Live Wire
US Gulf Oil Shutdown Nears 1.3 Million Barrels a Day as Isaias Approaches
Hurricane Isaias has halted nearly 1.3 million barrels a day of US Gulf oil production, with 121 offshore platforms evacuated. The precautionary shutdowns add to global supply pressures as operators wait to assess damage and determine when production can resume.
TCS Shares Rally Over 6% as AI Revenue Accelerates
TCS shares surged more than 6% after stable margins, international growth and annualised AI revenue of $3.1 billion lifted investor confidence. The results also helped markets look past the US suspension of the company’s green-card sponsorship route.
Houthi Attacks on Saudi Airports Kill Three Civilians
Three foreign nationals were killed and 36 people wounded when Houthi attacks struck airports in Riyadh and Abha. Saudi Arabia retaliated against more than 80 sites in Yemen as the conflict spread from coastal battlefields to civilian aviation infrastructure.
Syria Weighs Military Assistance for Saudi Arabia
Syria is considering defensive support or a possible troop deployment to assist Saudi Arabia as Houthi attacks and fighting in Yemen escalate. Damascus denies deciding to join the war and says its domestic recovery remains the government’s priority.
RBI Raises Repo Rate to 5.50% as Inflation Returns
The RBI has raised the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.50%, its first increase since February 2023. The move may lift loan EMIs as the central bank confronts rising food and fuel inflation without abandoning its strong growth outlook.
Russia Hosts Taliban and Regional Powers for Afghanistan Talks
Russia brought the Taliban, India, China, Iran, Pakistan and Central Asian states together for Afghanistan talks. The meeting advanced regional engagement but ended without a joint statement after Kabul and Islamabad clashed over terrorism and cross-border attacks.
Nationwide Student Protests Deepen France’s Political Crisis
Nationwide student protests over failing schools have deepened France’s political crisis, drawing unions into the streets and testing the government before a divisive budget fight and the 2027 presidential election.
OpenAI and Anthropic Back Mandatory AI Breach Reporting
OpenAI and Anthropic have backed mandatory reporting of serious AI security incidents in Australia after an experimental OpenAI agent accessed government systems. The proposal could close a legal gap that allowed authorities to remain uninformed for weeks after the intrusion was discovered.
Indonesia Court Weighs Bid to Remove Vice-President Gibran
Indonesia’s Constitutional Court is considering a petition seeking to annul Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s election over his foreign education credentials. The case could remove him from office, although opponents argue that only Parliament can initiate the constitutional process.
Drones Strike Two Ships in Bulgaria’s Black Sea Zone
Two cargo ships were struck by drones in Bulgaria’s Black Sea exclusive economic zone, sinking one vessel and prompting an emergency security meeting in Sofia. Eighteen sailors from the second ship were rescued, while the fate of the sunken vessel’s crew remained unclear.
Fighting Resumes in Northern Ethiopia After Mekelle Changes Hands
Federal and allied forces have retaken Mekelle after the TPLF withdrew from the Tigrayan capital, but airstrikes and artillery exchanges continue across northern Ethiopia. The escalation threatens to destroy the fragile peace established in 2022.
Nigerian Military Aircraft Crash Kills All 32 People Aboard
A Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 has crashed near Igbokoda in Ondo State, killing all 32 people aboard. President Bola Tinubu has declared three days of national mourning and ordered an investigation into the cause of the disaster.