Page 43 - West Asia

'Gujarat educational campus uses biogas to cook meals, cuts LPG dependence'

An educational institution in Gujarat has been preparing more than 500 meals daily using biogas, eliminating the need for LPG cylinders, under the state's Institutional Biogas Plant Scheme, officials said. The institution has become self-reliant in cooking gas, amid its supply concerns due to the ongoing West Asia conflict. At Shrimati Manekba Vinay Vihar Educational Complex in Gandhinagar, food is cooked twice every day for around 250 students, while about 15 families on the campus also use the fuel for cooking, a government release said on Saturday. The campus operates two biogas plants of 45 cubic metres each, with a total capacity of 90 cubic metres per day, it added. Without the plants, the institute would need nearly 30 LPG cylinders per month, but currently requires none, officials said. Supported by the government scheme, the institution has become self-reliant in cooking gas, its manager, Rahul Patel, said. With nearly 220 cows, it has sufficient dung for biogas producti

Air raid sirens activated across Kuwait, Bahrain amid missile threats

In Bahrain, the Interior Ministry urged citizens to take shelter and "remain calm" after warning sirens were sounded across affected areas

Street stalls in Delhi show cost of India's energy crunch amid Iran war

War-driven fuel shock hits fast in India as urban poor struggle with LPG costs, forcing labourers in tenements to rely on black market cylinders and making home cooking increasingly unaffordable

Explosions rock Iraq's Irbil as attacks target US consulate, bases

Interceptions and drone activity were heard for hours overnight Saturday across Irbil, the capital of the semi-autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq, including drones shot down while attempting to target the US consulate and nearby bases. AP journalists in the area reported non-stop loud explosions and saw at least one drone headed toward American facilities, in one of the most intense days of attacks since the war began. Iran-aligned militias in Iraq have stepped up repeated drone and missile attacks on US bases, including in Irbil. In a statement on Saturday, the US condemned what it called "despicable terrorist attacks" by Iran's militant groups, saying the strikes on Kurdish regional President Nechirvan Barzani's residence in Irbil earlier that day were "a direct assault on Iraq's sovereignty, stability and unity." The attack caused material damage but no casualties, and the residence was empty at the time.

Yemen's Houthis carry out 'second military operation' against Israel

This comes moments after the Iranian-backed group in Yemen officially joined the conflict in the region, earlier on Saturday

India's fuel supply remains robust despite West Asia crisis: Suresh Gopi

Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi on Saturday said that the country's fuel supply chains are "robust and operational" despite the situation in West Asia. Gopi, the Minister of State for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Tourism, said, in a Facebook post that the recent panic buying seen in some regions were fueled by "false narratives" and "unnecessary alarm". "Chaired a high-level review meeting with representatives from IOCL, BPCL, and HPCL at Thrissur to address the recent narratives regarding fuel shortages. Despite global challenges and the situation in West Asia, our supply chains are robust and operational." "The panic buying we've seen in some regions are being fueled by false narratives and unnecessary alarm," he said in his post. He urged everyone not to fall prey to social media misinformation. "Stay Calm. Stay Informed. Trust only verified sources," he said.

West Asia crisis hits LPG supply across parts of Jubilant's network

Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd on Saturday said supply of LPG cylinders to certain parts of its store network has been constrained due to the geopolitical situation in West Asia. The company, which operates fast-food chains, including Domino's Pizza and Dunkin' Donuts, said it is taking several steps to conserve LPG and working overtime to move to alternate energy sources like electricity and piped natural gas (PNG). "...we wish to inform that due to the ongoing geopolitical situation in the Middle East, there are supply constraints on the distribution of commercial LPG across the country," Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd (JFL) said in a regulatory filing. Consequently, JFL said, "The supply of LPG cylinders to certain parts of the company's store network has been constrained." Operational impact at this stage is limited and being actively managed, it added. The company further said it is "taking several steps to conserve LPG and working overtime to move to alternate energy sources like electricity

Rajnath Singh to chair first informal GoM meet on West Asia crisis

The meeting comes amid multiple meetings held by the Centre on the ongoing conflict and assuring people that there is no shortage of fuel

Maersk halts operations at Oman's Salalah port due to security incident

All Maersk crew were safe and accounted for, and no company cargo or vessels were affected, the shipping giant said in a statement

Navel-gazing, in national interest: India balances both sides in war

It's easy to understand why the government can't speak the hard truth. When this war ends, as all wars do, India's interests will lie with both the winner and the loser

CBSE introduces alternative evaluation for Class XII amid West Asia crisis

CBSE will use internal assessment, practical marks and school records to evaluate Class XII students in West Asia after board exams were disrupted by the conflict

FM Nirmala Sitharaman scotches rumours of lockdown like Pakistan

"...The government is taking burden, making sure oil marketing companies (OMCs) will ensure buying more and doing supply, and keeping the supply uninterrupted," she said

Seven secretary panels to appraise iGoM on measures amid West Asia crisis

The first meeting of the iGoM, which also comprises Union ministers Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman and Hardeep Singh Puri as other members, might be held on Saturday, sources said

Marco Rubio says US can achieve Iran objectives without ground troops

Rubio said recent deployments of thousands more troops to the region were intended to give Trump options to respond to contingencies in the conflict, but declined to go into operational details

Stocks resume slide as Donald Trump extension fails to calm markets

US Treasury yields hit highest since July as bonds fall

RBI open market operations help banks cut treasury losses in Q4FY26

RBI's bond purchases and switch operations are helping banks cushion treasury losses in Q4 despite rising yields driven by global volatility and the West Asia crisis

G7 meets amid wars as Rubio tries to sell US strategy to sceptical allies

Group of Seven foreign ministers met in France on Friday to discuss the conflicts in West Asia, and between Russia and Ukraine, with deep divisions apparent over the US-Israel war with Iran following US President Donald Trump's repeated complaints that US' allies have ignored or rejected requests for help in confronting Iran's retaliation, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to most of international shipping. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio joined his counterparts from G7 nations only 24 hours after Trump's latest volley of insults lobbed at NATO, as instability in oil markets persisted with the Iran war entering its fourth week along with uncertainty over the status of potential negotiations to end the crisis. Most of US' closest allies have greeted the Iran war with deep scepticism, sentiments that were on display as the G7 foreign ministers met at a historic 12th-century abbey in Vaux-de-Cernay, outside Paris, even as they urged a diplomatic solution to resolve the ...

Luxury travel remains resilient despite ongoing war: Leela Hotels CEO

Luxury travel demand remains resilient despite geopolitical tensions, with travellers shifting to domestic destinations and alternative regions, say hotel industry executives

India e-commerce hit by fuel, logistics strain amid West Asia crisis

Fuel shortages, tighter diesel credit and LPG constraints are disrupting logistics and delaying expansion, squeezing margins as demand shows early signs of softening

West Asia crisis: PM Modi interacts with CMs, bats for 'Team India' spirit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed preparedness with chief ministers as the Centre set up an informal group of ministers to monitor the impact of the West Asia conflict