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Court order after age verification The Calcutta High Court has directed the immediate release of a Bangladeshi national who was arrested in 2005 for allegedly entering West Bengal illegally and has remained in custody for about 21 years. Arrested as a minor Police had detained him when he was 15 and placed him in a juvenile reform facility. He later approached the High Court seeking to be freed from the case.
President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday voiced displeasure over alleged protocol and security lapses during her visit to West Bengal for a tribal community annual conference. Prime Minister Narendra Modi later said the state government was responsible for the “insult” to the President. The conference was originally planned at Bidhannagar near Siliguri, but permission was denied citing security reasons, according to the report. The event was then shifted to Ghoshaipore near Bagdogra airport after the state government granted approval.
Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Friday said the “Dravidian model” government has been delivering balanced development for all sections of society. He was speaking at an event in Thoothukudi. During the programme, he inaugurated a super-speciality hospital built at a cost of Rs 136 crore and distributed welfare assistance worth Rs 110 crore. He said the DMK government under Chief Minister M K Stalin has been implementing multiple schemes.
PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss has alleged that corruption worth about Rs 500 crore has taken place in Tamil Nadu’s regulated market yards, and called on the state government to order an inquiry. In a statement, he said the Agriculture Marketing Department oversees 27 district market committees, under which 284 regulated market yards and 13 sub-regulated yards are functioning. These yards are meant to help farmers secure better prices by selling produce through indirect auctions.
The Madras High Court has directed the state-level expert committee to constitute a sub-committee to examine whether the ongoing works for the kumbabishekam at Kanchipuram’s Sri Devaraja Swamy (Devaraja Perumal) Temple violate Agama rules. The direction came on a petition filed by Krishna Devaraya from Karnataka, who alleged that the works were being carried out without approval from the Ancient Monuments authority and without adhering to Agama prescriptions. The matter was heard by Justice D. Bharatha Chakravarthy.
New Delhi: The DMK–Congress alliance has finally been concluded, with senior Congress leader and former Union minister P Chidambaram seen as a key figure in bringing the talks to a close. According to party sources, Chidambaram was firm that the Congress should not allow the party to drift towards actor Vijay’s side, and pushed for the alliance to continue. Leaders claim the arrangement was settled at 28 Assembly seats and one Rajya Sabha seat.
Patna: A senior JD(U) leader has said the party has unanimously decided to make Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s son, Nishant Kumar, the Deputy Chief Minister in the next government. Hari Narayan Singh, a JD(U) MLA and a close aide of Nitish Kumar, said the move would come after Nitish Kumar resigns as Chief Minister. Bihar is currently governed by a JD(U)-BJP coalition. The development comes amid a sudden political turn, with Nitish Kumar having filed his nomination to contest the Rajya Sabha elections. The report said he is expected to step down as Chief Minister after becoming a Rajya Sabha MP, following which a new government would be formed under BJP leadership.
Apology amid widening regional tensions Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has apologised for Iran’s attacks on neighbouring countries during the ongoing conflict against the United States and Israel. Speaking in a televised address, he said he was sorry for the strikes and expressed regret over the disruption caused. Why Iran says it struck neighbours According to Iran, the attacks were carried out using missiles and drones due to fears that US military bases located in nearby countries could be used to launch strikes against Iran. The reported targets included Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (including Dubai), Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Iraq.
The Election Commission is likely to announce the Assembly election schedule for five states, including Tamil Nadu, on March 15 or 16, according to reports. Assembly elections are due in April in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, West Bengal and Assam. The Commission has been carrying out preparatory work and holding consultations as part of the process. On February 26 and 27, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi visited Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, meeting the state’s Chief Electoral Officer, the Chief Secretary, the DGP and representatives of recognised political parties. The Commission has also completed consultations in Assam, while its Kerala visit concluded on Saturday.
The Kumbabhishekam of the Madurai Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple has been scheduled for September 19, according to a decision taken by the authorities. A consultation meeting on the temple’s consecration was held in Chennai under the chairmanship of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Minister Sekar Babu. Officials noted that renovation works and the restoration of the Veeravasantharayar Mandapam have been completed. However, as the temple hosts festivals and processions throughout the year and these cannot be halted, the consecration has been fixed for September 19.
A short video published by Dinamalar highlights a TVK Women’s Day celebration held in Chennai. The event featured a cultural programme as part of the observance, according to the video’s title and tags. No further details about the venue, organisers, schedule, or participants were provided in the available source content.
Gold prices in Chennai edged up on Friday (March 7) after falling for five consecutive days. The price of 22-carat jewellery gold increased by Rs 720 per sovereign to Rs 1,20,400, while the per-gram rate rose by Rs 80 to Rs 15,050. The report attributed recent volatility to the ongoing conflict involving the US and Israel against Iran, with Iran responding in return. Gold and silver had surged last week as tensions escalated, before easing over the following days.
Chennai: Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said the achievements of the DMK government have made other states look to Tamil Nadu as an example, describing the state’s progress as a guiding model. In a statement, Stalin recalled meeting party cadres at Siruganur near Tiruchirappalli on March 7, 2021, and said he would meet them again at the same venue on March 9. He claimed Tamil Nadu recorded a double-digit economic growth rate of 11.19%, a figure he said was affirmed by the Union government.
With the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election approaching, politicians who have submitted applications within their parties are increasingly turning to astrologers and temple rituals, hoping to improve their chances of getting a ticket to contest. The report notes that major parties have begun aligning for the polls—AIADMK and DMK with national and state allies—while TVK is attempting to form an alliance. Naam Tamilar Katchi has announced candidates for all 234 constituencies, raising expectations of a four-cornered contest and intensifying internal competition for seats.
Tehran: As the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel intensifies, sources have claimed that Russia has shared sensitive intelligence with Iran. The war, which began on February 28, has entered its eighth day, with attacks escalating and the tensions spreading across West Asia, with ripple effects being felt in Gulf countries as well. While Russia has publicly called for an end to the fighting and a reduction in regional tensions, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Thursday. During the call, Putin conveyed condolences over the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to the report.
The US military’s Central Command has said American forces carried out precision strikes on more than 3,000 targets in Iran over the past week. The statement comes as fighting has continued for a week between Iran and Israel, with the United States also involved in the conflict. The report said Iran has suffered losses including military and naval assets and key leaders in the US strikes. US President Donald Trump has said there would be no agreement with Iran other than an unconditional surrender, according to the report.
Islamabad: Pakistan has seen a sharp spike in petrol and diesel prices amid concerns over fuel supply disruptions linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran. According to the report, Iran has blocked the Strait of Hormuz sea route used by crude oil tankers in response to continued attacks by US and Israeli forces. The move has triggered fears of shortages in countries including Pakistan and Sri Lanka, prompting crowds to rush to fuel stations.
Actor Vijay’s wife Sangeeta has filed a fresh petition before the Chengalpattu court, seeking what she called fair maintenance for herself and their children. She also requested permission to reside in the Neelankarai house, citing that she has no place to stay. In her plea, Sangeeta alleged that Vijay is refusing to allow her into the house. She said Vijay, who earns significantly, should provide reasonable alimony to support her and the children.
Chennai: Former BJP Tamil Nadu state president K Annamalai has urged the DMK government to announce a Rs 100 subsidy per LPG cylinder, alleging that the party has failed to keep its election promise. In a statement, Annamalai said LPG usage across India has risen by about 45% over the last 10 years, attributing the growth to welfare initiatives including the Ujjwala free gas scheme introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Rubio tasked with Cuba President Donald Trump has said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will be responsible for matters related to Cuba, signalling a sharper focus on the island in the coming period. Sanctions and growing pressure The US has been tightening economic restrictions aimed at the communist government in Cuba. With fuel exports blocked, the country is facing widespread power outages, according to the report. Trump’s remarks on next steps In an interview with an English news channel, Trump said that after fully concluding the war against Iran, his administration would turn its attention to a plan for Cuba. He also claimed Cuba was actively seeking an agreement with the United States.
Dubai: Emirates on Saturday said it would resume flight operations to and from Dubai from the afternoon, after briefly announcing cancellations amid heightened regional tensions. The airline had earlier stated that all flights arriving in and departing from Dubai would be cancelled until further notice, citing the security situation. The decision followed reports of an attack targeting locations in Dubai, including a drone incident near Dubai International Airport. According to the report, the airport did not suffer damage. Emirates later issued an update asking passengers with confirmed bookings to proceed to the airport from the afternoon.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said the time when a handful of countries could dominate the world has ended, and the future will be “much more multipolar.” He was speaking at a geopolitics and economic conference held in Delhi. Referring to the Covid-19 pandemic, Jaishankar said India’s actions during the crisis reflected its identity as a developing country in the international arena. He noted that the Union government provided vaccines to people across the country and also came forward to send vaccines to other developing nations.
Tehran has issued an apology to the UAE, Saudi Arabia and other neighbouring Gulf countries over attacks carried out in recent days, according to reports. The strikes were described as retaliation against the US and Israel, with Iran targeting locations linked to American military bases and diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain. A drone attack was reported near Dubai’s international airport on Friday morning, though no damage was reported.
VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan on Friday said no alternative alliance has so far taken shape in Tamil Nadu that can match the DMK-led coalition. He made the remarks while speaking to reporters at the Chennai airport. He said the DMK leadership is holding talks with parties one by one and added that his party would also be invited for discussions soon. According to him, coordination among the alliance partners is progressing smoothly.
Jerusalem: Israel has announced that it is carrying out a fresh round of strikes on Iran, deploying more than 80 fighter jets and conducting attacks in successive waves. The report comes amid continuing hostilities involving the United States and Israel against Iran. US President Donald Trump has said the campaign has not ended and asserted that Iran has no option other than surrender. Iran, meanwhile, has intensified its retaliatory actions, even as Israel said it has accelerated its operations compared with earlier phases.
Bangladesh has introduced rationing for petrol and diesel sales as the country faces a fuel shortage, according to the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC). The shortage is being attributed to disruptions in global crude oil supply amid heightened tensions in the Gulf region, with the ongoing conflict involving the US and Israel against Iran said to be impacting international markets. Under the new limits, two-wheelers can receive up to 2 litres of fuel, while private cars are capped at 10 litres. SUVs, jeeps and mini-buses will be supplied 20 to 25 litres.
Chennai: Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran has said people will not forgive DMK members after a road accident in which a full-term pregnant woman died. In a statement, he referred to reports that a car bearing a DMK flag, allegedly speeding near the Chennai–Trichy National Highway, hit a two-wheeler. The woman travelling on the two-wheeler died, and he said the incident was deeply distressing for the family. Nagendran alleged that such acts carried out under the cover of being “DMK men” were continuing and called it not only condemnable but also dangerous. He claimed that with only a few weeks left for the government’s term to end, people were living in fear of further incidents driven by “abuse of power”.
Shah’s remarks in Dehradun Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the NDA would form governments in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal in 2026. He made the statement while addressing an event in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. Citizenship granted to about 200 people Shah said around 200 people from Pakistan and Afghanistan were granted Indian citizenship in Uttarakhand. He linked the move to the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
The Indian Embassy in Doha has begun collecting information on Indians who do not reside in Qatar but are currently stranded there due to the war situation. In an advisory, the embassy said flights departing Qatar were cancelled from February 28 to March 7. As a result, Indian tourists and short-term visa holders who are stuck in the country have been asked to enter their details through an online form.
DMK and Congress may have reaffirmed their alliance, but discussions held ahead of finalising seat-sharing reportedly saw a sharp exchange over election funding, according to Congress sources. The sources said that in previous elections, the DMK typically bore a major share of campaign expenses for Congress candidates in Tamil Nadu. With campaign costs rising from lakhs to crores over recent polls, Congress leaders were said to expect similar support in the upcoming Assembly election as well.
