President Masoud Pezeshkian and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif discussed the escalating military situation in the region during a telephone conversation. During the call, Pezeshkian urged the international community and global organisations to investigate the root causes of the airstrikes on Iran that triggered the current conflict.Pezeshkian warned that failing to conduct such an inquiry could further undermine international security.According to Reuters, the Iranian president also emphasised that Tehran has no intention of attacking neighbouring countries or engaging in broader confrontation with states in the region.

Conflict widens across the regionThe latest diplomatic exchange comes amid an intensifying conflict that erupted after the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on February 28 following stalled negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear programme.Iran subsequently retaliated with missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and US military assets in the region.On the first day of the strikes, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several senior military officials were killed. On March 8, the country’s assembly of experts elected Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s third supreme leader.Sharif, according to reports, also expressed condolences over the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and congratulated his son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, on assuming leadership.Between March 1 and March 5, the confrontation spread across multiple parts of the Middle East, raising fears of a wider regional war.

Energy markets and shipping routes under pressureSince the war began, Iran has reported the death of 1,300 civilians within 11 days. Scores have also been killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon, while Iranian strikes on Israel have killed at least 11 people. Seven Americans have been killed and more than 140 injured since the conflict began. Meanwhile, Iran’s UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said on Tuesday that US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran have destroyed nearly 10,000 civilian sites, including 65 schools and educational institutions and almost 8,000 homes since the war began on February 28.The hostilities have also put significant pressure on regional energy infrastructure and maritime trade routes.Heightened security tensions around the strategic Strait of Hormuz have driven a sharp rise in global oil prices, while several countries have advised their citizens to leave the region amid growing uncertainty.

Actress Hansika Motwani and businessman Sohael Khaturiya have officially ended their marriage after the Bandra Family Court in Mumbai granted them a divorce. The couple chose to separate through mutual consent after being married for nearly three years.Reports indicate that they had been living apart since July 2024, before formally ending their marriage. According to the legal filings, Hansika chose not to pursue alimony or streedhan from Sohael.

The court documents further revealed that differences in lifestyle, opinions, and temperament strained the relationship, resulting in frequent arguments. Despite attempts by family members and close friends to reconcile the couple, they ultimately decided that an amicable separation was the most suitable course of action for both parties.

Who is Sohael Khaturiya?

Sohael Khaturiya is a Mumbai-based businessman involved in multiple business sectors. He is associated with several companies and has also worked in event management.Over the years, he collaborated professionally with Hansika on various business projects. Before marrying the actress, Sohael was previously married to Rinky Bajaj in 2016. Their wedding later gained attention online when old videos resurfaced showing Hansika attending the celebrations as a friend.Sohael and Rinky eventually ended their marriage after several years.

From friends to partners

Hansika and Sohael initially shared a close friendship before their relationship turned romantic after a few years. Their professional association — working together on business ventures and events — brought them even closer.With time, their friendship blossomed into a relationship, and they began dating. After years of knowing the actress, Sohael proposed to Hansika in Paris near the Eiffel Tower. The engagement pictures shared by Hansika quickly went viral on social media.Inside Hansika Motwani’s Rs 37 crore net worth: Luxury cars and brand deals to film fees and business ventures

Hansika and Sohael’s grand wedding in Jaipur

Hansika and Sohael tied the knot on December 4, 2022, in a lavish destination wedding at Mundota Fort and Palace in Jaipur.The pre-wedding festivities began in Mumbai with a Mata Ki Chowki before the celebrations moved to Rajasthan. The wedding celebrations included a Sufi night, sangeet, cocktail party, and haldi ceremony ahead of the traditional Hindu wedding.For the wedding ceremony, Hansika wore a red bridal lehenga, while Sohael opted for a cream sherwani. Their fairytale wedding attracted significant attention on social media, with friends, family, and fans sharing photos and videos from the celebrations.

MUMBAI: The BMC administration has reviewed 237 cases in which birth certificates were allegedly issued fraudulently in the city, and of these, 119 certificates have been removed from the portal online and taken back from the families to whom they were issued, Mumbai mayor Ritu Tawde said on Wednesday.She made the statement after a review meeting she had convened on the matter with civic officials at the BMC headquarters, nearly a month after she first raised concerns over birth certificates allegedly issued fraudulently to Bangladeshi nationals.The meeting was also attended by ex-BJP MP Kirit Somaiya, who has been pursuing the matter with authorities and demanding action. While 119 certifications stand withdrawn, Tawde said, “Of the remaining cases, 29 people have refused to return certificates despite being approached. We have instructed the administration to file FIRs against them. In addition, 87 individuals could not be traced, and we have asked officials to also initiate FIRs in those cases.” This means FIRs are to be filed against 116 individuals. Two other certificates are showing an error in the system, officials said.Tawde said the administration will also examine how removing such individuals from the rolls would be feasible if their documents are found fraudulent. Somaiya, she added, has already been appointed chairman of a nine-member committee of the Maharashtra BJP to monitor the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.The mayor said a demand has also been made to set up a special investigation team to probe the alleged scam.During the meeting, officials also shared data on birth certificate corrections or changes made in 2025, according to which 19,859 applications were received by the medical officer of health. Tawde said the highest number of certificates were from M East (Mankhurd-Govandi), E (Byculla) and L (Kurla) wards, which raises suspicion. “We have sought verification of these 19,859 certificates, and the administration has asked for three months to complete the process,” she said.Somaiya said in L (Kurla) ward alone, 2,698 certificates had come in for correction, which is a big number as many wards had less than 1,000. Similarly, in E ward (Byculla), 2,207 had come in for correction in the last year.Meanwhile, Powai police arrested 5 Bangladeshi women and apprehended a seven-year-old girl from Pune for allegedly residing illegally after crossing the border through Bengal. The women were tracked after police arrested four members of a family from Powai and Navi Mumbai in Jan and Feb.

Chennai: French automaker Renault is positioning India as a major global manufacturing and export hub as part of its 2030 growth strategy, with plans to launch four new locally developed models, including EVs and hybrids. While unveiling the group’s mid-term strategy ‘futuREady’ in Paris on Tuesday, the top management indicated that India will play a central role in its international expansion as it looks to accelerate growth outside Europe. Renault sold 620,000 vehicles in markets outside Europe in 2025, an 11% increase from the previous year, and is now stepping up investments across its five global hubs — Morocco, Türkiye, Latin America, South Korea and India. Internationally, India will become a key production and supply centre, serving both local and global markets by manufacturing a full range of models, including for Nissan, the company said, adding that India’s rapidly expanding automotive market, driven by strong demand for SUVs and the gradual shift towards electrification, makes it a strategic centre for its long-term plans. The company’s proposed four new models in India by 2030, including fully electric and full-hybrid vehicles, will cater not only to Indian consumers but also to several export markets. A key element of its strategy will be the production of its new B-segment sub-4 metre SUV derived from the Renault Bridger Concept. The model will be available in combustion, hybrid or electric versions depending on the market. It will be launched initially in India by the end of 2027, with a gradual roll-out to other international markets.With more than 15 years of presence in the country, Renault said it will leverage its established supplier ecosystem and local manufacturing capabilities to scale production and support exports. Renault has now taken full ownership of the Renault-Nissan Alliance plant in Oragadam, near Chennai, which can produce up to 4.8 lakh units annually.Renault Group targets global sales of over 2 million vehicles by 2030, with half of those coming from markets outside Europe. It also aims for 100% electrified sales in Europe and 50% electrified sales in international markets by the end of the decade.

MUMBAI: Vikhroli resident Dr Kunal Bansode had no intention of breaking his New Year resolution to “restart gymming”, and he began where he left the healthy habit seven months back: by lifting 50 kg weights.The first 2 days – Jan 14 and 15 – were fine, but on the third day, he had to break off gymming once again as his muscles ached and he felt unable to move steadily. It was not until he noticed his urine colour that he panicked and rushed to his workplace in Mulund to get admitted. “My urine was cola colour, which is a classic sign of rhabdomyolysis, or muscle breakdown,” he said.Exercise-induced rhabdomyolysis, which Bansode was diagnosed with, is uncommon. Hence, nephrologist Dr Vaibhav Keskar from Fortis Hospital (Mulund) was surprised to see three young patients, including Bansode, in a month’s period.“When muscles are suddenly subjected to heavy strain, for example, someone doing too many squats without being used to that level of intensity, the muscle cells can get damaged,” he said. Substances in the damaged cells, particularly a protein called myoglobin, leak into the bloodstream. “Myoglobin can be toxic to kidney tubules and may temporarily impair kidney function,” said Dr Keskar.

While there is all-round concern about the rising incidence of long-term chronic kidney disease across India on World Kidney Day (March 12), mainly due to a surge in diabetes and hypertension, Dr Keskar said that better awareness is needed to prevent acute (but temporary) kidney injuries such as rhabdomyolysis.It is to prevent such kidney problems that nephrologist Dr Bharat Shah inaugurated a clinic in Gleneagles Hospital, Parel, to focus on the preventive aspects of kidney disease. “We need to educate people, especially those with diabetes, hypertension and obesity, on how to take care of their kidneys so that they will not suffer from chronic kidney disease,” he said.Dr Shah said that while it is estimated that 2.5 lakh new cases of chronic kidney disease are diagnosed across India every year, barely 5% of the patients seek treatment. “Our patient load is likely to be higher,” he said.In Mumbai, there are at least 4,000 people with end-stage kidney disease who registered for a kidney transplant, but the wait period is four to five years.Meanwhile, Dr Bansode’s kidney function gradually returned to normal after rhabdomyolysis. He is back working in Fortis Hospital’s ICU. “I still go to the gym, but now I pace myself.”

Panaji: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has stopped payment to the vendor and asked its integrity officer, Vivek Dhir, to investigate the kit fiasco in Australia that left the Indian women’s team without proper jerseys, 48 hours before the AFC Women’s Asian Cup opener against Vietnam last week.“The integrity officer will check the kit issue and find out who is at fault,” said AIFF deputy secretary general M Satyanarayan. “Action will definitely be taken. We have stopped payment to the vendor, pending investigation. The officer will also look into the letter (which the players wrote). All aspects are being checked.”The national women’s football team was forced to hurriedly arrange for playing kits locally in Australia after the set of jerseys sent by the AIFF appeared to have been manufactured for age-group teams and “did not fit at least 80% of the 26-member squad.”Senior players were alarmed when they tried the jerseys and, given the seriousness, decided to officially write to the AIFF on March 2. India captain Sweety Devi, Manisha Kalyan, Grace Dangmei, Sangita Basfore, Panthoi Chanu, Sanju, Pyari Xaxa and Shreya Hooda signed the letter.“Over the past days, players and staff have already faced challenges due to the lack of appropriate clothing during preparation. The arrival of incorrect match kits at this crucial stage has further affected morale and disrupted our focus in the final days leading up to the match. Representing India on the international stage requires professional standards, including properly fitted and appropriate match and training apparel,” the players said in a signed letter to the AIFF.India lost all three games at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 and finished at the bottom of the four-team group.Coached by experienced Costa Rican Amelia Valverde, the national team was competitive against Vietnam (1-2), where they conceded a late winner, and against Chinese Taipei (1-3), with Manisha Kalyan’s stunning freekick grabbing global attention.