MUMBAI/CHENNAI: Shockwaves from US and Israeli strikes on Iran may seem distant from India’s shores, but for Indian industry, the impact is already hitting home. Gas curbs, production cuts, export delays, and constantly rising operating costs are rippling through fertiliser plants, ceramic kilns, sanitary ware units, textile mills, and tyre factories. In Gujarat, Triveni Iron and Steel Industries is bracing for a 50% production cut, as its heavy reliance on West Asian liquefied natural gas (LNG) leaves it exposed to supply disruptions. Jindal Stainless expects delays in steel shipments as the conflict snarls trade routes and logistics. Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals (MRPL) has temporarily suspended fuel exports while struggling to secure crude oil cargoes amid rising uncertainty. Industry executives warn that tensions in major oiland gas-producing regions can quickly disrupt global energy supply chains. MS Banani, joint managing director of Axiom Gas Engineering, recalls that similar disruptions during the Iraq war drove crude prices to nearly $140 a barrel, triggering sharp increases in LNG, LPG, petrol, and diesel. The current conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the US is again placing pressure on Gulf supply routes, creating procurement challenges, delays, and rising costs for Indian importers, Banani said.

To manage the crisis, India has invoked emergency powers to prioritise LPG supplies for households. Fertiliser plants, tea processors, and other priority sectors will receive LNG first. Energy giants like Reliance Industries (RIL) and ONGC have been ordered to maximise LPG output while restricting its use for petrochemical manufacturing. RIL said it is ramping up LPG production at its Jamnagar refining and petrochemical complexes to stabilise domestic supplies. Natural gas from its KG-D6 basin will be diverted to priority sectors, in line with government directives and national energy priorities, it added. V K Vijayakumar, chief investment strategist at Geojit Investments, said that while the situation is manageable for now, prolonged disruptions could lead to physical shortages affecting transport, hospitality, and industrial sectors. LPG supplies are being prioritised for households, but if Brent crude remains above $90 a barrel, businesses could face mounting cost pressures. Tyre manufacturers are also under strain, as crude-oil derivatives like synthetic rubber and carbon black account for nearly 70% of their raw materials. Erratic LPG supply is already affecting forging companies. “We are seeing some shortages in LPG, which is essential for running our operations, as private players are struggling with supplies,” said the CEO of a forging manufacturer. With 80–85% of LPG directed to domestic households, commercial and industrial users have a limited share, leaving them vulnerable during disruptions. Apparel exporters, already battered by months of punitive US tariffs, are grappling with rising costs. In Tiruppur, more than 450 small and medium dyeing units rely on gas-fired boilers and are now struggling to maintain production amid spiking raw material prices, including caustic soda, acetic acid, sodium sulphate, and ferroxide. Gandhi Rajan, head of the dyeing units’ owners’ association, said most units typically have gas reserves for about 15 days, beyond which shutdowns become inevitable.

NASHIK: The Kolgaon gram panchayat in Ahilyanagar’s Shrigonda on Sunday passed a resolution to penalise individuals using abusive language involving someone’s mother or sister. The idea emerged when a woman from an agricultural family and a self-help Group member suggested it during a felicitation programme organised to honour women achievers in the village on the occasion of the International Women’s Day.Kolgaon, a village of around 9,000 residents comprising diverse castes and religions, primarily relies on agriculture. On Sunday, in line with govt directives, a special women’s gram sabha was convened under the chairpersonship of senior anganwadi sevika (worker) Shakuntala Deshmukh.Sarpanch Purushottam Lagad told TOI that during the sabha, women who had made noteworthy contributions to agriculture and other fields were felicitated. “It was during this event that Puja Jagtap proposed taking action against villagers who use abusive expressions referring to someone’s mother or sister,” Lagad said.

The issue raised by Puja Jagtap prompted a detailed discussion at the gram sabha. “After considerable deliberation, it was decided to impose a fine of Rs 500 on anyone found using such derogatory language,” the sarpanch said.To prevent the misuse of the rule, it was agreed that fines would be levied only when digital evidence was provided. “Since the proposal originated from women, the panchayat urged them (and, if required, their children) to take the lead in identifying offenders,” Lagad said, adding that the collected fines would be used for village development.Jagtap told TOI, “Insulting someone by referring to their mother or sister has become extremely common. Girls grow up to become women who shoulder family responsibilities. Their identities should not be demeaned to the point where such abuses are accepted casually.”The gram sabha also passed a resolution regarding cleanliness, urging residents to maintain the cleanliness at their homes and commercial establishments. Anyone found violating this, based on photographic evidence submitted to the gram panchayat, would be fined Rs 100.Besides, Lagad said for the past year, following another resolution, village children study from 7pm to 9pm without any television or cellphone usage at home — a rule that even parents follow.

NEW DELHI: Exercising exclusive Art 142 powers, Supreme Court Tuesday ordered setting up of a tribunal comprising retired Chief Justice and ex-judges of Calcutta and neighbouring HCs to decide appeals against judicial officers’ orders rejecting claims for inclusion in the Bengal voter list post special intensive revision.A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justices R Mahadevan and Joymalya Bagchi stuck to its order that no bureaucrat acting as ERO would sit in appeal against rulings of judicial officers drafted to scan documents of 60 lakh voters in ‘logical discrepancy’ and ‘unmapped’ category.Cal HC CJ to nominate ex-CJ, judges: SC SC gave a free hand to Calcutta HC CJ to nominate the former CJ and judges and directed EC to notify the tribunal in consultation with the HC CJ and the retired CJ.The CJI-led bench took exception to a raft of applications of TMC supporters and private persons relating to SIR work and process, dismissed the applications, and warned of contempt action if such attempts are made in future.SC was unhappy also over delay in creation of secure IDs for judicial officers by EC and said, “A stage has come where we have doubts about the bona fides of both the state govt and the EC.” It asked the EC to ensure that there was no delay in creating the IDs for the judicial officers to allow them to work without any delay.The CJI said Calcutta HC CJ had informed SC that more than 500 judicial officers from Bengal and 200 from Jharkhand and Odisha had been working seven days a week and have disposed of more than 10 lakh claim applications.At the commencement of hearing, senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy attempted to press for the applications in absence of an appellate forum for voters whose claims have been rejected by judicial officers. SC said, “As CJI, I will not permit anyone to dare question the work of judicial officers. I am issuing a warning.”It was advocate Kalyan Banerjee who articulated the grievances and said when 10 lakh claims have been decided, why EC is not publishing supplementary voter list, as was directed by SC, containing the names of those whose claims have been accepted?Banerjee also said that the rejection of claims must be accompanied by reasons to enable aggrieved person to appeal against it before a specified forum. The bench told both state govt and EC to facilitate the judicial officers, who are working as agents of SC, to carry out their work smoothly.“We have taken great risk in assigning the SIR work to judicial officers, who are working tirelessly. But the risk is worth it as it (preparation of voter list) is very important for free and fair elections. Citizens have a constitutional right to get included in voter lists, but not intruders and illegal migrants,” the CJI said.

Indian cricket fans have eagerly been waiting for the IPL 2026 schedule to be revealed, and BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia provided an insight into that on Tuesday. Though the schedule is yet to be announced, the update brings along good news for the fans.

The BCCI were busy hosting the ICC T20 World Cup, and with Sri Lanka and Pakistan out of the equation ahead of the semi-finals, they hosted the semi-finals as well as the final on their soil. India also became the first-ever side to win the title on home soil.

Amid the ongoing positive environment in India after the World Cup triumph, the BCCI has announced the probable date for announcing the first half of the IPL schedule.

Your daily dose of cricket!

IPL 2026 schedule to be announced in two halves

The IPL will be held from the 28th of March, which was officially confirmed by the official broadcasters of India’s most prestigious T20 franchise league, Star Sports, ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup final match between India and New Zealand.

However, due to the impending elections across several states in India, the release of the IPL schedule has been delayed for a long period. The elections will be held in the states of Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala in the coming months.

The BCCI Secretary, Devajit Saikia, announced on Tuesday that the BCCI will be announcing the 20-day schedule of the IPL first, and the remainder of the schedule will be announced later. There might be adjustments needed to be made to venues due to the elections.

“We will announce the first 20-day schedule of IPL in 2 or 3 days after considering the election dates in a few states and will announce the rest of the tournament schedule later,” Saikia said to ANI.

Virat Kohli’s RCB to return to Chinnaswamy for IPL 2026

Indian cricketing legend Virat Kohli will be seen back on the field from the 28th of March, since RCB will mark the beginning of the proceedings after they lifted the IPL trophy for the first time in 18 seasons in 2025. They are the defending champions and will play the first game.

However, RCB faced a massive blow to their victorious season after their victory celebrations were ruined by an unfortunate incident at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. The stampede, which resulted in the death of RCB fans and injured many, led to the suspension of operations at the very venue.

The KSCA Secretary Santosh Menon went on to announce that RCB will return to their home ground in IPL 2026, and the Chinnaswamy, which is now operational, will host 5 of their home matches.

Chinnaswamy finalized as the venue for the IPL 2026 final

The KSCA President and the Secretary, Venkatesh Prasad and Santosh Menon, have worked very hard to meet several demands that were laid out in the report submitted to the Karnataka government to initiate proceedings at the stadium.

The secretary had confirmed that the venue will be hosting the IPL 2026 final, along with one of the playoff matches in the tournament. However, it is notable that two of RCB’s home matches will be played at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.

ALSO READ: NOT Rohit Sharma! Suryakumar Yadav credits MS Dhoni after ICC Men’s T20 WC 2026 glory

The war between United States, Israel and Iran entered its 12th day on Wednesday with no sign of easing, as American and Israeli forces carried out what officials described as the most intense strikes yet on Iranian targets while the conflict spread across the region. US defense secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday would see the largest wave of US attacks since the war began, with more aircraft, bombers and intelligence-guided strikes deployed against Iranian military infrastructure. Iran, whose military capabilities have been battered by days of bombardment, vowed to continue fighting. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf rejected the possibility of a ceasefire, saying Tehran intends to punish what it calls aggression by Washington and Tel Aviv. Another senior Iranian figure, Ali Larijani, issued a warning to US President Donald Trump on social media, saying Iran does not fear US threats. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meanwhile said the broader aim of the war was to weaken Iran’s leadership to the point where popular forces could overthrow the government. “We are breaking their bones,” Netanyahu said of the ongoing campaign.

Strikes expand across the region

The fighting has spread well beyond Iran’s borders, with new strikes reported across Lebanon and Iraq. Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli strikes killed at least seven people across southern Lebanon early Wednesday, including five in the town of Qana. Additional airstrikes in the Tyre and Bint Jbeil districts also caused casualties. Israeli forces also launched strikes on infrastructure linked to Hezbollah in the southern suburbs of Beirut after issuing evacuation warnings for the densely populated area. Elsewhere, drones targeted military installations at Baghdad International Airport in Baghdad late Tuesday, according to Iraqi security officials. The drones landed near facilities used by US-led coalition forces, including the American-operated Victoria Base, though no casualties were reported.

Heavy bombardment in Tehran

Residents of Tehran reported some of the war’s “heaviest bombardment” overnight, with powerful explosions shaking neighborhoods and causing electricity outages across parts of the capital. Witnesses said the strikes lasted for extended periods around midnight, with some residents describing residential buildings being hit. Many businesses in Tehran closed early amid fears of further attacks, AP reported. Tens of thousands of civilians have reportedly fled major cities, seeking refuge in rural areas.

US targets Iranian naval assets

The US military said it had destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels near the strategic Strait of Hormuz amid fears Tehran could attempt to block the vital shipping lane. The waterway, through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes, has become a focal point of the conflict. President Trump warned that if Iran deploys naval mines in the strait, they must be removed immediately or face severe military consequences.“If Iran has put out any mines in the Hormuz Strait, and we have no reports of them doing so, we want them removed, IMMEDIATELY! If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before. If, on the other hand, they remove what may have been placed, it will be a giant step in the right direction! Additionally, we are using the same Technology and Missile capabilities deployed against Drug Traffickers to permanently eliminate any boat or ship attempting to mine the Hormuz Strait. They will be dealt with quickly and violently. BEWARE!” he said.

140 US service members wounded

The Pentagon said about 140 US service members have been wounded since the conflict began, though most injuries are minor. Eight troops were reported to be severely injured, while several have already returned to duty. Civilian and military casualties have mounted across the region as well. In Lebanon alone, authorities say hundreds have been killed and more than a thousand wounded since the latest round of fighting began.

Markets and global concerns

Despite the escalating conflict, financial markets showed relative stability Tuesday after days of volatility triggered by uncertainty about how long the war might last. The S&P 500 slipped slightly, while oil prices stabilized after plunging from nearly $120 per barrel earlier in the week to around $90. Global leaders are closely monitoring the conflict’s economic consequences. Leaders of the Group of Seven are expected to hold emergency talks on energy security and potential measures to stabilize oil markets. With both sides rejecting calls for negotiations and intensifying military operations, fears are growing that the conflict could further destabilize the Middle East and disrupt global energy supplies.

You don’t have permission to access “http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/6-killed-5-injured-as-bus-catches-in-switzerland-cops-11197767” on this server.

Reference #18.34a21ab8.1773186903.52b7be7

https://errors.edgesuite.net/18.34a21ab8.1773186903.52b7be7

NEW DELHI: The governing NDA on Tuesday came down heavily on Rahul Gandhi over the no-confidence motion against Speaker Om Birla, with parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju saying the leader of the opposition was attacking democratic institutions because of the realisation that there is no way he could lead his party to win an election.Rijiju said Priyanka Gandhi Vadra would have been a better choice for leading the Congress and accused Rahul of publicly seeking foreign intervention to fight the alleged threat to democracy in India.The governing coalition sought to frame the no-confidence motion as yet another instance of Rahul railroading his Congress colleagues and others in the opposition to support his whim, with Rijiju claiming that at least 50 opposition MPs had confided in him their misgivings about the move against Birla.Rahul undermining dignity of Parl with his antics: RijijuNDA speakers kept up the attack even as members belonging to the INDIA bloc justified the move against the Speaker and accused him of gagging the opposition at the govt’s instance. While DMK’s TR Baalu called him a “gentleman” who had suspended so many opposition MPs, TMC’s Mahua Moitra called the motion a divine retribution for the speaker for “wrongly” expelling her in 2023. His karma has caught up with him, she said. Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Arvind Sawant said Birla was under pressure to act against the opposition.Rijiju accused Rahul of undermining the dignity of Parliament with his “antics”. He tried to forcibly hug the PM. “What kind of LoP does that?” the minister asked.Other speakers from the treasury benches, including JDU’s Rajiv Ranjan, Shiv Sena’s Shrikant Shinde and TDP’s Lavu Srikrishna Devarayalu, highlighted Rahul’s frequent absence from key debates in the House and accused him of undermining national interests by questioning sacrifices of the armed forces. Shinde called him a “leader of vacation and not leader of opposition.” NDA MPs praised Birla for giving chances to first-time MPs and helping Lok Sabha register record productivity during his tenure.Rijiju’s claim about restiveness in opposition’s ranks over the motion against the Speaker came against the backdrop of TMC reversing its earlier stand after Congress warmed up to its own move to seek the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar who had riled up West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee by going ahead with the SIR of electoral rolls in the poll-bound state.He said Priyanka Gandhi would have been a better choice leading Congress, leading to Congress MPs rising in protest. Rijiju also contrasted Congress’s approach towards the Speaker by saying that the opposition chose not to bring a motion of no-confidence against then Speaker Somnath Chatterjee even when he had blocked telecast of proceedings in 2008 when the Congress had used bribes to engineer a majority.Congress members disrupted the minister when he referred to the LoP’s meeting with the Chinese ambassador when armies of the two countries were engaged in a tense standoff in Doklam in 2017.Union minister Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh said the opposition has been relentlessly disrupting the functioning of the House, unmindful of the fact that for each hour that Parliament runs, Rs 1.9 crore is spent, and Rs 9 crore for every day of the session. “These people don’t let it run, whose money is being wasted, it is taxpayers’ money that they are wasting,” the JDU neta said.Referring to Mahua Moitra’s remarks of the Speaker throttling opposition’s voice, Lalan Singh said that when Mamata was the sole MP from her party, it was then Speaker Somnath Chatterjee who did not allow her to speak. Then Mamata was part of NDA, yet the saffron alliance did not bring any no-confidence motion against the Speaker.

A 35-year-old model, Garima Tiwari, has filed a new complaint in a Kanpur court against her husband, IPL cricketer Amit Mishra, and his family, accusing them of dowry harassment, assault, and abetment to suicide, officials said on Monday.Tiwari filed the complaint in the court of an Additional Civil Judge (Senior Division), alleging that she faced continuous physical and mental abuse from her husband and in-laws after their marriage. Besides Mishra, the complaint also names his mother Beena Mishra, father Shashikant Mishra, brother Amar Mishra, sister-in-law Ritu Mishra, and sister Swati Mishra.

Tiwari said she and Mishra, now a Reserve Bank of India officer, met on Instagram in 2019, dated for nearly three years, and got married on April 26, 2021, at Kanpur Club.

Soon after marriage, she alleged that Mishra and his family pressured her family for a Honda City car and Rs 10 lakh as dowry. Her family managed to give Rs 2.5 lakh, but the demands continued, as per news agency PTI report.She claimed that Mishra assaulted her when drunk, verbally abused her, sometimes kept her without food, and took away money she earned from modelling. He allegedly also threatened her with divorce, which led her into depression and forced her to quit her career.Tiwari said she even attempted suicide once by consuming phenyl and was hospitalized. She added that she approached the police multiple times, but no FIR was registered, allegedly due to Mishra’s influence, prompting her to move the court.Her lawyer, Karim Ahmad Siddiqui, said the complaint was filed after the police failed to take action.This is Tiwari’s third legal case against Mishra. Earlier, she filed a domestic violence case on April 21, 2025, and a maintenance petition on April 23, 2025, seeking Rs 50,000 per month and Rs 1 crore as compensation.

NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha on Tuesday took up the opposition’s resolution on removal of Speaker Om Birla amid a heated debate over who should preside while the House discussed him. Opening the debate, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi accused Birla of partisan behaviour. He said the Speaker made “baseless” allegations against women opposition MPs and repeatedly blocked Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi from raising “critical issues” in the House. As soon as Congress member Mohammad Jawed read out the notice seeking to move the resolution, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi raised a point of order, questioning the decision to allow BJP’s Jagdambika Pal to chair proceedings as he was appointed to the panel of chairpersons by Birla. Congress and TMC MPs also said Pal was not elected by the House, and highlighted that the post of Deputy Speaker has been vacant for last 7 years.Mics are being used to silence MPs: GogoiCongress and TMC MPs also said Pal was not elected by the House, and highlighted that the post of deputy speaker had been vacant for seven years.While TMC MP Saugata Roy said parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju should move a motion to appoint a presiding officer specifically for the purpose, Rijiju said Owaisi’s claim was irrelevant as Pal was competent to preside over LS proceedings when the resolution was taken up.Pal then put to vote the notice to move the resolution and asked at least 50 MPs to stand up in its support. The notice was then accepted and Jawed read out the resolution, which was admitted for discussion.Gaurav Gogoi raised questions over the manner in which Birla presided over the House when Rahul had to speak on the motion of thanks to the President’s address. “There was an expectation that the Chair would be neutral. But research of uncorrected versions would show the number of times the LoP was interrupted. While the LoP was on his feet, another member was called upon,” Gogoi added.“Is this parliamentary tradition we want to show? Microphones are being used to silence MPs. It stands in direct contradiction with the rituals of this House,” Gogoi said, pointing out how Shas-hi Tharoor’s mic was allegedly switched off in the middle of his speech on Feb 9.“When the LoP wanted to speak on the motion of thanks, he was interrupted 20 times by the Speaker, me-mbers of the chairpersons’ panel and senior MPs of the treasury benches… in a premeditated manner,” he said.