Rising tensions in the Middle East have erased about ₹31 lakh crore from Indian stock markets since the latest Iran war escalation on February 28. Data from the Bombay Stock Exchange shows the total market value of listed companies fell sharply during this period. On Monday alone, investor wealth worth about ₹12.78 trillion was wiped out. The BSE Sensex dropped 2,299 points to around 76,619. The NSE Nifty 50 fell more than 700 points to about 23,736. The sell-off comes as global crude oil prices surged above $110 per barrel. India imports about 85% of its oil. Analysts warn higher oil prices could raise inflation and pressure the economy. (PC: X)

At least six impact sites were reported in central Israel after Iran launched ballistic missiles carrying cluster munitions, Israeli police said. The strikes hit several locations including Yehud, Holon and Bat Yam. Medical officials said one man was killed at a construction site in Yehud. Another man at the same site was critically injured. A third person was seriously wounded at a different location in central Israel. Emergency teams rushed to the affected areas after the missile attack. Police said they are checking multiple impact locations and securing the sites. The attack comes amid ongoing military tensions between Iran and Israel. (PC: X)

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday voiced strong support for Iran during the ongoing conflict with the United States. He said Russia would continue to stand with Tehran. “I wish to confirm unwavering support for Tehran and solidarity with our Iranian friends,” Putin said. He also congratulated Mojtaba Khamenei after he was appointed Iran’s new supreme leader. Putin said he was confident Mojtaba would carry forward his father’s work “with honour” and unite the Iranian people during difficult times. Putin earlier spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and expressed condolences over the killing of former leader Ali Khamenei and others. The Kremlin also called for an immediate end to hostilities. (PC: HT)

The United States expressed surprise after Israel struck about 30 Iranian fuel depots, a move that went beyond what Washington expected, Axios reported. A senior US official said the scale of the strikes was “not a good idea.” Another Israeli official said the message from the US afterward was a blunt “WTF.” Israel had informed the US before the operation. But American officials said they did not expect such a large attack on fuel sites used by civilians and the military. A Trump adviser said the president “didn't like the idea” of burning oil infrastructure. US officials also worry the images of large fires could push global oil prices higher. (PC: X)

The ongoing US-Iran conflict in West Asia shook Indian markets and triggered protests in Parliament on Monday. The Sensex fell more than 3%, or around 2,500 points, marking one of the steepest market drops in six years. Over ₹25 lakh crore in investor wealth has been wiped out since the conflict began. Opposition leaders staged protests inside and outside Parliament and demanded a detailed discussion on the crisis. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said the conflict “has now impacted India's energy security and economic stability”. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the government is closely monitoring developments. “Our national interest, including energy security and trade flows, will always be paramount,” he told Parliament. (PC: HT)

An IndiGo flight from Delhi to Manchester turned back after flying for about seven hours on Monday due to new airspace restrictions linked to the war in West Asia.   Flight 6E33 made a U-turn near the Ethiopia–Eritrea border, according to flight tracking service Flightradar24.   The aircraft had taken an unusual southern route over the Gulf of Aden and parts of Africa to avoid conflict zones.   IndiGo said the decision followed last-minute restrictions. “Our flight 6E033 operating from Delhi to Manchester had to return to its origin due to last minute airspace restrictions,” the airline said.   It added that passenger safety remains the priority while authorities review whether the journey can resume. (PC : NDTV)

Human Rights Watch said the Israeli military unlawfully used white phosphorus munitions over residential areas in the southern Lebanese town of Yohmor on March 3.   The group said it verified seven images showing airburst white phosphorus over homes. Civil defence workers were seen responding to fires in at least two houses and a car.   Lebanon researcher Ramzi Kaiss said the attack over populated areas is “extremely alarming and will have dire consequences for civilians”.   He said the incendiary effects can cause death or severe injuries.   White phosphorus ignites when it contacts oxygen and can start fires in homes and farmland. Using it over populated areas is considered indiscriminate under international humanitarian law. (PC: India Today)

A newly released video suggests a US Tomahawk cruise missile may have struck a compound in Minab, Iran, during a February 28 attack that killed more than 165 people, many of them schoolgirls.   The clip, shared by Iran’s Mehr News Agency, shows a missile hitting a building inside a walled complex. Smoke is already rising from another area where the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ school was earlier hit.   Weapons expert Trevor Ball said the footage shows “for the first time that the United States struck the area”.   He added the US is “the only participant in the war known to possess Tomahawk missiles”.   The Pentagon said the incident is under investigation and the US “never targets civilian targets”. (PC: HT)

Residents in Iran said overnight strikes on oil depots near Tehran lit up the sky and shook nearby neighbourhoods as US and Israeli attacks continued.   Fuel depots in Tehran and Karaj were hit, according to Iranian news agencies citing the oil ministry.   One resident said the blast was so bright “it was as if night had turned into day”.   A man in Karaj said he first saw “a red light that lit up everything followed by a wave that jolted the door”.   Another resident said the city was covered in smoke. “You can smell the burning. I can’t see the sun,” she said.   Iran said toxic substances were released into the air and advised residents to stay indoors. (PC: BBC)

Stock markets in Japan and South Korea fell sharply on Monday as oil prices crossed $100 a barrel during the US-Iran conflict. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 dropped more than 6% in early trade. The broader Topix index also fell about 5.7%, its biggest drop since April last year. South Korea’s Kospi index plunged more than 8%, triggering market circuit breakers for the second time this month. Oil prices surged after disruptions in West Asia and concerns over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The route carries a large share of global oil trade. Japan relies heavily on Middle Eastern oil imports. Portfolio manager Hiroshi Matsumoto said the country is “among the most affected globally.” (PC: X)