US House Transportation Committee Chair Will Not Seek Re-election The chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Sam Graves (R-MO), has announced he will not seek re-election, according to sources cited by Reuters. This decision marks another departure from Congress as dozens of lawmakers prepare to leave their seats. Graves, a long-standing advocate for aviation policy, has played a pivotal role in shaping key legislation, including the recent passage of an aviation safety bill that received unanimous approval. His tenure also included oversight of the 2024 reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration, a major legislative effort aimed at modernizing air traffic management and enhancing safety protocols. Graves’ decision to step down was confirmed by his statement to the Wall Street Journal, where he expressed no intention to run for another term. The move comes amid broader shifts in the political landscape, with many members of Congress retiring or transitioning to other roles. His departure is expected to create a vacancy in a committee critical to shaping transportation policy, including infrastructure funding, environmental regulations, and aviation safety standards. The announcement was first reported by Reuters, which cited unnamed sources close to the situation. Graves’ leadership has been instrumental in advancing legislation that balances industry needs with public safety, particularly in the wake of recent aviation incidents. His absence from the committee will likely prompt a leadership transition, though the specifics of his successor remain unclear.#federal_aviation_administration #reuters #house_transportation_and_infrastructure_committee #us_house_transportation_committee #sam_graves
RIL rejects reports of buying Iranian crude, calls claims baseless Reliance Industries Limited on Thursday denied media allegations that it had purchased crude oil from Iran, describing the claims as baseless and misleading. In a statement, the company clarified that it had not engaged in any such transactions and urged media outlets to verify facts before publishing reports. The statement came in response to recent media coverage that had suggested the company had acquired Iranian crude, which sparked controversy in the energy sector. The allegations were first reported by Reuters, which cited three sources familiar with the matter. According to the report, Reliance Industries, which operates the world’s largest refining complex, had purchased approximately 5 million barrels of Iranian crude oil. This purchase occurred days after the U.S. temporarily eased sanctions on Iranian oil, allowing certain transactions to proceed under a 30-day waiver. The waiver applied to oil cargoes loaded on vessels, including tankers subject to sanctions, on or before March 20 and discharged by April 19. The U.S. administration’s decision to issue the waiver was part of a broader effort to manage the global oil market amid geopolitical tensions. The report noted that other Asian refiners, including Indian state-run companies, were evaluating whether they could take advantage of the limited waiver window to purchase Iranian oil. However, a senior executive at China’s Sinopec stated that the company had no intention of buying Iranian crude, highlighting the cautious approach many firms were taking. The situation has raised questions about the implications of U.S. sanctions policy on international energy trade.#us #iran #reliance_industries_limited #sinopec #reuters
