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United States Donald Trump claimed that Iran’s “new regime president” has asked for a ceasefire. It was not immediately clear who Trump was referring to, as the current Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, has held the post since July 2024.
Trump described the Iranian president as “much less radicalised and far more intelligent than his predecessors”. However, he said the US would consider the request only once the Strait of Hormuz is “open, free, and clear”.
Trump warned that until that happens, the US was “blasting Iran into oblivion, or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages”.
However, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps asserted that the Strait of Hormuz is “firmly and dominantly” under its control and “will not be opened to the enemies of this nation by the ridiculous displays of the US President”. Read on.
The price of commercial liquefied petroleum gas was increased by Rs 195.5 amid a surge in global energy prices triggered by the conflict in West Asia. In Delhi, a 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder now costs Rs 2,078.5.
The rate of domestic cooking LPG, last increased by Rs 60 per 14.2-kg cylinder on March 7, remained unchanged. It costs Rs 913 per 14.2-kg cylinder in the national capital.
State-owned Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum revise the prices of Aviation Turbine Fuel and LPG on the first day of each month based on international benchmarks and the exchange rate.
Energy supplies to India have been disrupted since the conflict in West Asia broke out on February 28, due to Iran having blocked the strategically crucially Strait of Hormuz. Read more.
The Union government limited the increase in the rate of aviation turbine fuel for domestic airlines to 25%. Foreign routes will pay for the full increase in rates consistent with what they pay globally, the petroleum ministry said.
The development came after an increase in the prices of jet fuel notified earlier in the day amid disruption of energy supplies caused by the conflict in West Asia.
The aviation turbine fuel price list published by Indian Oil, the country’s largest public sector oil marketing company, initially showed an increase of about 115% on Wednesday for some categories of flights.
Later in the day, the petroleum ministry said that while prices for domestic markets had been expected to rise by over 100%, only a “partial and staggered” increase of 25% had been implemented. Read on.
The Lok Sabha passed a bill recognising Amaravati as the sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh. The Telugu Desam Party, Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress supported the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Amendment Bill, while the YSR Congress Party opposed it.
The Congress said it supports Amaravati as the permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh, but also called for the state to be given special status.
BJP MP Chief Minister Ramesh said that an earlier proposal by the YSR Congress to declare three cities as capitals was “illogical and irrational”, and that the new bill would “ensure that no one will play with the capital of Andhra Pradesh”.
The YSR Congress said that promises to those who gave up their land, such as free developed plots and a housing scheme, had not been met. It argued that the proposed law would have no meaning unless farmers’ interests were protected. Read more.
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