Explosions were heard in downtown Dubai on Thursday as Iran continued attacks across the Gulf region. An AFP correspondent reported hearing one very loud blast. Small clouds of smoke were seen rising above a residential area. Earlier, a container ship near Dubai was hit by a projectile in the Persian Gulf. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said the strike caused a small fire but the crew were safe. In Bahrain, an Iranian attack triggered a major fire on Muharraq Island near the international airport. Kuwait said an Iranian drone hit a residential building and wounded two people. Saudi Arabia also said it shot down drones targeting Riyadh and an oil facility in the kingdom’s east. (PC: NDTV)

Iran has intensified attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, raising fears of a wider energy crisis. Despite the tensions, two Shipping Corporation of India tankers — Pushpak and Piramal — crossed the strait safely without naval escort overnight. At least three other vessels were struck by Iranian projectiles, including the Thai bulk carrier Mayuree Naree, which suffered hull damage while heading to Kandla. Shipping experts said confusion remains in the region. “There is utter confusion in the Persian Gulf as Iranians are talking in multiple voices. The escorts are not being allowed and the tankers are taking chances,” one expert said. So far, 19 ships have reportedly been hit in the Hormuz attacks, leaving seven people dead. (PC: X)

LPG shortages in several cities are forcing food stalls and restaurants to shut or raise prices, with many workers losing jobs. People say the crisis feels similar to the Covid lockdown. Queues outside LPG agencies have grown in cities like Noida. Some cylinders are being sold on the black market for up to Rs 3,000. Small vendors say rising costs are hurting their business. “If the cylinder doesn’t come, we won’t open the shop,” a street vendor said. A gig workers’ union said delivery work has fallen by 50–60% in some cities. The government says domestic supply is being prioritised and urged people to avoid panic buying. (PC: India Today)

National Conference chief and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah survived a gun attack during a wedding function in Jammu on Wednesday night. The incident happened at Royal Park in the Greater Kailash area. Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary was also present at the event. Police arrested the accused, identified as Kamal Singh, a 63-year-old resident of Jammu. He allegedly fired using his licensed gun. During questioning, Singh told police he had planned the attack for many years. “I wanted to kill Farooq Abdullah for the last 20 years. It was my personal agenda,” he said. Police are investigating how the accused reached close to Abdullah. (PC: X)

Former India captain Rahul Dravid will receive the Col CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award at the BCCI’s annual Naman Awards in Delhi on March 15. Shubman Gill is set to be named the BCCI Cricketer of the Year after a strong run with the bat. He led India’s Test side during the 2025 tour of England. Dravid retired from international cricket in 2012. He later coached the India Under-19 team and led them to the 2018 World Cup title. He became India’s senior team coach in 2021. Under him, India finished runners-up at the 2023 ODI World Cup and won the 2024 T20 World Cup. (PC: The Indian Express)

Iran has allowed India-flagged oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz after talks between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, sources said. At least two Indian tankers — Pushpak and Parimal — are now sailing through the key waterway. Ships linked to the US, Europe and Israel still face restrictions. Earlier, a Liberia-flagged tanker carrying Saudi crude and captained by an Indian also crossed the strait and reached Mumbai safely. Iran had warned ships to seek its approval before entering the route. The Strait of Hormuz carries a large share of global oil shipments and has seen traffic drop during the war. (PC: NDTV)

The Donald Trump administration has launched a new trade investigation into manufacturing practices in 16 economies, including India. The probe will be conducted under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the review could lead to new import taxes on some countries. The list includes China, the European Union, Mexico, India, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, along with several Southeast Asian economies. Greer said some partners have built production capacity “untethered from market incentives of domestic and global demand.” The move follows a US Supreme Court decision that struck down the administration’s earlier tariff policy declared under an economic emergency. (PC: HT)

Oil prices rose again on Thursday after explosions were reported on more foreign ships in the Gulf amid the ongoing Iran conflict.   Brent crude briefly reached about $100 a barrel in Asian trading, rising nearly 9%. US-traded crude also climbed to around $95. Markets stayed tense despite major countries agreeing to release large amounts of oil from emergency reserves.   Overnight, two more ships were hit near Iraq’s Umm Qasr port close to Basra. Officials said one person was killed and 38 others were injured.   Iran has warned that “not a litre of oil” will pass through the Strait of Hormuz if attacks on it continue. The route carries about 20% of global oil supply. (PC: BBC)

An Indian crew member was killed after Iran struck two oil tankers off Iraq’s coast overnight, escalating tensions during the ongoing US-Israel-Iran war. The vessels — the Maltese-flagged Zefyros and the Marshall Islands-flagged Safesea Vishnu — were hit near the Khor Al Zubair port. Officials said an Iranian “suicide” boat targeted the Safesea Vishnu, which is owned by a US company. The identity of the Indian national has not been released. The remaining 27 crew members were rescued and taken to Basra. Iran earlier warned that “not a litre of oil” would pass through the Strait of Hormuz if attacks on it continued. The waterway handles about 20% of global oil trade. (PC: India Today)

Iran has outlined three key conditions for ending the ongoing war with the United States and Israel. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran would consider ending the conflict if its “legitimate rights” are recognised, reparations are paid for war damage, and firm international guarantees are provided to prevent future attacks. The statement came as the war, which began on February 28, continues to escalate with strikes on infrastructure, attacks on shipping near the Strait of Hormuz, and rising civilian casualties. Iran claims thousands of civilian sites have been bombed and more than 1,300 people killed. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has indicated the conflict could end whenever Washington decides, highlighting growing tensions and uncertainty around a diplomatic resolution.