Page 54 - Israel Iran Conflict

IRCTC may temporarily halt cooked meals on trains amid LPG supply crunch

IRCTC may pause cooked meal services on trains due to an LPG supply shortage arising out of the conflict in West Asia. It has directed kitchens to use alternate methods to meet demand

Iran conflict may pressure cash flows of OMCs, GAIL: Fitch Ratings

Fitch says Indian oil marketing companies and GAIL could face cash flow pressure if disruptions linked to the Iran conflict persist, though government support may cushion credit profiles

West Asia conflict: Bengaluru LPG consumers engage in panic booking

Panic enquiries for domestic LPG cylinders have risen at several gas agencies in Bengaluru in the past few days amid concerns over supply disruptions due to the widening West Asia conflict, though dealers said on Wednesday that stocks are adequate as of now. However, there is an acute shortage of commercial LPG cylinders, forcing several hotels and restaurants in the city to operate under strain, an LPG dealer told PTI. Hotel and restaurant owners reiterated that they would be forced to shut down once their stock is exhausted. A representative of Indane distributor, Sri Giridhar Agencies, said there has been no disruption in the supply of LPG cylinders for domestic use. "Every day we have been receiving loads. There is no disruption in supply. However, we have been getting numerous panic calls from customers enquiring whether there is sufficient stock. Calls for bookings have also gone up," the representative, who did not wish to be identified, said. He assured customers that adeq

Iran's joint military command says banks now major target in West Asia

A joint Iranian military command said on Wednesday that banks and financial institutions are now a target in the Middle East. The Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters issued a statement identifying the targets. It came after Iranian media reported staff at a bank in Tehran had been killed in Israeli-American airstrikes. The threat would put at risk, particularly Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, which is home to many international financial institutions, as well as Saudi Arabia and the island kingdom of Bahrain.

India's Russian oil purchases helping stabilise markets: US ambassador

US Ambassador Sergio Gor said India's ongoing Russian oil purchases are helping stabilise global oil markets amid volatility triggered by the escalating West Asia conflict

LPG shortage fears trigger panic buying; eateries warn of shutdowns

Fears of an LPG shortage sparked panic buying at gas agencies in Lakhimpur Kheri, while restaurants in Goa warned of possible closures as commercial cylinder supply slows amid the West Asia conflict

Bank stocks fall as Iran war fuels inflation fears, Nifty Bank drops 2%

Banking stocks witnessed a sharp decline today as West Asia conflict raised oil-linked inflation risks. Nifty Bank index fell 1.8 per cent on the NSE led by Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank

4 injured after Iranian drones hit near Dubai Airport; operations continue

Two Iranian drones hit near Dubai International Airport on Wednesday, wounding four people, though flights continue, authorities said. The Dubai Media Office, which issues statements on behalf of the city-state's government, said the attack caused "minor injuries to two Ghanaian nationals and one Bangladeshi national, and moderate injuries to one Indian national." It said flights continued. Dubai International Airport, home to the long-haul carrier Emirates, is the world's busiest for international travel. Authorities have been trying to build up their flight schedule, though the airport has been targeted in the war.

Speculation rises over Iran's new Supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei's health

Speculation over the health of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei grew Wednesday after the son of Iran's president mentioned hearing news about him "being injured". Mojtaba, 56, is the son of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He long has been a secretive figure within Iran. His father and wife both were killed in an Israeli airstrike Feb 28 that started the war. Mojtaba has not been seen since, nor has he given any statement since becoming supreme leader on Monday. In an overnight post on the app Telegram, Yousef Pezeshkian, the son of President Masoud Pezeshkian, wrote: "I heard news about Mr Mojtaba being injured. I asked friends who were in contact. They said, thank God, he is healthy and there is no problem." He did not elaborate.

Why Reliance's Jamnagar refinery makes it key to Trump's Texas oil plan

Trump announced a Texas refinery with investment from Reliance, the first such US project in 50 years. Jamnagar's world-leading Nelson Complexity Index may explain why RIL was chosen

How a 1953 CIA-backed coup set Iran and the US on today's collision course

Today's Iran-US confrontation traces back to a Cold War coup, oil politics and the 1979 revolution that transformed a strategic partnership into one of the world's longest geopolitical rivalries

India, Bangladesh urea firms shut operations as war disrupts LNG flow

LNG is the primary feedstock for urea production, serving as an energy source and a key input in making the world's most widely used fertilizer

Cargo ship ablaze in Hormuz after being hit by projectile: British military

A projectile hit a cargo ship Wednesday in the Strait of Hormuz, setting the vessel ablaze after the United States targeted Iranian minelaying vessels that could target the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre, run by the British military, said the vessel had been hit just north of Oman in the strait. It said the crew was evacuating the ship. Iran did not immediately claim the attack though it has been targeting ships in and around the strait, disrupting a waterway that sees a fifth of all oil and natural gas traded pass through it. The UKMTO earlier reported on another attack targeting a vessel off Ras al-Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates.

Uttarakhand prepares firewood supply for businesses amid LPG shortage

Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and the resulting disruption in gas supplies, the Uttarakhand government has begun preparations to provide firewood for commercial use if required. Uttarakhand Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal said the current situation resembles a crisis scenario. "With war-like conditions prevailing in several Middle Eastern countries, a shortage of gas cannot be ruled out," he said. To address the situation, instructions have been issued to the Uttarakhand Forest Development Corporation to ensure the availability of wood so that businesses can use it as an alternative fuel in case the gas shortage worsens. The government on Tuesday rejigged the allocation of LPG production, CNG, and piped cooking gas, which will take precedence over all other sectors using natural gas to ensure an uninterrupted supply for households and transport sectors. As the widening West Asia conflict disrupted 30 per cent of India's gas supply, the oil ministry, in a gazette ...

Iran targets oil infrastructure as concerns of global energy crisis grow

Israel and Iran exchanged fire early Wednesday as Tehran kept up its pressure on the region's oil industry, hitting a ship in the Strait of Hormuz and targeting infrastructure as concerns grew of a global energy crisis. Iran has effectively stopped shipping traffic through the narrow strait off its coast, through which about a fifth of the world's oil is shipped from the Persian Gulf toward the Indian Ocean. It has also been targeting oil fields and refineries in Gulf Arab nations as part of a strategy that appeared to be aimed at generating enough global economic pain to pressure the United States and Israel to end their strikes. Early Wednesday, Kuwait said its defences had downed eight Iranian drones over the oil-rich nation and Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted five drones heading toward the kingdom's vast Shaybah oil field. A projectile hit a container ship off the coast of the United Arab Emirates in the Strait of Hormuz. The United Nations Security Council was to vote la

FPI holdings in FAR G-Secs fall ₹4,634 cr as West Asia war rattles markets

Foreign portfolio investors' (FPI) bets in Fully Accessible Route (FAR) government securities have declined by about Rs 4,634 crore since the start of the Middle East conflict, reflecting growing caution among overseas investors amid rising crude oil prices, a weakening rupee and rising bond yields. Data from the Clearing Corporation of India Ltd (CCIL) showed that total FPI investment in FAR securities stood at about Rs 3.26 lakh crore on Tuesday, down from Rs 3.31 lakh crore on February 27, before the conflict began. The selling pressure has emerged as global markets reacted sharply to escalating tensions in the Middle East, which have triggered a spike in crude oil prices and volatility in emerging market assets. Brent crude prices have surged past USD 100 per barrel and were trading around USD 108 per barrel, raising concerns about inflationary pressures and India's external balance. At the same time, the rupee weakened sharply to below 92 against the US dollar, while the ...

21 flights cancelled at Bengaluru airport due to airspace restrictions

A total of 21 flights were cancelled at Kempegowda International Airport on Wednesday due to airspace restrictions affecting services to several West Asian destinations, BIIAL said. In a statement, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), which manages the airport, said that due to airspace restrictions on 11th March 2026, as many as 11 arrival flights and 10 departure flights were cancelled. The BIAL added that the cancellations primarily affected flights operating on key international sectors including Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Dubai and Doha, which witnessed disruptions due to the airspace curbs.

Hezbollah faces rare criticism as fresh war with Israel displaces thousands

The Lebanese mother of two had just awakened to prepare the pre-dawn meal before another day of fasting during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan when Israeli warplanes began attacking southern Lebanon in retaliation for rockets and drones launched by Hezbollah. The family quickly packed up and headed toward Beirut, seeking safety from another deadly war between Israel and Hezbollah. With tens of thousands of others fleeing on that March 2 day, the usually one-hour trip from the southern city of Nabatiyeh took 15 hours. "I am against giving pretexts to Israel," said the 45-year-old woman, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals from the Hezbollah supporters she lives among. "I am totally against Hezbollah's decision to start with the first strike," said the woman, who is now living with her husband, their 17- and 12-year-old children, and her mother-in-law inside a school turned into a shelter in the Lebanese capital. As Hezbollah enters a new round of fighting with

UN warns of higher food prices, cost-of-living if Strait of Hormuz shuts

The United Nations has warned of significant risks to global trade and development, including higher food prices and cost-of-living, if the Strait of Hormuz is closed amid the West Asia conflict. The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said in a report Tuesday that the ongoing military escalation in the region due to the US-Israeli strikes on Iran and retaliation by Tehran has disrupted shipping flows through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints. The narrow passage carries around a quarter of global seaborne oil trade and significant volumes of liquefied natural gas and fertilisers. "The resulting ripple effects go far beyond the region, affecting energy markets, maritime transport and global supply chains," the report said. "Higher energy, fertiliser and transport costs including freight rates, bunker fuel prices and insurance premiums may increase food costs and intensify cost-of-living pressures, particularly for the most ...

From Karbala to Iran: How Shia Islam has evolved across centuries

From the dispute over Ali's succession to the legacy of Karbala, here is how Shia Islam evolved, what its core beliefs are, and where Shia communities are found today