Sunday, 20 September 2026

Hungary intends to be ready to phase out Russian gas by October 2027, meeting the European Union deadline, Economy and Energy Minister Istvan Kapitany told Telex in an interview reported by TASS.

Kapitany, speaking for the government led by Peter Magyar, said Hungary's gas demand can be covered from non-Russian sources if conditions develop as currently anticipated.

To replace Russian pipeline supply, Budapest is in active talks with neighboring countries, including Romania, and with LNG suppliers, according to Azernews citing the same Telex interview.

A federal judge in Rhode Island ruled that the Trump administration illegally ended the USD 7 billion Solar for All program, which was intended to provide solar power to more than 900,000 lower-income Americans.

District Judge Mary McElroy vacated the termination. She said Congress had clearly intended the agency to continue administering Solar for All grants that had already been obligated.

In her ruling, McElroy said the agency acted against that congressional intent and had no other statutory authority to terminate the program.

Talks under preparation to discuss the return of Russian gas supplies would proceed only if a peace framework is first agreed between Russia and Ukraine, according to Reuters, The Straits Times and Global Banking and Finance, citing a person familiar with the plans.

The organisers hoped the meeting would bring together the AfD, Russia and the United States, the same reporting said.

Albeu, citing the same conditionality, reported that the proposed meeting depends on the prior establishment of a framework for peace between Russia and Ukraine.

India has told senior officials in the US administration that proposed legislation targeting buyers of Russian oil and gas could carry consequences for the India-US relationship and for global energy markets, according to Firstpost.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said energy sourcing decisions are guided by national interest, according to reporting by ANI, The Economic Times, Newkerala, Latestly and The New Indian Express. The MEA framed meeting the energy needs of India's 1.4 billion people as an imperative and said the country continues to buy from a range of suppliers.

In a statement carried by News18, India said it remains committed to energy security for its 1.4 billion population through diversified sourcing shaped by evolving market conditions. The government also signaled it will take the measures it considers necessary to protect its trade and economic interests, and will coordinate with Indian trade and industry bodies on how to handle the fallout from the bill, per News18.

Iran struck the Togo-flagged oil tanker Trend on Thursday night after what it described as an illegal attempt to transit the Strait of Hormuz, a state broadcaster reported, citing the Revolutionary Guard Corps. State media said the vessel caught fire and came to a halt following the alleged attempted illegal passage.

The Associated Press could not verify the report.

A separate account from United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations described a tanker in the strait struck by an unknown projectile, with a subsequent fire extinguished, the crew safe, and no immediate sign of environmental damage. UKMTO also logged a ship security incident 16 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman, across the strait, again with the crew safe and no environmental impact; whether that notice referred to the strike Iran claimed remained unclear.

Riviera Maritime Media counted at least three tanker attacks in the Strait of Hormuz between September 16 and 18, a span of less than 48 hours.