and 123 drones intercepted over five days.
Mar 5  Doha, Qatar — Voluntary departure ordered; 10 IRGC cell members arrested by Qatari authorities.
Mar 7  Baghdad Green Zone — Four Katyusha rockets hit the Green Zone; C-RAM systems engage.
Mar 8  Oslo, Norway — Backpack bomb detonates at U.S. Embassy consular entrance at 1 a.m.
Mar 8  Beirut, Lebanon — Israeli strike on Ramada Hotel kills four Iranian diplomats.
Mar 9  Toronto, Canada — Gunmen open fire on U.S. Consulate from a white Honda SUV at 4:30 a.m.
Mar 9  Liege, Belgium — Bomb explodes at synagogue; Iranian proxy network involvement suspected.
Mar 10  Baghdad — Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center struck; one drone hits guard tower.
Why Different Kind of Battle Front?
What makes this campaign different from anything Iran has attempted before is scale and geography. Tehran has always maintained what intelligence agencies call a “forward deterrence” doctrine, using proxy forces in Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, and Gaza to keep the fight away from Iranian soil. But in 11 days, that doctrine has been turned outward, stretching from the Persian Gulf to Scandinavia to the Canadian lakeshore.
The numbers tell part of the story. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq alone claimed 67 separate drone and missile operations in the first three days. On Day Five, the IRGC announced it had fired 230 drones in a single coordinated wave at facilities hosting American troops across Iraq and Kuwait. Bahrain’s defence forces intercepted 75 missiles and 123 drones before the end of the first week. And still they kept coming.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell put the U.S. position in the clearest possible terms at a Tuesday briefing, saying American forces had now struck more than 5,000 targets inside Iran and were not finished. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking the same morning, was clearly confident: “Today will be, yet again, our most intense day of strikes inside Iran,” he said. “The most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes. Intelligence more refined, and better than ever.” One drone hit the guard tower in Baghdad roughly four hours later.
Four Dead at Ramada, And a Letter Nobody Read
On the morning of March 8th, an Israeli airstrike hit the Ramada Hotel in Beirut. Inside were four Iranian diplomats: Majid Hassani Qandesar, second secretary at the Tehran embassy in Lebanon; Ali Reza Biazar, third secretary; Hossein Ahmadlou, Iran’s military attaché; and Ahmad Rasouli, a military mission officer. All four were killed.
Iran had moved them to the hotel specifically because the Israeli military had already announced its intent to strike Iranian diplomatic personnel in Lebanon. The relocation had been formally notified to the Lebanese Foreign Ministry under the terms of the Vienna Convention. Iran’s position is that Israel knew exactly where those men were, that Lebanon had been officially informed, and that the strike was therefore a premeditated assassination dressed up as a military operation.
Tehran’s UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani sent a formal letter to Secretary-General António Guterres describing the strike as a criminal act and a fundamental breach of international protections afforded to diplomatic personnel. Iravani then went to the Security Council chamber and made the same argument to member states, accusing the Council of paralysis in the face of what he called an escalating pattern of impunity. The Council took note of his remarks and moved on to the next agenda item.
“The Council is turning a blind eye to this grave violation despite its primary responsibility under the UN Charter to maintain international peace and security,” said Iravani later.
Israel has not publicly commented on the specific targeting. Its broader position, maintained throughout the eleven days of operations, is that Iranian diplomatic cover in Lebanon has long served as camouflage for Quds Force commanders running operational networks against Israeli targets. Whether that justification holds under international law is a question being debated in academic journals and courtrooms that will take years to resolve. The four men at the Ramada will not see the verdict.
Oslo at 1 in the Morning
Two nights before the Toronto shooting, a backpack was left at the consular entrance of the United States Embassy in Oslo. It contained an improvised explosive device. The bomb detonated at approximately 1 a.m. on March 8th, causing minor structural damage to the entrance area and no injuries. Norwegian police launched an immediate investigation.
The timing, deep in the night, at a consular entry point, using a concealed device, carried the hallmarks of what European intelligence agencies have been tracking under the loose designation of Iran’s Foxtrot network: a series of clandestine proxy cells that, according to prior reporting by Swedish and Danish security services, have recruited members through criminal networks and social media platforms. The U.S. Embassy in Stockholm issued a warning about Iranian targeting operations through this network as far back as June 2025. In Oslo itself, a locally hired embassy guard had been convicted of espionage on behalf of Iranian intelligence just months earlier.
Norwegian Justice Minister Emilie Enger Mehl called the explosion unacceptable and said the government was treating it with the highest possible seriousness. No arrest had been made as of now.
4:30 A.M. in Toronto 
There is a particular kind of message that gets sent when gunmen choose 4:30 in the morning. The street is empty, the target is symbolic, the intent is to terrify without the risk of immediate apprehension. That calculation was made outside the United States Consulate in downtown Toronto on the morning of March 9th, when two men in a white Honda SUV pulled to the kerb, opened fire at the building’s glass-and-steel facade, and drove away. Nobody inside was hurt. The glass, as Toronto Police Deputy Chief Frank Barredo dryly noted, is reinforced.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called it a reprehensible act and an attempt at intimidation, expressing relief that there had been no casualties. Ontario Premier Doug Ford did not traffic in diplomatic language. Speaking to reporters, he said he was personally convinced that Iran had activated sleeper cells across North America and that the Toronto shooting was not an isolated incident. “We have to weed these people out and hold them accountable,” he said. “This is my personal opinion and I don’t think I’m too far off with saying that. It’s a different world now.”
In the days surrounding the shooting, two Toronto synagogues were also targeted by gunmen. An Iranian-Canadian boxing club was attacked. RCMP Chief Superintendent Chris Leather, heading the national security investigation, was careful to keep his language measured but acknowledged the self-evident: “Diplomatic premises everywhere,” he said, “currently warrant a sharply elevated level of vigilance.
I believe there are sleeper cells all over the world. They are in the U.S., they are in Canada. We have to weed these people out. It’s a different world now.

Washington’s number game

General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, told a Tuesday briefing that ballistic missile attacks originating from Iran had dropped by 90 percent since hostilities began and that one-way drone attacks had fallen by 83 percent. Hegseth called this strong evidence of military degradation. The inference he wanted reporters to draw was clear: “the campaign is working, Iran is running out of capacity, and the trajectory is toward resolution.”
Tehran’s newly installed parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf rejected any such reading on the same day, while senior official Ali Larijani posted a direct message to Donald Trump on social media: “Iran doesn’t fear your empty threats.” Trump, meanwhile, had issued his own posts warning that “any Iranian mines found in the Strait of Hormuz would trigger consequences at a level… never seen before.” The Strait remains effectively shut to commercial shipping.
A Quinnipiac University poll conducted over the preceding weekend found that roughly seven in ten registered American voters were worried the war would push energy prices higher, including approximately half of all Republican respondents. Gas stations in the Midwest were already showing it.
Ground Reality
The State Department’s formal tally as of Tuesday: nonessential personnel ordered out of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, the UAE, and the consulate in Adana, Turkey. Emergency departure assistance extended to approximately 23,000 private American citizens across the region. Secretary of State Marco Rubio waived the standard legal requirement for evacuees to reimburse the government for charter transport costs, a small procedural detail that signals how seriously Washington is treating the threat level.
In Iraq, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani publicly condemned the militia attacks as violations of his country’s sovereignty, a statement that would have carried more weight had his government the capacity to enforce it. The International Zone in Baghdad, which houses the U.S. Embassy along with dozens of other diplomatic missions, is now effectively sealed. The U.S. Consulate in Erbil has suspended all services. Al Jazeera correspondent Assed Baig, reporting from the Kurdish capital, put it plainly: “All these attacks taking place overnight and early this morning highlight how increasingly Iraq is becoming a battleground in this widening Middle East war.”
In Iran itself, the internet has been down for the better part of ten days. Cybersecurity monitoring group NetBlocks recorded the shutdown at over 240 consecutive hours by Tuesday, describing it as among the most severe government-imposed nationwide blackouts ever documented. Tens of thousands of civilians have left Tehran and other major cities for rural areas and family farms. A Tehran-based lawyer, speaking anonymously to an international broadcaster, described Basij paramilitaries in her neighbourhood as heavily armed and watching for any sign of domestic unrest even as bombs continued to fall.
Back in Baghdad, the smoke above the guard tower had cleared by nightfall Tuesday. The State Department alert remained the same. “Accountability,” is “ongoing.” Whether that accountability ever catches up with the drones, the backpacks, the drive-by shootings, and the hotel strikes is the question that eleven days of war have so far left entirely open.

India–U.S. Deal: What We Know, What We Don’t

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The announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Washington will cut its “reciprocal” tariffs on Indian goods from 25% to 18% has brought immediate relief to Indian exporters and signalled a thaw after nearly a year of strained ties. The rollback also includes the removal of a punitive 25% penalty tariff imposed last August, which had pushed total U.S. tariffs on Indian exports to 50%, among the highest in the world, on par with Brazil.

Yet, beyond the headline tariff cut, the statements from Washington and New Delhi diverge sharply. While Mr. Trump has framed the move as part of a sweeping trade deal involving oil, investments and zero tariffs, Mr. Modi has confined himself to welcoming the tariff relief alone. This gap leaves several fundamental questions unanswered.

Is There Actually a US-India Trade Deal?

Mr. Trump’s repeated references to a “Trade Deal” have created ambiguity over whether the two sides have concluded a comprehensive agreement or merely agreed on a tariff rollback. One possibility is that he is referring to the long-discussed “first tranche” of an India–U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA), negotiations for which gathered pace after Mr. Modi’s visit to Washington in February 2025.

If so, the absence of detail is striking. Unlike the EU–India FTA concluded last week, where the negotiated text and scope were clearly outlined, neither Washington nor New Delhi has released any documentation, timelines or sectoral commitments for an India–U.S. FTA. Tariffs, non-tariff barriers, market access and investment rules were all meant to be part of this package, yet none of these elements has been formally disclosed.

Compounding the uncertainty is Mr. Trump’s claim that India has agreed to reduce “Tariffs and Non-Tariff Barriers against the United States, to ZERO”. New Delhi has not confirmed this, nor clarified which tariff lines would be reduced to zero. Sensitive sectors such as agriculture, particularly soyabean and dairy, which India has consistently opposed, remain conspicuously unaddressed.

The confusion is not new. In January, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said a deal had been ready for months but stalled because, according to him, Mr. Modi did not make a phone call to clinch it, a claim the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) firmly denied.

Does 18% Figure Indicate Level Playing Field for India?

The reduction to 18% is unquestionably an improvement from the earlier 25% rate imposed in April 2025. That earlier hike had left Indian exporters worse off than many regional competitors: Bangladesh and Vietnam faced tariffs of around 20%, Pakistan 19%, while China’s 34% rate was largely deferred until November 2026.

For labour-intensive sectors such as apparel, and for gems and jewellery exporters who were among the hardest hit, the new rate restores some competitiveness. However, Indian exporters are still not on equal footing. Many neighbouring and Asian economies continue to enjoy a Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) concession of about 5%, a benefit the U.S. withdrew from India in June 2019 during Mr. Trump’s first term.

As a result, Indian industry had hoped that any revised reciprocal tariff would land closer to 15%, not 18%. The current rate narrows the gap, but does not eliminate it.

What Is Actually Happening With Russian Oil?

Perhaps the most contentious claim from Washington is Mr. Trump’s assertion that Mr. Modi has “agreed to stop buying Russian Oil, and to buy much more from the United States and, potentially, Venezuela”, a move he linked to ending the war in Ukraine. The MEA has so far declined to comment on this assertion.

This silence matters because it cuts against India’s long-stated position. When the U.S. imposed a 25% penalty tariff last August over India’s Russian oil purchases, the MEA called the move “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable”, stressing that energy imports are driven by “market factors” and the need to ensure energy security.

In practice, however, India’s Russian oil imports have already been declining. After peaking in 2024, refiners began scaling back purchases. In October, imports of Russian Ural crude fell about 38% year-on-year. By December, the trend had deepened.

According to the European Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), “India’s Russian crude imports recorded a sharp 29% month-on-month reduction to the lowest volumes since the implementation of the price cap policy.” On January 6, 2026, Reliance Industries said it would not receive any Russian oil in January and had not taken Russian crude for the previous three weeks.

The key question is whether these reductions reflect commercial recalibration, or a political commitment now being formalised under U.S. pressure.

India Under US Sanctions Pressure?

There is historical precedent for concern. In 2019, India “zeroed out” imports of Iranian and Venezuelan oil after U.S. sanctions threats, with then U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley publicly pressing New Delhi. Following the U.S. operation against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January this year, Mr. Trump has suggested that Washington would now “allow” imports of Venezuelan oil, a position that offers India flexibility, but also underscores how contingent its energy choices appear on U.S. approval.

The pressure extends beyond oil. The U.S. has warned of 25% tariffs on countries doing business with Iran and has withdrawn the sanctions waiver for Indian investment in Iran’s Chabahar port. Government sources indicate India is prepared to give up its “minimal levels” of trade with Iran to avoid further tariffs.

Significantly, the Union Budget presented on February 1 makes no allocation for Chabahar in the coming year. After 23 years of strategic investment, this omission suggests New Delhi may be preparing to pause or retreat from the project until the sanctions environment eases.

What’s $500 Billion Commitment?

Mr. Trump’s claim that Mr. Modi committed to “BUY AMERICAN” at a much higher level, including purchases of over $500 billion in U.S. energy, technology, agricultural products, coal and more, is one of the boldest assertions yet the least substantiated.

The MEA has declined to confirm any such commitment. Context matters here. India–U.S. bilateral trade in goods currently stands at about $131 billion. India’s cumulative investment in the U.S. has hovered around $40 billion.

A $500 billion figure, therefore, can only be meaningful if spread over many years and across multiple sectors, much like similar claims Mr. Trump has made about the European Union, Japan and others following their trade deals. Without timelines, sectoral break-ups or binding mechanisms, the number functions more as a political headline than a verifiable obligation.

The tariff cut to 18% is real, immediate and economically significant. Beyond that, much remains unresolved. The gulf between Washington’s expansive claims and New Delhi’s carefully limited confirmations raises fundamental questions about the scope of the agreement, India’s energy autonomy, and the true balance of concessions.

Until the fine print is released, the India–U.S. deal remains less a finished treaty and more a framework shaped as much by geopolitics and pressure as by trade economics.

UN highlights need for peaceful resolution, as Trump and Putin prepare to meet on Ukraine

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The UN is stressing that any peace effort or deal must be consistent with the principles of the UN Charter, including respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric welcomed “dialogue at the highest level” between the two permanent members of the Security Council.

The meeting is scheduled to take place in Alaska at 11 AM local time (3 PM in New York). The northern US state is separated from the mainland by Canada, while Russia lies just to the west across the Bering Strait and the International Date Line.

Mr. Dujarric reaffirmed that the “[UN’s] position regarding the war in Ukraine remains the same.”

“We want an immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire as a first step towards finding a just and sustainable and comprehensive peace, one that upholds Ukraine’s sovereignty, its territorial integrity and independence within internationally recognized border and in line with UN Charter, international law and all relevant UN resolutions,” he said.

Asked about reports that the United States and Russia would meet without Ukraine at the table, Mr. Dujarric recalled the UN’s principled view that, to reach a durable settlement, “it’s helpful to have all the parties of the conflict at the table, the same table.”

“We’ll obviously be watching what happens, and we’re watching what comes out of it.”

The summit takes place against a backdrop of worsening humanitarian conditions. According to the UN relief coordination office, OCHA, hostilities continue to exact a heavy civilian toll, destroying homes and infrastructure, forcing thousands more to flee.

Between Monday and Wednesday alone, over 6,000 people evacuated their high-risk communities near frontlines in the Donetsk region, either through organized evacuations or of their own volition.

The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reported this week that July saw the highest monthly civilian casualty toll since May 2022, with 286 people killed and 1,388 injured.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the rights mission has documented the deaths of at least 13,883 civilians, including 726 children, and 35,548 injured, including 2,234 children.

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South Korea Engages U.S. Over Tariff Concerns

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The South Korean government is actively engaging with the U.S. to address trade uncertainties stemming from new tariff measures, Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo said Thursday.

During a meeting with top industry think tanks—including Samsung, Hyundai, POSCO, and LG—Cheong emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts to navigate U.S. protectionist policies under President Trump.

The U.S. is reportedly considering tariffs on steel, aluminum, and automobiles, raising concerns among its trading partners.

“We are maintaining direct communication channels with the U.S. to mitigate risks and help domestic industries adjust to these evolving trade policies,” Cheong said, calling for stronger industry-government collaboration.

Deputy Trade Minister Park Jong-won is currently in Washington, holding discussions with U.S. officials on the potential impact of Trump’s trade agenda on South Korean industries.

Meanwhile, consumer sentiment in South Korea surged to its highest level in nearly four years, driven by expectations of political stability following recent turmoil. The Bank of Korea’s consumer sentiment index rose to 95.2 in February, marking the largest gain since June 2021.

US Semiconductor Tariffs: India Faces Limited Immediate Impact

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The U.S. decision to impose tariffs on semiconductors is unlikely to significantly impact India in the short term, as the country is not a major chip exporter to the U.S., industry experts said Thursday.

With India already imposing zero import duties on semiconductors, the country faces no immediate trade retaliation concerns, said Ashok Chandak, president of the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA).

Most of India’s upcoming semiconductor manufacturing and assembly facilities cater to global brands, and its growing domestic demand will be met primarily through local production.

In the long run, Indian chipmakers are expected to remain competitive, as the U.S. tariff applies uniformly to all exporting nations, Chandak noted.

The Trump administration’s decision to impose tariffs of 25% or more is expected to reshape the global semiconductor industry, affecting costs, supply chains, and innovation.

The new tariffs will significantly increase the cost of chips imported into the U.S., particularly from dominant manufacturing hubs like Taiwan, South Korea, and China. These additional costs will likely be passed on to consumers, driving up prices for smartphones, laptops, electric vehicles, and industrial electronics.

Tech giants such as Apple, NVIDIA, and Tesla could see rising production costs, potentially squeezing profit margins or forcing them to raise consumer prices, according to IESA.

To mitigate risks, companies may explore alternative supply chains or invest more in domestic chip production. However, semiconductor fabrication plants are among the most capital-intensive projects, requiring $10 billion to $25 billion per site.

“Companies must weigh multiple factors before making investment decisions, including workforce availability, tax policies, regulatory frameworks, and environmental considerations,” IESA stated.

Trump Admin Plans $50 Billion Pentagon Budget Shake-Up, Eyes Firings

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WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 — The Trump administration is moving to cut $50 billion from the Pentagon budget, reallocating funds to high-priority areas such as border security, according to media reports.

A list of generals and admirals slated for dismissal has been circulated among Republican lawmakers. Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Salesses has instructed officials to identify cuts and shift resources to initiatives aligned with Trump’s priorities, Military Times reported.

NBC News said the Indo-Pacific region’s budget remains untouched. While earlier reports suggested an 8% reduction in overall military spending, the latest figures indicate the $849.8 billion defense budget will remain intact, with funds being redistributed rather than slashed.

NBC also reported that the targeted firings include officers linked to former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, those involved in diversity and inclusion programs, and others deemed politically misaligned with Trump’s agenda. It remains unclear whether Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman CQ Brown is on the list.

Trump has already removed Coast Guard chief Admiral Linda Fagan, the highest-ranking woman in U.S. military history.

As part of a broader effort to streamline government operations, numerous Defense Department employees have received termination notices.

Besides Indo-Pacific operations, budget priorities include missile defense, autonomous weapons, and border security. Salesses emphasized Trump’s focus on bolstering missile defense, strengthening border protections, and eliminating what he called “radical and wasteful” diversity initiatives.

 

 

 

Trump Warns Zelensky: Ukraine War Could End Without Him

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NEW YORK, Feb. 20 — The war of words between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky escalated Wednesday as Trump suggested Ukraine could be sidelined in negotiations to end the war with Russia.

“Zelensky better move fast or he’s not going to have a country left,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, claiming that only his administration could successfully broker peace with Russia.

The warning came after Zelensky criticized the U.S. and Russia for holding negotiations in Riyadh without Ukrainian representation. He insisted that Ukraine would not accept a peace deal reached without its direct involvement.

Zelensky fired back, accusing Trump of “living in a web of disinformation.” Trump, in turn, labeled Zelensky a “dictator without elections.”

With Russia occupying roughly 20% of Ukraine’s territory and Ukraine making only minor territorial gains, a negotiated peace deal is unlikely to restore all of Ukraine’s pre-war borders.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested that reverting to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders—including Crimea—was unrealistic and ruled out NATO membership for Ukraine in any foreseeable peace agreement.

Trump previously suggested Ukraine provoked the war—despite Russia’s 2022 invasion. His “dictator” remark references Ukraine’s decision to postpone elections due to the war, extending Zelensky’s term beyond its scheduled end.

As the primary financier of Ukraine’s defense, Trump appears to believe he could unilaterally pressure Kyiv into accepting peace terms negotiated with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met in Riyadh for more than four hours to discuss an end to the war. Both sides reported progress, with Lavrov calling the talks “useful” and Rubio indicating Russia was open to serious negotiations.

One key development was an agreement to restore U.S. and Russian embassies to full operational status after years of reduced diplomatic presence.

Trump also lashed out at European nations for not matching U.S. financial support for Ukraine. “Zelensky talked the United States into spending $350 billion on a war that couldn’t be won,” he wrote, arguing that European nations should contribute equally.

 

Reuters/Ipsos Poll: Kamala Harris Leads Trump 46% to 43%; Tight Race Ahead for US Presidential Elections

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As per the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris is leading Republican Donald Trump by a narrow margin of 46% to 43% in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, reflecting the sentiments of voters as the November 5, 2024 vote is nearing.

The poll reveals that voters consider the economy as the top issue facing the country. Within this context, the cost of living was identified as the most important economic concern, with 70% of respondents considering it a key issue while other economic issues like the job market, taxes, or improving personal finances received significantly less attention.

When it comes to addressing these economic issues, voters’ opinions diverge. Donald Trump was seen as the preferred candidate for addressing the cost of living, with 44% of respondents supporting his approach compared to 38% for Kamala Harris. However, when it comes to addressing the gap between wealthy and average Americans, Harris was favored by a margin of 42% to 35%.

The poll also touched on the contentious issue of immigration, which is currently at its highest level in America in over a century. Some 53% of voters in the poll agreed with the statement that immigrants who are in the country illegally are a danger to public safety, compared to 41% who disagreed. This shows that Trump’s claims about immigrants being prone to crime might have swayed some voters, despite these assertions being largely discredited by academics and think tanks.

State-by-State Results

In terms of trust, voters favoured Kamala Harris more than Donald Trump. The poll found that 55% of respondents agreed that Harris was mentally sharp and able to deal with challenges, compared to 46% who held the same view about Trump. This could be a significant factor in the election, as voters may prioritize a candidate’s mental sharpness when making their decision.

The poll, which had a margin of error of about 3 percentage points, also highlighted the importance of state-by-state results in determining the winner of the election. The Electoral College’s state-by-state results are crucial, with seven battleground states likely to be decisive. Polls have shown Harris and Trump are neck-and-neck in those battleground states, with many results within the margins of error.

Historically, close races like this one have been decided by a few key factors, including the candidates’ performance in debates, their ability to mobilize their base, and their success in swaying undecided voters.

In 2000, George W. Bush and Al Gore were locked in a tight race that was ultimately decided by a few hundred votes in Florida. Similarly, in 2016, Donald Trump’s victory was secured by narrow margins in key swing states. As the 2024 election approaches, both Harris and Trump will need to focus their efforts on these crucial areas if they hope to secure victory.

Trump Threatens ‘Dire Consequences’ If Loses Presidential Race, Biden Team Calls Him ‘Loser’

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Former President Donald Trump rallied supporters in Ohio over the weekend, declaring the upcoming November presidential election as pivotal in American history. Trump, who recently secured the presumptive Republican nomination, emphasized the significance of the date, November 5, while lambasting his opponent, President Joe Biden.

During his speech in Vandalia, Ohio, Trump criticized Chinese plans to manufacture cars in Mexico for the American market, asserting that such endeavors would falter under his leadership. He issued a stark warning, suggesting dire consequences for the nation should he not be re-elected, albeit without specifying details.

Following Trump’s remarks, Biden’s campaign swiftly responded, labeling the former president as a “loser” and condemning his rhetoric as a veiled incitement to political violence, alluding to the events of January 6, 2021, when the Capitol was stormed by Trump supporters.

Later, speaking at a dinner in Washington, Biden reiterated the gravity of the moment, highlighting threats to democracy posed by falsehoods surrounding the 2020 election and attempts to overturn its results.

Trump’s and Biden’s victories in securing their party nominations for the 2024 presidential race virtually guarantee a rematch, setting the stage for an extended campaign period. Among Trump’s focal points is a critique of Biden’s immigration policies, which he denounces as a “horror show,” particularly targeting their impact on minority communities.

Trump’s rally in Ohio, a state historically regarded as a battleground, underscores the enduring importance of its electoral influence despite shifting political landscapes. The event followed a notable announcement from Trump’s former vice president, Mike Pence, who declared his decision not to endorse Trump for a second term.

Nikki Haley gets Trump’s support for nailing down Kelly, Tillerson in memoir

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Former US Ambassador to UN Nikki Haley has finally cracked the code from within narrating in her book how former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly had tried to circumvent some policies in the name of national interest despite going against President Donald Trump’s own decisions.

Haley’s claims in her book With All Due Respect come at a time when US Presidnet Trump is facing the House impeachment inquiry over his policy on Ukraine. She said former secretary of state Rex Tillerson and former White House chief of staff John F. Kelly tried to persuade her to work around and dump Trump that she claimed to have refused. “Kelly and Tillerson confided in me that when they resisted the president, they weren’t being insubordinate, they were trying to save the country,” she wrote.

Interestingly, they argued the same way many witnesses of Democrats did when they testifed in private before the House Intelligence Committee. Haley told CBS Sunday Morning show that she did not believe the president had done anything wrong in the Ukrainian phone call.

She said that she was “shocked” at the request made during their closed-door meeting. “It was their decisions, not the president’s, that were in the best interests of America, they said. The president didn’t know what he was doing,” she wrote in her book. She recalled Tillerson reasoning her out that he resisted the president’s decisions because, “if he didn’t, people would die.”

It may be mentioned here that President Trump fired Tillerson in March, 2018, who later called the President “dumb as rock”, while John Kelly resigned in December, 2018. In fact, Haley received thumbs up from the President when he tweeted “Good luck Nikki!”

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