United Nations, May 31: The Security Council adopted a resolution to renew for a year, until May 31, 2026, an arms embargo against South Sudan as well as targeted sanctions of travel ban and asset freeze against individuals and entities.

According to media reports, Resolution 2781, which was adopted with nine votes in favour and six abstentions, also extends until July 1, 2026, the term of the panel of experts, which assists the work of the South Sudan sanctions committee.

The African members of the Security Council — Algeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia — abstained, along with China, Pakistan and Russia.

The resolution reiterates the Security Council’s readiness to review arms embargo measures, through modification, suspension, or progressive lifting of these measures, in light of progress achieved on the key benchmarks as set out in Resolution 2577 of 2021, and encourages the South Sudan authorities to achieve further progress in this regard.

It also decides to keep the targeted measures under continuous review and expresses the Security Council’s readiness to consider adjusting the measures, through modifying, suspending, lifting or strengthening measures to respond to the situation.

The resolution requests the UN secretary-general, in close consultation with the UN Mission in South Sudan and the Panel of Experts, to conduct, no later than April 15, 2026, an assessment of progress achieved on the key benchmarks.

It also requests the South Sudanese authorities to report, by the same date, to the Sanctions Committee on the progress achieved in this regard.

Washington, May 31: US President Donald Trump has said that he planned to double tariffs on foreign imports of steel to 50 percent starting next week, further casting a cloud on steelmakers around the globe.

“We are going to be imposing a 25 per cent increase. We’re going to bring it from 25 per cent to 50 per cent — the tariffs on steel into the United States of America — which will even further secure the steel industry in the United States,” Trump said on X social media platform.

He later posted on social media that the higher tariff rate would take effect from June 4, Yonhap media reported.

“It is my great honour to raise the Tariffs on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50%, effective Wednesday, June 4th. Our steel and aluminum industries are coming back like never before. This will be yet another BIG jolt of great news for our wonderful steel and aluminum workers. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

The planned rate hike is the latest in his trade policies that focus on tariff hikes, and came days after a trade court ruled his sweeping reciprocal tariffs illegal, which was later blocked by an appeals court to leave the tariffs temporarily alive.

The 25-percent tariffs on most steel imported to the U.S. went into effect in March as part of the Trump administration’s broader tariff scheme aimed at reducing America’s trade deficits and bolstering local manufacturing.

Data showed earlier Seoul’s U.S.-bound exports of steel products declined nearly 19 percent from a year earlier in March.

Outbound shipments of steel products to the U.S. came to US$340 million in March, down 18.9 percent from the same month last year.

It is difficult to assess the impact of U.S. tariffs on Seoul’s steel exports as transactions are usually made months ahead, but there may still have been some influence.

Korean steelmakers have been devising response measures to the U.S. tariffs, with some companies planning to increase their production in the U.S.

Hyundai Steel Co. plans to invest $5.8 billion to construct an electric arc furnace-based steel mill in Louisiana by 2029, its first overseas production facility.

Riyadh, May 30: The Indian all-party delegation, led by BJP MP Baijayant Jay Panda, on Friday concluded a productive visit to Saudi Arabia, reaffirming India’s zero tolerance and ‘New Normal’ approach to terrorism.

The delegation, a part of India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’ outreach campaign, conveyed India’s firm stance against terrorism and its continued efforts to combat this global menace in all its forms and manifestations.

The visit reaffirmed the shared commitment of India and Saudi Arabia in the fight against terrorism.

“On departure, Abdulrahman Alharbi, Chair of the Saudi-India Friendship Committee of the Shura Council bid farewell to the delegation,” Indian Embassy in Riyadh posted on X.

The delegation on Thursday held extensive interactions with a cross-section of the Indian community highlighting India’s continued efforts to combat terrorism, and countering radicalism and extremism, to ensure peace and prosperity in the nation.

The delegation also expressed satisfaction that the Indian community in Saudi Arabia has remained connected to Bharat’s progress and continues to be law-abiding residents, and is contributing to further strengthening the growing India–Saudi Arabia partnership. They also appreciated that Saudi Arabia has always stood with India in condemning acts of terrorism.

“Our Indian diaspora in Saudi Arabia continues to make India proud through its success, contributions & standing in local society. Today, our all-party delegation engaged with them, sharing India’s united national stance, the success of ‘Operation Sindoor’, and our unwavering commitment to combat cross-border terrorism with a zero-tolerance approach,” Panda posted on X.

They visited Naif Arab University for Security Sciences (NAUSS) in Riyadh and held interactions with the President of the University, Abdulmajeed Albanyan. The delegates shared strong concerns about cross-border terrorism and India’s position of zero tolerance against terrorism.

“The delegation appreciated the ongoing cooperation between India and Saudi Arabia in security sciences, and between NAUSS and Indian institutions. It conveyed India’s approach to terrorism and explored avenues for collaborations in new technologies such as AI, Quantum in countering cross-border terrorism,” the Indian Embassy in Riyadh said in a statement.

“The delegation also visited the Gulf Research Centre in Riyadh, a premier research institution in the country, and met with Chairman Abdulaziz Sager. The Indian delegates spoke on India’s national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism in all forms and manifestations, underlining that India has suffered the menace of cross-border terrorism for more than three decades, leading to the loss of innocent lives and civilian property. The Indian delegation highlighted that ‘Operation Sindoor’ has carved out a new benchmark in India’s fight against terrorism,” the statement added.

The delegation, led by Panda, includes BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, BJP MP Phangnon Konyak, BJP MP Rekha Sharma, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MP Asaduddin Owaisi, BJP MP Satnam Singh Sandhu, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, and former Indian diplomat Harsh Vardhan Shringla.