Read today's Mint e-paper here: https://epaper.livemint.com

➡️India's service sector slows as Iran war dents demand
➡️BofA cuts Indian cos' earnings estimates
➡️Govt eyes biodegradable sachets to tackle plastic litter surge
➡️India raises gas supply for fertilisers companies
➡️Serum Institute, Trivitron in talks to take MyLab global

#WATCH | Washington, DC: US President Donald Trump says, "... This is a critical period... They asked for an extension of seven days; I gave them 10 days... They have till tomorrow. Now we will see what happens... After that, they are going to have no bridges. They are going to have no power plants. Stone ages."

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman in New Delhi today. What's on the agenda?

https://www.livemint.com/news/india/bangladesh-fm-khalilur-rahman-in-new-delhi-today-whats-on-the-agenda-energy-crisis-lpg-prices-oil-prices-ganga-treaty-11775528088188.html

Decades of political uncertainty over Andhra Pradesh's capital have come to an end as President Droupadi Murmu granted assent to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Amendment Act 2026, formally enshrining Amaravati as the state's sole and permanent capital.

Read more: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/amravati-gets-legal-status-as-andhra-capital-after-president-droupadi-murmu-signs-landmark-amendment-act-11775532739177.html

#MintExclusive | Air India chief executive Campbell Wilson has stepped down from the helm of India’s second-largest airline, and is currently serving his notice period, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said.

Mint independently could not ascertain when Wilson’s notice ends, or whether the Tata Group has found a successor to steer the airline. An email sent to Air India seeking comment went unanswered.

Read more: https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/exclusive-air-india-ceo-campbell-wilson-resigns-amid-losses-operational-setbacks-11775494586493.html

🚨 Mint Data Bites | India is among top exporters of digitally-delivered services

For all the latest business/finance/markets news updates, visit: http://livemint.com

🚨 Consumers face steep increases across popular models as chip shortages and rising commodity costs push prices higher. Analysts warn of more hikes to come.

Read more:https://www.livemint.com/s/1QmEQOv

Kim Jong Un said very nice thing about me but he calls Biden ‘mentally retarded person’: Trump

There’s no doubt the Iran war is reinforcing China’s favoured narrative: that the US under President Donald Trump is a destabilizing force, while Beijing is a reliable pillar of the international order.

But ensuring that the war is not prolonged further is in Chinese interest & its has an incentive to find the solution.

Watch!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KD_iw7N6G8

Aman Gupta's OffBeat Studios raises ₹100 Crore in seed funding led by Bessemer Venture Partners

https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/aman-guptas-offbeat-studios-raises-rs-100-crore-in-seed-funding-led-by-bessemer-venture-partners-11775549387282.html

Air India on Tuesday announced further revisions to its fuel surcharge structure across domestic and international routes, amid a global energy crisis triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Read more: https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/air-india-revises-fuel-surcharge-again-amid-iran-us-war-check-latest-rates-for-domestic-international-routes-here-11775547877179.html

Air India CEO Campbell Wilson steps down amid mounting challenges—crash fallout, delays, losses & global disruptions.

Despite a Tata-led revival push, questions remain: what triggered the exit, and who will steer the turnaround now?

Watch!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhoeDKc1rqg

US President Donald Trump pulled back on his threats to launch devastating strikes on Iran late Tuesday, swerving to deescalate the war less than two hours before the deadline he set for Tehran to capitulate or else a “whole civilization will die.”

Read more: https://www.livemint.com/news/us-and-iran-agree-to-2-week-ceasefire-as-trump-seizes-diplomatic-offramp-instead-of-escalation-11775607842565.html

Pakistan's PM Shehbaz Sharif reveals the US and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire. He further said he has invited delegations from both US and Iran to Islamabad on 10 April to finalise a ‘a conclusive agreement’.

Read more: https://www.livemint.com/news/world/pakistan-pm-shehbaz-sharif-posts-for-first-time-after-brokering-ceasefire-check-his-full-tweet-11775606743442.html

In the statement shared by Araghchi, Iran added that 'for a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations.'

Read more: https://www.livemint.com/news/us-news/did-iran-open-the-strait-of-hormuz-heres-what-abbas-araghchi-said-after-trumps-ceasefire-announcement-11775608966749.html

Read today's Mint e-paper here: https://epaper.livemint.com

➡️Data centre surge to spark change in electricity plans
➡️Sebi grants more time for IPOs as volatility spikes
➡️Tata Trusts CEO defends action after Srinivasan, Singh cry foul
➡️Tatas' battery bet Agratas raises $730mn from banks
➡️Street sees future rate hikes while RBI readies pause

The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) monetary policy committee (MPC) on Wednesday kept the repo rate steady at 5.25% and maintained its stance as ‘neutral’.

Read more: https://www.livemint.com/economy/rbi-policy-mpc-repo-rate-india-inflation-gdp-sanjay-malhotra-west-asia-war-11775556079564.html

RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra says, "The Monetary Policy Committee met on 6th, 7th and briefly today in the morning to deliberate and decide on the policy repo rate. After a detailed assessment of the evolving macroeconomic and financial developments and the outlook, the MPC voted unanimously to keep the policy repo rate unchanged under the liquidity facility at 5.25%. Consequently, the STF rate remains at 5% and the MSF rate and the bank rate at 5.5%. The MPC also decided to continue with the neutral strands."

Watch!

As the United States, Israel and Iran agree to a ceasefire, President Donald Trump calls it a ‘big day for World Peace’ and assures that “the US helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz” and “Iran can start the reconstruction process”.

Read more: https://www.livemint.com/news/world/golden-age-for-middle-east-trump-celebrates-ceasefire-vows-us-support-in-hormuz-buildup-11775621774036.html

Elon Musk has launched a fresh new attack on OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and is now looking to get the OpenAI co-founder removed from his role at the company. The billionaire noted in a court filing on Tuesday that the goal of his lawsuit is to “unwind OpenAI’s for-profit conversion and restructuring.”

Musk says this would require the removal of Altman and OpenAI President Greg Brockman from their leadership positions at the AI startup.

https://www.livemint.com/companies/people/elon-musk-wants-to-get-sam-altman-removed-as-ceo-openai-calls-it-harassment-campaign-11775622046867.html

The Iranian Embassy shared a provocative image of Trump kneeling before a Persian king, asserting Iran's historical significance amid tensions.

Read more: https://www.livemint.com/news/trends/ceasefire-iran-posts-provocative-photo-of-donald-trump-kneeling-before-persian-king-internet-goes-wild-11775628817069.html