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Lok Sabha proceedings adjourned till 12 noon

Lok Sabha proceedings adjourned till 12 noon following protests by Opposition members on LPG crisis. 

LPG crisis forces 40% of Kerala restaurants to shut as West Asia conflict hits supplies

The LPG shortage triggered by the West Asia conflict has forced around 40 per cent of Kerala's restaurants to shut down, with caterers, hostels, canteens and crematoriums also severely affected. Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association president G Jayapal said urban restaurants are the worst hit, as modern kitchen systems make switching to firewood or alternative fuels impractical. Some private suppliers have been charging nearly double — up to Rs 3,000 for a 17 kg cylinder, compared with the normal rate of Rs 1,800 for a 19 kg one — while firewood prices have also spiked.

The crisis has hit the catering sector particularly hard, with the wedding season set to begin mid-March, coinciding with the Malayalam month of Medam, followed by post-Ramzan and post-Lent celebrations. Caterers say they cannot source even a single commercial LPG cylinder, and have urged the government to temporarily permit the use of domestic cylinders. Hostel operators in cities like Kochi are also scrambling for firewood, warning that mess facilities will shut down if the crisis continues.

The Kerala government has urged the Centre to increase the state's non-domestic LPG quota beyond the current 20 per cent cap. A high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan decided to prioritise supply to hospitals, old-age homes, orphanages and community kitchens, form an enforcement team against black marketing, and explore kerosene as an alternative fuel.

The ruling LDF held protests in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday, demanding central intervention. Industry representatives also criticised the government for not alerting businesses earlier, saying warning would have allowed restaurant owners and caterers to make alternative arrangements before stocks ran out.

Assam CM says 12 Bangladeshi illegal immigrants pushed back overnight

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said 12 illegal immigrants from Bangladesh were "pushed back" in the early hours of Thursday, as part of the state's ongoing crackdown on illegal immigration. Sarma did not specify the district of apprehension or the border sector used for the pushback.

"Mission Clean Up continues. In the wee hours, 12 illegal migrants were identified and pushed back to where they belong," Sarma said in a social media post, reiterating that Assam would not spare a single illegal migrant.

The pushback comes months after the Assam Cabinet approved, in October last year, a Standard Operating Procedure under the Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act, 1950, to guide district officials and police in expelling illegal migrants and curbing cross-border immigration.

Two held under Goondas Act for hoarding 398 LPG cylinders in Madurai

Two persons were arrested and detained under the Goondas Act in Madurai for allegedly hoarding 398 LPG cylinders for black marketing — the first such action in Tamil Nadu for cylinder hoarding. The Civil Supplies Criminal Investigation Department (CS-CID) seized 100 domestic and 109 commercial cylinders from an open plot linked to one accused, and 189 more cylinders from the residence of another. Both were booked under the Essential Commodities Act and the Prevention of Black Marketing Act.

The crackdown comes amid rising public concern over a perceived fuel and gas shortage in the region, with some traders reporting cylinders being sold illegally for as high as Rs 4,000. A traders' association president in Tenkasi warned that the shortage was affecting the hospitality sector, with hotels struggling to serve staples like dosa and parotta.

Tamil Nadu Petroleum Dealers' Association president K P Murali urged the public not to panic, clarifying that the state has enough petrol and diesel stocks to last at least three weeks. He said all 7,000-plus retail outlets have continuous access to supplies from 14 terminals across the state, and that panic buying would only create an artificial shortage.

The CS-CID has issued a stern warning that illegal hoarding of essential commodities will invite severe legal consequences. Officials attributed the shortage rumours partly to a few private-brand outlets running dry, while assuring that supplies from major oil companies remain uninterrupted.

Debris from interception causes fire in Dubai

Thick black smoke rose over Dubai's skyline early Friday after what authorities described as a fire in an industrial area of the city-state.

An Associated Press (AP) journalist saw the fire in Dubai's Al Quoz neighborhood. Bystanders gathered to watch the smoke from the blaze.

Police stopped an AP journalist from going closer to the site of the blaze, which was in a cul de sac.

The Dubai Media Office, which issues statements for its government, said “debris from a successful interception caused a minor incident on the façade of a building in central Dubai.” It said there had been no injuries, though the black smoke curled over the skyline as far as the sail-shaped Burj al-Arab luxury hotel.

Saudi Arabia says its air defences downed 50 drones in just a few hours

Saudi Arabia's Defence Ministry said early Friday that its air defences downed 10 more drones headed toward the kingdom's Eastern and Central Provinces, bringing the total to nearly 50 drones entering Saudi airspace over the span of a few hours.

The barrage represents a higher-than-usual number of aerial threats for the kingdom, which has seen sites including the US Embassy in Riyadh, oil infrastructure, and a military base hosting US troops targeted as the war involving Iran has intensified.

1st week of war cost US $11.3 billion, says Pentagon

As American and Israeli strikes pound the Islamic Republic and Iran attacks Persian Gulf shipping and energy infrastructure with no sign of an end to the war, oil prices have soared back above $100 a barrel.

Intense strikes hit Tehran and areas surrounding Iran's capital, as Iran continued striking at neighboring Arab Gulf States.

US President Donald Trump promised to “finish the job,” even as Iran is “virtually destroyed.”

The first week of war cost the United States $11.3 billion, according to the Pentagon. The UN refugee agency says up to 3.2 million people in Iran have been displaced, and authorities in Lebanon say 800,000 have been forced from their homes as Israel's military destroys buildings linked to Iran-backed Hezbollah militants.

More than 600 have been killed in Lebanon, as well as more than 1,300 in Iran and a dozen in Israel. At least even US soldiers have also died during the fighting.

Rupee nears all-time low

Rupee nears all-time low, falls 9 paise to 92.34 against US dollar in early trade.

Sensex tumbles 708.38 points

Sensex tumbles 708.38 points to 75,326.04 in early trade; Nifty drops 222.05 points to 23,417.10.

3,100 attacks on minorities in Bangladesh since Aug 2024, Govt tells Parliament

About 3,100 incidents of violence against Hindus and other minorities took place in Bangladesh between August 2024 and February 2026, the government informed the Rajya Sabha. Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita, in a written response, said the data was drawn from human rights organisations and that India continuously monitors such attacks on homes, properties, businesses and places of worship.

India has consistently raised the issue of minority safety with Bangladeshi authorities at the highest level, Margherita said, adding that New Delhi expects Bangladesh to thoroughly investigate the incidents and bring all perpetrators to justice. He stressed that the primary responsibility for protecting minorities rests with the Bangladeshi government.

The Indian mission in Dhaka has a dedicated consular officer for grievances, operates a 24x7 emergency helpline for distressed Indian nationals, and regularly conducts open house sessions for the Indian community in Bangladesh.