IBTimes

In the final analysis, the significance of HDFC Bank chairman's resignation lies not in what it reveals explicitly, but in what it implies.

As the region grapples with a worsening strategic environment, deeper India-Japan maritime cooperation under FOIP could serve as a powerful and increasingly necessary stabilising force, writes Samir Puri, visiting lecturer in war studies at King's College London.

PM Narendra Modi makes a cameo in Dhurandhar: The Revenge through his 2014 victory and 2016 demonetisation speeches, drawing strong reactions from audiences.

Non-Hindus must submit an affidavit affirming faith in Sanatan to pray at Badrinath and Kedarnath, according to BKTC chairman Hemant Dwivedi. The rule would also apply to Sara Ali Khan, who would need to provide such a declaration to enter the temples.

In Indore, a fire killed eight and injured two after an electric car short circuit sparked flames that spread to a house, causing gas cylinder blasts. Narendra Modi expressed grief and announced 2 lakh aid for victims' families and 50,000 for injured from PMNRF.

IMD has predicted light rain and thundershowers in Delhi-NCR from March 19 to 21, bringing relief from rising temperatures and improving air quality. While March 18 will remain clear with temperatures around 33C, a dip to 2829C is expected during the rainy period. Conditions will stabilise after March 22.

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A deadly fire in Delhi's Palam area has claimed nine lives after breaking out in a multi-storey residential building housing a cloth shop. The blaze, which started in the basement of the building in Ram Market, quickly spread, trapping residents on upper floors.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha warned that any attempt to disrupt peace or endanger civilians would be dealt with firmly, while addressing a passing-out parade of 430 constables in Reasi.

India has begun sourcing LPG from multiple global channels, including the US, to diversify supplies amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. The government said there is no shortage, with LPG distribution remaining smooth and refineries operating at full capacity.

Israel Tuesday claimed it killed Ali Larijani, the top Iranian security official who was seen as a key decision maker in Iran. The Israeli military also said it had killed Gholam Reza Soleimani, the head of the Revolutionary Guard's all-volunteer Basij force.

Veteran screenwriter Salim Khan, father of superstar Salman Khan, has finally returned home after spending nearly a month in Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital. The 90-year-old was admitted on February 17 following a minor brain haemorrhage.

Joe Kent, Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, resigned, opposing the US war in Iran. He said Iran posed no imminent threat and blamed pressure from Israel and pro-war lobbying. Kent warned the conflict could repeat Iraq War mistakes and impose heavy human and strategic costs on America.

Gaurav Kapur and Kritika Kamra's wedding film is out, and it shows the couple exchanging heartfelt vows during an intimate sundowner ceremony on the terrace of their building.

Pouplar TV star Divyanka Tripathi Dahiya, who played a doting mother on Yeh Hai Mohabbatein, is set to embrace motherhood in real life. She is reportedly six months pregnant and is expected to welcome her first child in June with husband Vivek Dahiya.

Manipur police and security forces arrested eight militants from Tengnoupal and Imphal East districts over the past 24 hours, recovering illegal arms and ammunition. Five militants from valley-based insurgent groups, including PREPAK, KYKL, and KCP-MFL, were apprehended near the Myanmar border.

India condemned Pakistan's airstrike on Kabul's Omid hospital, calling it arbaric and cowardly, MEA called it a violation of Afghan sovereignty and urged international accountability. At the UN, India accused Pakistan of politicising religion while reaffirming its commitment to religious coexistence and inclusive societies.

Crude oil prices rebounded sharply, with Brent crude rising nearly 3 percent to around 103 dollars per barrel and WTI climbing over 3 percent to about 96 dollars per barrel. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz due to the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict have fueled supply concerns and inflation risks.

The Nifty closed 0.74 per cent, or 172.35 points higher, at 23,581.15. Similarly, the Sensex gained 568 points, or 0.75 per cent, to settle at 76,070.84.

Delhi High Court granted interim relief to Himayani Puri, directing platforms like X, Google, YouTube, Meta, and LinkedIn to take down posts falsely linking her to Jeffrey Epstein. Representing her, Senior Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani termed the order a vindication against a defamatory and baseless campaign.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Jammu and Kashmir Police has begun questioning Kamal Singh Jamwal, the accused in the abortive attempt to assassinate Farooq Abdullah during a wedding function in Jammu.

The return of Choudhary Gharu Ram to the Indian National Congress has intensified speculation about the fading relevance of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party, founded by Ghulam Nabi Azad. With several loyalists already exiting, political observers say the party is steadily losing ground in Jammu and Kashmir.

Netizens are disappointed that Dharmendra did not get a mention during the broadcast at the Oscars 2026. Both Dharmendra and Manoj Kumar were included in the In Memoriam segment on the Oscars website. Hema Malini has reacted to the omission of Dharmendra's tribute from the televised segment.

Greece and Germany have ruled out participation in any military operation in the Strait of Hormuz despite calls from Donald Trump for countries dependent on Middle Eastern oil to join a naval coalition to escort vessels. Australia said it would not deploy a warship to the region

Apple has expanded its manufacturing operations in India significantly, assembling about 55 million iPhones in 2025, a 53% increase from the previous year. India now produces roughly a quarter of Apple's global iPhone output as the company diversifies production away from China.

Delhi-NCR's air quality improved significantly after recent rainfall, with most areas recording AQI in the 'Satisfactory' or 'Green' category.

Experts say poor indoor air quality in bedrooms can disrupt breathing and sleep cycles, making cleaner indoor air an important factor for better rest.

Sania Watch, led by founder Seyed Mohamad Seyed Hoseini, combats the luxury watch authenticity crisis by applying rigorous financial-grade authentication to high-value timepieces like Rolex and Patek Philippe.

J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday handed over appointment letters to 27 next of kin of terror victims at Lok Bhavan in Srinagar, reaffirming the administration's commitment to justice and rehabilitation of affected families. He said pending cases would be reopened to hold perpetrators accountable and announced a review of property encroachment cases involving terror victims.

Even after the Union Government revoked the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act, Ladakh's Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance have decided to proceed with their scheduled protest on March 16.

Hardik Pandya has bought a Rs 12-crore Ferrari after winning the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. A video of Hardik driving the new car with his girlfriend Mahieka Sharma has surfaced on social media. Earlier, Hardik had bought a Rs 4-crore Land Rover Defender for his five-year-old son Agastya Pandya.

During Operation Sindoor, India reportedly neutralised Pakistan's Chinese-supplied air defence systems, including the HQ-9B surface-to-air missile system. According to reports, these systems failed to detect or intercept Indian missiles and aircraft during several days of strikes.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a direct threat against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying it would continue to pursue and kill him if he is alive, as the IranIsrael conflict entered its 16th day

The company has also kept CNG and household piped gas prices unchanged despite the supply challenges. Around 70% of its gas supply is domestically sourced for CNG and household use, while about 30% comes from imported LNG, mainly serving industrial customers.

Consumers with both connections must surrender their LPG cylinders, and oil companies cannot issue new LPG connections to PNG users. The government said petrol and diesel supplies remain adequate, with refineries operating at high capacity.

ECI has announced the schedule for the 2026 Assembly elections. Assam, Kerala and Puducherry will vote in a single phase on April 9, while Tamil Nadu will go to polls on April 23. West Bengal will hold elections in two phases on April 23 and April 29.

BMJ expressed confidence in defeating Mamata Banerjee in the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections. Union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, Kiren Rijiju, and Giriraj Singh, along with Keshav Prasad Maurya and BJP MP Gulam Ali Khatana, alleged corruption, poor law and order, and infiltration under the TMC.

Chief Election Commissioner warned of strict action against the misuse of artificial intelligence and deepfake content during election campaigns. He said nodal officers in each state will monitor misinformation and deepfakes, with actions such as content takedowns or FIRs if violations occur.

The company emerged as the lowest bidder with a tariff of Rs 5.30 per kWh. The deal strengthens Adani Power's long-term power supply portfolio and supports India's plan to expand thermal power capacity to meet rising electricity demand.

Alia Bhatt is celebrating her 33rd birthday, and on this occasion, her mother Soni Razdan shared a heartfelt note. However, she later deleted one photo in which Alia was seen wearing an orange swimsuit and posing with Raha.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Congress leader D.K. Shivakumar accused the BJP of attempting to bribe Odisha Congress MLAs staying in a Bengaluru resort ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections. He alleged that four individuals offered Rs 5 crore per MLA to secure cross-voting under Operation Lotus.

The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India has released a white paper titled Advancing Indigenous Foundation Models as part of its AI Policy White Paper Series, outlining India's roadmap to build home-grown AI models and strengthen the country's digital ecosystem

An Indian-flagged vessel, Jag Laadki, carrying about 80,800 metric tonnes of Murban crude oil, safely sailed from Fujairah Port in the United Arab Emirates for India. The Directorate General of Shipping and MEA continue monitoring the situation

IDF struck Hezbollah targets across Lebanon, including rocket sites in Al-Qatrani and command centres in Beirut, prompting evacuations in several neighbourhoods. Hezbollah retaliated near the border. Since March 2, air raids have killed 826 people.

The Bharat Progress Report 2025-26 by the NXT Foundation highlights India's rapid economic and technological growth, noting that the country became the world's fourth-largest economy in 2025, overtaking Japan with a GDP of about $4.18 trillion.

Popular comedian Zakir Khan recently announced a long break from his career, expected to last until 2029 or 2030, sparking concerns among fans about his health. On Saturday, his brother Arbaaz Khan shared a vlog showing Zakir at Lilavati Hospital in a hospital gown.

The IMF has withheld a $1 billion loan tranche to Pakistan due to weak tax collection and concerns over the credibility of the current budget. Pakistan's tax-to-GDP ratio remains low at 910%, with a narrow tax base and a large informal economy

Rohit Shetty's Golmaal franchise began in 2006 with Ajay Devgn, Arshad Warsi, Sharman Joshi, and Tusshar Kapoor, later joined by Kunal Kemmu and Shreyas Talpade. Now, 20 years on, the team reunites for Golmaal 5, with Rohit Shetty officially starting filming and revealing two big surprises: Akshay Kumar's entry and Sharman Joshi's comeback.

Domestic carriers Air India, Air India Express, and IndiGo cancelled multiple flights to the Gulf region, especially Dubai and Abu Dhabi, on Sunday, March 15, 2026, due to UAE airport restrictions amid rising regional tensions. Air India and Air India Express curtailed most of their Dubai and Abu Dhabi flights

China's HQ9B air defence system, once promoted as a capable rival to Western systems, has come under intense scrutiny after reportedly failing to perform effectively in realworld conflicts in Pakistan, Venezuela and Iran.