New Delhi, Nov 17: At least 42 people, most of them believed to be Indian nationals, were feared dead after a bus carrying Umrah pilgrims collided with a diesel tanker near Medina in Saudi Arabia on Monday, according to local media reports. Many of the victims are suspected to be from Hyderabad.

External affairs minister S. Jaishankar said on X that he was “deeply shocked” by the tragedy and that the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah were providing “the fullest support” to those affected. He conveyed his “sincere condolences to the bereaved families” and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

Telangana information technology minister D. Sridhar Babu said preliminary information suggested that at least 16 of those killed were residents of Hyderabad’s Bazarghat area in Mallepalli. State officials are working with central authorities to verify the identities.

Relatives said the group had left Hyderabad on November 9 and was returning to Medina after offering Umrah prayers in Mecca when the tragedy struck. They were travelling through Al Meena and Al Mecca Travels, based in Nampally.

In view of the accident, the Ministry of External Affairs announced that a 24×7 control room has been set up at the Consulate General of India in Jeddah to assist families of the victims and those seeking information.

The helpline numbers are:
• 8002440003 (Toll free)
• 0122614093
• 0126614276
• +966 55 612 2301 (WhatsApp)

Mumbai, Nov 17: Gold and silver prices fell in the domestic futures market on Monday morning as the US dollar strengthened and global cues remained weak.

At early trade, MCX Gold December futures were trading 0.21 per cent lower at Rs 1,23,300 per 10 grams.

Silver prices also slipped, with MCX Silver December contracts down 0.38 per cent at Rs 1,55,424 per kg.

“Gold has support at $4035-4000 while resistance at $4115-4140. Silver has support at $50.30-49.85 while resistance is at $51.25-51.50,” market experts said.

“In INR gold has support at Rs1,22,950-1,22,380 while resistance at Rs1,24,950-1,25,500. Silver has support at Rs1,53,850-1,52,500 while resistance at Rs1,56,740, 1,57,880,” they added.

The dollar index gained 0.14 per cent, putting pressure on gold demand and prices. Since gold is priced in dollars, a stronger US currency makes the metal costlier for buyers using other currencies, which often reduces its demand.

Investors are now waiting for important US economic data due this week, including the September nonfarm payrolls report scheduled for Thursday.

These figures will give a clearer picture of the US economy’s health and help shape expectations for the Federal Reserve’s December monetary policy decision.

The recent US government shutdown had delayed the release of some economic data.

However, media reports indicate that the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis is preparing to update its schedule for upcoming data releases.

Gold and silver prices experienced a rollercoaster trend last week, slipping from their highs in the last two days after hawkish Fed comments dampened investor sentiment.

“The metals also softened as investors prepared for a busy week of delayed US economic data. The upcoming non-farm payrolls report is expected to offer crucial insight into the Federal Reserve’s policy direction,” market watchers said.

“Expectations of a December rate cut dropped to 46 per cent after hawkish Fed signals. Despite near-term volatility, both precious metals are on track for their strongest annual performance in decades,” they added.

Robust central bank buying and persistent safe-haven interest amid fiscal and geopolitical uncertainty continue to fuel bullion’s upward momentum, as per the experts.

New York, Nov 17: US President Donald Trump has warned that any country that does business with Russia will be “very severely sanctioned”, as his administration and Republican lawmakers push ahead with tough legislation targeting Moscow.

Responding to questions from reporters on Sunday on whether it was time for Congress to pass measures aimed at pressuring Russia and President Vladimir Putin, Trump said, “I hear they’re doing that, and that’s okay with me.”

“They’re passing legislation… the Republicans are putting in legislation… very tough sanctioning… on any country doing business with Russia. They may add Iran to that… I suggested it,” he said.

“So any country that does business with Russia will be very severely sanctioned. We may add Iran to the formula,” Trump reiterated.

The Trump administration has imposed 50 per cent tariffs on India, among the highest in the world, including 25 per cent levies for its purchases of Russian energy.

A bill introduced by Senator Lindsey Graham has proposed a 500 per cent tariff on secondary purchase and reselling of Russian oil. The proposal has near-unanimous backing in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Graham and Senator Richard Blumenthal have jointly introduced the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025, which seeks to impose secondary tariffs and sanctions on “countries that continue to fund Putin’s barbaric war in Ukraine”. The proposed legislation has 85 cosponsors in the Senate.

“President Trump and his team have made a powerful move, implementing a new approach to end this bloodbath between Russia and Ukraine… However, the ultimate hammer to bring about the end of this war will be tariffs against countries, like China, India and Brazil, that prop up Putin’s war machine by purchasing cheap Russian oil and gas,” Graham and Blumenthal had said in a joint statement in July.

West Palm Beach, Nov 17: President Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that he plans to meet with New York City’s mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and said they’ll “work something out,” in what could be a detente for the Republican president and Democratic political star who have cast each other as political foils.

Trump has for months slammed Mamdani, falsely labeling him as a “communist” and predicting the ruin of his hometown, New York, if the democratic socialist was elected. He also threatened to deport Mamdani, who was born in Uganda and became a naturalised American citizen, and to pull federal money from the city.

Mamdani rose from an obscure state lawmaker to become a social media star and symbol of the resistance against Trump during his mayoral campaign. He campaigned on an array of progressive policies and a message that was stark in its opposition to the aggressive, anti-immigrant agenda Trump has rolled out in his second White House term.

The 34-year-old appealed to a broad cross-section of New Yorkers and defeated one of its political heavyweights, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, by nearly 9 percentage points.

In his election night victory speech, Mamdani said he wanted New York to show the country how to defeat the president. But the day after, while speaking about his plans for “Trump-proofing” New York once he takes office in January, the incoming mayor also said he was willing to work with anyone, including the president, if it can help New Yorkers.

Representatives for Mamdani did not have an immediate comment Sunday night on the president’s remarks, but a spokesperson pointed to the mayor-elect’s remarks last week when he said he planned to reach out to the White House “because this is a relationship that will be critical to the success of the city.”

Trump expressed a similar sentiment on Sunday.

“The mayor of New York, I will say, would like to meet with us. We’ll work something out,” Trump told reporters as he prepared to fly back to Washington after spending the weekend in Florida.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified shortly after that Trump was referring to Mamdani and said no date had been set for such a meeting.

“We want to see everything work out well for New York,” Trump said.

Trump’s comments came as he also said the US may hold discussions soon with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, after a military buildup near the South American country, “I’ll talk to anybody,” Trump said.