Airspace closures across the Middle East have stranded thousands of travelers, yet India has managed to bring back more than 2.2 lakh citizens. Evacuation efforts used alternate routes through Saudi Arabia and Oman, while airports in Kuwait and parts of Bahrain and Iraq remain closed. Hundreds of Indians were moved from Iran via land borders into Armenia and Azerbaijan, reflecting the scale of the regional disruption.
With shipping through the Hormuz Strait severely disrupted, Iran has reportedly placed conditions for reopening the passage, including easing sanctions and returning seized assets. Analysts warn that prolonged conflict could destabilize global energy trade and intensify pressure on Washington.
In a symbolic move, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wished Iranian citizens a happy Nowruz, signaling that Israel distinguishes between the Iranian public and hardline leadership. The message sought to soften public sentiment amid ongoing hostilities.
Back home, the Election Commission ordered fresh administrative and police transfers in West Bengal, including senior ADG appointments. TMC criticized the move as politically motivated, while BJP and Left parties called it necessary for a fair poll process.
Veteran Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar clarified his controversial ?neech? remark about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he was referring to ?low character,? not caste. He also raised questions about the Ram Mandir inauguration being led by a serving prime minister.
In Uttar Pradesh, IAS officer Abhishek Prakash, suspended last year on bribery allegations, has been reinstated after a High Court order quashed the charge sheet for lack of evidence. The government said the inquiry will continue, but the return has sparked debate on accountability.
Iran?s foreign minister took aim at U.S. policy on Russian oil, accusing Washington of strong-arming countries for months and then seeking their cooperation due to war-driven market pressures. The U.S. has temporarily eased restrictions to allow limited purchases through April, a move seen as pragmatic but politically sensitive.
