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New Delhi, Apr 28 (BNP): Flight operations between India and Gulf countries are expected to further normalise as airspace conditions across West Asia continue to improve, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Monday.

The MEA informed that airlines such as Air India and IndiGo are planning to resume services between India and Qatar in a phased manner. Qatar Airways has already restarted limited flights as Qatar’s airspace has partially reopened.

Key Developments in the Region

• Around 105 flights are expected between the UAE and India amid limited operations from Dubai and Abu Dhabi
• Services continue from Saudi Arabia and Oman to India
• Kuwait airspace has reopened; Jazeera Airways and Kuwait Airways have resumed limited India-bound flights
• Bahrain operations remain active through Gulf Air
• Iraq and Israel are operating limited regional services enabling onward travel to India

Iran’s airspace remains partially restricted, with only cargo and charter operations permitted. Indian nationals have been advised to avoid travel to Iran and, if required, leave via land routes with embassy assistance.

Indian Nationals Assisted

Indian missions continue to actively support citizens in the region. So far, 2,445 Indian nationals have been evacuated from Iran through land borders.

Since February 28, nearly 12.96 lakh passengers have travelled from the Gulf region to India.

Indian embassies and consulates remain operational round the clock, providing helpline support, coordinating with local authorities, and issuing regular travel advisories to ensure the safety of Indian nationals abroad.

Mumbai,Apr28 (BNP): In a tragic incident, four members of a family in South Mumbai’s Pydhonie area died after reportedly falling ill with vomiting and diarrhea following a meal at home. Police have registered an accidental death report and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The deceased have been identified as Abdullah Dokadia (40), his wife Nasreen (35), and their daughters Aisha (16) and Zainab (13). The family was residing in the Mughal Building at Ghati Galli in the Pydhonie locality.

According to preliminary information, the family allegedly consumed biryani followed by watermelon before their health suddenly deteriorated. They reportedly developed symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea soon afterwards.

Police officials said food samples have been collected from the residence and sent for forensic examination to determine whether food contamination or any other factor caused the deaths. The bodies have also been sent for post-mortem examination.

The incident has sent shockwaves through the local community, while authorities await medical and forensic reports to establish the exact cause of death.

Bhubaneswar/Chhatrapur, Apr 28 (BNP): Odisha has carried out its first-ever statewide census of house sparrows for 2025–26, recording a total population of 83,576 birds across various districts.

The survey was conducted by Bhubaneswar-based organisation Wildlife Odisha Foundation, marking a significant step in tracking the status of the once-common urban bird species.

According to the findings, house sparrows were spotted in both rural and urban habitats across the state, indicating their continued presence despite concerns over declining populations in many parts of the country.

Conservation experts said the exercise will help establish a baseline for future studies and support efforts to protect biodiversity and urban bird habitats. They added that such data-driven monitoring is important for understanding environmental changes and guiding conservation strategies.

Officials involved in the study noted that the census highlights the importance of citizen participation and awareness in wildlife conservation, especially for species closely associated with human settlements.

The initiative is expected to be continued in the coming years to monitor trends and assess changes in sparrow populations across the state.

New Delhi/Leh,Apr28 (BNP): In a landmark administrative move, the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh has approved the creation of five new districts—Nubra, Sham, Changthang, Zanskar, and Drass—raising the total number of districts in the Union Territory from two to seven.

The decision is aimed at decentralising governance, improving administrative efficiency, and bringing government services closer to people living in Ladakh’s remote and far-flung Himalayan regions. The existing districts of Leh and Kargil will now be joined by the five newly carved districts.

Officials said the reorganisation is expected to significantly reduce travel time for residents who currently have to cover long distances to access district headquarters and government offices. Faster service delivery, better implementation of welfare schemes, and improved access to public services are among the key objectives of the expansion.

The move is also aligned with the Centre’s broader vision of strengthening grassroots governance and ensuring balanced regional development in strategically important border areas. The proposal had earlier received approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs in August 2024.

Apart from administrative convenience, the creation of new districts is expected to open fresh avenues for infrastructure development, employment generation, tourism promotion, and local economic growth.

The decision has been welcomed as a transformative step that will strengthen governance and accelerate progress across the Union Territory of Ladakh.

Bhubaneswar, Apr 28 (BNP): The Day 3 action of the Junior & Senior Artistic Gymnastics National Championships 2026–27 saw strong performances across categories, with young athletes and senior teams delivering closely fought contests at the national level.

In the Junior Men’s Artistic Gymnastics (MAG) All-Around final, Harschit Damodaran of Uttar Pradesh secured the gold medal with a total score of 73.700, displaying consistency and control across all apparatus.

Akshat Bajaj of Delhi claimed the silver medal with 69.866 points, while SK Nabigh Ali of West Bengal finished third with 69.767 points, completing a closely contested podium finish.

In the Senior Men’s Team event, the Railways Sports Promotion Board delivered a dominant performance to win gold with a total score of 220.533 points. The Services Sports Control Board secured silver with 211.767 points, while Maharashtra took bronze with 211.203 points.

The championship in Bhubaneswar continues to highlight the growing depth of gymnastics talent in India, with athletes showing improved technique, consistency, and competitiveness across both junior and senior categories.

Bhubaneswar, Apr 28 (BNP): Parts of Odisha are likely to experience a mix of adverse weather conditions over the coming days, including thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds, and rising temperatures, according to the latest forecast from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The weather office has issued a Yellow Warning (Be Aware) for several districts, advising residents to remain cautious as unstable atmospheric conditions are expected to persist.

Meteorologists said isolated thunderstorms accompanied by strong winds may occur in parts of the state, while heatwave-like conditions could continue in some interior regions due to rising daytime temperatures.

Authorities have urged people to take necessary precautions, especially during thunderstorm activity, and avoid sheltering under trees or weak structures during lightning events.

Officials added that the fluctuating weather pattern is typical of the pre-monsoon season, when rapid changes in temperature often trigger localized storms across eastern India.

The IMD is closely monitoring the situation and is expected to issue updated advisories depending on evolving weather conditions.

Jerusalem, Apr 28 (BNP): In a major political development in Israel, two prominent leaders—former Prime Ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid—announced on Sunday that they will join forces for the elections scheduled later this year in an effort to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The two leaders said they plan to merge their respective parties into a single political faction to be headed by Bennett, describing the alliance as a partnership between the political centre and the right. The move is being seen as a significant attempt to unite Israel’s fragmented opposition against Netanyahu’s long-standing leadership.

Bennett and Lapid had previously served as Prime Ministers under a rotation agreement as part of the coalition government formed in 2021, which ended Netanyahu’s 12-year rule at the time. Bennett served first, followed by Lapid, before fresh elections returned Netanyahu to office.

Addressing supporters, Bennett said that if elected, the new government would establish a state commission of inquiry on its first day to investigate the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel, which triggered the ongoing war. The issue has continued to generate political pressure on Netanyahu’s government.

Lapid called for broader political unity, saying Israel’s centre must rally together in the national interest. Despite ideological differences—Bennett being viewed as right-leaning and Lapid as more moderate—the two leaders highlighted their previous successful working relationship.

Political analysts believe the alliance could reshape the upcoming electoral contest by presenting a stronger and more unified challenge to Netanyahu’s government.