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Delhi has banned strikes on DTC and Cluster bus services for six months under ESMA, easing a driver walkout that began September 16 over pay. The Delhi government has banned strikes and protests tied to Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and Cluster bus services for six months, easing a driver walkout that had cut bus operations across the capital since September 16. The order gives some respite to passengers who struggled with thinned-out services for close to two weeks. To impose the ban, the government invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), classifying DTC and Cluster buses as essential transport through an official notification. A senior official said the restriction will stay in place for six months. The notification pointed to the repeated breakdown in bus services and the hardship caused to the public as grounds for acting in the public interest. The walkout began on September 16 when drivers hired through private agencies for DTC stopped work, pressing for better pay and social security cover. Union representatives said contractual drivers earn far less than permanent DTC staff. According to them, these drivers are paid Rs 747 a day, while the union is seeking a minimum daily wage of Rs 2,000. Manoj Sharma, general secretary of the DTC Karamchari Ekta Union, said the protest had weakened after the notification, but none of the drivers' demands had been met. He said the union is now working out its next steps. The drivers maintain that their central asks - higher wages along with medical and social security benefits - remain unresolved. The stoppage also hit private concessionaires that run DTC buses, with union members reporting a driver shortage during the strike. To keep buses on the road, DTC sent about 300 of its own drivers to work with the private operators. Many of those drivers had earlier been placed on non-driving assignments at various sites. Some had been helping the Transport Department with pollution checks, while others handled office work at DTC depots. As the concessionaires ran short of staff, these drivers were pulled off those tasks and put behind the wheel, union members said. The ban applies broadly, covering permanent employees as well as contractual and outsourced workers and staff hired by private concessionaires. All are now barred from striking or joining agitations linked to the two bus services. Delhi's public bus network runs a fleet of roughly 6,600 vehicles. That total includes close to 4,900 electric buses and about 1,750 CNG buses operated under DTC. DTC bus strike, Delhi bus services, ESMA Delhi, DTC drivers wages, Cluster buses Delhi, Essential Services Maintenance Act, DTC Karamchari Ekta Union, Delhi transport

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Police in Vijayawada traced a woman's dismembered body to a butcher after relatives recognised a tattoo on her hand. Two men detained. A tattoo on a woman's hand became the breakthrough that allowed police in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, to identify a victim whose dismembered body was recovered from a canal, and to trace the killing to a local butcher, officers said. The victim was named as Kalyani, and a man called Shafi has been detained over her death. The body was first discovered in pieces in the Ibrahimpatnam area. Unable to identify the remains, police shared the details on social media. Relatives of Kalyani spotted the tattoo on her hand, recognised her, and came forward to officers, giving investigators the identification they needed. That lead pointed police toward Shafi, who runs a small mutton shop in Bhavanipuram. Investigators found that he and Kalyani had known each other well and had clashed repeatedly over money. An earlier row involving Kalyani's son had further soured relations between them, police said. According to the investigation, Shafi brought Kalyani to his home in Bhavanipuram on September 17. Another argument over money broke out, and police allege that Shafi attacked her with a knife and cut her throat. Officers suspect he then severed the body into nine parts. They allege that a shop worker named Guruvulu helped move the remains, which were dumped in the Cooling Canal in the Gollapudi area. Both Shafi and Guruvulu have been detained and are being questioned. Investigators are still working to establish the precise motive, the separate roles played by the two men, and exactly how the remains were carried and disposed of. The case echoes a recent killing in Bengaluru, where a 32-year-old man from Odisha, Sagar Chandra Rawat, was arrested over the death of his wife, Anusuya. Police said the couple argued over finances on August 11, after which he allegedly assaulted and strangled her, causing her death by suffocation. Her highly decomposed body was found at a vacant plot in MS Nagar near Sampigehalli, and Rawat was held more than three weeks later. Vijayawada murder, Andhra Pradesh crime, tattoo identification, Cooling Canal body, Bhavanipuram butcher, Kalyani murder case, Ibrahimpatnam, Gollapudi

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At 'Jashan-e-Inquilab' in Ludhiana, CM Bhagwant Mann tied Bhagat Singh's legacy to AAP's record ahead of Punjab's 2027 Assembly elections The Aam Aadmi Party has turned its governance message in Punjab into a broader political campaign, using the legacy of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh to rally youth, assert Punjab's identity and defend its record in office. The sharpest sign came in Ludhiana, where the AAP government held 'Jashan-e-Inquilab' at Punjab Agricultural University to mark Bhagat Singh's birth anniversary. The event drew a large gathering of young people and mixed music, theatre and cultural performances with an extended political address by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Mann used the occasion to promote his government's work and to draw a direct line between the martyr's ideals and the state administration. Mann tied Bhagat Singh's legacy to his government's claims on education, healthcare, jobs, electricity, irrigation, women's welfare and the protection of Punjab's water. He contrasted his administration with earlier governments, accusing them of ignoring the ideals and sacrifices of the martyrs. The Chief Minister pointed to several projects as proof of the government's commitment to preserving Bhagat Singh's memory. These included the naming of the Mohali airport after the revolutionary, a 30-foot statue at Nishan-e-Inquilab Plaza and a ₹52-crore heritage complex at Khatkar Kalan. Mann linked these efforts to his pitch for a more equal, educated and welfare-focused Punjab. The anniversary allowed the party to fold together the themes it has been pushing at its events, including youth mobilisation, the anti-drug campaign, education, sports, water and development. By attaching these to Punjab's emotional connection with its most iconic revolutionary, the commemoration became less a conventional memorial function and more a political rally. With the 2027 Assembly elections approaching, AAP's messaging in the state is increasingly taking the shape of an organised campaign that pairs its governance claims with a wider narrative about Punjab's identity and future. AAP Punjab, Bhagwant Mann, Bhagat Singh, Jashan-e-Inquilab, Punjab 2027 elections, Khatkar Kalan, Punjab water, Ludhiana

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Explore the US energy paradox, comparing shale oil costs, Saudi production, Venezuela's reserves and the petrodollar's influence on global markets. The US Energy Paradox: How Oil Production, Extraction Costs and Petrodollar Power Shape Global Energy Markets Special Report | News National WASHINGTON / DUBAI — The United States occupies a unique position in the global energy landscape. It is the world's largest crude oil producer, yet its domestic oil industry faces production costs and geological challenges that differ significantly from those of major Middle Eastern exporters. Behind this contrast lies a complex relationship between energy security, international trade, strategic reserves and the global financial system. While the United States has expanded its shale oil production, countries such as Saudi Arabia continue to benefit from conventional oil fields that are generally cheaper to operate. At the same time, the US dollar remains central to international oil trading, reinforcing the connection between energy markets and American financial influence. These developments have prompted debate over whether the United States is positioning itself to preserve its own resources while relying on foreign supplies. However, the distinction between documented economic trends and interpretations of a deliberate long-term geopolitical strategy remains important. 1. US Oil Production Dominance: The Shale Revolution The United States produced an average of 13.6 million barrels of crude oil per day in 2025, setting a new annual record and maintaining its position as the world's leading crude oil producer, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). The country's production growth has been driven substantially by technological improvements in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking. Major production regions include: Permian Basin: Located primarily in Texas and New Mexico, it is a major source of US shale oil. Bakken Formation: Located mainly in North Dakota and Montana, it has contributed significantly to American crude production. Eagle Ford Shale: A major oil and natural gas producing formation in South Texas. Unlike conventional oil fields, where petroleum can sometimes flow naturally under underground pressure, shale production requires operators to drill horizontally and fracture rock formations to release trapped hydrocarbons. This process involves substantial investment in drilling equipment, technology, water management, transportation and ongoing well maintenance. The United States had approximately 46 billion barrels of proved crude oil and lease condensate reserves at the end of 2024, according to the EIA. The combination of substantial production and relatively high development requirements creates an important economic distinction: being the world's largest producer does not automatically mean having the world's cheapest oil. 2. The Extraction Cost Gap: America Versus Saudi Arabia and Russia Oil production costs vary according to geology, technology, labour, infrastructure, taxation and the definition of cost being measured. Conventional oil fields in the Middle East generally benefit from geological conditions that allow companies to extract petroleum at lower operating costs than many shale projects. Saudi Arabia's large conventional fields have historically provided a significant cost advantage. However, the frequently quoted figures of just a few dollars per barrel generally refer to lifting costs, rather than the complete cost of exploration, development, transportation and government expenditure. US shale producers face a different economic structure. Their profitability depends on drilling productivity, well decline rates, capital expenditure, oil prices and access to pipelines and processing facilities. Russia also has a diverse production base, with costs varying considerably between mature fields, newer developments and remote regions. International sanctions, restrictions on technology access, shipping complications and insurance arrangements can increase the total cost of bringing Russian oil to international buyers. The central economic issue is that production cost and market price are not the same thing. A country may produce oil cheaply but still sell it at the prevailing international market price, while a higher-cost producer may remain profitable during periods of strong demand. 3. Venezuela: The World's Largest Oil Reserves, but Limited Production Venezuela presents one of the most striking contrasts in global energy economics. The country possesses approximately 303 billion barrels of proved crude oil reserves, making it the world's largest holder of proved oil reserves according to the EIA's 2023 assessment. Yet its production remains far below that of the United States, Saudi Arabia and Russia. The explanation involves several interconnected challenges. Extra-heavy crude oil A large proportion of Venezuela's petroleum is concentrated in the Orinoco Belt, where the oil is exceptionally thick and difficult to extract and process. Unlike lighter crude, extra-heavy oil often requires specialised production techniques, additional processing and, in some cases, blending with lighter hydrocarbons to make it suitable for transportation and refining. Deteriorating infrastructure Years of underinvestment, equipment deterioration, operational difficulties and shortages of technical expertise have affected the country's oil industry. Its state-owned oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), has faced substantial financial and operational constraints. International sanctions US sanctions and restrictions on investment and technology access have further complicated Venezuela's ability to restore production capacity and attract international partners. The country's experience demonstrates that underground reserves alone do not guarantee energy dominance. Access to capital, technical expertise, functioning infrastructure and stable commercial arrangements are equally important. 4. The Strategic Debate: Is America Preserving Its Own Oil? One interpretation of US energy policy suggests that the country benefits from consuming or importing lower-cost foreign crude while preserving more expensive domestic shale resources for future use. The argument is based on a straightforward economic principle: if a country has access to cheaper supplies from international markets, it may have an incentive to avoid extracting higher-cost domestic resources until market conditions justify production. However, this should not be confused with a verified government strategy to deliberately exhaust foreign reserves before using American oil. US energy policy has involved multiple objectives, including domestic production, consumer affordability, energy security, exports, employment, environmental regulation and international trade. The United States also exports substantial quantities of crude oil and petroleum products, meaning its energy position cannot be explained simply as a policy of importing foreign oil while keeping domestic reserves untouched. Nevertheless, the debate highlights an important question for the future: how should major economies balance immediate energy demand against the long-term value of their natural resources? 5. The Persian Gulf and America's Security Relationships The Persian Gulf remains strategically important because of its concentration of major oil exporters and its role in international energy transportation. The United States maintains longstanding defence and security relationships with several Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia and other regional partners. These relationships involve military cooperation, arms sales, intelligence sharing, maritime security and diplomatic engagement. The security arrangements developed over decades have also intersected with energy trade and financial relationships. For Gulf exporters, stable shipping routes and predictable international markets are important to maintaining oil revenues. For the United States and other major economies, uninterrupted energy supplies are important to economic stability. However, the relationship is not a simple exchange in which military protection is provided solely in return for dollar-denominated oil sales. Regional security, defence cooperation, investment, diplomacy and shared economic interests all contribute to these partnerships. 6. The Petrodollar System: How Oil Supports the Dollar's Global Role The term petrodollar describes US dollars earned through international petroleum sales and the broader financial relationships associated with those revenues. Since the 1970s, the dollar has played a central role in international oil pricing and settlement. This position creates several economic advantages for the United States. International demand for dollars: Countries and businesses involved in global energy trade frequently require access to dollar-based financial markets. Deep financial markets: The United States offers highly developed capital markets, including US Treasury securities, which international institutions use for investment and reserves. Currency network effects: When major commodities are priced in a widely used currency, businesses may continue using that currency because it simplifies contracts, financing and risk management. Investment flows: Oil-exporting countries can reinvest surplus revenues in international financial markets, including American assets. Nevertheless, the dollar's international position cannot be attributed to oil alone. The size of the US economy, the liquidity of its financial markets, institutional arrangements and its role in international trade are also important factors. Furthermore, dollar-denominated oil trading does not mean every oil transaction must be settled in dollars or that all oil exporters invest their proceeds in US government debt. The petrodollar system is therefore better understood as one component of a much larger international financial structure. 7. Can the US Dollar Remain Dominant as Energy Markets Change? The global energy landscape is evolving. China and India have become major participants in international energy trade, while several countries are exploring alternative payment arrangements to reduce their dependence on the dollar. Some Gulf exporters have also expressed interest in diversifying their commercial and financial relationships. These developments have generated discussion about alternative currencies, including the Chinese yuan, in energy transactions. However, diversification does not automatically mean the end of dollar dominance. The dollar continues to benefit from established financial infrastructure, liquidity and widespread international use. The future of the petrodollar will depend on several factors, including geopolitical relationships, financial-market developments, energy demand, trade patterns and the availability of credible alternatives. 8. The Future of Global Oil: Production, Reserves and Economic Power The US energy paradox reveals that oil power is determined by more than the volume of petroleum beneath a country's territory. A nation's influence in the energy market depends on its ability to extract resources economically, maintain production infrastructure, transport supplies, attract investment and participate in international financial systems. The United States has demonstrated how technological innovation can transform previously difficult-to-access resources into a major source of production. Saudi Arabia continues to benefit from large conventional fields and a different cost structure, while Venezuela illustrates the challenges of converting enormous geological reserves into reliable commercial output. Meanwhile, the dollar's role in international energy transactions reinforces the connection between oil markets and global finance. Whether these developments represent a coordinated long-term strategy or the combined outcome of economic incentives and geopolitical decisions remains a subject of debate. What is clear is that the future balance of global energy power will be shaped not only by who owns the oil, but also by who can produce it, finance it, transport it and trade it efficiently. Key Takeaways The United States produced a record 13.6 million barrels of crude oil per day in 2025. US shale production relies on capital-intensive drilling and hydraulic fracturing. Saudi Arabia benefits from a different geological and production-cost structure. Venezuela's enormous reserves have not translated into comparable production because of technical, financial and infrastructure challenges. The petrodollar system supports the dollar's role in global energy markets but is not the sole foundation of US financial influence. The theory that America deliberately preserves its oil while exhausting foreign reserves first remains an interpretation, not an established fact. Editorial Note: This report is an original analysis prepared for News National. Figures refer to the specific reporting periods identified in the article. Production costs vary by methodology and project, and geopolitical interpretations are presented as analysis rather than established government policy.

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Washington will lend energy firms 40 million barrels from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve as the Ukraine and Iran conflicts push oil prices higher. The United States said on Tuesday it would lend energy companies 40 million barrels of crude from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve, a step aimed at easing prices driven higher by the wars in Ukraine and the unresolved standoff with Iran. The offer completes a plan set out earlier in the year. In March, Washington pledged to release 172 million barrels from the reserve as its share of a coordinated effort by around 30 International Energy Agency members to put 400 million barrels onto the market. The Trump administration made the last 40 million barrels available in June. By the end of that month, though, officials revealed that companies had taken up only about 500,000 barrels. The latest move lands as the fighting between Russia and Ukraine intensifies and as the American confrontation with Iran remains without a clear outcome. Ukraine has stepped up strikes on Russian energy sites to choke off the revenue funding Moscow's campaign. On Sunday night, Ukrainian forces hit oil installations in Russia's Krasnodar region. "We are consistently using our long-range capabilities to respond to Russian strikes," President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X, urging Moscow to halt its escalation. India squeezed by falling Russian supply The pressure is being felt in India. Reuters reported on Tuesday that Indian refiners anticipate further drops in Russian crude deliveries through October and November. With Russian shipments thinning and Chinese buyers competing hard, Indian processors are turning to more expensive substitutes for the remainder of the year. "Demand from China has been really high. They were willing to book cargoes in advance and to pay firmer prices compared to Indian refiners," said a source involved in selling Russian crude. Analytics firm Kpler projects that Russian crude reaching India will slide to roughly 1.75 million barrels per day in September, the weakest showing since April. Trade figures already recorded a 16.5 per cent fall between July and August, when arrivals settled near 2.1 million bpd. Even so, Russia held its position as India's top supplier, ahead of the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela. Novorossiysk shipments cut in half The broader pool of Russian exports has narrowed, with the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk hit hardest. Loadings there have roughly halved after repeated drone attacks forced shipments to a stop. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, US oil loan, Russia-Ukraine war, Indian refiners Russian oil, Novorossiysk drone attacks, Kpler oil data, IEA oil release, China oil competition

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Rumors point to OpenAI launching a consumer AI agent, Aeon, at its 2026 DevDay, chasing rivals Meta's Muse and Google's Gemini Spark. OpenAI helped make the modern AI chatbot a household product, but heading into its 2026 DevDay on Tuesday, the company trails its rivals in one of the sector's fastest-growing areas: always-on, consumer-facing AI agents. Reports suggest OpenAI will use the event to launch its own entry, an agent said to be named Aeon. Little has been confirmed about Aeon. One detail that has surfaced is that OpenAI now employs Peter Steinberger, the creator of the open-source agent OpenClaw, who is widely expected to be contributing to the project. Aeon would join a crowded field that already includes Meta's Muse, SpaceX's Grok Bot, Google's Gemini Spark, the newer Instinct, and OpenClaw itself. AI agents are designed to carry out tasks on a user's behalf: booking travel, buying groceries, scheduling appointments, and assisting with work presentations, among others. By some accounts, competing agents are already filling out paperwork for doctor visits, canceling subscriptions, organizing group trips, booking activities, setting up DMV appointments, and paying bills. From demo to daily use OpenAI showed an agentic API feature at its 2024 DevDay and shipped early consumer-facing agents focused on computer use and research in mid-2025. The turning point for the category came late last year, when OpenClaw pushed agents past the proof-of-concept stage into practical use. The race has accelerated since, and OpenAI's visible progress has lagged. Meta now looks like OpenAI's main competitor in the space. Since its release earlier this month, Muse has climbed to the top of the App Store charts and reached 600,000 daily active users in the US, according to Apptopia. Early reviews describe it as useful but slightly unsettling. Instinct has drawn attention for how easy it is to use, letting people communicate with it over iMessage and many other chat apps. Google's Gemini Spark runs around the clock and connects to more than 30 external service partners, including Dropbox, Uber, and Spotify. To lead the pack, Aeon would need to combine strengths that are currently spread across those platforms: the usefulness of OpenClaw, the low cost and easy setup of Muse, and the conversational simplicity of Instinct. Security problems follow the agents As agents gain more autonomy, security concerns have grown. At least one known vulnerability, since patched, let attackers take over accounts. Users have also complained that Muse shared a home address without permission and read private messages, though such individual reports can be difficult to confirm. Any successful agent would have to address risks that have trailed the category since OpenClaw and continued with Muse. OpenAI has raised expectations for the announcements. It has been promoting its latest frontier model, GPT-6 Astra, as the point at which artificial general intelligence arrives. "I think it's not unreasonable to feel that we are now in the AGI era," OpenAI president Greg Brockman said at a press briefing earlier this month. Astra would likely power whatever agent the company unveils, which should make a system like Aeon stronger at cybersecurity tasks, software engineering, scientific research, and computer use. A gap in integrations OpenAI faces disadvantages in other areas. Muse plugs into Meta's services, which are used by billions of people, and Gemini Spark ties into Google's broad range of enterprise and personal tools. OpenAI has tried to close that gap before. At last year's event, it pushed the ChatGPT Apps SDK, which let controls for outside apps such as Zillow, Spotify, and Canva appear inside the chatbot. Aeon may be just one of several announcements on Tuesday. Other rumors point to updates on the AI hardware the company is building with former Apple designer Jony Ive, a possible step forward for GPT-6 such as an Astra 6.1, a hardware update, and further AGI claims. A continuously running agent could tie much of this together, which is part of why it is seen as OpenAI's next major bet as the company says it is done with "side quests." The open question is how OpenAI's agent will measure up against cheaper, more deeply integrated rivals, especially with the added pressure of the company's upcoming IPO. OpenAI Aeon, DevDay 2026, AI agents, Meta Muse, Gemini Spark, GPT-6 Astra, OpenClaw, consumer AI agent

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Iran's foreign minister says a negotiated settlement is the only way out of the US conflict, after President Trump publicly turned down a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said on 27 September that a bargained settlement is the sole route out of the war between Tehran and Washington, hours after President Donald Trump dismissed an Iranian plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking from the White House on Saturday, Trump told reporters the offer was not "acceptable" and claimed Iran wanted the passage cleared for commercial vessels within a week because "they're losing so badly." Araghchi responded on Telegram, saying Tehran had noted the president's remarks but would hold off until it received a "definitive" official answer from the United States. He pointed to what he described as a pattern of shifting positions from Trump, writing that the president "has made many good statements, as well as many contradictory ones, which unfortunately we hear frequently." The minister added that Iran was waiting for intermediaries to relay firm US views before choosing its next step. The waterway at the centre of the dispute carries roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and gas under normal conditions. It has been largely shut since fighting broke out in February. Trump argued the closure was no longer hurting American interests, insisting Washington held "total control" of the strait and that "massive amounts of oil" were still moving through it. He also blamed the standoff for sharp jumps in global oil prices and rising fuel bills for consumers. "I'm rejecting their deal," he said. According to Araghchi, the terms Iran put forward matched those already set out in a memorandum of understanding that the two governments signed in June. Tehran says it revived the questions of reopening the strait and halting hostilities during talks held alongside the United Nations General Assembly in New York over the past week. Pezeshkian points to broken trust Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who travelled to New York for the assembly, struck a similar note in an interview with CBS, the BBC's US news partner. He said the "distrust created by this war needs to be overcome" before any negotiation could succeed. Pezeshkian indicated Iran was willing to discuss carrying out the June memorandum in phases to break the deadlock, but set a condition: the United States "needs to show it does not intend to overthrow our government." The president accused Trump of having "tore up" the agreement when American forces restarted their bombing campaign. "If we don't abide by what we have written down, can we really resolve it by dialogue?" he asked. Pezeshkian was also questioned about Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who was wounded in the February US strike that killed his father and has stayed out of public view since. Some reports have described severe injuries to his legs and face. The president said he had met Khamenei twice and that the leader had "no specific ongoing health issues or challenges," describing him as fit enough to sit through seven hours of discussions. Oman urges dialogue as US allies back Trump Oman, which has served as a go-between for the two sides, called on everyone involved to keep talking. Its foreign minister, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi, used the UN General Debate to press "all parties" to work with Muscat on protecting shipping through the strategic channel. Trump found support from within the US camp. Matthew Whitaker, the American ambassador to NATO, told Fox News on Saturday that Iran had put forward "half measures" and "illusory deals to make themselves look good on the world stage." He said the president was "right to reject it." For now, the two governments remain locked in a standoff, with Tehran signalling patience and Washington signalling that it feels little pressure to move. Iran says it will decide how to proceed once mediators deliver Washington's final word, leaving the closed waterway - and the higher energy prices tied to it - unresolved. Strait of Hormuz, Iran US conflict, Abbas Araghchi, Donald Trump, Masoud Pezeshkian, oil prices, UN General Assembly, Oman mediation

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Indian benchmarks fell over 0.8% on Tuesday as Brent crossed $107, the rupee hit a two-month low past 96, and foreign investors kept selling. India's headline share indices fell for a second straight day on Tuesday, sliding more than 0.8% as costlier crude, climbing bond yields and persistent foreign selling kept buyers on the sidelines. The drop followed a steep sell-off on Monday. By about 10:25 AM, the Nifty50 stood at 22,586.60, lower by 194 points or 0.85%. The BSE Sensex traded at 72,138.99, down 633 points or 0.87%. Within minutes of the opening bell, close to Rs 4 lakh crore was wiped from the combined value of BSE-listed firms, pulling the total market capitalisation down to Rs 474 lakh crore. Bajaj Finance ranked among the heaviest drags on the Sensex, shedding roughly 2%. The weakness reached beyond large caps, with both the Nifty Midcap 100 and the Nifty Smallcap 100 easing about 0.8% each. The pullback mirrored a grim mood overseas. On Wall Street, the previous session closed deep in the red: the Nasdaq gave up more than 0.9% and the S&P 500 lost around 0.8%. Asian trading offered no relief, as Japan's Nikkei slipped over 1% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng, South Korea's Kospi and other regional gauges each shed close to 1%. Crude and the Middle East keep investors on edge Events in the Middle East remained the dominant worry. US President Donald Trump rejected claims that he had dangled sanctions relief and access to frozen Iranian assets before Tehran in exchange for steps on its nuclear programme. On Monday, officials from both Washington and Iran held separate rounds of talks through mediators, part of a renewed push to end a conflict now in its seventh month. Energy prices tracked the tension higher. Brent crude futures pushed above $107 a barrel, while WTI futures crossed $94. The advance is a particular problem for India, a large net importer of energy, because pricier oil widens the import bill and strains the currency. Rupee slips past 96 as yields climb The rupee bore the brunt of that pressure, sinking beyond the 96-per-dollar level to a two-month low of 96.1450. Traders linked the weakness directly to the sustained rise in oil prices and the risk it poses to the economy. Government bond yields, meanwhile, extended their climb to fresh multi-year highs, an added weight on stocks. When fixed-income returns rise, debt becomes a more attractive parking spot for money, drawing funds away from equities. Foreign investors keep pulling out Overseas funds stayed on the sell side. According to provisional NSE figures, foreign institutional investors offloaded Indian shares worth more than Rs 5,353 crore on Monday. VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Investments, noted that foreign portfolio flows had turned negative at the start of the month after two straight months of inflows in July and August. That reversal has been sustained. Vijayakumar said total equity outflows through the exchanges had reached Rs 25,682 crore so far this month through the previous week. Foreign investors have ended up as net sellers in 15 of the 19 sessions traded this month. Tuesday's session carried an extra source of turbulence: it marked the monthly expiry of Nifty futures and options contracts, a day that routinely brings sharper swings. Attention now turns to the Reserve Bank of India, whose Monetary Policy Committee meets next week from October 5 to October 7. Markets are positioning for an interest rate increase, in step with a wider global move toward tighter policy. The expectation comes on the heels of the US Federal Reserve's rate hike earlier this month, its first since 2023. Sensex crash, Nifty50, Brent crude oil, rupee two-month low, FII outflows, RBI MPC meeting, bond yields, Dalal Street

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Saudi-backed government forces are fighting to push back Houthi fighters near Taiz after the group seized a key Red Sea shipping chokepoint. Saudi-backed pro-government forces in south-western Yemen are fighting to push back Houthi fighters along a front line that runs beyond the city of Taiz, where government-held territory gives way to the point at which Houthi control ends and no man's land begins. The renewed fighting follows a Houthi advance earlier this month, when the group swept down the Red Sea coast and took control of a key shipping chokepoint. The move has escalated Yemen's long-running civil war and put fresh pressure on government forces trying to hold and recover ground. Reaching the front line means passing from Taiz through a series of checkpoints toward the edge of Houthi-held territory. It is a stretch of the conflict that rarely receives direct coverage, and access to it remains difficult and dangerous. The threat there is immediate. During a recent visit to the front, the sound of a drone was heard overhead. A soldier accompanying the group said that the noise of a drone is usually followed by an attack. About 10 minutes later, after those on the ground had driven away from the position, the loud thuds of strikes could be heard. The account underlines how drones have become a defining feature of the fighting in this part of Yemen, where the appearance of an aircraft overhead can signal an incoming strike within minutes. For the soldiers holding the line, the risk is constant. The front near Taiz is one flashpoint in a war that has drawn in regional powers, with Saudi Arabia backing the government side against the Houthis. The group's seizure of a Red Sea chokepoint carries weight well beyond the immediate battlefield, given the strategic value of shipping routes along Yemen's western coast. The latest clashes mark a further deterioration in a conflict that has already lasted years, with government forces now battling to reverse the Houthis' recent gains along the coast and around Taiz.--- SEO ---Yemen war, Houthis, Taiz front line, Red Sea chokepoint, Yemen civil war, Saudi-backed forces, Middle East conflict, Nawal Al-Maghafi

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The INDIA alliance meets on September 30 to plan protests and a parliamentary impeachment push against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The INDIA alliance meets on Wednesday, September 30, to finalise a plan for a nationwide agitation against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with an impeachment motion set to be moved in Parliament and public rallies to follow across the country. The agenda for the meeting has been finalised and will broadly track the points raised at the Congress Working Committee, which met earlier and passed a resolution demanding Kumar's removal and calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The opposition plans to take its campaign to both the streets and Parliament. The protest drive is set to open with a rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan, followed by public meetings in various states. Sources said the INDIA Bloc may announce the date of that first rally at Wednesday's meeting. The row centres on reports that two Election Commissioners disagreed with Kumar on multiple occasions over revisions to voter lists and the inclusion of new names. Rahul Gandhi has alleged that Kumar acted only to help the BJP steal votes. The Congress believes the meeting will be historic, framing it as a step towards a united opposition confronting the government in the legislature and outside it. Who is attending The Congress will be represented by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. The Trinamool Congress delegation includes Mamata Banerjee, Abhishek Banerjee, Kalyan Banerjee and Derek O'Brien. Leaders of all Left parties are also due to attend. Other leaders confirmed for the meeting include Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's Hemant Soren, RJD chief Tejashwi Yadav, NCP's Supriya Sule, National Conference chief Omar Abdullah and PDP's Mehbooba Mufti. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray will join virtually. Representatives from the Kerala Congress, VCK and MDMK, along with Rajasthan's RLP and BAP, will also take part. No representative from the Congress's Tamil Nadu ally TVK will attend. Independent Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal has been invited to the meeting. Absences and seat-sharing questions Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav will skip the meeting, with senior leader Harendra Malik attending in his place. Kharge and senior leader KC Venugopal spoke with Yadav, who said he was occupied with the filing of nominations for the Rajya Sabha election, due on Wednesday. His absence has been linked to seat-sharing talks between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, but Venugopal has dismissed those reports as baseless. The Aam Aadmi Party is not attending, though it has said it will back the opposition's move to impeach the Chief Election Commissioner. The DMK, a former Congress ally that left the bloc after the alliance ended, has also said it cannot attend but supports the issue. Efforts are underway to widen the front. CPM general secretary MA Baby has pushed for expanding the INDIA alliance and has written to parties proposing the inclusion of anti-BJP outfits from various states. According to sources, no positive response has come from the Biju Janata Dal, the BRS or the YSR Congress. Beyond drawing up the protest strategy, the meeting is expected to formalise the twin-track approach agreed at the Congress Working Committee: sustained rallies against Kumar in Delhi and the states, and the impeachment motion in Parliament. INDIA bloc meeting, Gyanesh Kumar, Chief Election Commissioner, Congress Working Committee, Rahul Gandhi, impeachment motion, opposition rally Ramlila Maidan, voter list revision

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Hundreds of protesters have pitched tents in central Madrid to demand action on housing costs and evictions, with demonstrations spreading to Barcelona. Hundreds of protesters have pitched tent encampments in central Madrid to demand that the government act on soaring housing costs and rising evictions. The demonstrations have since spread to Barcelona, widening the reach of the campaign. The protesters used the camps to press two linked demands: relief from housing costs that they say have climbed out of reach, and stronger protection for people facing eviction. By occupying central public space with tents, they turned the shortage of affordable homes into a visible, physical presence in the heart of the capital. Spain is confronting a severe shortfall in housing supply. The country currently faces a deficit of 750,000 homes, a gap between the number of homes available and the number people need. The central bank has warned that the situation is set to deteriorate. It cautioned that the shortage could exceed one million homes by 2028 if current trends continue, pointing to a widening gap in the years ahead rather than a problem that is easing. The move of the protests from Madrid to Barcelona signals that frustration over housing is not confined to a single city. The encampments have brought demonstrators into direct, sustained contact with the streets of two of Spain's largest urban centres, keeping the demands for government action in public view. Madrid housing protest, Spain housing crisis, tent encampment Madrid, Barcelona protests, Spain home shortage, evictions Spain, Bank of Spain housing deficit

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A California jury found Apple infringed two Taction Technology haptic-feedback patents and ordered $5.7bn in damages. Apple says it will appeal. A federal jury in the Southern District of California has ordered Apple to pay more than $5.7bn for using patented technology owned by Taction Technology, a San Diego-based company, to power the haptic feedback in its devices. Haptic feedback is the vibration users feel when a notification arrives or a button is pressed. The jury found that Apple infringed two patents held by Taction. It also found that the infringement was not wilful, rejecting Taction's claim that Apple knowingly ignored the patents. Apple said it plans to appeal the verdict, which was returned on Friday. "We're happy the jury found for Taction and vindicated its patent rights," said Lance Yang, an attorney for the company, after the decision. The verdict closes one chapter of a legal fight that started in 2021, when Taction first sued Apple. In its original 31-page complaint, the company argued that Apple was building its commercial success on Taction's work. "Apple is capitalising on Taction's innovation and success by selling devices that infringe Taction's patents," the filing said. It added that Apple was "utilising Taction's patented inventions without license or authority" and that it had brought the case "to remedy Apple's infringement." Taction also alleged that Apple "at a minimum believed there was a high probability that the accused products were covered by Taction's patents, but willfully blinded itself" to those patents and to the infringing nature of the products. The jury did not agree on that point, concluding the violation was not wilful. The case has moved back and forth through the courts. In 2023, a federal judge ruled that Apple had not infringed Taction's patents. An appeals court revived the lawsuit last year, setting the stage for the trial that produced Friday's award. Apple pushed back on the finding by drawing a line between its own hardware and Taction's designs. "Apple's Taptic Engine is fundamentally different from Taction's technology, which Taction's own testing of Apple's products confirmed during trial," the company said in response to the verdict. A verdict during a leadership handover The ruling lands as Apple works through a change at the top. In September, John Ternus took over as chief executive from Tim Cook, who had run the Cupertino, California-based company for 15 years. The handover comes as Apple trails other large technology firms in bringing its artificial intelligence products to market. Investors reacted to the decision. Apple shares fell about 2 percent as trading opened on Monday. Apple patent verdict, Taction Technology, haptic feedback patents, $5.7bn damages, Taptic Engine, iPhone patent case, Apple appeal, John Ternus

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