THE HEADLINES:
- India creates history by winning ICC Men’s T20 World Cup for record third time; President, Vice President and Prime Minister congratulate Indian Cricket Team.
- Second phase of Budget Session of Parliament begins today; Lok Sabha is scheduled to take up resolution seeking removal of Speaker Om Birla.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address Post Budget Webinar on ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas-Fulfilling Aspirations of People’ today.
- Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to launch second phase of Viksit Bharat Yuva Connect Programme in Delhi today.
- Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Iran’s slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, named his successor.
- Rastriya Swatantra Party leader Balendra Shah set to be next Nepali Prime Minister.
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India scripted history by winning the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title for record third time, beating New Zealand by 96 runs in the final match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad last night. We have a report:
“Chasing a massive target of 256 runs set by the Suryakumar Yadav led Men in Blue, the New Zealand got bundled out for just 159 runs in 19 overs. Jasprit Bumrah bagged highest 4 wickets and was adjudged Player of the Match. Earlier, put into bat, India scored 255 runs, the highest-ever total in a T20 World Cup final at the loss of 5 wickets in the stipulated 20 overs. Opening batter Sanju Samson once again emerged as highest scorer with 89 runs off just 46 balls. He was also adjudged as Player of the Tournament for his consistent performance. Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan also made half centuries.
President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C P Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have congratulated the Indian Cricket Team for winning the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
In a social media post, President Murmu said, India has the proud distinction of being the only country to win the cup three times and it is also the only team to win the cup twice in a row.
In his message, Vice President said the nation celebrates this glorious victory with immense pride.
In a social media post, Prime Minister said, this remarkable triumph reflects exceptional skills, determination and teamwork.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also said, the team’s exceptional performance throughout the tournament and the vigorous display of mettle has brought glory and pride for the nation. CHIRAG JHA, AKASHVANI NEWS, DELHI.”
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The second phase of budget session of Parliament will commence today and will continue till 2nd of next month. Lok Sabha is scheduled to take up a resolution seeking removal of Speaker Om Birla today. The notice will be moved by three Congress members, Mohamed Jawed, K Suresh and Mallu Ravi. If the resolution is taken up by the Lok Sabha, Mr Birla will not preside over the proceedings and instead, he will sit among members. External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar is also scheduled to make a statement regarding the Situation in West Asia in the Lok Sabha. While in the Rajya Sabha, a discussion on the working of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is listed in the business of the House. We are more from our Correspondent:
“During the first leg of the Budget Session last month, Opposition had submitted a no-confidence notice to the Secretary General of the Lok Sabha, seeking the removal of the Speaker. In the notice they have accused Mr Birla of acting in a partisan manner. It was signed by 118 MPs including Members from Congress, Samajwadi Party, DMK, Left and others except Trinamool Congress. The BJP and the Congress have issued a three-line whip to their Lok Sabha MPs, directing them to be present in the House till Tuesday. The first part of the Budget Session began on 28th January and continued till 13th of February. During the first phase, the discussion took place on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address and the Union Budget for 2026-27. Anand Kumar, Akashvani News, Delhi.”
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the Post Budget Webinar on the theme “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas-Fulfilling Aspirations of People” through video conferencing today. Under this theme, multiple breakout sessions will be organised across sectors including education and skilling, health and AYUSH, tourism and hospitality among others. The discussions will cover initiatives such as strengthening education-to-employment pathways, development of Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics (AVGC), Buddhist circuits in the North-Eastern region and heritage tourism promotion.
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Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will launch the second phase of the Viksit Bharat Yuva Connect Programme in Delhi today. The initiative is being organised through Mera Yuva Bharat, MY Bharat to strengthen youth engagement with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. We have a report:
“More than 10 thousand students from over 35 colleges across the national capital are expected to participate in the Viksit Bharat Yuva Connect Programme. Interactive sessions, dialogues and engagement activities will be organized to connect youth citizens with India’s development journey, encouraging their roles as responsible nation builders. Youth Icons, including presenters from the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue and winners of the Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament, will also interact with students and share their experiences to inspire greater youth participation in nation building. The initiative has already reached 274 universities and colleges across 22 States and Union Territories, mobilizing nearly 20 thousand youth so far. Registration and participation in to the programme is being facilitated through the MY Bharat digital platform. Priya Mondal, Akashvani News, Delhi.”
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Rapper turned politician and popular figurehead of Gen Z revolution, Balendra Shah, is set to become Nepal’s next prime minister after his party Rastriya Swatantra party (RSP) secured a landslide victory in the parliamentary elections. The RSP has secured 122 of the 165 directly elected seats in the House of Representatives and is leading in three more, putting the party on course for the biggest electoral majority since Nepal became a democracy. Election Commission has announced results for 159 of the 165 seats so far. The final election results, which will include additional seats appointed through proportional representation, are expected in the coming days.
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As Operation Epic Fury, led by US and Israel, enters its tenth day, Iran has named a new Supreme Leader. State media reports that Mojtaba Khamenei will succeed his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed at his compound in Tehran during the first wave of US and Israeli strikes. Israel has already issued a threat, saying any successor will be targeted.
Meanwhile, in UAE, Iranian strikes continue to target Abu Dhabi yesterday with projectiles being intercepted. We are more from our Correspondent:
“Since the 28th of February, a sustained air campaign led by a United States and Israeli coalition has focused on dismantling Iranian missile capabilities and key leadership infrastructure. Iran has responded with waves of strikes against regional targets, including the Gulf nations, significantly deepening the crisis across West Asia. In Tehran, Israeli strikes resumed after nightfall, with the Iranian capital choked by smoke following earlier attacks on its energy infrastructure. The US military urged Iranian civilians to remain indoors, claiming Tehran has been launching drones and missiles from populated areas, making these locations potential targets. At sea, the situation remains critical. The strait of Hormuz is effectively impassable for most commercial shipping. While no formal closure has been decreed, the risk has driven an eighty percent drop in vessel traffic. Major shipping lines have suspended transits as war-risk insurance premiums surge, forcing global logistics networks to urgently seek alternative routes around the volatile waterway. Vinod Kumar, AKASHVANI NEWS, Dubai.”
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US Defense Department has said that seventh US service member has died in the country’s war with Iran. In a statement on social media, US Central Command said that a US service member passed away last night from injuries received during the Iran’s initial attacks across West Asia. Meanwhile, Israel Defense Forces said it has struck the headquarters of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Air Force, describing it as the main command-and-control center responsible for directing Iran’s air operations.
On the other hand, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said it intercepted a drone targeting the country’s massive Shaybah oil field, located deep in the sands of the Empty Quarter desert. In Bahrain, the Interior Ministry urged residents to move to the nearest safe locations after warning sirens were sounded.
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The Ministry of Civil Aviation is closely monitoring the evolving situation in the West Asia affecting air travel between India and the West Asia region. Airlines are undertaking necessary operational adjustments in view of the prevailing conditions to ensure passenger safety and orderly conduct of flight operations. The Ministry in a statement said that as per the current status, Indian carriers are planning 50 flights today. Earlier, Indian carriers operated 49 inbound flights yesterday from airports in the region such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, Muscat and Jeddah. On Saturday, a total of 51 inbound flights operated by Indian carriers arrived in India from the region carrying 8 thousand 175 passengers.
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Due to the ongoing situation in West Asia, flight operations have been impacted across several sectors. Passengers are advised to keep a close watch on the latest flight updates and remain attentive to communication shared by their respective airlines through their registered contact details. Passengers requiring support may contact the Ministry’s Passenger Assistance Control Room (PACR) at the helpline numbers 011-24604283 or 011-24632987.
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Oil prices have crossed 100 US Dollar per barrel for the first time in more than three and a half years as the Iran war hinders production and shipping in the West Asia. The price for a barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, was trading at 101.19 dollar yesterday, up 9.2 per cent from its closing price of 92.69 dollar on Friday. Amid surging global oil prices, US President Donald Trump said the short-term spike is worth the cost if it eliminates Tehran’s nuclear threat. In a post on Truth Social, Trump argued that oil prices would drop rapidly once Iran’s nuclear capabilities are destroyed, calling it a small price to pay for American and world safety and peace.
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In our bilingual live phone-in programme “Public Speak” at 9:30 PM today, we will bring discussion on Schemes and Initiatives for Encouraging Women Entrepreneurship. During the programme, listeners can ask questions on telephone number 011-23314444 from 9:30 PM tonight.
You can also send your queries on WhatsApp number 9289094044 or post your questions on X with the #AskAir.
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In Women’s Hockey, India will face Scotland in their second Pool B match of the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers in Hyderabad this evening. The match will begin at 7:30 PM.
Earlier, Salima Tete led Indian side began its their campaign with a commanding 4-nil victory over Uruguay in Hyderabad yesterday.
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TODAY’S NEWSPAPERS,
- India’s third T20 World Cup win is covered prominently by all the dailies this morning. “India make history, retain crown at home” leads Hindustan Times. The paper writes “Bankable Bumra, sensational Samson power India to glory.”
- “Gulf tension soars, civilian infra comes under attack” reports The Asian Age.
- “India assures assistance to its nationals in Saudi Arabia” informs The Pioneer.
- The Tribune in its editorial piece “Nepal’s message. Himalayan Nation votes for a new dawn”. The paper says “Nepal has made a clean break with the past. The sweeping victory of the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP) in the national elections and their rise of 35 year-old rapper-turned politician Balendra Shah, popularly known as Balen, signal a dramatic rejection of the countries entrenched political order. In a nation where fragile coalitions have long been the norm, the electorate has delivered a powerful message: the old guard has failed miserably. The fledgling RSP’s spectacular electoral show reflects deep public frustration with legacy parties such as the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist).
- “Parliament to see fireworks as Session resumes today” states The Asian Age.
- The Tribune quoting the Prime Minister on Women’s Day says “Lakhpati Didi target raised to 6 crore.”
- Finally, On the occassion of International Women’s Day, “Kartavya Path in Delhi witnesses Women power as thousands of them take part in ‘Shakti Walk’ reports The Statesman.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN
- India creates history by winning ICC Men’s T20 World Cup for record third time; President, Vice President and Prime Minister congratulate Indian Cricket Team.
- Second phase of Budget Session of Parliament begins today; Lok Sabha is scheduled to take up resolution seeking removal of Speaker Om Birla.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address Post Budget Webinar on ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas-Fulfilling Aspirations of People’ today.
- Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to launch second phase of Viksit Bharat Yuva Connect Programme in Delhi today.
- Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Iran’s slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, named his successor.
- Rastriya Swatantra Party leader Balendra Shah set to be next Nepali Prime Minister.
