Your Monday Updates: 📰 Kickstart Your Week Well Informed

Hello Otter community!

In today’s edition: BJP’s election promises are doubling down on senior citizens and small entrepreneurs with Modiji’s reforms “guarantee”; Meanwhile, India’s oil, air travel, and citizens abroad face the heat of escalating Middle East conflicts; But, we have our own firearms problem in Manipur; A death that revives the memory of Sarabhjit’s killing in Pakistan; Indore’ and Kotas massive fire incident; The ‘talk only’ social media app;

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS

1. Election fever heats up 🌡️🗳️: PM Modi to rally in Tirunelveli, Rahul Gandhi gears up for Kozhikode event 🎙️🌟. BJP unveils "Modi ki Guarantee 2024," promising major reforms and free health coverage for seniors 💼🏥

2. Online gaming industry to lobby new government for tax relief 🎮: Seeks GST shift from face value to revenue amidst survival fears ⚖️📉

3. Indore blaze averted 🚒🔥: Quick action saves lives as fire engulfs rooftop restaurant and offices, no injuries reported 🏢👨‍🚒

4. Hostel horror: 8 students injured in Kota blaze, short circuit suspected; Lack of fire safety measures exposed 🔥

5. Manipur's struggle for peace: Drop boxes for return of snatched weapons amid election tensions 🔫⚔️📦

6. Justice served: ⚰️ Sarabjit Singh's alleged attacker and LeT associate Amir Sarfaraz Tamba shot dead in Lahore

7. Text AI Saarthi to report crime: 🤖 Andaman and Nicobar police introduce 'island's Cyber Saarthi' chatbot to combat cyber crimes 💬🔒

#MiddleEastImpactOnIndia

1. Middle East conflict escalates, India on alert 🚨🌍: Iran retaliates against Israel, raising fears of wider conflagration and impacting India's oil supply 🛢️🔥

2. Middle East tensions impact flights: Air India and Vistara avoid Iranian airspace 🌍✈️

3. India to secure the release of 17 Indian crew members from Iran-seized ship 🚢🇮🇳

4. Indian economic interests in Iran at stake: 😟 Including commodities trade, investment, and infrastructure development and ⚓️ the Chabahar port development, a key project in Sistan-Balochistan

THE MARKET MOVEMENT

1. Oil & Gas: Piped gas providers surge as BJP manifesto fuels hope for energy sector expansion 🔥📈 ONGC shares surge 3.63% despite weak market, propelling BSE oil & gas index recovery

2. Auto-Ancillary: Ramkrishna Forgings surges 3% on Rs 270 crore orders for Vande Bharat trains 🚄

3. Energy: IREDA drops 8% as 3 mutual funds exit; Recovery seen off day’s lows

4. Healthcare: Aster DM Healthcare stock soars 14% to record high on special dividend announcement 📈

5. Power: Reliance Power shares drop nearly 5% after completing sale of wind power project to JSW Renewables 🔻 

6. Precious Metals: Senco Gold shines bright, reports 28% revenue growth for FY24 and 39% YoY growth for Q4 💎 🟡 

GEOPOLITICS SPOTLIGHT

1. Global leaders condemn Iran's aerial assault on Israel, call for immediate de-escalation 🌍🚫💥

2. Israel-Iran Tensions: Hamas offers a ceasefire proposal demanding 6-week halt before releasing hostages. 🕊️🔒

3. US destroys over 80 Iranian UAVs and ballistic missiles aimed at Israel, Pentagon confirms 🚀💥"

4. President Biden seeks $14 billion in aid for Israel, as US prepares a response to Iranian aggression 💬

5. China's Central Bank holds key policy rate steady amidst maturing loans 💰🏦 Less cash in the banks

TECH NEXUS

1. Apple CEO Tim Cook engages with Vietnam's community, highlights local partnerships 🍏🇻🇳

2. Losing to Android: Apple's iPhone shipments dropped nearly 10% in Q1 even as the smartphone industry rebounds 📉📱

3. Meta expands use of generative AI, testing Meta AI chatbot on WhatsApp and Instagram search bar integration 🤖🔍

4. Spotify explores mixing tools for users to remix songs directly on the platform 🎧🎶

5. Tesla slashes Full Self-Driving subscription price to $99 per month in push for wider adoption 🚗🤖

6. Data-as-a-commodity: Startup Vana lets users monetize their own data for AI training 🤖💰

7. Just talk: Airchat, the social media app, is encouraging authentic conversations through audio 🗣️