US President Donald Trump on Tuesday asserted that America does not require support from its allies as it continues military operations against Iran, declaring that the country is “by far the most powerful country anywhere in the world and they do not need the help of anyone!”In a post on Truth Social, Trump said several Nato allies had declined to participate in the US-led military campaign. “The United States has been informed by most of our Nato ‘allies’ that they don’t want to get involved with our Military Operation against the Terrorist Regime of Iran, in the Middle East, this, despite the fact that almost every Country strongly agreed with what we are doing, and that Iran cannot, in any way, shape, or form, be allowed to have a Nuclear Weapon,” he wrote.“I am not surprised by their action, however, because I always considered NATO, where we spend Hundreds of Billions of Dollars per year protecting these same Countries, to be a one way street — We will protect them, but they will do nothing for us, in particular, in a time of need,” he added.The US President also claimed significant military success against Iran. “Fortunately, we have decimated Iran’s military their navy is gone, their air force is gone, their anti-aircraft and radar is gone and perhaps, most importantly, their leaders at virtually every level, are gone never to threaten us, our Middle Eastern allies, or the world, again!” He said that given these developments, US reliance on allies was no longer necessary. “Because of the fact that we have had such military success, we no longer ‘need,’ or desire, the Nato Countries’ assistance, we never did! Likewise, Japan, Australia, or South Korea. In fact, speaking as President of the United States of America, by far the Most Powerful Country Anywhere in the world, we do not need the help of anyone!”Trump’s remarks come amid visible strain in Washington’s relations with its allies, after several countries responded cautiously or declined his call to deploy warships to escort merchant vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.

Health insurance has become a priority area for the government, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday, expressing hope that the country would achieve universal insurance coverage by 2033 as the sector expands its reach.Replying to supplementary queries during Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, Sitharaman said the insurance industry had already made significant progress, covering 58 crore lives in 2024–25. “Health insurance is a priority for this government. In fact, we are hoping that by 2033 we will have insurance cover for all,” FM Sitharaman was quoted as saying by news agency PTI .She noted that the insurance market is growing steadily, with total health premium collections reaching Rs 1,17,505 crore in 2024–25. Public sector insurers accounted for health premiums of Rs 42,420 crore, while private insurers contributed Rs 37,752 crore and standalone health insurers Rs 37,331 crore.Highlighting structural challenges, the minister said India’s per capita insurance premium remains low at USD 97 compared with the global average of USD 943. “While penetration remains low, the government is actively bridging this gap through targeted reforms and affordability measures. Health insurance is now a clear priority with GST exemption on individual premiums, expansion of coverage and strong regulatory push driving the momentum,” she said.Sitharaman said the government had introduced a Bill in December 2025 to increase foreign direct investment (FDI) in the insurance sector to deepen market penetration. She also referred to regulatory measures taken by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), including rules notified in 2024 on rural social sector and third-party obligations to expand insurance coverage in rural areas.She added that both private and public insurers are subject to systematic regulation by the insurance watchdog. “If there are any wrongdoings by insurance companies, the regulator acts upon them,” she said, noting that several companies had faced penalties in recent years for violations.“If there is undue influence by insurance companies using their dominant position, or when they make false and misleading claims, misrepresent facts, omit key features while selling insurance, or fail to ensure suitability of the policy, all such acts of omission and commission are acted upon,” Sitharaman said.Citing specific cases, she informed the House that a penalty of Rs 2 crore was imposed on Reliance General Insurance Company in 2023–24 for unfair business practices. Similar penalties were levied on Bajaj Finance Ltd (Rs 2 crore), HDFC Life Insurance (Rs 2 crore), SBI Life Insurance (Rs 1 crore) and Royal Sundaram General Insurance (Rs 1 crore).In a written reply, the minister said that in FY 2024–25 there were 251.85 lakh individual health insurance policies covering 6.01 crore people, along with 13.05 lakh group policies covering 27.51 crore members.She also highlighted the role of government schemes, stating that Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) provides health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation to about 12 crore families, representing the bottom 40 per cent of the population.

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 is heading into one of its most uncertain starts yet, with serious concerns emerging just days before the tournament begins on March 26. What was supposed to be a celebration of cricket has now been overshadowed by rising geopolitical tensions, particularly after a deadly airstrike in Kabul.

Rising tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan after Kabul airstrike

The situation escalated dramatically on the night of March 16, when Pakistan carried out what it described as “precision airstrikes” under Operation Ghazab Lil Haq. According to Pakistani authorities, the strikes targeted militant infrastructure in Kabul and Nangarhar, allegedly linked to attacks on civilians.

However, Afghan officials have strongly disputed this narrative. They claim the strikes hit a major civilian facility – the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabul. Reports suggest that the hospital, which had a capacity of 2,000 beds, was completely destroyed. Officials have stated that over 400 people were killed and around 250 injured in the incident.

While Pakistan has denied targeting any civilian structure, the scale of the reported casualties has sparked international concern and significantly raised security alarms for foreign players.

Australian contingent in a tough spot ahead of PSL 2026

Despite the tense situation, a total of 17 Australian cricketers and coaches are currently contracted across multiple PSL franchises. Their involvement now depends heavily on evolving safety conditions and government advisories.

The uncertainty is particularly impactful because many of these players are key figures in their respective teams, including globally recognized names and experienced coaches.

One of the biggest concerns revolves around the March 28 fixture between Peshawar Zalmi and Rawalpindi Pindiz. The match, scheduled to be held at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar, is now in serious doubt after the city was marked as a “do not travel” zone by Australian authorities.

Also READ: Rashid Khan and other Afghanistan cricketers slam Pakistan for deadly air strike in Kabul

Full list of Australian players and coaches in PSL 2026

Multan Sultans

• Steve Smith – Batter
• Josh Philippe – Wicketkeeper-Batter
• Peter Siddle – Pace Bowler
• Ashton Turner – Batter
• Tim Paine – Head Coach

Hyderabad Kingsmen

• Marnus Labuschagne – Batter
• Glenn Maxwell – All-rounder
• Riley Meredith – Pace Bowler
• Jason Gillespie – Head Coach

Karachi Kings

• David Warner – Batter
• Adam Zampa – Spin Bowler

Quetta Gladiators

• Sam Harper – Wicketkeeper-Batter
• Ben McDermott – Wicketkeeper-Batter

Rawalpindi Pindiz

• Jake Fraser-McGurk – Batter

Peshawar Zalmi

• Aaron Hardie – All-rounder

Islamabad United

Also READ: The Hundred 2026 – Sunil Gavaskar hits out at Indian franchise owners for recruiting Pakistani players in their teams

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta attends ‘Nari Utsav’ at Nirmal Chhaya

NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday attended the ‘Nari Utsav’ programme held at the Nirmal Chhaya Complex, where she paid tribute to the strength and contribution of women in nation-building. She said women, through their dedication, selfless service and sense of duty, are playing a leading role across sectors and driving the country towards the goal of Viksit Bharat 2047.During her visit, the Chief Minister toured the Nirmal Chhaya campus and reviewed various schemes, services and facilities. She also launched and assessed several initiatives of the Department of Women and Child Development, reiterating the Delhi government’s commitment to the holistic empowerment of women and children.CM Gupta noted that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, women are scaling new heights–from rural industries to corporate sectors, and from politics to the armed forces–and said the Delhi government is working in the same direction to make women more empowered and self-reliant.Emphasising safety, dignity and self-reliance as the three pillars of women’s empowerment, Gupta said every woman deserves a secure environment, respect in all circumstances, and opportunities to become financially independent.She also announced that the upcoming Delhi Budget, to be presented on March 24, will include key initiatives for women and girls. Highlighting the importance of Self-Help Groups (SHGs), she said women in Delhi will be provided employment and entrepreneurship opportunities through small group-based models. She also stressed the need to expand platforms like ‘Mahila Haat’ to help women showcase and sell their products.The Chief Minister said the government’s focus is not just on launching schemes, but on ensuring their effective implementation so that benefits reach every needy individual. She underlined the shared responsibility of society in ensuring that no one is left hungry, unemployed or neglected.After the event, Gupta conducted a detailed inspection of the Nirmal Chhaya Complex. She visited the After Care Home for Women, Balika Grih and Bal Niketan to ensure that residents are receiving proper care, safety and facilities. She interacted with children, distributed bags and essential items, and reviewed arrangements related to safety, nutrition and overall care, issuing necessary directions to officials.Rekha Gupta also visited the Sankalp Hub, where activities related to women’s safety, awareness and empowerment under Mission Shakti were showcased. At the SHG-run ‘Mahila Haat’, she reviewed local products and exhibitions, including nutritious millet-based dishes.Interacting with women trained under the WCD-DSEU programme, the Chief Minister appreciated the launch of SHG-run canteens at 10 locations, calling it a strong model for promoting women’s entrepreneurship.Gupta further inspected the ‘Samarth Anganwadi’, where upgraded infrastructure, multi-dimensional activities, and health and wellness services were on display. She reviewed preventive health check-ups, wellness counselling, and menstrual hygiene awareness programmes for women.During the programme, the Chief Minister launched several key initiatives, including a compendium of schemes related to women and children and the WCD newsletter. She also distributed health mix kits to pregnant and lactating mothers, provided incentives to Anganwadi workers, and launched the Juvenile Justice Management Information System (JJMIS) portal to improve child-centric service delivery.Under the ‘Give to Gain’ initiative, she called for stronger collaboration between the government and the private sector to enhance Anganwadi centres and child care institutions. The initiative will support the installation of sanitary napkin vending machines, infrastructure upgrades, expansion of mobile health services, and new programmes for women and children, along with creating livelihood opportunities for women and SHGs.The chief minister reaffirmed that the government remains fully committed to empowering women, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for children, and uplifting vulnerable sections of society. She added that when women are empowered, both society and the nation grow stronger–and Delhi is moving firmly in that direction.

10% of India’s non-energy imports in 2024 originated from the Middle East region. (AI image)

The Middle East conflict has brought into focus the vulnerability of countries around the world in terms of their dependency on oil and gas. India, the world’s fifth largest economy, is also the third largest importer of oil. A big portion of its gas needs – LPG and LNG – is also dependent on imports routed via the Strait of Hormuz. Additionally crude oil prices climbing above $100 per barrel have also led to shockwaves globally – and India is also expected to see a hit on its current account deficit as the oil import bill rises.But beyond oil and gas, several other sectors of the economy will likely see a hit if the US-Iran war continues for a longer duration.

According to Barclays, India’s non-energy imports from the Middle East are sizable as well – at approximately 10% of total non-energy imports. “Middle East’s position in global trade goes beyond energy, with material but underappreciated exposures across chemicals, construction, agriculture and basic manufacturing,” says Barclays India in a report. However it notes that the starting point for the Indian economy, whether it is in terms of GDP growth, inflation, external and fiscal balances, is quite robust. This offers enough headroom, going into this price and supply shock from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, it says.

Beyond oil & gas: Which sectors of Indian economy are vulnerable?

As Barclays points out: 10% of India’s non-energy imports in 2024 originated from the Middle East region. The research report finds that the dependency is particularly higher for imports of diamonds (47.5% of India’s total imports come from the Middle East), fertilisers (63%), polymers (50%) and hydrocarbons (48%)!Also Read | India’s Goldilocks under threat? How US-Iran war, crude oil above $100 may deal a blow to growth story – explainedThe Middle East plays an important role in global trade that extends well beyond energy supplies. The region also has significant, though often underestimated, influence across sectors such as chemicals, construction materials, agriculture and basic manufacturing.While India’s reliance on energy shipments from the Middle East is well known, its dependence on non-energy imports from the region cannot be ignored. Countries including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iraq, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain accounted for roughly 10% of India’s total non-energy imports in 2024.

How Middle East conflict impacts India beyond oil & gas

Not only that, in some sectors such as precious metals including gold, diamonds, platinum and silver, India typically imports raw materials and processes them domestically before exporting finished jewellery. Since the Middle East is also a major destination for these exports, any extended disruption to imports caused by the conflict could also affect India’s export activity in these products.For other sectors, such as aircraft components and NPK fertilisers, Barclays is of the view that alternative sources can help offset some supply disruptions. Countries outside the Middle East such as Germany and Paris for aircraft parts, and Russia and China for fertilisers, together account for a larger share of India’s imports in these categories. Assuming these partners have the capacity to expand trade with India, they could potentially help bridge any shortfall arising from reduced Middle Eastern supply, the research report says.Barclays sees ‘some pain’ from the hit to the supply of nitrogenous fertilisers (63% dependency on Middle East), given the share of second/third largest partners lag way behind (Russia: 22%, China: 5%). “If the supply disruption prolongs, leading to a surge in international prices, the government may have to raise fertiliser subsidies, similar to its policy reaction following the Russia-Ukraine conflict. However, media reports indicate the government is already trying to diversify sources of imports, including from China,” Barclays notes.In the hydrocarbons sector, private refiners could potentially be encouraged to prioritise domestic supply over exports if needed, which would help soften the impact of reduced external imports. “In sum, beyond the energy dependence, India’s dependence on the Middle East can be met via alternate sources and/or redirecting domestic production for domestic consumption, before exports,” it concludes.