1 Dead After Fire Erupts In Iran's Largest Oil Refinery
A fire at Iran's oldest and largest refinery in the southwest killed one person, state media reported Sunday.
A leaky pump in an under-repair unit at Abadan refinery caused the fire on Saturday, killing a worker, according to the state-owned IRAN newspaper. Firefighters put out the blaze in two hours and operations remained unaffected, the report said.
Iran's deputy parliament speaker, Ali Nikzad, confirmed Sunday that some workers were also injured, media outlets said.
Abadan oil refinery, some 670 kilometers (nearly 416 miles) from the capital Tehran, began its operation in 1912. It is the biggest in the Islamic Republic, producing about 25% of the country's fuel with more than 5,200,000 barrels of oil refined daily.
Several fires have broken out across Iran over the past week at residential and commercial buildings, with authorities saying gas leaks and electrical short-circuiting were to blame.
Iran is one of the world's major producers of oil, though sanctions by Western countries have limited its sales.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
19 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Building an inclusive and intelligent India by 2030
As India steps into the second half of the 2020s, artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept—it is an active force transforming the nation's industries, governance, and daily life. By 2030, AI is expected to evolve from a technological add-on into a foundational infrastructure—akin to roads, electricity, or Aadhaar—that enables inclusion, innovation, and intelligent growth. AI (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Far from being confined to the realm of coders and tech giants, AI in India is rapidly becoming a platform for national transformation. It is being designed not just to automate but to empower; not merely to replace jobs but to create livelihoods; not to replicate Silicon Valley, but to respond to India's own socio-economic realities. A defining feature of India's AI journey by 2030 will be its treatment of AI as a public good. Moving beyond the private sector, AI will become embedded in governance, education, healthcare, agriculture, and public services. It will underpin everything from rural banking systems to disease surveillance, school curriculums to municipal operations. Crucially, AI in India is being tailored to work under constraints—low data bandwidth, limited digital literacy, and linguistic diversity. In contrast to many Western economies, where AI often serves as a tool for efficiency and profit maximisation, in India it serves necessity. Whether it is making rural education accessible or ensuring public distribution systems reach the last mile, the use cases are urgent, human-centric, and deeply local. India's demographic structure offers it an unparalleled advantage. With a median age under 30, the country has the largest youth population capable of adapting to, and shaping, the AI revolution. By 2030, AI fluency will become as commonplace as knowledge of Microsoft Office—expected across roles and sectors, not just among programmers. This evolution in skillsets will be supported by the integration of AI literacy into school and university curriculums. Modular, localised learning kits and state-level upskilling programmes are already being developed, particularly targeting rural and underserved communities. The aim is to ensure that every student in India graduates AI-aware—capable not only of using AI tools but of thinking critically about them. One of the most persistent myths surrounding AI is that it will lead to mass unemployment. However, projections for India challenge this narrative robustly. Rather than erasing jobs, AI is expected to catalyse the creation of 7 to 10 million new roles by 2030, many of which will be in sectors not traditionally associated with technology—media, agriculture, education, logistics, and public administration. For every job that is automated, estimates suggest 2 to 3 new human-machine collaboration roles will emerge. These include positions like AI-assisted journalists, agri-tech advisors, AI social workers, and prompt designers. Notably, many of these roles are expected to take root in non-urban India, thereby decentralising the benefits of the AI economy. By eliminating repetition, reducing inefficiency, and enhancing decision-making, AI allows human workers to focus on creativity, empathy, and leadership—qualities that remain uniquely human. India's vast and varied population generates an unparalleled volume of real-world data—linguistic, visual, behavioural, and situational. This data richness positions India to build AI that is more robust, generalisable, and adaptable than many western models. From non-English voice processing to energy-efficient AI models that run on low-end devices, innovations in India are deeply contextual. These developments are not about technological prestige, but about relevance and reach—bringing AI to the remote village, the overburdened classroom, and the underfunded clinic. By 2030, AI is expected to be integral not just to policy formulation but also to policy execution. Its role will extend to predicting disease outbreaks, optimising food and medicine distribution systems, streamlining public grievance redressal mechanisms, and improving disaster response strategies. The future of AI in India will be treated the way we treat roads, electricity, and Aadhaar as public infrastructure for inclusion and empowerment. And VolkAI is already building for that future. From deploying low-data AI models that work in remote villages, to enabling non-English voice processing for rural India — VolkAI is not chasing Silicon Valley. It is decoding India. In essence, AI will become a silent but powerful partner in India's effort to build a more responsive, efficient, and transparent state. The potential for decentralised, real-time governance powered by ethical AI systems is immense, particularly in regions where traditional infrastructure and manpower are stretched thin. India is also poised to become a global exporter of ethical, inclusive, and energy-efficient AI systems. As conversations around algorithmic bias, surveillance, and inequality dominate global AI discourse, India's model—centred on fairness, accessibility, and multilingual capabilities—will offer a compelling alternative. There is growing recognition that the global South requires AI solutions that are not only technologically sound but also socially rooted. By addressing the needs of developing nations, India can position itself as a responsible AI innovator—balancing innovation with equity. By the end of this decade, the most significant AI breakthroughs may not come from Silicon Valley but from unexpected corners of India—a classroom in Bihar, a municipal centre in Bhopal, a startup in Guwahati, or a sugarcane farm in Maharashtra. India's approach to AI is not about racing to the top of global leaderboards. It is about defining the future of AI in a way that aligns with democratic values, pluralism, and developmental goals. It is about creating a version of AI that serves people—not just profits. As the nation looks toward 2030, one thing is clear: India will not merely adapt to the age of artificial intelligence. It will help define what that age should look like—ethical, inclusive, locally relevant, and globally impactful. This article is authored by Santosh Kushwaha, CEO, VolkAI.
Hindustan Times
19 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
India-US ties in the crosswires
India's blunt response to US President Donald Trump's repeated outbursts on New Delhi's trade and defence relations with Moscow highlighted the double standards of Western powers that have criticised India for purchasing discounted Russian commodities over the past three years. Trump, who follows a completely transactional and unpredictable approach to global trade and key geo-strategic relationships, has spoken more than once in recent days about levying an unspecified penalty on India for its purchases of energy and military hardware from Russia, over and above the 25% tariff that he has already imposed on exports to the US. India-US ties have evolved from the Cold War days, to achieve a relatively balanced relationship based on mutual respect, democratic values, and strategic interests. (AP) The external affairs ministry's response to Trump's latest fusillade against India has two key takeaways: One, New Delhi reserves the right to choose its trade partners and will exercise strategic autonomy to meet its security needs; and two, the West must end its hypocrisy of offering one set of principles for the rest of the world and following another set to meet its own energy imperatives. A year ago, US officials, albeit under a different administration, had assured the Indian side that Russian crude refined in a third country, such as India, is not a 'product of Russia' from a sanctions perspective. For India, Russian energy is a necessity to ensure predictable and affordable costs for Indian consumers amid volatile market conditions. At the same time, members of the EU and the US have retained their energy and other trade ties with Russia under carve-outs from sanctions packages. The EU's latest sanctions, for example, provide exemptions for Canada, Norway, Switzerland, the UK and the US from an import ban on refined products made from Russian oil. Such double standards do not sit well with Trump's sharp remarks about India. Sure, Trump's posturing may be aimed at pressuring India to conclude a trade deal that is to the advantage of the US, but this is no way to treat an important partner. While Washington has taken the moral high ground on Ukraine (one reason Trump has cited for targeting India), it appears unconcerned about Israel's war in Gaza that has claimed more than 60,000 Palestinian lives. Washington will be mistaken to take India for granted at a time when Trump is dining with the Pakistan army chief in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack. Such moves may even push New Delhi closer to Moscow, a longstanding and reliable ally. India-US ties have evolved from the Cold War days, when New Delhi was allied to Moscow and Washington patronised Islamabad, to achieve a relatively balanced relationship based on mutual respect, democratic values, and strategic interests. Trump's short-sighted and transactional approach to diplomacy threatens to disrupt that journey.
The Print
33 minutes ago
- The Print
‘Unjustified, unreasonable': India responds to Trump remark on raising tariffs over Russian oil purchase
The MEA described the criticism of India's trade policy as 'unjustified and unreasonable,' asserting that India will take necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security. According to the MEA, India's imports from Russia are driven by necessity and aimed at ensuring predictable and affordable energy costs for Indian consumers. New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday came out strongly in defence of the country's decision to import oil from Russia, despite criticism from the United States and European Union. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that India's crude imports from Russia were prompted by disruptions in traditional supply chains after the conflict in Ukraine began. The MEA emphasised that New Delhi's energy imports are a sovereign decision driven by national interest and market realities. 'The targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable. Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,' the MEA statement read. 'India has been targeted by the United States and the European Union for importing oil from Russia after the commencement of the Ukraine conflict. In fact, India began importing from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the conflict. The United States at that time actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy market stability,' it added. The MEA further noted that the European Union had a bilateral trade of EUR67.5 billion in goods and EUR17.2 billion in services with Russia in 2023, significantly more than India's total trade with Russia. The EU's LNG imports from Russia reached a record 16.5 million tonnes in 2024. Moreover, the US continues to import uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its electric vehicle industry, fertilisers, and chemicals from Russia, read MEA release. India's energy import strategy prioritises energy security and affordability. The country has diversified its energy imports, increasing reliance on countries like Russia to meet its growing energy demands. The MEA's response came after President Trump, in a post on Truth Social, accused India of buying 'massive amounts' of Russian oil and reselling it for profit, claiming this undermined efforts to end the Ukraine conflict and, as a result, he would 'substantially raise the tariff paid by India to the USA'. The MEA, in the statement, stressed that these imports are guided by the need to ensure predictable and affordable energy prices for its citizens, while noting that Western nations criticising India are themselves engaged in far larger trade with Russia, despite no such compelling energy insecurity. 'India's imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer. They are a necessity compelled by the global market situation. However, it is revealing that the very nations criticising India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia. Unlike our case, such trade is not even a vital national compulsion,' the statement read. (ANI) This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. Also Read: Trump announces 25% tariffs for India, will impose additional penalties for purchase of Russian oil
