Here are the top news of the day:

Iran hits Saudi’s Aramco and Kuwait refinery following Israel attack on South Pars

Iran escalated tensions across the Gulf by launching coordinated strikes on key energy infrastructure, including the SAMREF refinery in Saudi Arabia, a joint venture involving Saudi Aramco and ExxonMobil.The attacks came in retaliation for Israel’s earlier strike on Iran’s crucial South Pars gas field, a move that Tehran condemned strongly.Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned of “uncontrollable consequences,” cautioning that the conflict could spiral globally. Iran also targeted LNG facilities in Qatar and set two Kuwaiti refineries ablaze, intensifying fears of a wider regional crisis. Read full story

Just 350m away: Projectile strikes near Bushehr nuclear reactor, says IAEA

The International Atomic Energy Agency reported a serious security scare after a projectile struck near Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, landing just 350 metres from the reactor. While the core facility remained unharmed and no injuries were reported, the proximity of the strike raised alarm over nuclear safety risks.IAEA director general Rafael Mariano Grossi stressed that any attack near nuclear installations breaches critical safety norms during conflict. Iran and Russia claimed the projectile hit within the broader premises, fuelling concerns about a potential radiological incident as tensions between Tehran, Israel, and the United States continue to escalate. Read full story

Stock market crash: Sensex tanks around 2,500 points – top reasons for fall

Indian stock markets witnessed a sharp sell-off, with the BSE Sensex plunging over 2,500 points, while the Nifty 50 slipped below the 23,200 mark intraday after logging gains for three straight sessions. The downturn wiped out more than Rs 11 lakh crore in investor wealth, driven largely by surging global crude oil prices and a cautious policy stance from the US Federal Reserve. Nifty50 ended the session at 23,002.15, down 776 points or 3.26%. BSE Sensex closed at 74,207.24, down 2,497 points or 3.26%. Nifty Realty was the worst performer, declining by more than 3%, followed by Nifty Auto and Nifty Private Bank, both of which slipped close to 3% . Read full story

Assam assembly polls 2026: BJP releases list of 88 candidates

The Bharatiya Janata Party has unveiled its first list of 88 candidates for the upcoming Assam assembly elections, with chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma set to contest again from Jalukbari.Under the alliance formula, BJP will contest 89 seats in the 126-member assembly, alongside partners AGP and BPF. The list reflects a blend of continuity and change, with several high-profile defections from Congress included, while 11 sitting MLAs have been dropped. Notably, only five women candidates have been fielded, highlighting ongoing concerns about gender representation. Read full story

IPL name row: Kerala high court rejects PIL against BCCI

The Kerala high court has dismissed a public interest litigation challenging the use of the name “Indian Premier League” by the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The petitioner argued that the league was not an official national tournament and should not carry the name.A bench led by Chief Justice Soumen Sen found no merit in the plea, observing that the league has been in existence for years and the objection came too late. With the legal hurdle cleared, the 19th season of the IPL is set to begin on March 28, with defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore facing Sunrisers Hyderabad in the opening match. Read full story