A major fire broke out on Monday at the Refinery-cum-Petrochemical Complex located in Pachpadra in Rajasthan’s Balotra district. Soon after the incident, thick plumes of black smoke were seen rising from the industrial complex, creating alarm in the surrounding area. Firefighting vehicles were immediately rushed to the site, and emergency response teams began operations to control the blaze. As of now, efforts to douse the fire are still underway, and officials have not yet confirmed the cause of the incident. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely, and further updates are expected as the operation progresses.
In a separate incident earlier, another significant fire erupted at a garbage dumping yard in the Mandholi drains area of the city. The fire quickly spread across the site, causing panic among nearby residents. Valuable composting machinery worth several lakhs of rupees was destroyed in the blaze. Locals, upon noticing dense smoke and flames, promptly informed the fire brigade. Fire tenders reached the location without delay, and firefighters made strenuous efforts to bring the situation under control.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that strong winds played a major role in accelerating the spread of the fire, which quickly engulfed multiple machines stationed at the yard. Out of three composting units used for processing waste into manure, two were completely gutted, while the remaining one sustained heavy damage. The incident has led to substantial financial losses, though exact estimates are still being assessed. Thick smoke from the fire spread across the area, affecting visibility and causing inconvenience to residents nearby. According to fire brigade driver Sumer Singh, timely action by the team helped contain the fire before it could escalate into a larger disaster.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
As the two-week ceasefire window in West Asia approaches its end on April 22, India has brought back over 11 lakh passengers from the region through ongoing flight operations from multiple countries and alternative routes. According to Aseem Mahajan, Joint Secretary (Gulf) in the Ministry of External Affairs, shared during a press briefing in New Delhi on Monday, these evacuations have been carried out since February 28, with airlines continuing limited commercial services depending on airspace availability and safety conditions. He said that around 11,30,000 passengers have travelled from the region to India so far, and approximately 110 flights are scheduled from the UAE to India on the day of the briefing.
He further noted that flights are operating from Saudi Arabia and Oman to various Indian cities, while Qatar’s partially open airspace is allowing Qatar Airways to run around 10–11 flights to India. Bahrain has also kept its airspace open, and Gulf Air plans to resume limited services, including non-scheduled flights from Dammam in Saudi Arabia to India.
Mahajan added that Iran’s airspace remains partly open for cargo and charter flights, and Indian missions are helping citizens travel via Armenia and Azerbaijan. So far, 2,423 Indians, including students and fishermen, have exited Iran through these routes. He also mentioned that Iraq’s airspace is open with limited regional flights, while Kuwait’s airspace remains closed, with airlines like Jazeera Airways and Kuwait Airways operating non-scheduled flights from Dammam. Israel’s airspace is open with restricted operations, and India is assisting nationals in travelling via Jordan and Egypt.
The MEA said it is closely monitoring the evolving situation in West Asia to ensure the safety and welfare of the large Indian diaspora. A dedicated control room is functioning round-the-clock in coordination with Indian missions to provide assistance and respond to queries. Special attention is also being given to Indian seafarers with support from local authorities.
Officials also noted that National Security Advisor Ajit Doval recently visited Saudi Arabia, where discussions focused on regional developments and strengthening bilateral ties. The ministry emphasized that continued engagement with countries in the region is vital to safeguard India’s strategic and economic interests amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from YoutubePIBIndia.
India and South Korea agreed on Monday to significantly expand economic cooperation across sectors such as energy, critical minerals, shipbuilding, semiconductors, and steel, with a goal of doubling bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030. Both sides also decided to revive and strengthen negotiations to upgrade their 2010 trade agreement, as India seeks a more balanced trade relationship while South Korea pushes for better access to India’s rapidly growing market.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, on a three-day visit to India—the first such visit by a South Korean president in eight years—said the two countries aim to create a “new engine for shared growth” by enhancing their economic partnership. He announced the formation of a ministerial-level economic cooperation committee and said cooperation would be expanded in nuclear energy, clean energy, trade, and investment. Both nations also agreed to work together to ensure stable supplies of energy and key materials like naphtha amid global supply concerns.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the visit as highly significant, stating that the partnership is being positioned to achieve the $50 billion trade target by 2030, up from about $27 billion currently. India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal also held talks with his South Korean counterpart to explore ways to revamp the trade pact and deepen collaboration in green energy, industry, and digital trade.
Around 250 South Korean business leaders are expected to attend a joint forum, including representatives from major companies such as Samsung, Hyundai, and LG. About 20 business agreements are expected to be signed covering shipbuilding, energy, and digital technology. POSCO Holdings announced plans for a joint steel plant with JSW in Odisha, with an estimated investment of $1.09 billion by 2031 for a 6-million-ton capacity facility. Officials also noted concerns over India’s trade deficit with South Korea, with Seoul maintaining a significant surplus last year. After his India visit, President Lee is scheduled to travel to Vietnam.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
India has become one of OpenAI’s fastest-growing AI markets, with weekly active users rising sharply and reportedly crossing 100 million. It is now the company’s second-largest market after the United States, with strong usage in areas like coding, reasoning, and data-heavy tasks. The key question is no longer just about adoption, but whether this large-scale usage in India can be converted into meaningful revenue. For OpenAI, India is emerging as a critical testing ground to understand whether AI can be monetised outside Western markets.
From an investor perspective, the outcome carries high stakes. If successful, India could become a model for expanding AI monetisation across other emerging economies. If not, AI revenue may remain largely dependent on developed markets. At present, India is still primarily a usage-driven market rather than a revenue-driven one. Experts note that while usage generates valuable data and helps improve AI systems, it does not automatically translate into strong monetisation.
OpenAI’s approach in India appears to be built on multiple fronts, including making services more affordable for consumers, focusing on enterprise clients where real revenue is expected, investing in local infrastructure to support performance and data needs, and building an ecosystem through developers and training initiatives.
Despite this strategy, monetisation challenges remain. India’s digital market has historically shown high adoption but lower willingness to pay, with businesses prioritising clear return on investment rather than access alone. While India offers massive scale and strategic value for AI development, turning that scale into consistent revenue remains uncertain and will likely depend on enterprise adoption and real-world business outcomes.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Business Standard.
South Korea has called for stronger cooperation with India in key areas like strategic industries, finance, and emerging technologies, while also appreciating India’s role in maintaining regional and global peace. During a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Lee Jae Myung said both countries will expand collaboration by combining their strengths in sectors such as shipbuilding, AI, digital infrastructure, and finance. He added that this partnership would open new opportunities for Korean companies in India. In finance, both sides agreed to an MOU to support Korean financial institutions entering India and to boost cooperation in fintech and regulatory sharing. In technology, Lee highlighted plans to build a “digital bridge” connecting India’s AI talent with Korea’s advanced infrastructure. On global issues, both leaders discussed instability in West Asia and agreed that restoring peace there is vital for global security and economic stability. Lee also thanked India for its continued support on the Korean Peninsula and expressed hope for its ongoing role in peace efforts. The two countries also decided to set up an Industrial Cooperation Committee and accelerate negotiations to upgrade their trade agreement to strengthen investment and trade ties.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Youtube/@NarendraModi.
In “Made in SG,” Melanie Oliveiro interviews the co-founders of W:RLD, a new menswear label from Singapore created for modern men in hot, fast-moving urban environments. Lucas Yong and Roger Poon share the inspiration behind starting the brand and how they teamed up with other co-founders to bring W:RLD to life. They also discuss the pieces in their debut collection, including blazers, trousers, shirts, and T-shirts, which are crafted using advanced fabric technologies designed to regulate heat, moisture, and odour.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
Donald Trump continues to provoke strong reactions from his critics, yet they rarely seem to affect him politically. The bigger question now is whether his own MAGA supporters are beginning to turn away. Amid controversies involving the Epstein files, his actions regarding Iran, and a recent post viewed by some as blasphemous—showing him portrayed as Jesus—there are growing signs of tension within his base. Jonathan Freedland discusses with Rolling Stone’s Nikki McCann Ramírez the series of scandals surrounding Trump, increasing criticism from prominent MAGA figures, and what it could mean when a personality-driven movement starts losing faith in its central figure.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian
In “Made in SG,” Melanie Oliveiro interviews author K. C. Vijayan about his biography The Benjamin Sheares Story: From Pioneering Gynaecologist to Singapore President. The book offers a vivid and humanising account of Benjamin Sheares, Singapore’s second President and a prominent figure in the Eurasian community, tracing his journey from working in busy maternity wards during the baby boom era to serving as President of Singapore from 1971 to 1981 at the Istana.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.
Myanmar’s military leader Min Aung Hlaing has been sworn in as president, marking a continuation of his authority from a civilian position five years after seizing power in a military coup. The ceremony, held in the capital Naypyidaw, was presented as a celebratory parliamentary event, where the 69-year-old took the presidential oath, pledging to uphold the enduring values of justice, liberty, and equality. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman discuss potential policy shifts and international reactions to his reappointment with CNA’s ASEAN Senior Correspondent Leong Wai Kit.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
