President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced America First Refining (AFR) is opening the first new U.S. oil refinery in nearly half a century in Brownsville, Texas.

Situated in a massive deep-water foreign trade zone, the project will leverage advanced infrastructure and strategic rail and sea connections to transport low-carbon fuels and other energy products.

“America is returning to REAL ENERGY DOMINANCE!” Trump wrote in an announcement on Truth Social. “THIS IS A HISTORIC $300 BILLION DOLLAR DEAL — THE BIGGEST IN U.S. HISTORY, A MASSIVE WIN for American Workers, Energy, and the GREAT People of South Texas!”

AFR said the facility will generate thousands of construction and permanent jobs, while offering wages that exceed market averages. 

WILL TAPPING OIL RESERVES CURB SOARING GAS PRICES?

Partners in India and their largest privately held energy company, Reliance, made a “tremendous” investment in the project, according to Trump.

AFR also signed a binding 20-year offtake term sheet with the global supermajor.

The company will officially break ground on the new refinery in Q2 2026.

“It is because of our America First Agenda, streamlining Permits, and lowering Taxes, that have attracted Billions of Dollars in Deals coming back to our Nation,” he said. “A new Refinery at the Port of Brownsville, will fuel U.S. Markets, strengthen our National Security, boost American Energy production, deliver Billions of Dollars in Economic impact, and will be THE CLEANEST REFINERY IN THE WORLD.”

“It will power Global Exports, and bring THOUSANDS of long overdue Jobs and Growth to a Region that deserves it,” the president continued. “This is what AMERICAN ENERGY DOMINANCE looks like. AMERICA FIRST, ALWAYS!”

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Under the newly signed agreement, 1.2 billion barrels of U.S. light shale oil will be purchased and processed — a value of $125 billion, AFR will produce 50 billion gallons of refined products — a value of $175 billion, and the U.S. trade imbalance will improve by $300 billion, according to AFR.

The refinery is specifically engineered to process American light shale oil (47° API), which is cleaner, more efficient, and less costly to process than heavier imported crude. 

Unlike many existing U.S. refineries that depend on foreign oil, the facility will not require imported crude, which strengthens U.S. national and economic security.

Key advantages of the facility include the capacity to process ~60 million barrels per year of 100% U.S. light shale oil, a strategic location at a deep-water U.S. port — enabling distribution to domestic and international markets, and the production of some of the cleanest gasoline, diesel and jet fuel refined at scale in the U.S.

AMID IRAN WAR, PRESIDENT TRUMP SUGGESTS SHORT-TERM OIL PRICE SPIKE IS ‘SMALL PRICE TO PAY’ FOR PEACE

From 2014 to 2024, the U.S. exported nearly 10 billion barrels of crude, while still importing roughly 28 billion barrels, costing American consumers and workers more than $1.8 trillion. 

Once operational, the AFR refinery will redirect up to 60 million barrels of U.S. crude annually back into domestic refining — strengthening American industry, energy security and economic growth.

Beyond industrial growth, the company’s website notes it will drive community engagement through educational partnerships and apprenticeships designed to foster long-term social equity and economic stability in the area.

The executive management team collectively has more than a century of experience in the chemical and refining industries, having managed nearly $40 billion in complex capital projects. 

“This project represents a historic step forward for American energy production,” said John V. Calce, chairman and founder of America First Refining. “For the first time in half a century, the United States will build a new refinery designed specifically for American shale oil. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership and the resurgence of an America First energy policy, we are creating thousands of high-quality jobs while ensuring more of our nation’s energy resources are refined here at home in the cleanest, most efficient refinery on the planet.”

CEO Trey Griggs added the U.S. has a surplus of light shale oil, but a shortage of refining capacity designed to process it. 

Ticker	Security	Last	Change	Change %
XOM	EXXON MOBIL CORP.	148.12	-2.30	-1.53%

“By building this refinery at the Port of Brownsville, we’re unlocking a major expansion of American energy production while creating thousands of high-paying jobs and strengthening our domestic supply chain,” said Griggs, who previously held top leadership positions at major corporations including Calpine and Goldman Sachs.

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Other key executives bring decades of experience from managing global operations, midstream logistics, and large trading portfolios across industry heavyweights like BP, Shell Oil, ExxonMobil, Vitol and Sunoco Logistics Partners.

The strategic advisory board includes seasoned leaders who have served as CEOs and top executives for companies including CVR Energy, YCI Methanol One and Royal Dutch Shell.

United Airlines revealed an update to its rules, which states that it has the power to ban passengers who play audio or video loudly inside the airplane, especially during flights.

If the plane has not yet taken off the ground, passengers who violate the new rule may be removed by the company and its staff from a flight, so it’s better to bring your headsets, whether wired or wireless.

United Can Ban Passengers Playing Loud Sounds in Flights

United Airlines’ Rules of Transport now has a new clause added by the company which dictates that passengers who are playing loud sounds during flights, whether from audio or video, may be removed from the aircraft at any point.

According to United’s latest update to Rule 21 “Refusal of Transport’s” Clause H (Safety), the airline has the right to refuse a passenger or passengers transport, on either a temporary or permanent basis, if they “fail to use headphones while listening to audio or video content.”

With this ruling, United staff members now have legal authority to take action against passengers who refuse to turn the volume down or stop watching the content with loud audio.

CNET reported that this rule was added on February 27, and according to a United spokesperson, they have always encouraged customers to use headphones while listening to audio content. The company also added that its Wi-Fi rules also share reminders to customers to use headphones at all times.

United Ban or Removal: Bring Your Headsets

The safest thing to do now is to bring one’s own headsets when flying United or any other airline to avoid running into problems, fights with other passengers, and ultimately, bans from airline companies.

According to the report, passengers may ask attendants or staff for complimentary headphones, but this is subject to availability.

The United spokesperson also added that this rule update is right in time as the company’s rollout of Starlink satellite internet on its planes has begun, allowing faster internet connections in-flight.

Originally published on Tech Times

When President Trump keeps telling the press that Operation Epic Fury is almost over, and based on the information you’re looking at several more weeks before American war goals have been met, people should listen to him. You don’t have to take my word for it. Here’s what a veteran legacy reporter says: “I’ve covered five presidents, I have never seen one other than Donald Trump who regularly takes phone calls from reporters. I’ve spoken to him over the phone three times since the military operation, the war against Iran started. In each of those cases, I simply called him and he answered.” There you go, Jonathan Karl, I know him well.

Ironically, while so many politicians and media people don’t listen to Mr. Trump, financial markets are listening quite carefully. For example, markets know that our war aims have nearly been met to prevent Iran from ever having nuclear weapons to destroy their long and short-term missiles and the launchers, and to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.

Those are the main goals. So, because of Mr. Trump’s credibility and the credibility of the mighty U.S.-Israel military and intelligence operations, oil prices have come down a lot and stock prices have rallied because they believe what the president is telling them.

I know he’s the rare president who has credibility, but he has credibility. When he posts on Truth Social that America will provide reinsurance for oil tankers and will likely provide assistance from our Navy, we should believe him. When he says there’s not going to be boots on the ground, with a very narrow possible exception of special ops, we should believe that too.

My pal Jason Trennert is probably right to say that it would be a mistake to confuse Mr. Trump for a neo-conservative. He is no George W. Bush, and there is no Donald Rumsfeld to persuade him that it’s in America’s interest to make Iran safe for democracy.

Well, Mr. Trump will get out of Iran as soon as the war aims are met. Now, Mr. Trennert is a little harsh on Mr. Bush and Mr. Rumsfeld, but the point is that Mr. Trump is more pragmatic and does not want forever wars. His goal is to end the forever war waged by Iran on America and on civilized peoples.

Mr. Trump can achieve this with military might in a relatively short period of time. That’s exactly what he’s doing. And the job is nearly complete, as he keeps telling us, but so many political geniuses don’t want to listen. Of course, there’s always a certain fog of war, information can change, unexpected events can certainly occur. Yet if you look carefully at what’s happened, the war is basically over. That’s what I think.

To quote the commander in chief himself: “I think the war is very complete. Iran has navy, no communications, they’ve got no air force. Their missiles are down to a scatter. Their drones are being blown up all over the place.”

I think we’re really entering the mop-up stage. At this point, the way I see it, Mr. Trump is moving to win the peace after having crushed the Iranian enemy during the war. He is bending the arc of terrorism, he is changing the course of history, he is remaking the entire world’s balance of power, and oddly enough a lot of people don’t seem to understand it. They should, though, because he’s been telling it to them straight. He’s the most accessible, truth-talking president.

Listen to President Trump, he is telling the truth.

The Royal Thai Army and U.S. Army initiated “Hanuman Guardian 2026” in Lopburi, involving 2,500 troops. The exercise enhances operational readiness and cooperation, featuring staff training, field exercises, and knowledge exchanges.

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Key Points

• The Royal Thai Army and US Army commenced the joint military exercise “Hanuman Guardian 2026” at Ban Di Lang training area in Lopburi, running from March 9 to March 20, involving about 2,500 personnel (1,500 Thai troops, 1,000 US troops).
• The opening ceremony featured Colonel Chalermkiat Sirisomboon and Colonel Christopher Nunn, emphasizing improved readiness and combined-arms operations to tackle evolving security challenges.
• The exercise comprises a staff exercise for operational planning, a field training exercise simulating combat conditions, and a subject matter expert exchange focused on technical knowledge across various military fields, continuing a program established in 2012.

The Royal Thai Army and the United States Army have launched the joint military exercise “Hanuman Guardian 2026” at the Ban Di Lang training area in the Phatthana Nikhom district, Lopburi province. The exercise runs from March 9 to March 20 and involves about 2,500 personnel, including roughly 1,500 troops from the Royal Thai Army and 1,000 from the United States Army.

The opening ceremony was jointly presided over by Colonel Chalermkiat Sirisomboon, commander of the 112th Infantry Regiment, and Colonel Christopher Nunn, commander of the 1-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the United States Army. The training strengthens combined-arms operations and improves readiness to address evolving security challenges.

The exercise includes three main components. A staff exercise allows officers to practice operational planning and coordination at the regimental and battalion levels. A field training exercise places maneuver and combat support units in simulated operational conditions at the Ban Di Lang training area. A subject matter expert exchange allows personnel to share technical knowledge in fields such as air operations, engineering, explosive ordnance disposal, military working dogs, civil affairs, and intelligence.

Hanuman Guardian originated after discussions at the 7th Pacific Army Chiefs Conference in Singapore in 2011 on expanding training cooperation to address emerging security challenges. The first exercise was held in 2012 at the Infantry Center training area and included operational training as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief activities. The program has continued regularly as part of long-standing military cooperation between Thailand and the United States. 

Source : Thailand, US Launch Hanuman Guardian 2026 Military Exercise

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Mumbai: Flows into equity mutual funds resumed in February as investors continued to bet on stocks, shrugging off the uncertainty over the market prospects. Appetite for gold and silver exchange-traded funds (ETFs) – the top draws for investors in January – however, dwindled in February, with gold continuing to see inflows while silver saw redemptions.

Equity schemes garnered ₹25,977 crore, 8% higher than the flows in the previous month. Monthly systematic investment plans (SIPs) contributions fell 4% in February to ₹29,845 crore from January.

“The increase in inflows is a clear signal that investors are increasingly looking long-term and past short-term volatility,” said Varun Gupta, CEO, Groww Mutual Fund.

Gold ETFs recorded net inflows of ₹5,255 crore during the month, a 78% decline from the record ₹24,040 crore seen in January. Silver ETFs registered outflows of ₹826 crore in February after attracting ₹9,463 crore the previous month.

The sharp run-up in gold and silver prices prompted investors to take some profits off the table, resulting in lower inflows in gold and outflows in silver, said analysts.

The total assets under management of mutual funds inched up to ₹81.77 lakh crore in February, compared with ₹80.76 lakh crore in the previous month.

Debt schemes
Debt funds witnessed net inflows of around ₹42,106 crore, primarily driven by the liquid and money market categories.
“February’s debt fund flows highlight a cautious investor approach, with positioning centred around liquidity, carry, and capital stability,” said Nehal Meshram, senior analyst – Manager Research, Morningstar Investment.

Equity schemes
Among equity schemes, flexi-cap funds attracted the highest inflows of ₹6,924 crore in February, but the category witnessed a 10% decline in monthly inflows compared with ₹7,672 crore in January. Large-cap, mid-cap and small-cap funds saw a pick-up in flows.

In contrast, flows into dividend yield and focused funds dropped 56% and 42%, respectively.

Among hybrids, arbitrage funds witnessed an 82% drop in collections in February to ₹591 crore from ₹3,293 crore in the previous month.