TODAY NEWS ON March 13, 2026

Iran sets three conditions for ending war

Iran set three conditions for ending the conflict, including guarantees against future attacks, even as the U.S. and Israel continued their air strikes in the country. “Talking to leaders of Russia and Pakistan, I reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to peace in the region,” President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote in a social media post. “The only way to end this war — ignited by the Zionist regime and U.S. — is recognising Iran’s legitimate rights, payment of reparations, and firm international guarantees against future aggression,” he said. During nuclear talks ahead of the war, Iran had consistently argued that as a signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), nuclear enrichment is “a legitimate right”. This was also the first time a senior Iranian leader called for reparations as a condition to end the war.

Saudi oil tanker reaches Mumbai after crossing Strait of Hormuz

A Liberia-flagged oil tanker that set sail from Saudi Arabia on March 3 carrying around one million barrels of crude oil docked in Mumbai on Wednesday (March 11, 2026), crossing the Strait of Hormuz where marine traffic had stalled following the start of hostilities on February 28.

U.S. military says refuelling aircraft crashed in Iraq ‘during Operation Epic Fury’

A U.S. military refuelling aircraft ​crashed in western Iraq ‌on Thursday (March 12, 2026), in an incident U.S. ​Central Command said ⁠involved another aircraft but was not the result of hostile ‌or friendly fire. In a statement, U.S. ​Central Command ‌said it was carrying out rescue efforts after the U.S. KC-135 refuelling aircraft went down. ‌The second aircraft ​landed safely.

LPG crisis: PM Modi hits out at those creating panic; asks States to monitor black marketers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (March 12, 2026) hit out at those trying to create panic on the LPG situation in India, and said they are not only exposing themselves before the people but also hurting the country. “I request the State governments to enhance monitoring to stop black-marketers and hoarders in such times,” he said.

President’s secretariat declines TMC plea for appointment citing time constraints

Days after President Droupadi Murmu’s tour of West Bengal became a political flashpoint between the BJP-led Union government and the Trinamool Congress-led State government, a TMC request to meet the President to brief her on “welfare and development programmes for the upliftment of tribal communities” has been turned down by the President’s Secretariat, citing paucity of time.

Reports of Iran allowing Indian ships through Strait of Hormuz ‘premature’: Centre

The External Affairs Ministry on Thursday (March 12, 2026) said it is rather “premature” to discuss reports about India receiving permission for ships to cross the Strait of Hormuz. “External Affairs Minister and Foreign Minister of Iran have had three conversations in the last few days. The last one discussed issues pertaining to safety of shipping and India’s energy security. Beyond that, it would be premature for me to say anything,” said Randhir Jaiswal, official spokesperson of the Ministry

PM Modi speaks to Iranian President, discusses ‘serious’ situation in West Asia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday night (March 12, 2026) spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian over the phone and discussed the “serious situation” in West Asia. Mr. Modi expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions in the region and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure.

Food delivery companies’ order volumes may dip in Q4FY26

Food delivery companies Swiggy and Eternal may experience a moderation in their gross order value (GOV) as restaurants have started either cutting down menus or shutting down after the shortage in commercial gas availability, a brokerage report read. According to a research report by Motilal Oswal Financial Services, Swiggy and Zomato’s GOVs are expected to grow at 20% and 15.3% as of Fiscal 2026.b

Transpersons, men having sex with men, sex workers cannot donate blood, Centre insists in SC

The Union government on Thursday (March 12, 2026) stood firm by its 2017 guidelines which exclude transgender people, men having sex with men (MSM), and female sex workers from donating blood. Insisting that these are ‘at risk’ population groups, the Centre told the Supreme Court that sometimes, a public health perspective must trump individual rights.

How the Indian women sealed their spot in the World Cup even before final pool match

Even before its final Pool B match of the Qualifiers against Wales on Wednesday (March 12, 2026), India had secured its place in this year’s FIH Women’s World Cup. The eventual 4-1 win was simply the icing on the cake. Under FIH rules, two qualification tournaments — one in Hyderabad and the other in Santiago, Chile — determine the final seven teams that make the World Cup cut. The top three teams from each tournament qualify directly, while the seventh spot goes to the best fourth-placed team across both events.

CPI inflation rises to 10-month high of 3.2% in February 2026

Retail inflation in India quickened to a 10-month high of 3.2% in February 2026, driven up by inflation in the food and tobacco categories, the latest data shows. The Consumer Price Index data released on Thursday (March 12, 2026) by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation is the second edition of the new series of the Index, and so category-wise historical data is not yet available. Economists, however, warn that the ongoing disruption in fuel supplies due to the conflict in West Asia would likely push up inflation in March in the electricity, gas & other fuels, and restaurant & accommodation categories of the CPI.

R.N. Ravi takes oath as 22nd Governor of West Bengal

Former IPS officer R.N. Ravi took oath as the 22nd Governor of West Bengal at a ceremony in Lok Bhavan, in Kolkata, on Thursday (March 12, 2026). He was administered the oath by Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court, Sujoy Paul, in the presence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee, senior Minister and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim and Left Front chairman Biman Bose. Later, the State CM greeted Mr. Ravi and his wife and welcomed both by presenting traditional ‘uttariyas’ (stole). No leader from the Opposition BJP camp, however, was present at the programme.

Held captive, 21 Nagas released in Manipur’s restive Ukhrul district

The bodies of two Kuki men, missing after a shooting incident, were recovered from a jungle in Manipur’s Kamjong district early Thursday morning (March 12, 2026), hours after 21 Tangkhul Naga people were released by their captors in the adjoining Ukhrul district, triggering fresh tension. The Naga individuals, including women and children, were travelling on the Imphal-Ukhrul Road when a Kuki group intercepted their vehicles and held them captive on Wednesday (March 11, 2026). This was reportedly in retaliation for an anti-poppy cultivation drive by “Naga volunteers” on March 11, after which two Kuki cultivators went missing while another sustained bullet injuries.

ASEAN Ministers to hold meetings to address West Asia crisis

The widening conflict in West Asia is expected to dominate discussions at Friday’s (March 13, 2026) ASEAN Economic Ministers’ ​retreat, with Foreign Ministers also holding a virtual meeting on the ‌same day to tackle a deepening crisis that has upended ​global markets. The Philippines, this year’s ASEAN chair, is ⁠hosting the meetings as officials weigh impacts and responses to surging oil prices as well as disruptions to shipping, logistics, and trade flows across the ‌region’s export-reliant economies. “The concern is a given,” Philippine Trade Undersecretary Allan Gepty told reporters, saying the region ‌could not ignore the effects of the crisis on inflation ‌and ⁠jobs.

Bangladesh Parliament reconvenes after uprising, polls

Bangladesh’s Parliament convened on Thursday (March 12, 2026) for the first time since a deadly 2024 uprising plunged the country into political turmoil and following elections last month. The government of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), took over after the February 12 elections from the interim administration that had led the country of 170 million people since August 2024. “After more than a decade and a half of fascist and subservient rule, the activities of Parliament are beginning today with representatives elected by the people,” Mr. Rahman told Parliament.

At least 50 people killed, 125 others reported missing after landslides sweep Ethiopia

At least 50 people have died and 125 others are missing after landslides hit three districts in southern Ethiopia following a week of heavy rains, a local official said on Thursday (March 12, 2026). The landslides happened in the Gamo Zone and affected the Gacho Baba District, Kamba District and Bonke District, according to Gamo Zone director of disaster response Mesfin Manuqa. The Gacho Baba District communication chief, Abebe Agena, said most of those who died were found buried in the mud. It is not yet clear how many households were affected.