The ministry’s swift communique highlighted the drones’ Iraqi origin and precise targeting of northern checkpoints. Security teams sprang into action, neutralizing any immediate threats and restoring order.

This event coincides with positive aviation developments. Kuwait International Airport’s airspace, shuttered since late February due to regional unrest, was declared open again on Thursday. Sheikh Hamoud Mubarak Hamoud Al-Sabah, the Civil Aviation Director General, outlined a phased reopening.

Terminals 4 and 5 will welcome flights to specific routes starting Sunday, following joint assessments with global partners. Damages from earlier Iranian-linked assaults have been probed and patched, though full restoration will take time. Operations begin modestly, scaling up based on real-time security evaluations.

Context deepens with prior threats: An Iraqi militia, Saraya Awliya al-Dam, claimed attacks across Kuwait, Jordan, and Syria in early April. Kuwait’s army downed seven enemy drones on April 10 amid Iranian operations that wounded troops and wrecked gear at National Guard sites.

Military analysts view these drone incursions as probes of Kuwait’s readiness. The small Gulf state, sandwiched between powers, invests heavily in air defenses and intelligence sharing. Incidents like this underscore the ripple effects of proxy wars, prompting calls for unified Gulf responses. Kuwaiti officials project calm, assuring citizens of robust protections amid the haze of conflict.

Ports Minister highlighted constant vigilance over Persian Gulf dynamics, working hand-in-glove with foreign affairs teams and global maritime bodies to safeguard sailors and trade flows.

DGS control room’s relentless service has fielded thousands of queries: 7,553 calls, 16,000+ emails total, 150 calls and 394 emails yesterday. Success story: 2,729+ mariners repatriated safely, 49 just yesterday.

Supply chains hold firm with ports humming efficiently nationwide—no jams, smooth cargo transit for critical supplies.

Air travel rebounds: 1.238 million flyers back since late February. UAE flights steady at 110 daily; Saudi, Oman routes active. Qatar partial, Kuwait open soon, Bahrain/Iraq limited ops.

Iran travel discouraged—opt for land routes; 2,432 evacuated (1,096 students, 657 fishermen via Armenia/Azerbaijan). Israel flights restarting limitedly.

MEA’s priority: Indian diaspora safety via 24×7 control rooms, embassy helplines, local govts coordination, and frequent safety bulletins. Operations normalize steadily.

A single-day record was set on April 22 with 5.2 million-plus household LPG cylinders delivered nationwide. Digital adoption is at peak levels: 98 percent bookings online and 94 percent DAC-verified deliveries, streamlining the process and boosting trust.

The migrant-focused 5-kg cylinder program, started April 1, has sold 1.7 million units, backed by 8,200+ awareness drives across states. This targeted effort eases burdens on daily wagers and transient laborers.

Diversification efforts shine through with 518,000 PNG connections live since March and 587,000 new users registered. An impressive 41,000+ switched from LPG, embracing piped gas for reliability and eco-friendliness.

Full supply continuity for household LPG, PNG, and transport CNG persists. Commercial cylinders prioritize hospitals, education, pharma, auto, and farming sectors, while 5-kg stocks for migrants ramp up.

Crackdown on irregularities intensified: 150,000+ inspections led to 66,000 cylinder seizures, 1,100 FIRs, 255 arrests. Oil majors penalized 298 distributors with fines and halted 70 supplies.

Avoid hoarding, urged the ministry—stocks are plentiful. Rely on verified info, book via apps, explore PNG or induction cooking. On the safety front, despite Gulf ship attacks, all Indian seafarers are secure; 2,680 safely home, 65 just yesterday.

Vigilant oversight safeguards India’s energy chain, sea routes, and nationals abroad, ready for any escalation.

Closed since late February due to US-Israel strikes, Iran’s skies partially lifted restrictions over the east on Saturday, allowing limited international flights. State Department officials recommend checking local news and airline schedules promptly. Alternative overland escapes through Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, or Turkmenistan are advised, with strict avoidance of riskier frontiers like those with Iraq or Afghanistan.

Iran plans a phased full resumption, per state media quoting aviation authorities. This development coincides with the Trump White House prolonging a ceasefire announced Wednesday, paired with unrelenting naval enforcement.

Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt detailed the ‘two-pronged’ policy: military restraint alongside amplified economic chokeholds via ‘Operation Economic Fury.’ “We’re not letting up—the blockade is strangling their economy, costing them half a billion dollars a day,” she asserted, noting Iran’s faltering oil trade.

No deadlines for talks have been set, countering rumors of short timelines. Leavitt stressed President Trump’s sole authority on next steps post-Operation Epic Fury’s success. The strategy balances de-escalation with sustained pressure on Tehran’s regime.

For Americans in Iran, time is critical. With partial air access, departure options exist but could vanish amid ongoing uncertainties. The advisory underscores the perils of lingering in a nation under heavy sanctions and blockade.

The session was marked by heavy volatility. Sensex opened at 79,019.34 but nosedived 831 points to touch an intraday low of 78,442.30. Nifty opened higher at 24,470.85 before sliding 224 points to 24,352.90.

Smaller stocks outperformed majors, with Nifty Smallcap 100 up 1.13% and Midcap 100 advancing 0.19%. Positive performers included Nifty FMCG, media, realty, metals, PSU banks, and pharma sectors.

IT sector was the biggest casualty, crashing 3.89%, followed by financial services (-0.87%), private banks (-0.73%), and auto (-0.66%). Standout gainers in Nifty 50 were Tata Consumer, HUL, NTPC, Trent, Hindalco, Adani Enterprises, Eternal, and Nestle India, each gaining 1-3%.

Heavyweights like HCL Tech cratered 10.74%, while Infosys, M&M, TCS, Tech Mahindra, Bajaj Auto, Max Health, HDFC Life, and HDFC Bank saw declines of 1-3%. The pullback stems from US President Donald Trump’s indefinite extension of the US-Iran ceasefire amid persistent Strait of Hormuz blockade. Diplomatic efforts continue, but VP JD Vance’s scheduled Pakistan visit for peace negotiations has been deferred.

Oil supply disruptions via the key chokepoint have fueled fears of inflation and supply chain issues. Traders are eyeing upcoming earnings and policy cues for direction. Despite the dip, India’s long-term growth story intact, bolstered by robust domestic consumption.

In a stirring speech to top-performing soldiers at a national ceremony in Tel Aviv, IDF leader Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir issued a stark directive: remain vigilant and combat-ready at all times. With ceasefires in Iran and Lebanon teetering on the edge, the Israeli army stands poised for action.

Zamir reflected on the post-October 7 rebuilding phase, where sustained warfare has fortified Israel’s defenses. He declared triumph in Gaza against Hamas, maintaining iron-fisted control without mercy.

Turning to current operations, he detailed aggressive pushes in Lebanon to protect border communities. The general also evoked the intense 40-day showdown with Iran last June, vowing immediate, overwhelming responses across every theater.

Meanwhile, Iran marked IRGC’s founding anniversary with Commander Major General Amir Hatami praising the force’s storied legacy—from the sacred defense of the 1980s to repelling Zionist and US-led assaults. Their prowess has reaffirmed Iran’s defensive supremacy globally.

Under Ayatollah Khamenei’s supreme command, Hatami promised unbreachable security for Iran’s borders. These dueling declarations from military heads signal a powder keg ready to ignite.

The ambassador’s interview revealed a deep empathy for the bereaved families. He described the anniversary as a moment to honor the fallen, support their loved ones, and reject all manifestations of terror. Argentina comprehends the terror threat intimately and aligns fully with India’s defensive stance.

Delving into international affairs, Cosino spotlighted the intricate US-Iran dynamics and Middle East instability. Peace initiatives must persist to restore global equilibrium and economic steadiness, he insisted.

Addressing superpower frictions—especially US-China tensions—the diplomat called for unified action under UN guidelines to safeguard peace. On energy matters, he noted oil’s enduring role in politics but lauded India’s shift toward diverse sources. Argentina positions itself as a potential key ally for India’s energy and food needs.

Looking ahead, India-Argentina relations promise growth, with renewed high-level engagements expected soon. Cosino’s forthright views underscore a commitment to multilateralism and mutual support in turbulent times.

The truce followed prolonged cross-border exchanges amid the wider US-Israel tensions with Iran. Implemented at midnight between Thursday and Friday, it aimed to halt weeks of escalating violence. But reports of violations abound.

Lebanese state media detailed Israeli forces’ aggressive moves Tuesday: heightened operations, extensive demolitions, increased drone flights over south Lebanon, and orders for locals to flee—all in breach of the ceasefire terms.

Israel engages the Lebanese government diplomatically, bypassing Hezbollah, which it labels an Iranian proxy. Yet Hezbollah struck back Tuesday evening, launching rockets and drones at an Israeli artillery site by Kfar Giladi. The militia framed it as payback for Israeli artillery fire on Yumur al-Shaqif and other post-truce infractions targeting civilians and infrastructure.

This backdrop of mutual recriminations tests the ceasefire’s viability. With no direct ties between the adversaries, US facilitation remains essential. The upcoming talks could forge pathways to extension or unravel completely if incidents multiply. Stakeholders from the region to global capitals await outcomes that might avert a full-scale flare-up.

Influenced by Pakistan’s mediation pleas and reports of rifts in Iran’s ruling circles, the extension averts immediate escalation. ‘Serious divisions plague Iran’s government,’ Trump explained. ‘We’re pausing strikes and prolonging the truce until they unify their stance.’ Military directives ensure the blockade persists, a measure launched April 13 to choke off oil exports.

The announcement timed perfectly with the truce’s expiration, staving off potential chaos. However, Vice President JD Vance scrapped his Islamabad visit for scheduled Iran-U.S. talks, as confirmed by White House sources monitoring Tehran’s signals.

Tehran remains defiant, insisting on blockade removal as a prerequisite. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi blasted U.S. actions as breaches, highlighting a ship assault and hostage-taking as egregious violations. ‘Blockading our ports is warfare,’ he declared.

Islamabad’s role as go-between earned praise from PM Shehbaz Sharif, who lauded Trump’s step as pivotal for de-escalation. Still, the U.S. leader cautioned against talk failures, keeping military options on the table.

Since late February, the impasse has upended global oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz. Vessels face detours, markets jitter, and while guns are silent, the blockade’s grip and Iran’s retorts signal a protracted shadow war unless breakthroughs emerge.

The region’s pivotal role in India’s trade cannot be overstated: it supplies half of the country’s crude oil, 40% of fertilizers, one-fifth of total imports, one-sixth of exports, and nearly 67% of remittances. Malhotra cautioned that extended interruptions could unleash widespread inflationary pressures.

Particular worry surrounds secondary impacts, where initial shocks amplify into persistent price hikes. The MPC, maintaining neutrality since June 2025 after 125 basis points of cuts earlier in the year, will continue reassessing risks based on incoming data.

In a positive vein, Malhotra spotlighted digital strides, with UPI hitting a record 22 billion transactions last March. Looking ahead, the Unified Loan Interface promises real-time loans for underserved farmers and SMEs.

Fiscal prudence shines through as well: the deficit-to-GDP ratio plummeted from 9.2% in 2020-21 to 4.4% projected for 2025-26. At 81.1% debt-to-GDP in 2024-25, India fares better than most major economies bar Germany and Russia.

This balanced outlook reflects the RBI’s strategy to navigate external shocks while fostering inclusive growth in a dynamic global landscape.