Month: March 2026

Iranian media reported on Monday that targeted airstrikes in across Tehran resulted in significant damages as loud explosions rattled the capital, Fars news agency reported.

As per Fars News Agency, the attacks occurred in districts 1, 4, 11, 13 and 21. The attacks targeted expressways with loud sounds of explosions reported.

“In District 13, Pirouzi Street; in District 21, the Garmdareh area; in District 1, Shahid Babaei Expressway and Shahid Langari Street; as well as in District 4, the end of Shahid Babaei Expressway and the Heravi Square area; and in District 11, Hafez Street at the intersection with Jomhouri, tremendous explosion sounds have been reported.”

It added that a child was killed in Khorramabad. Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reported of casualties and extensive damage after air attack hits Iran’s Urmia.

These come after the Israeli Defence Forces on Monday bgan a fresh wave of strikes on targets in Iran. In its statement the IDF said, “IDF launches a wave of extensive strikes targeting infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime in Tehran”

Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed that it carried out the 75th wave of missile strikes of the ongoing retaliatory operation True Promise 4, targeting Israeli military positions and a key United States military installation in Saudi Arabia, the US Prince Sultan Air Base, according to a report by Press TV.

As the conflict between US-Israel and Iran enters its fourth week, the Iranian Armed Forces headquarters has said that it is ready to close the Strait of Hormuz “indefinitely” if the United States threatens to bomb Iranian energy facilities, CNN reported.With escalating tensions, Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned the United States against any misadventures towards Iran and said that if the country’s energy facilities come under attack, American financial entities which finance the military budget, energy and critical infrastructure in the region would be considered legitimate targets for Tehran.

Reiterating its stance, the IRGC warned that Israeli and US forces remain under “constant surveillance” and cautioned that attempts to conceal military assets in civilian areas would not provide protection. It said that “no hiding place or defensive measure will shield the aggressors from accountability,” underscoring its intent to continue operations.

The broader conflict, which began in late February, has seen repeated exchanges of strikes, raising concerns of a wider regional escalation and potential disruptions to global energy supplies and security dynamics in West Asia. (ANI)

The domestic equity markets started the week on a weak note on Monday, witnessing heavy selling pressure as investors shifted towards safer assets amid rising geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran.

The market sentiment turned cautious after US President Donald Trump issued a stern 48-hour ultimatum to Tehran to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, triggering fears of an intensified conflict in the coming days.

Reflecting the nervousness, the Nifty 50 index opened at 22,824.35, declining by 290.15 points or 1.26 per cent, while the BSE Sensex opened at 73,732.58, down by 800.38 points or 1.07 per cent.

Market experts highlighted that global uncertainty is driving investors away from risk assets.

Ajay Bagga, Banking and Market Expert, told ANI, “The global financial landscape is waking up to a Monday morning of extreme volatility as the U.S.-Iran conflict enters a critical, potentially escalatory phase. Investors are fleeing to the safety of the dollar while dumping risk assets across the board. US money market funds AUM has crossed USD 8 trillion as the flight to safety accelerates.”

He further noted that the immediate trigger behind the panic is the looming deadline set by the US President. “Over the weekend, the President issued a stern 48-hour ultimatum to Tehran: fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz–currently operating at just 5 per cent of its pre-war volume–or face the ‘obliteration’ of Iran’s power grid,” he added.

In the commodities market, Brent crude hovered near USD 112 per barrel, while WTI stood at USD 98.50. Despite supply concerns, prices remained volatile as traders balanced fears of supply disruptions against the possibility of a global demand slowdown.

Interestingly, precious metals declined despite the geopolitical tensions. Gold slipped to USD 4,408/ ounce, down around 2 per cent.

Analysts attributed this to a margin call environment, where investors are selling profitable gold positions to cover losses in equities.

On the sectoral front, selling pressure was broad-based across the NSE indices. Nifty Auto declined more than 2 per cent, Nifty FMCG lost 1.22 per cent, while Nifty PSU Bank emerged as the worst performer, falling 2.80 per cent. Nifty IT was down 1.56 per cent, Nifty Oil & Gas slipped 1.38 per cent, and Nifty Consumer Durables declined 1.84 per cent.

Sunil Gurjar, SEBI-registered analyst and Founder of Alphamojo Financial Services, said, “Technically, the index is hovering near crucial support levels, indicating indecision in the market. A breakdown below 22,770 could trigger further downside pressure, while a breakout above 23,800 can lead to fresh upside momentum.”

Global cues remained weak, with major Asian markets trading sharply lower.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index fell more than 4 per cent to 51,280, Singapore’s Straits Times declined 2.20 per cent to 4,839, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index dropped 3.41 per cent to 24,415, Taiwan’s Weighted index lost 2.65 per cent to 32,656, and South Korea’s KOSPI tanked more than 6 per cent to 5,446.

US markets had also ended lower on Friday. The Dow Jones declined 0.96 per cent to close at 45,577, the S&P 500 fell 1.51 per cent to 6,506, and the Nasdaq dropped 2 per cent to settle at 21,647. (ANI)

Union Minister Piyush Goyal arrived in Chennai on Monday to finalise seat-sharing for the upcoming Assembly elections, expressing confidence that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will “sweep” the polls.

Meeting with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State President Nainar Nagenthran, Goyal promised that the alliance is poised to deliver strong governance to the people of both Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

Speaking to reporters, Goyal said, “NDA is going to sweep the elections and give a good government to the people of Puducherry and Tamil Nadu.”

On the seat sharing for the upcoming Assembly elections, Goyal said, “When I used to do the free trade agreements, they never worked with a deadline; I worked for quality, citing we are all together as one family.”

“I am quite confident, given the family relations that we have, the whole NDA works as a family, led by AIADMK’s EPS, Ambumani Ramadoss, TTV Dinakaran, my own party president, Nainar Nagenthran, L Murugan, we are all together as one family, among many other partners, and we will all sit down in a room and decide and let you know today…” On PM Modi’s next visit to Tamil Nadu, he says, “Once we launch our campaign, we will discuss with all the partners and decide on the Prime Minister’s program,” said Goyal.

He asserted that the people of Tamil Nadu want a government that will bring development and change for the farmers, for the fishermen, for the MSMEs.

“Tamil Nadu today is ready for an NDA government, a strong national democratic alliance under the guidance and visionary leadership of PM Modi, who yesterday crossed the record and became the longest serving head of government in the history of India. The people of Tamil Nadu want a government led by the future Chief Minister, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, a government which will bring development for the farmers, for the fishermen, for the MSMEs, for industry, provide jobs to our young men and women, give opportunity for startups to innovate, and provide quality healthcare and quality education, will give houses for the poor, will make sure that everybody gets opportunity in life to prosper and work towards a developed Tamil Nadu.”

Tamil Nadu will go to the polls in a single phase on April 23, with counting scheduled for May 4. The current tenure of the 234-member state assembly ends on May 10.

The main electoral contest is expected between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), which includes Congress, DMDK, and other parties, and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) with BJP and Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) as allies. (ANI)

As the conflict in West Asia and the Gulf region enters its fourth week with no signs of de-escalation, senior officials from various Gulf capitals told The Times of Israel that the countries are now urging Washington to continue striking Iran.

The Times of Israel was told by officials on the condition of anonymity that after being attacked, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain believe that Iran’s military must be cut down before a ceasefire is achieved–with some considering joining the offensive.

This comes despite the frustration in the way the US and Israel are going forward in the conflict in West Asia–yet Gulf countries, especially the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar have expressed the desire to ensure Iran comes out of the conflict with a degraded military that ceases to pose a threat to the Gulf nations.

While Trump has routinely expressed surprise over the spill over of the conflict in the wider region of West Asia and the Gulf, the Gulf countries had largely anticipated the response, which was one of the reasons they opposed its start.

“Ending the war with Iran still in possession of the tools it is currently using to target the GCC would be a strategic disaster,” one of the Gulf officials said.

As per the Times of Israel, all four officials agreed that the US and Israeli strikes were unlikely to bring down Iran’s regime

Another Gulf official said that Iran could be sufficiently deterred and said that the conflict could be dragged on “to a point where there are diminishing returns.” He further speculated that Gulf countries will double down on anti-drone and air defense technology after the war, so that they are better prepared to handle Iranian attacks in the future–which they believe would continue to remain a threat.

The remarks come amid the developing security situation in West Asia and the Gulf.

The broader conflict, which began in late February, has seen repeated exchanges of strikes, raising concerns of a wider regional escalation and potential disruptions to global energy supplies and security dynamics. (ANI)

Aditi Rao Hydari looked stunning as she walked the ramp for designer Satya Paul at the Lakme Fashion Week 2026 on Sunday.

Satya Paul presented the Satya Paul x Aditi Rao Hydari capsule collection at Lakme Fashion Week in partnership with the Fashion Design Council of India.

Marking actor Aditi Rao Hydari’s first foray into fashion design as Co-Creative Director, the runway showcase brought together her creative sensibility with Satya Paul’s distinctive design language.

The collection reflected a shared vision of garments designed for the rhythm of contemporary life. Moving across a variety of silhouettes, the showcase presented a wardrobe that balanced fluid drapes with modern forms, offering pieces that transition seamlessly across occasions and settings, as per the press note by LFW.

Drawing from Satya Paul’s signature use of colour and print, the collection introduced visual motifs such as dragonflies, florals and abstract compositions that appeared across the garments.

These elements were interpreted through prints, surface details and subtle embellishments, creating moments of visual interest

Designed with versatility in mind, the presentation explored multiple expressions of the brand’s design codes. Classic drapes were styled alongside contemporary silhouettes, while layering elements such as sheer bomber jackets and flowing trench coats added dimension to the looks and introduced a modern edge to the collection.

Commenting on her role as Co-Creative Director, Aditi Rao Hydari shares, “Working on this collection felt like a chance to really explore what I love; art, colour, and storytelling, and see that translate into something effortless and playful.. I wanted it to feel easy and authentic to my aesthetic. Creating, with freedom, using fabrics that I love, and forever dreaming and coming up with new design ideas has always been instinctive for me; it feels natural to me and it. empowers me. The fact that femininity, softness and vulnerability can and must co-exist with ferocity, strength and individuality. This is who I am and who I strive to be with every choice and with every creation,” as quoted by the press note.

She continued, “Getting to do this alongside David Abraham and Rakesh Thakore, and with a brand as iconic as Satya Paul, has been incredibly special. The whole process with the team allowed me to look at the saree in a way that felt both expressive and relatable. And seeing it all come together on the ramp, it’s been truly surreal,” as quoted in the press note.

The actress was last seen in the film ‘Gandhi Talks’, which also starred Vijay Sethupathi in the lead role. (ANI)

With the second leg of the Parliament Budget session set to resume today, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will introduce the Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, further to amend the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 and the Companies Act, 2013.

According to the List of Business issued by the Secretary General of Lok Sabha, the Union Finance Minister will also move that the Finance Bill, 2026, which will give effect to the financial proposals of the Central Government for the financial year 2026-2027, be taken into consideration.

The Lok Sabha is scheduled to commence proceedings for the ongoing second phase of the Budget Session at 11 AM today.

Meanwhile, several ministers, including Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Jayant Chaudhary, Shobha Karandlaje, Kirit Vardhan Singh, Sukanta Majumdar, and Harsh Malhotra, are scheduled to lay papers on the table of the House.

The report of the committee on the empowerment of women will be presented by BJP MPs D Purandeswari and Shobhanaben Baraiya. The report will be on the subject ‘Cyber Crimes and Cyber Safety of Women’ pertaining to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

Meanwhile, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MP Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy and YSRCP MP Gumma Thanuja Rani will present the statement of the standing committee on housing and urban affairs. The reports will include final action taken by the government on previous recommendations, including on the subject ‘Evaluation of Implementation of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban)’.

Union Minister of State (MoS) for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary is scheduled to make a statement on action taken by the Government on the recommendations of the Committee on ‘Strengthening Credit Flows to the MSME Sector’, ‘Performance Review and Regulation of Insurance Sector, and ‘Demands for Grants (2025-26)’ pertaining to the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance.

Union Minister of State (MoS) for Corporate Affairs Harsh Malhotra will make a statement on action taken by the Government on the previous recommendations of the Committee on Demands for Grants (2024-25).

Earlier, the Lok Sabha passed the Demands for Grants of various ministries, with Speaker Om Birla applying the guillotine before the House was adjourned till Monday.

After the reply to the debate by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on the working of his Ministry, the Speaker took up demands for grants, which were passed by voice vote. The House had also passed the demands for grants related to the Railway Ministry and the Appropriation (No.2) Bill, 2026, moved by Nirmala Sitharaman.

On March 17, the suspension of eight opposition members was revoked with immediate effect. They were suspended for “unruly” behaviour on February 3.

The second phase of the Budget session is scheduled to go up to April 2, during which essential legislative business and the Union Budget 2026-27 are expected to be addressed primarily. The session, which began on January 28 with the President’s address to a joint sitting of the two Houses, comprises 30 sittings over 65 days up until April 2. (ANI)

Aditya Dhar’s ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’, the second instalment in the Dhurandhar franchise, is continuing its record run at the box office. Adding to the buzz, the celebrity makeup artist Preetisheel Singh shared a behind-the-scenes video, which features Ranveer Singh’s makeup transformation for a scene in the film.

Taking to her Instagram handle, Preetisheel shared a makeup session video of Ranveer Singh, capturing the transformation of the actor into the film’s “Ghost Born of Shadows” look in the film. In the video, the actor was sitting calmly and quietly as a team of artists meticulously painted his face and built the eerie look layer by layer.

While sharing the video, the celebrity makeup stylist wrote, “When your mind grows weary, illusion paints its lies in colours you ache to believe!! Transforming Ranveer Singh into a Ghost born of Shadows! Dhurandhar-The revenge.”

After watching the video, netizens were amazed to see the actor’s transformation, having previously assumed Ranveer’s appearance was achieved through heavy VFX.

“Ohhhh Wowww !! I thought VFX thaaa,” wrote one of the netizens in the comment section of the post. The Jiostudios also chimed in the comment section, writing, “What a GHATAK makeover” to praise the transformation of the actor.

“Mujhe laga AI or CGI hai (I thought it’s AI or CGI),” added another netizen.

‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’, the latest instalment in the franchise, was released in theatres on March 19 and continues to generate significant buzz. While the film has received mixed reactions overall, Singh’s performance has emerged as a major highlight, with many describing it as a career-best turn.

Directed by Aditya Dhar, the film has also garnered praise from members of the film fraternity. Kangana Ranaut lauded Dhar’s achievement, calling him a “superstar filmmaker” and emphasising his growing influence.

She noted that in global cinema, directors such as Steven Spielberg, Quentin Tarantino and Christopher Nolan are often regarded as central creative forces, suggesting Dhar’s success could inspire emerging filmmakers.

Filmmaker SS Rajamouli praised the project for “hitting it out of the park,” while Rakesh Roshan credited it with ushering in “a new era of filmmaking”.

Actors including Mahesh Babu, Jr NTR and Allu Arjun also expressed their admiration. The film features an ensemble cast, including Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Rakesh Bedi and Arjun Rampal, among others. (ANI)

Iran on Sunday issued a stringent warning to the United States, threatening to target critical energy infrastructure across the region in an “irreversible manner” following US President Donald Trump’s 48-hour ultimatum to the Islamic Republic over the Strait of Hormuz.

In a post on X, the speaker of Iran’s Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, stated that any attack on Iranian power plants or infrastructure would prompt retaliatory strikes on regional energy facilities.

“Immediately after the power plants and infrastructure in our country are targeted, the critical infrastructure, energy infrastructure, and oil facilities throughout the region will be considered legitimate targets and will be destroyed in an irreversible manner, and the price of oil will remain high for a long time,” Ghalibaf stated in his post.

His remarks come after Trump warned Iran of severe consequences if it fails to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy transit route.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that if Iran does not “fully open” the Strait within 48 hours, the United States would target and “obliterate” Iranian power plants.

“If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!” the post read.

Following Trump’s remarks, Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, today further warned that “all power plants, energy infrastructure, and information technology (ICT) infrastructure of the Zionist regime will be extensively targeted” and added that “the power plants of countries in the region that host American bases will be legitimate targets for us”, as reported by Iranian State Media, Press TV.

Zolfaghari also stated that companies in the region with American shareholders could be completely destroyed, highlighting Tehran’s readiness to respond to perceived threats.

“We have said repeatedly that the Strait of Hormuz is closed only to the enemy and to harmful traffic, and it has not yet been fully closed. It remains under our intelligent control, and harmless passage occurs under specific regulations that ensure our security and interests,” he added, as quoted by Press TV.

The Spokesperson also warned that should US threats against its power plants be carried out, the Strait of Hormuz could be completely closed until any damaged facilities are rebuilt.

The development comes amid the escalating conflict that began on February 28 with the killing of 86-year-old Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in joint military strikes by the US and Israel, after which Iran, in retaliation, targeted Israel and US assets in several Gulf countries, causing disruption in the waterways and affecting international energy markets and global economic stability.

Due to the conflict in the region, Iran has virtually closed the Strait of Hormuz. (ANI)

The wife of the late Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, a Punjab Warehousing Corporation (PWC) official who allegedly committed suicide in Amritsar, has demanded immediate action.

Upinder Kaur, the deceased’s spouse, told reporters, “We demand the arrest of Laljit Singh Bhullar. Make arrests. Postmortem and last rites will be conducted only after that. No action has been taken till now.”

Demanding justice for his deceased husband, Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, the wife said his “postmortem and last rites” will be conducted only after justice is served.

Randhawa, a district manager in the Punjab Warehousing Corporation (PWC), died by suicide, sparking a political controversy in the state.

Following the incident, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann accepted Laljit Singh Bhullar’s resignation as Transport Minister.

Accusing Bhullar of torturing his husband, Kaur said on Sunday, “Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar tortured my husband a lot. My husband was made so helpless that he took his own life…He was told that his family, his children, would be finished off, and gangsters would be put after him. He was tortured a lot on 13th March at his office. On Saturday morning, yesterday, he took his own life. I have 3 young children. I have a mother-in-law. All of us demand justice. Make arrests. Postmortem and last rites will be conducted only after that…I want justice and nothing else. After he came back on 13th March, he had told me everything…He had even made a complaint to his department. They only kept giving him assurances, but nothing happened… FIR was not registered initially under the government’s pressure… This was all done because a tender was not passed. It was being implied that my husband was not passing it deliberately…I fear for my life; security should be provided to my children and me…If anything happens to us, this Govt would be responsible for it…”

Meanwhile, the Punjab Police registered an FIR naming former Cabinet Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar in connection with the suicide case, the officials said. Bhullar’s father, Sukhdev Singh Bhullar, and his PA, Dilbagh Singh, have also been booked in the case, they further said.

The Punjab State Warehousing Corporation Union also staged a sit-in protest, demanding justice in the Punjab Warehousing Corporation (PWC) Officer Randhawa’s suicide case.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, following the resignation of Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, asserted that his government has zero tolerance for corruption.

The AAP leader said, “We have zero tolerance for corruption, and it’s not our first case. Our party has taken such action before, even in Delhi. So, if someone does something wrong and forces someone to take their own life, it’s a matter of investigation. But whether it’s our minister or anyone else, the law is the same for everyone. The law is taking its course.”

On Saturday, Punjab Chief Minister Mann accepted Bhullar’s resignation, following the political uproar triggered by a controversy involving Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, a District Manager in the Punjab Warehouse Corporation, Amritsar, who was allegedly tortured by Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, due to which he committed suicide. (ANI)

Pakistan has been ranked number one on the Global Terrorism Index for the first time, following a 6 per cent increase in terrorism-related fatalities during 2025. According to the Global Terrorism Index 2026, published by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), the country recorded 1,139 deaths last year, highlighting a deteriorating security landscape.

The comprehensive report, which assesses the impact of terrorism across 163 countries, noted that Pakistan’s “strained” relations with its neighbours, particularly Afghanistan, alongside escalating violence from the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), have created “significant security” risks.

The findings reveal that “deaths from terrorism in Pakistan are now at its highest level since 2013, with the country recording 1,139 terrorism deaths and 1,045 incidents in 2025.” The TTP has solidified its position as the “deadliest” terror group within the country and the third deadliest on a global scale.

The IEP data shows that “TTP attacks constitute over 67pc of total attacks in Pakistan since 2009, and it is responsible for five times as many attacks in Pakistan as the second most active group, the BLA.” Notably, the TTP was the only organisation among the world’s four deadliest groups to see an increase in its operational activity over the past year.

The group’s lethality surged in 2025, with incidents rising by 24 per cent to 595 attacks. These strikes were concentrated primarily within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa near the Afghan border, resulting in 637 deaths, the highest figure since 2011. The report identified the group’s most significant operation in 2025 as “an armed attack targeting military forces, resulting in the death of 21 people.”

According to the IEP, the resurgence of the Afghan Taliban in Kabul has “profoundly impacted Pakistan’s security and stability.” The report asserts that this geopolitical shift “provided the TTP with the means and motivation to significantly expand their geographic reach and operational efficiency, resulting in a considerable rise in violent extremism in the region.”

While the total number of attacks saw a slight decline, 2025 marked the “sixth consecutive year” of rising terrorism deaths in Pakistan. Furthermore, the country experienced a massive spike in hostage-taking, with the number of victims jumping from 101 in 2024 to 655 in 2025. This surge was largely driven by the Jaffar Express attack, where 442 individuals were taken hostage.

The internal security vacuum is most evident in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which collectively accounted for “over 74pc of terrorist attacks and 67pc of deaths in Pakistan in 2025.” On the global stage, Pakistan now sits alongside Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Niger, and the Democratic Republic of Congo as one of five nations where nearly 70 per cent of all global terrorism deaths occur.

This latest ranking follows a second-place finish in 2025, confirming a steady and violent decline in the country’s stability. (ANI)