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NEW DELHI: Oil prices steadied on Wednesday, after falling in the previous session, as investors watched for fresh developments in the Ukraine war and weighed hefty new US tariffs on India, the world’s third-biggest crude consumer.
Brent crude futures fell 9 cents to $67.13 per barrel at 8:33 a.m. Saudi time, while West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down 8 cents at $63.17.
Both contracts fell more than 2 percent on Tuesday after beginning the week at a two-week high.
“(There is) a lot of uncertainty over how the Ukraine stalemate might be resolved, which portends volatility for crude but likely in a relatively small range,” said Vandana Hari, founder of oil market analysis provider Vanda Insights.
“Over the past week or so, much of the Ukraine peace discount has been reversed, but the market is also not ready to price in a major supply risk premium,” Hari added.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff said on Tuesday he will meet Ukrainian representatives in New York this week, adding that Washington is also in talks with Russia as it seeks to end the war.
Additionally, US President Donald Trump’s doubling of tariffs on goods from India to as much as 50 percent took effect as scheduled on Wednesday.
Trump has said the higher charges are a result of India’s Russian oil buying, which increased following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine as Western sanctions led Russia to discount its cargoes.
Indian refiners initially curbed their Russian crude purchases following the US tariff announcements and after stricter European Union sanctions on Russian-backed Indian refinery Nayara Energy.
However, state-owned refiners Indian Oil and Bharat Petroleum have resumed buying Russian supplies for September and October, company sources said last week. Indian Oil, the country’s biggest refiner, has said it will continue to buy Russian crude depending on the economics.
That has led some analysts to question how much impact the higher US tariffs will have on Indian purchases.
“The secondary tariff has not been enough to stop India from buying Russian oil. The market will be watching Russian oil flows to India closely going forward to gauge the impact, if any, of secondary tariffs,” Warren Patterson, head of commodity strategy at ING, said in a note.
Analysts estimate India has saved at least $17 billion by increasing oil imports from Russia since early 2022. Additional tariffs of up to 50 percent on Indian imports could slash exports by more than 40 percent, or nearly $37 billion, this April-March fiscal year alone, according to New Delhi think-tank Global Trade Research Initiative.
The war in Ukraine is influencing the oil market in other ways, as Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries are cutting their operations, requiring them to export the crude they cannot process.
Russia has revised up its crude oil export plan from western ports by 200,000 barrels per day in August from the initial schedule after attacks last week, three people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.

RIYADH: �������� is fast-tracking the unification of its government platforms, with 267 already merged as the Kingdom seeks a top-10 global ranking by 2030, according to KPMG Middle East.

The firm’s latest report, “From Citizen Experience to Empowerment”,  sets out how the Kingdom is poised to integrate its fragmented digital services into a singular ecosystem, capitalizing on its advanced infrastructure, centralized governance, and digitally native population.

The move builds on the Kingdom’s Digital Government Strategy 2023–2030, which seeks to consolidate more than 800 separate platforms into a coherent, citizen-centric ecosystem. 

In its report, KPMG stated: “�������� has the opportunity to enter this transformation with strategic advantages: strong leadership commitment under Vision 2030, streamlined governance, advanced digital infrastructure, and a digitally native population.” 

This transformation leverages artificial intelligence, blockchain, predictive analytics, and Internet of Things technologies.  

In July, the Digital Government Authority announced the integration and closure of 267 digital platforms across various sectors as part of ongoing efforts to improve efficiency and user experiences. 

DGA also reported that the 2025 Digital Experience Maturity Index reached 86.71 percent, classified as “Advanced,” following an assessment of 50 digital platforms across 20 themes.

The report outlines how ��������’s digital strategy is designed to meet growing expectations for seamless and intuitive government services.  

It draws upon the success of platforms like Absher, Tawakkalna, and Musaned, which serve millions of users.  

Absher alone supports over 28 million citizens with a unified digital ID and offers more than 500 services.  

Tawakkalna, initially a health-tracking application, now provides access to over 600 government services in real-time. 

Despite progress, KPMG highlights the challenges associated with service duplication and inconsistent user experiences due to platform fragmentation. 

To address this, DGA launched the Whole-of-Government program in 2022, focusing on unifying service design, platform governance, and shared IT resources. 

The program has reduced government platforms from 817 at launch to 550 by mid-2025. It aims to optimize resources, deliver more effective digital services, and enhance beneficiary satisfaction. 

“The unified design system provides standardized guidelines to ensure consistency across government platforms,” the report noted. 

��������’s commitment to digital transformation is reflected in global benchmarks. 

The Kingdom rose 25 positions in the latest UN E-Government Development Index and now ranks fourth globally in the Digital Services Index.  

A unified digital government in �������� will depend on several key enablers: strong governance, workforce upskilling, strategic leadership alignment, and proactive citizen engagement.  

KPMG recommended a national chief information officer council to coordinate integration and enforce compliance across entities.  

“Achieving platform unification requires a multi-tiered governance framework, with strong leadership at the central government level,” the report stated. 

The roadmap includes establishing a national digital identity for secure single sign-on access and deploying standardized APIs for data interoperability.  

AI-driven personalization will be central to delivering tailored services. Blockchain will be used for secure identity verification and transparent records, while IoT will enhance real-time responsiveness. 

The initiative also places significant emphasis on inclusivity and accessibility. Services will be adapted for citizens, expatriates, domestic workers, and international visitors.  

Multiple languages, adaptive technologies, and simplified user flows will ensure equitable access regardless of digital literacy levels. 

To support the transformation, public sector employees will undergo training in AI, customer experience methodologies, cybersecurity, and digital service design.  

A cultural shift toward collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement will be promoted through change management programs and co-design initiatives with citizens. 

The final stage envisions a predictive and anticipatory governance model, where services are delivered before citizens request them.  

Real-time dashboards, continuous feedback, and AI-powered decision-making will reinforce agility and responsiveness.  

As dependency on digital systems increases, cybersecurity resilience and decentralized infrastructure will become vital. 

Through a phased, integrated approach, �������� is charting a path toward a resilient, inclusive, and globally competitive digital government. 

“This comprehensive and integrated approach fully aligns with Vision 2030, positioning the Kingdom as a global benchmark in next-generation digital governance,” the report concluded.