Prices Of Commercial LPG Hiked By Rs 250 Per Cylinder

HT Daily News Wrap

Russia offers India a big discount on 15 million barrels of oil, CM Bhagwant Mann moves an official resolution on the immediate transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab, Prices of LPG used by commercial establishments hiked by Rs 250 per cylinder, and other top news in this bulletin.
The US doesn’t want to see a “rapid acceleration” in India’s imports from Russia of energy and other commodities prohibited by global sanctions regimes and there will be consequences for countries that attempt to circumvent the embargoes imposed following the invasion of Ukraine, US deputy national security adviser Daleep Singh said on Thursday. Singh, seen as the architect of American sanctions targeting President Vladimir Putin, his inner circle and the Russian financial system, cautioned India against expecting Russia to come to the country’s defence if China were to violate the Line of Actual Control (LAC) since Moscow and Beijing are now in a “no limits partnership”. “What we would not like to see is a rapid acceleration of India’s imports from Russia as it relates to energy or any other any other exports that are currently being prohibited by the US or by other aspects of the international sanctions regime,” he said in response to a question about India’s recent decision to take up Russia’s offer of discounted crude oil. Russia is offering India big discounts on the direct purchase of oil as sales to other nations dip following stringent sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine, Bloomberg reported Thursday. Russia is willing to sell high-grade oil up to $35 per barrel – which could increase to $45 per barrel after the latest surge in global prices – and wants India to buy 15 million barrels in the first deal. Russia has also offered rupee-ruble-denominated payments using its SPFS financial messaging system – since Moscow has been banned from SWIFT – that could make trading more attractive for India, sources told Bloomberg. The offer comes a day after foreign minister S Jaishankar, in talks with British foreign secretary Liz Truss, firmly defended India’s decision to buy discounted Russian oil – a move criticised by the United States and the United Kingdom. Jaishankar pointed out Russia sells more to European nations than India and that India welcomes competitive offers to meet burgeoning domestic demand. The prices of commercial Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) – used by commercial establishments – were on Friday hiked by Rs 250 per cylinder. With this, the price of a 19-kg commercial cooking gas cylinder in the national capital went up to Rs 2,253, and the new rate is effective from today. The prices of LPG are revised on the 1st of every month based on the price of benchmark fuel in the previous month. This is the third-highest hike after prices of commercial LPG cylinders were increased by Rs 105 last month, with the cost per cylinder (19 kg) climbing to Rs 2,003. In Kolkata, a 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder will cost Rs 2,351. In Mumbai and Chennai, the prices will be Rs 2,205 and Rs 2,406 respectively. Sri Lankan President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s office blamed an unidentified ‘extremist’ group for creating the violent situation during the protest near the Jubilee Post in Nugegoda, Colombo, the Colombo Page reported citing President’s media division’s press release. The mob armed with iron clubs, sickles and clubs marched towards the Sri Lankan President’s residence at Mirihana Pangiriwatta, to provoke the protesters and create a riot-like situation in the city, according to the statement. The statement further revealed the police has arrested several people who were involved in the protest and many of them were identified as organized extremists. It further added that they have spearheaded the protest calling for an Arab Spring in Sri Lanka. Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday moved an official resolution in the Punjab assembly on the immediate transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab adhering to the sentiments of the people and maintaining harmony. Whenever a state has been divided earlier, the Capital remained with the parent state, the resolution said. “For maintaining harmony and taking the sentiments of people into account, this house once again recommends to the state government to raise the matter with central government to immediately transfer Chandigarh to Punjab,” read the resolution. “Chandigarh City was created as the capital of Punjab,” it said, adding, “In all past precedents, whenever, a state has been divided, the capital remains with the parent state. Punjab, therefore, has been laying its claim for complete transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab,” it said.