Morning Digest: Iran’s FM warns any attack on Beirut will trigger ‘full-scale resumption of war’; Delhi Hotel owner arrested after Malviya Nagar fire kills 21, and more

Delhi fire dominates the domestic news cycle

The most urgent India story in the digest is the fire at the Flourish Stay B&B in Malviya Nagar, New Delhi, where 21 people were killed. Delhi Police arrested Lavkesh Bajaj, the owner of the hotel building, hours after the blaze. The report says police had already issued a look-out circular against him and his wife and launched a search operation. A separate item says local residents rushed in to rescue trapped occupants before fire tenders arrived, as smoke spread through the five-storey building.

The account points to apparent safety lapses: the hotel reportedly had only one common entry and exit point and no emergency staircase. That detail gives the story beyond the immediate tragedy a broader public-safety angle, because the loss of life appears linked not only to the fire itself but also to the building’s evacuation setup.

Foreign policy and regional tensions

Another lead item is Iran’s warning that any attack on Beirut would trigger a “full-scale resumption” of the war in West Asia. The digest says the warning came as Israel continued its campaign against Hezbollah, and Iran reiterated that any deal to end the wider conflict must also stop the fighting in Lebanon. The framing shows how the Lebanon theatre remains tied to the wider regional conflict.

Neighbourhood and domestic politics

The digest also notes that Nepal is being described by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “priority partner” after he met Rabi Lamichhane of the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party. The report says the talks touched on development and security cooperation, and that Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal is expected in India this week.

On the domestic political front, the Trinamool Congress dispute is still active. Loyalists of Mamata Banerjee argued that an expelled leader cannot function as Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, after a large bloc of MLAs reportedly backed Ritabrata Banerjee and declared themselves the principal Opposition.

Education ministry under attack

The Congress renewed pressure on Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the CBSE’s on-screen marking system, accusing the ministry of incompetence and corruption. A separate item says the Cockroach Janata Party plans a protest at Jantar Mantar demanding his resignation, linking the criticism to paper leaks, the cancellation of NEET-UG and evaluation problems in Class 12 marking.

The digest closes with two security-related notes: an Indian national was killed in an attack on Kuwait International Airport, and India has received the fourth squadron of Russia-made S-400 air defence systems, which is expected to be deployed soon.