Live! India had permitted all 3 Iranian ships, including torpedoed Dena, to dock: EAM
Iranian Foreign Minister expressed his country’s thanks for humane gesture, says Jaishankar; India issues advisory asking citizens in Bahrain to remain vigilant
Israel carried out a fresh wave of strikes in central Iran, targeting security installations and missile launch sites. The targets reportedly included a rocket engine production facility and several long-range ballistic missile launch positions.
Meanwhile, Bahrain sounded sirens on Monday and urged citizens and residents to move to safe locations amid threats from Iran. “The siren has been sounded. Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place,” the country’s interior ministry said. Earlier in the day, Iranian strikes hit Bahrain’s largest oil refinery, BAPCO, prompting the state oil company to declare force majeure.
The developments come after the US and Israel, for the first time since the conflict began, launched strikes on oil facilities across Iran, including in the capital, Tehran.
In another major development, the UAE’s air defence systems are responding to incoming missile and drone threats launched by Iran, the country’s defence ministry said. Saudi Arabia on Monday issued a stern warning to Tehran, saying it would be the “biggest loser” if attacks on Arab states continue.
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan also held a phone call with US President Donald Trump to discuss the Iranian strikes on the Gulf nation. The United States has ordered its embassy staff to leave Saudi Arabia after Iran carried out attacks on the kingdom.
Earlier, Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iran's late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was named his successor, Iranian state TV announced early on Monday, as the war that began a little over a week ago with his father's killing took a dramatic turn.
Here is the top, trending news of Monday, March 9, 2026, including Iran war, Indian politics, states' politics, geopolitics, federal issues, economics, development issues, sports, entertainment, and so on.
Scroll down for all Live updates.
Live Updates
- 9 March 2026 2:39 PM IST
Abu Dhabi attacked by Iran
The capital of the United Arab Emirates came under Iranian attack Monday, with two people hurt by shrapnel from interceptions in Abu Dhabi, authorities said. - 9 March 2026 2:38 PM IST
Bangladesh shuts universities early to save energy
Bangladesh on Monday closed all universities, bringing forward the break for Eid al-Fitr as part of emergency measures to conserve electricity during the conflict in the Middle East.
The South Asian country, which depends on imports for 95 per cent of its energy requirements, has already experienced instances of panic buying. Car owners and drivers have struggled to collect fuel as shortages are reported.
The government has shut most fertiliser factories, redirecting available gas to power plants to avoid widespread outages.
Islam's biggest festival is expected to be held either March 20 or 21, depending on the moon sighting, at the end of a month-long fasting ritual.
Energy Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud urged people to remain calm, saying Bangladesh has sufficient fuel stocks. - 9 March 2026 2:38 PM IST
Israel launches more missiles towards Israel
Iran launched more attacks on Israel and Gulf countries Monday, hours after Iranian state TV said Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the country's late supreme leader and long considered a contender, had been named his successor.
Iran's powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard answers to the supreme leader, and the younger Khamenei will have a central say in the war strategy.
Israel said in a new warning Monday that it has identified missiles launched from Iran towards northern and southern Israel.
Sirens sounded in Israel, warning of a missile attack from Iran for the sixth time on Monday. - 9 March 2026 2:35 PM IST
Starmer speaks to Trump after criticism of UK’s response to Iran strikes
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has spoken to Donald Trump to discuss the situation in West Asia after the US President had been extremely critical of the UK’s response to the strikes on Iran.
Trump took to social media to dismiss Starmer’s plan to send aircraft carriers to the region as an attempt to join wars “already won”.
Downing Street released a readout of the Trump-Starmer call on Sunday, seen as an effort to smooth over the so-called UK-US “special relationship”.
"The leaders began by discussing the latest situation in the Middle East and the military cooperation between the UK and US through the use of RAF (Royal Air Force) bases in support of the collective self-defence of partners in the region," a 10 Downing Street spokesperson said.
"The Prime Minister also shared his heartfelt condolences with President Trump and the American people following the deaths of six US soldiers. They looked forward to speaking again soon," the spokesperson said.
It came after the Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed that one of the UK's two aircraft carriers has been placed on advanced readiness, with the crew of HMS Prince of Wales docked in Portsmouth told they must be ready to leave within days.
"The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East," Trump wrote on Truth Social soon after.
"That's OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don't need them any longer – But we will remember. We don't need people that join Wars after we've already won!" he wrote.
Starmer has firmly defended his decision to take a more defensive stance in the conflict, reiterating on Monday that his Labour Party government was “working round the clock to keep British citizens safe”.
“I know that people are worried sick for friends and family as the conflict in the Middle East continues," he said.
“Staff are on the ground to support those in need, government provided flights are helping people get home, and our tireless Armed Forces are flying across the region to defend our allies and our interests,” he said.
- 9 March 2026 2:31 PM IST
Global crude price rise not to have substantial impact on inflation: Sitharaman
The impact of global crude price rise on inflation is not estimated to be substantial at this point as India’s inflation is near the lower bound, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday.
In reply to a written question in the Lok Sabha, Sitharaman said the price of both global crude oil and the Indian basket has been on a declining trajectory for the past one year, till the geo-political clashes commenced in West Asia on February 28.
"Between the end of February and untill March 2, 2026, the Crude Oil FOB Price (Indian Basket) rose from USD 69.01/barrel to USD 80.16/barrel. Given that India’s inflation is near the lower bound, the impact on inflation is not estimated to be substantial at this point," Sitharaman said.
She was replying to a question on whether the government has reviewed the impact of rising global crude oil prices on inflation in the country. - 9 March 2026 2:29 PM IST
Sindhu skips Swiss Open to recover from Dubai ordeal
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu will give the Swiss Open a miss as she recovers from the three-day ordeal in Dubai.
Sindhu had to withdraw from the All England Championships after being stranded in Dubai for three days due to Gulf airspace restrictions following the US and Israeli bombing of Iran and the subsequent retaliation by Tehran. She was to travel to Birmingham via Dubai but could not do so.
"She is not playing at Swiss Open. We all know what she went through in Dubai, she couldn't travel to Birmingham. So she has sought some time to recover from it," Badminton Association of India (BAI) secretary Sanjay Mishra told news agency PTI.
After returning home, Sindhu had confessed that she struggled to remain calm during the ordeal in Dubai, wishing it to be the first and last such experience in her life.
"There was a lot of stress. And it was scary. I think the only thing maybe was to stay calm. I know that's not the ideal situation where you say we are calm, but we're not inside," Sindhu had said.
"Actually, it is very stressful. But I think it is an experience, I must say. And I hope it's the first and the last experience like this way." Sindhu is likely to return to action at the Badminton Asia Championships in April.
- 9 March 2026 2:28 PM IST
Iraq coach urges FIFA to delay his team's World Cup playoff
Iraq head coach Graham Arnold has issued an urgent plea to FIFA to delay his team's intercontinental qualifier for the World Cup because of disruptions caused by the escalating Iran war.
The Iraq squad faces major logistical issues ahead of a winner-takes-all playoff against either Suriname or Bolivia, scheduled for March 31 in Monterrey, Mexico.
With Iraqi airspace closed until April 1 due to the escalating conflict, Arnold's squad — containing predominantly players from the domestic league — is unable to fully gather.
Players haven't secured visas for the playoff tournament in Mexico due to foreign embassy closures, and Arnold is stranded in the United Arab Emirates due to the conflict. - 9 March 2026 2:26 PM IST
Oil marketing companies, paint stocks tumble
Shares of oil marketing companies and paint manufacturers tumbled on Monday morning trade amid sharp jump in crude oil prices due to the deepening conflict in West Asia.
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd tanked 8.67 per cent, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd dropped 8.43 per cent and Indian Oil Corporation declined 7.29 per cent on the BSE.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, surged 24.71 per cent to USD 112.51 per barrel.
Asian Paints fell by 5.12 per cent, Indigo Paints dropped 4.83 per cent, Berger Paints lost 4.80 per cent and Kansai Nerolac Paints declined 4.72 per cent. - 9 March 2026 1:26 PM IST
Iran war sends shockwaves through African fuel market, economies
Surging oil prices triggered by the war with Iran are rippling across African economies, threatening higher fuel costs, rising inflation and renewed pressure on currencies across the continent.
Africa imports most of the petroleum products it consumes, leaving many economies highly vulnerable to supply disruptions tied to tensions in the Middle East, a region central to global oil flows.
“Africa is a net importer of oil products, meaning it is heavily exposed to shocks like these,” said Nick Hedley, an energy transition research analyst at Zero Carbon Analytics. When global oil supplies tighten, Nedley said, prices rise while African currencies often weaken as investors move funds into safe-haven assets such as the US dollar.
That combination amplifies the impact of price spikes in import-dependent markets such as Kenya and Ghana.
A similar dynamic unfolded after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, when rising crude prices and a weakening currency pushed transport fuel prices in South Africa up by more than 25% within six months, Hedley said.
“The near-term risks come from mainly the rising oil prices and weakening exchange rates as investors move to safe-haven assets,” said Oxford Economics senior economist Brendon Verster.
Oil markets remain particularly sensitive to the conflict because of the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping corridor through which about a fifth of the world's crude passes.
- 9 March 2026 1:08 PM IST
Nadda slams Opposition's walkout during Jaishankar's statement
Union Minister J P Nadda on Monday said the Opposition only wants "anarchy" as the Congress and other Opposition parties created ruckus and staged a walkout in the Rajya Sabha during a statement by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the situation in West Asia.
Soon after obituary references and laying of listed papers, Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan called Jaishankar to make the statement.
However, Congress President and Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge sought permission to speak. After being permitted by the Chair, he said the escalation in the West Asia conflict will affect the country's economic stability and endanger the security and livelihood of Indian citizens working there. "I request a short-duration discussion on emerging challenges for energy security and the fast-changing geopolitical situation in West Asia affecting India's energy security," Kharge said.
The Chairman told Kharge he would come back to him, and again asked Jaishankar to make the statement.
As the minister started making the statement, MPs belonging to the Congress and other Opposition parties were on their feet and insisted that Kharge be allowed to complete his remarks, and also demanded a short discussion.
Later, the entire Opposition staged a walkout from the House while the minister was making his statement.
