Live | Iran weakened, its missile stockpile dropped by 90 pc, says US

Over 100 children killed in Israeli strikes since start of war, Lebanon says

 Israeli strikes have killed over 100 children in Lebanon since the latest fighting erupted between Israel and Hezbollah militants.

That's according to a toll released Friday by Lebanon's Health Ministry. It says a total of 773 people have been killed during the latest conflict. Sixty-two women are among those killed, and over 1,900 people have been wounded, according to the ministry.

Israel's dignity not for sale: Herzog on Trump's request to pardon Bibi in graft case

Israel's 'dignity, independence and sovereignty' are not for sale, President Isaac Herzog has said, responding to his US counterpart Donald Trump's repeated call for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's pardon in a corruption trial.

Trump has repeatedly launched verbal attacks against Herzog over his failure so far to issue a pardon to Netanyahu in his ongoing criminal corruption trial. On Wednesday, Trump called Herzog “weak and pathetic” in his handling of the pardon request.

During a visit to the Beit Zarzir town on Thursday, Herzog dubbed Trump’s repeated remarks “a blatant attack on the symbols of governance and sovereignty of the State of Israel”, Times of Israel reported.

“I am not seeking my own honour, but the honour of the state,” Herzog said, adding, “Our dignity, independence and sovereignty are not for sale to anyone”.

“I will, of course, address the request for a pardon when it arrives, in the most independent and free manner — without pressure and without noise from any direction — with a clear mind and clean hands,” the report quoted him as saying.

The Israeli president also indicated that Netanyahu should have pushed back against Trump.

IndiGo to levy fuel charge for domestic, int'l flights from Mar 14

IndiGo will start levying fuel charges ranging from Rs 425 to Rs 2,300 on domestic and international flight tickets from March 14 amid the steep surge in jet fuel prices due to the ongoing war between the US, Israel and Iran.

The move will increase the airfares. For domestic flights and those within the Indian subcontinent, the fuel charge will be Rs 425, while it will be Rs 900 for the Middle East services, the airline said in a statement on Friday.

The fuel charge will be Rs 1,800 for South East Asia and China, Africa and West Asia flights, and Rs 2,300 for Europe flights.

Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) accounts for nearly 40 per cent of an airline's operational costs.

While announcing the introduction of the fuel charge, the airline said the measure has been taken due to the significant surge in fuel prices following the ongoing geopolitical issues in the Middle East.

"While offsetting the entire impact of this fuel price surge requires a very substantial adjustment to fares, IndiGo has introduced a relatively smaller amount as a fuel charge, keeping in mind the consequential burden on customers," the airline said.

On March 10, Air India and Air India Express announced fuel surcharges on tickets. 

Claim that india will hold off trade deal with US incorrect: Govt sources

The government on Friday rejected reports suggesting that New Delhi might suspend the proposed trade deal with the US in view of the Trump administration launching a new "unfair practices" probe against India and some other countries.

The claim that India will hold off the trade deal with the US is incorrect and misleading, top government sources said.

The clarification came following reports that India will delay the finalisation of the trade deal following the launch of the probe.

India and the US are engaged in talks to firm up an ambitious bilateral trade deal.

The US has initiated investigations against some of its trading partners, including India, China, Japan and the European Union, to look into and address "unfair foreign practices" that adversely impact American manufacturing.

United States Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer announced the initiation of a probe regarding the "acts, policies, and practices" of various economies under Section 301(b) of the Trade Act of 1974, relating to structural excess capacity and production in manufacturing sectors.

The economies subject to these investigations are Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, the European Union, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Norway, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

The investigations will determine whether those acts, policies, and practices are unreasonable or discriminatory and burden or restrict US commerce, the USTR said in a statement on Wednesday. 

Leaves of Delhi Police personnel cancelled amid panic over LPG supply

Delhi Police has cancelled routine leave for its personnel with immediate effect to maintain law and order amid the LPG supply concerns triggering widespread anxiety among households and businesses.

In an order issued by the Joint Commissioner of Police (Operations), all districts and units have been directed not to grant routine leave to any personnel until further orders.

The communication, dated March 12, stated that leave will be sanctioned only in genuine emergency cases and that too after due verification and approval by the competent authority. "All DCPs are requested to ensure meticulous compliance," the order said, adding that it has the approval of the special commissioner of police (operations).

The directive comes as Delhi Police has increased vigilance across the city due to irregular LPG supplies that have led to complaints of black marketing, panic buying and crowding outside gas agencies in some areas.

Earlier, senior police officials had directed station house officers (SHOs) to prepare lists of gas agencies in their jurisdictions and deploy police personnel near them to maintain law and order and ensure smooth distribution of LPG cylinders.

Police teams, including PCR vans, motorcycle patrol units and plain-clothes personnel, have been stationed near gas agencies to deter hoarding and prevent the illegal sale of cylinders at inflated prices.

Iran crushed and weakened, claims Pentagon

United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth declared on Friday (March 13) that Iran's military has been severely weakened, saying its missile stockpile had dropped by 90 per cent and its one-way attack drone capacity by 95 per cent in a single day, as per a report in The Guardian.

Hegseth said Iran no longer has the capacity to rebuild its weapons arsenal, adding that its production lines, military plants and defence innovation centres had all been destroyed.

"Desperate and hiding, they've gone underground," Hegseth said. The Pentagon chief said the US was managing Iran's activity in the Strait of Hormuz and described the situation there as under control. He said the Iranian leadership was in a weakened state and predicted that all Tehran would see going forward was "the stars and stripes of the USA and Israel's Star of David" — which he called Iran's "worst nightmare."

Iran signals safe passage for Indian ships through Strait of Hormuz amid Gulf tensions

Amid rising tensions in the Persian Gulf and growing concerns over maritime security, Iran’s Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, indicated that India could be assured safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global shipping route.

Speaking to reporters, the envoy suggested that developments ensuring India’s access through the strategic waterway could be announced soon. “Yes, because India is our friend. You will see it within two or three hours,” Fathali said when asked whether India would be granted safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

His remarks come at a time when shipping movements through the narrow corridor linking the Persian Gulf to global markets are being closely monitored amid the ongoing regional conflict.

When asked again whether Indian vessels would be able to transit safely through the strait, the ambassador said positive developments were likely in the near future. “Yes, yes, you will see that in the future, I think within two or three hours,” he said.

Fathali described India as an important partner for Iran and emphasised that the two countries share common regional interests. “We believe that Iran and India share common interests in the region,” he said.

The ambassador also spoke about the broader relationship between New Delhi and Tehran, describing it as one based on friendship and cooperation. “We believe that Iran and India are friends. We have common interests, we have common faith,” he added.

Silver, gold fall up to 4 pc in Delhi on strong dollar, rate cut uncertainty

Precious metal prices declined up to 4 per cent in the national capital on Friday, with silver tumbling to Rs 2.65 lakh per kilogram and gold sliding to Rs 1.63 lakh per 10 grams amid a strong US dollar and uncertainty over global monetary policy.

According to the All India Sarafa Association, the white metal slumped by Rs 11,000, or 3.97 per cent, to Rs 2,65,500 per kilogram (inclusive of all taxes) from Thursday's closing level of Rs 2,76,500 per kg.

In the bullion market, gold of 99.9 per cent purity also declined by Rs 2,000, or 1.21 per cent, to Rs 1,63,200 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes). The yellow metal finished at Rs 1,65,200 per 10 grams in the previous session.

Gold prices in the domestic market faced sustained pressure from a resurgent US dollar and shifting expectations regarding monetary easing, Dilip Parmar, Senior Research Analyst, HDFC Securities, said.

He added that the intensifying conflict in Iran has sent crude oil prices soaring, stoking inflationary fears that may force the central banks to maintain a hawkish stance for an extended period.

"While short-term volatility and long unwinding by traders may persist, the outlook remains constructive. Once geopolitical tensions stabilise, a resurgence in central bank acquisitions and retail investment is expected to provide a strong floor for prices," Parmar said.

In the international market, spot silver was trading nearly 1 per cent lower at USD 83.14 per ounce, while gold went up marginally to USD 5,088 per ounce.

Govt confirms death of three Indian sailors as Iran-US war hits shipping near Hormuz

Three Indian sailors have died and one remains missing amid the ongoing Gulf war, the government said on Friday, as tensions continue to affect maritime activity around the Strait of Hormuz. More than 700 Indian seafarers are currently on board Indian-flagged vessels operating in waters near the conflict zone.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage connecting the Persian Gulf to global markets, has become a key area of concern for governments and shipping companies as hostilities intensify.

Officials said one Indian-flagged oil tanker moved through the Strait on Friday. Rajesh K Sinha, Special Secretary in the Shipping Ministry, said the vessel had been positioned east of the Strait and did not need to cross the passage. “One vessel with the Indian flag has moved from the Strait of Hormuz today. This vessel is not coming to India. It is headed to Africa," he said as qyoted by India Today.

Sinha said the government is maintaining constant oversight of Indian ships operating in the region. “Every Indian vessel is being monitored by the government,” he said.

He added that 24 Indian-flagged vessels carrying 677 Indian seafarers remain west of the Strait in the Persian Gulf. In the Gulf of Oman, three Indian vessels carrying 76 Indian seafarers remain after one tanker left the area.

“Across the entire Gulf region there are approximately 23,000 Indian seafarers working on various vessels including merchant ships and offshore vessels,” Sinha said.

Separately, the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed the deaths of two Indian citizens in Muscat. “We express our deepest condolences to their families,” spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

China to provide USD 200,000 for victims of bomb attack on Iranian school

China on Friday said it will provide USD 200,000 in emergency humanitarian assistance to the students killed in an airstrike on an elementary school in Iran in the ongoing joint US-Israel attacks on the country.

China expresses deep condolences regarding the deaths of students in the recent attack on an Iranian elementary school and extends sincere sympathies to their families, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a media briefing here.

Red Cross Society of China has decided to provide the Iranian Red Crescent Society with USD 200,000 in emergency humanitarian assistance, he said.

Guo said China condemns all indiscriminate attacks against civilians and non-military targets. Targeting schools and harming children constitute a severe violation of international humanitarian law and cross the bottom line of human morality and conscience, he added.

"China is willing to continue to offer necessary support to Iran in the spirit of humanitarianism to help the Iranian people overcome the difficulties," he said.

According to a statement by the United Nations on March 1, missiles reportedly destroyed a girl’s primary school in Minab, southern Iran, killing around 150 and wounding almost 100. Many students are believed to be among the dead. Iran has blamed the US and Israel for the attack on the school.

The US military's Central Command (Centcom) said it was looking into reports of the incident, while Israel's military said it was "not aware" of any IDF operations in the area, the BBC reported.

The girls' school was located in Minab, near an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) base, which has previously been a target, it said.