Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Friday that the near-complete electrification of India's railway network helped protect the economy from disruptions caused by the war in West Asia. He noted that the vital sea route through the Strait of Hormuz, which is an indispensable artery for fuel and fertilizer supplies, remained a zone of conflict for months.
Modi emphasized that the system's resilience reflects the 'massive transformation' of railways over the last twelve years. He added that despite the oil supply crisis, train movement did not stop, and 'the country's development has not stalled.' Speaking to attendees in Jind, Haryana state, he warned that limited railway electrification before 2014 could have led to service stoppages during a global fuel crisis.
According to Modi, if such a global fuel crisis had occurred before 2014, when only about 30 percent of the railway network was electrified, India's heavy reliance on diesel fuel would have led to a complete halt of rail operations. Currently, nearly 99 percent of the national railway network and all railway lines in Haryana are electrified. The Prime Minister noted that thanks to full electrification, trains continued to operate without interruption, even during a serious global oil crisis.
The Prime Minister's speech followed the launch of development projects worth about 14,700 crore rupees in Haryana, including the country's first hydrogen-powered train. Modi mentioned that hydrogen train technology only began practical application globally seven or eight years ago and is used in few countries, mainly within pilot projects. Unlike them, India successfully conducted the first trial operation of a ten-car hydrogen train, whereas other places typically use three or four cars.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister inaugurated a section of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra highway in Haryana, as well as the Jind-Gohana national road and the Ambala-Kala Amb highway project. Regarding the conflict in West Asia, Modi stated that the Strait of Hormuz has been in a state of crisis for the last three to four months. He explained that there has been a war in West Asia over the past few months, and it is through the Strait of Hormuz sea route that India receives large quantities of gasoline, diesel, liquefied gas, and fertilizers for farmers. However, this route has constantly remained a zone of conflict surrounded by a crisis for the last three to four months.
The Galaxy Tab S10 FE, in the 128 GB version, is being offered with a favorable promotion at the official Magalu store within Aliexpress. This Samsung tablet is highlighted for offering excellent cost-benefit in the market, and can be purchased for R$ 2,573 by using the coupon PDF08, in addition to allowing payments in up to 12 interest-free installments. This condition represents a 39% saving compared to the original price of R$ 4,199.
The device has a well-balanced technical sheet, meeting the needs of both students and professionals looking for a second screen. It features a 10.9-inch LCD screen with a 90 Hz refresh rate, providing smooth navigation and pleasant graphic transitions for watching movies and videos.
The inclusion of the S Pen makes drawing and taking notes with high precision easier. The packaging also includes a protective case that functions as a stand for the tablet on flat surfaces. Its performance is guaranteed by the Exynos 1580 processor and 8 GB of RAM, allowing multitasking, gaming, and social media browsing without interruptions.
In addition to daily functions, the Tab S10 FE supports Samsung's Galaxy AI, which offers assistance in various tasks, such as conversation translation, email summarization, and image editing. In terms of energy, it comes equipped with an 8,000 mAh battery, promising up to 20 hours of video playback, and supports 45W fast charging, ensuring more than a day of moderate use away from the outlet.
For those who use the device for communication or capturing moments, it has a 13 MP rear camera and a 12 MP front camera, both capable of recording videos in 4K resolution. Tecnoblog classified this model as the best Samsung tablet due to its complete set of features.
Iraq and Syria have concluded a cooperation agreement aimed at reconstructing a pipeline that will transport oil from Iraqi fields to the Syrian Mediterranean coast. This initiative is part of a US-brokered deal intended to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.
Middle East Eye first reported that the United States is mediating efforts to restore the Kirkuk-Baniyas oil pipeline. Tom Barrack, the US Ambassador to Turkey and envoy for Syria, led this process. Following exclusive reports from MEE, the news was covered by Bloomberg, Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and The Financial Times.
The agreement was signed during the US-Iraq Business Council meeting in Washington, D.C. The signatories were Bassem Abdul Karim Nasr, head of the Basra Oil Company from Iraq, and Youssef Kablaoui, CEO of the Syrian Oil Company from Syria. The signing was overseen by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright.
The US Department of State characterized the pipeline upgrade as a 'priority infrastructure project of bilateral and regional strategic importance.' The Department stated in a release: 'The United States welcomes the participation of a US-led international consortium to carry out the technical and financial aspects of this project.' This project is significant because the US seeks to strengthen ties between Baghdad and Damascus to reduce Iranian influence in the region and its control over global energy flows in the Persian Gulf.
The pipeline reconstruction is being carried out by a consortium that includes the American energy company Chevron, based in Los Angeles, TI Capital, and the Al-Hayat brothers, billionaires from Syria and Qatar. These brothers have already concluded multi-billion dollar deals in Syria in finance, infrastructure, real estate, and aviation.
This project became one of several presented during the visit of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaydi to the US this week. During his visit, he met with President Donald Trump at the White House. A high-ranking Iraqi official told MEE that Barrack established good working relations with Zaydi and intends to use this pipeline as a model for business projects in the Levant, which he actively promotes as beneficial for the US and local governments.
The pipeline was launched in 1952 by Iraq's 'Petroleum Company' with a capacity of about 300,000 barrels per day (bpd). However, Baghdad ceased operation of the line in the 1980s after Syria supported Iran during the Iran-Iraq War. After the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, the line sustained serious damage and was effectively rendered inoperable. Its restoration requires large-scale repair work, including the installation of new pumps, storage tanks, and electrical systems.
According to a senior regional official, the pipeline may need to be completely replaced, which would take two to three years. He also noted that a consortium of American firms has already been engaged for the reconstruction, indicating US commitment to the matter.
Apple has implemented a price adjustment for Apple Music and also increased the cost of certain Apple One plans. The new prices are already active in the United States, and according to the company, this change reflects increased licensing costs.
With the update, the individual Apple Music plan in the United States saw an increase of $1, rising from $10.99 (equivalent to R$ 56.35) to $11.99 (R$ 61.48) monthly. The student plan also saw its price rise, from $5.99 (R$ 30.71) to $6.99 (R$ 35.84).
The family plan received a more significant adjustment, increasing from $16.99 (R$ 87.12) to $19.99 (R$ 102.50) per month. Besides the US, Music Business Worldwide reported that prices were modified in the UK and several European countries, although Apple did not specify which nations were affected.
In Brazil, the current prices for Apple's streaming service are R$ 23.90 for the individual plan, R$ 40.90 for the family plan, and R$ 12.90 for the student plan. This represents the first price increase for Apple Music since October 2022, when Apple also revised the prices for Apple TV Plus and Apple One. Additionally, the company is raising the costs of AppleCare Plus subscriptions for devices such as Macs and iPads.
In addition to the music service, some Apple One packages, which consolidate several company services into a single subscription, also had their prices raised in the United States. According to MacMagazine, the Family plan now costs $27.95 (R$ 143.31) monthly, while the Premier plan reached $39.95 (R$ 204.84) monthly; both saw an increase of $2 (R$ 10.26). The Individual plan maintained its cost at $19.95 (R$ 102.29) per month.
Apple One prices in Brazil are set at R$ 42.90 (Individual), R$ 64.90 (Family), and R$ 104.90 (Premier).
The increase imposed by Apple occurs in a scenario where other music providers are also raising their rates. Recently, Spotify adjusted the price of its Premium subscription in the United States, moving from $11.99 (R$ 61.48) to $12.99 (R$ 66.61) monthly. Parallel to these changes in the streaming sector, segment data indicates growth in CD sales in the United States.
