Gulf carriers’ absence opens up opportunities

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Oil prices surged as the Middle East conflict reached its one-month mark, with Brent crude exceeding $110 and WTI surpassing $100. The involvement of Iran-aligned Houthis and increased US military presence in the region are fueling market uncertainty and disrupting crucial oil supply routes.

Oil prices today: Crude jumps as Houthis enter Iran war; US boosts troop presence in Middle East

Oil prices surged as the Middle East conflict reached its one-month mark, with Brent crude exceeding $110 and WTI surpassing $100. The involvement of Iran-aligned Houthis and increased US military presence in the region are fueling market uncertainty and disrupting crucial oil supply routes.

Rohit Sharma achieved a major IPL milestone. He became the first capped player to participate in all 19 seasons. Sharma marked the occasion with a strong batting performance. He scored 78 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders. Mumbai Indians successfully chased a large target. This victory secured a six-wicket win for Mumbai.

IPL 2026: Rohit Sharma scripts history, becomes the first player to…

Rohit Sharma achieved a major IPL milestone. He became the first capped player to participate in all 19 seasons. Sharma marked the occasion with a strong batting performance. He scored 78 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders. Mumbai Indians successfully chased a large target. This victory secured a six-wicket win for Mumbai.

In a heartbreaking turn of events, the talented Bengali actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee lost his life at just 43 while shooting in Odisha. It was reported that he tragically drowned after persuading the crew to capture an unscripted shot with a drone in what seemed a harmless knee-deep water.

Bengali actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee dies while shooting for series in Odisha

In a heartbreaking turn of events, the talented Bengali actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee lost his life at just 43 while shooting in Odisha. It was reported that he tragically drowned after persuading the crew to capture an unscripted shot with a drone in what seemed a harmless knee-deep water.

“A service building at a power and water desalination plant was attacked as part of the Iranian aggression against the State of Kuwait, resulting in the death of an Indian worker and significant material damage to the building,” ministry spokesperson Fatima Abbas Jawhar Hayat said. Amid rising tensions, Pakistan said it was willing to facilitate and host “meaningful talks” between Washington and Tehran in an effort to end the month-long US-Israel war with Iran.

Indian worker killed in Iranian attack on Kuwait power, desalination plants

“A service building at a power and water desalination plant was attacked as part of the Iranian aggression against the State of Kuwait, resulting in the death of an Indian worker and significant material damage to the building,” ministry spokesperson Fatima Abbas Jawhar Hayat said. Amid rising tensions, Pakistan said it was willing to facilitate and host “meaningful talks” between Washington and Tehran in an effort to end the month-long US-Israel war with Iran.

Lahore Qalandars stars Shaheen Afridi and Sikandar Raza reportedly flouted PSL security rules, allowing unauthorized visitors into a hotel room. This breach, despite denied requests, has prompted an official inquiry. The Pakistan Cricket Board faces a disciplinary decision, with potential fines or bans, as the tournament grapples with heightened security and fuel shortage concerns.

PSL controversy erupts! Shaheen Afridi under scanner after shocking rule violation

Lahore Qalandars stars Shaheen Afridi and Sikandar Raza reportedly flouted PSL security rules, allowing unauthorized visitors into a hotel room. This breach, despite denied requests, has prompted an official inquiry. The Pakistan Cricket Board faces a disciplinary decision, with potential fines or bans, as the tournament grapples with heightened security and fuel shortage concerns.

People aware of the developments said since major car and two-wheeler manufacturers have their prototype FFV models ready, now govt needs to create the ecosystem for adoption of these vehicles. Govt has maintained that 20% ethanol blending in petrol has helped India save imports of around 4.5 crore barrels (700 crore litres) of crude annually.

Govt eyes flexible-fuel vehicles’ faster rollout

People aware of the developments said since major car and two-wheeler manufacturers have their prototype FFV models ready, now govt needs to create the ecosystem for adoption of these vehicles. Govt has maintained that 20% ethanol blending in petrol has helped India save imports of around 4.5 crore barrels (700 crore litres) of crude annually.

Until Friday, banks could run net open positions of up to 25% of their net worth. In practice, large lenders often accumulated sizeable long dollar bets, sometimes in excess of of $1 billion, on expectations of rupee depreciation. The new cap forces a rapid reversal. By April 10, 2026, banks must cut these exposures to $100 million. This compels them to sell dollars and buy rupees to close the gap.

RBI’s forced dollar unwind to keep rupee from sliding, bruise banks

Until Friday, banks could run net open positions of up to 25% of their net worth. In practice, large lenders often accumulated sizeable long dollar bets, sometimes in excess of of $1 billion, on expectations of rupee depreciation. The new cap forces a rapid reversal. By April 10, 2026, banks must cut these exposures to $100 million. This compels them to sell dollars and buy rupees to close the gap.

Similarly, failure to furnish information or sample, or furnishing false information or sample and damaging books of account or refusal to furnish it will not result in a jail term of up to three months, instead a fine of Rs 10,000-25,000 can be levied under the Handlooms (Reservation of Articles for Production) Act.

No jail term for farm goods, textiles export rule slip-ups

Similarly, failure to furnish information or sample, or furnishing false information or sample and damaging books of account or refusal to furnish it will not result in a jail term of up to three months, instead a fine of Rs 10,000-25,000 can be levied under the Handlooms (Reservation of Articles for Production) Act.

Foreign broking major Goldman Sachs has cut the Nifty target to 25,900 points from 29,300 points earlier while Citigroup has revised down their target for the index to 27,000 points from 28,500 points earlier. On its part, HSBC said that historical trend shows that a 20% rise in oil price could drag down earnings of India Inc by 1.3 percentage points. Since the war started crude oil prices are up about 50-55%.

Foreign brokerages cut India Inc’s earnings, index targets

Foreign broking major Goldman Sachs has cut the Nifty target to 25,900 points from 29,300 points earlier while Citigroup has revised down their target for the index to 27,000 points from 28,500 points earlier. On its part, HSBC said that historical trend shows that a 20% rise in oil price could drag down earnings of India Inc by 1.3 percentage points. Since the war started crude oil prices are up about 50-55%.

As India assumes the IONS chairmanship for the 2026–2028 cycle after a gap of 16 years, IMEX TTX 2026 marks a key milestone in strengthening regional maritime leadership. Conducted in a sophisticated, simulated environment, the exercise addressed complex maritime security challenges in IOR, a region of critical importance to global trade, energy flows and connectivity.

India hosts key IONS maritime exercise in Kochi

As India assumes the IONS chairmanship for the 2026–2028 cycle after a gap of 16 years, IMEX TTX 2026 marks a key milestone in strengthening regional maritime leadership. Conducted in a sophisticated, simulated environment, the exercise addressed complex maritime security challenges in IOR, a region of critical importance to global trade, energy flows and connectivity.

As per the recently published study by Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India, 150 camera traps (CTs) were systematically deployed along underpasses within a 3.5-km stretch — from Mohand village to Ganeshpur in Uttarakhand — and each unit was installed in a manner to ensure detection of a broad spectrum of terrestrial fauna, ranging from small to large-bodied species.

Wildlife actively use underpasses on Delhi-Doon economic corridor: Study

As per the recently published study by Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India, 150 camera traps (CTs) were systematically deployed along underpasses within a 3.5-km stretch — from Mohand village to Ganeshpur in Uttarakhand — and each unit was installed in a manner to ensure detection of a broad spectrum of terrestrial fauna, ranging from small to large-bodied species.

Petroleum secretary Neeraj Mittal, in an online post, said that by giving up their LPG connections, people have helped those who don’t have access to gas cylinders. “Join this strong, bold group of do-good citizens who have come forward to give up LPG to help those get LPG who don’t have PNG,” he said on X.

Nearly 3 lakh PNG connections added in March: Govt

Petroleum secretary Neeraj Mittal, in an online post, said that by giving up their LPG connections, people have helped those who don’t have access to gas cylinders. “Join this strong, bold group of do-good citizens who have come forward to give up LPG to help those get LPG who don’t have PNG,” he said on X.

India’s long-term numbers reflect both progress and persistent gaps. Maternal deaths fell sharply from about 1.19 lakh in 1990 to 36,900 in 2015 and further to 24,700 in 2023. And the maternal mortality ratio declined from 508 in 1990 to 116 per one lakh live births in 2023, indicating substantial gains but also unfinished work.

India accounts for 1 in 10 global maternal deaths: Lancet report

India’s long-term numbers reflect both progress and persistent gaps. Maternal deaths fell sharply from about 1.19 lakh in 1990 to 36,900 in 2015 and further to 24,700 in 2023. And the maternal mortality ratio declined from 508 in 1990 to 116 per one lakh live births in 2023, indicating substantial gains but also unfinished work.

Gulf carriers’ absence opens up opportunities

While the airline projected getting a plane every week, the authorities asked the country’s largest carrier to file for flights when it gets more planes and can show it has the wherewithal, including pilot numbers, for the same. “We did not want a repeat of what happened last Dec and hence were extra cautious this time,” said a person in the know.

3,000 less domestic flights to take to the skies this summer

While the airline projected getting a plane every week, the authorities asked the country’s largest carrier to file for flights when it gets more planes and can show it has the wherewithal, including pilot numbers, for the same. “We did not want a repeat of what happened last Dec and hence were extra cautious this time,” said a person in the know.