Oil prices extended declines on Monday after OPEC+ agreed to another large production hike in September, with concerns about a slowing economy in the U.S., the world’s biggest oil user, adding to the pressure.
Brent crude futures fell 40 cents, or 0.57%, to $69.27 a barrel by 0115 GMT while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $66.96 a barrel, down 37 cents, or 0.55%, after both contracts closed about $2 a barrel lower on Friday.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and their allies, known as OPEC+, agreed on Sunday to raise oil production by 547,000 barrels per day for September, the latest in a series of accelerated output hikes to regain market share, citing a healthy economy and low stockpiles as reasons behind its decision.
The move, in line with market expectations, marks a full and early reversal of OPEC+’s largest tranche of output cuts, plus a separate increase in output for the United Arab Emirates, amounting to about 2.5 million bpd, or about 2.4% of world demand.
Analysts at Goldman Sachs expect that the actual increase in supply from the eight OPEC+ countries that have raised output since March will be 1.7 million bpd, or about 2/3 of what has been announced, because other members of the group have cut output after previously overproducing.
“While OPEC+ policy remains flexible and the geopolitical outlook uncertain, we assume that OPEC+ keeps required production unchanged after September,” they said in a note, adding that solid growth in non-OPEC output would likely leave little room for extra OPEC+ barrels.
RBC Capital Markets analyst Helima Croft said: “The bet that the market could absorb the additional barrels seems to have paid off for the holders of spare capacity this summer, with prices not that far off from pre-tariff Liberation Day levels.”
Still, investors remain wary of further US sanctions on Iran and Russia that could disrupt supplies. US President Trump has threatened to impose 100% secondary tariffs on Russian crude buyers as he seeks to pressure Russia into halting its war in Ukraine.
At least two vessels loaded with Russian oil bound for refiners in India have diverted to other destinations following new US sanctions, trade sources said on Friday, and LSEG trade flows showed.
However, two Indian government sources told Reuters on Saturday the country will keep purchasing oil from Russia despite Trump’s threats.
Concerns about US tariffs impacting global economic growth and fuel consumption are also hanging over the market, especially after US economic data on jobs growth on Friday was below expectations.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Sunday that the tariffs imposed last week on scores of countries are likely to stay in place rather than be cut as part of continuing negotiations.
Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem on Sunday and said he prayed there, challenging rules covering one of the most sensitive sites in the Middle East.
Under a delicate decades-old “status quo” arrangement with Muslim authorities, the Al-Aqsa compound is administered by a Jordanian religious foundation and Jews can visit but may not pray there.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement after Ben-Gvir’s visit that Israel’s policy of maintaining the status quo at the compound “has not changed and will not change”.
Videos released by a small Jewish organisation called the Temple Mount Administration showed Ben-Gvir leading a group walking in the compound. Other videos circulating online appeared to show him praying. Reuters could not immediately verify the content of the other videos.
The visit to the compound known to Jews as Temple Mount, took place on Tisha B’av, the fast day mourning the destruction of two ancient Jewish temples, which stood at the site centuries ago.
The Waqf, the foundation that administers the complex on a hillside in Jerusalem’s walled Old City, said Ben-Gvir was among another 1,250 who ascended the site and who it said prayed, shouted and danced.
Israel’s official position accepts the rules restricting non-Muslim prayer at the compound, which is Islam’s third holiest site and the most sacred site in Judaism.
Ben-Gvir has visited the site in the past calling for Jewish prayer to be allowed there.
Ben-Gvir said in a statement he prayed for Israel’s victory over Palestinian militant group Hamas in the war in Gaza and for the return of Israeli hostages being held by militants there. He repeated his call for Israel to conquer the entire enclave.
Suggestions that Israel would alter rules at the Al-Aqsa compound have sparked outrage in the Muslim world and ignited violence in the past. There were no immediate reports of violence on Sunday.
A spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned Ben-Gvir’s visit, which he said “crossed all red lines.”
“The international community, specifically the U.S. administration, is required to intervene immediately to put an end to the crimes of the settlers and the provocations of the extreme right-wing government in Al-Aqsa mosque, stop the war on the Gaza Strip and bring in humanitarian aid,” Nabil Abu Rudeineh said in a statement.
England had moved to within 35 runs of securing a famous victory over India in the final Test when bad light and torrential rain ended an extraordinary fourth day at The Oval on Sunday.
Harry Brook and Joe Root shared a superb fourth-wicket partnership of 195 to put England on the brink of completing a record run chase that would have given them a 3-1 series win.
With India on the ropes, however, and England needing only another 73 runs, Brook played a wild stroke and skied a catch to depart for 111.
Jacob Bethell also fell to a rash shot for five and Root, having completed a masterful 39th test century, nicked a catch to wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel off Prasidh Krishna to spark wild Indian celebrations.
In mounting tension, Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton struggled to get bat on ball, surviving several frenzied appeals before the umpires decided it was too dark to continue.
The players left the field and shortly afterwards a heavy rain shower made conditions unplayable, depriving the crowd of a tense finale to a day of unremitting drama.
GRIPPING SERIES
England will resume on 339-6 on Monday on the final day of the final India vs England Test, with Chris Woakes unlikely to bat due to a broken shoulder, and India still in with a chance of a victory that would earn them a share of a gripping five-match series.
India had the better of the morning session after England resumed on 50-1, dismissing Ben Duckett for 54 and Ollie Pope for 27 to leave the hosts wobbling on 106-3.
Brook, on 19, was lucky to survive when Mohammed Siraj caught him in the deep before stepping back on to the boundary cushion.
The prolific right-hander made him pay a heavy price for the error, striking two sixes and 12 fours all round the ground to reach his 10th test century off 91 balls.
Root provided the perfect foil, continuing his consistent form throughout the series, as the Indian bowlers struggled to get much movement under grey skies.
Once past three figures, Brook launched an all-out attack, hitting Akash Deep for two fours in an over before attempting a third and Siraj completed the catch on this occasion.
Brook’s bat flew out of his hands as he played the stroke and he had to retrieve it before returning to the pavilion to a standing ovation from the crowd during the final India vs England Test.
He probably believed he had done enough to ensure victory for his team but India had other ideas.
The highest successful run chase at The Oval was England’s 263-9 against Australia in 1902.
Tens of thousands of demonstrators braved pouring rain to march across Sydney’s iconic Harbour Bridge on Sunday calling for peace and aid deliveries in the war-torn Gaza Strip, where a humanitarian crisis has been worsening.
Nearly two years into a war that Palestinian authorities say has killed more than 60,000 people in Gaza, governments and humanitarian organisations say a shortage of food is leading to widespread starvation.
Some of those attending the march, called by its organisers the ‘March for Humanity’, carried pots and pans as symbols of the hunger.
“Enough is enough,” said Doug, a man in his 60s with a shock of white hair. “When people from all over the world gather together and speak up, then evil can be overcome.”
Marchers ranged from the elderly to families with young children. Among them was Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. Many carried umbrellas. Some waved Palestinian flags and chanted “We are all Palestinians.”
New South Wales police said up to 90,000 people had attended, far more than expected. The protest organiser, Palestine Action Group Sydney, said in a Facebook post as many as 300,000 people may have marched.
New South Wales police and the state’s premier last week tried to block the march from taking place on the bridge, a city landmark and transport thoroughfare, saying the route could cause safety hazards and transport disruption. The state’s Supreme Court ruled on Saturday that it could go ahead.
Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Peter McKenna said more than a thousand police were deployed and the size of the crowd had led to fears of a crush.
“No one was hurt,” he told a press conference. “But gee whiz, I wouldn’t like try and do this every Sunday at that short notice.”
Police were also present in Melbourne, where a similar protest march took place.
Diplomatic pressure ramped up on Israel in recent weeks. France and Canada have said they will recognise a Palestinian state, and Britain says it will follow suit unless Israel addresses the humanitarian crisis and reaches a ceasefire.
Israel has condemned these decisions as rewarding Hamas, the group that governs Gaza and whose attack on Israel in October 2023 began an Israeli offensive that has flattened much of the enclave. Israel has also denied pursuing a policy of starvation and accused Hamas of stealing aid.
Australia’s centre-left Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said he supports a two-state solution and Israel’s denial of aid and killing of civilians “cannot be defended or ignored”, but has not recognised Palestine.
Therese Curtis, a marcher in her 80s, said she had the human right and privilege of good medical care in Australia.
“But the people in Palestine are having their hospitals bombed, they’re being denied a basic right of medical care and I’m marching specifically for that,” she said.
Lionel Messi left injured in the 11th minute with hamstring discomfort, but Inter Miami earned a 5-4 penalty shootout win against visiting Necaxa following a 2-2 draw in Matchday 2 of Leagues Cup Phase One play on Saturday night.
Miami (1-0-1, 5 points) converted all of their penalties, with Luis Suarez clinching the extra point with a finish off the underside of the crossbar after a wild game that saw both teams finish with 10 men.
Herons goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo made one save, thwarting Tomas Badaloni’s attempt from the spot.
Earlier, Badaloni scored his third of the tournament in the 33rd minute for Necaxa (1-0-1, 4 points), who played 11-on-10 for 43 minutes after Inter Miami’s Maximiliano Falcon was ejected for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity with a 17th-minute foul.
Cristian Calderon’s second yellow card in the 60th minute evened numbers before Necaxa’s Ricardo Montreal and Miami’s Jordi Alba traded goals after the 80th minute.
Miami’s Telasco Segovia opened the scoring a minute after Messi’s departure.
The 38-year-old Messi limped off the field under his own power. Miami manager Javier Mascherano confirmed postgame that Messi felt hamstring soreness, and expressed optimism it was relatively minor.
Club America 3 (8), Minnesota United 3 (7)
All eight penalty takers converted to lift 10-man Club America to an important two points with an 8-7 penalty shootout victory after rallying from behind three times.
Sebastian Caceres’ 90th-minute header pulled America (0-0-2, 3 points) level from behind for a third time in the match and fifth time in the tournament. Goalkeeper Luis Malagon then followed a sensational denial of Carlos Harvey in second-half stoppage time with a penalty save of Nicolas Romero on Minnesota’s eighth PK to help seal the shootout win.
The Mexico City outfit previously tied it at 1-1 through Michael Boxall’s own goal in the 27th minute and 2-2 on Jose Zuniga’s 53rd-minute contribution.
Tani Oluwaseyi and Bongi Hlongwane each scored their second goals of the tournament for Minnesota (1-0-1, 4 points). Harvey then put the Loons up 3-2 in the 65th minute, three minutes after America’s Igor Lichnovsky received his second yellow card.
Pumas UNAM 3, Atlanta United 2
Coco Carrasquilla completed a second-half brace for his second and third goals of the tournament and Pumas held on for victory despite the late ejection of their goalkeeper.
Alvaro Angulo scored the earlier goal for Pumas (1-0-1, 5 points). Then he played in goal for the final moments after Keylor Navas was sent off in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time in a match played in Orlando, Fla.
Atlanta (0-2-0, 0 points) took a 2-1 lead into halftime through an own-goal from Navas and a late-first-half strike from Emmanuel Latte Lath. But the Five Stripes were eliminated from tournament contention after conceding multiple second-half goals for a second consecutive match.
Carrasquilla leveled at 2-2 in the 62nd minute with a powerful finish from the edge of the penalty area, then put Pumas in front in 89th when he put in the rebound of his own saved penalty.
Atletico San Luis 2 (4), Real Salt Lake 2 (1)
Andres Sanchez saved one penalty in regulation, then one more to help visiting Atletico San Luis to a hard-earned shootout win in Sandy, Utah.
Miguel Garcia and Joao Pedro scored in regulation for San Luis (0-1-1, 2 points) before all four PK takers converted in the tiebreaker (4-1).
Braian Angulo scored both goals for Real Salt Lake (0-0-2, 3 points), including an 88th-minute equalizer that snuck inside the far right post on what looked to be an intended cross.
But Diego Luna’s failure to convert from the spot in regulation against Sanchez forced the shootout, where Brayan Vera missed the target and Sanchez saved Justen Glad.
Orlando City 3, Atlas 1
Martin Ojeda scored the decisive goal in the 57th minute to boost Orlando City’s hopes of reaching the knockout phase and eliminate visiting Atlas from contention.
Ivan Angulo opened the scoring, and Marco Pasalic added very late insurance 12 minutes into second-half stoppage time seal the win for Orlando (1-0-1, 4 points). The Lions opened their tournament with a 1-1 draw against Pumas UNAM and lost the ensuing penalty shootout.
Matias Coccaro briefly leveled the contest in the 50th minute for Atlas (0-2-0, 0 points), which lost its opening match 2-1 to Inter Miami on a stoppage-time goal assisted by Messi.
Coccaro was later sent off in second-half stoppage time before Pasalic’s tally for his role in a late skirmish that involved several players from both teams.
Portland Timbers 1, Queretaro 0
Cristhian Paredes scored his second goal in as many appearances in the 36th minute to keep Portland perfect against 10-man Queretaro.
Paredes’ powerful low finish from the second phase of a corner kick followed his first goal of the regular season in a 1-0 victory at LAFC a week ago.
James Pantemis made two saves for Portland (2-0-0, six points) to keep his second clean sheet of the tournament and fifth in all competitions.
Jonathan Perlaza became the second Queretaro player sent off in as many games in the 45th minute as the Gallos Blancos (0-2-0, 0 points) were eliminated from tournament contention.
The United Kingdom’s (UK) top court overturned a landmark ruling on car finance commissions in a decision that is likely to ease fears among banks about a redress scheme some analysts had warned could run into the tens of billions of pounds.
Car dealers who sold vehicles and arranged the finance do not owe fiduciary duties to customers and lenders are therefore not liable for the commission, the Supreme Court said in a ruling which pushed up U.S.-listed shares of UK banks.
The Supreme Court reversed a 2024 decision that sent shockwaves through the motor finance industry and weighed heavily on the stocks of the most exposed players such as Close Brothers (CBRO.L), and Lloyds (LLOY.L).
Banks had feared that the total bill for compensation could lead to the industry’s costliest scandal since payment protection insurance cost lenders over 40 billion pounds to redress between 2011 and 2019.
Lenders will still likely face claims for overcharging in some cases under a compensation scheme, though the extent of the total bill is likely to be significantly reduced.
After Friday’s ruling, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said it would confirm whether it will consult on a redress scheme before markets open on Monday.
Supreme Court president Robert Reed said the Court of Appeal had “failed to understand that the dealer has a commercial interest in the arrangement between a customer and a finance company”.
Close Brothers, which mounted the appeals alongside South Africa’s FirstRand (FSRJ.J), opens new tab, said it was considering the judgment and would make further announcements as appropriate.
Britain’s finance ministry – which unsuccessfully sought to intervene in the appeal – said it would work with regulators and industry to understand the impact for both firms and consumers.
The Treasury feared the Court of Appeal ruling, if left unchanged, would make it hard for consumers to get car loans and possibly hurt investment in Britain’s financial services, adding to the challenge of speeding up the slow-moving economy.
FEARS EASED
The Finance and Leasing Association, which represents car lenders, welcomed the judgment, adding it meant the sector remained a “solid investable option”.
“Impacted lenders should continue preparing for what is still likely to be a significant customer redress exercise early next year,” Peter Rothwell, Head of Banking at KPMG UK, said.
“But they can do so with greater confidence that it will focus on discretionary commission arrangements and cases where there is a breach of the Consumer Credit Act as a result of an unfair relationship, rather than all historic commissions.”
While the Supreme Court overturned the Court of Appeal’s findings that the commissions in three linked cases amounted to a bribe, one claimant was awarded just over 1,650 pounds ($2,187.74) on the grounds that his relationship with the lender was unfair.
Reed, however, said that non-disclosure or a partial disclosure by dealers of the existence of a commission did not necessarily make the relationship between a customer and a lender unfair.
He said the Supreme Court had unusually given its judgment on a Friday afternoon after markets closed on the advice of the FCA “in order to avoid causing unnecessary disruption” for investors.
The judgment on unfair commissions could lead to further debate about the extent of lenders’ liabilities, said Caroline Edwards, a partner at law firm Travers Smith.
August 2, 2025: Hamas said on Saturday that it would not disarm unless an independent Palestinian state is established – a fresh rebuke to a key Israeli demand to end the war in Gaza.
Indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel aimed at securing a 60-day ceasefire in the Gaza war and deal for the release of hostages ended last week in deadlock.
On Tuesday, Qatar and Egypt, who are mediating ceasefire efforts, endorsed a declaration by France and Saudi Arabia outlining steps toward a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and saying that as part of this Hamas must hand over its arms to the Western-backed Palestinian Authority.
In its statement, Hamas – which has dominated Gaza since 2007 but has been militarily battered by Israel in the war – said it could not yield its right to “armed resistance” unless an “independent, fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital” is established.
Israel considers the disarmament of Hamas a key condition for any deal to end the conflict, but Hamas has repeatedly said it is not willing to lay down its weaponry.
Last month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described any future independent Palestinian state as a platform to destroy Israel and said, for that reason, security control over Palestinian territories must remain with Israel.
He also criticised several countries, including the UK and Canada, for announcing plans to recognise a Palestinian state in response to devastation of Gaza from Israel’s offensive and blockade, calling the move a reward for Hamas’ conduct.
Israel’s military assault on Gaza has turned much of the enclave into a wasteland, killed over 60,000 Palestinians and set off a humanitarian catastrophe.
ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI, August 2: Just after midnight on May 7, the screen in the Pakistan Air Force’s operations room lit up in red with the positions of dozens of active enemy planes across the border in India.
Air Chief Mshl. Zaheer Sidhu had been sleeping on a mattress just off that room for days in anticipation of an Indian assault.
Sidhu ordered Pakistan’s prized Chinese-made J-10C jets to scramble. A senior Pakistani Air Force (PAF) official, who was present in the operations room, said Sidhu instructed his staff to target Rafales, a French-made fighter that is the jewel of India’s fleet and had never been downed in battle.
“He wanted Rafales,” said the official.
The hour-long fight, which took place in darkness, involved some 110 aircraft, experts estimate, making it the world’s largest air battle in decades.
The J-10s shot down at least one Rafale, Reuters reported in May, citing U.S. officials. Its downing surprised many in the military community and raised questions about the effectiveness of Western military hardware against untested Chinese alternatives.
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS REPORT
Surprise and Intelligence Failure: The downing of an Indian Rafale was due to an Indian intelligence failure underestimating the range of Pakistan’s Chinese-made PL-15 missile, which struck from approximately 200 km, far beyond the expected 150 km range of its export variant.
Largest Air Battle in Decades: The May 7 skirmish involved around 110 aircraft, marking it as the world’s largest air battle in recent times, with Pakistan’s J-10C jets successfully engaging India’s advanced Rafale fighters.
Pakistan’s Effective Kill Chain: Pakistan’s superior situational awareness stemmed from a multi-domain “kill chain” network, integrating air, land, and space sensors, including the Data Link 17 system, which allowed J-10s to operate undetected by turning off their radars.
Electronic Warfare Advantage: Pakistan employed electronic warfare to disrupt Indian systems, contributing to the ambush, though Indian officials disputed the effectiveness, particularly claiming their Rafales were unaffected.
Tactical Shifts and Ceasefire: After initial losses, India adjusted tactics, targeting Pakistani military infrastructure with BrahMos missiles, leading to a ceasefire on May 10 following U.S.-mediated talks, after India struck multiple Pakistani air bases and assets.
Shares of Dassault, which makes the Rafale, dipped after reports the fighter had been shot down. Indonesia, which has outstanding Rafale orders, has said it is now considering purchasing J-10s – a major boost to China’s efforts to sell the aircraft overseas.
But Reuters interviews with two Indian officials and three of their Pakistani counterparts found that the performance of the Rafale wasn’t the key problem: Central to its downing was an Indian intelligence failure concerning the range of the China-made PL-15 missile fired by the J-10 fighter. China and Pakistan are the only countries to operate both J-10s, known as Vigorous Dragons, and PL-15s.
The faulty intelligence gave the Rafale pilots a false sense of confidence they were out of Pakistani firing distance, which they believed was only around 150 km, the Indian officials said, referring to the widely cited range of PL-15’s export variant.
“We ambushed them,” the PAF official said, adding that Islamabad conducted an electronic warfare assault on Delhi’s systems in an attempt to confuse Indian pilots. Indian officials dispute the effectiveness of those efforts.
“The Indians were not expecting to be shot at,” said Justin Bronk, air warfare expert at London’s Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think-tank. “And the PL-15 is clearly very capable at long range.”
The PL-15 that hit the Rafale was fired from around 200km (124.27 mi) away, according to Pakistani officials, and even farther according to Indian officials. That would make it among the longest-range air-to-air strikes recorded.
India’s defense and foreign ministries did not return requests for comment about the intelligence mistakes. Delhi hasn’t acknowledged a Rafale being shot down, but France’s air chief told reporters in June that he had seen evidence of the loss of that fighter and two other aircraft flown by India, including a Russian-made Sukhoi. A top Dassault executive also told French lawmakers that month that India had lost a Rafale in operations, though he didn’t have specific details.
Pakistan’s military referred to past comments by a spokesperson who said that its professional preparedness and resolve was more important than the weaponry it had deployed. China’s defense ministry did not respond to Reuters’ questions. Dassault and UAC, the manufacturer of the Sukhoi, also did not return requests for comment.
Reuters spoke to eight Pakistani and two Indian officials to piece together an account of the aerial battle, which marked the start of four days of fighting between the two nuclear-armed neighbors that caused alarm in Washington. The officials all spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss national security matters.
Not only did Islamabad have the element of surprise with its missiles’ range, the Pakistani and Indian officials said, but it managed to more efficiently connect its military hardware to surveillance on the ground and in the air, providing it with a clearer picture of the battlefield. Such networks, known as “kill chains,” have become a crucial element of modern warfare.
Four Pakistani officials said they created a “kill chain,” or a multi-domain operation, by linking air, land and space sensors. The network included a Pakistani-developed system, Data Link 17, which connected Chinese military hardware with other equipment, including a Swedish-made surveillance plane, two Pakistani officials said.
The system allowed the J-10s flying closer to India to obtain radar feeds from the surveillance plane cruising further away, meaning the Chinese-made fighters could turn their radars off and fly undetected, according to experts. Pakistan’s military did not respond to requests for comment on this point.
Delhi is trying to set up a similar network, the Indian officials said, adding that their process was more complicated because the country sourced aircraft from a wide range of exporters.
Retired U.K. Air Mshl. Greg Bagwell, now a fellow at RUSI, said the episode didn’t conclusively prove the superiority of either Chinese or Western air assets but it showed the importance of having the right information and using it.
“The winner in this was the side that had the best situational awareness,” said Bagwell.
CHANGE IN TACTICS
After India in the early hours of May 7 struck targets in Pakistan that it called terrorist infrastructure, Sidhu ordered his squadrons to switch from defense to attack.
Five PAF officials said India had deployed some 70 planes, which was more than they had expected and provided Islamabad’s PL-15s with a target-rich environment. India has not said how many planes were used.
The May 7 battle marked the first big air contest of the modern era in which weaponry is used to strike targets beyond visual range, said Bagwell, noting both India and Pakistan’s planes remained well within their airspaces across the duration of the fight.
Five Pakistani officials said an electronic assault on Indian sensors and communications systems reduced the situational awareness of the Rafale’s pilots.
The two Indian officials said the Rafales were not blinded during the skirmishes and that Indian satellites were not jammed. But they acknowledged that Pakistan appeared to have disrupted the Sukhoi, whose systems Delhi is now upgrading.
Other Indian security officials have deflected questions away from the Rafale, a centerpiece of India’s military modernization, to the orders given to the air force.
India’s defense attaché in Jakarta told a university seminar that Delhi had lost some aircraft “only because of the constraint given by the political leadership to not attack (Pakistan’s) military establishments and their air defenses.”
India’s chief of defense staff Gen. Anil Chauhan previously told Reuters that Delhi quickly “rectified tactics” after the initial losses.
After the May 7 air battle, India began targeting Pakistani military infrastructure and asserting its strength in the skies. Its Indian-made BrahMos supersonic cruise missile repeatedly sliced through Pakistan’s air defenses, according to officials on both sides.
On May 10, India said it struck at least nine air bases and radar sites in Pakistan. It also hit a surveillance plane parked in a hangar in southern Pakistan, according to Indian and Pakistani officials. A ceasefire was agreed later that day, after U.S. officials held talks with both sides.
‘LIVE INPUTS’
In the aftermath of the episode, India’s deputy army chief Lt. Gen. Rahul Singh accused Pakistan of receiving “live inputs” from China during the battles, implying radar and satellite feeds. He did not provide evidence and Islamabad denies the allegation.
When asked at a July briefing about Beijing’s military partnership with Pakistan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters the work was “part of the normal cooperation between the two countries and does not target any third party.”
Beijing’s air chief Lt. Gen. Wang Gang visited Pakistan in July to discuss how Islamabad had used Chinese equipment to put together the “kill chain” for the Rafale, two PAF officials said.
China did not respond when asked about that interaction. The Pakistani military said in a statement in July that Wang had expressed “keen interest in learning from PAF’s battle-proven experience in Multi Domain Operations.”
Indian officials have said they would keep purchasing oil from Russia despite the threat of penalties that U.S. President Donald Trump said he would impose, the New York Times reported on Saturday.
Reuters could not immediately verify the report.
The White House, India’s Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Trump last month indicated in a Truth Social post that India would face additional penalties for purchase of Russian arms and oil. However, he later said that he did not care what India does with Russia.
On Friday, Trump told reporters that he had heard that India would no longer be buying oil from Russia.
Two senior Indian officials said there had been no change in policy, according to the NYT report, which added that one official said the government had “not given any direction to oil companies” to cut back imports from Russia.
Reuters had earlier reported that Indian state refiners stopped buying Russian oil in the past week as discounts narrowed in July.
On July 14, Trump threatened 100% tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil unless Moscow reaches a major peace deal with Ukraine. Russia is the top supplier to India, responsible for about 35% of India’s overall supplies.
India roared back into contention on an exhilarating day two of the final India vs England Test on Friday as their seamers restricted England to a 23-run lead after the hosts had threatened to run away with a match that the tourists need to win to square the series.
After mopping up India’s brittle tail in less than 30 minutes in the morning, openers Zac Crawley and Ben Duckett raced to 92-0 in 12 overs in a blistering return of Bazball.
However, continuing the back and forth theme of the entire series, India responded as their bowlers ran in relentlessly to peg England back to 247.
Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal then scored quickly in a potentially awkward last 90 minutes, ending unbeaten on 51 with the tourists closing on 75-2, 52 runs ahead to leave the pivotal final India vs England Test fascinatingly poised.
Another fabulously undulating day began with India resuming at 204-6 but soon skittled for 224 as pace bowler Gus Atkinson took five wickets in his first Test since May.
It was an all-too-familiar collapse by the tourists this summer as Karun Nair fell lbw for 57 and Washington Sundar was caught for 26. Atkinson then bowled Mohammed Siraj and had Prasidh Krishna caught behind, both for ducks, to finish with 5-33.
England set about their reply in their usual, swashbuckling fashion, exemplified by Duckett’s extraordinary reverse hook for six off Akash Deep.
They reached 50 in seven overs – the fastest 50 opening partnership England have ever managed in a Test – but fell just short of the 100 as Duckett was caught behind reversing for 43.
They were 109-1 at lunch and England looked poised to take command but India, as they have all summer, refused to buckle as Crawley (64) and Ollie Pope (22) quickly departed.
Joe Root brought his usual calm to proceedings until Siraj nipped one back at him for an lbw on 29, with Jacob Bethell going the same way soon after.
LATE FLURRY
Krishna finished off the session in style by having Jamie Smith brilliantly caught in the slips for eight by KL Rahul then getting Jamie Overton lbw for nought and followed up with the wicket of Atkinson to finish with 4-62.
Harry Brook had a late flurry either side of a rain delay before becoming Siraj’s fourth victim when bowled for 53 as England, with injured Chris Woakes absent, were all out for 247 in the their first innings of the final India vs England Test.
India’s openers quickly erased that and pushed on well beyond, with Jaiswal looking particularly enterprising en route to a quickfire 51 – though he was badly dropped in the deep on 40.
Rahul departed tamely for seven off Josh Tongue, and Sai Sudharsan followed, lbw to Atkinson for 11, leaving Deep not out four.
With good weather forecast for Saturday, another Oval full house will turn up in expectation of more fireworks in what has been one of the most entertaining series for years.
England’s batting coach Marcus Trescothick said the final India vs England Test was finely balanced.
“There was lots of positive cricket. We put them under pressure but they fought back pretty well and it sets it up nicely for tomorrow,” he said.
Of England’s scintillating opening stand he added: “We’re that sort of side when pitches are like this – we want to put pressure back on the bowlers, using your feet, not playing conventional cricket. Success comes from being inventive, brave. It worked well but then we lost a couple of wickets.”
Trescothick said that the rare sight of Root appearing to lose his cool was the response to a comment seemingly made by Krishna.
“India tried a different approach,” he said. “They’ve seen him play so well in this series they’ve tried to get after him and spark him up,” he said. “Normally he’s the sort of guy who laughs and giggles but today he chose a different route.”
