Month: March 2026

Oil Marketing Companies have initiated measures to enhance Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) production and prioritise its availability for domestic consumers following geopolitical disruptions to global fuel supplies. In a joint statement on Tuesday, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation confirmed that the Ministry has taken steps for higher LPG production while securing stocks for domestic customers and essential non-domestic sectors.

“In light of current geopolitical disruptions to fuel supply and constraints on supply of LPG, Ministry has taken the step for higher LPG production and securing it for supplying to domestic customers. Along with ensuring supplies to all domestic customers, it has been decided to make supplies as per requirement to the essential non domestic sectors such as hospitals, educational institutions, etc. For LPG supply to other non-domestic sectors, a committee of three Executive Directors of Oil Marketing Companies have been constituted to review the representations and prioritise the LPG supply,” the joint statement said.

The statement noted that in cases of requirements considered essential in other sectors, a submission can be made to the committee through the provided official email IDs.

“In case of any requirement which are considered as essential in other sectors, a submission can be made to the committee through the above email ids. Since non-domestic LPG supply depends on the availability of imported products, the committee may not be able to address every grievance. Requests will be considered based on their merits, product availability and appropriate decisions will be made accordingly,” the statement noted.

Amidst growing pressure on global fuel supplies due to the ongoing West Asia conflict, the Union Government on Tuesday invoked the Essential Commodities Act (EC Act) to safeguard the domestic energy market.

According to the Petroleum Ministry, the government has issued a control order directing refineries and petrochemical units to maximise the production of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and divert key hydrocarbon streams to the LPG pool to ensure an uninterrupted supply of cooking gas across the country.

The Petroleum Ministry stated that the invocation of the Act has established a clear priority list for natural gas distribution to manage current supply constraints.

Under this new mandate, there is a 100% assured supply of domestic piped gas for homes and CNG for vehicles.

Other sectors will face calibrated supply caps based on their previous six-month average consumption. (ANI)

Iran has issued a defiant response to US President Donald Trump’s claims regarding the conclusion of hostilities, asserting that it will be the sole authority to “determine” the end of military actions against American and Israeli targets.

In a strongly worded statement, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) rejected Washington’s timeline for the conflict. The elite force maintained that the future of the region is now guided by Tehran’s military strategy rather than US intervention.

“It is we who will determine the end of the war,” the IRGC said in a statement. “The equations and future status of the region are now in the hands of our armed forces; American forces will not end the war.”

The IRGC spokesperson accused the US president of using “cunning and deceit” to manipulate public opinion following what Tehran described as “shameful defeats”. The spokesperson further alleged that Trump’s claims of safe passage for vessels in the region were false, asserting that American ships and fighter jets have “fled the region more than 1,000 kilometres away” to escape Iranian strikes.

The statement specifically mocked the movement of the US Navy, claiming that “cowardly and timid soldiers” increased their distance after missiles were fired at the USS Abraham Lincoln. Tehran also dismissed reports of a weakened missile inventory, claiming that Iranian munitions are now “more powerful than in the early days of the war,” with some warheads weighing over one ton.

As the conflict continues to choke global energy supplies, the IRGC warned that it would not permit “the export of a single litre of oil” from the region to hostile nations until further notice. This stance directly challenges Trump’s recent threats to protect maritime trade.

The US president had earlier suggested that the war against Iran would be a “short-term excursion” to “get rid of some evil.” However, he coupled this with a severe warning on social media regarding the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

“If Iran does anything that stops the flow of Oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far,” the US president posted.

Trump added that the US would target “easily destroyable targets” to ensure it is “virtually impossible for Iran to ever be built back, as a Nation, again.” He characterised the protection of the waterway as a “gift from the United States of America to China” and other nations dependent on the route.

The escalation comes shortly after Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei was selected to succeed his late father as Iran’s supreme leader, a move that coincides with oil prices reaching their highest levels since 2022.

In a bid for a diplomatic resolution, Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly held a telephone call with Trump on Monday. According to the Kremlin, Putin “voiced a few ideas regarding a quick political and diplomatic settlement” after consulting with regional leaders and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that France and its allies are preparing a “purely defensive” mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. With nearly 20 per cent of the world’s crude oil transiting the waterway, Macron emphasised the need to protect global economic interests from the ongoing volatility. (ANI)

As many as seven people were killed after a wall of an under-construction building collapsed in the Sidhrawali area of Gurugram, a kin of one of the labourers who died in the incident said.

District Hospital Dr Somprakash Yadav told ANI that the incident happened around 7:45 PM on Monday.

“We received information that about 10 to 15 people were buried in the mud… We initially rescued the four people who came… After that, others who were coming were all already on the verge of death. We tried to give them CPR and other emergency services, but nothing could be done because they had been buried in the mud for at least an hour and a half. After that, seven dead bodies came, making a total of 11 people… Four people are currently undergoing treatment, one of whom has asked to be referred to Jaipur…”

A family member of one of the deceased labourers told ANI, “…Seven people have lost their lives…The soil caved in, triggering wall collapse and 10-12 labourers have been admitted to the hospital…We were not allowed to meet the officials of the company when we reached the spot…They just want to run away from the responsibility…”

“They were working at a construction site…We are demanding that officials from the construction site meet us… No one has till now heard our grievances…,” said a local.

The bodies of the labourers have been kept at the Government District Hospital.

Soon after getting the information, the Haryana police rushed to the site.

More details are awaited (ANI)

A United States missile strike has reportedly hit an educational facility in the central Iranian city of Khomeyn, according to Al Jazeera, citing reports from Iran’s Mehr News Agency.

The site has been identified as the Dr Hafez Khomeyni School. Local reports indicate that the blast caused significant damage to several residential properties in the vicinity of the building, though as of now there has been “no immediate report of casualties.”

This latest incident in Khomeyn follows mounting international pressure for a formal investigation into a previous US missile attack on a girls’ school in the southern city of Minab. That strike resulted in a massacre that “killed at least 170 people, most of them young students.”

Al Jazeera noted that these strikes on civilian infrastructure come amid an intensification of the conflict, as Tehran issues a defiant response to US President Donald Trump’s claims regarding the conclusion of hostilities.

Earlier, in a strongly worded statement, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) asserted it will be the sole authority to “determine” the end of military actions against American and Israeli targets.

Rejecting Washington’s timeline for the war, the IRGC maintained that the future of the region is now guided by Tehran’s military strategy rather than US intervention. “It is we who will determine the end of the war,” the IRGC stated. “The equations and future status of the region are now in the hands of our armed forces; American forces will not end the war.”

The IRGC spokesperson further accused the US president of using “cunning and deceit” to manipulate public opinion following what Tehran described as “shameful defeats.” The spokesperson alleged that US claims of safe passage for vessels were false, asserting that American assets have “fled the region more than 1,000 kilometres away” to escape Iranian strikes.

The statement specifically mocked the US Navy, claiming “cowardly and timid soldiers” increased their distance after missiles were fired at the USS Abraham Lincoln. Tehran also dismissed reports of a weakened missile inventory, claiming that its munitions are now “more powerful than in the early days of the war,” with some warheads weighing over one ton.

As the conflict continues to choke global energy supplies, the IRGC warned that it would not permit “the export of a single litre of oil” from the region to hostile nations. This stance directly challenges Trump’s recent threats to protect maritime trade, after he previously suggested the war would be a “short-term excursion” to “get rid of some evil.”

However, Trump coupled that suggestion with a severe warning on social media regarding the strategic Strait of Hormuz. “If Iran does anything that stops the flow of Oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far,” the US president posted.

Trump added that the US would target “easily destroyable targets” to ensure it is “virtually impossible for Iran to ever be built back as a Nation again.” He characterised the protection of the waterway as a “gift from the United States of America to China” and other nations dependent on the route.

This escalation comes shortly after Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei was selected to succeed his late father as Iran’s supreme leader, a move that coincides with oil prices reaching their highest levels since 2022.

In a bid for a diplomatic resolution, Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly held a telephone call with Trump on Monday. According to the Kremlin, Putin “voiced a few ideas regarding a quick political and diplomatic settlement” after consulting with regional leaders and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that France and its allies are preparing a “purely defensive” mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. With nearly 20 per cent of the world’s crude oil transiting the waterway, Macron emphasised the need to protect global economic interests from the ongoing volatility. (ANI)

US President Donald Trump on Monday (local time) said that the military operation in Iran would be over “very soon”, however, he did not go into the details of the timeline. Earlier, Trump had called it an “excursion”, noting that the US would put an end to the threat.

The US President made the remarks during a press conference in Florida.

When asked by a reporter about his previous remarks of calling Iran an excursion and when the military operation would end, Trump said, “Very soon. Look everything they have is gone including their leadership. In fact their two levels of leadership and even actually as it turns out more than that, but two levels of leadership are gone. Most people have never even heard about the leaders that they’re talking about. So it’s obviously been very, very powerful, very effective.”

In his speech before opening the floor to the media, Trump said about Iran, “They were going to take over the Middle East and they were going to try and destroy Israel. So we stopped it with good timing, and we’re very proud to be involved in this and it’s going to be ended soon, and if it starts up again they’ll be, they’ll be hit even harder.”

He also claimed that Iran’s military had been wiped out in the first two days of Operation Epic Fury and called it a tremendous success.

“They (Iran) have no Navy, Air Force, anti-aircraft equipment. It’s all been blown up. They have no radar, telecommunications, leadership. It’s all gone. We could call it a tremendous success right now as we leave here I could call it, or we could go further. And we’re going to go further. But the big risk on that war has been over for three days. We wiped them out the first in the first two days. When you think about it, it’s incredible.”, Trump remarked.

Taking questions from the press, when asked about the Mojtaba Khamenei, who is the new Supreme Leader of Iran, Trump expressed displeasure and said, “I was disappointed because we think it’s going to lead to just more of the same problem for the country. I was disappointed to see their choice.”

The 56-year-old was designated to the country’s highest office by the 88-member Assembly of Experts. The clerical body confirmed he was “appointed and introduced as the third leader of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran, based on the decisive vote of the respected representatives of the Assembly of Experts”.

This transition occurs amidst significant regional volatility, following a military campaign that resulted in the death of the former leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

In retaliation, Tehran launched counter-strikes targeting American military bases in multiple Arab countries and Israeli assets across the region. (ANI)

Stand-up comedian Zakir Khan has addressed the reports surrounding his announcement of taking a break.

Speaking at an event in Uttar Pradesh’s Jalaun, Zakir Khan clarified that he doesn’t wish to quit live comedy but just take a brief break.

“Main hatna bilkul nahi chahta hoon. Main sirf ek break lena chahta hoon par hatna nahi chahta. Kuch nahi bass aise hi. Logon ke saath rehna hai, samay bitana hai. Ek chhatra ki tarah jeevan bitana hai, apne swasthya par dhyaan rakhna hai…Yeh bas 1.5-2 saal tak hi hai, zyada lamba nahi hai (I just want to take a break, not quit…I want to spend time with people, I want to live like a student and look after my health…This will just be a 1.5-2-year break, not very long)” he told the media.

Zakir Khan also suggested that he might resume a little later due to overseas tours.

Earlier in January, Zakir Khan announced a long break from live tours during his Hyderabad show.

According to Zakir Khan’s team, the stand-up comedian has announced a long break from his live shows, reportedly until 2030, citing health issues and personal matters.

The comedian also shared a story on his Instagram handle, hinting at the hiatus. After arriving in Dubai, he posted an update with a caption confirming the decision’s finality.

He wrote, “Every show is a celebration till June 20. I won’t be able to come to many cities this time, so please make a little extra effort and come to the shows. Thank you for all the love.”

The stand-up comedian announced his ‘Papa Yaar’ shows in Mumbai at the NSCI Dome on June 13 and 14, 2026.

The ‘Papa Yaar’ tour has spanned over 60 cities across the country.

Speaking about the Mumbai shows, Zakir Khan said the city holds a special place in his heart and ending the tour at the NSCI Dome feels like a homecoming.

He added that the event will be more than just a show and will celebrate fans and the comedy fraternity who have been part of his journey. (ANI)

Actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas has sent the loudest shoutout to the “girls” who run her world, celebrating their contribution on the occasion of International Women’s Day.

Taking to her Instagram handle, Priyanka, in a late post, took the opportunity to mention the special ladies of her life, including her mother, team members, and her friends.

Making it even more special, the actor added childhood pictures of everyone, including hers.

Describing herself as “This is who’s so grateful,” PeeCee gave a nod to her mother, Madhu Chopra, with “Mom, this is who produced me.”

In her caption, Priyanka added, “Happy Women’s Day to the girls that run my world. My team. So grateful for your contribution and hard work every single day. I could not do this without you all. Also @rohiniyer, Tess and so many other incredible women, that surround me, I’m grateful for you every day,” further penning her Women’s Day greetings.

“Happy Women’s Day to all the incredible women out there who work so hard to balance their lives. It doesn’t go unseen,” she concluded.

Earlier on Sunday, many celebrities shared Mother’s Day wishes across social media platforms.

Kareena Kapoor, while channelising her inner ‘Geet’ wrote, “To all the women out there DON’T EVER FORGET… to say every single day of your life…MAIN APNI FAVOURITE HOON… Happy women’s day ladies.”

Actor Anupam Kher, while speaking to ANI, highlighted the invaluable role women play in shaping families, communities and society at large.

“On International Women’s Day, my heartfelt salute to all the women of the world. I truly believe that whoever has the power to give birth to another life is the greatest, and that is a woman,” Kher told ANI.

Actor-politician Hema Malini, in a social media post, wrote, “Reaching out to all women – each remarkable in her own way, all capable multitaskers, homemakers, entrepreneurs, seasoned business women who have mastered the art of work-life balance – a shout out to all of you, wherever you are! Remember, you are a unique, blessed creation of God. Just learn to enjoy life on your own terms!”

Kangana Ranaut also took to her Instagram story and shared Women’s Day greetings.

“Every day is your day. Being a woman is a superpower. Know your powers and understand how to use them to your advantage and never against your own self. Never regret being generous what you give is what you get but it might not come from where you expect. So keep going, never mind being a fool, always hope that you never fool anyone or take advantage of people or situations,” a part of her note read.

Among others were Sonakshi Sinha, Zoya Akhtar, Rakul Preet Singh, Ajay Devgn, Virat Kohli, Shatrughan Sinha, Alia Bhatt, and Chiranjeevi, who shared heartfelt messages to honour on the occasion of International Women’s Day. (ANI)

Bollywood star couple Randeep Hooda and Lin Laishram have offered a heartwarming update from their lives, taking fans on their path to parenthood.

In a joint post, Randeep and Lin shared pictures from what appeared to be their maternity photoshoot.

The pictures capture a warm, loving atmosphere, showing Lin and Randeep softly caressing her baby bump while posing for the camera.

Exuding the soft pregnancy glow, Lin chose a white knitted dress paired with a matching cardigan, while Randeep was dressed in a rust-coloured polo t-shirt.

Fans quickly flooded the comment section with love-filled messages and greetings for the couple.

In November last year, the couple announced that they are expecting their first child, perfectly timing the revelation on their second wedding anniversary.

Taking to his Instagram handle, Randeep Hooda shared a heartwarming photo of himself and his wife, sitting in a forest by a bonfire. The duo announced, calling this moment the beginning of a beautiful new chapter in their lives.

While sharing the photo, the soon-to-be-parents couple wrote, “Two years of love, adventure, and now… a little wild one on the way.”

Randeep and Lin got married in an intimate Manipuri ceremony in 2023. Earlier, on several occasions, the actor openly spoke about their shared values, love for nature, and commitment to a grounded life.

On the work front, Randeep Hooda was last seen in ‘Jaat’, which also starred Sunny Deol.

Work is currently underway on the sequel, which will mark the return of Gopichand Malineni’s return as the director, with Naveen Yerneni, Ravi Shankar Y, and TG Vishwa Prasad continuing as producers. (ANI)

Star wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson on Monday reflected on the journey that led to India’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 triumph, crediting the challenges and setbacks in his career for building the resilience that helped him succeed on the global stage.

Speaking to reporters in his home state after India’s historic title defence on Sunday against New Zealand on Sunday, Samson described winning the World Cup as a dream realised.

“It was like a dream… I was courageous enough to have this dream… I want to win it for my country. I want to contribute in such a way that it becomes what it is now. I am very happy and feeling very blessed… I am trained to look at situations in a positive manner from my childhood days. I generally feel that all the pain, all the setbacks have made me much stronger, and that is the only reason why I could do what I did,” Samson said.

Highlighting how challenges can be turned into personal strength, Samson added, “I feel that all the pain, setbacks, and disappointments in life and in my career, if used positively, can be a great strength in your life. That’s what happened, and I’m very grateful.”

“This is a very happy occasion,” Samson’s father, Samson Vishwanath, also told ANI.

“Our Sanju has done something for our country… He always comes home after the game… People prayed for Sanju… Everyone is happy… We had scored 250 in the semi-final. England tried to chase it to the full extent.”

Sanju Samson’s 89 off 46 balls helped India post a mammoth 254 in the first innings. He was the top scorer by anyone in the match. Notably, it was his third successive fifty and a match-defining innings from Samson’s bat. He also scored an unbeaten 97 in a do-or-die Super 8s clash against West Indies and then scored 89 against England in the semifinals.

India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, defeated the Mitchell Santner-led New Zealand by a huge 96-run margin to defend their T20 World Cup title. With the win, India became the first team to win the T20 World Cup at home, the first team to win it back-to-back after securing the 2024 edition as well and also became the first team to win it three times (2007, 2024, 2026).

What makes Samson’s success even more remarkable is that his place in the playing 11 was being questioned by fans and cricket experts following a string of low scores in the World Cup before the West Indies innings. (ANI)

The new leader of Islamic Republic of Iran has been chosen based on the will of the Iranian nation, not the will of the US government, Iran’s Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, has said and noted that the selection of Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader of the country was carried out according to the mechanisms provided in the Constitution of country, demonstrating that legal structures continue to function effectively “even in difficult conditions.”

In an interview with ANI, Mohammad Fathali also said that Iran’s military forces continue to defend the country with greater confidence and motivation amid the ongoing conflict with Israel and the United States.

“Today, the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran has been chosen based on the will of the Iranian nation, not the will of the US government. Our people may have different views and even various challenges within the country, but one thing has always been clear: when it comes to foreign interference, the Iranian people unite. They strongly oppose any external interference in their internal affairs. This is a well-known reality in the contemporary history of Iran,” Mohammad Fathali said in a text interview.

“His Eminence Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei (new Leader of Iran) is a religious scholar who is well aware of the political and social issues of the country. He has spent many years studying and teaching Islamic sciences in the seminaries, while also being closely familiar with Iran’s political and social developments. For this reason, many consider him a scholar who, in addition to his strong religious knowledge, has a clear understanding of current realities and the needs of society,” he added.

Fathali said Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei has always emphasized commitment to the principles and ideals of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, and loyalty to these principles will remain one of the main pillars of the country’s policies.

“At the same time, considering his youthful and revolutionary spirit, we will certainly witness very positive developments in the way the country is managed and administered–developments that will be aligned with the current conditions and the needs of Iranian society,” he said.

“Fortunately, even under these sensitive circumstances, the new Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran has been elected by the representatives of the people in the Assembly of Experts. The selection of His Eminence Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Leader was carried out according to the mechanisms provided in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This process demonstrated that the country’s legal structures continue to function effectively even in difficult conditions,” he added.

Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei has been announced as the third Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution following a decision by the country’s Assembly of Experts after days of deliberation. He replaces his father as the new Supreme Leader of Iran following the killing of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in US-Israel military strikes.

The announcement came late Sunday night (local time), marking a pivotal moment in the political and religious leadership of the Islamic Republic.

The clerical body responsible for appointing the country’s supreme leader confirmed the decision in a formal statement, declaring: “By a decisive vote, the Assembly of Experts elected Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei as the third Leader of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran”.

Apart from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Israel and the US joint military strikes also killed several senior leaders of the Islamic Republic.

In retaliation, Tehran launched counter-strikes targeting American military bases in Arab countries and Israeli assets across the region. Israel, along with the US, continued its strikes on Tehran, with Tel Aviv widening the conflict to Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah and Iranian-backed militant groups. (ANI)