The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia has issued an advisory for nationals in the Gulf country, advising the people to remain vigilant and adhere to safety guidelines of the Saudi government.. The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia issued an advisory for Indian nationals on Sunday. (AP). The advisory comes even as Saudi Arabia said its air defences have intercepted and destroyed a drone over the Eastern Province.. “In view of the prevailing situation in the region and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, all Indian Nationals currently in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are advised to continue to remain vigilant, strictly adhere to the safety guidelines prevalent in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and follow advisories issued by the local authorities and the Embassy,” the embassy posted on X.. The advisory said the Indian Embassy in Saudi, consulates and visa services through VFS continue to function normally.. “The Embassy of India, Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah and its outsourced services through VFS, are continuing to function normally and will issue updates and advisories as and when necessary. Consular Camps are being undertaken on a regular basis,” the post added.. Indian and Saudi airlines continue operating as per regular schedules to Indian cities from Jeddah and Madinah, the advisory said.. “While Saudi carriers also continue to operate from Riyadh and Dammam to Indian destinations, Indian carriers have also resumed operations from Riyadh,” it added.. The latest advisory comes a week after the embassy issued an advisory for Indian nationals on similar lines on March 8.. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said he held a telephonic conversation with Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan.. “Had a telecon last night with FM Faisal bin Farhan of Saudi Arabia. Discussed ongoing developments related to the conflict in West Asia,” Jaishankar said in a post on X.. The Indian External Affairs Minister also spoke with the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and discussed the situation in West Asia. 

 New Delhi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday called for enhanced public-private partnership to provide a new direction to the nation’s sports economy.. Rajnath calls for enhanced public-private partnership to boost sports economy. Addressing a gathering at the final match of the Aditya Birla Memorial Polo Cup here, he said, “The government, through a series of initiatives, is fostering a sports culture within the country where athletes and youth have access to opportunities, resources, and get respect.”. Singh called for enhanced public-private partnership in the sector to further elevate India’s prestige on the international stage, and to provide a new direction to the nation’s sports economy.. In the near future, India will “carve out a strong global identity for itself in sports, especially polo”, if the government, the private sector, and various social groups work together, the defence minister asserted.. He said polo is deeply rooted in the nation’s sporting traditions, spanning thousands of years, and can rightfully be designated as a “heritage sport” of India.. Singh noted that the Indian Army has made a significant contribution towards bringing talented players into the sport of polo and in preserving its rich heritage.. “Working in collaboration with the Indian Polo Association, the Indian Army has played a pivotal role in keeping this legacy vibrant and relevant.. “I am confident that, working together, we will foster a positive culture for Polo as well as other sports in India. This will enable our young talent to come to the fore and bring glory to the nation,” he was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the ministry.. Singh said initiatives such as ‘Khelo India’ and the ‘Target Olympic Podium Scheme’, coupled with the unprecedented development of sports infrastructure, have provided the youth with a new platform to excel and move forward.. He added that the ‘National Sports Governance Act’ and the ‘Khelo Bharat Policy’ are set to yield immense benefits for talented athletes, and these measures will foster greater transparency and accountability within sports organisations.. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. 

 External affairs minister S. Jaishankar travelled to Belgium on Sunday to interact with his counterparts from the 27 member states of the European Union, marking his first foreign visit since the start of Israel and the US’s war against Iran last month.. India’s Jaishankar in Belgium for EU Foreign Affairs Council talks, focusing on trade, regional security, and well-being of Indians in West Asia. Jaishankar, who is visiting Brussels at the invitation of European Union foreign and security policy chief Kaja Kallas, will participate in the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting, the External Affairs Ministry said.. During the two-day visit, Jaishankar will also hold meetings with the leadership of the EU and his counterparts from Belgium and other EU member states.. His visit comes in the wake of the India-EU Summit in January, when the two sides concluded negotiations on a free trade deal, and is expected to deepen India’s strategic partnership with the EU.. Ahead of his departure for Brussels, Jaishankar spoke to his counterparts from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to discuss the latest developments surrounding the conflict in West Asia.. Jaishankar said on social media that he and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan exchanged views on various aspects of the regional situation on Saturday night. He said in another post that he had discussed ongoing developments related to the conflict in West Asia with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan on Saturday night.. During an ongoing outreach to the leadership of West Asian countries, the Indian government has emphasised the security and well-being of 10 million Indians living in the region. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are home to close to eight million Indians. 

 Millions of Indians scrambling to secure cooking gas refills have unexpectedly pushed a little-known utility app to the top of the country’s download charts this week. The surge was so sharp that the platform overtook popular apps like ChatGPT, Flipkart and JioHotstar on app stores.. Not ChatGPT or Flipkart, IndianOil One app is India’s top download right now. The official LPG booking platform, IndianOil One, developed by Indian Oil Corporation has climbed to the number one position on the Google Play Store as millions of Indian households attempt to secure gas cylinders during the supply crunch amid West Asia war.. According to download trend tracker Sesortower.com, the IndianOil One app has held the top position in free downloads in India for several consecutive days. On the Google Play Store, it ranked first between March 13 and March 15, while on Apple’s App Store it has remained the most downloaded free app since March 11.. Screengrab from sensortower.com website. What is IndianOil ONE?. IndianOil ONE is a smartphone application developed by Indian Oil Corporation to help customers manage fuel-related services digitally.. Through the app, users can:. Book LPG cylinders. Check booking status and delivery updates. Locate nearby petrol pumps and IndianOil distributors. View LPG connection and account details. Track loyalty points and rewards. The platform effectively serves as a one-stop digital service for IndianOil customers, allowing them to manage LPG and fuel-related requirements without visiting distributors in person.. Tensions in West Asia add to supply worries. The war has affected energy shipments across key maritime routes. Iran has almost blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor through which natural gas shipments from Gulf nations such as Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Oman are transported to global markets.. The disruption has raised concerns over the availability of cooking gas, prompting consumers to rush to book refills.. The sudden rise in demand has triggered panic bookings across the country, placing LPG booking systems under heavy traffic. Consumers are rushing to place refill requests amid fears of delays and possible shortages in deliveries. 

 A disruption in imported natural gas supplies, triggered by constraints on energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, has led to curbs on industrial gas consumption in Gujarat, forcing several factories to scale down production even as authorities allow temporary use of alternate fuels and the Centre moves to secure LPG supplies for households.. Gas supply cuts in Gujarat force factories to scale back output; Centre allows alternate fuels and moves to secure LPG for households (Parveen Kumar/Hindustan Times). The impact is being felt across several gas-intensive sectors, including ceramics, textiles, glass and chemicals. In the Morbi ceramic manufacturing cluster, more than 100 factories that rely on natural gas to run their kilns have shut down production following the reduction in gas supplies.. In Surat, one of the country’s largest textile hubs, thousands of units rely on natural gas for boilers and heating processes. “There are around 55,000 textile units in Surat, of which around 12,000 run on gas. So far, the crisis is not very severe. We have urged the state government to act against those involved in black marketing of LPG cylinders. The industry can be impacted if the war lasts long and no solution is found,” said Ashok Jirawala, president of the Federation of Gujarat Weavers’ Welfare Association.. Also Read: LPG shortage hits Bengal: IIT Kharagpur switches to firewood; hosp, govt canteens alter menus. Some industries have already adjusted production levels following the curbs. In the Vatwa industrial estate on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, which houses more than 250 chemical manufacturing units, several factories have scaled down output. Similar adjustments have been reported from textile processing units and glass factories in South Gujarat.. Almost a fourth of India’s natural gas requirements has been impacted by force majeure conditions enforced by foreign suppliers because of the West Asia conflict, and the government is procuring supplies through alternative routes to overcome the shortfall.. Nearly 50% of India’s oil imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial waterway that has effectively been shut by Iran following the start of its conflict with Israel and the US. Fuel and gas prices have surged, heightening worries in India, which depends on imports to meet around 85% of its energy needs.. Centre prioritises household gas, transport fuel. These curbs follow the Union ministry of petroleum and natural gas’s notification on March 9 of the Natural Gas (Supply Regulation) Order, 2026 under the Essential Commodities Act to regulate natural gas allocation across sectors amid supply disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict.. The order directs that available natural gas be supplied on a priority basis to essential sectors including piped natural gas for households, compressed natural gas used in transport and LPG production.. Under the order, these sectors will recei