LIVE: Missile debris kills Indian in Abu Dhabi; Trump issues fresh threat to Iran

Asian stocks were mostly lower and oil prices gained on Thursday (March 26) as a de-escalation of the Iran war remained uncertain. US futures were down 0.1 per cent. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 was trading 0.3 per cent lower at 53,607.75. South Korea's Kospi lost 1.9 per cent to 5,537.30. Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 1.4 per cent to 24,978.71, while the Shanghai Composite index was down 0.6 per cent to 3,909.16. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 edged down 0.2 per cent, while Taiwan's Taiex was trading 0.4 per cent higher.

Oil prices were up again on Thursday after an earlier dip. Brent crude, the international standard, rose 1.3 per cent to USD 98.51 per barrel. It was below USD 95 on Wednesday. Benchmark US crude was 1.6 per cent higher at USD 91.75 a barrel.

The rise in oil prices came as Tehran on Wednesday dismissed a ceasefire plan by the US, after the administration of US President Donald Trump offered a 15-point proposal to Iran and Trump this week delayed a self-imposed deadline to “obliterate” its power plants in order to force Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iran also launched more attacks on Israel and Gulf Arab countries as Israel launched airstrikes on Tehran and the US prepared to deploy more American troops to the region.

With the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway between Iran and Oman where roughly a fifth of the world's oil typically passes through, remaining largely closed after the Iran war began, oil prices have fluctuated, climbing around 40 per cent since the beginning of the war, which is now in its fourth week.

In other dealings early Thursday, gold and silver prices fell. Gold prices dropped 0.8 per cent to USD 4,513.90 per ounce. Silver prices lost 0.9 per cent to USD 71.97 an ounce.

The US dollar fell to 159.42 Japanese yen from 159.47 yen. The euro was trading at USD 1.1570, up from USD 1.1559.

Delhi on Thursday (March 26) recorded a minimum temperature of 19.2 degrees Celsius, the weather office said, predicting rain accompanied by thunderstorms during the day. According to the India Meteorological Department, the maximum temperature is expected to settle around 34 degrees Celsius.

The IMD has predicted thunderstorms with rain during the day.

The air quality was in the "moderate" category at 9 am on Thursday, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 176, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed.

According to the CPCB, an AQI between zero and 50 is considered “good”, 51 to 100 “satisfactory”, 101 to 200 “moderate”, 201 to 300 “poor”, 301 to 400 “very poor”, and 401 to 500 “severe”.

FIFA announced on Wednesday (March 25) plans for a final round of World Cup ticket sales. World soccer's governing body said over one million tickets had been sold by the end of the previous release between December and February and additional tickets would be put on general sale April 1 to the end of the tournament, which runs from June 11 to July 19.

The latest phase comes after FIFA president Gianni Infantino proclaimed in January that the demand for tickets was the equivalent of “1,000 years of World Cups at once” and all 104 matches at the latest edition Cup would be sold out.

FIFA has faced criticism over its ticket pricing strategy for the tournament, which is co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Fans accused FIFA of a “monumental betrayal” in December when tickets were put on general sale ranging from USD 140 for the cheapest group games to USD 8,680 for the final. On Tuesday, Football Supporters Europe said it had joined with consumer group Euroconsumers to make a formal complaint with the European Commission over prices.

FSE has criticised the exorbitant face prices and the employment of “dynamic pricing” for the first time at a World Cup, which could see costs rise even further.

FIFA said remaining tickets would be sold on a first-come first-served basis. It said the latest phase would enable fans to select specific seats, while those who have already bought tickets would be able to see which seats they have been allocated from April 1.

Security has been tightened across West Bengal for Ram Navami celebrations, as around 3,000 police personnel will be deployed across the state to maintain law and order, a senior officer said. Carrying of weapons has also been prohibited and the number of participants in a procession capped at 500, he added.

"Around 3,000 police personnel will be deployed across the state, and no procession with more than 500 participants will be allowed," the officer said on Wednesday (March 25). "If any procession violates the prescribed norms, it will be stopped immediately, and legal action will be taken," he added.

"Vigil has been upped in sensitive areas such as Howrah, Chandannagar, and Islampur. Central forces, including CRPF, have been kept on standby and will be deployed if required," the officer added.

A high-level meeting was held at state secretariat Nabanna to review the security arrangements. It was attended by the chief secretary, home secretary, director general of police, ADG (law and order), and district magistrates and superintendents of police of all districts, sources said.

According to officials, Ram Navami processions are likely to be held across the state between March 26 and March 29, with the highest number of rallies expected on Thursday. Strict instructions have been issued to district authorities to ensure that all processions are conducted in compliance with court guidelines.

The Counter Intelligence Wing of Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday (March 26) carried out raids at multiple locations in the valley as part of its investigations into a transnational terror module operated by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) from Pakistan and Bangladesh, officials said. They said the raids were conducted at 10 locations in three districts of the valley by the Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK).

"Raids are underway in Srinagar, Shopian, and Ganderbal districts," the officials said.

They said the searches are backed by the search warrant issued by a court in a fresh terror investigation case registered recently at the CIK police station.

"The CIK investigation is into a terror module which is directed by one terrorist Shabir Ahmad Lone, a Kashmir-native LeT operator based in Bangladesh," the officials said. Lone is from Kangan area of the central Kashmir's Ganderbal district and is currently operating from Bangladesh, they added.

"The investigation is in a transnational terror module case linked to the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), as the module was reportedly receiving directions from LeT handlers based in Bangladesh and Pakistan," the officials said.

Snubbed from the ruling Trinamool Congress candidate list for the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections, former India cricketer and state minister Manoj Tiwary said he has received an offer from the BJP but is yet to take a call on his political future, saying "time will tell". Tiwary, the sitting MLA from Shibpur and minister of state for sports, was denied renomination as the TMC opted for Dr Rana Chatterjee as its candidate from the constituency. Confirming that he has been approached by the BJP, the 40-year-old former batter said he was in no hurry to decide his next move.

"I'm not in that mindset right now to decide whether I will continue in politics or not," Tiwary said on the sidelines of the Abhishek Dalmiya-organised NCC Baby League final at the Sambaran Banerjee Academy on Wednesday (March 25). "I will think about it, speak to my wife and then decide what to do. People like me (hardworking, capable individuals) always have offers. Only time will tell," he added.

His possible move could be an interesting proposition, especially with his former Bengal teammate Ashok Dinda already a part of the BJP. Dinda, now a BJP MLA, has been fielded from Moyna in the upcoming polls.

Speaking to the media for the first time after the TMC snub, Tiwary did not hide his disappointment at being dropped. "How can I say that I was not hurt?" he said. He further recalled how Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had called him more than a dozen times and personally convinced him to join the TMC ahead of the previous assembly elections.

"I still remember I was practising at the JU ground when I saw 13-14 missed calls from the honourable chief minister. I called back Didi, and she wanted me to join. I joined only because of Didi, especially after the way she had been insulted by heavyweight leaders at that time," Tiwary said.

Having transitioned from cricket to politics, Tiwary said his intention was always to serve people. "I came through the grind while playing cricket, and I joined politics to serve the people. I never thought beyond cricket. But I still feel it was the correct decision," he added.

Asked again about his emotional state, Tiwary said, "I'm a human being after all; I have feelings. Even after doing so much good work... but it was God's will, I cannot do anything." Drawing from his cricketing career, he said it's always team-first for him, be it on the cricketing field or on the political pitch.

A right-handed batsman, he played 12 ODIs and three T20Is for India, scoring a century in his international career spanning 2008-15. He was a prominent domestic player for Bengal, having led the team to the Ranji final in 2022-23. He also played 98 matches in the IPL for four franchises and was a member of the 2012 Kolkata Knight Riders triumphant squad.