Jairam Ramesh (ANI image)

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Sunday reacted sharply to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interview with news agency PTI, calling it a “carefully scripted and desperate PR exercise” and alleging that it was aimed at diverting attention from key issues.Party leader Jairam Ramesh said that the interview was timed to divert attention from criticism over the Union Budget and the Opposition’s attack on the government in Parliament.“The PM knows that this year’s Budget has been a damp squib and shows every sign of intellectual exhaustion. Markets have reacted negatively and investors have been unimpressed. Hence, he feels the need to give an interview a fortnight after the Budget was presented and a few days after it was taken apart by the Opposition in Parliament. As usual, there are Modi-style one-liners that mean little in reality,” Ramesh said in a post on X.Alleging that the prime minister was facing pressure over the trade deal with the United States and farmers’ issues, Ramesh said PM Modi was attempting to shift the narrative through media outreach.“Under siege and attack because of his surrender to the US on the trade deal, the Prime Minister is now resorting to his favourite tactic of headline management. He is trying to divert attention away from his betrayal of lakhs and lakhs of farmers and other capitulations. His so-called interview is no interview, but a carefully scripted and desperate PR exercise,” he further wrote. Ramesh added in Hindi, “Pradhan Mantri jhuke bhi hain aur thake bhi hain.”In his interview, PM Modi said that the private sector will play a decisive role in driving India’s next phase of economic transformation and asserted that reform has been a core commitment of his government “in letter and spirit”. He said the next leap towards “Viksit Bharat” would depend on bold investments by industry in innovation, long-term capacity and global competitiveness.The prime minister said the latest Union Budget was not a “now or never moment” born out of compulsion but a “we are ready” moment born out of preparation and inspiration, asserting that it reflects India’s “yearning” to become a developed nation. He maintained that none of his government’s budgets were prepared with the attitude of creating a routine “bahi khata” document.Highlighting digital growth and infrastructure expansion, PM Modi said India is a global digital leader due to reforms in transactions through the UPI platform and added that data centres would be a massive job creator. He also said India is witnessing the most expansive infrastructure push in its history and emphasised that the government will do whatever it takes to support and modernise the defence forces.The prime minister criticised the previous UPA government’s record, saying that during its rule, talks would begin and then break down, with little real substance achieved despite long negotiations. He also said political stability and predictability have restored investor confidence in India and asserted that the welfare of women guides every decision taken by his government.

Pakistan’s Saim Ayub celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of India’s Ishan Kishan during an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 cricket match between India and Pakistan, at R Premadasa Stadium, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (PTI Photo)

India came to Colombo prepared for Usman Tariq, but it was Saim Ayub who turned the game slightly in Pakistan’s favour with a key spell that checked India’s progress in their T20 World Cup clash in Colombo on Sunday. Ayub first removed Ishan Kishan, who had set the pace for India, and then returned to dismiss Tilak Varma just when India were preparing for a late push. Tilak was beaten on the sweep and fell for 25 off 24 balls.Hardik Pandya walked in and looked to attack immediately. Ayub bowled a carrom ball that took a thick outside edge as Pandya attempted a big shot. He was caught at long-off for a golden duck as India slipped to 126 for 4 in 14.3 overs.Ayub nearly completed a hat-trick. On the hat-trick ball, he bowled with loop and dip, pitching on leg and turning past Shivam Dube’s defense. The ball bounced over the stumps. Pakistan reviewed for a caught behind, but there was no edge.Saim Ayub finished his spell with three wickets, while conceding just 25 runs in four overs.Earlier in the innings, India had lost Abhishek Sharma for his second duck in two World Cup innings. However, Kishan ensured the innings did not slow down and recorded the third-fastest fifty in India-Pakistan T20Is.Fastest 50s in Ind-Pak T20Is (by balls)23 – Mohd Hafeez, Ahmedabad, 201224 – Abhishek Sharma, Dubai, 202527 – Ishan Kishan, Colombo (RPS), 2026*29 – Yuvraj Singh, Ahmedabad, 2012Kishan reached his half-century in 27 balls, getting there with a boundary off Abrar Ahmed’s second delivery in the seventh over.Kishan continued to score and made 77 from 40 balls before being dismissed. The pitch did not appear to favour high totals. Pakistan bowled five overs of spin in the powerplay, only the 13th time a fifth over of spin has been used inside a World Cup powerplay.Before the match began, India captain Suryakumar Yadav did not shake hands with Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha at the toss, continuing the approach followed since the Asia Cup in Dubai last year.

File photo: PM Modi (Picture credit: ANI)

Calling productive spending a defining feature of his government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the recently unveiled Union Budget consciously steered clear of short-term populism and instead channelled record capital outlays into infrastructure to drive jobs and sustainable growth.In an exclusive interview with news agency PTI, PM Modi said his government has used its time in office to plug “structural gaps left behind by earlier administrations”, pursue bold reforms and lay the foundations for a developed India, asserting that the latest Budget marks the “next level” of that journey.Describing the Budget for the fiscal year beginning April 1 as reflective of his governance philosophy, he said the document “is a good reflection of our governance style and priorities”.“This Budget represents the next level in this journey, imparting momentum to our ‘Reform Express.’ It is designed to accelerate momentum and prepare our youth for the opportunities of a rapidly changing world,” the prime minister told PTI.

Capital outlay scaled up fivefold since 2013

Citing the pre-Budget Economic Survey, PM Modi said capital accumulation, labour formalisation and digital public infrastructure have together elevated India’s potential growth rate to 7 per cent.“Productive spending has been a hallmark of our government. The high capital expenditure reflects our focus on infrastructure and capital investment, which are strong engines for long-term growth,” he said in the written interview to PTI.The FY27 Budget scales up capital expenditure to Rs 12.2 lakh crore, a fivefold increase compared to 2013, reinforcing the government’s strategy of prioritising infrastructure creation, logistics expansion and investment in sunrise sectors to drive long-term growth. The Budget emphasises spending on rail, roads, digital and energy infrastructure, alongside measures to ease compliance and improve credit flow as a central lever for job creation and economic momentum.“This reflects a conscious strategic choice to invest in assets that create productivity, jobs, and future economic capacity rather than short-term populism. This shows that our focus is on improving the quality of life for the people, creating jobs for our youth and advancing the nation’s progress towards Viksit Bharat,” PM Modi said.

Infrastructure push: Rail, roads, airports

The prime minister said high-quality infrastructure had long been neglected, posing challenges for citizens and businesses.“Broken and outdated infrastructure has no place in a nation that aspires to create a Viksit Bharat,” he said.“Therefore, we revolutionised the sector with our speed, scale and focus on creating next-gen infrastructure, while upgrading the existing infrastructure. In the last decade or so, India has seen perhaps the most expansive infrastructure-building effort in our history, an unprecedented emphasis on quality! The most important aspect of this has been the way we have created infrastructure with the future in mind,” he added.Highlighting the scale of expansion, PM Modi said the number of airports has doubled and orders for thousands of aircraft have been placed. The number of cities with metro services has more than quadrupled, while rural roads and internet connectivity have expanded rapidly. Investments have also been made in freight corridors, ports and coastal connectivity.On sectoral allocations, he said a capital outlay of nearly Rs 3 lakh crore has been earmarked for Indian Railways, with priority given to high-speed connectivity, freight capacity and passenger safety.Seven new high-speed rail corridors are proposed to connect major cities, including the South High-Speed Diamond corridor, which will benefit Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry. Dedicated Freight Corridors are also being expanded to decongest passenger routes and reduce logistics costs for industry.Allocations for national highways have increased nearly 500 per cent compared to a decade ago, according to PTI.

Sunrise sectors and governance reforms

PM Modi said the Budget also steps up investments in emerging areas such as biopharma, semiconductors, electronics component manufacturing, rare earth corridors and chemical parks.“These will provide a new impetus to jobs and investment while strengthening India’s future,” he said.Emphasising governance reforms, the prime minister said, “An important feature of this budget has been our continued stress on trust-based governance. Across sectors, ministries, and processes, we are massively reducing paperwork, decriminalising offences, and reducing compliance requirements. This is because we envisage the state as an enabler, and we trust the citizens. This will have a far deeper impact on people’s lives than the numbers in typical budgets.”He added that his government has built “an inclusive, tech-driven yet human-centric welfare architecture that reaches the last mile and leaves no one behind,” guided by nation-building and economic strengthening.

Long-term vision for ‘Viksit Bharat’

Recalling his Red Fort call — “Yahi Samay Hai, Sahi Samay Hai” (now is the time, the right time), PM Modi said that sense of urgency has evolved into a “national conviction”.“The ‘now is the time’ sense of purpose that you are alluding to has always been there within us. But today, that sense of urgency has become a national conviction, a whole-of-society resolve,” he said.Positioning India in a changing global order, he said the country is operating in a post-pandemic world where nations are keen to partner with it in trade and innovation. He also highlighted India’s young and increasingly skilled population, along with a focus on strong growth accompanied by low inflation and macroeconomic stability.Framing the Budget in long-term historical terms, PM Modi said it should not be seen merely as Budget 2026.“This is the first budget in the second quarter of the 21st century. This budget consolidates the gains made since 2014 and builds upon them to impart momentum for the next quarter-century,” he said.“Just as the decisions and initiatives taken in the 1920s laid the foundation for independence in 1947, the decisions we are taking now are laying the foundation for Viksit Bharat by 2047,” he added.

Karti Chidambaram (File photo)

NEW DELHI: Congress MP Karti Chidambaram on Sunday dismissed allegations that Tamil Nadu is “hostile” to Sanatan Dharma, contending instead that people in the state are “more Hindu than North Indians.”The BJP has frequently accused the Congress, its ally the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu, and their other INDIA bloc partners of being “anti-Sanatan Dharma.” The political attack stems from controversial past remarks by Udhayanidhi Stalin, son of Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK supremo MK Stalin. Udhyanidhi now serves as the state’s deputy chief minister.“What is Sanatan? That is not a term anyone in Tamil Nadu uses… We are more Hindu than North Indians. Per square kilometre, we have more temples. We break more coconuts every day. I personally visit more temples than many people in the BJP combined,” Chidambaram told ANI.“There isn’t a single day that I step out of my house without applying vibhuti or kundalama. ‘Sanatan Dharma’ is not a phrase we use,” he added.Addressing the controversy sparked in 2023 by remarks from Udhayanidhi Stalin, the Sivaganga MP attributed the uproar to “differing interpretations” of the term.“This issue became controversial because Udhayanidhi Stalin made a comment about the term. In Tamil Nadu, it is understood to refer to caste hierarchy—that’s how it is commonly interpreted here. He was speaking about caste hierarchy, not about the practice of the Hindu faith,” Chidambaram stated.In 2023, Udhayanidhi had likened “Sanatana” to diseases such as malaria and dengue, saying it should be “eradicated” rather than merely opposed, triggering a nationwide political debate.He had remarked, “Sanatana is like malaria and dengue, and therefore it must be eradicated, not just opposed. I thank the organisers for naming this event the ‘Sanatana Abolition Conference’ instead of the ‘Anti-Sanatana Conference.’ Some things cannot simply be opposed; they must be abolished. We don’t oppose dengue, mosquitoes, malaria, or corona—we eradicate them. In the same way, Sanatana should be eradicated rather than opposed.”Tamil Nadu is set to hold assembly elections in April. Although the Congress is an ally of the DMK, it is not part of the state government, in line with the prevailing political practice in the southern state.

NEW DELHI: A woman YouTuber alleged on Saturday that she was assaulted and that an attempt was made to forcibly take her away during a protest at Delhi University’s North Campus a day earlier. However, a student group denied the allegations, claiming that its members were targeted instead.The YouTuber stated that she had gone to cover a protest demanding the implementation of new UGC regulations and was attacked after being asked her name.“I had gone to cover the protest, as I regularly do. Before I could even take out my mic, a person behind me tried to instigate me by repeatedly taking my name. When I asked him what the issue was, he asked for my name and caste. I told him my name and asked what had happened. After that, things escalated,” the YouTuber said.“The entire crowd came towards me and attacked me. This is clear in the video. About 500 people attacked me. They just have fake narrations and fake allegations. The girls around me whispered rape threats in my ears just because I am a Brahmin; “aaj tu chal, tera nanga parade niklega,” is what they said. The men around me were saying that they would teach me a lesson. The girls had held me by the arms and neck. This is an attempt to murder. I had fallen unconscious, but the Police did nothing, ” she told ANI.YouTuber alleged that the reason the mob targeted her for her caste and that she was now registered an FIR in the case.“A boy there was signalling to others to take me away. Did they want to kidnap me? My clothes were being torn. I was being improperly touched. They were goons, they cannot be students. I was attacked due to my caste. Nobody supported me, only a few Law Faculties showed humanity, and I came out with their help as well as with that of a few women Police personnel. FIR has been registered, I trust the law .The incident occurred for about half an hour. There was mob lynching there, I escaped somehow is a big deal for me.” she claimed.“There was also a car with its gate open, and gestures were being made suggesting I be taken inside. I have filed a complaint with the police,” she added.Meanwhile, Delhi University vice-chancellor Yogesh Singh described the incident as a matter of concern and said maintaining social harmony was everyone’s responsibility.The All India Students’ Association (AISA) said in a statement that the protest over the UGC regulations was peaceful and that its activists intervened after the YouTuber allegedly created a disruption and confronted a journalist at the site.It termed the allegations “false and motivated” and said two of its members were later threatened and faced abuse at the police station when they went to file a complaint.The student outfit also claimed that videos circulating online do not show the full sequence of events. Multiple videos of the incident have been shared on social media with each side claiming that the onus lies with the other side.Delhi Police said two FIRs have been registered based on complaints filed by the YouTuber and a woman student affiliated with AISA.

The Delhi University VC posted on X, requesting all teachers and students to maintain harmony among themselves. “Do not engage in any activity that increases mutual discord and harms the image of the nation and the university,” he said.Singh said students from all states of India and all communities study in the university. “Social harmony is the greatest thing, and maintaining it is the duty of all of us,” he wrote on X.“I have spoken with several student groups and teacher groups today and have also spoken with the police administration to ensure that no such incident occurs in the future that harms harmony. The new rules of the UGC that have come are currently under consideration in the Hon’ble Supreme Court.“I appeal to all teachers and students of the university to maintain their trust in the Government of India and await the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court,” the VC said.Claims And Counter-Claims After Protest EscalatesChaos marked a protest called by Left-backed student unions at Delhi University on Friday evening. The unrest followed a separate protest organised by the All India Forum for Equity to observe ‘All India Vanchit Adhikar Divas’ at the Arts Faculty, which allegedly witnessed scenes of violence. The students were demanding that the University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations address and eliminate caste discrimination on campuses across India.A face-off between two student groups triggered claims and counter-claims, with each side accusing the other of violence and intimidation. According to the Left-backed student union AISA, some students were allegedly threatened and subjected to casteist abuse and slurs by a rival group.AISA activists further claimed that when they went to a local police station to register an FIR against the alleged attackers, members of the rival group ABVP — affiliated with the BJP — attacked them.In its statement the AISA said, “Delhi Police repeatedly failed to disperse the attacking mob and even if they moved away this mob kept coming back. While the lawyer of the students inside was not allowed to enter the police station, the people against whom the complaint was being made entered and with them some goons even entered the station.”“The mob at this time became even more agitated and tried to surround those who had come in solidarity against the mob attack in order to attack them. Instead of removing the violent crowd, the police stood by and watched as the mob raised slogans like “Desh ke gaddaron ko, goli maro salon ko” (Shoot the traitors of the country), “Brahmanwad Zindabad” (Long live Brahmanism) and other violent gestures aimed particularly women comrades,” AISA alleged in its statement.Countering these allegations, ABVP alleged that a female journalist, associated with a YouTube channel was allegedly assaulted by Left backed student activists. ABVP said that the incident exposes the violent character of Left-affiliated student organisations, which otherwise claim to champion freedom of expression across universities in the country.Police Register Two FIRs, Invoke Assault ChargesMeanwhile, a senior police officer said that FIRs have been filed in the case, and they have begun an inquiry.“Two FIRs have been registered, including one where the complainant is a female YouTuber and another, a female student from AISA. Both the FIRs have been registered under Sections 74 (assault or criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 126(2) (wrongful restraint) and 3(5) (common intention) of the BNS. Further action will be taken accordingly,” the officer said. (With agency inputs)

In a shocking turn of events during the high-octane T20 World Cup 2026 clash between India and Pakistan on February 15, 2026, the Indian top order faced an immediate crisis at the R. Premadasa Stadium.

Returning to the playing XI after a harrowing bout of food poisoning that saw him lose significant weight, Abhishek Sharma’s highly anticipated comeback ended in heartbreak as he was dismissed for a four-ball duck in the opening over. The decision to play him over the match-fit Sanju Samson, who had shown promising form against Namibia, backfired instantly, leaving the Indian dugout and fans in a state of stunned silence.

Salman Ali Agha’s bold gamble and Abhishek Sharma departs for duck 

Pakistan’s newly appointed captain, Salman Ali Agha, produced what many are calling the tactical masterstroke of the tournament by choosing to open the bowling himself. Defying the conventional wisdom of using a world-class pacer like Shaheen Afridi for the new ball, Agha exploited the tacky, slow nature of the Colombo surface with his off-spin.

He deliberately targeted Abhishek’s known vulnerability against the turning ball, suffocating him with three pinpoint dot balls that ratcheted up the pressure. On the final delivery of the over, Abhishek attempted a hurried back-foot pull against a ball that gripped and skidded, resulting in a mistimed top-edge that settled comfortably into the hands of Shaheen at short fine-leg.

Also READ: From Mayanti Langer to Zainab Abbas: Meet the popular presenters for IND vs PAK clash in T20 World Cup 2026

Ishan Kishan counter-attacks against Pakistan after Abhishek’s duck

In a high-tension start at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl, with both captains, Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Agha, notably skipping the customary handshake. India made two tactical changes, bringing back star opener Abhishek Sharma for Sanju Samson and drafting in Kuldeep Yadav for Arshdeep Singh to exploit the spin-friendly track. Pakistan fielded an unchanged XI, banking on the “mystery” of Usman Tariq to maintain their winning momentum.

This early blow threatened to derail the Indian innings, but Ishan Kishan had other plans, launching a breathtaking counter-attack that rendered Pakistan’s early celebration short-lived. Kishan greeted Shaheen in the second over with a monstrous six over deep mid-wicket and followed it up with a sequence of fierce boundaries against Saim Ayub and the spinner Abrar Ahmed. Supported by a composed Tilak Varma, who found the fence with a clever glide in the final over, India raced to 52/1 at the end of the Powerplay, successfully converting a disastrous start into a dominant scoring rate of nearly nine runs per over.

Here’s how fans reacted:

Meet Abhishek Sharma

– Never performs when India needs him.
– Failed in the Asia Cup final.
– Out for a duck in his first World Cup match.
– A duck vs Pakistan as well.

He simply cannot handle pressure.
Sanju Samson should have played ahead of him vs Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/TxHgTbfAyM

— Abhishek Kumar (@Abhishek060722) February 15, 2026

Surya Kumar Yadav put unnecessary pressure on Abhishek Sharma in the press conference, and now he got out for a duck. He will get trolled unnecessarily.

— Abhishek (@MSDianAbhiii) February 15, 2026

That’s two ducks in a row for abhishek. Does he start getting the Sanju treatment from the media? Maybe for the millionth time you will see, this whole game is about PR, stardom, and brand created leverage.

— Bharat Dhir (@babaBharatDhir) February 15, 2026

What a lazy shot from Abhishek. He probably hasn’t fully recovered, I guess he looked dull as well. If that’s the case, they should have played Sanju Samson instead.

— Ragav X (@ragav_x) February 15, 2026

Abhishek Sharma has played 2 matches in this World Cup and got out for 0 in both. Meanwhile, Sanju Samson got only 1 chance and scored 22 runs off 8 balls at a 250+ strike rate. But now you’ll see the double standards of ICT fans, they won’t criticize Abhishek because he’s the… pic.twitter.com/y4JI3JXW3d

— Mahi Patel (@Mahi_Patel_07) February 15, 2026

Abhishek Sharma’s 0 today in such a high-pressure game vs PAK proves that International cricket is a different beast than the IPL.

While Abhishek has the ‘X-factor,’ the way people targeted Sanju Samson for his recent 22 (8) vs Namibia feels unfair now. Sanju’s years of… pic.twitter.com/Nj8aD6Jh6Q

— Gully Point (@gullypoint_) February 15, 2026

The concept of abhishek sharma getting a duck vs pakistan in t20 wc with rohit sharma watching from stands

— Aryan (@Emmahivve) February 15, 2026

Sharma Gone! Abhishek not Rohit.

— Daniel Khan (@Beautifulday98X) February 15, 2026

Abhishek Sharma is Sunil Narine without bowling skills!

— Sameer (@BawliBooch5) February 15, 2026

Gautam Gambhir to Abhishek Sharma in dressing room…#INDvsPAK pic.twitter.com/4ZM8c74kKv

— H I T E S H _❤️‍🔥_BAWA (@Isdilkakyakru) February 15, 2026

Also READ: IND vs PAK, T20 World Cup 2026 Match Prediction – Who will win today’s game between India and Pakistan?

Abhishek Sharma of India (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Abhishek Sharma’s lean run in the T20 World Cup continued as the India opener fell for a four-ball duck against Pakistan in the high-voltage Group A clash in Colombo on Sunday.In a bold tactical move, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha took the new ball himself and struck in the very first over of the contest. Abhishek, looking to get off the mark quickly, failed to settle and was dismissed without scoring, handing Pakistan an early breakthrough.

Abhishek Sharma’s last six T20Is0(1)68*(20)0(1)30(16)0(1)0(4)The left-hander had also been dismissed for a duck against the USA earlier in the tournament, raising concerns over his form at the top of the order. Abhishek was back into the playing eleven for the crucial encounter. He replaced Sanju Samson, while Kuldeep Yadav came in for Arshdeep Singh. Abhishek had earlier missed the Namibia fixture after being hospitalised in New Delhi with a stomach infection.Suryakumar Yadav and Agha did not shake hands at the toss at the R Premadasa Stadium, continuing a trend seen during their meetings at the Asia Cup in Dubai last year, including the final. Agha won the toss and opted to bowl.Pakistan fielded an unchanged side, while India reshuffled in search of stability. However, Agha’s early strike ensured Pakistan seized immediate control of the contest.Playing XIsIndia: Ishan Kishan (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Jasprit BumrahPakistan: Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (captain), Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Tariq, and Abrar Ahmed

Image posted by Department of War on X

US military forces on Sunday boarded another sanctioned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean after tracking it from the Caribbean Sea as part of efforts to curb illicit oil shipments linked to Venezuela.According to the defence department, US forces conducted the operation overnight in the INDOPACOM area of responsibility. The tanker, identified as Veronica III, was intercepted after a long-distance pursuit.In a post on X, the Pentagon shared said, “We defend the Homeland forward. Distance does not protect you.” The department also posted a video showing US troops boarding the tanker.Giving details of the operation, it added, “Overnight, US forces conducted a right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding of the Veronica III without incident in the INDOPACOM area of responsibility.”The department further stated that the vessel had attempted to evade enforcement measures ordered by President Donald Trump. “The vessel tried to defy President Trump’s quarantine —hoping to slip away. We tracked it from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, closed the distance, and shut it down. No other nation has the reach, endurance, or will to do this.”It also issued a broader warning, saying, “International waters are not sanctuary. By land, air, or sea, we will find you and deliver justice. The Department of War will deny illicit actors and their proxies freedom of movement in the maritime domain.”The Veronica III is a Panamanian-flagged vessel that is under US sanctions related to Iran, according to the website of the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.The action comes amid ongoing US sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector. Venezuela has faced American sanctions for several years and has relied on a so-called shadow fleet of falsely flagged tankers to move crude oil into global supply chains.In December, President Trump ordered a quarantine of sanctioned tankers to increase pressure on then-President Nicolás Maduro. Maduro was later apprehended in January during an American military operation.The Trump administration has been seizing tankers as part of its broader efforts to take control of Venezuela’s oil flows.Last week, US forces boarded another tanker, the Aquila II, in the Indian Ocean. According to a defence official, the ship was being held while US authorities decided its ultimate fate.

You don’t have permission to access “http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-has-to-be-strong-at-all-times-pm-modi-on-defence-budget-11007417” on this server.

Reference #18.14f63717.1771167255.2eec1d4

https://errors.edgesuite.net/18.14f63717.1771167255.2eec1d4