West Asia conflict

March 27, 2026 12:13 PM

Hardeep Puri, FM Sitharaman hail PM Modi’s decision to ‘safeguard citizens’ with excise duty cut on petrol and diesel

Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday welcomed the Centre’s decision to cut excise duties on petrol and diesel, describing it as a timely step to protect citizens from rising global energy prices. The remarks came a day after the government reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel, even as international crude oil prices surged sharply amid geopolitical tensions in West Asia. In a post on X, Puri said the government had chosen ...

March 27, 2026 12:13 PM

Relief for oil marketing companies as Government cuts excise duty on petrol, diesel

The Centre on Friday reduced excise duties on petrol and diesel, offering relief to oil marketing companies (OMCs) amid rising global crude prices. In a notification issued on Thursday, the Union Ministry of Finance reduced the excise duty on petrol to ₹3 per litre from the earlier ₹13 per litre, while the duty on diesel was cut to nil from ₹10 per litre. The ministry said that these reductions have come into effect immediately. The government also imposed a windfall tax of ₹21.5 per li...

March 27, 2026 10:22 AM

Marco Rubio holds call with Iraqi Kurdish leader: US State Department

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Thursday. "The secretary also expressed his gratitude to the Kurdistan Regional Government for enabling oil from Iraq, including from the Iraq Kurdistan Region, to reach global markets," the State Department said in a statement. The Iran war has raised oil prices and shaken global markets. The State Department said Rubio "offered his condolences to the families of the Peshmerga kille...

March 27, 2026 10:08 AM

Iran bans sports teams from travelling to countries it deems ‘hostile’

Iran has banned national and club sports teams from travelling to countries it considers hostile until further notice, Iranian media reported on Thursday, citing the Sports Ministry, which said the move was due to concerns over the safety of its athletes. "The presence of national and club teams in countries considered hostile and unable to ensure the security of Iranian athletes and team members is prohibited until further notice," the ministry said. The ministry added that the Iranian footba...

March 27, 2026 10:08 AM

Trump officials tout US energy dominance as global oil execs warn of supply crisis

U.S. officials this week said the historic spike in fuel prices during the war in Iran will be short-term and trumpeted record U.S. production at an industry conference where oil executives and government officials from Asia, the Middle East and Europe bemoaned the worst oil and gas supply disruption in decades. The contrasting messages relayed to industry leaders at the annual CERAWeek conference in Houston reflected the different political realities in the U.S. and the rest of the world. U.S...

March 27, 2026 10:09 AM

Drones and mines: Taking Kharg Island would pose risks for US troops

President Donald Trump has been weighing whether to use ground forces to seize Iran's strategic oil hub of Kharg Island, an operation analysts say could be achieved quickly, but leave U.S. troops in great peril and prolong rather than shorten the war. WHERE IS KHARG ISLAND AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? Kharg Island sits 16 miles (26 km) from Iran's coast in the northern end of the Gulf, about 300 miles (483 km) northwest of the Strait of Hormuz. It lies in waters deep enough to enable the docking o...

March 25, 2026 3:45 PM

No change in LPG refill booking timelines, Government clarifies amid misinformation

The Centre on Wednesday clarified that there has been no change in LPG refill booking timelines, dismissing reports and social media claims suggesting revised waiting periods for different categories of consumers. The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas said certain news reports had falsely claimed that refill booking intervals had been altered to 45 days for PMUY connections, 25 days for non-PMUY single-cylinder users, and 35 days for double-cylinder connections. Refuting these claims, th...

March 25, 2026 2:54 PM

Govt reviews fuel supply, evacuation efforts amid West Asia crisis; urges vigilance against hoarding

The Centre on Tuesday said fuel supplies remain stable and evacuation efforts are progressing steadily amid the ongoing crisis in West Asia, even as it urged states to crack down on hoarding and black marketing of essential commodities. At an inter-ministerial media briefing held at the National Media Centre, senior officials from multiple ministries outlined measures taken to ensure uninterrupted supply of petroleum products, smooth maritime operations, and the safety of Indian nationals in th...

March 25, 2026 2:41 PM

Missile Strikes Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Plant Again as IAEA Urges Restraint

A Missile struck the premises of Iran's Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant on Tuesday evening, the second such incident in just over a week, amid escalating regional hostilities. Iran's Atomic Energy Organization reported the hit occurred around 9:08 p.m. local time. According to officials, there was no damage to the nuclear reactor itself, no injuries to staff, and the plant continues to operate normally with radiation levels stable. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed it was info...

March 25, 2026 11:17 AM

West Asia conflict enters day 26 as strikes continue and diplomacy intensifies

The West Asia conflict has entered its 26th day, with continued exchanges of strikes and fresh diplomatic activity across the region. Israeli forces have intensified operations in southern Lebanon while signalling longer-term security plans along the border. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the military intends to take control of areas up to the Litani River for security reasons, adding that several bridges used by Hezbollah had been destroyed. He also said displaced residents would not...