"India's Efforts to Secure Affordable Russian Oil Amid Tightening Sanctions" India’s state-owned refiners are expediting payments for Russian crude oil to complete transactions before expanded US sanctions take effect. These refiners now settle payments within two days instead of the usual five, aiming to secure discounted Russian oil while navigating an increasingly restricted global trade environment. The urgency stems from Washington's announcement of stricter sanctions targeting Russia’s oil industry, which are set to take effect next month. Refiners are keen to ensure transactions are completed during the “wind-down” period allowed for pre-sanctioned cargoes. At least 4.4 million barrels of Russian oil are en route to Indian ports like Jamnagar, Chennai, Paradip, and Visakhapatnam. Among these shipments is the tanker Mercury , carrying over 1 million barrels of Russian Urals crude, expected to arrive in Paradip soon. This vessel loaded its cargo in mid-December ...
Congress to Contest Fewest Seats in History: A Shift in Strategy In a surprising move, Congress is set to contest only 255 out of the total Lok Sabha seats in the upcoming elections, marking its lowest participation since India gained independence in 1947. This significant reduction from its historical average of over 450 seats reflects a strategic shift for the party. The decision comes amidst Congress's diminishing popularity in recent electoral politics. In an effort to form a formidable alliance against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress is joining hands with the opposition INDIA bloc, which comprises 27 parties. Historically, Congress has contested in well above 450 seats on average out of the total 545 seats in the Lok Sabha. The party's lowest participation was in 2004, with 417 seats, while the highest was in 1996, contesting in 529 seats after the five-year governance of PV Narasimha Rao. The decline in Congress's electoral success began with the 2014 Lok S...