Dgca New Rules: ‘At least 60% seats should be given without charge; flyers of same PNR should be seated together:’ DGCA to airlines

NEW DELHI: Airlines will now have to offer at least 60% seats “on any flight” without any selection charge and passengers travelling on the same PNR — who are usually family members or the travelling in a group — will need to be seated together, “preferably on adjacent seats,” The Directorate General of Civil Aviation…

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Asian stocks today (March 18, 2026): Markets trade in green amid Middle East conflict; HSI remains flat, Nikkei gains over 3%

Asian equities mostly inched higher on Wednesday, tracking a pause in the recent rally in oil prices, even as investors remained cautious amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and awaited signals from the US Federal Reserve on interest rates.As of 9:15 am, Japan’s Nikkei was up 1,245.87 points or 2.32% to 54,946. South Korean…

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Oil price today: Crude relaxes slightly amid Middle East tensions; Brent drops to $102 per barrel

Crude oil prices showed slight relaxation on Wednesday as tensions continue to boil in the Middle East. Brent crude climbed 3.2% to $103.42 a barrel before slipping $1.15, or 1.11%, to $102.27 a barrel, by 0108 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude fell $1.54, or 1.6%, to $94.67. The gains initially marked oil’s second-highest close…

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Can your UAE employer stop your salary if you are stranded outside the emirates amid Iran vs US-Israel war? Here’s what the law really says

UAE Labour Law: Can Employers Withhold Salary for Stranded Employees Amidst Iran vs US-Israel War? As geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and Iran vs US-Israel war disrupt travel and leave thousands of expatriates unable to return to the UAE, a pressing question is surfacing across workplaces and WhatsApp groups alike: Can your employer legally…

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Decoded: What does Donald Trump’s move to delay meeting with Xi mean for US-China trade ties?

Xi Jinping and Donald Trump (File photo) US President Donald Trump’s request to postpone his planned summit in Beijing with Chinese leader Xi Jinping has cast a shadow over bilateral engagement that had remained stable since their last meeting in October, though analysts believe the delay is unlikely to trigger a major rupture in ties,…

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Mutual fund Industry AUM hits record Rs 82 lakh crore in February, SIP flows stay strong

India’s mutual fund industry assets under management (AUM) rose to Rs 82.03 lakh crore in February 2026, registering a 27.1 per cent increase from Rs 64.53 lakh crore a year earlier, according to data released by Franklin Templeton report.The growth was driven largely by sustained inflows into equity-oriented schemes and continued expansion in systematic investment…

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Beyond oil & gas: How Middle East conflict impacts India – from gold & diamonds to aircraft & fertilizers

10% of India’s non-energy imports in 2024 originated from the Middle East region. (AI image) The Middle East conflict has brought into focus the vulnerability of countries around the world in terms of their dependency on oil and gas. India, the world’s fifth largest economy, is also the third largest importer of oil. A big…

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Universal health coverage by 2033 on govt roadmap, says FM Sitharaman

Health insurance has become a priority area for the government, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday, expressing hope that the country would achieve universal insurance coverage by 2033 as the sector expands its reach.Replying to supplementary queries during Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, Sitharaman said the insurance industry had already made significant progress,…

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