A shortage of commercial LPG cylinders has forced many PG accommodations in Bengaluru to change meal plans and reduce gas use.   The PG Owners Welfare Association–Bangalore has advised PG kitchens to serve only two meals from Monday to Friday. Three meals may continue on weekends. Residents are also encouraged to carry lunch boxes during weekdays.   PGs have been asked to avoid gas-heavy dishes such as dosa, poori and chapati. Instead, kitchens may serve rice-based items like bisibelebath, chitranna and puliyogare.   Association president Arun Kumar said many PGs are struggling to get commercial cylinders. “Commercial cylinders are not available in the current situation,” he said.   The association has also suggested using induction stoves and electric rice cookers to reduce LPG use. (PC: India Today)

A Thai cargo ship heading to Gujarat’s Kandla port was hit by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, causing a fire on board. The vessel, identified as Mayuree Naree, had departed from Khalifa Port in the United Arab Emirates. Images released by the Royal Thai Navy showed thick smoke rising from the ship after the strike. Crew members deployed life rafts and evacuated the vessel. The Omani navy launched a rescue operation soon after the incident. Officials said 20 crew members were rescued from the water. Three sailors are still missing. “The specific details and cause of the attack are currently under investigation,” the Thai navy said. The attack comes amid rising tensions and security risks in the Gulf due to the ongoing Iran-US conflict. (PC: NDTV)

Japan will begin releasing part of its oil reserves from March 16 as supply concerns grow due to the Strait of Hormuz blockade. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the country plans to release 15 days of private-sector reserves and about one month of state reserves. The move comes as the Iran-US conflict continues to disrupt oil shipments through the key waterway. Nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz. There are still no signs that commercial ships can safely resume sailing through the route. Iran and its allies have threatened to target vessels in the area. The G7 countries are also discussing the possible use of strategic reserves to stabilise oil markets. (PC: HT)

Three commercial vessels were damaged in the Strait of Hormuz after being struck by what officials called “unknown projectiles”. At least one cargo ship caught fire, with images showing thick smoke rising from the vessel. Rescue teams moved to help 23 crew members on board one of the damaged ships. The incident came hours after the US military said it had “eliminated” 16 Iranian mine-laying boats in the area. President Donald Trump had earlier warned Iran not to place mines in the key shipping route. Tensions across the region remain high. Iran has continued strikes in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait, while Israel carried out fresh attacks in Iran and Lebanon. (PC: BBC)

  Lawyers visiting the Delhi High Court canteen may have to skip hot meals for now due to an LPG shortage. The canteen has stopped serving main course dishes such as biryani, dal makhani and shahi paneer.   A notice placed in the canteen said, “Due to the unavailability of the LPG gas cylinder at present, we are unable to prepare and serve the main course items.”   Only food that does not require cooking gas is being served. These include sandwiches, salads and fruit chaat.   Advocate Satyam Singh Rajput said it was ironic that lawyers arguing cases all day could not get a hot meal.   The disruption comes amid fuel supply concerns linked to the ongoing Middle East conflict. (PC: NDTV)

Domestic stock markets ended sharply lower on Wednesday as heavy selling in banking, auto and IT stocks dragged indices down. The BSE Sensex closed 1,342 points lower, while the Nifty 50 slipped below the 23,900 mark. Financial stocks led the losses. Shares of Bajaj Finance fell about 5 percent. HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Axis Bank also ended in the red. Auto stocks such as Mahindra & Mahindra, Bajaj Auto and Maruti Suzuki declined. IT majors Tata Consultancy Services and Infosys also traded lower. Rahul Singh of Tata Asset Management said, “Recent geopolitical developments in the Middle East have led to an increase in the risk premium for Indian equities.” He added that concerns over crude prices and foreign fund outflows continue to affect market sentiment. (PC: India Today)

Four people, including an Indian national, were injured after two drones fell near Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates. The Dubai Media Office said the drones were shot down before landing near the airport area.   Officials said airport operations were not disrupted and flights continued as normal.   The incident comes as tensions rise across the Gulf after Iran launched waves of missiles and drones toward several countries in the region.   Authorities said security forces are intercepting incoming threats.   Meanwhile, a precautionary shutdown was reported at the Ruwais refinery after a drone strike caused a fire in the nearby industrial zone.

US President Donald Trump has announced a new oil refinery project in Brownsville, Texas, and thanked Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries for a “tremendous investment”. Trump said the refinery will be the first new US refinery built in about 50 years. The project will be developed by America First Refining. Construction is expected to begin in the April–June quarter of 2026. Trump described it as a “historic $300 billion deal”. Company information shows the figure reflects the value of crude oil the refinery will process and the fuels it will produce over about 20 years. The refinery is designed to process US shale oil and support domestic energy supply. (PC: X)

The Supreme Court has allowed passive euthanasia for Harish Rana, a 32-year-old man who has been in a coma since a fall in 2013 left him with severe brain injuries. The ruling is the first court-ordered passive euthanasia case in India.   A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan said clinically assisted nutrition counts as medical treatment and can be withdrawn if medical boards approve it.   “The best interest of the patient is the only interest to be considered,” Justice Viswanathan said.   Justice Pardiwala said Rana had been “stripped of a voice to voice his anguish.”   The court allowed doctors to withdraw treatment in hospital, saying the decision lets him “leave with dignity.” (PC: India Today)

Iran has continued shipping crude oil to China through the Strait of Hormuz even as the war with the U.S. and Israel has slowed traffic in the key waterway. TankerTrackers said Iran has sent at least 11.7 million barrels of crude through the strait since the conflict began on February 28. All shipments were headed to China. Several vessels switched off their tracking systems after Tehran warned it could attack ships trying to pass through the strait. Shipping data firm Kpler estimates about 12 million barrels have moved through the route during the war. Iran has also restarted limited loading at the Jask terminal on the Gulf of Oman, which can export oil without using the Strait of Hormuz. (PC: CNBC)