The reopening of schools marks the beginning of regular academic activities in the region following the winter break, which typically lasts from December to early March in Kashmir
[Photography by Mubashir Khan, for Greater Kashmir]
New Delhi, Mar 09: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday expressed deep concern over the escalating conflict in West Asia, telling the Rajya Sabha that the situation has significantly deteriorated since fighting began on February 28.
Making a suo motu statement in the House, Jaishankar said, “I rise to apprise this august House of recent developments in West Asia that are a cause of deep concern to all of us.” He noted that the conflict involves fighting between Israel and the United States on one side and Iran on the other, along with attacks on several Gulf countries.
The minister said the violence has resulted in casualties and large-scale destruction. “There have been numerous casualties, including at the leadership level in Iran, as well as destruction of infrastructure in the region,” he said.
India had earlier called for restraint and diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation. Jaishankar reiterated the government’s position, saying, “We believed and continue to believe that dialogue and diplomacy should be pursued to de-escalate tensions and address underlying issues.”
He also stressed that “the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states in the region be respected.”
The minister informed the House that the Cabinet Committee on Security met on March 1 under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to review the situation. The meeting discussed the safety of Indian citizens, the impact on regional security, and disruptions affecting travellers and students.
Highlighting India’s stakes in the region, Jaishankar said the ongoing conflict is of particular concern because of the large Indian diaspora. “There are almost one crore Indian citizens who live and work in the Gulf nations. In Iran, too, there are a few thousand Indians who are there for study or for employment,” he said.
He also pointed out that the region is crucial for India’s economy and energy needs. “The Gulf is also a major trade partner, accounting for almost USD 200 billion annually,” Jaishankar said, warning that instability and supply-chain disruptions could have serious consequences.
The minister confirmed that attacks on merchant shipping had already affected Indian nationals.
“We have sadly already lost two Indian mariners and one remains missing in such incidents,” he said, adding that the government shares the House’s condolences for the victims. The government has issued several advisories urging Indians to avoid non-essential travel to Iran and asking those already there to register with the Indian embassy. The Indian mission in Tehran has also facilitated the relocation of students and helped some citizens cross into neighbouring countries to return home.
Jaishankar said diplomatic missions across the region remain on high alert. The Ministry of External Affairs has also set up a special control room to monitor the situation and assist affected families.
According to the government, nearly 67,000 Indian nationals have already returned to India as flights gradually resumed in parts of the region. Jaishankar assured Parliament that efforts are continuing to assist those still stranded.
“I want to assure the House that every effort is being made that those who are stuck in the region, those who are transit passengers who are there, those who need to come back urgently from this region, we are making every effort for them to do so,” he said.
The minister added that India has remained in close diplomatic contact with countries across the region. Prime Minister Modi has spoken with leaders of the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan and Israel to ensure the safety of Indian citizens.
Concluding his statement, Jaishankar outlined the guiding principles of India’s approach to the crisis. “India is in favour of peace and urges a return to dialogue and diplomacy. We advocate de-escalation, restraint and ensuring the safety of civilians,” he said.
He added that “the well-being and security of the Indian community in the region is our priority” and stressed that “our national interest, including energy security and trade flows, will always be paramount.”
Dubai, Mar 09: There was no Indian fatality in the projectile incident that struck a residential compound in Saudi Arabia, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh said on Monday.
It added that an Indian national injured in the incident on Sunday is undergoing treatment at a government hospital.
“It is a matter of relief that there has been no Indian fatality in the unfortunate incident at Al Kharj yesterday evening,” the mission said in a social media post.
The embassy said it has been in touch with the concerned Saudi authorities regarding the matter.
Counsellor (Community Welfare) Y Sabir visited Al-Kharj on Sunday night and met the injured Indian national involved in the incident, it said.
“He is currently receiving treatment at a government hospital in Al Kharj,” the mission said.
On Sunday, the Saudi Civil Defence said that an Indian national was among two killed as the military projectile struck a residential compound belonging to a maintenance and cleaning company in Al-Kharj.
A Bangladeshi national was also killed and 12 others were injured in the incident, it had said.
However, the authorities had not released the identity of the victims.
Starting February 28, the US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran, which came after days of build-up with US President Donald Trump ramping up the pressure on Tehran to agree to a new deal on its nuclear programme. Iran’s retaliation escalated the war to the entire Gulf region.
Tokyo, Mar 09: Japan is preparing to deploy its first batch of domestically developed long-range missiles, with their launchers arriving at an army camp Monday as the country accelerates its offensive capability in response to rising challenges in the region.
The upgraded Type-12 land-to-ship missiles will be deployed at Camp Kengun in Japan’s southwestern prefecture of Kumamoto by the end of March, completing the process of deployment, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said.
Army vehicles carrying their launchers and other equipment arrived early in the morning in a highly secretive mission criticized by local residents who protested outside the camp.
Opponents have complained about the lack of transparency and said the deployment would instead escalate tension and make the missiles the target of attacks.
The Defence Ministry last year moved up the schedule of the missiles’ deployment by one year as Japan accelerates a military buildup in the southwestern region as China escalates tension around Taiwan, the self-governing island Beijing claims as its own.
The upgraded Type-12 missile, developed and produced by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, has a range of about 1,000 km and can reach mainland China, a significant extension from the 200-km range of the original.
It will be deployed next at Camp Fuji in Shizuoka, west of Tokyo, later this year.
Japan considers China a growing security threat and has pushed a military buildup on southwestern islands near the East China Sea. It has deployed PAC-3 interceptors and midrange surface-to-air missiles on many of the islands, including Okinawa, Ishigaki and Miyako.
Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi last month said Japan will deploy the midrange SAMs on Japan’s westernmost island of Yonaguni, just east of Taiwan, by March 2031.
Tensions have escalated further since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comment soon after taking office that any Chinese military action against Taiwan could be grounds for a Japanese military response.
Takaichi has pledged to revise security and defense policy by the end of the year and seeks to further bolster Japan’s military with unmanned combative weapons and long-range missiles.
Her government is also set to scrap restrictions on lethal arms exports in the coming weeks to promote the development of Japan’s defence industry and cooperation with friendly nations, based on a proposal recently submitted by her party and its governing coalition partner.
Mumbai, Mar 09: The rupee plummeted 46 paise to near its all-time intra-day low of 92.28 against the US dollar in early trade on Monday as global crude oil prices shot up and the greenback strengthened amid the worsening situation in the Middle East.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading higher by a staggering 25.68 per cent at USD 116.5 per barrel in futures trade as the war between US-Israel and Iran intensified.
A big surge in FII outflows and a crash at the domestic equity market in morning trade put further pressure in the local unit, forex traders said.
At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 92.22 against the US dollar before declining further to 92.28, down 46 paise from its previous close. The rupee had hit an all-time intra-day low of 92.35 on March 4.
The rupee depreciated 18 paise against the US dollar on Friday to close at 91.82 against the American currency.
“The rupee will remain vulnerable to the rising oil prices which have risen by more than 28 per cent since the last closure on Friday. Asian currencies were also lower on Monday,” Anil Kumar Bhansali, Head of Treasury and Executive Director, Finrex Treasury Advisors LLP, said.
Rupee might touch 93.00 if oil remains above USD 100 in the coming trading sessions, he added.
The dollar index, which gauges the greenback’s strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.66 per cent higher at 99.64.
On the domestic equity market front, the Sensex crashed 2,345.89 points to 76,573.01 in early trade, while Nifty tumbled 708.75 points to 23,741.70.
Foreign institutional investors sold equities worth Rs 6,030.38 crore on a net basis on Friday, according to exchange data.
Meanwhile, India’s forex reserves jumped USD 4.885 billion to an all-time high of USD 728.494 billion during the week ended February 27, the Reserve Bank said on Friday.
Sopore, Mar 09: Panic gripped several areas of Sopore in north Kashmir after a leopard was spotted roaming in different localities, including Bohripora, Seelo, Shangergund, Brath Kalan and Nowpora since last four days.
According to authorities, the wild animal was first sighted in the Bohripora area where it attacked and injured three persons, including an employee of the wildlife department. The injured were immediately shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Following the incident, fear spread among residents of nearby localities as the leopard continued to move across different areas. Locals reported sightings of the animal in Seelo, Shangergund, Brath Kalan and Nowpora, prompting concern among the public.
Officials from the wildlife department and local administration rushed to the affected areas and launched efforts to trace and capture the leopard. Teams have been deployed to monitor the movement of the animal and prevent further attacks.
Authorities have advised residents of these localities to remain vigilant, particularly during night hours, and avoid venturing out unnecessarily. People have also been urged to keep children indoors and report any sighting of the leopard to the concerned department immediately.
Residents of the affected areas have appealed to the authorities and the Wildlife Protection Department to take immediate measures to prevent further incidents. They urged officials to install trap cages and deploy monitoring teams in the locality to capture the leopard at the earliest. The residents stressed that swift action is necessary to ensure the safety and security of the local population, particularly during the night hours when fear and panic continue to grip the area.
Meanwhile, officials said that efforts are underway to track the animal and ensure the safety of the residents in the affected areas.
Chicago, Mar 09: Oil prices eclipsed $114 per barrel for the first time since 2022 on Monday as the Iran war intensified, threatening production and shipping in the Middle East.
The price for a barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, surged past $114 after trading resumed on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. That was up 23% from its Friday closing price of $92.69.
West Texas Intermediate, the light, sweet crude oil produced in the United States, also was selling for about $114 a barrel. That’s 25% higher than its close Friday at $90.90.
The war’s toll on civilian targets grew early Monday as Bahrain accused Iran of striking a desalination plant vital to drinking water supplies, and oil depots in Tehran smoldered following overnight Israeli strikes.
The increases followed the US crude price jumping by 36% and Brent crude rising by 28% last week. Oil prices have surged as the war, now in its second week, ensnared countries and places that are critical to the production and movement of oil and gas from the Persian Gulf.
Roughly 15 million barrels of crude oil — about 20% of the world’s oil — typically are shipped every day through the Strait of Hormuz, according to independent research firm Rystad Energy.
The threat of Iranian missile and drone attacks has all but stopped tankers from travelling through the strait, which is bordered in the north by Iran, carry oil and gas from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Iran.
Iraq, Kuwait and the UAE have cut their oil production as storage tanks fill due to the reduced ability to export crude. Iran, Israel and the United States also have attacked oil and gas facilities since the war started, exacerbating supply concerns.
The last time Brent and US crude futures traded near the current level was in 2022, after Russia invaded Ukraine.
The global surge in oil prices since Israel and the US attacked Iran on March 1 has rattled financial markets, sparking worries that higher energy costs will fuel inflation and lead to less spending by US consumers, the main engine of the economy.
Jammu, Mar 8: The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Sunday extended the last date for submission of the online Application Form for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test NEET (UG) 2026 upto March 11.
A public notice, issued by NTA in this regard reads, “The last date for submission of Online Application Form for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test [NEET (UG)] 2026 has been extended up to March 11, 2026 (9 pm). The payment of fees can be made up to 11:50 pm on March 11, 2026.”
The notice further reads that candidates are advised to complete the filling up of form within the extended date and time and no further extension would be granted.
Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo had written to Union Minister for Education, Dharmendra Pradhan on March 6, 2026 and requested for extension of the NEET-UG 2026 application deadline in view of recent internet restrictions in Kashmir to maintain law and order as well as safety of citizens.
Several students had had faced difficulties in submitting their application forms due to issues with OTP verification and submission.
Minister Sakeena has extended her gratitude to Union Minister of Education for promptly considering this request and extending the NEET-UG 2026 application deadline by three days, now till March 11.
“This decision will greatly help many students from Kashmir who faced difficulties in submitting their forms due to internet speed limitations. Grateful for the timely support to ensure that no aspirant misses the opportunity,” she said.
Minister Sakeena has now advised the candidates to avoid last-minute submissions and complete the application process well before the deadline to prevent any technical difficulties.
“All aspiring candidates who have not yet completed their application process are advised to take advantage of this extended deadline and ensure that their application forms are submitted within the stipulated time,” she said.
Pulwama, Mar 8: The traditional Kashmiri bread “Routh” has made a quiet comeback in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, reviving memories of a delicacy that nearly disappeared from local bakeries over the years.
Once a familiar sight in bakeries across the Valley, Routh had gradually vanished as changing food habits and the growing popularity of other bakery items pushed the traditional bread into obscurity.
However, this Ramadhan, Rayees Ahmad, a baker in Pulwama decided to reintroduce it, drawing interest from customers eager to reconnect with the region’s culinary heritage.
“We reintroduced ‘Routh‘ this Ramadhan and are receiving a very good response from customers,” Ahmad said.
“Many people were surprised to see it again because it had disappeared from most bakeries for a long time,” he said.
Routh is a large, square-shaped sweet bread traditionally prepared using flour, ghee, sugar, and dry fruits.
Rich in taste and dense in texture, it was once considered a special bakery item often associated with celebrations and religious gatherings.
Elders in the area recall that Routh used to be widely consumed during weddings and festive occasions.
Families would often serve it to guests as a traditional delicacy.
The bread also had a strong association with religious sites, where devotees offered it at shrines as part of customary practices.
“In earlier times, Routh was very common,” said Muhammad Sultan, an elderly resident of Pulwama. “People would buy it for weddings and also distribute it at shrines. It was considered a special bread.”
Despite its cultural significance, the bread slowly faded from bakery shelves over the past two decades.
Bakers say the preparation process is more time-consuming compared with other items, and declining demand had discouraged them from continuing its production.
“Making Routh requires more effort and ingredients, so many bakeries stopped baking it when customers began preferring other products,” Ahmad said.
However, the renewed interest during Ramadhan has encouraged a baker to revive the traditional recipe.
Customers visiting the bakery during the holy month have shown curiosity about the bread, while older residents have welcomed its return with nostalgia.
Some buyers said the reappearance of the bread reflects a growing interest in rediscovering traditional foods that once formed an important part of Kashmiri culture.
If the response continues, the baker says, he may keep producing the bread beyond Ramadhan, allowing a new generation to experience a taste that was once deeply rooted in Kashmir’s culinary traditions.
Ahmedabad, Mar 8: Suryakumar Yadav’s team, easily India’s greatest T20 outfit ever, created history on Sunday with an unprecedented third World Cup win, clinically demolishing a lacklustre New Zealand by 96 runs with an awe-inspiring batting performance and laser-precise bowling.
Suryakumar’s men became the first men’s international team to win successive World T20 titles and also the first to claim the trophy on home turf.
Sanju Samson (89 off 46 balls) and Abhishek Sharma (52 off 21 balls) added 92 in Powerplay and 98 for the opening stand after a tactical blunder by Black Caps skipper Mitchell Santner led to a record score of 255 for 5.
Having misread the pitch, Santner brought medium pacer Jacob Duffy dropping the useful off-spinner Cole McConchie, which proved to be decisive in the final outcome.
In-front of 86,000 fans, the chase was out of question as New Zealand huffed and puffed its way to 159 all out as Suryakumar, the man from Mumbai’s Chembur, etched his name alongside Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Rohit Sharma in the record books.
“Champions! This remarkable triumph reflects exceptional skills, determination and teamwork. They have shown outstanding grit through the tournament. This victory has filled every Indian heart with pride and joy. Well done, Team India!” posted Prime Minister Narendra Modi on X within minutes of the triumph.
No credit will be enough for mostly under-fire Gautam Gambhir, who became the first coach to guide the team to two T20 World titles.
Following the demolition act with the bat, Jasprit Bumrah’s artistry was good enough to dash any little hopes that New Zealand players might just have harboured at the back of their minds.
Bumrah was unreal as ever with figures of 4-0-15-4, adding to the mythical story of his career which will become folklore in years to come.
As far-fetched as it might sound, the current Indian T20 team under Gambhir’s coaching has had the aura of USA’s ‘Dream Team’ filled with the biggest of NBA stars like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird that won the 1992 Barcelona Olympics gold medal.
Just like that team, this Indian T20 outfit, filled with IPL’s richest stars, has an air of invincibility around it. The side never seemed like losing the tournament in which it was the runaway favourite even before a ball had been bowled.
If the 2007 T20 World Cup victory was a watershed moment for Indian cricket, which gave birth to a behemoth like the IPL, the 2024 T20 World Cup win was a soothing balm to the heartbreak of the 2023 ODI World Cup final loss.
The 2026 title triumph is an assertion that in talent, India are light years ahead of other teams. This edition was never about a perfect campaign but always about finding an individual who would win it for the team.
Abhishek had a very poor tournament but redeemed himself in the final. Samson’s career was on the line before he played the most defining innings of his career.
The ‘crazy diamond’ called Bumrah bowled those block-hole deliveries whenever the team asked and Axar Patel took those crazy catches which became a game-changer.
Ishan Kishan was the sheet anchor in every game and the skipper was the binding glue with Gambhir being the back-room brain that the team needed.
The team bond was evident and the players had each other’s backs when one of the mates was sinking.
Both Suryakumar and Gambhir can claim credit for taking Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s champion team to the next level.
When India batted, Samson scarred an awestruck New Zealand in the company of an equally destructive Abhishek, who saved his best for the last in India’s record-breaking total.
And if that wasn’t enough Ishan Kishan (54 off 25 balls) proved that even three can tango together as India’s top three, in a superlative display, stunned New Zealand.
Abhishek took full advantage of Mitchell Santner’s tactical harakiri with a 21-ball-52 but Samson’s muscular effort – a dazzling 89 off 46 balls, which was a union of beastly power and silken grace, will be remembered for the times to come.
There were eight sixes – a few over long-on, a couple over square leg, down the ground, and over long-off.
Samson made Rachin Ravindra’s left-arm spin, Lockie Ferguson (0/48 in 2 overs) and Matt Henry’s (0/49 in 4 overs) medium pace bowling look pedestrian. It was a massacre of a good bowling attack.
After match-winning efforts against the West Indies and England, Kerala’s favourite son finally silenced the Doubting Thomases, who questioned his credentials over the past decade.
After a series of flop shows and his place in the side being debated from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, Abhishek finally came good with liberal help from New Zealand pacers, who handed the advantage to the southpaw on a platter.
An 18-ball-50 with his signature straight sixes, and familiar bat swing, the Punjab man enjoyed the rub of the green under the floodlit Ahmedabad skyline.
Jacob Duffy’s (0/42 in 3 overs) friendly medium pace became cannon fodder for Abhishek as he smashed five of his half a dozen boundaries off him.
In case of Matt Henry (1/49 in four overs), once Samson smacked him for a six slightly wide off long-on, there was no looking back. With as many as 92 runs in the powerplay, India had seized the decisive advantage.
After Rachin Ravindra (1/32 in 2 overs) removed Abhishek after a 98-run opening stand off 43 balls, Kishan kept the tempo with four sixes and as many boundaries.
