Pioneer in short

Two Indians killed in West Asia attacks

Amid the escalating West Asia conflict, the Government on Wednesday reaffirmed that the safety and welfare of its one crore citizens in the Gulf region is a top priority. Two Indians were killed and one went missing when a merchant vessel they were on came under attack, while others sustained injuries in the GCC and Israel, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. Affected individuals are being assisted by Indian embassies and consulates, which are in regular contact with community members. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken with leaders from the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, and Israel. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has also engaged with counterparts, including Iran, to monitor the situation. Indian missions are issuing advisories, helping stranded citizens, and facilitating safe travel via commercial flights from cities such as Muscat, Riyadh, and Jeddah. About 9,000 Indians in Iran have been relocated to safer areas, with assistance provided for land crossings to Armenia and Azerbaijan. A control room has been set up to assist citizens, who are urged to follow official MEA channels for updates.

Reliance to build US refinery

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries will partner in building the first new US oil refinery in 50 years, US President Donald Trump announced, calling it “the biggest in US history.” The facility will be located in Brownsville, Texas, and run entirely on US shale oil, according to America First Refining (AFR), which is leading the project. Reliance has signed a 20-year agreement to purchase fuels produced at the refinery, with groundbreaking scheduled for Q2 2026. AFR confirmed a nine-figure investment from a “global supermajor,” valuing the project in the 10-figure range. Industry estimates put the cost at $ 4-5 billion. Once completed, it will be the first major US refinery since Marathon’s Garyville, Louisiana, plant in 1977.  

Ai Express’ nose wheels detaches

An Air India Express Boeing 737 MAX made a suspected hard landing at Phuket airport on Wednesday, detaching its two nose wheels, a senior DGCA official said. The aircraft, VT-BWQ, was operating flight IX938 from Hyderabad to Phuket. Passengers were safely deplaned and escorted to the terminal, with no injuries reported. The number of passengers on board could not be immediately confirmed. Airport operations were temporarily suspended while the aircraft was towed off the runway. Air India Express later confirmed in a statement that the nose wheels were reinstalled, allowing normal airport operations to resume. The airline apologized for the incident and said it would be “investigated in accordance with established procedures.”