NEW DELHI: The Congress party has nominated the present Rajya Sabha member and senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi and former MLA Vem Narender Reddy as its candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections from Telangana, ahead of polling scheduled later this month.The nominations were announced as part of the biennial elections to the Council of States, with voting set to take place on 16 March and counting scheduled for 5 pm the same day, according to the Election Commission.The two seats from Telangana will fall vacant on 9 April, when the terms of Congress Rajya Sabha member Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MP K R Suresh Reddy come to an end.Singhvi is widely expected to retain his seat, given the Congress party’s numerical strength in the Telangana Legislative Assembly, which determines the outcome of Rajya Sabha elections through proportional representation.The Congress has also fielded Vem Narender Reddy, a former MLA and adviser to Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, who is considered a close associate of the chief minister.Reacting to his nomination, Narender Reddy expressed gratitude to the party leadership. In a post on X, he thanked Sonia Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, MP Priyanka Gandhi, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Congress in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan, Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka and Telangana PCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud, along with the party’s high command.The Telangana seats are part of 37 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states that are set to fall vacant in April as the terms of sitting members conclude. These seats belong to Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana.According to the Election Commission’s schedule, the notification for the elections was issued on 26 February, initiating the nomination process. The last date for filing nominations is 5 March, with scrutiny scheduled for 6 March and candidates permitted to withdraw their nominations until 9 March.

Filmmaker R. Parthiban apologized to Trisha Krishnan following a controversial remark. Meanwhile, Malayalam director Chidambaram received anticipatory bail in a harassment case. The censor review for Vijay’s ‘Jana Nayagan’ was postponed again. Rumors about ‘Vaadivaasal’ revival were denied, and Mahesh Babu concluded the Georgia schedule for ‘Varanasi’.

South cinema saw several headline-making developments today, ranging from film controversies and production updates to celebrity reactions. From legal relief for a filmmaker to delays in a major film’s censor review, the industry had plenty of talking points. Rumours about big projects and fresh shooting updates also kept fans engaged online. Here’s a quick look at the top five South cinema stories of the day.

Chidambaram gets anticipatory bail in harassment case

A sessions court in Ernakulam granted anticipatory bail to Malayalam filmmaker Chidambaram S. Poduval in a sexual harassment case registered by the Ernakulam Town South Police. The case was filed under IPC Sections 354, 354A(1)(i), and 509. The court’s order protects the director from arrest while the investigation continues. According to a report by India Today, a young woman filed the complaint alleging that the director sexually harassed her at his residence in 2022. In his bail plea, Chidambaram denied the allegations and questioned the delay in filing the complaint, after which the court granted him anticipatory bail.

‘Jana Nayagan’ censor review postponed again

The censor review of Jana Nayagan, starring Vijay, was delayed after its scheduled screening before the CBFC Revising Committee on March 9 was cancelled. According to India Today, the review was reportedly called off at the last minute after a committee member fell ill. The postponement means the film’s certification process remains pending, with no new screening date announced yet. Directed by H. Vinoth, the film had already faced censor objections, which earlier led to its review being moved to the Revising Committee.

‘Vaadivaasal’ revival rumours denied

Rumours recently suggested that Vaadivaasal, the long-delayed film of Suriya and Vetrimaaran, was set to restart soon. Reports claimed the actor had agreed to allocate monthly call sheets for the project. However, sources close to Vetrimaaran clarified that there have been no recent discussions about reviving the film, calling the claims rumours. The director is currently focused on his ongoing project Arasan, starring Silambarasan.

Mahesh Babu wraps up Georgia schedule of ‘Varanasi’

Mahesh Babu has completed the Georgia shooting schedule of his upcoming film Varanasi, directed by S. S. Rajamouli. The actor was recently spotted returning to Hyderabad after wrapping up the schedule. Reports suggest he will stay in the city briefly before flying to Antarctica for the film’s next schedule. The globe-trotting adventure film also stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Prithviraj Sukumaran in key roles.

Parthiban apologises after Trisha remark controversy

R. Parthiban expressed regret after his comment about Trisha Krishnan at an award event sparked controversy. The filmmaker issued an apology on social media, saying the situation had “gone wrong” and that there was no option but to regret it. The row began after a remark he made on stage about Trisha went viral online. Earlier, Trisha had shared a strong message stating that a microphone only makes a comment louder, not more intelligent.

US stock markets tumbled on Monday as a sharp spike in oil prices following the Middle East conflict rattled investors and raised fears about the resilience of the global economy.The S&P 500 fell 1.3%, coming off its worst week since October. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 721 points, or 1.5%, to 9:35 a.m. Eastern time, while the Nasdaq Composite declined 1.2%, according to market data reported by AP .The decline followed even steeper losses across Europe and Asia as investors tracked the surge in crude oil prices after the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran intensified.Early Monday, the price of Brent crude — the international benchmark — briefly touched $119.50 per barrel, its highest level since the summer following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Prices later eased, with Brent crude trading at $101.76 per barrel, still 9.8% higher than Friday.Meanwhile, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude jumped 9.6% to $99.59, after briefly surging to $119.48 per barrel.The sharp rise in oil prices has renewed fears of stagflation, a situation where economic growth stagnates while inflation remains high. Higher fuel costs could strain household budgets already under pressure from inflation and increase operational costs for companies.Markets partly stabilised after reports that major economies may coordinate a response to rising oil prices.Historically, the US stock market has rebounded relatively quickly from geopolitical conflicts, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, provided oil prices do not remain elevated for an extended period. Despite recent volatility, the S&P 500 remains within 5% of the record level reached in January.Some investors believe the current decline could offer buying opportunities if energy markets stabilise.“We continue to believe that the current acute shortage of oil will be reversed in the coming months as new supply comes online and oil should drop significantly,” said Sameer Samana, head of global equities and real assets at Wells Fargo Investment Institute.However, much will depend on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route off Iran’s coast through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil typically passes. Tanker traffic has slowed sharply due to fears of possible Iranian attacks.Oil strategists at Macquarie Research warned that if the disruption persists, prices could climb significantly.“Although we are not attempting to predict how long Hormuz transit will be substantially or completely curtailed, we are growing more confident that without an agreement and a fast cessation of all kinetic activity, the crude market will begin to break in days, and not in weeks or months,” strategists led by Vikas Dwivedi said in a report.Rising fuel costs have hit sectors with heavy energy consumption the hardest. Carnival fell 7.3%, while United Airlines dropped 6.9% and Old Dominion Freight declined 3.8%.Retailers also faced pressure, with Best Buy falling 4.4% and Williams-Sonoma dropping 4%, as higher fuel prices threaten consumer spending and increase shipping costs.Stock markets abroad also posted sharp losses. South Korea’s Kospi sank 6%, Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 5.2%, and France’s CAC 40 dropped 1.7%.Geopolitical tensions continued to escalate, with both sides targeting new locations over the weekend. Bahrain accused Iran of striking a desalination plant vital for drinking water supplies, while Israel struck oil depots in Tehran, sending up thick smoke and triggering environmental alerts.Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said the current rise in oil prices is acceptable in the short term.“Short term oil prices, which will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over, is a very small price to pay for U.S.A., and World, Safety and Peace,” he said on his social media platform.In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year US Treasury remained at 4.15%, unchanged from late Friday. Yields are being pulled higher by inflation concerns linked to rising oil prices but are also facing downward pressure from worries about slowing economic growth.Concerns about the economy intensified after a weak US jobs report released Friday showed employers cut more jobs than they added last month, raising fresh doubts about the strength of the labour market.

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Indonesia has reached an agreement with India to acquire the BrahMos missile system, a spokesperson for Indonesia’s defence ministry confirmed on Monday.Defence ministry spokesperson Rico Ricardo Sirait told news agency Reuters that the deal forms part of Jakarta’s ongoing efforts to upgrade its military capabilities.In 2023, BrahMos Aerospace, a company jointly owned by the governments of India and Russia, told Reuters it was in advanced discussions with Jakarta on a potential agreement estimated to be worth between $200 million and $350 million.Rico said the agreement was “part of the modernisation of military hardware and defence capabilities, especially in the maritime sector.”However, he declined to confirm the overall value of the deal.BrahMos Aerospace secured its first international contract in 2022 with the Philippines, a Southeast Asian neighbour of Indonesia.

BrahMos

Neither BrahMos Aerospace nor Ministry of Defence immediately responded to requests for comment.The BrahMos missile is a supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia and produced by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia. Named after the Brahmaputra River in India and the Moskva River in Russia, the missile is among the fastest operational cruise missiles in the world, capable of reaching speeds of up to Mach 2.8 to 3. It can be launched from multiple platforms including land, warships, submarines and aircraft such as the Sukhoi Su-30MKI operated by the Indian Air Force. Initially developed with a range of around 290 km, newer versions have extended ranges of over 400 km. Known for its high precision and ability to fly at low altitudes to evade radar, the BrahMos missile is a key component of the strike capabilities of the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force, and has also been exported to countries such as the Philippines as India expands its defence exports.

NEW DELHI: The Indian Embassy in Tehran has issued an advisory asking Indian nationals in Iran not to approach any of the country’s land border points for travel out of the country without prior coordination with the mission.In a statement, the embassy said any movement towards land border crossings must be undertaken only after obtaining explicit guidance from the Indian mission.“Indian nationals are hereby advised not to approach any of the land borders of Iran for travel outside the country without prior coordination with the embassy,” the advisory said.The embassy cautioned that it may not be able to assist individuals once they leave Iranian territory but fail to enter a third country.“It may please be noted that the Embassy will not be in a position to extend assistance once individuals have exited Iranian territory and are unable to enter the third country concerned,” the statement added.The mission said it remains available to assist Indian nationals in Iran and urged them to stay in touch through its emergency helplines.The embassy shared helpline numbers: +98-9128109115, +98-9128109102, +98-9128109109 and +98-9932179359, along with the email address cons.tehran@mea.gov.in for consular support.The advisory comes as the embassy continues to monitor the situation and coordinate with Indian nationals in Iran regarding travel and safety.Earlier in the day, external affairs minister S Jaishankar told Parliament that India believes that dialogue and diplomacy should be pursued to de-escalate the tensions in the Middle East. While outlining India’s stand in Rajya Sabha, Jaishankar said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is closely monitoring the developments and relevant ministries are coordinating to ensure effective responses.“The Prime Minister continues to closely monitor the emerging developments, and relevant ministries are coordinating to ensure effective responses. Given the gravity of the situation, the Cabinet Committee of Security (CCS) met on March 1, under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister. It was briefed on the airstrikes in Iran and the subsequent attacks in several Gulf countries. The CCS was concerned over the safety and security of the Indian community in the region,” he added.The EAM said that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East is of “particular concern” for India as over one crore Indians live and work in the Gulf nations and region. He also added that the region is key to India’s energy security and includes many important suppliers of oil and gas.

Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma of India lift the trophy (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has brushed aside the notion that the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad brings bad luck for the Indian team, stressing that the outcome of matches depends entirely on how the players perform on the day. The debate around the venue intensified after India’s defeat to Australia national cricket team in the final of the 2023 Cricket World Cup at the same stadium. However, Harbhajan insisted the loss had nothing to do with the ground itself and was simply down to Australia playing better cricket in that match.

“When two good teams play against each other, one will obviously lose. When India played against Australia (in 2023), Australia were the better team on that particular day. In this game, we saw if you put your right foot forward from ball one, you will get the results. Whatever people used to think, that this ground is a ‘panauti’ (unlucky) or whatsoever I have heard on social media, that is done and dusted now.” Harbhajan also pointed out that similar perceptions had once existed about another iconic venue, Eden Gardens in Kolkata, before results eventually turned around. “Lot of people talk about Eden Gardens as well. Eden didn’t have the best of records, but somewhere down the line it changed. Luckily, in our era, we managed to do that. Lot of people talk about this Ahmedabad stadium as well – if the game is happening there, India might lose. But it has nothing to do with the cricketers or the result of the game. It is the mindset of the people who have never played cricket,” Harbhajan told India Today. His remarks follow similar views expressed by fellow off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who also urged fans not to treat the Ahmedabad venue as a jinx ahead of India’s final clash against New Zealand national cricket team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. “You can lose a game at a venue and win the next one. What is there in this? We have won a lot of games in that stadium. Don’t make a stadium like this taboo,” Ashwin said on his show Ash ki Baat while discussing the conversation surrounding the venue before the title clash. The veteran spinner, who has played 106 Tests for India, added that the current Indian team would not be distracted by such narratives. “I don’t think it should come into the way. I am sure, after a point of time, that monkey on the back will be there. But now, I don’t think the team will be thinking on those lines,” he added.

Lower office rentals are helping Navi Mumbai emerge as a preferred destination for multinational companies and global capability centres (GCCs), with rents in the city about 21% below the average of major Tier-I markets, according to a report by real estate data analytics firm CRE Matrix.The report, ‘Navi Mumbai Rising: A Comprehensive Perspective on India’s Next Commercial Real Estate Hub’, said the average office rent in Navi Mumbai is around Rs 70 per sq ft per month, significantly lower than the average rentals in leading metropolitan markets, according to PTI.As per the data, Navi Mumbai currently has about 32.7 million sq ft of prime office stock accommodating nearly 430 occupiers, of which 72% is green-certified.Another 23.5 million sq ft of office space is expected to be added by 2031, the report noted.“Navi Mumbai has evolved from a planned counter-magnet to Mumbai into a structurally significant commercial real estate market within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).“The city’s relevance today is driven by the convergence of infrastructure delivery, institutional-grade supply, occupier demand and sustained cost competitiveness,” CRE Matrix co-founder and CEO Abhishek Kiran Gupta said.The report also highlighted that average office demand in Navi Mumbai over the last two years has been around 3 million sq ft, significantly higher than the new supply of about 0.8 million sq ft.Key office micro-markets in Navi Mumbai North include Airoli, Ghansoli, Kopar Khairane, Mahape and Rabale, while Juinagar, Nerul, Seawoods, Vashi, Sanpada, Turbhe, CBD Belapur, Ulwe, Kharghar and Panvel are among the prominent commercial areas in the southern part of the city.Major developers with projects in the region include Tata Realty, Adani Realty, L&T Realty, K Raheja Corp, Mindspace Business Parks REIT and Aurum Ventures, among others.“Navi Mumbai’s ascent is numbers-driven, a 21 per cent office rental advantage attracting GCCs, 23.5 million sq ft of green building development, 628 MW live IT load across 7.5 msf of data centres, and a 3,400+ MW upcoming data-center pipeline-marking its transition into a core commercial and digital infrastructure hub,” Gupta said.He added that office rentals in Noida and Navi Mumbai are broadly comparable, while Kolkata and Ahmedabad remain cheaper office markets than Navi Mumbai.

The next edition of the Indian Premier League will begin on March 28, 2026, with official broadcaster Star Sports confirming the start date on Sunday. The announcement was made shortly before the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 between India national cricket team and New Zealand national cricket team at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.While the tournament’s opening date has now been revealed, the detailed schedule for the IPL 2026 season is still awaited from the league organisers.

Also See: IND vs NZ Live Score T20 World Cup Final 2026The defending champions heading into the new campaign are Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who clinched the 2025 title after defeating the Punjab Kings by six runs in the final played in Ahmedabad.Earlier this month, Santosh Menon, Secretary of the Karnataka State Cricket Association, confirmed that the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru will stage five of RCB’s home matches during the upcoming season. However, not all of RCB’s home games will take place in Bengaluru. The franchise’s remaining two home fixtures will be played at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.In an official statement released earlier this week, the franchise expressed its appreciation to the authorities who helped facilitate the return of IPL matches to Bengaluru.“RCB extends its sincere gratitude to the Government of Karnataka, the Karnataka State Cricket Association and the Karnataka Police for their unwavering guidance, cooperation and support in facilitating the hosting of matches in Bengaluru. The collective efforts to ramp up infrastructure and safety measures in time for the IPL season have ensured that the defending champions will play the majority of their home games in their home ground,” the statement said.Rajesh Menon, CEO of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, highlighted the importance of the Chinnaswamy Stadium to the franchise and its supporters.“The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is more than just our home ground; it is where our identity as a team truly comes alive. The energy our fans bring to Bengaluru has always been a driving force for our players, inspiring them through every phase of the game. Our fans have stood by us unconditionally, and they deserve the opportunity to watch their team compete at home.”“After detailed discussions and completing the necessary due process around permissions, we are pleased to confirm that RCB will play five matches in Bengaluru. We sincerely thank the Government of Karnataka, the KSCA, and the Karnataka Police for their support in making this possible,” Menon added.Cricketing activity at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium had been suspended since June last year following a tragic stampede during RCB’s IPL 2025 title celebrations, in which 11 people lost their lives and several others were injured. The upcoming season will mark the return of IPL matches to the iconic Bengaluru venue.