An audio clip shared online has renewed focus on the case of Sarabjeet Kaur, an Indian woman who travelled to Pakistan for a Sikh pilgrimage and later married a Pakistani man. In the unauthenticated clip, Kaur says she is being harassed and wants to return to India. She claims her condition in Pakistan is “not good” and says she cannot live without her children. Kaur went missing after the pilgrimage in November last year. Police later said she married Nasir Hussain in Sheikhupura. Authorities have placed her in a government shelter home in Lahore. The audio clip has not been independently verified. (PC: NDTV)

Protests in Iran appeared to ease this week amid a prolonged internet blackout and reports of a heavy crackdown. Rights groups said at least 3,000 protesters were killed, while some estimates placed the toll above 5,000. Despite the lull, a senior cleric called for harsh action against detainees. Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami urged that “armed protesters should be put to death,” according to state media. US President Donald Trump said executions had been halted, claiming it helped calm tensions. Internet services remain largely shut, though limited international calls have resumed in parts of the country. (PC: HT)

Boards barring the entry of non-Hindus were put up at Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar on Friday. The boards were installed by the Ganga Sabha, which manages the ghat. Sabha president Nitin Gautam said areas falling within Kumbh limits should remain restricted to non-Hindus, citing a 1916 agreement. The Kumbh is scheduled in early 2027. The state government said the matter is under review. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said consultations are ongoing with religious groups. Opposition leaders criticised the move, calling it against constitutional principles.

The first commercial flights carrying Indian nationals from Iran arrived in Delhi late Friday amid recent unrest. The flights were regular services and not part of an evacuation operation. Several returnees described disrupted daily life due to internet shutdowns and street protests. “There was no internet and protests were dangerous,” one national said, adding that families could not be contacted. Another said protesters blocked roads and caused brief trouble. The Indian government had earlier advised against non-essential travel. The Indian Embassy in Tehran issued advisories and stayed in contact with citizens as the situation gradually stabilised. (PC: NDTV)

A dense blanket of fog and cold conditions affected Delhi-NCR on Saturday morning, disrupting air, road, and rail traffic. Visibility dropped sharply in several areas, delaying flights at Indira Gandhi International Airport. The minimum temperature in the capital fell to around 7 degrees Celsius, while air quality worsened due to stagnant conditions. Authorities reimposed pollution curbs under Graded Response Action Plan Stage III as smog mixed with fog. Data from the India Meteorological Department showed very poor to severe air quality at many stations. Dry weather is expected to continue, with cold mornings likely over the coming days. (PC: India Today)

India has said it will not exit Iran’s Chabahar port project, calling it strategically essential despite US sanctions pressure. The Ministry of External Affairs said New Delhi is in touch with Washington to implement a temporary sanctions waiver allowing work at the port to continue. The clarification followed reports linking the project to possible US tariffs on countries trading with Iran. (PC: X) Located on Iran’s southern coast, Chabahar gives India access to Afghanistan and Central Asia while bypassing Pakistan. India signed a 10-year deal in 2024 to operate the port through a state-run firm. Officials said talks with the US are ongoing as the waiver expires in April 2026.

The Trump administration has named senior US and international figures to a new “Board of Peace” to oversee Gaza’s post-war transition. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former UK prime minister Tony Blair are among the founding members, the White House said. President Donald Trump will chair the board, which is part of a 20-point plan to end the war between Israel and Hamas. The board is expected to temporarily oversee Gaza’s administration and reconstruction. Further members will be announced in coming weeks. (PC: BBC)

Several Indian nationals returned safely from Iran as unrest and communication blackouts worsened, following advisories issued by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Tehran. The passengers arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport late Friday. Returnees said protests, movement restrictions and internet shutdowns had made daily life difficult and cut them off from families. Many included students, pilgrims and business travellers. Families waiting at the airport expressed relief after days of no contact. The government has advised Indians to avoid travel to Iran until further notice and said coordination with the embassy is continuing as more citizens are expected to return. (PC: India Today)

The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance recorded a sweeping victory in Maharashtra’s municipal corporation elections, emerging as the single-largest force across the state. The Bharatiya Janata Party won 1,425 of 2,869 seats in 29 civic bodies, followed by the Shiv Sena with 399 and the NCP with 167, according to the State Election Commission. (PC: X) In the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, the BJP secured 89 seats, ending decades of Thackeray-led Sena dominance. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said Mahayuti is set to govern 25 civic bodies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked voters for the mandate.

US President Donald Trump thanked Iran's leadership Friday for cancelling planned executions of over 800 protesters, posting "I greatly respect the fact" on Truth Social. Trump earlier stated killings from Iran's protest crackdown appeared subsiding, citing "very important sources" indicating no mass executions planned, though he didn't rule out US military intervention. The protests, Iran's most serious domestic challenge since 1979, have caused conflicting death toll reports: Iranian authorities claim 2,000 deaths since December 28, rights groups report over 3,500, with some estimates reaching 20,000. Iran's Foreign Minister called higher figures "exaggeration" and "misinformation." Trump dismissed Gulf officials' claims that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman dissuaded his attack plans.