India is actively looking to offset supply disruptions from the Middle East caused by the Iran conflict. (AI image)

Amid the raging US-Israel-Iran war, India is set to get high volumes of crude oil from Venezuela as the Strait of Hormuz supply disruptions continue. Shipping data quoted by Kpler indicates that over 12 million barrels of Venezuelan crude are expected to arrive on India’s western coast this month, the largest volume since February 2020. This marks the highest level of Venezuela crude oil purchases in the last six years for India.India is actively looking to offset supply disruptions from the Middle East caused by the Iran conflict.

Venezuelan Crude Flows Into India

According to a Bloomberg report quoting Kpler’s lead research analyst Sumit Ritolia, the shipments arriving in April were likely contracted before the recent disruptions in Middle Eastern supplies. “This underscores a longer-term strategic shift rather than a purely reactive move,” he was quoted as saying.India, which relies on imports for about 90% of its crude oil needs, has been exploring alternative sources after the conflict affected flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a route that typically handles nearly 40% of its oil supplies.

Venezuela produces similar sulphur-heavy grades, and India had earlier been a major buyer from the OPEC nation before trade declined due to US sanctions, which were eased by Washington following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro in January.The Suezmax vessel Ottoman Sincerity, transporting close to 1 million barrels of Boscan crude, has reached the Sikka port operated by Reliance Industries Ltd., marking the first shipment of Venezuelan oil to India in the past year. The cargo, consisting of asphaltic-grade crude, was loaded through ship-to-ship transfers near the Caribbean island of Aruba.Reliance, which holds approval from the US to directly procure crude from Venezuela’s state-run PDVSA, has also taken delivery of another shipment this week. This consignment was loaded onto the Bahamas-flagged very large crude carrier Helios, indicating a shift away from earlier sourcing methods that involved intermediaries such as Vitol Group and Trafigura, the Bloomberg report said.

According to Ritolia, heavier Venezuelan crude typically produces a larger share of middle distillates, including diesel and jet fuel, which is particularly relevant at a time when these segments remain in tight supply. Data from Kpler indicates that a significant portion of these imports consists of Venezuela’s key export grade, the Merey blend.

NEW DELHI: Sunrisers Hyderabad batter Heinrich Klaasen has made a striking assessment of Chennai Super Kings, stating that the absence of their charismatic former skipper MS Dhoni “doesn’t really make much of a difference” to the five-time champions in IPL 2026.Speaking after Sunrisers Hyderabad’s mixed start to the season, Klaasen downplayed the impact of Dhoni’s absence as a player, suggesting that CSK’s strength lies beyond one individual.“CSK has got an incredible IPL record. Even with Dhoni not being there, they are not much of a lesser side. They are a very strong side. It’s not going to be an easy game,” Klaasen told the JioStar Press Room.‘Impact more in leadership than batting’While acknowledging Dhoni’s stature, Klaasen emphasised that the veteran’s absence is felt more in leadership than in his on-field contributions with the bat.“Dhoni not being there doesn’t really make much of a difference. It is more about other guys. I don’t think his absence will make such a big impact except for his leadership,” he noted.The South African also pointed out that Dhoni’s recent batting roles have been limited. “He has been coming to bat for just 5-10 balls in the last few years,” Klaasen added, underlining why CSK remain competitive even without their iconic finisher.SRH confident despite slow startKlaasen’s comments come at a time when SRH are looking to bounce back after two defeats in their first three matches. Their only win so far has come against Kolkata Knight Riders, while losses to Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Lucknow Super Giants have exposed gaps.Despite the setbacks, Klaasen remains optimistic. “It’s still early days in the tournament. We are confident we will fire in all departments going forward,” he said.SRH are also dealing with the temporary absence of skipper Pat Cummins, with Ishan Kishan stepping in as captain.Targeting CSK’s batting depthLooking ahead to their clash against CSK, Klaasen stressed the need to apply pressure on a strong batting lineup.“Shivam (Dube) is in good form, their openers are fantastic — we just need to squeeze them a bit more,” he said.Klaasen, known for his aggressive approach, also spoke about his comfort against spin. “I’ve played a lot against spinners. They are coming for me and I am going after them,” he said.With both teams aiming to find consistency, Klaasen’s candid take adds spice to what promises to be a high-stakes encounter.

You don’t have permission to access “http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/kamal-haasan-opposes-death-penalty-for-cops-in-tamil-nadu-sathankulam-custodial-torture-case-11322166” on this server.

Reference #18.34fdd417.1775554121.6e6a001

https://errors.edgesuite.net/18.34fdd417.1775554121.6e6a001

As tensions rise in the Middle East, US President Donald Trump has suggested that the United States could take control of Iran’s oil, saying he looks at it from a business point of view and that the spoils belong to the “winner”. Speaking at the White House, Trump said, “if I had my choice, I’m a businessman first”, when asked about securing Iranian oil. He further referred to US actions in Venezuela, saying, “If I had my choice. Yeah, cause I’m a businessman first. We are a partner with Venezuela, and we’ve taken hundreds of millions of barrels.” Trump also spoke about the idea of gaining from war. “You know that to the winner belong the spoils. Go for the spoils. I’ve said why don’t we use it to the victor go the spoils. We haven’t had that in this country, probably in a hundred years. We didn’t have it with the Second World War. We helped rebuild all those countries,” he said. He criticised US allies for not supporting Washington in the conflict with Iran. “Japan didn’t help us, Australia didn’t help us, South Korea didn’t help us, and then you get to Nato, Nato didn’t help us,” Trump said. He added, “We’ve got 50,000 soldiers in Japan to protect them from North Korea; we have 45,000 soldiers in South Korea to protect us from Kim Jong Un.” At the same time, Trump praised some Persian Gulf countries. “Saudi Arabia has been excellent, Qatar has been excellent, UAE has been excellent, Bahrain, Kuwait,” he said. Trump also warned that Iran could be “taken out” in a single night, and said this could happen as early as Tuesday. He claimed that US forces have carried out more than 10,000 combat flights and struck over 13,000 targets in the past 37 days. These developments come at a time when the Middle East crisis has stretched into the sixth week, disrupting key energy supplies across the world. The conflict began on February 28, when Israel and US launched joint strikes on Iran, after which Iran choked the crucial Strait of Hormuz, effectively disrupting oil supply flows acorss the globe.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya (Agency Image)

As Rajasthan Royals take on Mumbai Indians in Guwahati, the contest brings together a side riding early momentum and another eager to bounce back with a full-strength XI. With key match-ups likely to shape the outcome, here are five players who could define the clash. 1. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi The teenage sensation has been at the centre of Rajasthan Royals’ explosive starts this season. But this is his biggest test yet. Having dominated bowlers over the past year, Sooryavanshi now comes up against a completely different challenge in Jasprit Bumrah. If he can counter the MI spearhead, it could once again set the tone for Royals. 2. Jasprit Bumrah Whenever Mumbai Indians need control, Bumrah delivers. His record against several RR batters, including Shimron Hetmyer, makes him a key figure yet again. Whether it is early breakthroughs or death-over precision, Bumrah’s impact could dictate the game. 3. Yashasvi Jaiswal Jaiswal has been crucial at the top but faces a tricky match-up against Hardik Pandya. His struggles against the MI skipper in previous encounters make this a battle to watch. If Jaiswal can overcome that hurdle, RR’s powerplay could once again be dominant. 4. Hardik Pandya Expected to return after missing the last game, Pandya adds balance to the MI lineup. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball, especially against key players like Jaiswal, could prove decisive in shifting momentum. 5. Sandeep Sharma Often underrated, Sandeep holds a strong record against MI’s biggest names. His success against Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav makes him a vital weapon with the new ball. Early wickets from him could put Mumbai on the back foot.With Rajasthan Royals already off to a perfect start, a third straight win would take them to the top of the table and further strengthen their early-season momentum. However, Mumbai Indians, bolstered by the expected return of Hardik Pandya, will be desperate to turn their fortunes around. With conditions in Guwahati offering some early movement but promising runs once set, the contest could swing either way. In what shapes up as a high-scoring clash, these key battles might ultimately decide whether Rajasthan continue their surge or Mumbai mount a strong comeback.