Live: Mojtaba’s first statement: Hormuz closure Iran’s leverage, Gulf attacks to continue

Rising wildlife numbers fuel human-animal conflict: Karnataka minister

Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre told the Assembly that rising wildlife populations and shrinking forests are intensifying human-animal conflict. "The number of animals has increased. In 1972, Bandipur had 12 tigers. Now, there are 175 tigers. Regarding the carrying capacity (at Bandipur), we have formed a team of experts and will be getting a report from them," he said.

He added, "Forest cover is not increasing proportionately with the rise in animal population. In fact, forests have decreased. We are trying to save forests."

Safaris in Bandipur and Nagarhole were briefly halted after fatal tiger attacks. "Yes, lots of tourists come for the safaris..... Livelihoods were also lost. There was a loss of Rs 6-8 crore. But we wanted to save lives," he said.

(With agency inputs)

Three killed as car collides with private bus in Malappuram, Kerala

Three people died when a car crashed into a private bus at Morayur on Thursday, police said.

The victims were identified as Sakkeena and Shiyas from Olavakkode in Palakkad, and Basila from Pandikkad in Malappuram district. Two others in the vehicle, Afrida and Ibrahim, were injured and taken to the hospital.

Police said the accident happened around 8 am while the group was returning from Kozhikode airport in a car driven by Shiyas. Near Morayur, the vehicle reportedly lost control and struck a private bus operating between Palakkad and Kozhikode.

All occupants were rushed to the hospital, but three later died. Police said the injured are stable though they have fractures. CCTV footage from the bus has been secured for investigation.

(With agency inputs)

Explosions rock Tehran as US-Israeli strikes target Iranian capital

A series of powerful explosions hit Tehran on Thursday, an AFP journalist reported, as the war entered its 13th day. Smoke was seen rising from western Tehran, near the Punak area. According to AFP, US-Israeli airstrikes also targeted Mehrabad International Airport in the capital, while a separate strike hit a Tehran bank, killing an employee.

It was not immediately clear what all the targets were, but the strikes are part of the ongoing US-Israeli military campaign that has now hit more than 131 cities across Iran since hostilities began on February 28.

Iran conflict and Black Sea disruptions slash India's sunflower oil imports by half

India's crude sunflower oil imports fell 51 per cent to 1,45,000 tonne in February as the West Asia conflict and disruptions to Black Sea shipping routes pushed prices sharply higher, the Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA) said on Thursday. The average import price rose 17 per cent to USD 1,420 per tonne, with the rupee's 4.2 per cent depreciation compounding costs further.

Russia and Ukraine together supply 70-90 per cent of India's sunflower oil imports, and war-related disruptions to Black Sea export routes, compounded by Red Sea and Suez Canal tensions, have tightened supplies and raised freight costs. Imports in the first four months of the 2025-26 oil year fell to 9.04 lakh tonne from 11.2 lakh tonne a year earlier.

To reduce dependence on Black Sea supplies, India has been in talks with Mercosur nations, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, for long-term soybean and sunflower oil contracts. The conflict also risks disrupting India's oilmeal exports to Southeast Asia and the Middle East, which account for nearly 20 per cent of total oilmeal exports.

Despite the sunflower oil slump, total vegetable oil imports rose 6 per cent to 53.24 lakh tonne in February. Palm oil imports stood at 8.47 lakh tonne and soybean oil at 2.99 lakh tonne, while vegetable oil stocks as of March 1 stood at 18.72 lakh tonne.

Israeli strike on Beirut seafront kills eight, including displaced civilians

An Israeli strike on central Beirut's Ramlet al-Bayda seafront killed eight people and wounded 31 in the early hours of Thursday, Lebanon's Health Ministry said. According to AP, the attack hit without warning around 3am, striking an area that had become a makeshift shelter for families displaced by earlier Israeli bombing.

The Israeli military said it carried out overnight strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, targeting Hezbollah intelligence and command sites. Hezbollah said it responded with missile strikes near Tel Aviv and south of Haifa.

Lebanon's Health Ministry says more than 600 people have been killed since the war resumed on 2 March, including at least 83 children in a single week. French President Emmanuel Macron called for Israel to halt its ground offensive and for Hezbollah to immediately cease attacks.

Iran warns of 'no restraint' if US, Israel attack Persian Gulf islands

Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned on Thursday that any attack on Iran's islands in the Persian Gulf would be met with an unrestricted military response.

"Any aggression against the soil of Iranian islands will shatter all restraint. We will abandon all restraint and make the Persian Gulf run with the blood of invaders," Ghalibaf posted on X.

Iran holds three islands it seized from the UAE before its formation in 1971 — Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa. There has also been speculation that the US could target Kharg Island, Iran's main oil terminal in the Persian Gulf.

Ghalibaf's warning comes as Iran's unrelenting attacks on shipping and energy infrastructure pushed oil above $100 a barrel on March 12, with the conflict showing no signs of abating despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding Iran halt its strikes on Gulf neighbours.

US intel: Iranian regime not at risk of collapse

Despite nearly two weeks of US and Israeli bombardment, US intelligence assesses that Iran's leadership remains intact and is not at risk of imminent collapse, according to reports.

Multiple intelligence reports show the regime "retains control of the Iranian public," with the IRGC and interim leaders — in place since Khamenei's killing on February 28 — firmly in charge. The Assembly of Experts has named Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, as the new supreme leader.

Israeli officials have privately echoed this assessment, acknowledging no certainty the war will topple the clerical government.

Trump, facing pressure over soaring oil costs, has said the operation will end "soon."

2 minors among 8 held over realtor's murder near Bengaluru

Kerala Guv Arlekar undertakes additional responsibility for Tamil Nadu

Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, the governor of Kerala, has been sworn in as the governor of Tamil Nadu on Thursday in a simple ceremony held the Lok Bhavan in Chennai. He has undertaken additional responsibility for Tamil Nadu after his predecessor R N Ravi was appointed as the governor of West Bengal in a major rejig. 

He was accorded a warm welcome on arrival by Chief Minister M K Stalin and Chief Justice of the Madras High Court Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari.

Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker M Appavu, State Ministers, including K N Nehru, EV Velu, PK Sekar Babu, and S Regupathy, Union Minister of State L Murugan, and top officials were present.

Rahul Gandhi’s soul will be at peace if China, US, Russia attack India: Nishikant Dubey