New Delhi: Congress on Saturday launched scathing attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi The United States recently granted New Delhi a 30-day exemption for buying Russian oil. The attack quoted Donald Trump aide Scott Bessant, who said the United States had “allowed” India to accept oil from Moscow.The largest opposition party condemned and questioned the Modi government’s diplomacy on X, saying that a large country like India with a population of 1.4 billion is “waiting for Washington’s approval” and reiterated its accusation of “compromise” by its prime minister.Congress quoted U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant as writing on the“India fought for freedom so that no foreign power could dictate to us. Yet today, led by a weak Prime Minister, the US is openly talking about giving India ‘permission’,” it added.The party lashed out at India’s diplomacy, calling the situation a “disgrace”. Congress called on the Prime Minister to explain, adding: “Indians are not actors in someone else’s script. Prime Minister Modi, your silence on this statement is deafening. The people of India deserve an explanation.”Previously, the United States said it had “allowed” India to purchase Russian oil on ships at sea to maintain global supplies during conflicts in the Middle East.“The world is very well supplied with oil. Yesterday, the U.S. Treasury Department agreed to let our Indian allies begin buying Russian oil that is already offshore,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant said in an interview with Fox Business Network on Friday.“The Indians have been very good actors. We asked them to stop buying sanctioned Russian oil this fall. They did. They intend to substitute it with American oil. But to ease the temporary shortfall of oil around the world, we allowed them to accept Russian oil. We may lift sanctions on other Russian oil,” he said.Bessant added that there are currently hundreds of millions of barrels of sanctioned crude on board. He said that by lifting sanctions on these goods, the U.S. Treasury Department can quickly increase supply to the market.“There are hundreds of millions of barrels of sanctioned crude on the water, and essentially, by lifting sanctions, the Treasury Department can create supply. We are looking at that. We will continue to announce measures to ease market pressure during this conflict,” he said.Several other Trump administration officials have also said the United States has now given India permission to buy Russian oil. A few months ago, President Donald Trump imposed punitive 25% tariffs on India over its oil purchases from Russia.U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright also addressed the move in an X post on Friday. He said the United States was “allowing our Indian friends” to take Russian oil already on ships around South Asia, refine it and quickly bring it to market to ensure a steady supply during the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.“We have implemented short-term measures to help keep oil prices down. We are allowing our friends in India to take delivery of oil already on ships, refine it and then move that oil quickly to the market. This is a practical way to facilitate the flow of supply and relieve pressure,” Wright said.In a live interview with ABC News, Wright said that in the long term, global oil supplies are strong, but in the short term, more oil needs to be brought to the market quickly.
Nancy Guthrie Update: Mysterious ‘Internet Outage’ Claims, Neighbors Say Ring Camera Stops Working
Five weeks later, “Today” show co-host Nancy Guthrie, 84-year-old mother Savannah Guthriedisappeared from her Catalina Foothills home, and detectives are knocking on the door with new leads.
Authorities investigating the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie are looking at new information from a neighbor’s ring camera that may help shed light on events the night she disappeared from her Arizona home.
Read more: Nancy Guthrie: Why Anne, Tommaso Cioni were acquitted before case was concluded
FBI investigates possible internet outage
Investigators asked residents if they had any internet issues the night Nancy disappeared, NBC reported Friday.
Some neighbors heard from agents that others in the neighborhood were also experiencing connectivity issues that night.
this FBI Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said his team investigated whether the suspect had a WiFi jammer on him the night he kidnapped the 84-year-old man.
Residents reported that when investigators came to their homes on Thursday, they were asked to provide any camera footage from January 11, Mirror America reported.
Authorities have not said why they questioned the families around Jan. 11 or whether they are investigating anything related to that date. Three homeowners who spoke to NBC News on Thursday after Nancy disappeared claimed they were either asleep or out.
Read more: Nancy Guthrie update: Ring CEO under fire for ‘if they had more cameras’ remark
Reports of Ring Camera not working
Reporter Brian Entin on X said the FBI investigated potential internet outages as well as erroneous network failures. ring camera During the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie. He noted that a resident confirmed that his Ring Camera history was “unavailable” from the night Nancy disappeared.
According to Mirror America , the couple revealed they have four ring cameras on their property and when they reviewed footage from the night Nancy was kidnapped, the one closest to her home showed “unavailable.”
The pair claimed that their other cameras, located further away from Nancy’s home, were functioning normally. They clarified that they had never seen an “unavailable” message before and called it “unbelievable” that this happened in that time frame.
‘Jasprit Bumrah is human too’: Phillips issues new warning ahead of final
AHMEDABAD: For a country with a population of just 5.3 million – smaller than many major cities in the world – New Zealand’s rise in cricket over the past decade has been remarkable. The Black Caps have reached eight major ICC finals, including the 2015 and 2019 ODI World Cups, the 2021 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy. They also lifted the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021 and reached the semi-finals of the 2023 ODI World Cup.Their women’s team are the reigning T20 World Cup champions in 2024, while the men’s team are on the verge of claiming their maiden T20 title against India in the T20 World Cup final on Sunday night.New Zealand all-rounder Glenn Phillips highlighted the contrast between the two cricketing nations on Friday. India has a population of over 1.4 billion and Phillips pointed to the host nation’s wealth of talent, which suggests they can easily field three competitive teams in the T20 World Cup. By comparison, New Zealand has to rely on a much smaller talent pool.“Obviously we have fewer people to choose from as a country, which means our high performance programs have to be very specific and tailored to our population,” Phillips said ahead of a training session in New Zealand. “But the talent coming out of India is amazing. They’ll probably pick three teams that are equally matched in this World Cup. So for us to be able to go out and compete against teams from around the world with such a small population is great.“Meanwhile, Phillips refused to underestimate India’s out-of-form mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who has conceded 64 runs in four overs against England in the semi-finals at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. “We’ve played against him a few times now, which helps,” Phillips said. “We’re going to try to take it one ball at a time. He’s allowed to have a good day, but we’re allowed to have a good day.”“Bumra is human too”Phillips also acknowledged the threat posed by pacer Jasprit Bumrah, whose performances have proved decisive in the home side’s last two games. “The games we had against him in the bilateral series were fantastic, but he’s a great bowler,” Phillips said. “Bumrah has so much variety and hits the blocks so well at the death. But he’s human too.”
Iranian officials say delay in appointing supreme leader due to security concerns
Iran has delayed the appointment of a successor to slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei over security concerns, two Iranian officials said, after comments from the United States and Israel that the new leader could also be targeted.Ayatollah Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, has emerged as a top contender for the job, but concerns about his security have grown after media reports he could become Iran’s new face, said the two officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. Once Khamenei’s name started circulating as a popular candidate to succeed his father, the United States signaled it would not accept him and might eliminate him. “They’re wasting their time,” President Trump told Axios on Thursday, adding that the former supreme leader’s son was “a lightweight” and “unacceptable” choice. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a social media post on Wednesday that any leader appointed by Iran to succeed Khamenei would be a “clear target for elimination.” U.S. and Israeli strikes have so far killed Ayatollah Khamenei and top military commanders and figures involved in the defense, but not clerics. The leaders of all three branches of Iran’s government – the president, judiciary and parliament – are still alive.If Khamenei is appointed as Iran’s top religious, political and military figure, it would mark the continuation of hard-line conservative rule. Khamenei is a mysterious but influential figure who has always operated in the shadow of power and has close ties to the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
PM Modi: Make our agriculture export-oriented
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi The need for India’s agriculture to be export-oriented was underlined on Friday and farmers were asked to take advantage of the country’s diverse climate to boost productivity and strengthen agricultural exports.“We have a diverse climate and we have to make the most of it. Our agro-climatic zones are very rich… If we collectively scale up high-value agricultural commodities, we can transform agriculture into a globally competitive sector,” Modi said at a post-budget webinar on ‘Agriculture and Rural Transformation’.
He highlighted changes in global demand and said the world was becoming more health-conscious. “Natural farming and chemical-free agricultural products create a highway for us to enter world markets. The government is looking at certification and laboratories,” the prime minister said.
‘That phase was very challenging’: Samson admits with honesty
Mumbai: Sanzhou Samson When reminded that he had missed two centuries, his reaction was swift. “Missed it? I didn’t miss two centuries. One of the best moments of my life is happening, so I’m grateful,” he said.That’s been Samson’s World Cup so far. His unbeaten 97 off 50 balls helped India tie West Indies for 196 in the virtual quarter-finals in Kolkata. This was followed by a fearless 89 against England in the semi-finals.Against England, Samson finished with a score of 97 Ishan Kishan Then add 43 with Shivam Dube. It’s clear that his decade of experience has made him aware of his role.
“My timing with the ball is good and I make the right decisions. I have played 300-400 T20 games, batted from No. 1 to No. 6 and captained an IPL team. I understand the needs of the team and my role in the XI. This clarity helps you score runs the way you want,” he said.For a player who has struggled with inconsistent chances, scrutiny and self-doubt for years, Samson finally seemed to be on his way to victory. When asked if he felt relaxed, the 31-year-old quipped: “One more fight and then I will feel relaxed.”“I waited patiently, worked hard, trained a lot. But we have further to go. If we do it, it will all be worth it,” he said.From being dropped after the series against New Zealand to playing hero in the World Cup semi-finals, the Kerala batsman has risen like a phoenix. “That phase was very challenging,” he admits. “I tried a little too hard to make an impact and get into the World Cup XI. In T20s, even the best runs are difficult.”Samson is one of 8 nominees Player of the TournamentSanju Samson’s name appears in the ICC’s eight-man shortlist for the best player in the T20 World Cup.The others are England’s Will Jacks, Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan, South Africa’s Lungi Ngidi and Aiden Markram, New Zealand’s Lachin Ravindra and Tim Seifert and American bowler Shadli van Schalkwijk.
Kristi Noem despises husband Bryon’s family; Insider spills the beans on Corey Lewandowski’s affair dispute
As former Secretary of Homeland Security Christy Noms Her personal life has come under scrutiny and new reports have emerged about her relationship with husband Brian and their family. Just a day earlier, the former governor of South Dakota was fired from the Department of Homeland Security amid rumors of an affair with a top aide. Corey Lewandowski Enter the House hearing.
President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he has selected Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin to replace Noem as Homeland Security secretary. The appointment requires Senate confirmation. The 54-year-old was grilled during a congressional hearing this week, with Rep. Sidney Kamlager-Dorff asking her point-blank whether she had had sex with Lewandowski, who was married. Noem dismissed the skepticism as “tabloid garbage.”
Kristi Noem is also accused of spending $220 million on advertising campaigns featuring her. It’s unclear whether Trump cleared the spending.
Kristi Noem despises her husband’s family
A family source told the New York Post that Byron, who attended the hearing with his wife, felt “humiliated.” However, the South Dakota businessman is not considering filing for divorce.
A relative told the publication that tensions between the fired DHS chief and her husband’s family had been simmering for years.
“She despised the Noem family,” a relative said.
Speaking about Byron being with Christie during the hearing, the source added, “I really liked that he sat behind her when she was being grilled about ICE brutality. I think he was ignoring reality. Maybe he has to face it now.”
The couple first met as teenagers and began dating when Christy was a junior at Hamlin High School in Haiti, South Dakota. At the time, Brian was already a freshman at Northern State University.
They married in 1992, spent more than thirty years together and raised three children. During the early years of their marriage, Christy and Brian worked together on the family farm. Their careers eventually diverged when Brian entered the insurance industry in 2003.
Christie also quickly entered public life and began her political career in 2006 by winning a seat in the South Dakota House of Representatives. Her political trajectory later led to her election as governor of South Dakota in 2018.
Russian athletes booed at Winter Paralympics opening ceremony
NEW DELHI: The Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics officially opened in Italy on Friday, but Russian athletes were allowed to march under their country’s flag for the first time since 2014, an incident that brought controversy to the medal ceremony. The International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) decision drew criticism amid Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine.Only a small Russian delegation attended, and they were booed by parts of the crowd as they entered the historic Verona Arena. Several countries, including Ukraine, Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and the Czech Republic, boycotted the ceremony in protest. Instead, volunteers raised the flag without athletes or officials present. In contrast, the Ukrainian flag received a prolonged round of applause from the audience.IPC president Andrew Parsons defended the decision, saying it came after the organization’s conference voted last September to allow Russia and Belarus to return to the competition under their respective flags. Speaking at the ceremony, Parsons also reflected on global conflicts. “Four years ago, I said I was shocked by what was going on in the world,” he said. “Unfortunately, the situation has not changed. In a world where some countries are known by the names of their leaders, I prefer to know countries through the names of their athletes.”The ceremony, attended by Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella, began with a drumming performance by police band member Stuart Copeland, followed by a brief playing of the Italian national anthem and a parade of athletes.As of March 15, more than 600 athletes will compete in six sports at venues in northern Italy. The events will take place mainly in Cortina, with Milan hosting para ice hockey and Val di Fiemme hosting cross-country and biathlon events.Organizing committee president Giovanni Marago said the Games sent an important message during turbulent times. He added: “The messages of peace, inclusion and solidarity at the heart of the Olympic and Paralympic movements are more relevant and important than ever.”
Middle East tensions: Ports told to consider waiving fees for stranded ships
NEW DELHI: With cargo ships bound for West Asia stranded in India due to conflicts in the region, the shipping ministry on Friday directed all 12 major ports to consider requests for reduction, exemption or waiver of charges, including storage rent, reefer blockage and ship-changing charges.The ministry said that during the affected period, ports may allow the storage of goods bound for West Asia as transshipment cargo, allocate additional storage areas, and coordinate with customs to facilitate the return of port export goods to the domestic market. They have also been asked to prioritize perishable cargo to prevent spoilage and facilitate additional bunkering capacity to meet potential demand.The directives came just hours after Shipping Minister Vijay Kumar chaired a virtual meeting with stakeholders including ministries, shipping lines, oil primary suppliers, companies and exporters, who pointed to possible congestion and shortage of containers at ports over the next two to three weeks. There have also been suggestions that more foreign-flagged vessels be allowed to transport domestic goods to cope with a shortage of ships and containers amid rising freight costs.According to the Shipping Ministry, 11 ships are heading to the Persian Gulf from different Indian ports, while 35 Indian-flagged vessels are heading to the region.The DGFT informed stakeholders that the Department of Financial Services is holding meetings with insurance companies, the General Insurance Board and the Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India to address the issue of soaring premiums. It also informed that the RBI has held a meeting with the Indian Banks Association and the Indian Banks Association and asked banks operating in the West Asia region to allow their employees to work from home to ensure that shipping lines, exporters and importers do not face problems.Kumar said the port authorities have been instructed not to charge any additional charges.
Emirates NBD waives fees for cash withdrawals from other ATMs in UAE and GCC as concerns over Iran and US-Israel war grow
Emirates NBD has announced that it will temporarily waive ATM withdrawal fees at other banking machines in the UAE and the wider GCC region in an effort to ease financial access during a period of turmoil in the Gulf region. The decision comes as regional tensions and travel disruptions leave many residents and travelers scrambling for cash and banking services.The relief measure announced by the Dubai-based bank removes fees normally charged when customers withdraw money from ATMs outside the bank’s own network. The exemption will remain in effect until March 31, 2026, allowing customers to more easily access funds during a period of uncertainty in the Middle East.
What does Emirates NBD fee reduction include?
Under the temporary policy, Emirates NBD customers will benefit from a number of key fee waivers designed to simplify day-to-day banking.
- Withdrawals via ATMs from other networks are free – Customers can withdraw cash from any ATM across the UAE and GCC countries without paying the usual interbank withdrawal fees.
- Eliminate Debit Card Replacement Fee – The cost of replacing a lost or damaged debit card is also waived.
- Free local and international card delivery – Customers applying for a new debit card can have it delivered within the UAE or overseas without paying shipping costs during the exemption period.
The bank communicated the latest news to customers via email, explaining that the move is intended to give people greater flexibility in accessing funds and managing day-to-day transactions during the ongoing regional disruption.
Why Emirates NBD launched rescue measures
The banking bailout comes as the Middle East is experiencing severe geopolitical tensions and aviation disruptions, affecting travel and movement across the Gulf. Airspace closures and flight cancellations have left many travelers stranded in multiple countries, prompting governments and businesses to roll out support measures.
Emirates NBD fee relief: Banking relief in Iran and US-Israel war?
Banking services, especially easy access to cash through ATMs, have become especially important for residents and visitors dealing with unexpected travel changes. Financial institutions often implement temporary fee reductions during crises to ensure customers have uninterrupted access to essential financial services, especially when normal travel and banking operations are disrupted.The decision is expected to bring immediate relief to several groups:
- Stranded passengers need cash while waiting for flights.
- Due to travel disruptions, expats are moving between GCC countries.
- Residents rely on nearby ATMs outside the bank network.
In many cases, there are often additional fees for withdrawing money from other banks’ ATMs, sometimes ranging from AED 2 to AED 25 per transaction, depending on the ATM network and banking package. By eliminating these fees, banks allow customers to withdraw money from the most convenient machine without worrying about additional fees.
Emirates NBD waives ATM fees: What does this mean for your funds in the GCC?
For travelers who have lost their card abroad or need a replacement, free replacement cards and international delivery options also ensure continued access to funds while away from home. The Emirates NBD initiative is part of a broader response by Gulf institutions to try to mitigate the effects of regional instability.Across the region, airlines initiated emergency flights, governments issued travel warnings and some authorities introduced temporary measures to support residents affected by flight cancellations and movement restrictions. Banks in particular play a crucial role in this situation, as cash access and payment continuity are critical to dealing with unexpected delays or relocation of travelers.
What Emirates NBD customers should know
While the fee waiver provides a great convenience, it is temporary. Customers should note the following key details:
- This exemption applies until March 31, 2026.
- it covers
Cash withdrawal Withdraw from any ATM in UAE and GCC. - Debit card replacement and delivery fees are also suspended during this period.
- After the deadline, normal fees and service charges may resume unless the bank extends the relief package.
As geopolitical tensions continue to impact travel and economic activity in the Gulf region, agencies are increasingly stepping in with support measures to help residents cope with disruptions. For now, Emirates NBD’s decision ensures that customers – from stranded travelers to everyday residents – can more easily withdraw their funds without having to worry about additional ATM fees during an already challenging period.