Leopard enters minister's bungalow in Jaipur; rescue operation underway
Jaipur (PTI): Panic spread through Jaipur's high-security Civil Lines area on Thursday after a leopard was sighted moving through residential compounds, including a school and the official bungalow of a Rajasthan cabinet minister, officials said.
The big cat was first sighted entering the Tiny Blossom Senior Secondary School, prompting the staff to lock students inside classrooms as a precaution, forest officials said.
Earlier in the day, the leopard reportedly entered the government residence of the state Water Resources Minister Suresh Singh Rawat. The minister's bungalow is located opposite the residence of senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot.
The Civil Lines zone also houses the Raj Bhavan, the chief minister's residence and the official quarters of top ministers and bureaucrats.
Forest department teams have launched a search and rescue operation. "Teams are combing the minister's bungalow and neighbouring residences. Efforts are underway to tranquilise the leopard and capture it safely," Ranger Jitendra Singh Shekhawat said.
Additional teams have been deployed to cordon off the area, and residents have been advised to stay indoors until the animal is located, he said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
US renews sanctions waiver for purchase of Russian oil
Washington (PTI): The United States has extended by a month a waiver from sanctions to allow countries to buy petroleum products from Russia, days after it ruled out renewal of the special measure.
The US Department of Treasury issued an order late Friday extending the waiver from sanctions on Russian oil that is already at sea on or before April 17 through May 16.
Earlier, the US had granted an exemption from sanctions to India for buying Russian oil for a month beginning March 5. A few days later, a similar waiver was extended to several other countries, which ended on April 11.
The general licence issued by the US on Friday does not authorise any transaction involving a person, entity or joint venture located in Iran, North Korea, Cuba, or parts of Ukraine.
On Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington would not be renewing the waiver for Russian oil and another for Iranian oil.
The previous waiver of sanctions had made available 140 million barrels of Russian oil already loaded on ships to global markets as prices soared against the backdrop of the US war with Iran.
"Effective April 17, 2026, General License No. 134A, which was dated March 19, 2026 and expired on April 11, 2026, is replaced and superseded in its entirety by this General License No. 134B," said the order issued by the Department of Treasury.
