Live: Mojtaba’s first statement: Hormuz closure Iran’s leverage, Gulf attacks to continue
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Here is the top, trending news of Thursday, March 12, 2026, including Iran war, Indian politics, states' politics, geopolitics, federal issues, economics, development issues, sports, entertainment, and so on.
Read updates below.
Live Updates
- 12 March 2026 1:47 PM IST
Sariska tiger population touches 53 as Tigress ST-17 gives birth to 3 cubs
The total number of tigers in Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan has reached 53 after a tigress gave birth to three cubs, officials have reported.
At first glance, the movement and condition of the tigress and her cubs seem to be normal. It was noted that the feline, Tigress ST-17, had also given birth to cubs earlier, marking this as her second successful breeding, they added.
The cubs were captured in camera trap photographs and videos in the Akbarpur range of the 1,200 sq km reserve, along with their mother.
State Forest Minister Sanjay Sharma described the development as good news for wildlife conservation in the state.
- 12 March 2026 1:42 PM IST
Remaining South Africa and West Indies cricketers exit India as travel chaos resolved
The final group of South African and West Indian players who were stuck in India following the recently concluded T20 World Cup have left, as announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday. This ended a crisis that arose due to the closure of Gulf airspace amid the ongoing war in West Asia.
"Within the past 24 hours, South Africa's remaining 29 members and the West Indies’ final 16 members have departed on flights to their respective homelands, bringing to a close a complex operation that has taken place under exceptionally challenging global travel conditions," the ICC said.
The conflict threw travel plans into disarray, leaving the Proteas and Caribbeans stranded in Kolkata due to the closure of airspace and airports at major transit points such as Dubai.
The West Indies and South Africa played their final T20 World Cup matches in Kolkata on March 1 and March 4, respectively.
- 12 March 2026 1:28 PM IST
Rupee hits all-time intra-day low of 92.36 against US dollar
The rupee tumbled 35 paise to hit all-time intra-day low of 92.36 against the US dollar on Thursday (March 12), as global crude oil prices kept rising overnight and showed no signs of easing amid the raging war in West Asia.
A stronger greenback, and weak sentiments in the domestic equity markets further weighed on the rupee, which was already on a weak footing in early trade due to heavy FII outflows, forex traders said. At the interbank foreign exchange, the local unit opened at 92.25 but kept falling to hit an all-time intra-day low of 92.36 against the US dollar, losing 35 paise from its previous close.
The rupee had seen its previous record intra-day low of 92.35 against the greenback on March 9. On Wednesday, it declined 16 paise to settle at 92.01 against the US dollar.
The dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.18 per cent higher at 99.40. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading higher by 6.72 per cent at USD 98.16 per barrel in futures trade. On the domestic equity market front, the Sensex plunged 445.26 points, or 0.58 per cent, to 76,418.45 points, while the Nifty was down 121.70 points, or 0.51 per cent, at 23,745.15.
Foreign institutional investors sold equities worth Rs 6,267.31 crore on a net basis on Wednesday, according to exchange data.
- 12 March 2026 1:24 PM IST
Pakistani drone-dropped heroin worth over Rs 8 crore seized in Jammu
Over 1.5 kg of heroin worth more than Rs 8 crore "dropped" by a Pakistani drone was recovered near the International Border in Jammu, officials said on Thursday (March 12).
The recovery was made from Bahadurpura village in the Bishnah area late Wednesday night, when a local noticed it in a field, they said. Preliminary investigations suggested that the bag was dropped from across the border via a Pakistani drone, officials said. Police have registered a case, and further investigation is underway, they added.
- 12 March 2026 1:21 PM IST
Stock markets trade lower in afternoon session dragged by surging crude oil prices
Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty were trading lower during afternoon session on Thursday (March 12) amid boiling crude oil prices due to the worsening crisis in West Asia.
Besides, weak global market trends and unabated foreign fund outflows also rattled investors' sentiment, analysts said.
The 30-share BSE Sensex tanked 992.53 points or 1.29 per cent to 75,871.18 in early trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty dived 310.55 points or 1.30 per cent to 23,556.30.
Later, the BSE benchmark index quoted 432.04 points or 0.56 per cent lower at 76,459.62. The Nifty traded with a cut of 129.70 points or 0.50 per cent at 23,745.55.
From the 30-Sensex firms, Mahindra & Mahindra, Maruti, Trent, UltraTech Cement, InterGlobe Aviation and Bajaj Finance were among the biggest laggards.
NTPC, Power Grid, Reliance Industries and Tech Mahindra were among the winners.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, jumped 8.98 per cent to USD 100.24 per barrel.
"Indian equity markets opened with a sharp gap-down, reflecting heightened global uncertainty and rising risk aversion among investors.
"The immediate trigger behind the decline is the sharp surge in crude oil prices, with Brent crude approaching the USD 100 per barrel mark following escalating geopolitical tensions involving the US, Israel, and Iran in West Asia," Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money, said.
Several Asian markets, including Japan’s Nikkei and South Korea’s Kospi, traded sharply lower as investors shifted toward a risk-off stance amid geopolitical uncertainty, he noted. "Another key factor weighing on sentiment is the persistent selling by FIIs," Ponmudi added.
In Asian markets, South Korea's Kospi, Japan's Nikkei 225, Shanghai's SSE Composite index and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index were trading lower.
- 12 March 2026 1:02 PM IST
Attempts on to control LPG crisis, says Union Minister Suresh Gopi
Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi on Thursday said that efforts are underway to bring the LPG crisis under control and that avenues are opening for India to secure additional supply.
Speaking to reporters in Thrissur, Kerala, he said Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri had answered questions regarding the LPG crisis in Parliament on Wednesday.
He said due to diplomatic sensitivities, some matters related to supply through the Hormuz Strait cannot be revealed.
The Strait of Hormuz, is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints.
The narrow passage carries around a quarter of global seaborne oil trade and significant volumes of liquefied natural gas and fertilisers.
The United Nations has warned of significant risks to global trade and development, including higher food prices and cost-of-living, if the Strait of Hormuz is closed amid the West Asia conflict.
"The Prime Minister has spoken to all countries regarding how the Hormuz Strait issue has affected lives and sought exemptions. I am not giving the exact data, but ways are opening for us to get more LPG," Gopi said.
He said priority is being given to emergency utility services such as hospitals and crematoriums.
"We, as a ministry, feel the situation is under control. However, we have no right to control several technical aspects outside the country," he said.
He said the LPG crisis has affected daily life in many countries.
"Attempts are being made to overcome it. It will come under control," he said.
- 12 March 2026 11:43 AM IST
West Asia crisis: Indian national killed in attack on oil tanker
An Indian crew member of a US-owned oil tanker has been killed after the vessel came under attack in the waters near Iraq's Basra.
The Indian embassy in Iraq, confirming the death, said 15 other Indian crew members onboard the ship were evaluated.
Commercial ships in the Persian Gulf have been targeted by the Iranian military in the last few days.
"On March 11, 2026, a US-owned crude oil tanker, Safesea Vishnu, sailing under the Marshall Islands flag, was attacked near Basra, Iraq, in which one Indian crew member unfortunately lost his life," the Indian embassy in Iraq said on social media.
"The remaining 15 Indian crew have since been evacuated to a safe place," it said.
The embassy said it is in regular contact with Iraqi authorities and rescued Indian sailors and is offering all possible assistance to them.
The mission extended its "deepest condolences to the family members of the deceased crew member."
- 12 March 2026 11:18 AM IST
Attack on Farooq Abdullah: Kharge slams Centre
In the Rajya Sabha, LoP Mallikarjun Kharge slams the Centre, particularly Home Minister Amit Shah, for last night's failed attack at National Conference (NC) chief Farooq Abdullah in Jammu. Kharge says the attack took place because of lax security and noted that security in the state is now the Centre and home ministry's responsibility because J&K's statehood was stripped. Kharge asks the home ministry why adequate security arrangements were not made at the function attended by Abdullah and says, "Is it the government's plan to have Farooq Abdullah killed?".
Leader of the House JP Nadda condemns Kharge's statements, saying they are politically motivated.
- 12 March 2026 11:06 AM IST
Lok Sabha adjourned till noon amid protests; Congress demands discussion on West Asia crisis
The Congress demands discussion in Parliament on West Asia crisis.
"The Opposition is demanding a discussion in both Houses of Parliament on the situation in West Asia and its impacts on India. But the Modi Govt is adamantly refusing to allow such a debate. It is clearly afraid. Its foreign policy already stands brutally exposed," Congress communications in-charge Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
- 12 March 2026 11:04 AM IST
Blaze rips through Delhi's Matiala slum cluster, 80 shanties gutted; no casualties
At least 80 shanties were gutted after a massive fire broke out in a slum cluster near the fish market in Matiala area of southwest Delhi, police said.
No casualties have been reported in the incident, they said.
According to the Delhi Fire Service (DFS), a call regarding the blaze in the jhuggi cluster and adjoining waste material warehouses was received at 11.54 pm on Wednesday. Fire tenders were rushed to the spot, and firefighting operations were launched.
Police said a PCR call about the blaze in the Mansaram Park area was received at the Bindapur police station at 11.57 pm. Local police teams reached the spot and assisted in evacuating residents from the cluster.
"All inhabitants of the shanties were safely evacuated, and the fire brigade was called to the spot," Deputy Commissioners of Police (Dwarka) Kushal Pal Singh said.
Fire officials said the blaze had spread across an area of nearly four acres, prompting authorities to deploy a large number of firefighting vehicles.
More than 23 fire tenders were initially pressed into service, while police said the number of fire engines rose to about 28 during the operation.
