West Asia And The Gulf

The Central Consumer Protection Authority has barred restaurants from levying separate 'LPG charges' on bills, mandating that all operational fuel costs be integrated into menu pricing

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has conveyed to US President Donald Trump that the war in West Asia must end soon as it is hurting everyone, the government told an up-in-arms Opposition at an all-party meeting on Wednesday, terming Pakistan a "dalaal" (broker) nation in reference to its reported mediation in the conflict. There is nothing new in Pakistan's mediation efforts in the matter as that country has been "used" by the US since 1981, sources quoted External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar as saying. "We are not a dalaal nation," Jaishankar is said to have told the attendees of the meeting convened at the Parliament complex to discuss the West Asia crisis. The sources added that the government refuted the Opposition's charge that New Delhi was silent on the situation, asserting that "we are commenting and responding". When the Iran embassy was opened, the Foreign Secretary visited immediately and signed the condolence book, the government told the parties in response to the ...

Insurance brokers say war-risk premiums will remain elevated as uncertainty persists in West Asia despite Iran allowing passage for non-hostile vessels through Hormuz

For FII's, the favored markets over last two years have been countries that were beneficiaries of new age tech and artificial intelligence (AI), he said.

Amid the West Asia conflict, a total of 1,043 Indian nationals, including 717 students, have crossed out of Iran with the assistance of the mission in Tehran, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Wednesday. At an inter-ministerial briefing here on the West Asia situation, Aseem R Mahajan, Additional Secretary (Gulf), MEA, also said the overall flight situation continues to improve, and that around 4.26 lakh passengers have returned from the region to India since February 28. "During this period, a total of 2,149 flights, including scheduled and non-scheduled flights of Indian as well as foreign carriers, have operated from the region to India," he said. The MEA said it continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in the Gulf and the West Asia region. "We are according the highest priority to ensure the safety, security, and well-being of the large Indian community in the region," Mahajan said. The ministry's dedicated Control Room remains operational to address queries

Tehran termed the US proposal excessive, and said it would continue operations; it also outlined five conditions including security guarantees and control over the Strait of Hormuz

The consumer protection body on Wednesday said such levies cannot be added automatically, calling them unfair trade practices, and warned that violations would invite strict action under the law

The Jan Hastakshep, a civil rights organisation, has slammed the NDA government for its "deafening silence" amidst the US-Israel and Iran conflict and termed the attack on the Persian nation as "unprovoked". In a statement, issued after a seminar held on Tuesday, the Hastakshep said the current conflict, along with similar wars in the past, constitutes part of a persistent pattern of the US military aggression directed against sovereign nations. The seminar was inaugurated by former union minister Mani Shankar Aiyar and attended by journalists Praveen Sahni, Saeed Naqvi, and President of the JNU Teachers' Association Saeed Akhtar Hussain among others. "Amidst the US-Israel-Iran conflict, the Narendra Modi government has steered India's foreign policy to a juncture where it is currently crawling on its knees," the statement said. The speakers slammed the NDA government for its "deafening silence" amidst the US-Israel and Iran. The seminar was held under the theme: "The Attack on Ir

The meeting will focus on assessing key issues impacting agriculture, especially in light of emerging global uncertainties and their potential effects on the agricultural sector

These groups will formulate strategies on strategic and security matters, supply chains, LPG and energy supplies, fertilizers, essential commodities, logistics, and public communication

The government on Tuesday said India has adequate stocks of petrol, diesel and LPG, and that all refineries are operating at high capacity despite disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz situation. In an update on fuel availability, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said petrol pumps across the country remain fully functional, though panic buying triggered by rumours led to unusually high sales in some areas. She urged citizens not to engage in hoarding and to rely on official information. Sharma said domestic LPG production has been stepped up, with no reported dry-outs at distributorships, even as supply remains under pressure due to the prevailing geopolitical situation. Deliveries continue as normal, she added. Natural gas supplies to priority segments such as domestic PNG and CNG transport remain fully protected, while supplies to industrial and commercial users are being maintained at about 80 per cent of average consumption. The

Iranian attacks have partially disrupted Qatar's export capacity, tightening gas availability for Indian manufacturers

Iran named a former Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander as the new secretary of the country's Supreme National Security Council on Tuesday, replacing Ali Larijani, who was killed in an airstrike. Iranian state television identified the new secretary as Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr. Zolghadr reached the rank of brigadier general in the Guard. He had been serving as the secretary of Iran's Expediency Council.

India, which meets nearly two-thirds of its vegetable oil needs through imports, brought in an average 1.36 million metric tons a month in the marketing year that ended in October 2025

In the month of March, the stock price of L&T tanked 22 per cent from a level of ₹4,280 to ₹3,341.90 as of yesterday.

This new phase of the war began Wednesday, when Iran carried out a retaliatory missile strike on Ras Laffan, Qatar's vast energy complex

Coal minister urges states to check retail profiteering amid rising prices during the West Asia crisis; Centre launches seventh tranche of critical mineral auctions

India will consider resuming buying Iranian oil based on techno-commercial feasibility, a senior government official said after Washington temporarily removed sanctions to ease pressure on prices that followed the US-Israeli war on Iran. Historically, India was a major buyer of Iranian crude, importing significant volumes of Iranian Light and Heavy grades due to strong refinery compatibility and favourable commercial terms. Following sanctions tightening in 2018, imports ceased from May 2019, with volumes replaced by Middle Eastern, US and other grades. At peak, Iranian crude accounted for 11.5 per cent of India's total imports. At a news briefing on developments in West Asia, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said techno-commercial feasibility will drive the decision on resuming buying Iranian crude. "It is based on techno-commercial feasibility," she said. Over the weekend, the US waived sanctions on the purchase of Iranian oil at sea fo

The Centre has directed states to prevent small coal retailers from profiteering from the West Asia crisis, as global energy disruptions threaten to ripple into domestic fuel markets. Talking with reporters on the sidelines of an event here, Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy said, "Our secretary (coal) has talked to Chief Secretaries of all states. I have written letters to Chief Ministers yesterday. There is no coal shortage and there is no scope for an increase in domestic coal prices". The minister further said that if coal prices increase, it is the responsibility of the state governments to take action. "We have asked states to keep an eye on coal prices and not let the retailers of coal profit from the ongoing crisis.. The Prime Minister has clearly instructed that coal prices should not increase, and therefore the government has taken proactive measures. "No decision has been taken on increasing coal prices. Coal prices should not increase," the minister explained. Th

The financial implications of the West Asia conflict on the flight operations are evolving and appropriate measures are being taken in consultation with airlines and other stakeholders, the civil aviation ministry said on Monday. The escalating conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran that started on February 28 has significantly hit operations of airlines in and through the West Asia region. Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol told the Rajya Sabha that the situation arising from the closure of the West Asian air corridor and its impact on flight operations was being closely monitored by the ministry. "The associated financial implications are evolving and appropriate measures are being taken as required by the ministry in consultation with airlines and other stakeholders," he said in a written reply. According to him, the ministry is in constant coordination with airlines and closely monitoring airfares to ensure that ticket prices remain reasonable and that th