PUDUCHERRY: AIADMK, a constituent of the NDA, on Saturday said it has happily agreed to contest from two constituencies for the sake of honouring coalition dharma and asserted that it would claim a share in power if the alliance wins the upcoming Assembly polls.Speaking to reporters, AIADMK Puducherry unit secretary A Anbazhagan said his party would contest from Uppalam and Orleanpet constituencies and expressed confidence that NDA would retain power in Puducherry.He said: “During the last Assembly polls held in 2021, we fought from five constituencies and lost them all. This time, we are contesting in two seats and we will win both. Due to several circumstances, AIADMK is fighting from a reduced number of seats. Following the coalition dharma and upholding it, the AIADMK is contesting from only two constituencies.” Further, Anbalagan said talks were held on March 20 and Saturday and following “permission” from party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami, “we accepted two seats happily.” Answering a question, the AIADMK leader said his party would for sure seek a share in power when NDA emerges victorious. “Are we in politics to do charity? A natural progress for an MLA is to become a minister,” he said.The ruling AINRC and the BJP-AIADMK combine on Friday reached an agreement for the Assembly polls in the union territory, where the AINRC will contest 16 seats, and the BJP will fight from the remaining 14.The arrangements were finalised after Puducherry Chief Minister and AINRC leader N Rangasamy on Friday held talks with BJP leader and Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya at a hotel here.The BJP, from its kitty, has allocated two seats each to the AIADMK and the Lakshia Jananayaga Katchi (LJK).The BJP on Saturday released a list of nine candidates for the April 9 Assembly polls in Puducherry, fielding Home Minister A Namassivayam for re-election from Mannadipet constituency.

More than 20 countries on Saturday expressed readiness to help ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, condemning Iran’s closure of the strategic route.The UAE ministry of foreign affairs released a joint statement signed by the leaders of the UAE, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Denmark, Latvia, Slovenia, Estonia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Czechia, Romania, Bahrain, Lithuania and Australia addressing the situation in the strategic strait.“We condemn in the strongest terms recent attacks by Iran on unarmed commercial vessels in the Gulf, attacks on civilian infrastructure including oil and gas installations, and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces,” the statement read.The statement said that freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle of international law, including under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).It added that the consequences of Iran’s actions would be felt across the world, particularly by the most vulnerable communities.“Consistent with UNSC Resolution 2817, we emphasise that such interference with international shipping and the disruption of global energy supply chains constitute a threat to international peace and security. In this regard, we call for an immediate comprehensive moratorium on attacks on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas installations,” the statement read.The statement said the countries were ready to support efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait and welcomed ongoing preparatory planning by other nations.It also welcomed the International Energy Agency’s decision to authorise a coordinated release of strategic petroleum reserves and said further steps would be taken to stabilise energy markets, including working with certain producing nations to increase output.The statement added that efforts would also be made to support the countries most affected, including through the United Nations and international financial institutions.“We will also work to provide support for the most affected nations, including through the United Nations and the IFis. Maritime security and freedom of navigation benefit all countries. We call on all states to respect international law and uphold the fundamental principles of international prosperity and security,” the statement read. After the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, Tehran retaliated with strikes on its Gulf neighbours and on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.Between March 1 and 19, commodities carriers made just 116 crossings through the strait, according to analytics firm Kpler, a drop of about 95 percent from peacetime levels.Iran’s de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas normally passes, along with repeated attacks on energy infrastructure across the Middle East, has driven global energy prices sharply higher.

Iran’s claim that it struck a US F-35 Lightning II has drawn sharp global attention, with early indications suggesting that infrared-guided air defence systems may have played a role in the incident now under investigation.A US F-35 stealth fighter was damaged during a combat mission over Iran and forced to make an emergency landing at a US air base in the Middle East, according to American officials. The pilot survived and is in stable condition. While Washington has not fully confirmed Tehran’s claim, it has acknowledged the aircraft was hit by what is believed to be Iranian fire.

Iran has described the incident as a “world’s first hit”, raising questions about how one of the most advanced stealth aircraft may have been tracked and targeted.

Infrared systems in focus

Analysts are increasingly looking at Iran’s infrared-guided surface-to-air systems, which rely on heat signatures rather than radar, as a possible factor.Among the key systems:

Unlike traditional radar-guided systems, these platforms operate passively, meaning they do not broadcast signals that stealth aircraft are designed to evade. This raises the possibility that infrared detection may have complemented or substituted radar tracking in the engagement.

Can infrared systems hit an F-35?

The F-35 is built to minimise both radar and infrared signatures, but it is not completely invisible. Its engine still produces heat, particularly during high-speed or combat manoeuvres.Infrared-guided systems, in theory, can exploit this by:

However, such a hit would still be considered highly challenging. The F-35 is equipped with advanced countermeasures, including flares and electronic warfare systems, and is designed to detect threats early through its sensor fusion capabilities.

What makes this incident significant

Capt Tim Hawkins, spokesperson for US Central Command, said the fifth-generation jet was “flying a combat mission over Iran” when it was forced to land. “The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot is in stable condition,” he said.Even a partial strike carries weight. The F-35 is widely seen as one of the most survivable aircraft in contested airspace due to its stealth, sensor fusion and network-centric warfare design.If Iranian systems were able to track and hit the jet, it could point to:

The bigger picture

The reported hit comes amid an ongoing conflict in which the US has lost at least 16 aircraft, including multiple MQ-9 Reaper drones, according to a Bloomberg report. Other losses have been attributed to accidents and friendly fire.While US officials maintain that operations are proceeding as planned, analysts note that only “localised air superiority” has been achieved in parts of Iranian airspace.Against this backdrop, Iran’s claim of striking an F-35 — whether through infrared systems alone or in combination with other tracking methods — could mark a shift in how stealth aircraft are challenged in modern warfare.

NEW DELHI: Several domestic companies including Sun Pharma, Torrent, Zydus, Dr Reddy’s, Glenmark and Alkem announced the launch of semaglutide on Day 1, substantially lowering the cost of weight-loss therapy.This is in the wake of the innovator Novo Nordisk losing its patent on semaglutide on March 20.Sun Pharma’s weekly therapy costs, from initiation to the highest dose, ranges from approximately Rs 900 to Rs 2,000 for Noveltreat and Rs 750 to Rs 1,300 for Sematrinity, supporting greater affordability, the company said in a statement.Kirti Ganorkar, managing director, Sun Pharma said, “To further support patients, we are also introducing a holistic patient support program intended to guide them throughout their treatment journey”.Further, Torrent Pharma has launched both oral and injectable formulations, expanding its presence in metabolic disorders such as type-2 diabetes and obesity. “We are proud to be the first Indian company to offer this treatment across oral and injectable formulations, giving healthcare professionals a holistic choice for treating patients”, Amal Kelshikar, CEO – India Business, Torrent Pharma said.Others like USV announced the launch in collaboration with Dr Reddy’s Labs. The flurry of launches reflects a broader push by companies to tap into India’s rapidly expanding metabolic disorders market.Blockbuster weight-loss therapies –Wegovy and Mounjaro, marketed by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly respectively, were launched at ‘’India-specific prices’’ last year, while the global bestseller Ozempic by the Dutch firm, made its India debut only in December last year. Semaglutide, a GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonist, helps to control blood sugar and improve satiety, reducing cravings for food, eventually inducing weight-loss.These launches come even as India faces an escalating diabetes burden, with over 100 million people currently living with diabetes.

NEW DELHI: Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the Congress and Rahul Gandhi, accusing them of acting as the “B-team of BJP”.Speaking in an interview with PTI, Vijayan said, “Some people don’t learn even if they see or experience something. They are not normal people. They are a rare phenomenon. That is something that happens to those who are normally incapable of grasping things. Rahul Gandhi falls into that category.”He referred to Rahul Gandhi’s allegations against former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal over the excise policy case, noting that the court had dismissed the accusations and gave Kejriwal a clean chit. “It was a heavy blow to the face of the Congress leadership, including Rahul Gandhi. Despite that, it is pathetic that he is repeating the same thing. That is why I said they do not learn from what they have seen and experienced,” Vijayan added.Vijayan also accused Congress of aligning with the BJP at both national and state levels. “The Congress and UDF have become a faction that has no hesitation in allying with the BJP,” he claimed, adding that the parties often oppose the LDF in similar ways, news agency PTI reported.On communal politics, the CM said, “One must be able to take a strong stand against it. That is the speciality of the stand we take. We will not compromise with any communal force. We are against all communalism.” He distinguished between religious organisations and communal forces, stating, “Religious organisations and communalism are two different things. It is communal forces that should be opposed.”Vijayan dismissed opposition claims on the Sabarimala gold loss, saying the Kerala high court is monitoring the investigation and “anyone involved in the matter would not be spared.” He added that the UDF was raising the issue only to influence voters ahead of the April 9 Assembly polls.The CM also accused the Centre of a hostile stance towards Kerala on various issues and called BJP state chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar’s remarks that the central government had aided the state “nonsense.” He highlighted reforms in higher education aimed at raising institutional standards to international levels.

India does not expect the ongoing Middle East conflict to significantly disrupt its ability to meet peak summer electricity demand, with the government banking on coal, renewables and battery storage to offset any stress from gas supply disruptions.Speaking on the sidelines of the Bharat Electricity Summit 2026, power secretary Pankaj Agarwal said the country’s electricity system remains largely insulated because gas plays only a limited role in India’s power mix.“We are quite hopeful that this Middle East crisis is not going to affect us,” Agarwal said, as quoted by news agency ANI.

Limited dependence on gas keeps power supply shielded

Agarwal stressed that India uses relatively little gas-based power in normal operations, which sharply reduces the direct impact of any disruption linked to the Gulf crisis.