TODAY NEWS ON April 01, 2026

Trump tells affected nations to go to Hormuz and ‘get your oil’

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday (March 31, 2026) “the hard part” in the war against Iran was done and asked other countries affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to buy oil from America or go to the Strait and take it. On Monday (March 30, 2026), Mr. Trump had threatened to attack Iran’s power plants, desalination plants and oil fields if Tehran refused to make a deal with the U.S. quickly. Tehran has said it received a proposal from the Trump administration through intermediaries, but said the U.S. demands were “very excessive, unrealistic and irrational”.

Bill to recognise Amaravati as A.P. capital likely to be tabled in Lok Sabha

The Union government is likely to introduce the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, in the current Lok Sabha session to officially recognise Amaravati as the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh. Senior sources in the government said the move follows a resolution passed by the Andhra Pradesh Assembly on March 28, 2026, urging the Centre to amend the law to incorporate Amaravati as the State’s capital. Copies of the Bill have been circulated among MPs.

Iran Guards say will target U.S. tech firms if more leaders killed

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Tuesday (March 31, 2026) that they would target leading U.S. technology firms like Apple, Google, and Meta if more Iranian leaders were killed in “targeted assassinations”. “These companies, starting from 8:00 pm (1630 GMT) Tehran time on Wednesday (April 1, 2026), should expect the destruction of their relevant units in exchange for every assassination in Iran,” the Guards said in a statement listing the names of 18 companies it alleged were complicit in the killing of officials.

44 Maoists surrender in Bastar; Chhattisgarh now Maoists-free, asserts CM

As many as 44 Maoists from five districts of Bastar division in Chhattisgarh surrendered before security forces on Tuesday (March 31, 2026), said a senior police officer. The surrender led to recoveries of a large cache of arms and ammunitions apart from cash amounting to ₹3 crore and gold worth over ₹11 crore, which were displayed on Tuesday (March 31, 2026), the officer added, highlighting the significance of the date that was set by the Centre as the deadline for elimination of Maoism from the country.

India can cater to 30 crore PNG connections with its domestic LNG production itself: PNGRB Secretary

India can comfortably cater to the demand of as many as 30 crore domestic piped natural gas (PNG) connections even if it were to solely rely on its domestic production of liquefied natural gas (LNG), according to Anjan Kumar Mishra, Secretary at the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB).

More than 200,000 fled Lebanon for Syria in March: UNHCR

More than 200,000 people have fled Lebanon for Syria since fighting resumed a month ago between Israeli forces and Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement, the United Nations’ refugee agency said on Tuesday (March 31, 2026). Lebanon was pulled into the West Asia conflict in early March when Israeli-U.S. strikes killed Iran’s supreme leader and Tehran-backed Hezbollah responded by firing rockets at Israel.

U.S. strikes Isfahan as Iran targets fully loaded oil tanker off Dubai

U.S. strikes hit a city on Tuesday (March 31, 2026) that is home to one of Iran’s main nuclear sites, sending a massive fireball into the sky, and Tehran attacked a fully loaded Kuwaiti oil tanker in the Persian Gulf. The attacks were testament to the intensity of the war more than a month after the United States and Israel launched their first strikes. The conflict has left more than 3,000 dead and caused major disruptions to the world’s supply of oil and natural gas.HC seeks response of Centre on plea regarding Sikh articles seized during Operation Blue Star

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued notices to the Army, the Centre and the Central Bureau of Investigation on a petition seeking directions for disclosure of manuscripts, religious books and other articles allegedly seized during Operation Blue Star and handed over to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

Leander Paes joins BJP ahead of West Bengal elections

Ahead of the elections in West Bengal, Indian tennis legend Leander Paes on Tuesday (March 31, 2026) joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the party headquarters. Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and Sukanta Majumdar, along with MP Anil Baluni, were present on the occasion. In October 2021, prior to the Goa Assembly polls, Mr. Paes had joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the presence of party chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

At least nine dead in stampede at Nalanda’s Sheetla Mata temple in Bihar

At least nine people have been killed following a stampede that took place at the Sheetla Mata Temple in Bihar’s Nalanda district on Tuesday (March 31, 2026). The death toll is expected to rise further, locals said. Early reports suggest that all the victims are women. Nalanda DM Kundan Kumar said six of the victims have been identified, while police is identifying the remaining three victims.

Soaring fuel prices drive German far-right calls for a turn back to Russia

Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany ​party has used surging energy prices to revive its longstanding call for Berlin to turn once more to Russia for cheap energy after ‌scoring some of its best results in two state elections this month. German petrol prices have jumped ​by more than 15% since the U.S. and Israel began their war on Iran a month ago, ⁠and the AfD’s argument won a ready hearing this month among voters in Baden-Wuerttemberg, a centre of the German car industry.

IPL 2026 | Cool Connolly takes Kings across the line against plucky Titans

Cooper Connolly announced himself on the IPL stage on the very first attempt, regaling the home crowd with a belligerent, unbeaten 72 (44b, 5x4, 5x6) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium here on Tuesday (March 31, 2026). The young Australian’s debut heroics, coupled with a fine bowling show, led by leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal (two for 28), propelled Punjab Kings to a nervy three-wicket triumph over Gujarat Titans.