SRINAGAR: Kashmir politicians across parties met Iranian ambassador Mohammad Fathali in New Delhi on Monday, expressing grief at Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s killing and calling US-Israel attacks “barbaric”.The meeting followed widespread protests in Kashmir last week over Khamenei’s murder in the attacks. “The people of Kashmir stand with the courageous and resilient people of Iran,” PDP chief and former J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti said outside the Iranian embassy.CM Omar Abdullah’s National Conference (NC) said party MPs Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan, Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo and Gurwinder Singh Oberoi met Fathali and signed a condolence book on Khamenei’s “martyrdom”.

NEW DELHI: The government has directed oil refineries to increase the production of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and divert the additional output for domestic household use in view of geopolitical disruptions affecting fuel supplies, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas announceed on Monday.The move comes amid constraints in LPG availability due to global supply pressures, prompting the ministry to prioritise cooking gas supply for households.As part of the measures, the government has increased the minimum waiting period for booking a domestic LPG refill from 21 days to 25 days. The step is aimed at preventing hoarding and black marketing while ensuring equitable distribution of cylinders, sources said.The ministry has asked refineries to maximise LPG recovery and channel the incremental production towards domestic consumption to maintain stable supplies for households.For non-domestic consumption, the government has decided to prioritise supplies from imported LPG for essential sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions.Meanwhile, a committee comprising three executive directors of oil marketing companies (OMCs) has been constituted to examine requests for LPG supply from other non-domestic users, including restaurants, hotels and industries.The panel will review representations from these sectors and take decisions on supply allocations based on availability and priority requirements, sources said.The measures are part of the government’s contingency planning to manage LPG distribution amid uncertainties in the global energy market and to ensure uninterrupted supply of cooking gas to households.

NEW DELHI: An IndiGo flight from Delhi to Manchester returned to its origin after last-minute airspace restrictions linked to the evolving situation in Middle East, the airline said on Sunday.Flight 6E 033, which had departed from Delhi for Manchester, was unable to continue its journey and turned back shortly after take-off due to sudden limits imposed on airspace access.

Confirming the development, the airline said changing conditions in and around the Middle East could also lead to longer routes or diversions for some services.

“Due to the evolving situation in and around the Middle East, some of our flights may take longer routes or experience diversions. Our flight 6E 033 operating from Delhi to Manchester, had to return to its origin due to last minute airspace restrictions, owing to the ongoing situation in Middle East . We are working with the relevant authorities to explore the possibilities of resuming the journey. As always, safety and security of our customers, crew and aircraft is of utmost importance to us,” IndiGo said in a statement.The airline said it is coordinating with relevant authorities to assess options for continuing the journey once conditions permit.Passengers are expected to receive updates as the airline reviews the situation and operational requirements.Airlines operating international routes have been adjusting flight paths or suspending services as shifting airspace conditions in Middle East affect key global corridors used by long-haul flights.

Mumbai: Construction of buildings for the rehabilitation of 252 project-affected persons in the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) project in the first phase is in its final stage and will be completed by the end of March, said officials. The PAPs will get compact 300-square-foot apartments equipped with modern amenities at Kanjurmarg West. According to the civic body, construction of 906 apartments in seven buildings on approximately a 10,050-square-metre area is in progress. Of these, the construction of two buildings is in the final stage. Construction of the remaining apartments should be completed within the stipulated time so that they can be handed over to the project-affected persons at the earliest. BMC additional commissioner Abhijit Bangar directed the administration to take immediate measures to ensure provision of amenities and facilities at the project site during an inspection on March 6. Each apartment has a living room, a bedroom with attached toilet, and kitchen. Additionally, amenities such as a market, community hall, library, health centre, sewage treatment plant (STP) and other facilities will also be provided. Bangar inspected the site to assess the current status of construction. He inspected the internal structure of the apartments, quality of water supply, toilets, electricity, elevators (lifts), staircases, fire safety measures and other significant aspects, and expressed satisfaction with the overall progress. Bangar also said that under Phase 3 of the GMLR project, excavation of underground tunnels through a tunnel boring machine will commence in June 2026. Prior to that, work on the launching of a shaft at Amar Nagar is expected to begin.

Sri Lanka national cricket team have indefinitely postponed their upcoming white-ball series against Afghanistan national cricket team, which was scheduled to begin in the United Arab Emirates this week, an official confirmed on Monday.“We had to cancel because of the flight situation… and the ongoing fighting in the region,” a Sri Lanka Cricket official told AFP.

The two teams were scheduled to play three T20 internationals in Sharjah on March 13, 15 and 17, followed by three One-Day Internationals in Dubai on March 20, 22 and 25.The tour would have marked the first time Afghanistan hosted Sri Lanka for a bilateral series.Tensions have escalated across the Middle East after the United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory strikes.The conflict has disrupted flights across the region, including in Dubai, where the airport was briefly shut on Saturday as Iran fired drones and missiles at targets across the Gulf.War-torn Afghanistan has never hosted an international cricket match and has instead staged its home fixtures in India or the United Arab Emirates.

Ohio State University President Ted Carter resigned all of a sudden, citing “inappropriate relationship” and the university’s Board of Trustees accepted the resignation in an emergency board meeting on March 7. Carter told trustees in advance of that meeting that he had an inappropriate relationship with “someone seeking public resources to support her personal business.” The university has not clarified what he meant by inappropriate relationship and whether there are additional details.Carter, former University of Nebraska system president and vice admiral in the US Navy, began his tenure in 2024. In his two-year stint, Carter experienced a tumultuous era for Ohio’s largest university, including crackdowns on university protests, the conversation around artificial intelligence in education and a government-ordered reshaping of university education, the Columbia Dispatch reported.66-year-old Walter “Ted” Carter Jr became the 17th president of The Ohio State University on January 1, 2024, after a decades-long career that spanned the US Navy and higher education leadership. Before arriving at Ohio State, Carter led the University of Nebraska System and previously served as superintendent of the United States Naval Academy. His term at OSU was supposed to end in 2028.

Who is Ted Carter‘s wife Lynda Carter?

Carter got married to Lynda Kohlhepp in 1982, a year after Ted graduated from the Naval Academy and the year Lynda graduated from Maryland with a degree in sociology and statistics. During their 38 years of service in the US Navy, Ted and Lynda moved over 20 times, including two moves to Japan. In 2019, Lynda received the Distinguished Public Service Award from the Secretary of the Navy for her contributions to the Naval Academy and her dedication to countless military organizations, activities and functions during her time as a military spouse.They have been married for 40 years and have two children, Brittany and Christopher.

Pakistan on Monday announced a series of austerity measures aimed at reducing fuel consumption, including temporary school closures, reduced government fuel allowances and a four-day workweek for public offices, as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East threatens energy supplies.Pakistan’s prime minister Shehbaz Sharif said the measures were being introduced to conserve fuel and manage potential supply disruptions linked to the regional conflict, according to Reuters.In a televised address, Sharif announced that all schools across the country would remain closed for two weeks starting March 16, while universities and other higher education institutions would shift to online classes immediately.The government will also reduce fuel allowances for government departments.“In the next 2 months, government departments will get a 50% cut in fuel allowances,” Sharif said.To further reduce fuel use, the government will allow half of its employees to work remotely.“Government offices will operate four days a week to save fuel, and the decision would exclude banks,” Sharif said.Under the plan, 50% of government staff will work from home, while public offices will operate four days a week, with banks exempt from the arrangement.According to Reuters, the measures are part of Pakistan’s effort to curb fuel consumption as the conflict in the Middle East threatens to disrupt global energy flows and drive up oil prices.Pakistan relies heavily on imported fuel, making it particularly vulnerable to global energy shocks. The government’s latest steps are intended to reduce domestic demand and manage fuel supplies during the ongoing regional crisis.