Headlines at 9 pm, Sep 16: Oil prices rocket as drone attack slashes Saudi output

Oil prices rocket as drone attack slashes Saudi output

Oil prices saw their biggest daily gain since the 1991 Gulf War on Monday after drone attacks on two Saudi oil facilities halved output in the world's top crude exporter, fuelling fresh geopolitical and growth fears.

Europe's benchmark Brent crude surged by 20% and US counterpart WTI by 15% as commodities trading got underway after President Donald Trump warned that the US was "locked and loaded" to respond to the attacks that Washington blamed on Iran.

Iran provided weapons to attack Aramco, says coalition

The weapons used to strike two Saudi oil plants were provided by the kingdom's arch-foe Iran, the Riyadh-led coalition fighting in Yemen said on Monday.

"The investigation is continuing and all indications are that weapons used in both attacks came from Iran," coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki told reporters in Riyadh, adding they were now probing "from where they were fired".

India condemns drone attacks in Saudi Arabia

India has condemned the drone attacks on Saudi Arabian oil facilities, saying India opposes terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

“We condemn the attacks of September 14, 2019 targeting Abqaiq oil processing facility and Khurais oil field in Saudi Arabia. We reiterate our resolve to oppose terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

Ex-Speaker's death sparks political slugfest between TDP, YSRC

The death of former Andhra Pradesh Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao triggered a political slugfest in the state with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) holding the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government responsible for the veteran leaders suspected suicide.

The YSR Congress maintained it had nothing to do with Rao's death.

The 72-year old Rao, who died at a hospital in Hyderabad on Monday in a suspected case of suicide, was last month slapped with a criminal case by the Andhra Pradesh police for alleged illegal possession of furniture of the Assembly.

Attacking the YSRC government, Chandrababu Naidu said: “For the last three months, the Jagan Mohan Reddy government has been harassing Kodela and his family and several cases were foisted on them. He ultimately committed suicide, unable to bear the harassment and unbearable humiliation.”

Former J-K CM Farooq Abdullah arrested under stringent PSA, home declared jail

Farooq Abdullah, a three-term chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and five-time parliamentarian, was arrested on Monday under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) and his residence was declared a jail, officials said in Srinagar.

Motor Vehicle Act: Kerala Transport Minister writes to Gadkari

With protests mounting over the new Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, Kerala Transport minister A K Saseendran on Monday urged Union minister Nitin Gadkari to bring in an ordinance, giving flexibility to states to fix compounding fee at rates proportionate to the gravity of the offences and which was affordable to the public.

Earlier, there were provisions for flexibility and the state government could fix the compounding fee upto a certain amount.

However, now except in limited number of sections, this power has been withdrawn and the Centre itself has fixed the fine amount, making it difficult for the state to fix compounding fee below that fixed in the act, he said in the letter.

'Performers are all show-offs': Cong on Trump joining 'Howdy, Modi!'

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Monday borrowed the words of British singer Elton John, "Performers are all show-offs", to describe US President Donald Trump joining PM Narendra Modi's "Howdy, Modi!" diaspora event in the US.

He took to Twitter to take a swipe at the prime minister over his event scheduled to be held at Houston, Texas in the US on September 22.

"I think performers are all show-offs anyway. Unless you show off, you're not going to get noticed - Elton John," Singhvi wrote while talking about "Howdy, Modi!".

Separately, party leader Rajiv Shukla said: "It is a good thing. Donald Trump's election is also approaching. There is a big Indian population in the United States.”

India, Iran hold 16th Foreign Office Consultations

The 16th round of Foreign Office Consultations between India and Iran were held in Tehran on Monday. Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale led the Indian delegation and Deputy Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi led the Iranian side.

Kartarpur corridor: Congress, SAD spar over demand of service fee by Pakistan

The ruling Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Monday sparred over the issue of service fee sought by Pakistan from pilgrims for using the Kartarpur corridor.

While the ruling party said the BJP-led Centre should bear the cost, the SAD demanded the state government should pay it on behalf of the pilgrims.

Pakistan has sought USD 20 from Indian pilgrims to use the corridor to visit Kartarpur in the wake of the 550 birth anniversary celebrations of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev.

Congress leader and Punjab minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said in case the service fee was not waived, the Centre should bear the cost to facilitate all those wanting to pay obeisance at the historic gurdwara.

He also urged the Centre to take up the issue with Pakistan at the earliest.

Lambasting the Akalis for trying to "indulge in politicking" over a sacred matter, he dared SAD chief Sukhbir Badal and Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal to prevail over Modi and get the fee waived.