Dubai: NRI from Kerala wins over Rs 21 crore in Mahzooz draw

US President Donald Trump on Saturday claimed that the government of India led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a deal to buy Venezuelan oil, as opposed to purchasing it from Iran.

"We've already made that deal, the concept of the deal," he told reporters on Air Force One.

Trump had imposed 25% tariffs on countries buying Venezuelan oil, including India, in March 2025. He had also hit India with tariffs for buying Russian oil, saying it was "funding" President Vladimir Putin's war against Ukraine.

Trump has said that the US has taken control of the oil-rich Venezuela after capturing former President Nicolas Maduro in January.

A fleet of 18 ships loaded with crude oil bound for refineries in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi in January, the most since December 2024, according to a report by the news agency Bloomberg.

Combined crude deliveries to the US will reach about 2,75,000 barrels a day, more than doubling volumes seen in December last year. Shipments to China, which averaged 4,00,000 barrels a day last year, fell to zero in January.

PM Modi, Venezuelan President Agree To Expand Ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez spoke on Friday and agreed to take the bilateral relations to "new heights" in the years ahead.

It was the first phone call between the two leaders since the capture of Maduro and his wife by the US on January 3.

"Spoke with Acting President of Venezuela, Ms. Delcy Rodriguez. We agreed to further deepen and expand our bilateral partnership in all areas, with a shared vision of taking India-Venezuela relations to new heights in the years ahead," PM Modi said in a post on X.

A statement from Prime Minister Modi's office said the two leaders agreed to further expand and deepen the India-Venezuela partnership in all areas, including trade and investment, energy, digital technology, health, agriculture, and people-to-people ties.

They exchanged views on various regional and global issues of mutual interest and underscored the importance of their close cooperation for the Global South, the statement said.

Rodriguez also said that they discussed partnerships in the fields of agriculture, science and technology, mining, and tourism, as well as the pharmaceutical and automotive industries.

Kolar / Dammam / Riyadh: An Indian civil engineer from Karnataka, who had gone missing from his workplace in Saudi Arabia, has been freed from jail and safely reunited with his family after three months, bringing immense relief to his relatives and well-wishers.

Mr. Byreddy Chennakeshappa, a native of Kolar district, was working as a site engineer with a construction company in Dammam. In September 2025, he suddenly became unreachable, with his mobile phone switched off and no communication with family members or friends, triggering serious concern back home.

With no clear information available, the family sought help through community networks in the Gulf. The matter was eventually brought to the attention of Riyadh-based social worker and pro bono lawyer P. A. Hameed Padubidri through Rafiq Kundanda, a Dubai-based Kannadiga, and his friend Mr. Varun Kolar (Dubai).

Efforts to Trace His Whereabouts

Following coordinated efforts and inquiries with the concerned company and authorities, it was confirmed that Mr. Byreddy was in Dammam and undergoing legal procedures related to a workplace matter.

Mr. Byreddy has been associated with the same company for several years. He had earlier worked there for nearly nine years, rejoined after a brief gap, and had been working continuously for over two years at the time of the incident.

Support from Official Channels

Dr. P. A. Hameed extended full support and assistance to the family by coordinating with the company, approaching relevant official channels, and seeking the intervention of the Human Rights Commission (HRC), Dammam.

An authorisation letter from the Indian Embassy was also obtained to facilitate communication and legal representation with the concerned authorities, ensuring that the matter was followed up in accordance with local laws.

Positive Outcome After Follow-ups

After sustained follow-ups and coordination with all stakeholders, the issue was resolved. Mr. Byreddy was released and permitted to reunite with his family. He is now safe and back home with his loved ones.

Family Expresses Gratitude

Mr. Byreddy’s brother-in-law, Mr. Naveen (Bengaluru), along with Mr. Varun Kolar (Dubai), expressed their sincere gratitude to Dr. P. A. Hameed for his guidance and unwavering support during the difficult period.

They also acknowledged the cooperation extended by the Human Rights Commission, Dammam, and the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, noting that timely assistance and effective coordination played a crucial role in resolving the matter.

Community Support Matters

The incident underscores the importance of community support systems, social workers, and diplomatic channels in assisting Indian nationals abroad during challenging situations.

What began as a period of uncertainty and anxiety has ended on a reassuring note, offering comfort to the family and renewed faith in collective humanitarian efforts and the Saudi legal system.

Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday criticised the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, claiming it offered no tangible benefit to the state.

Though he said he was yet to study the budget in detail, Shivakumar asserted that Karnataka had gained little from it. “There is no benefit for our state from the central budget. I was observing it. They have now named a programme after Mahatma Gandhi, after repealing the MGNREGA Act that was named after him,” he said.

Speaking to reporters here, the Deputy Chief Minister demanded the restoration of MGNREGA, and made it clear that the newly enacted rural employment scheme — VB-G RAM G — which proposes a 60:40 fund-sharing formula between the Centre and the states, would not be implemented in Karnataka.

“I don’t see any major share for our state in this budget,” he added.

Shivakumar, who also holds charge of Bengaluru development, said there were high expectations for the city from the Union Budget. “The Prime Minister calls Bengaluru a ‘global city’, but what has the Centre done for it?” he asked.

He also drew attention to the problems faced by sugar factories, particularly those in the cooperative sector, alleging a lack of timely decisions and support from the central government.

Noting that the Centre has the authority to fix the minimum support price (MSP) for agricultural produce, Shivakumar said the Union government must take concrete steps to protect farmers’ interests.