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Indian LPG Carrier Shivalik Crosses Strait of Hormuz, Enters Open Sea Amid Regional Tensions Vessel Carrying Over 40,000 Metric Tonnes of LPG Moves Past Strategic Waterway An Indian flagged liquefied petroleum gas carrier, Shivalik, has successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz and entered the open sea while transporting more than 40,000 metric tonnes of LPG, according to sources.The tanker navigated the strategic waterway without a direct escort, although Indian naval warships stationed in the region remained on standby during the transit.Shipping Data Confirms Movement From Qatar Tracking data from MarineTraffic.com shows that the vessel was last recorded in the Gulf of Oman about nine hours ago. The ship had departed from Ras...

Five US Air Force Refueling Aircraft Damaged in Missile Strike at Saudi Base Tanker Aircraft Hit During Iranian Missile Attack at Prince Sultan Air Base Five US Air Force refueling aircraft were struck and damaged while on the ground at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia during an Iranian missile attack in recent days, according to a report published by the Wall Street Journal citing two US officials.The report states that the aircraft sustained damage but were not completely destroyed. Repair work is currently underway to restore the tankers.No Casualties Reported Despite the impact of the missile strike, no casualties were reported in the attack. The aircraft were parked at the base when they were hit.Prince Sultan Air Base...

US Begins Massive Strategic Petroleum Reserve Drawdown with 86 Million Barrel Exchange Department of Energy Initiates Oil Exchange from Emergency Reserve The Trump administration has initiated the process for a major drawdown of the United States Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), issuing a request to exchange 86 million barrels of crude oil as part of a broader emergency release.According to a statement from the US Department of Energy (DOE) on Friday, deliveries from the SPR are expected to begin reaching the market by the end of next week.This move forms part of a 172 million barrel release announced earlier in the week aimed at stabilizing energy markets.Part of Global Effort to Ease Fuel Prices The SPR drawdown is included in...

US Army Awards Up to $20 Billion Contract to Anduril Industries for Defense Technology Pentagon Signs Long Term Deal to Accelerate Software Driven Military Capabilities The United States Army has awarded defense technology company Anduril Industries a contract worth up to $20 billion for the procurement of software, hardware, and related services. The Department of Defense said the agreement is designed to accelerate the delivery of advanced technology capabilities to soldiers.The announcement was made on Friday evening by the Department’s Office of the Chief Information Officer.“The modern battlefield is increasingly defined by software. To maintain our advantage, we must be able to acquire and deploy software capabilities quickly...

Federal Judge Blocks Justice Department Subpoenas in Investigation of Fed Chair Jerome Powell Court Ruling Deals Blow to Justice Department Probe A federal judge on Friday dismissed subpoenas issued by the US Justice Department to the Federal Reserve in January, delivering a major setback to an investigation involving Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.The ruling by Judge James Boasberg concluded that the government failed to provide evidence suggesting Powell committed any crime in connection with testimony he gave to Congress last year. As a result, the subpoenas seeking Federal Reserve records related to a multibillion dollar building renovation were thrown out.The investigation had already sparked criticism on Capitol Hill and...

US Temporarily Eases Sanctions on Russian Oil Shipments Amid Global Supply Concerns Move Aims to Stabilize Energy Markets During Iran War Disruptions The United States is temporarily easing certain sanctions on Russian oil shipments as global energy markets face supply pressures linked to the ongoing Iran war and disruptions in the Middle East.The decision allows the sale of Russian crude that has already been loaded onto tankers, a move aimed at calming oil markets and preventing further price spikes driven by supply shortages.30-Day Sanctions Relief for Oil Already at Sea According to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bewley, sanctions will be lifted for 30 days on shipments of Russian oil that were loaded onto vessels starting...

US Job Openings Rise to Nearly 7 Million in January, Signaling Mixed Signals in Labor Market Job Openings Increase Despite Signs of Hiring Slowdown Job openings in the United States rose to nearly 7 million in January, surpassing market expectations even as the broader labor market continues to show signs of slowing momentum.According to data released by the Labor Department on Friday, job postings increased to 6.95 million in January, up from 6.55 million in December. The figure came in higher than economists had anticipated, suggesting that demand for workers remains present despite a cautious hiring environment.However, the increase in job listings has not translated into stronger hiring activity.Hiring Remains Weak as Layoffs...

Fed’s Key Inflation Gauge Rises in January as Core Prices Hit Nearly Two-Year High The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge showed persistent price pressures in January, even before geopolitical tensions triggered a sharp surge in global energy costs.Data released by the U.S. Commerce Department on Friday showed that inflation, measured by the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index, rose 2.8% in January from a year earlier. The reading was slightly lower than the increase recorded in December, after a backlog of delayed data caused by a six week government shutdown last fall was largely cleared.Core Inflation Climbs to Highest Level in Nearly Two Years Underlying inflation remained firm. The core PCE index, which...

U.S. President Donald Trump urged commercial vessels to keep sailing through the Strait of Hormuz despite the ongoing conflict involving Iran, saying Tehran no longer has the naval capability to threaten shipping in the region.“Show some courage. There is nothing to be afraid of; Iran has no navy, and we sank all their ships,” Trump said while speaking about maritime tensions around the critical shipping route.In an interview with Fox News, Trump argued that ships should continue to pass through the strategic waterway because Iran’s naval strength has been significantly weakened and is no longer capable of disrupting maritime traffic.His remarks come amid rising tensions in West Asia following a conflict involving the United...

US KC-135 Refueling Plane Crashes in Western Iraq Amid Conflicting ReportsA US KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq, while a second plane involved in the operation landed safely, the US military confirmed on Thursday. The incident is reported to be unrelated to hostile or friendly fire, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees American forces in the Middle East."One of the aircraft went down in western Iraq, and the second landed safely. This was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire," CENTCOM said in a statement.In contrast, Iran's military claimed via state television that an allied group in Iraq had shot down the aircraft with a missile, resulting in the deaths of all crew members aboard...

United States Temporarily Authorizes Sale of Russian Oil Amid Middle East TensionsWashington, March 13 The United States is temporarily allowing the sale of Russian oil already at sea, the Treasury Department announced on Thursday, as global energy prices surge following US-Israeli strikes on Iran that have escalated conflict in West Asia.The authorization represents a limited easing of sanctions imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. The Treasury issued a license on March 12 permitting the delivery and sale of Russian crude oil and petroleum products loaded onto vessels on or before 12:01 am Eastern Time on March 12. The license remains valid until 12:01 am on April 11.This decision follows a recent move by Washington to...

Thai-Flagged Cargo Ship Attacked Near Strait of Hormuz; Three Crew Members Missing Vessel En Route to Gujarat’s Kandla Port Hit by Projectiles A Thai-flagged cargo ship was attacked near the Strait of Hormuz on March 11 while sailing from Dubai to Kandla Port in Gujarat, leaving three crew members missing. The vessel, Mayuree Naree, was struck near its stern by two projectiles of unknown origin.The bulk carrier is owned by Thai company Precious Shipping Pcl and had 23 crew members on board at the time of the incident. Following the strike, a fire broke out in the engine room of the ship but was later brought under control.Rescue Operation Underway; 20 Sailors Saved According to the Royal Thai Navy, 20 sailors have been rescued so...

Global Banks and Tech Firms Shut Offices Across West Asia as Iran Threatens Economic Targets Rising Tensions Trigger Precautionary Corporate Shutdowns Global banks, consulting firms, and technology companies have begun closing offices and shifting employees to remote work across parts of West Asia as geopolitical tensions escalate following warnings from Iran that economic and financial infrastructure linked to the United States and Israel could become targets.The precautionary measures follow a statement from Iran’s central military command, Khatam Al-Anbiya, which warned that economic and banking interests connected to the United States and Israel could be targeted in response to attacks on Iranian infrastructure.The warning has...

Attack on Basra Port Halts Iraq Oil Terminal Operations, One Dead Oil Terminals Suspended After Attack on Vessel An attack at Iraq's Basra port in the Persian Gulf has left at least one person dead and forced authorities to suspend operations at all of the country’s oil terminals, officials confirmed on Thursday.Farhan al-Fartousi, Director General of the General Company for Ports of Iraq, said the incident targeted a vessel located in a ship-to-ship transfer zone at the port.The statement was released through the state-run Iraqi News Agency.Uncertainty Over Weapon Used in the Attack Authorities said it was not immediately clear whether the vessel was struck by a drone or a missile.Emergency response teams recovered one body...

Iran warned that global oil prices could surge to $200 per barrel after Iranian forces attacked merchant ships on Wednesday. The International Energy Agency (IEA) urged countries to release large amounts of strategic oil reserves to soften what could become one of the worst oil shocks since the 1970s.The conflict escalated after joint U.S. and Israeli airstrikes launched nearly two weeks earlier. The strikes have reportedly killed about 2,000 people, mostly in Iran and Lebanon, and triggered major disruptions in global energy markets and transportation.Despite heavy bombardment, Iran continued retaliatory actions. On Wednesday it launched strikes against Israeli targets and other locations in the Middle East, signaling it still had...

Oil Tankers Attacked in Iraqi Waters, Operations at Oil Terminals Suspended Iraq Halts Oil Terminal Operations After Maritime Attacks Iraq has suspended operations at its oil terminals after two oil tankers were attacked in the country’s territorial waters, according to the State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO).The state oil marketer identified the vessels as the Marshall Islands flagged Safesea Vishnu and the Malta flagged Zefyros.Details of the Affected Tankers According to a statement posted by SOMO on Facebook, the Safesea Vishnu had been chartered by a company that holds a contract with the organization.The second vessel, Zefyros, was carrying condensate produced by Basrah Gas Co. The tanker had been scheduled to...

House Lawmakers Examine Jeffrey Epstein’s Financial Network in Closed-Door Deposition Committee Questions Epstein’s Former Accountant Over Wealth and Financial Connections House lawmakers intensified their investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s financial network on Wednesday, focusing on how the disgraced financier accumulated vast wealth and maintained ties with some of the world’s most influential figures.The House Oversight Committee conducted a closed-door deposition with Richard Kahn, Epstein’s longtime accountant who now serves as executor of his estate. Lawmakers sought clarity on Epstein’s financial dealings, the origins of his wealth, and the structure of his financial operations.Accountant Describes Epstein’s Wealth-Building...

US to Permanently Close Consulate in Peshawar, Ending Key Diplomatic Presence Near Afghan Border State Department Notifies Congress of Decision The United States will permanently close its consulate in Peshawar, Pakistan, a diplomatic mission that has long served as the closest American post to the Afghan border and played a crucial role during the US involvement in Afghanistan.The US State Department informed Congress this week about its intention to shut down the facility. According to the notification, the closure is expected to save the US government approximately $7.5 million annually while maintaining the country’s ability to pursue its national interests in Pakistan.Closure Linked to Broader Government Downsizing The decision...

Australia Grants Humanitarian Visas to Five Iranian Women’s Soccer Players Seeking Asylum Players Seek Protection Amid Fears of Persecution On Tuesday, Australia granted humanitarian visas to five players from Iran’s women’s national soccer team after they sought asylum, citing fears of persecution if they returned home. The players had travelled to Australia to participate in the Asian Cup tournament.The announcement followed reports that several members of the Iranian team had requested assistance from Australian authorities. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that the five players who sought help were safe in the country.“Australians have been moved by the plight of these brave women,” Albanese said during a...

twitter.com/4jBXrNcRJO Footage Raises Questions Over Strike Near Elementary School A newly surfaced video and subsequent analyses indicate that a US cruise missile may have struck an area near an elementary school in southern Iran during the first day of the conflict on February 28, raising questions about responsibility for the deadly incident.The footage, released by Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency, shows a missile hitting a building inside an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps facility in Minab. At the moment of impact, dust and smoke are already visible rising from a nearby school compound, suggesting the school had likely been struck moments earlier.The school, identified as Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school, was located...