Evening News Report: IRCTC directs station kitchens to use microwaves, induction cookers; PM Modi assures more help for Indians stranded in Gulf and Gulf

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IRCTC asks suppliers to change cooking methods as Iran war disrupts LNG supplies

Indian Railways has asked station food outlet licensees to switch to alternative cooking methods such as microwaves and induction cooktops amid reports of reduced LNG supplies due to conflicts in West Asia. The directive, issued by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, applies to food courts, refreshment rooms and Jan Aahar shops inside railway stations as power supply disruptions in the Middle East affected India’s energy supply.Read more

PM Modi pledges help to Indians stranded in Gulf amid Middle East crisis

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the Center would provide all possible assistance to Indians stranded in the Gulf amid the ongoing Middle East crisis, adding that the government was closely monitoring the developments. Addressing a rally in Kochi, he said India would not abandon its citizens abroad and was working to ensure support from Indians in West Asia.Read more

Where is the Supreme Leader of Iran? Official hints at Mojtaba Khamenei’s condition

Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is “safe and well”, the president’s son has confirmed, despite reports that he has been injured in ongoing clashes with the United States and Israel. The statement comes as uncertainty remains over the cleric’s whereabouts after not being seen in public for several days. Yusuf Pezeshkian, the son of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, said that after hearing rumors that Mojtaba Khamenei was injured, he checked with his contacts. He later said they confirmed Khamenei was “safe and sound.”Read more

Report says Iran is about to acquire China’s “aircraft carrier killer” missiles

A report suggests that Tehran is close to acquiring one of China’s most feared anti-ship weapons – the CM-302, often referred to as the “carrier killer” – just days before tensions escalate between Iran, the United States and Israel. The deal for the missile, an export version of the YJ-12, was close to completion before Beijing publicly denied the claim, according to reports cited by the South China Morning Post.Read more

India buys 30 million barrels of Russian crude oil after US exemption

According to Bloomberg, India bought about 30 million barrels of unsold Russian crude after the United States granted a 30-day exemption to buy crude oil that had been stuck at sea. The report said Indian refiners quickly secured cargoes already parked in Asian waters, providing an immediate alternative when Middle East oil flows were disrupted.Read more